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Depression or “pure depression” may be defined by markedly increased activity in the deep limbic area of the brain. The deep limbic area contains several parts one of which is the amygdala, also referred to as the “reptile brain” which is plays a major part in the Fight or Flight response that we all respond […]
Depression or “pure depression” may be defined by markedly increased activity in the deep limbic area of the brain. The deep limbic area contains several parts one of which is the amygdala, also referred to as the “reptile brain” which is plays a major part in the Fight or Flight response that we all respond to as humans.
When we concentrate the deep limbic area is at rest. When the amygdala comes on line in response to a threat or perceived threat, that is when we are afraid/experiencing fear the prefrontal cortex de-activates. The prefrontal cortex is is the brain’s supervisor meaning it is in charge of attention span, forethought, impulse control, organization, motivation and planning. It also modulates energy levels, goal setting ability and some personality functions. There is a lot of responsibility for your brain’s supervisor!
Have you said or perhaps heard someone say “I can’t think straight” or “I just can’t think”? If one is in Fight or Flight mode then one simply CANNOT “think straight. The part of your brain that plans, organizes and is in charge of forethought is shut down. No worries, it will come back online. Depressed persons may experience difficulty in the areas of attentiveness, being easily distracted, off task and even impulsive. (Yes these are also symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder but for the purpose of today’s writing we will focus on depression.)
If a person is diagnosed as clinically depressed a combination of psychotherapy and medication is often the best course of action, realizing that psychotropic medication is meant to be a short term endeavor to help provide relief. Also that psychotropic medication without psychotherapy will most likely not be of much benefit and ultimately will not suffice to provide relief of depressive symptoms.
Wellbutrin, generic name of Bupropion can be of help to increase energy, improve focus and help with achievement. In addition to this medication one will benefit from adding the following lifestyle improvements: exercise (especially in fresh air), eating more protein and less carbohydrates (keeping carbs as mostly if not all complex carbs), and learning techniques to quell negative thought patterns. Milder cases of depression may respond to all of the above without the prescribing of psychotropics such as Wellbutrin.
If the limbic system is frequently shutting down the prefrontal cortex it may also be due to any of the following: physical illness, drug or alcohol abuse, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) which is frequently diagnosed at Colorado’s higher elevations, infections, brain trauma (TBI) or exposure to toxic substances. Additionally if you have a low red blood cell count it may impair treatment of depression. In which case a primary care physician might prescribe Vitamin B-12.
I am not a physician and I am not trained to prescribe medication. I can however recommend what has proven to be beneficial. Some persons with pure depression have seen symptom relief by using DLPA (DL-phenylalanine, L-tyrosine, and SAMe ( S-Adenosyl Methionine.
DLPA increases adrenaline.
L-tyrosine boosts energy levels, mood and metabolism. May increase motivation and improve concentration. It would be taken 2-3 times per day. The recommended amount that is often suggested is100 -500 mg for children and 500 - 1500 mg for adults.
SAMe has been described as one of the best natural anti-depressants . It aids in neurotransmitters function. The recommended amount that is often suggested is 200 -400 mg@ 2-4 times per day.
If you choose to take a natural supplement always consult with your primary care physician concerning benefits, possible drug interactions and physical health conditions and your psychiatrist if you are currently prescribe psychotropic mediations.
Unfocused anxiety/ depression is not pure depression. You may be experiencing a combination of symptoms that are primarily depressive with some anxiety. If this is the case there is too little activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, the brains’s supervisor.
There is increase activity in the deep limbic system or the basal ganglia (one part of that complex deep limbic system) This would mean you are experiencing inattentiveness, distraction, boredom, off task behavior and possibly impulsive behavior. (Sounds like those ADD symptoms again, right? Sometimes adult ADD and depression with anxious features overlap. This is where consulting a trained therapist is the best route and not trying to sort it all out on your own.)
I am not a physician and I am not trained to prescribe medication. I can however recommend what has proven to be beneficial to some persons experiencing mixed anxiety/depression. Some persons have seen symptom relief by using St. Johns Wort, L-tryptophan, 5HTP or Vitamin B6.
L-tryptophan would best be taken at bedtime, 1000 - 3000 mg.
5HTp is said to be 5 - 10 times more powerful than L-tryptophan and would be taken 2- 3 times per day, 50 -100 mg]
Vitamin B-6 would be taken at 50 mg per day.
If you choose to take a natural supplement always consult with your primary care physician concerning benefits, possible drug interactions and physical health conditions and your psychiatrist if you are currently prescribe psychotropic mediations.
In addition these lifestyle changes will help bring relief to mixed anxiety/ depression: exercise (especially in fresh air), eating more protein and less carbohydrates (keeping carbs as mostly if not all complex carbs), and learning techniques to quell negative thought patterns, psycho-education, psychotherapy and support groups.
