Agreed, but those are not the only factors that can cause a person to think negatively about themselves. Lots of people from living, supportive families can develop depression and have negative perceptions of themselves.
Our child had an amazing amount of attention and love. It’s so much more complex that thatn “childhood abuse or neglect.” Any little setback caused him to go into an emotional downward spiral. Genetics can determine how a child interprets the world. He spoke early and if he broke something he would form a belief about himself. He said, “Everything I i touch I break.”Of course we tried to reassure him that that wasn’t true but our efforts came to naught.
@@kiwikim5163 I totally agree with you. 💯 You have to live it in order to understand it and no one can tell another person what is their experience. If depression and anxiety run in one’s family, no amount of love, understanding and attention can prevent you from experiencing negative thoughts. Medication is necessary if the symptoms are severe. Talk therapy with the right therapist is the best. It’s just so difficult finding excellent therapists. I’ve learned not to get discouraged. Luck in finding the right people in your life with whom you can connect is crucial.
@@keilana6 We come into this world with our personalities, and in the course of all of my child development and behavior classes I’ve come to believe that we are who we are. We change in some respects as we mature, and if we’ve had trauma in our lives and therapy, but we are who we are.
After that study was out I was expecting psychiatrists worldwide would stop advising their patients to use antidepressants yet nothing changed. And nothing will until people wake up and stop trusting doctors without questioning their motives.
I'll point out that the study doesn't prove that antidepressants don't have any benefit for treating depression. Just that it's not a simple explanation that depression is caused by too little serotonin.
But it’s Far more than that….These Docs are being trained to just give drugs….Big Pharma RUNS the medical schools in the USA anyway….follow the money..do some searches online. They are NOT being trained to even think for themselves and if they do these crazy laws etc Muzzle them. Some Docs do care and do think outside the box like this Dr… but depending where they practice they are not always “permitted “ to share that knowledge with you. Look at what California is now doing to their Docs regarding ANY INFO about the treatment of Covid or Vax injury that does not FOLLOW WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DEEMS CORRECT (Aka what they are Forcing on us as “truth”) . We do All need to WAKE up to the VERY FEW who run the world and what their PLAN for US as a collective.
The antidepressants don’t work generally, majority of the time they make depression worse. It’s beneficial to the pharmaceutical companies though. Sometimes it’s as simple as diet change and change of surroundings that helps heal depression.
@@christinafaulder - I would so wish that was through. My world has changed 180 degrees. I was an active social father & flight attendant of 27 years. After my operation, my physiology changed. I had palpitations & insomnia for almost 2 months. Then it was sorted with homeopathy meds. I was ok only to be hit by extreme sadness & crying spells & no desire to go out. But I kept At trying to get better naturally. Sun , cold showers, breathing. Walking in water , eating clean. More water . Trying to exercise but hardly able to push myself. Now I’m on meds . I’m 8 days only broke down once but energy still Low. Trying to be positive, lost all interest in things I love. Had images of death in my nightmares.
A very wise man once said “If your depressed stop thinking depressing thoughts!” We have patterns of thinking that create depression. You want to beat depression ask yourself a very important question: what would it take for you NOT to be depressed. Whatever that answer is start working toward it even if it’s only baby steps.
It’s frustrating to hear a therapist say that CBT is the best he has to offer. I went to counseling off & on for over 20 years without much relief for depression because none of the therapists identified or understood my childhood trauma. We have an increasing need for more therapists trained to help the traumatized.
@@phillipwareham7761 So are you suggesting that we don't use evidence based treatments? I'm not sure what the alternative is. Non-evidence treatments that are just whatever a person thinks should happen? No one would ever want non-evidence based heart surgery, so why should we strive for non-evidence based psychological treatments?
@@DrRamiNader That is the most irresponsible comment to make to sufferers of PTSD!!! You don't have a clue to make such a statement. "Exposure-based therapies" covers a wide range of therapies. EMDR can help relieve PTSD symptoms, but talk therapy usually makes it worse. Every therapist wants to sell their method as good for trauma treatment, because it's good for business. Try reading the personal accounts of PTSD and CPTSD sufferers online (Facebook groups and mental health websites), and you will get the real stories of what helps and what doesn’t help. What we need are therapists with humility and a genuine care for their patients. Not therapists with arrogant attitudes that they and their schooling knows best. The latter are doing trauma sufferers more harm than good. Taking their money for treatment that does not really help. It is heartbreaking 💔😢 Trauma specialists
I was an RN when Prozac first came out. It was out of research for antidepressants/psychotropic drugs that didn't have the permanent adverse reactions of the older tricyclic and MAOIs like tardive diskenesia, uncontrollable movements of the mouth, face or hands, tics. These movements were a direct result of the medication and because it was common knowledge that they came from psych meds a person faced the stigma of "being crazy" as well as "buggy" because of these movements. Then, wonder of wonders, ta da, SSRI. My jaw hit the floor the day I saw my first TV commercial for a med to help with "TD". I remember yelling at the TV "ARE YOU SHITTING ME?". What infuriated me the most is that it has been almost forty years and just now is anything said about SSRI causing the same problems. How many people have gone through a tough time, been given this poison and now have a condition that can be moderated by yet another new medicine? If they had been told by their MD that this chronic lip smacking was possible before they started taking the antidepressant, would've said no thank you. FORTY YEARS AND NOT A WHISPER
