How do ssri antidepressants work?

Have you ever been so down in the dumps that crawling back into your mother’s womb was starting to sound pretty good? Well, there might not be a direct flight back to that warm and cozy place but SSRI antidepressants can help elevate your mood. They don’t work overnight but give them some time, and they’ll do what they’re supposed to – take you from “oh my gosh life is over” to “I guess things aren’t that bad after all.”

What are SSRIs?

Before we get into how these wonderful little pills can lift your spirit and energy level, let’s talk about what exactly are these SSRIs. Short for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, they come under the ‘antidepressant’ umbrella of medication.

Now folks usually have heard of two major neurotransmitters in their lifetime—dopamine & serotonin (there this no such thing as too much TV time). The latter plays an essential role in regulating our moods. When discussing SSRI medications, it’s important to understand serotonin receptors- 5HT1A,5HT2A, 5HT4, etc., function differently throughout different parts of the brain -crazy right?

Researchers truly believe using SSRI meds lead us closer towards creating individual treatment plans which include everything from lifestyle changes with therapy & consulting A SHAMAN for guidance while living through our Saturn Return (no I haven’t gone off on a tangent)

How Do These Tiny Pills Work Their Charm?

Alright here comes science! But Keanu Reeves moment where he says- “Woah”, because things just got really interesting

Looking Deep Within Your Physiology:

The working mechanism behind some of the most common ssri antidepressants is higher levels available within specific areas /structures within the human brain via functioning similarily like transporters by preventing the loss or reuse of serotonin within the brain.

Hippocampus, amygdala and prefrontal cortex

So this is where things get a little technical using specific parts of our body that we never thought could do us any good- Hippocampus, Amygdala & Prefrontal Cortexes.

The three different areas focus on Memory Capacity (hippocampus), processing Emotions (amygdala) while keeping Tabs on behavior & emotional regulations entirely(prefrontal).

Serotonin helps regulate all these functions by binding to various receptors in these regions.

However, the levels of serotonin aren’t always stable; they can vary depending upon factors such as age, sex & diet -crunchy PB  vs. CreamyPB which for avid peanut butter lovers book therapy sessions

This imbalance at times often leads people into feeling inexplicable lows in life when it feels like everything’s falling apart(Im talking about those days you didn’t just lose your keys but have also ended up loosing all faith in humanity)

SSRIs come to the rescue by elevating and maintaining appropriate levels of serotonin available for receptor interactions thus helping individuals retain balance(QUIZ! Who else does an excellent job portraying “balance” ? ITS THE DAMN AVATAR PEOPLE!!! )2 seasons are dope trust me its worth watching every episode (ok back to the article)

What Do SSRIs Target?

Now let’s talk targets. Yes folks that’s right I said target because we’re discussing SSRI antidepressants not a war zone, so don’t worry no bombs will be dropped here!

To understand how SSRI meds work their magic we must first understand neurotransmitters themselves.

Neurotransmitters ferry signals from one neuron(probably your wealthy neighbour with 6 cars but who knows -could literally be anyone) towards another through synapses carrying not only excitatory messages BUT inhibitory ones as well.

Serotonin happens to be a neurotransmitter that’s typically inhibitory in nature. The greater the number of serotonin levels activate throughout receptors, the weaker there is an inclination towards firing off neuronal signals which often lead to unwanted feelings and emotions such as anxiety or depression(so yes those insta quotes on “good vibes only” DOES make sense)

SSRIs target Serotonin transporters & blocks them from their usual job- reuptaking released serotonin for future uses by binding it again into presynaptic neurons(its like catching up with your ex with no gain whatsoever).

When these transporter proteins are inactive due to the use of medication SSRIS help keep serotonin available longer near presynaptic neuron. This increase allows further contacts between receptor sites while conveying therapeutic benefit improving mood & desire.

Common SSRI Antidepressants

Before we wrap things up here let’s cover some common antidepressant medications one might come across:

  1. Fluoxetine      
  2. Citalopram       
  3. Escitalopram               
  4. Paroxetine
    5.Sertraline

Now that you know what they’re called let me tell you none of these pills will make cows jump over moons or dogs start talking (sorry, cartoon fans) But hopefully this little article gave insight into how ssris function actively navigated within our brains -creepy right?

So now you understand how seretonin intercepts messages transmitted through different parts of our brain influencing behavior/personality traits/headache positions — who knows maybe next time instead loosing itself walking out of your mind thought-castle (when im mid-sentence especially),serotonin can build us a beautiful bridge so we never have feel lost/alone/inexplicable lows; therefore allowing us to connect & look above not below!

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