Adekeye David Iyanuoluwa

Understand the true nature of depression and how to break free from its grip. Short Description Depression is a common phenomenon in society today. Indeed, the fact that modern times have come with its frenzy, rush, and isolation in various facets of life aided the high rate of depression. Quite sadly, everyone knows at least one person who has or is currently dealing with depression. Hari, the author argues that depression and its causes having been widely misconstrued by many. This is partly due to some scientists' explanations for depression stating that it is a result of what is called “chemical imbalance” in the brain. This has been proven not to be quite true, Hari explains, for depression as experienced by countless people in today’s society. As opposed to a brain condition, major causes of depression include isolation, misplaced values, unsolved trauma and sometimes just a bad working environment. These factors among others are discussed and dealt with in the book, giving workable solutions and steps towards a depression free life.    Contrary to claims made by pharmaceutical corporations, depression is not the result of a chemical imbalance John Hari, the author had been a victim of depression from the young age of 18. He was that age when he took his first antidepressant drug which he continued using for more than many more years with no lasting relief. When he started discovered that he had begun experiencing symptoms of depression, he went to see his doctor. The doctor explained the “chemical imbalance” theory and told him antidepressants could solve the problem. He, therefore, started using Paxil, one of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which was said to increase serotonin levels of the patient and will help them to regain normalcy. Of course, this drug gave him some initial respite just as it did other patients. However, this relief did not last. So the doctor increased his dose, which led to another period of respite but which also did not last. The dosage was again increased followed by a relapse into depression. Hari, however, noticed that Paxil made him gain weight and unusually sweat. Hari, in his 30s, was eventually got tired because he was still depressed after a decade of Paxil. He then began on an extensive study on depression and solutions available, and his findings were indeed shocking. He found out that the theory of chemical imbalance and the efficacy of SSRIs had little evidence. Harvard professor Irving Kirsch found out in his study that in a bid get their drugs released, the clinical tests by pharmaceuticals were customarily skewed in. For instance, during the testing for Prozac, out of 245 patients tested, only 27 patients with positive results were cited. Also, for Paxil, a study showed that the patients reacted positively to the placebo effect rather than the actual medication. Kirsch also found out that the connection thought to be between depression and the neurochemical serotonin was a mere “accident of history”. He discovered that it was this misinterpretation that pharmaceuticals held unto to sell antidepressant medicines. Joanna Moncrieff, a professor at the University of London told Hari that when it comes to depression, “There’s no evidence that there’s a chemical imbalance.” Any effectiveness in antidepressant medication is likely due to the placebo effect The author, Hari, confirmed this view from several researchers. He found out that pharmaceuticals have forced the erroneous curing effect tale of antidepressants on the public, even when the results where otherwise. This shows the importance of a story in creating a placebo effect however incorrect it is. The medical sector is very familiar with the placebo effect. A popular example is that of Henry Beecher, who was a medic in World War II. He ran out of morphine while treating is long linen of wounded soldiers. So he decided to give them a placebo which was sugar water and told them it was morphine. Amazingly, it worked as the patients were calm and felt relieved. Another incredible example is that of Haygarth’s wand. In 1779, the wand was a metal rod sold to patients and believed to be a miracle cure. The patients would simply wave the wand over their sickness and believe they were healed. Incredibly, there were testimonies of healings, ulcers and inflammations were cured, even if it were for a while. Belief is shown to be very powerful. In cases like that of Paxil and Prozac, there isn’t much difference with the story of Haygarth’s wand. The tale told to depressed people about little serotonin and how the medication would help them usually create a placebo effect. However, like the word, the initial recovery will later relapse. Placebo effect providing some sort of relief so could be argued for, however, the side effects including weight gain and sexual dysfunction may not worth it after all. There are at least nine common causes for depression, based on the idea that depression is caused by difficult life circumstances What then is the reason for depression if it’s not chemical imbalance? We would discover as we progress the several causes of depression in persons. Hari found out from his own experience and wide study, about nine major causes of depression. However, a major cause that is common to all others is that depression occurs because of circumstances of life. George brown in 1970 classified causes of depression into two