Oh my goodness! I know, right? It’s quite horrifying.. about 10 plus years ago, I got very sick with a rare autoimmune disease. In the beginning, I had tachycardia & symptoms of asthma… So, of course, I had depression, right? Lol … So the first thing my foolish self tried was Paxil. This may sound crazy, but fortunately for me, my symptoms worsened significantly within a relatively short amount of time… and I was admitted to the Mayo Clinic and my 10 year journey began… I say “fortunately” because I got to the point where at least my symptoms were so obvious as to not be ignored, or written off as depression. But, all of that said, 10 years later, I am STILL having to take Poison (I was giddy when I saw you refer to depression rx as poison, that’s how I refer to my Paxil to anyone & everyone I can manage). And it’s not a lack of trying to stop; in 10 years, I’ve tried at least 5 different times to stop, to no avail. I can taper down to about 20 mg, but any lower, and it’s intolerable. I can’t sleep, or if I do, I have night terrors and/or sleepwalking. Not only do I have terrible tremors, but my legs randomly jerk & twitch, on an almost constant basis. I randomly can’t swallow, slur my words, and, a lovely pair of facial tics, eye & cheek are the cherry on top of my Poison Potion called Paxil. At least it is for me; no offense to anyone who successfully uses/has used it, but it’s a very frustrating thing. Especially now- 10 years later, when I actually HAVE developed depression, and have to take a depression drug that not only doesn’t help, but makes it worse, but I have absolutely no choice but to continue to take it for the rest of my life, or until someone can figure out the “anti-venom” Ha Ha Ha 🤭 And really? The commercials?? Please tell me… how is that legal? I mean, I think we KNOW the answer to that; lobbyists, politicians, and the like who have the conscience of a gnat. Sorry to the gnats. It’s despicable, the people who are supposed to represent our best interests; sold our very health to the highest bidders. It’s absolutely shocking to see the statistics about the impact of advertising pharmaceuticals. And, I was right there with you! Jumping up & down probably uses your words exactly when I saw that ridiculous medication for “TD”… “Here, take this medication to help with the damage this last product of ours has caused…”. I saw a commercial the other day for a new pill advertised for women to relieve heavy period bleeding from fibroids. Ahhhh…. That sounds like a REALLY good idea. What happened to the IUD? I thought THAT took care of that? At least that’s what you told me… until I had to have it removed, along with my punctured uterus, thank you very much. So, yeah, I guess, they kind of did “cure” my heavy bleeding. Wow- I’m sorry. I’m ranting on your comment. Sorry, sorry, sorry- but I couldn’t agree more!!!
No apologies necessary. I'm the long winded rant queen. When texting became a thing, I didn't use it because I had a perfectly good landline and I'm not carrying a phone around because I need to be at the beck and call of the world. N answering machine. You called me. The machine now obligates me to call you. I prefer the old school method. If I don't answer the call I didn't make, the caller can try again. Then my grandchildren got old enough to have phones. For them, Granny is 24/7ish. HOWEVER, there are no text police and whoever decided that having a phone ding, doing or vibrate eight times to convey what a decent size note would say, is stupid. I say everything in one go. My texts are more like letters. I laugh to myself because people I text start out with short, small, 4 texts but end up just doing the easy way. Now to tie the ends of that together with your apology for length, when on a tear about something that I'm telling my daughter in law, I usually let her know it's almost over by saying; And in conclusion, I just noticed your name. My daughter has same first, middle is Lynn. She is a few months away from being a nurse practitioner in mental health, she's worked as an RN for many years in that area and her feelings are the same. She is appalled at the number of people, kids under twenty, teens, kids whose brains are still forming who are given this poison with no attempt at something like cognitive therapy. I feel deeply that this SHIT is the cause of a huge percentage of suicide especially in the young. You are in hell. There will be no antidote, no antigen in because that would admit damage and it took forty years for the TD crap. I get angry at people because things like this have touched everyone even if not directly and they are to busy to write a letter, send an email. The vex, I screamed and begged all my family not to take it. When this weapon first started, I was telling them this isn't a flue. I dug and dug. Everything that is talked about now, I was telling them. 2 had to have it for work, but they didn't really mind. I did wrestle a promise kids wouldn't get it. It's going to take 6 mths to a year before any talk will be allowed on the latest findings. Unvaxed women, with vaxed partners, have started having menstrual problems exactly like vaxed women. Previous studies have shown it was possible but now there is proof. Because the first place this virus hits is the nasopharynx. The short of it is, a vaxed person can exhale the MRNA. I'm going to go bang my head on the wall now. At least that has an actual benefit. It feels soo good when you stop. I wish I had some magic for you because all the I'm so sorrys, though well meant, don't do a damn thing because what happened to you is likely permanent and the cause of it was arrogance. The arrogance of everyone in the chain from the company all the way to the docs who decide that the sales rep said this works but didn't go any further.
Absolutely perfect and brilliant explanation. Our thoughts, good or bad, are huge factors in altering brain chemistry. Your manner of talking is a masterpiece of eloquence.
My theory on how antidepressants really work: 1. Antidepressants make you slightly less irritable. 2. Since you are not so irritated, you start treating people around you better. 3. They respond by treating you better. 4. You start to feel better because you are being treated better. This is accompanied by positive thoughts about life, and the future, making you feel even better. This can work absent of psychotherapy, but it probably works faster with. It doesn't work at all, if you are surrounded by #@%* jerks.
I foolishly retired from a job i loved... I lost interest in everything [ hobbies, activities, TV. the beach, etc] I feel no desires I feel no emotions I lost interest in life, and living..??? .... its called DEPRESSION ...when it happens, for whatever the the cause it was ... it happens! Im suffering so horribly. Mentally paralyzed.. with hopelessness 😢
@Rachaelc1776 Thank you for caring about me.... I'm not doing better.... sorry. I've become more isolated , and stopped excersizing. I don't eat well anymore. I have so much hate of myself. I canceled all my appointments, talked to a pastor and I called 988. I don't want to suffer anymore., I just don't. Thanks for caring 🫶
@klanderkal Hang in there! I'm right there with you, my depression and anxiety is literally killing me. It's overwhelming and just want to go to sleep and not wake up. I'm trying though...