Filed Under: ADD, adult ADD, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, brain, depression, depression and medication, natural supports, therapy Tagged With: #anxiety, #Boulder, #colorado, #Highland, #pagosa Springs, #telluride, ADD, Adult ADD, amygdala, anti-depressants, attention deficit disorder, depression, limbic. TBI, psychotherapy, reptile brain, therapy, traumatic brain injury
This is the first in a series of blogs related to the Autism Spectrum. I hope you will find it worthy of your time. Until recently Autism and Aspergers Disorder were defined separately and now are contained within the designation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This blog post addresses across the spectrum. Throughout my life […]
This is the first in a series of blogs related to the Autism Spectrum. I hope you will find it worthy of your time. Until recently Autism and Aspergers Disorder were defined separately and now are contained within the designation of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This blog post addresses across the spectrum.
Throughout my life I have interacted with individuals on the Spectrum. My first experiences with autism were in college as a Special Olympics volunteer, a Boys Club worker, a VISTA Volunteer in a preschool for developmental delays and in a a county "Community School" in Appalachia. In my art teaching career I continue d to interact via art in the public schools. Late in graduate school practicum and internship I connected once again with autistic clients. More recently I worked at Foothills Gateway in Fort Collins engaging with adults on the Spectrum and in my private practice on the Front Range. I have been blessed with grandson who is on the Spectrum. I have a love for working with young adult "Aspies" and their families and continue to do so in the Montrose area.
Individuals diagnosed with ASD have one-sided social interactions. They can be intensely absorbed in circumscribed topics. They are often socially isolated. It si important to point out that they are not unaware of the presence of others. Individuals on the Spectrum are interested in making friends. Two limiting factors in this area are: social awkwardness and insensitivity to interpersonal communications.
Individuals on the Spectrum experience difficulty reading facial expressions, in particular recognizing fear. Research shows they tend to identify/ see separate facial features but not the face as a whole. the brain science part to this is what is called damage to mirror systems. This damage creates deficits in reading biological emotions. (refer to the writings of Louis Cozolino to further your knowledge.)
More brain science? There are speculations / theories as tot eh cause of damage to mirror systems but no definitive answer yet. ASD individuals also avoid making eye contact They are relatively 'blind" to the idea of significance of direction of eye gaze.Research shows ASD individuals have some structural irregularities in the cerebellum region of the brain. The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating motor movements, controlling muscle tone, maintaining equilibrium and balance, modulating and timing language and modulation and timing in affect regulation. Thats a lot of function! And much of this function is relevant to how ASD individuals interact and relate to others.These irregularities show up in dysregulation of how one experiences one's body in time and space. The result is avoidance of unpredictable stimuli. ASD individuals prefer sameness and predictability. Another result is rhythmic self stimulation. The internal absence of equilibrium/ balance/ modulation, or the internal regulation of sensory input is chaotic internally The ASD person's response is self stimulation via rhythmic movement to quiet the chaos. Sometimes as a family member we see an individual that is "set off", over stimulated and we are unable to understand what the source is. We look for a trigger. It may simply be internal chaos that the individual is coping with. So their "go to" is self regulation coping strategies.
The cerebellum helps us organize sensory and motor input. It has been suggested that the cerebellum plays a role in affect regulation, attachment and positive self image. The cerebellum helps us attune to others by eye contact, shared gaze, positive share interactions. These functions are disrupted and creates some deficits as the brain is developing. The deficits in affect regulation, social judgement and empathy happen as the frontal brain circuits ads develop and they are connected to the cerebellum. We also rely on close relationships for these three qualities to take shape: affect regulation, social judgement and empathy. So the input from family interactions, therapy and social skills training are of great importance to the ASD individual giving them support and growth opportunities.
Our brains are shaped by experience. Our brains reflect what we learn. As we connect an d grow and gain in socialization our brain neurons connect and grow and gain complexity. Relationships have a huge effect in regulating our growth of neurons. Relationships can increase the neural growth, increase our metabolic activity and increase our metabolic growth. Maybe that is another blog topic for another day?
To summarize, ASD individuals can gain social skills including empathy, facial recognition/ emotion reading ability and can overcome to some degree the mirror system damage to the cerebellum.
All the Best and Be Well,
Sally
Sally Blevins MA LPC
If you are interested in assessment for therapy related to Autism Spectrum Disorder please contact Sally Blevins MA LPC at Connect Therapies LLC. We can coordinate care as follows:
Sally Blevins MA LPC, www.connecttherapiesllc.com/contact Connect Therapies for psychotherapy with higher functioning individuals, family support and coaching, referral to ABA services, referral to accessible online evaluations without the typical six month waiting period and without the need to travel to the Front Range.Connect Therapies takes Rocky Mountain Health Plan Medicaid and Prime.
Over The Rainbow Consulting, https://www.otrbehavior.com for ABA therapy, testing and evaluation, services for lower functioning individuals, family support and coordinating educational support.
Clear Child Psychology, www.clearchildpsychology.com for assessment using the CADE online assessment tool, less wait time for assessment followed by referral to therapist including those who take Medicaid, family support, coaching, educational support including online learning.
Filed Under: ASD, Autism Tagged With: ABA, art therapy, ASD, Aspergers, Aspies, assessment, autism assessment, autism spectrum, autism support, brain, therapy