possibilities: either something in the brain or something going on an individual’s life. To confirm this view, he conducted an experiment with 144 women who were formerly diagnosed with depression and 344 women who were never diagnosed with it. All the participants, however, had similar economic status. If serotonin was purely responsible for their depression, then the results wouldn’t show any implication of their circumstance at the time of sickness. But Brown found out that 68 percent of the diagnosed women had recently faced very challenging moments of their lives. He discovered that the probability to have what is named a “long-term chronic stressor” was three times probable in depressed women than others. Brown also showed the difference between those diagnosed with chemical-imbalance caused depression known as “endogenous depression” and event-caused depression known as “reactive depression”. Peculiarly, both groups had an equal percentage of past negative experiences. The results of brown’s experiment clarified that causes of depression were not neurochemical but social and psychological. Although other social scientists have supported Brown’s findings, neurotransmitters have remained the focus of the medical community. Начало формы Конец формы    The first main cause of depression is a disconnect from meaningful work – something that’s alleviated when employees feel empowered. Hari discovered nine causes, or disconnections, which leads to depression, as well as seven methods that can be used to reconnect. Disconnection is from meaningful work is first on the list. In 2012, statistics show that only 13 percent of people define themselves as “engaged” by their work. Psychiatrist Michael Marmot made an extensive study on how our work lives affect our health. He studied about 18,000 British civil servants and documented his findings. He found out that it was the bosses with huge responsibilities that were not prone to heart attacks; indeed, they were four times less likely to have a heart attack. Marmot studied people with the same status and discovered that those with less control and ability to make their own decision were more probable to suffer depression Marmot was then asked to help the British tax office where there was an alarming suicide rate of staff members. The employees had no control over the extreme number of work they had to do. There was also not a corresponding reward with their efforts. No one cared and their lack of control over nothing became very unbearable for the staff. However, it is possible to reconnect to meaningful work through several methods available. The author met with a bike shop owner in Baltimore who to him that democracy can be seen as a good solution to the issue of lack of control over one’s works life. The man had resigned to form a partnership with his wife and friends. During meetings, anyone can raise their concerns and decisions were voted on. They all were less anxious and depressed than they were at their former jobs.    The second cause of depression is a disconnect from other people. The solution is to foster mutually beneficial relationships Our society is one that focuses on individuality rather than mutualism. This has caused many to overlook the effect of external influence on their psychology. Indeed, another major factor that causes depression is a disconnection from others. Neuroscientist John Cacioppo in his study shows how loneliness can be a direct cause for heart rates and high levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. In 1990, he showed how lowliness caused stress arguably equals the same as being punched by a stranger! Loneliness is quite hazardous because it can make already bad situations, worse. In order to reconnect, we should endeavor to be part of mutually beneficial communities. A great example is a community in Berlin known as Kotti. There, Nuriye, an elderly wheelchair user posted a note with the telling her intention to kill herself rather than lose her apartment to the eviction she was currently facing. On seeing the note, the Neighbors not long after barricaded the road protesting against the rent increase. Even Turkish Muslims, gays and punks all joined forces they now called Kotti & co. However, the neighbors found out that the rent protest was just one of several ways they could help each other. A high school student who was on the verge of dropping out met a neighbor who assisted with his homework enabling him to get back on track. Also, Tuncai, a homeless Turkish man had been taken back to the psychiatric hospital forcefully. The group’s members came together to rescue from the hospital as he had actively participated in the protest and they all knew his state couldn’t be possibly regressing.    