@lg6814 Hey, Thank you, Wow, we are both in the same sinking boat. It really is overwhelming, and death seems the only escape for me. I'm trying too. I know what you are saying. Hang in there too, 🙏 I hope we both somehow snap-out of this. Enduring is getting more difficult. Stay Srong ... 🙌
@@klanderkal please hang in there. You can feel better again. It is good that you are reaching out for help. You can try to do something small each day that forms a positive routine, for example take a 10 minute walk every morning after breakfast. Something to start laying down positive pathways again. I care about you, stranger, and I wish you healing 🙏
When I start feeling awful, the sky, clouds, sun going down makes me feel intensly. It emotionally hurts me, the colors in the sky hurts me. I remember years ago during the day we were driving I couldn't look at the trees, sky, etc. I told my mom it all hurts me emotional makes me grieve and feel dispair. It's a. Awful feeling. Just going for a walk sometimes okay others - the cars going buy, the day, etc I feel grief.
It is my opinion after taking SSRIs for over 31 years and now finally off them for 18 months,that low Serotonin is a symptom not a cause,and antidepressants are like antihistamines that help with the symptoms of allergies. Prolonged stress and many other reasons causes Serotonin to lower over time,and acts as a warning to the mind to act. Using antidepressants in the very short term to get Serotonin levels quickly back to normal can help people to work on those causes and have therapy. Unfortunately,doctors are leaving patients on these medications for years, or telling them they're going to be on them for life,and people think they have a diseased brain and a permanent condition as you said.This is highly dangerous and counterproductive as many people like I did will become physically dependent on them, which ultimately leads to a much worse situation than before treatment. This is ruining millions of people's lives,and I am one of them.
Great person here. I’m m surprised you haven’t been banned by the cancel culture and misinformation hacks. I’m a veterinarian and I NEVER bought the serotonin hypothesis. How could something so complex be fixed by manipulating one chemical in a brain we still know so little about. 😮
When I had reached the bottom of my ability to suppress feelings...after fifty years of having done so...I was offered either talk therapy, or meds. I knew instinctively that my issues of low self worth and depression were NOT caused by a chemical imbalance. At that time, I did not know the root cause...that revelation came later; which is when my true healing journey began. I said no to the meds for three days, before I gave in. I just needed something...anything...to pick my chin off of the floor. They worked. I took them until I knew that my progress had brought me to a 'safe' level, where introspection and learning alone could carry the day. No pill can 'cure' that which life circumstances have distorted in the mind.
Cause & effect. My grandfather cheated on my grandmother repeatedly causing her depression. Insulin shock treatment numbed her out. When she died from all his abuse he replaced her with a much younger woman who delighted to take over his lovely home in a lovely neighborhood. His new young wife put him in a care home. He was beaten to death in that care home by the husband who found gramps in bed with his wife!. How depressing but true. Cause & effect. I rest my case.
That is why drug commercials are illegal in some countries like Germany. When i lived there, i had more peace away from constant commercials abd marketing of items, drugs, and all sorts of things that are put in your head. They used psychiatric research to make their product appealing. There should be a similar law in the usa to limit commercials to two per break instead of 5-6, and to not show any drug commercials except at your doctors office and clinic. A child does not need to see commercials for viagra and prozac after their cartoon at 2pm on a saturday. That's poison of the mind right there.
What to do when CBT or DBT just don't solve anything? This also ignores the real issue of fear that can cripple a person.It also overlooks the spiritual dimension that can lead to and keep one trapped in depression.
Have always had anxiety since childhood. Never had therapy due to finances. Been thinking a lot lately about just having someone to talk to about it would help. I don't know but tired of being isolated from others & not knowing how to change it. Insurance does not help, especially if you have an HMO.
Hi. That is not true for many people. They have some health problems that they havent identified yet or arent aware that those health issues are causing them their depression. Our environments are heavilly poluted, as well as our foods and everything around. And that affects us more than we know. Yes, everyone should be praying and having hope and faith. But, în many cases depression is really related to unfaced and unsolved traumas and other health issues. I know because I thought I might get rid of it with prayer but I couldnt...because I am very ill. My whole body is extremely ill and so my depression has gotten worse. And no amount of prayer can change my condition, unless I get treated for my health problems. And its complicated and it might not happen, because I have been trying for so long and havent been able to get a change for the better. So, lets just be a bit more inclusive and accept that there is proof that if youre body is sick în some way, your brain which is part of the body...will begin changing and depression will appear after some time.
When Prozac first came to market I had herniated a couple lower lumbar discs. I was in a lot of pain. I was told I needed an antidepressant to restore the serotonin that pain was using up. I was a nurse and thought it was BS but it was 'The plan', I took several different ones because of the problems they caused. 4 weeks after back surgery I my first grand mal seizure. I have them to this day. There is no question what caused it. The whole idea of the way the pharm industry is allowed to flimflam everyone is just evil.
Are you saying that Prozac caused the Grand Mal seizures or the back surgery created the seizures? Either way, we all need to be aware of side effects or after effects of everything we take and do.
