How Chronic Stress Increases Risk of Depression

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Health & Fitness, Health, Alternative Health

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 8 November 2025

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Chronic stress triggers a neutrophil invasion into brain-protective layers, driving depression-like behaviors through immune activation rather than just hormonal changes
Stress-induced immune signals hijack brain reward circuits, reducing dopamine and shifting neural activity toward threat detection over pleasure-seeking behaviors
Prolonged stress damages brain mitochondria, reducing cellular energy production while creating an inflammatory feedback loop that worsens mood and cognitive function
Interferon pathways and inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 cross into the brain, directly altering neuron firing patterns in emotional regulation centers
Natural interventions including healthy carbohydrates, regular exercise, positive thinking, creativity, and physical touch help counter stress-induced immune activation and protect mental health

Transcript

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0:00.0	What if the reason you feel flat, unmotivated, and withdrawn, isn't a mindset problem at all,
0:05.2	but an immune response rewiring your brain?
0:08.7	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen
0:13.4	summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go. No reading required.
0:18.0	Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights.
0:22.1	Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. I'm Ethan Foster,
0:27.0	and today we're examining how chronic stress escalates into depression by activating immune
0:32.1	cells, blunting dopamine, and weakening your brain's energy systems. I'll guide the flow so you can connect the
0:39.0	latest findings to what you're feeling day to day. I'm Alara Sky. The central idea is
0:45.1	straightforward. Long-term stress repeatedly triggers your stress response systems and pushes
0:50.9	immune activity into a persistent, low-grade inflammatory state.
0:56.4	A new nature communication study shows this isn't just about hormones like cortisol.
1:01.3	It's about immune cells invading protective brain layers and shaping behavior.
1:06.0	Key insight for why standard antidepressants miss the mark for many.
1:10.5	Researchers used chronic social defeat stress
1:12.6	to model ongoing social pressure
1:14.6	and then watch the meninges, the layers protecting your brain.
1:18.6	After repeated stress, neutrophils, the first responder immune cells,
1:22.6	surged into these borders.
1:24.6	The animals shifted toward anxiety-like behavior and anhedonia,
1:29.2	avoiding social contact and ignoring normal reward cues. That pattern suggests immune activation near
1:35.6	your brain is a driver, not a bystander. The magnitude and persistence were notable.
	...

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