The third cause of depression is a disconnect from meaningful values, so don’t lose sight of what’s important The society of today has influenced many especially through social media of what ought to be their values. Indeed, a misplacement of values can cause depression. For instance, a plump woman wanting to be slim by all means, after failing at several attempts to lose weight could gradually collapse in depression. The core of this shows two types of values which intrinsic and extrinsic. For example, if you play the piano just for your passion for it, then you’re driven by intrinsic value. However, moved by extrinsic value would be when you are playing solely for financial benefits. Also, our targets and ambitions are also driven by these types of values. Research explains how adverts continually present us with extrinsic values which have shown not to be rewarding as intrinsic values. Studies conducted by Psychologist Tim Kasser have shown that people become more depressed as they become more extrinsic value-oriented. While the more intrinsic value-oriented people are, for instance, helping others, playing music for passion; the better their disposition. However, you may think that buying new gadgets and tech does bring you joy but it usually to appear cool and impressive to others not really to be intrinsically happy. So does money and promotion and status which are usually pursued at the expense of intrinsic joy like spending time with friends and loved ones. To reconnect with meaningful values, you need to constantly check your motivations especially in spending your time and money. Tim Kasser, extending his research to his personal life found a quiet ten acres of land in Illinois where he and his family enjoy gardening, volunteering and anything that gives them intrinsic happiness.    The fourth cause of depression is a disconnect from childhood trauma The talk of the ‘obesity epidemic” has been focused largely on exercise and better eating habits, however, depression and trauma go unmentioned in the role they play in weight gain. Dr. Vincent Felitti, in 1980 did a study on obesity, showing how depression could be caused by past traumas. He experimented by using an extreme fasting diet as an instrument of shedding weight and the outcome was quite remarkable. However, these women added back the weight pretty fast. So Dr. Felitti knowing there was something wrong began asking about their personal lives. He found that 55 percent of them were victims of sexual abuse in the past and that they began adding weight after the incident. For some of the participants, they actually put on weight to avoid unwanted attraction from males. Dr. Felitti then extended his research to about 17,000 people and saw confirmation that study people with a traumatic childhood, both sexual and emotional, are more likely to face depression. Again, this study was another blow on the popular “chemical imbalance” theory. The author also overcame his traumatic past – because as a child, he was strangled with an electrical cord. By acknowledging his past, he gradually stopped feeling that he deserved what happened to him in the past.    The fifth cause of depression is a disconnect from status and respect, and the sixth is disconnection from nature Baboons and bonobos are studied because of their close similarities with human nature. Just like the Baboons, status for humans plays a huge role in the issue of depression. For instance, the Baboons have a strict hierarchy. That is, the alpha could take food from anyone while number two can take food from anyone but the alpha; while number three can do the same except for the first two and so on till you get the last in status. Researcher Robert Sapolsky while testing the cortisol levels of baboons, that the ones at the lower level had tremendously high levels of stress. Also, when the alpha male is challenged by another male, a huge amount of stress was recorded. We as humans also feel inferior in many ways from being less wealthy than our contemporaries to wanting the perfect body. Research has shown that countries with wide gaps in wealth have higher records of depression than where the gap is minimal. A disconnect from nature is another reason for depression found in primates. Isabel Behncke studied how bonobos coped with stress as they sat away from others. Taking them away from nature makes it worse as they howled, rocked and starched till they bled. Humans are like that too. Research shows how residents of greener locality experienced less stress and depression.    The seventh cause of depression is a disconnection from a hopeful and secure future A bad situation often worsens when you can’t see hope for the future, when it all seems, things will remain status quo. This usually happens when we feel a loss of control over our lives and the future. Psychologist Michael Chandler studied an epidemic of suicide in Canadian Native American communities. He found out that suicide was rampant where the government was in total control of almost everything while the suicides did not occur in some other areas where there wasn’t as much government control. Disconnect from a feeling of having of secure future is another major cause of depression. Another instance from Canada is an incident that took place in Dauphin. Here an automatic minimum wage was given which equals today’s $19,000. In just 3 years of its existence, medical attention seekers for depression dropped by 9 percent. This wage made people worry less about their living expenses and gave them a sense of meaningful work and secure future Genes and changes in the brain are the final causes of depression, but their influence is limited However strong the cases against chemical imbalance as a cause of depression are, it doesn’t absolutely rule out their existence. In a process known as neuroplasticity, the brain constantly changes to fit circumstances and as such could change in a way to support depression. For instance, a cab driver who wants to memorize every road in the city would have the spatial recognition area of his brain grow stronger. The same goes for someone whose thoughts are