Depression Is NOT Caused by a Chemical Imbalance. Why This Is a Myth.
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
- Major depression Is NOT Caused by a Chemical Imbalance. Why This Is a Myth. // We’ve been told so often that depression and anxiety are caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain -and that antidepressants can therefore restore this balance. We’ve been told this story so often that few of us stop to question whether it is true.
Well it isn’t. The theory isn’t true and no serious neuroscientists take it seriously. The profession of psychology has never endorsed it. So why then, has the chemical imbalance narrative become so pervasive? Two words: Big. Pharma.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional or a scientist. I have done extensive research for this video and have included links to my research below. My intention for this video is to share what I’ve learned /get the conversation started. I would urge you to conduct your own research on anything that piques your interest.
0:00 - Intro
1:53 - The origins of the chemical imbalance theory (and a brief history of antidepressants)
3:44 - Dr. Irving Kirsch's seminal findings
4:59 - Why we keep getting prescribed antidepressants (3 loopholes in the FDA approval process)
7:05 - Other expert opinions
8:22 - So... what causes depression? (The biopsychosocial model and closing thoughts)
Research:
►Lost Connections by Johann Hari: amzn.to/3bNJKNd
►Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns: amzn.to/2FkCVGU
►A brief history of the development of antidepressant drugs: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
►Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
►By the numbers: Antidepressant use on the rise: www.apa.org/monitor/2017/11/n...
►Debunking the Two Chemical Imbalance Myths, Again: bit.ly/3bOn5jP
►The Problem with Google’s Health Knowledge Graphs: bit.ly/3mfPofS
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#chemicalimbalance#depression#mentalhealth
Did you think the background music was too loud? :P
I'm new here. Nice touch.
Nah, it was perfect!
No it’s not too loud.
you do not need a title in order to educate your self ;p sadly the world thinks other wise czcams.com/video/0Wvfp9eiGZo/video.html
Little bit but im also a sound engineer so im more critical about sound than most. Do you though girl! 😊
I spend 8 years on SSRIs, to me it was a waste of time. They just kept raising the dose and switching meds, with no good result. Also getting off of Paxil is absolute hell
During my first ever shrooms trip, they told me this. My mind was blown wide open. There is so so much that goes into depression, so many factors that make up a diagnosis. It’s not a chemical imbalance, but rather trauma and experiences and needs gone unmet, lack of nutrition…lack of social connection, lack of interaction with nature, overall temperament, experiences/trauma. Soooo many things. A pharmaceutical drug is no fix-all whatsoever for something so complex.
The chemical imbalance theory of depression has never sat right with me either. I wish doctors could take the time to sit down and ask what is going on in the person's life rather than just immediately prescribing medication...to really listen to what their patient is experiencing and has to say. Also, I find it weird how a chemical imbalance is just assumed and not tested for. I want to see the proof that my levels are off haha.
I can’t agree more. Listen to Dr Caroline Leaf.
I really appreciate this coming from someone who has been through it! You are doing so much for people helping them understand themselves better 💙
"Chemical Imbalance" might be the wrong term to use, but there is something that is definitely "off." I will respectfully disagree with this take, Lexapro has been a life changer for me. After years of being anti meds, at 40 yrs old, i had to as I was at the end of my rope. It has enhanced my life and my spirituality. To the seeker who reads this comment, blessings 🙏
@kianya I hope your Mom finds peace and I hope you don't have to experience what she goes through. You will find later in life that having a healthy lifestyle isn't always the answer. That having a good diet and exercise does not guarantee you won't need to take meds for high blood pressure, thyroid issues, etc. .. and yes, sometimes an ssri. These are tools to increase the quality of our lives. If you never need it, good for you. But if you do, hope you find the right one, or whatever tool is available. 🙏
What's off are your out of line thoughts, suppression of emotion, and relationship dysfunction caused by trauma. Whatever you fell now by meds is nothing compared to healing the root traumas and thought patterns. and living the life you desire.
Unfortunately, probably won't last long. I hope that's not the case but over time you will have to take more and more. Like I said, I hope I'm wrong... In my experience, these drugs alter brain chemistry and I find them all useless and the side effects caused my depression to become worse. This is just my experience and thoughts. Like a previous comment suggested, you should explore the root cause or possibly change your nutrition... Just suggesting, God bless!
@C F 10 years and counting. Now, I just don't rely on the meds, it is a combination of diet, exercise, spirituality, all of it. Having said that, I know it doesn't work for everybody, but it truly works for some.
@@maduran31 I agree. My theory in general, is that about 20% are medications are needed. The remaining 80% either don't help anything and usually make things worse. I read a lot and have seen and been through more than I wanna think about. Example, medicine for diabetes or high blood pressure, antibiotics just to name a few. I call these medicine. The others I call drugs. Just my opinion. Best of health and happiness!
