The Truth About Depression: More Than Just a Chemical Imbalance

For years, we’ve often been told that depression is caused by a simple “chemical imbalance” in the brain.
That something’s gone wrong with our serotonin levels, and that’s why we feel low.
And while there is some truth to this explanation, it can also feel disempowering, as if something in us is broken, and there’s nothing we can do but wait or medicate.

But the truth is far more hopeful.
And far more human.

Depression Is Complex — But Not Random

Yes, brain chemistry plays a role in depression.
But what shapes that chemistry in the first place?

This is where things get interesting, and empowering.
Modern neuroscience shows that our thoughts, behaviours, sleep, stress levels, relationships, and even the amount of sunlight we get can all influence the same brain chemicals tied to mood.

In other words, those so-called “chemical imbalances” don’t just appear out of nowhere.
They’re often the result of the environments we’re in and the experiences we’ve had, especially over time.

This isn’t about blame.
It’s about understanding that depression isn’t a flaw or a malfunction.
It’s a signal that something needs care.

How Life Shapes Our Brain Chemistry

Imagine going through chronic stress, loneliness, poor sleep, or ongoing self-criticism.
These things don’t just affect us emotionally — they physically alter how the brain functions.

Over time, stress chemicals like cortisol increase.
Feel-good chemicals like serotonin and dopamine decrease.
The brain becomes more focused on threat, less open to hope, and stuck in patterns that reinforce the low mood.

But here’s the hope: just as the brain can shift into depression, it can also shift out of it.

And often, it doesn’t take huge life changes to begin.
Gentle routines, meaningful connection, small moments of joy, movement, and achievable goals can all start to nudge the brain back into balance.

Proactive, Not Passive: You Have More Influence Than You Think

At Trancespire, I work with clients who often feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected, and unsure how to move forward.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy offers a gentle yet powerful way to reconnect with that sense of possibility.
Instead of analysing the past or digging into what’s “wrong,” we focus on what’s going well, even if it’s small.
We look at what’s possible. What feels manageable. What brings even a flicker of hope.

When clients begin to notice and build on tiny signs of progress, the brain starts to change.
New neural pathways are created.
Stress hormones reduce.
Mood-regulating chemicals begin to balance.
And more importantly, people begin to feel like themselves again; even if just for a moment at first.

It’s not always a dramatic shift.
Often, it’s quiet. Gradual.
Like a soft light beginning to return where there was once fog.

You're Not Broken. You're Adaptable.

Depression is real. It’s heavy. And it’s never your fault.

But it’s also not permanent.
Your brain isn’t fixed in one state. It responds to everything you’ve been through; and it can respond to healing, too.

This means you’re not stuck. You’re not weak. You’re human.

And with the right support, the fog can begin to lift.
Not all at once. But step by step.

If You’re Ready to Feel Differently

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is a calm, supportive approach designed to help you move forward; without needing to relive the past.

Together, we’ll focus on what’s possible for you.
What helps. What matters.
And how you can begin to feel more like you again.

📍 Based in Llangorse, near Brecon, Hay-On-Wye, and Crickhowell, Wales — also available online UK-wide.
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