[exotic]

This is of particular interest to me. Primarily due to the fact that a couple of episodes last year ( heart break + death of my sister) triggered some sort of a depression.

My symptoms are slight amnesia, not being able to express my self clearly in speech (which is a cyclic effect , it further affects my confidence resulting in increased depression) , social anxiety , unclear thinking and a general feeling of hopelessness and lack of faith in my self and my own abilities.

Im a normal guy who enjoys life , I play Golf , go to the Gym , love music and enjoy a beer or two with friends who i am comfortable with. In school i took part in theater , public speaking, debates etc so this predicament is very discomforting for me. This condition has started to affect my performance at work and neither do i want to go out and meet new people. It has affected my confidence to the extent that I do not want to speak out for the fear of saying something that might not make sense.

Anyway the point of this thread is pertains to the article posted above which says the transcription factor GATA1 is responsible for the regulation of the genes that are behind normal cognitive functioning . What is not clear because the article contradicts itself when it initially says that "deactivation of a single genetic switch can instigate a cascading loss of brain connections in humans and depression in animal models" and later on "We show that circuits normally involved in emotion, as well as cognition, are disrupted when this single transcription factor is activated."

Would really appreciate some responses here clearing the air and also if there are people here suffering with the same condition who could share some advice /medication or how to go about correcting , what i believe is this malfunction in the brain due to certain stressful emotional events in the past , because i really do want to lead a normal life since i am the only surviving child and need to provide for my family .

Warm Regards

Akhil

edit : I cannot post a link to the article because i need atleast 10 posts here to post one. That is unfair !! please Google "transcription factor gata-1 cognitive" and hopefully it will take you to the psych central article that i am referring to .

[Rohag]

Thanks, Exotic/Akhil!

Stress, Depression Reduce Brain Volume Thanks to Genetic ‘Switch’
By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on August 13, 2012

Scientists have known that stress and depression can cause the brain to retract or lose volume, a condition associated with both emotional and cognitive impairment. Now, a new study discovers why this occurs. ...