@@malkaz9167 I had problems with Prozac, while speaking my, I don't know, vocal cords & part of my throat would just lock. I couldn't move my mouth or swallow but I could take very small breathes. The first time I panicked but I learned that if I could cough, not big because I couldn't breath that deep, but something about the little cough seemed to break it. Elavil made me shake so badly that I couldn't get a spoonful of food to my mouth. The shaking came with fine motor movements. I could pick up a spoonful of food but when I got to the part where you then have to, while keeping the utensil balanced, direct it to your mouth. That's when I would shake so badly I could barely hold the utensil. I can't remember the name of the next one but it caused a sudden and violent jerk. It could be an arm, a leg, my neck but it was usually one extremity. I've been reading and had my arm jerk so rapidly and with enough force that the book would fly across the room. One of the antidepressants made just my mouth freeze. I would be talking and then my mouth, my lips and tongue froze. A cough would break it. Up to this point I never had anything like this. With each one the problems started within about three days to a week from the first dose. Then they put me on Ludiomil. I didn't want to take any of it but it was take it or go elsewhere. This was late '80s and this style of treatment was 'all the rage'. The Ludiomil didn't bother me. I hadn't been able to go Christmas shopping so four weeks after my laminectomy, my mother took me to the mall so I could shop for my two small children. I have a vague recollection of that. My mother was resting on a bench, people watching while I was in Footlocker. She said she saw 2 EMTs running and a third was behind running with a stretcher. Then they ran into the store right behind her. She later said since I was in the store I could tell her what happened. I was a nurse so she assumed I was helping someone, probably a heart attack. She was about 20 ft from me but the mall was Christmas loud so she was almost panicked when she turned around and I was on the floor seizing. It took 15 minutes for the ambulance and Emits to fight the crowds to get to the mall and to me. During that time I was having one grand mal, now they say tonic clonic seizure after another. They said about the time one stopped and I was able to take a breath, another would start. They continued almost to the hospital. They are were giving me the standard diazepam but they hit their limit. I temporarily lost three years of memory, permanently lost three months. I woke up in a padded hospital bed thinking my kids were still toddlers and I was still working my very first job as an RN. Ludiomil is an old drug, used forever. Very shortly after my 'adventure' there were efforts to have it discontinued. They knew all along it was causing seizures and despite my adverse reactions, all related to my CNS, they gave me something known to cause CNS problems. This is just the first link in the chain of misery this kicked off. If I had it to do over, I would lie. I could feel something wasn't right but their protocol demanded it. In the month it took for the truth came out I struggled so with deep seated guilt. I have hydrocodone for pain. The shopping was starting to really cause pain. It had been three and a half hours since my last dose from prescription that was 1 to 2 every four hours. I ended up taking one 5mg tablet 20 minutes early and I thought I had brought this all on myself. My gut feeling shortly after the problems started before surgery had been to just tell them I'm taking it but just don't. I had no idea how deep the relationship was between AMA and pharmaceutical companies. Go to Duck Duck Go, cause you'll never find it on Google, and look up Neurontin. In the US, it's not just a seizure med, it's used for every type of chronic pain. There are no independent studies to confirm it but it's given for everything from seizures to halitosis. Other developed countries have banned off label use because none of the claims of its other uses can be proved. The whole chronic pain policy of using pain meds along with antidepressants to basically replenish neurotransmitters was based completely on greed. Apologies, I know your simple question didn't require a blow by blow telling of the whole sorry tale. I'm afraid I'm becoming one of those people who live to narrate the stories that must surely bring gushes of sympathy. I HAVE BECOME MY MOTHER!
@@AVToth OMG! You have been through so much and yet you are here to tell your story. Don’t be sorry for explaining to me what your life experience has been like. You are so strong to have struggled for so long, not knowing what was happening and not knowing what to expect in the future. All you wanted was to live your life and be with your family enjoying each day. Life is so unfair, sometimes, but I hope that things will greatly improve. My very best wishes to you and your family and thank you for taking the time to tell your story. Also, it’s so helpful to those who have had similar experiences. We can all learn from each other.
I've had both since my 20s. Right around the time bills and financial responsibilities came in coincidence? ....maybe chemical imbalance who knows I used to have panic attacks as well.
I prefer what research says to outdated family traditions in the Bible. Medical knowledge has come a long way since the Bible was written, and the Bible has not been updated for 2000 years. Reasonable, thinking people would not rely on any text that is so old.
When I was a therapist I told my clients "your dysfunction indicates your psychological plumbing is PERFECT". "Incorrect info in, incorrect belief/ behaviors out". We just needed to re-evaluate what you were told was true as you were growing up. Additionally, I required clients to attend some type of group while doing individual counseling with me. They could pick. AA, Al-Anon, Adult Children of Alcoholics, CODA, Overeaters, grief, etc. Why? Attending groups helped them save pain and money. An early pioneer of ACA work said "even if you could do recovery alone, you don't deserve to". We also used affirmations. :)
Thoughts are powerful and depression is real, i dipped my toes into it but what helped me was my thoughts. It was not easy but i changed so many things. Foe example: i avoid music that brings memories and instead started to read and listen to motivational stuff and it has helped so much. Also if your thyroid is out of wack you can suffer from depression. Been there .
Hi. Yep, and stomach or gut health is a major one. As well as liver and any other problem you might have. If you dont treat it, something else will become ill and that affects you and în time it leads to depression. Of course trauma has alot to do with it,but that also affects again your get and the whole body. And it causes a vicious circle. Nutrition and get health are very important. Even problems with your spine can cause depression. Just a few pointers for maybe someone that might need to know this.
Absolutely wonderful! I can vouch for what Dr. Nader says here. I realised that i had depression of so many years, starting from Childhood. It's difficult to say what is the cause and what were the consequences because you are hardly aware when the first causes start registering in you. Beyond a certain point consequences themself seem to become additional causes of more depression. It took very substantial re-framing of my beliefs about relationships, expectations, about money, and so much else apart from discipline, self-awareness, acceptance, assertiveness, gratitude, etc. over a number of years that give me a semblance of control over my life and my future. And i must say that my therapist did manage to persuade me to take some SSRi which luckily for me did not suit me and I did not take them for beyond two days.
