The 9 Causes of Depression (According to Johann Hari) (Lost Connections Part 2)
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What Causes Depression?
What if depression isn’t just some brain defect or chemical imbalance, but a message to you that something’s not right in your environment or your life? What if depression isn’t simply broken neurons firing with depleted serotonin, but an actual signal that there’s something that needs to be fixed? That’s the hypothesis behind Johan Hari’s bestselling book “Lost connections” and in my opinion, there’s an element of truth to it.
In my last video I discussed how Johan Hari, in his book lost connections, demolishes the overly simplistic idea that depression is just caused by a chemical imbalance.
And I discuss how the causes of depression are actually quite a bit more complicated than both the messaging that the pharmaceutical companies were selling, and also the message that Johan was putting out. But that being said, he does an excellent job addressing one side of the common 3 sided approach to depression that most mental health providers adhere to- the bio-psycho-social approach. Meaning that depression and most mental health concerns are a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. This approach is pretty well research backed, and Johan does a great job explaining the social factors that contribute to depression.
OK, so now we’re 70 pages into the book and Johann begins to address what he calls the true causes of depression, the environmental causes of depression. He says The Myth of the Chemical imbalance is comforting, but it’s also causes despair- because it convinces us that our pain is meaningless, that it’s simply a chemical defect in our brain and there’s no logical reason it exists- but that the only logical solution is antidepressant medication, and coping.
But he asks the question, what if our pain makes sense? What if pain has meaning?
He says your pain does make sense. Pain and depression serve a function, to message you about something not being right in the world.
Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube
Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell
Sign up for my newsletter: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/free-resources
Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books
Check out my podcast, Therapy in a Nutshell: https://tinpodcast.podbean.com/
Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
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.
And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe
If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.
Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
What Causes Depression?
What if depression isn’t just some brain defect or chemical imbalance, but a message to you that something’s not right in your environment or your life? What if depression isn’t simply broken neurons firing with depleted serotonin, but an actual signal that there’s something that needs to be fixed? That’s the hypothesis behind Johan Hari’s bestselling book “Lost connections” and in my opinion, there’s an element of truth to it.
In my last video I discussed how Johan Hari, in his book lost connections, demolishes the overly simplistic idea that depression is just caused by a chemical imbalance.
And I discuss how the causes of depression are actually quite a bit more complicated than both the messaging that the pharmaceutical companies were selling, and also the message that Johan was putting out. But that being said, he does an excellent job addressing one side of the common 3 sided approach to depression that most mental health providers adhere to- the bio-psycho-social approach. Meaning that depression and most mental health concerns are a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. This approach is pretty well research backed, and Johan does a great job explaining the social factors that contribute to depression.
OK, so now we’re 70 pages into the book and Johann begins to address what he calls the true causes of depression, the environmental causes of depression. He says The Myth of the Chemical imbalance is comforting, but it’s also causes despair- because it convinces us that our pain is meaningless, that it’s simply a chemical defect in our brain and there’s no logical reason it exists- but that the only logical solution is antidepressant medication, and coping.
But he asks the question, what if our pain makes sense? What if pain has meaning?
He says your pain does make sense. Pain and depression serve a function, to message you about something not being right in the world.
Learn more in one of my in-depth mental health courses: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube
Support my mission on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/therapyinanutshell
Sign up for my newsletter: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/free-resources
Check out my favorite self-help books: https://kit.co/TherapyinaNutshell/best-self-help-books
Check out my podcast, Therapy in a Nutshell: https://tinpodcast.podbean.com/
Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
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.
And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe
If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.
Copyright Therapy in a Nutshell, LLC
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