| There is often a social stigma associated with | | | | because they seem to affect only serotonin, not |
| clinical depression, that a person who suffers from | | | | other neurotransmitters. |
| depression has a certain negative personality or is | | | | Antidepressants may also play a |
| a loner, etc. But this stigma is quite far from the | | | | neuroprotective role in how they relieve anxiety |
| biological truth. By understanding the biological | | | | and depression by increasing the effects of brain |
| mechanism of depression and the role of | | | | receptors that help nerve cells keep sensitivity to |
| serotonin and the medications used to treat it, | | | | glutamate — an organic compound of a |
| SSRIs, (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) can | | | | nonessential amino acid — in check. This |
| help to dismantle this notion. You see, there are | | | | increased support of nerve cells lowers sensitivity |
| brain chemicals called neurotransmitters associated | | | | to glutamate and provides protection against the |
| with depression, including the neurotransmitter | | | | glutamate overwhelming and exciting key brain |
| serotonin and some research suggests that | | | | areas related to anxiety and depression. |
| abnormalities in neurotransmitter activity affect | | | | Antidepressant medications are often the first |
| mood and behavior as in depression. What | | | | treatment choice for adults with moderate or |
| SSRIs do is relieve symptoms of depression by | | | | severe depression, sometimes along with |
| blocking the reabsorption (reuptake) of serotonin | | | | psychotherapy. Although antidepressants may not |
| by certain nerve cells in the brain, leaving more | | | | cure depression, they can help you achieve |
| serotonin around in the brain. This enhances | | | | remission — the disappearance or nearly |
| neurotransmission, the sending of nerve impulses | | | | complete reduction of depression symptoms. |
| and improves mood. SSRIs are called selective | | | | |