fact is we all have times when our life or current state is in a place where it's difficult to think ourselves out of that. But really that's what you must do or at the very least see a positive in even the worst scenario. By understanding what the best and worst of the scenario is then we wont at least go around in circles. Writing it all down thoroughly and concisely enough that you can see exactly what you're up against and then don't need to go around chasing your thoughts. Situations for whatever the reason can be tough sometimes but the choices are that you let your them consume you or you get a grip and attempt to feel better by dealing with it somehow
Would love to hear your input on my situation. I have a genetic potassium disorder called hypokalemia periodic paralysis. I was experiencing muscle weakness and paralysis for years or rather decades. Finally after years of researching and with the help of a neurologist I started taking ( large doses of ) potassium which has improved the quality of my life in an amazing way. For years I was told i had bipolar or conversion disorder as the episodes of weakness or paralysis were preceded with a black hole depression that would start shortly before the paralysis.As you can see from a psychological viewpoint it looks trauma related but turns out it isn’t. Now that I am on potassium day and night not only did the weakness ( mostly) resolve, but the dark dark depression is , an indicator that the paralysis is coming , also is greatly relieved. Many other people with the same condition have had exactly the same results. We have been told it is because potassium affects serotonin levels. Can you tell me what else potassium controls if not the serotonin nlevels? After years of therapy my therapist is convinced this is not a psychological black hole but rather a symptom of low potassium that resolves consistently 20 minutes after taking potassium. Love to hear your take! Also please know I am not advocating others take high dose of potassium as it can cause a heart attack or arrhythmia in most people at the dose I am taking. Also know that it has not resolved “typical” psychological issues in my life that require therapy and meditation. Just this acute onset depression that is quite severe. Thanks!
This study confirms the simpler study, called a common-sense con-artist test. I have found depression in my life is largely a result of my rebellion against my parents and God. However, this diagnosis requires self-examination. And most people would rather take a drug to numb their senses than to humbly apologize and honor their parents (whether they deserve it or not, because it's the right thing to do) and live according to God's way of doing things (i.e. all ten commandments and the beattitudes). Find out what all your Christian ancestors always knew. It's amazing how happy you feel when you follow the Owner's manual.
Wow., You really are in touch and know your heart, Soul And God! I have 1 one very Close family member who is running away from GOD.. and myself .. ! And continue to Not take Responsibility for their life’s decisions… and what They are presently doing to me… at an older age…. And I’m being discarded! They have suffered much injustice BUT being A covert Narcissist have given out much despicable bad behaviour too! They refuse TO get professional help or to accept their wrong doing…., Or go on their knees.. to God.. ! I wish you a close and Blessed relationship with God!
C.S frogis you miss the point entirely. That's why millions of people who get down on there knees to God and are good to there parents suffer from depression. Has it ever occurred to you that people suffer depression caused by organized religion. It's damaged more peoples mental health than anything else has. It calls for a deep knowing of self a deep connection to soul that takes courage and willpower yes divine can help but the problem with depression is not just a case of getting on the knees to God and or being right with parents who have abused there kids in the most inhumane ways. Get real and don't push your religious dogma on to people.
Yep. "Multifactorial". That was a term that cropped up again and again in my sociological studies. A collective sigh would be let out by other students: one-to-one causality is what people are craving for, I guess. Thankyou for putting the 'complexity' back into this issue. I have been taking medications for nearly a decade now, but they are by no means 'fixers' on their own. Great video. 👍
Dr. Nader, thank you so much for your video, this one as well as all of your others. They are all so well done; very soothing & appealing, as well as such a great choice of topics. This one in particular grabbed my attention. I remember reading about that study, and it was a very impressive conclusion. I am sorry to say that you are the very first person that I’ve heard publicly address it. I have a question for you about my own experience, & I know you can’t comment on my situation exactly, but an opinion would be really helpful to me. About 2 years ago, I started really struggling with depression. I had a lot of physical symptoms that occurred at the same time, as well as an enormous weight gain of 40+ pounds in less than 6 weeks. I know that sounds impossible, but unfortunately, it’s true. Long story short, after an enormous amount of testing in this time, I have a lot of hormonal imbalances. I have very, very low T4 levels, undetectable TSH, & very elevated cortisol levels. My question for you is if it is possible that it CAN be that severe depression is the result of the above hormone levels? I am 49 years old, and up until 2 years ago, I’ve never had depression of any sort, nor any kind of anxiety. I have always been the “cup half full” kind of girl. After a lot of trauma in my life as a very young child, I was fortunate to have been able instill a habit of just refusing to allow bad or negative thoughts to be given anything beyond acknowledgment. Fast forward to now, I feel like a pompous fool. I had no idea how difficult it would be to endure depression, it’s by far the most terrifying & painful experience I’ve had. Which is ridiculous, I’ve been through some very traumatic & difficult times, & always managed to get through it all with a positive attitude, and setting a good example. And here I am, a shell of a human being, when I have no reason other than my own brain. I feel really ashamed, because it just seems self indulgent & selfish. And I have been trying so very hard to feel better; most of the things that you’ve talked about in your videos. I’ve done meditation, journaling, exercising, hypnosis, CBT, just about everything. That was more in the beginning, when it seemed like I would have brief time periods of semi productive times, even though it really was a struggle. But, it’s just that nothing worked. That said, they are all very useful skills, and I will definitely incorporate them in my self care, once this is finally over & I feel better.. but in the interim, I’m still the same. Still depressed. That word.. depressed… I don’t even know if that’s the right word? I am not sad. I am numb. I am not anxious, I just don’t care. I’m so apathetic about life in general. I feel like a completely different person has taken over my life, & she’s actively trying to destroy everything I’ve worked my whole life to create; not so much in career or finances, that can be gained again, but relationship bonds, fun memories with friends & family, enjoyment of hobbies I’ve loved my whole life… I could go on and on. I have zero motivation, in fact, it’s worse than that, I feel paralyzed, I can’t overcome the apathy. My normal self could never be okay with not completing tasks & being responsible & present for those I love & care about. I never realized how fortunate I was, I guess. I never had to worry about motivation, I guess it was just always there, so I never had to worry about finding the energy or focus to do whatever needed to be done. I guess the best thing that has come out of all of this is that I will appreciate myself more when I finally emerge on the other side of this, and back into the light. I’ve gone on enough, too much, but it did kind of help by trying to attach some words that I understand to something that I don’t understand at all. All of that said, I finally have an appointment with a specialty endocrinologist, who specializes in the HPA axis, & that’s in just 2 days, & I’m just praying for an answer. I am also praying for any of you who are struggling with depression. You are taking very important steps in your recovery by becoming an advocate for yourself with all of the knowledge Dr. Nader has provided. Thank you so much!! Jen
Hi Jen - thank you for your detailed comment and for sharing your experiences. The short answer to your question is yes, depression can be caused by hormonal imbalances. One of the most common is hypothyroidism, but there are other conditions and menopause, that can affect mood and contribute to the onset of depression.
