Depression Is Not Caused by a Chemical Imbalance
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Despite 85-90% of people believing that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, there is no evidence that a chemical imbalance causes depression or is associated with depression. A new meta-analysis by the University College London reviewed the evidence and made headlines this week.
Check out my two unlisted videos on what causes depression: https://youtu.be/Tr1sOJn8Z1Y
Check out two videos by other creators on what causes depression:
University College London’s review that indicates there is no evidence for the low-serotonin hypothesis that a chemical imbalance causes depression: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0
Researchers have known for over a decade that there is no evidence for the chemical imbalance : Johan Hari, Lost connections, the inflamed mind, “reducing the stigma but at what cost” https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/jscp.2009.28.4.415, https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2009-06865-001
Do antidepressants work to treat depression: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016
00:00 Depression Is Not Caused By A Chemical Imbalance
01:17 Why So Many People Take Antidepressants
02:21 The Chemical Imbalance Hypothesis
02:47 What Causes Depression
04:00 Medication
05:11 Depression
06:48 Outro
Transcript below:
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In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life’s direction.
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21 Comments
For me it definitely wasn't!
This video is so informative! Planet Ayurveda's approach to treating depression is really impressive.
Thanks for the video. Why don't you actually commit, come out and say what you think, even if it's controversial, instead of apologising profusely ahead of what you say, in effect to undo, and effectively detract from your core message. What I mean is, if there is no scientific basis to say that depression is caused by chemical imbalance, then it IS OK to question the very reason to take these drugs. If it is known that there is publication biases, it is reasonable then to be questioning the pharma funded studies that show the efficacy of these drugs. If they cannot show physiologically that the lack of or imbalance in certain chemicals lead to the disorder (depression), then what makes them think that adding or changing the chemical availability will somehow solve the problem??? You do potentially make good videos, but please be bold, and state your position clearly rather than sit on the fence. Thank you.
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Your videos help me so much. The way you talk and express yourself calms and helps me understood and hopeful.
Hi there. I had an extremely hard pregnancy and lost my ability to sleep completely. When I eat I feel nothing going into my system. My neurologist says I’m severely depressed and need medication and therapy. What do you think I should do? Why do I have what I have?
The error begins when we practically have no medicines that act by modulating GABA/Glutamate.
These are simply the two main neurotransmitters in the CNS. Serotonin, Dopamine and Noradrenaline are nothing compared to GABA/Glu.
I'm almost certain that depression has an epileptogenic cause. The patient has epilepsy in the regions of the brain that control mood, emotions and fear.
I believe that in the near future, we will have medicines that act on our two main neurotransmitters and neuromodulation techniques, with electronic equipment that controls the brain's electrical network.
Why are Men demonized?
If depression is caused by everything, then we must be super-humans to defeat it. When it was just caused by chemicals, at least we could accept that there was a source and that we COULD relax about having control over it. Now we're being told that we have to be sober, fully exercised, have perfect gut biome, pray we don't have allergies, employ every coping mechanism taught by varying therapies that do and don't work, and if we do all that, it's probably not chemicals because despite the medicine working, scientists didn't tie it to THIS specific chemical.
To be honest, I think I'm still going to buy the chemical imbalance argument and frankly I think that this counter-narrative that's emerged in the last two years might be more harmful and misleading than the explanation "made up by the pharmaceutical companies." I accept their culpability in a lot of the millhouse drugs and yada yada, but I don't know how the hell else to fight depression like I'm trying literally everything and still struggling.
It's a lie. If this were true there would be no need for medication.
I think this was the final straw. Knowing that it is my fault and not biologically something in my brain might be my breaking point. Despite what you’ve said in your video, almost 2 years later I did not know this was the case and that my feelings are just in my head. I want to thank you for giving me a straight up answer about this because I’ve always taken the easy way out when it’s come to understanding “depression”.
It might not be serotonin but it is (for a lot of people not all) something physical and uncontrollable. Hormones for example as us women know can cause such severe mood swings and depression.
Great video. I was diagnosed with depression about 6 years ago. I tried meds but they didnt help much with my symtems. After seeing an amazing therapist who slowly began to help me through my situational stress that had been going on in my life and having verry strong friends, I managed to get better without meds. I still have episodes every now and then but most of the time i feel like i can function. I'm studying psychology, and i feel like my introduction to psychology textbook never talked about environmental factors that much. So i totally believe this research.
Food caused my depression and ADHD; and i feel great now after major diet changes. My meds also stopped working except for minoxinol which is reversing baldness and really making my hair grow back like i was 30 y/o now. Stopped eating seed oils and sugar even though I’m not diabetic, i eat like one. Sugar is evil and should be outlawed, it hammers your insulin levels and throws your body out of wack and causes weight problems. Also eat as much meat and food from animals as i can. Tons of eggs, bacon, salmon, beef, chicken, milk, cheese, butter, lard, and sour cream as i can stand then i still eat the other stuff when i crave it. We still eat some potato, rice and some bread but almost no veggies or fruit. Taking D, Potassium, and Magnesium vitamins help my mood and how i feel sometimes too. There’s really bad stuff in our foods now, let other animals bodies filter out these bad chemicals so our bodies don’t have too. Basically meat and fat are great foods for humans, don’t believe the lies told to us. We are built to eat meat 100% of the time, but can survive on plants. We do not have 4 stomachs and other anatomy needed to eat plants efficiently. It only takes 30 days to experience this healing for yourself. Try it, its also cheaper to eat this way as meat is twice as filling as carbs like potatoes and rice, and four to ten times more filling then veggies and fruits.
Thank you for the quality of your content. It's help… a lot!!
Thank you for the quality of your content. It's help… a lot!!
I wouldn’t wish depression on anyone. It ruined my life
Thank you for this and your other videos. They help me with my depression and to get my head on straight after my husband unexpectedly passed away.
I love this video
For years, I struggled with anxiety and stress, trying everything from therapy to exercise, but nothing seemed to bring lasting peace. It always felt like I was just managing symptoms rather than truly healing.
A friend recommended me a book called Shift Your Mind by Alexander Brooks. It thaught me how to reconnect with myself. The soothing techniques and mindfulness exercises made a real difference, allowing me to finally quiet my thoughts and find a sense of inner calm. I still have my ups and downs, but for the first time, I feel like I’m actually at peace.☺😇
I’m 52 and faced depression throughout my life medication helps a little with side affects , but I’m just so tired that I can’t wait for Jesus to come soon and be away with all this bullshit