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How do antidepressants work? – Neil R. Jeyasingam



How do antidepressants work? – Neil R. Jeyasingam

Dig into the discovery of antidepressant drugs, how they work, and what we still don’t know about depression.

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In the 1950s, the discovery of two new drugs sparked what would become a multi-billion dollar market for antidepressants. Neither drug was intended to treat depression at all— many doctors and scientists believed psychotherapy was the only approach to treatment. Neil R. Jeyasingam details the decades-long journey that followed and how it revolutionized our understanding of depression.

Lesson by Neil R. Jeyasingam, directed by Skirmanta Jakaitė, Art Shot.

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View 29 Comments

29 Comments

  4. @HappyLife4All767 on

    Antidepressants may be helpful for those experiencing situational depression, such as the loss of a loved one or a single, isolated period of emotional distress. However, prescribing these medications to individuals who have been struggling with chronic or long-term depression often feels ineffective. In many cases, these medications not only fail to address the root cause but also come with undesirable side effects.

    I find myself frustrated with psychiatrists because they often cannot offer a true cure for their patients. Unlike surgeons, who perform procedures that frequently restore a person's health and improve their quality of life, psychiatrists seem unable to provide solutions that fully resolve their patients' struggles.

  5. @karlozfox on

    I just started taking antidepressants a few days ago and i dont feel any different other than sick and nauseous. Wish me luck for the following days.

  9. @RhondaStepp on

    The comments im reading sound very positive, good to hear that so many people are doing much better after giving these meds a try , very reassuring.

  18. @Janet-t3z-q7z on

    I spent so many years of my life under the spell of cigarettes, depression and severe ptsd. Gained my freedom with the help of nature using mushroom (psilocybin) precisely. After my experience with shrooms five years ago every cigarette I lit up tasted like literal poison. I would take one hit and put out the cigarette. I haven't smoked since, no more depressive mood and ptsd. Few doses of shroom experience made a 15 year 2 pack a day smoker quit instantly. Shrooms are life changing. There is no way you can put into words what it feels like..

  19. @kraftythinking on

    This is fascinating. I think one of the struggles with trying to figure out exactly what causes depression is the fact that there seems to be a variety of causes and sometimes multiple causes per individual who experiences depression. That's where it is different than a poison ivy rash. We have genetic, cultural, individual experience, brain chemicals, etc. all playing a role.

  23. @ethanoverwatch407 on

    I've constantly seen so much about anti depressants in the negative light. Some positive, but most news is "I've switched types 14 times in the past 2 years and they make me suicidal."
    Sitting on the thought about SSRIs after watching the vid and reading comments has me thinking I wanna see if they'd help me out. Who knows, maybe the psychiatrist might bring them up. Also It's weird, because I'm not sad. Does that mean I'm not depressed? Is being lost, angry, confused, not symptoms of depression? Idk I just know SOMETHING is wrong with me, I just don't know what.

  26. @allanscott-s8w on

    Depression has been a challenging journey but the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms and other psychedelics like DMT and LSD are also playing a key role in my healing and personal growth

  27. @MicBeatz85 on

    I have been suffering with depression most of my life. I finally bit the bullet and decided to get help. I have been on antidepressants since January and my god the difference. There's still a long road ahead of me but im glad i took the first step. Peace to everyone going through this horrible disease ❤

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