I was sent to a psychiatrist - under duress by my PCP who wanted to torment me ? I was sad and had some anxiety due to acute post op health issues, personal and financial problems. Given that I am an older person, living alone, running an animal rescue on my own dime in my own home with no help in addition to work, and said health issues, it is no wonder. But even though I told the psychiatrist that I didn't want to be labelled "highly anxious" that this was situational, he still did just that. I told him about mr previous abusive marriage, that I felt that I had had a period ofdepression, but worked my way out of it. However, he wanted to put me on antidepressants. My doctor was having issues in her own practice, and abandoned me in my time of need.
My daughter is wedded to the idea that low serotonin causes depression. She won't listen to me if I suggest otherwise. It's making me feel like I'm failing to protect her - she's about to start an SSRI. It's a complicated situation because she is studying psychology at university where she is being 'taught' that low serotonin causes depression. And she won't even look at any studies that contradict what she is being taught. Universities are not much more than establishment training camps these days 😢
I fully agree that there are some with imbalances. How does one explain women who go through Postpartum Depression sometimes after childbirth? I agree with the stance that in some cases Depression is situational but that does not apply to every type of Depression. My Pastor's wife had Post Partum Depression happen to her and her Psychiatrist at the time explained it was a chemical imbalance. Hormonal changes happen after childbirth which cause chemicals to change and cause the Depression. Logically one wouldn't think the event of the childbirth itself caused it. Even though these studies were done I respectfully don't think they give the full story. Studies always change because it's always evolving. Depression also tends to run in families as well as anxiety. My own family has this issue. I personally have Autism Spectrum Disorder and I believe there are definitely some chemical imbalance issues as part of that disorder. This is just my opinion however and I am not a Doctor. i do very much though respect and appreciate Dr. Nader's views on this.
There's a reason even the Bible tells us to think on the right things. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8
I was diagnosed with complex PTSD due to childhood neglect by an high functioning alcoholic father. I've been battling severe depression and anxiety for over 15 years now. It changed into overdrive when my mom died when I was 27. 15 years on I have managed to screw up my professional career and sabotage five promising romantic relationships in a row. I hate myself. I've been on SSRIs and CBT but none of it stuck. I allowed life to pass me by. I'm ready to go. I can't stand what I've screwed up. I have had thoughts of ending it
I keep wondering if my stopping exercise last year after exercising everyday since I was 14 caused my depression , or if my depression caused me to stop. There are other factors as well, including personal relationship issues.. I really have to get motivated to hit the gym again.
@@carmenmac3502I’ve read recent studies that show regular exercise is virtually as effective as ssri’s. Pharma companies work on profit motives often with questionable ethics.
I've struggled with it all my life. What it may be is C-PTSD due to my childhood circumstances. Every time I start a new SSRI, it works for a few weeks, and then things get worse, much worse. My grandfather is reported to have had it. He was in and out of institutions for much of my mother's life. I wonder if some of this is just the impact of our world on neurodivergent people, or people with the Highly Sensitive Personality Trait.
I've had depression for as long as I can remember. I don't recall a time, even during childhood, when I didn't live under the dark cloud of general gloominess. Changing my diet and eliminating sugar went a long way towards improving my mental health after years of failed depression treatments. But the dark cloud still remained. Energy zapping. No motivation, no interest in doing things, everything feels like a chore. I had a very bad reaction to Lexapro in 2010. After that, doctors only wanted to put me on MORE SSRI Medications. I was terrified. it was infuriating. I tried many different things for years, but still suffered every day. I started to suspect I had ADHD but had no idea what to do about it. I was afraid to ask for treatment and it costs so much money. I was afraid to be told I was wrong, and only offered even more SSRIs. I self medicated for a while using supplements and nootropics but nothing helped. My current psychiatrist was the first doctor who said, "since you had that reaction to Lexapro, we don't want to put you on anything else like that." I nearly cried. A doctor was listening to me for the first time ever. It turns out my depression (and anxiety) were manifestations of inattentive ADHD. I'm almost glad to have not been diagnosed until my 30s because I was forced to learn valuable coping skills, time management and organization. But decades of being misdiagnosed and mistreated leaves a bad taste in my mouth. So many people go through it every day. I just wish more doctors would listen - really listen - and not blindly prescribe these medications without proof that they actually work, when they can have dangerous side effects. I've done work for disabled individuals and veterans for years. Never once have I heard someone say, "yeah, that Zoloft really helps." (posting again bc I guess ut00b auto kablammed my first one)
Thank you. I have long thought that many of my personal ineffectiveness in life could be due to ADHD but never had resources to be tested. At least you discovered it at a young age. Wishing you the best.
@@lisasykes624 not sure why that's important to you, but yes, we do. We participate along with our church. There are blessing boxes, a community fridge, food drives, clothing drives, angel tree program etc. I'm also involved in the local freecycle group and help moms find things they need for their kids, often times buying it myself if someone in the group can't provide it. I also deliver free things from marketplace for people who don't have transportation. I grew up poor, so it's hard for me to look the other way when I see children in need.
10:36 Okay this was a bit eye-opening. I would like to not feel helpless like I need the medication in order to be whole and functioning, and looking at it like this opens up some hope
Thank you…..For articulating my personal life’s observations that depression is not due to low serotonin levels…….I have worked on my psychological health and I focused on doing the right thing…….and I feel wonderful…..I am 71…….