usually of desolation and fear rather than positivity; for such person areas responsible for negative feelings will be stronger. Genetics can be strong for some traits but for depression, it is not always the case. Study shows that genes are responsible for only about 37 percent of depression cases. Indeed, genetics is about 90 percent responsible for your height but becomes zero for your language, so also the influence of genetics as a cause for depression is quite low. Studies have also shown that there’s a variant of a gene known as 5-HTT which can make you vulnerable to depression. It’s very similar to the gene that causes susceptibility to weight gain, its notable but not the actual cause of the weight gain. Researchers believe that due to stigma that often comes with depression, people prefer holding on to biological explanations since it is easier to fault a biological trait than factors in your personal life. Social prescribing is a solution that connects people to one another, and to meaningful work. Having discussed all the disconnections and about 5 ways to reconnect, we would discuss the final two reconnections which are methods of actively battling depression. Social prescribing is the first method discussed. Dr. Everington was counseling Lisa who had lost her job due to bully at work and had begun facing depression. With the use of Prozac, she had started gaining weight and deepened in her state. She summoned the courage to see Dr. Everington whom she was referred to by her doctor. Dr. Everington did not give her medication rather a social prescription which included working with a small group of other disconnected people to make a garden out of a piece of wasteland. They all agreed and learned the basics of gardening although were being guarded around each other. In no time, they began opening up with one another and even saw that they had many things in common. They gained satisfaction from restoring their garden and appreciation from people in the neighborhood. Lisa eventually stopped Prozac, dropped 62 pounds and went to own her garden center in Wales. All this was thanks to Dr. Everington’s social prescription.    Psychedelic drugs and meditation can help people dissolve their ego and find sympathetic joy. Psychologist Fred Barrett, another symptom of depression is ‘an addiction to ourselves”. We are blinded by our feeling of self-importance and ego. To resolve this ego problem, many people use drugs known as psychedelics. Psychologist Bill Richards of John Hopkins University researched on a psychedelic known as psilocybin and its effect on depression. After three sessions, the patients are guided through the experience where 80 percent found that to be one of the five most important experiences in their lifetime. Psilocybin was able to help the patients admit their past trauma and let go of their past and connect with nature with a hope for a better future. However, this therapy could not be sustained. Not long after the experiment, the patients lose sight of the advantages and fall right back in. However, a better approach to treatment is meditation. In fact, the benefits gained through the psilocybin tests have been reportedly gained by others through deep meditation. Meditation takes discipline and practice but can certainly help you look beyond negativity and produce the inner joy needed to defeat depression. Starting with imaginations where you feel the same way you feel towards your loved ones to strangers. Then gradually progressing to people you are jealous or have hatred for. With time and discipline, you would find yourself gaining a more joyful and optimistic life. Summary We begin by discovering in this book that the tale of chemical imbalance told by the pharmaceutical companies is not a completely true one. Indeed, research has shown that there’s not much evidence to back up this claim. We further progress to learn that causes of depression are mostly psychological and not biological. The author takes us through the nine main causes for depression and about seven ways in which we can reconnect to meaningful value, nature and hope for a better tomorrow. INSIGHTS The theory of chemical imbalance and the efficacy of SSRIs have little evidence. The tale told to depressed people about little serotonin and how the medication would help them usually create a placebo effect. Placebo effect providing some sort of relief so could be argued for, however, the side effects including weight gain and sexual dysfunction may not worth it after all. The results of brown’s experiment clarified that causes of depression were not neurochemical but social and psychological. Bosses with huge responsibilities are not prone to heart attacks; indeed, they are four times less likely to have a heart attack Loneliness is quite hazardous because it can make already bad situations, worse. In order to reconnect, we should endeavor to be part of mutually beneficial communities To reconnect with meaningful values, you need to constantly check your motivations especially in spending your time and money. Countries with wide gaps in wealth have higher records of depression than where the gap is minimal. Genetics can be strong for some traits but for depression, it is not always the case. Study shows that genes are responsible for only about 37 percent of depression cases The benefits gained through the psilocybin tests have been reportedly gained by others through deep meditation