Joining the quest to discover the brain basis for depression, a group of scientists recently published results from a study of youth (ages 4-24) with clinical depression (*). The scientists compared the brain activity of 250 depressed youth to brain activity of a non-depressed group.
The study suggests that over-activation of two brain areas (Cingulate gyrus and thalamus) lead to “hypervigilance toward emotional stimuli”. In other words the youth could not stop themselves from focusing on negative emotional ideas – this despite an increased activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (an area of the brain responsible for logical control of emotion).
While not offering final answers to the question, “What happens to the brain of people with depression?”, the article does provide evidence that brain malfunctions associated with depression can start in childhood. The findings might also compel us to more urgently get help for children with depression, not to simply excuse depressive behaviors as a phase of childhood or something they can work out on their own.
(*) Chris Miller and others. Meta-analysis of Functional Neuroimaging of Major Depressive Disorder in Youth, Journal of the American Medical Association -Psychiatry. Published online September 2, 2015.
Breaking Through Depression and Anxiety 
Doctor Hall, you are a Christian man. Is there anything you might tell us to consider when voting this November?
You can erase this now, Doc Hall. I don’t know what I was thinking that voting had to do with emotional wholeness. Ha! Ha! Funny, though!
Hi, Doc Hall. I would like your permission to lower my now 15 mg dosage of Abilify to 10 mgs. My weight gain,while being on this medication, is starting to effect my self esteem. I work out, diet, and still, I have difficulty losing weight!
Also, mentally, I am strong enough to be on a lower dosage. I have been stable for years now, and can afford to take a chance, with lowering my dosage. Please consider this. Thanks!
And let me know, please.
Doc Hall,
I have a bad habit of seducing men, that I can’t realistically have. Recently, I had an encounter with a man, a close friend, who’s relationship I value dearly, where he admitted to liking me. At first, it freaked me out, cause he’s married. Then I realised, his intention was not to make me feel uncomfortable, but to ease a painful comment, he had said to me.
I believe that he does like me, and is attracted to me. But I don’t believe ‘ liking’ someone is wrong, nor do I think he did anything wrong in saying it to me.
This encounter with my close friend, Ron, has made me realize, that my seducing him all the time, is not fair to him, or me. Mostly, I realize I have certain vulnerabilities in my life that incline me to act like a ‘ seductress’. I lack romantic attraction in the relationship that I am in now.
Ron, is a really good man. And though there is some attraction to him, I can’t continue to ‘ corrupt him’ in such a manner. I fear he is worrying right now about what he said to me. I think he fears he has hurt our relationship. He has not. He has only made me realize certain things about myself, that need to be adjusted. I want to stay friends with him. What do you think is best for this relationship? Doc Hall, what do you think is best for him? Or do you think I’m overreacting to all of this?
Getting a divorce! Turns out I was right the whole time! Feeling closer to my self/ happiness! Feeling God’s love! In the riight direction! Proud of myself!
It saddens me to see what an ugly person, Tim is. I knew he was after the money, but this ugly.
Thinking, how nice it would be to have a brother, one to share my burdens with. Someone to look after me. In a normal family, that’s what brothers do. It’s hard sometimes, being alone. I just want to come home and feel Family, that’s all. Have that one thing in common, and not be alone. Just saying, it would have been nice, that’s all!
No need to worry, Doc Hall. Sad, that’s all.
I apologize Doc Hall, for my behavior, in the past two sessions. I treated you unfairly. I was rude, and, not nice. You are my favorite Doctor, a wonderful, smart, genuinely caring Doctor. You have helped me mentally cope with a lot of things in the past years. You are a good man, the best!! I know you will help me be happiest, healthiest, version of myself in the future. I consider myself blessed to have you as my Doctor☺️Take care! See you soon!
Hi, Doc Hall. I want to be a Big Sister, like we were talking about, giving back. Do you know, or have an idea of, who I can get in touch with, to start this? Please, let me know. Thanks 😊
Hope your having a nice weekend!😊
I just wanted you to know, it was hard for me to let you go.