I believe It's an Adrenal problem caused by lifestlye (and genitics in some cases) whereby the glands are too exhausted from constant stresors to consistently deliver and monitor the hormones. Eventually the entire bodily systems become affected, many people have undiagnosed chemical sensitivities which is why they feel worse on meds. You can only stay in a sympathetic response for so long before something has to go, we are not designed to cope with the amount of environmental, physical and emotional stress we are bombarded by in this age we find ourselves living in. Western diet is a stressor, high carbs leach the vitamins out of the body like blotting paper whilst sugars are inflammatory. B vitamins can improve symptoms of angsiety and depresion, if you take enough of them, but there is no money in B vits!
A slight correction: the drugs came before the hypothesis, as it's usually the case. First they synthesized SSRI's, figured out what possible medical application they could have, and then came up with an explicative theory of depression that could account for the pharmacodynimics of SSRI's. It's almost always drugs first, then theory
QUESTION, If you find yourself feeling awful emotionally I think then I am not having any positive thoughts. I tell myself try to have positive thoughts but I think at that time I had forgotten how to think anything positive. Why can't I just think something anything positive? Then fear sets in out of nowhere. Then your going round and round. To the point of suicidal thoughts. (Not now) but in the past. So how can someone be okay that morning but the same evening almost to the point of suicide.
Oh goodness! Thanks a million for the transparent and straight to the point message! In love with your teaching skills! I adore the subtle last part where you stipulated that humans like nice and easy explanations; which is a substitute to staying in a victimhood space because it takes tons of bravery to break our coping mechanisms, face the real underlyings, and take our power back!
What Ive never understood is....why are the side effects for many antidepressants Suicidal Thoughts? Thats why I never would stay on them. After changes and taking antidepressants for chronic pain....it seemed like it wasnt a good trade off. Suicidal thoughts ...Nah.
This thought just occurred to me.. in thinking of depression caused by negative thinking, problem solving skills, unrealistic expectations, ect. Is there any information about the impact of the internet and social media may have on the incidents of depression? Especially, later generations, who likely don’t really know life without it? When you think about how as humans we have always communicated & connected in these certain ways that really haven’t changed all of that much through the ages, until the telephone in the late 19th century. Fast forward to now? So much has changed!
This is not totally true. While it may not be serotonin (I agree there, that's outdated and false), there are still other things like neurosteroids, HPA axis dysregulation, inflammation, etc. Those things imo are still "chemicals" ultimately. Otherwise, what explains people getting sudden depression anhedonia after for example a Covid/viral infection that wasn't particularly stressful psychologically? There are people who had even mild covid infections that ended up with long COVID, which has depression as a symptom sometimes. And in these cases it contradicts the CBT model of thoughts causing feelings--their feelings came first out of the blue. Its the same with for example drug-induced cases--there are cases where someone gets an IV of Reglan and immediately becomes agitated depressed in the hospital. These are clearly biochemical issues and not thinking pattern. Unfortunately, we don't have a good way to reset the brain yet and these cases often don't resolve quickly. What should one do if their depression is in fact biochemically induced like in the covid etc cases? Changing thoughts a la David Burns CBT is not going to change for example the depression mental state feeling itself in the moment. If allopregnanolone is low, infllammtion is high one can feel anhedonic and its almost totally out of control.
I have had no reason in my life to feel unhappy yet the sadness grows, I just keep asking myself why it is that I cannot simply maintain (and it is the difference between night and day) the comprehensive superman effect that occurs when I get the balance of self-medication right, and of course as life moves on it becomes harder and harder to achieve and in that sense I am ending up further down the hill albeit not by much?
No, there are different types of depressions and some are strongly chemical related (CFS, HBA, diabetes etc.). In the end, everything is chemistry. You can alter your chemistry with thoughts, but sometimes there are people who need therapy+medication (plus healthy food and supplements).
my depression ended when i tried stimulants for adhd which releases dopamine and norepinephrine instead of serotonin, apparently the anhedonic state and hopelessness were caused by low dopamine
Beautiful explanation of how diabetes works. I've been suffering from it for many years. The medication that I used to take made me feel better. Then it makes my appetite feel terrible. So I have uncontrolled diabetes right now. The effects on my mind are terrible. Can't think straight, eat so much junk food, have no desire to do anything. I can still move around well. Just can't shake deeply ingrained ways of thinking. Thanks for dropping some knowledge on me.
I heard that it was recently discovered that high levels of acetylcholine cause depression. Raising serotonin can help lower acetylcholine, or the drugs that raise serotonin can lower lower acetylcholine directly. Indirectly I think they may lower acetylcholine too by lowering rumination thoughts, which can then lower kindling and that kindling or rumination can feed depression. It is multifactoral of course, but this is some of the systems behavior as close as I can remember.
One of the challenges with trying to find a neurobiological or neurochemical explanation for depression is that it's usually correlational. Maybe high levels of acetylcholine are associated with increased depression symptoms, but it could also be that depression causes increases in acetylcholine production. I guess my point is that it's much more complex than simply focusing on neurotransmitters and deciding that's what causes depression because the research just doesn't support that.
The point of the video wasn't to say that antidepressants don't work, but rather the mechanism behind depression is more than just a serotonin imbalance.
@@DrRamiNader Agreed I have suffered since my early teens and I am now 59. But now I am in the category of treatment resistant depression. Ketamine was great but only lasted 2 weeks. So now I am trying psilocybin going by the phase III clinical trials by Johns Hopkins and the NIH. The problem was the trials used a pure synthetic psilocybin. I know the person very well that I am getting the mushrooms. Now their trials had a caveat longtime users of SSRI’s and SNRI’s took a little longer to respond. After Prozac i went to Pristiq. You can’t be on any antidepressants that are serotonin related because it blocks the psychedelic effect. I have a medical background and I am retired but I definitely handled it badly I quit cold turkey instead of tapering. Thank goodness I am seeing some improvement. I’m sorry if I came across harsh that was not my intention.
