Understanding Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity, neuroelasticity, or neural plasticity, is the ability of the brain to change continuously throughout an individual's life, e.g., brain activity associated with a given function can be transferred to a different location, the proportion of grey matter can change, and synapses may strengthen or weaken over time. The aim of neuroplasticity is to optimize the neural networks during phylogenesis, ontogeny, and physiological learning, as well as after a brain injury. Research in the latter half of the 20th century showed that many aspects of the brain can be altered (or are "plastic") even through adulthood. However, the developing brain exhibits a higher degree of plasticity than the adult brain.
Neuroplasticity can be observed at multiple scales, from microscopic changes in individual neurons to larger-scale changes such as cortical remapping in response to injury. Behavior, environmental stimuli, thought, and emotions may also cause neuroplastic change through activity-dependent plasticity, which has significant implications for healthy development, learning, memory, and recovery from brain damage. At the single cell level, synaptic plasticity refers to changes in the connections between neurons, whereas non-synaptic plasticity refers to changes in their intrinsic excitability.
How can Neuroplasticity help with depression and anxiety? Well in this anecdote I hope I can shed a little glimpse of how it can help an individual. When I was younger I went to the doctors after having multiple episodes of very negative, anxious and depressed fuelled thoughts and I was curious to try and find a solution, if there even is one. I went to the doctors and opened up about the issues I have with life and they suggested that the best strategy for me was to talk to a professional Wellbeing therapist, to which I agreed and proceeded to go to weekly appointments. Here I was finally introduced to what Neuroplasticity is all about, how over my life due to events and circumstances I have lived through my brain has created pathways of how I react and think in particular situations.
By associating my past experiences to the events that are currently happening in my life, or that inevitably will occur during my time on this planet, I have built into my brain that I must react in a certain way and that I have a predetermined feelings towards life events. I have allowed my continuous negativity to structure the way I interact with the world. My neurological pathways have strengthened to react in certain ways, to release a certain combination of neuro chemicals in my brain that makes me feel the way I do to specific situations. How do I fix these predetermined neurological pathways? Neuroplasticity shows that nothing is ever predetermined and set in stone. You can change how you think for the rest of your life, so to change a pathway you just have to adjust your mentality into trying to get the positives out of every single situation in the fastest way possible.
The Universe has a plan for us all, sometimes things can make absolutely no sense but every event and experience in our life is a test from the Universe to force us to learn and shape us into the people we ultimately will become. Use your time wisely, self-educate with relevant universal information to prepare yourself for all eventualities in life.