Persson Psychology

11/04/2025

There are many ways to treat depression. Asking for help shows courage.

Brain scans reveal depression isn’t just a chemical imbalance

For years the world was told depression comes from “low serotonin.” A simple chemical switch in the brain. But new brain imaging research is rewriting the story. Scientists are now seeing depression not as one broken molecule but as a complex shift in brain circuits emotions stress response systems and even inflammation. The brain is not just missing a chemical. It is struggling to process the world.

Modern scans show changes in how brain regions talk to each other. Circuits tied to emotion memory and motivation can go quiet or misfire. Chronic stress can physically reshape neural pathways. Trauma can leave fingerprints deep in the mind. Depression is not a flaw in your personality and it is not a single chemical error. It is the brain adapting to pain overload stress and life experiences in ways we are only beginning to understand.

This changes something important. If depression is complex healing can be too. Medication may still help but it is not the only answer. Therapy lifestyle shifts purpose social support and trauma work all matter. You are not broken and you are not simple. Your brain is powerful and layered and every pathway that changed can be rebuilt in time.

Science is catching up to something people with depression always knew. It is real it is deep and it deserves understanding not blame.

09/23/2025

The American Psychological Association is deeply concerned about the Administration’s recent announcement on autism.

Promoting unsupported scientific theories risks fueling stigma, undermines public trust and distracts from real scientific progress.

09/23/2025

More information on Autism and it's causes from the APA

The American Psychological Association is deeply concerned about the Administration’s recent announcement on autism.

Promoting unsupported scientific theories risks fueling stigma, undermines public trust and distracts from real scientific progress.

09/23/2025

There's been a lot of news lately regarding mental health and treatment. I encourage you to employ your critical thinking when evaluating these stories. Some of the news stories from and policies of the current administration are based on inconclusive and/or tenuous relationships that do not reflect cause and effect. Tylenol has not been shown to cause autism, although the relationship has been studied for years with inconclusive results. It is true that Autism has been diagnosed more frequently in the past twenty years, a phenomenon more likely attributed to greater understanding of the disorder and increased screenings for it. The current administration also recently suggested that mental health screenings ought to be discontinued in schools over concerns that individuals may be stigmatized. There is research that demonstrates support for targeting the mental and physical health of children with early interventions provide the greatest impact for treating and resolving many issues our children face today. The real issue is removing the stigma of mental illness, screening for it, and obtaining treatment. Again, please use your critical thinking skills when reviewing the latest news and consider information from a variety of sources. Your mental health care provider is one of those sources and can offer information that is supported by current research and thinking. Be informed and be well.

08/02/2025

08/02/2025

Wake up. Sit. Breathe. Connect within to your source of faith.

Now you're ready to step into the day making choices, taking actions, confident that life will work out. You are unshakeable living life from the inside out. ~xoxo Michelle & Barb

08/02/2025