I have clinical depression anxiety disorder and borderline personality I was told I had a chemical imbalance plus I have very little serotonin so I was told that's why I get depressed I don't take any medication I just go for long walks with my dog keep busy
My grandmother has believed this to be true for the last 10 years. To this day, she still believes it to be true. She is a retired psychologist who is well educated. How do I convince her that her thinking on this su ject is outdated ?
I'm sure there are a lot of neurotransmitter components to depression, but it is not a simple linear relationship. At least that's not what the research shows. Depression is far more complex than a bunch of neurotransmitters floating around in brain synapses.
Trauma causes chemical imbalances because of trauma I am on sertraline for life and it helped me to face my demons and PTSD but my hormones will never be the same. Some people have low dopamine I have low serotonin. Medicine works for me I am so tired without it and suicidal.
I think it's great that medications have been helpful to you. Like I've said, I'm not against medications, but it's important to understand what they do and what they don't do.
Dear Dr Rami Nader, I find your content on youtube very useful and full of impact but being a doctor, I found this video a bit misleading and undermining the significant role of SSRIs. I mean what you mentioned in the video isn't anything new at all to the most extent. We all know that SSRI would help you feel better for a while and along with that you need to work on your thought patterns (by therapy) to gain long-term gains. Your point that everyone who takes SSRI should be benefited opens a big box of pharmacodynamics for me to explain to you ( you probably already know) and your example of aspirin and SSRI was totally irrelevant (huge debate). Sorry but I am afraid someone might stop SSRIs after watching this video and do considerable harm to himself. I understand you wanted to talk about neuroplasticity. Thanks.
I never said that SSRIs can't be helpful for treating depression. But the research simply does not support the simplistic view that depression results from a person having too little serotonin in their brain. That has been pushed on society so heavily that people assume it must be true, when it's not.
@@DrRamiNader Perhaps that's why Antidepressants only seem to work for 40 percent of people who take them. I don't like any medication. But I have to say Antidepressants did really help me with anxiety and depression.
Even if they help only 40% of people, that's still a lot of people that are benefitting from them. So in not against antidepressants per se, it's more just an understanding that depression is far more than just a simple lack of a particular neurotransmitter in the brain. Glad to hear that medications helped you.
After decades of being a product manager for psychotropic medication, there is a very specific reaction to most of these drugs. In the beginning, they often help. But over time, the body reacts by doing the work to get your neurotransmitters levels BACK TO WHAT THEY WERE IN THE BEGINNING. You then end up with re-bound symptoms. In other words, now you REALLY DO HAVE LOW SEROTONIN. levels! Yes, eventually things will level out. But in the meantime, you are still depressed if you do not change your behavior/treatment.
A chemical imbalance means lack serotonin and low dompiane levels in the brian, medication helps to balance the chemicals in the brian who have low levels of these chemical's.
That's correct in how the medications are supposed to work. However, what the meta analysis showed is that depression is not caused by merely low levels of serotonin.
My depression is from regret. I lost money day trading stocks, and it has sent me into a downward spiral. My depression is not chemically induced. It's simply regret but it is real and painful.
Hi. I hope I wont upset you with my message. I understand its hard, trust me I have been trough so much and still going trough alot. I know all kinds of pains and suffering. But, think about everything you ever had and everything you still have. Maybe you have a home, fammily, and other blessings. You might have a good health. Maybe you enjoed many experiences. Concentrate on those beautiful things în youre life. Take walks în nature and enjoy the beauty that is still available to us. Try watching comedies even if you might not feel în mood for it. Search Louis de Funes, Carol Burnett, Bob Hope or any other comedy great actors. Listen to beautiful music without sad tones. You can get trough this and if you remember you are stronger than depression...you will understand you can overcome anything. What happened it was just an episode în your life. Dont let it settle in, because its hard to get it out. And it makes you more sick în the whole body, the longer you wait. I hope you will overcome it soon, because you deserve to enjoy every day. And again I hope I wont upset you with my message.I have major depression and a whole lot of issues and I just want to know others enjoy their lives as much as possible. All the best to you and youre loved ones.
Thanks Dr i wish that you are my Dr who will help me out with depression instead of been fixed by money don't care about me . When I asked him about medication he just wanted to increase my medication and topped up by sleeping medications. I am glad to hear from you and explaining how to treat depression and how to manage it. This will help me to understand what is happening to me i wish i can get better but I lost my life and didn't have any help from the beginning. I'm not sure how money is more important than helping me out now is to late for me very sad and frustrated by my treatment of those who have failed to understand what they done to me
I was cured of severe depression with antibiotics. I knew that four foods were behind it. A Chinese doctor explained that I needed antibiotics to kill bad gut bacteria. She gave me three courses. I've never had any depression since. Interestingly, she did not diagnose me with depression. There were other symptoms caused by these foods--asthma attacks and severe, unlocalized back pains. She diagnosed me as having "Autoimmune Disorder--Unspecified/ Total Remission." I can now eat these very foods with no problems.
That and countless studies and scientific research over decades demonstrating the effectiveness of CBT for anxiety and depression. If there wasn't evidence showing that it worked, I wouldn't believe in it and if I didn't believe in it, I wouldn't do it.
@@DrRamiNaderyou know, there's evidence that antidepressants work too. if telling someone that the reason they're miserable is because their thinking is stupid/insane so they can just think themselves happy by and they get "better", you're leaving something out. If you call gaslighting someone into being okay with their situation a success you're pretty much a cartoonishly evil supervillain. I'm sure you could CBT the drapetomania out of a slave too, that wouldn't make it good for them.
