A Brain on Fire: How Inflammation Plays a Role in Anxiety & Depression

Diagnosed cases of anxiety and depression are at an all-time high. More than 40 million American adults have some form of anxiety (nearly 20 percent of the population) while 21 million suffer from depression.^{1 2} Rates among children and adolescents are also increasing.³ Certainly in the world we live in, feeling anxious or sad sometimes is normal, but when those feelings become consistent and overwhelming to the point of affecting daily functioning and reducing your quality of life, it’s time to look deeper and find help.

There are just as many causes of anxiety and depression as there are ways to cope, but we’re beginning to understand that inflammation plays a significant role in the development of mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. Where does the inflammation come from, and more importantly, how do you quench the fire?