Looooots of useful information!! Explained in a straightforward way, perfect! 👏🏻
I just recently found your channel on here. Thank you for your shining a light on this. I have major depression to the point of disability and have been prescribed so many different meds beginning with Prozac which made me fat, borderline diabetic and an emotional zombie. I didn’t realize there was no science behind the “chemical imbalance” theory. Your videos have helped me a lot. Thank you 🙏
This video is genuinely interesting. Thank you for making this content week after week!😀
Thank you for watching! 🙏🏼 🙏🏼
The background music was just fine : ) Suffering through a significant fraction of life in depression myself, including many medications which had worse side effects than what was worth. I have found in the last few years that moving to a different environment with all different dimensions of social settings caused my seeming life time ailment of depression to go away.. This has caused me to question this exact subject you discussed. After doing research myself, I completely agree with you for my own instance and that for many others.. I am very impressed
i appreciate you so much for talking about this. and thanks for the links to the research papers!
Looooved this Julianne!! So educational and thought provoking xxxx
this video should have way more likes, i myself am getting off zoloft and embarking on microdosing
I'm doing the same now as well.
Thank you for talking about this! It’s something in the mental health field that makes me very angry, and have felt shamed by others for trying to explain this myself
Girl your content is SO clutch and concise, I’m so delighted to have this content to reference, bless you.
I'm honestly learning so much from your channel! Thanks for showing us the FACTS.
So grateful to have you and your videos! Having dealt with some pretty harsh mental health over the years and finding solutions that actually work (hint: it wasn't any SSRI 🍄), this is a fact that I wish was pushed around more than the medication itself.
Amazing synchronicity. Just today I made a post in one of my groups, on this same topic. It turned into and 100+ comments argument. Somebody shared this video there. People are brainwashed. Thank you for doing this, thank you, thank you.
I'm diagnosed ADHD, and have been on SSRI's, Concerta and Benzos... These meds are poison! I've never felt so bad in my life... it's 25/02/21 and I'm starting micro dosing. I want to feel normal and live with my family in total control of myself. Thanks for your vids!
Hey man could you by any chance get ahold of me to talk? I really could use some advice non of the b.s they pushed on me helped either. I dont know how else you could contact me but my facebook is facebook.com/Anthony01987 i appreciate
i and others would love to hear how it went for you @BillyG
I have been watching your videos for 3 hours straight after listening to you for the first time. After experience with fungi I have found that what I need is someone who has been in an incredibly similar situation growing up with my mom. The purpose of me saying this is just to say thank you for helping me seek out what I have always seemed to look for after moving in a spiritual direction
I came across your Channel a couple of weeks ago and I am so amazed, you have a different approach to si many things, I ve learned so much from you!!
Thank you for your courage in presenting these facts. I appreciate your intelligence, your research, and your motivation for making this information known. I have struggled my whole life with depression and anxiety but have never done anti-depressants and never will; I'm micro dosing mushrooms now and getting ready to do the therapeutic large dose. I have great faith that it will be the answer for me and greatly improve my life experience and hopefully give me back my joy of living. :)
I’m so glad I found you! Thank you for this!
So interesting... Thanks for doing all these research
Another great video. Thank you for educational content on the topic of mental health.
Thank you for watching! (- and for commenting. It's really helps me score points from the algorithm :P )
Anti depressants stop you getting worse, they don’t necessarily help you get better. It is up to you to get better, this is the difficult part.
wtf did she give this comment a heart? You don't know if they stop anything. Most likely they don't. To break down a feeling into a few chemicals is fuckin stupid as fuck
That's not true, you were right about them not helping you get any better however, they most certainly make you worse the longer you are on them and how could they not... Once you put a SSRI in your body, now you have a chemical imbalance induced by chemicals. Not only that but people develop weird and worsen symptoms while taking the drug... We haven't even started talking about the withdrawal process. We don't have evidence beyond 3 months for a reason. Your health will decline the longer you are on. You are putting a chemical that alters your mind how could this not make you worse?
You're doing a GREAT job on this subject! Your channel is a service to society. Beauty AND brains...you are actually a "JEWEL" ; Miss Keu.
Great video!! Very informative🙌
Ummm this is excellent, thank you so much for making this vid... super helpful
Thank you for watching and for leaving feedback!
Depression is a massive shutting down of the nervous system - to protect us from overwhelming feelings from past traumas (that have been triggered). It's a protective measure. Without depression, feelings would overwhelm us, and we would have what's called a nervous breakdown. When a therapy or chemical helps resolve/discharge past traumas, depression disappears (there is nothing more to protect us from). Depression CAUSES a chemical imbalance, but it's NOT the root cause. Psilocybin has a unique ability to bring up past traumas for review and resolution (thus depressions goes away).
Arthur Janov (Primal Therapy) noted in his books that depression resolved AFTER traumas were released. Thomas Stone (book; Cure By Crying) also noted depression resolved after successful release of past traumas. Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE) has also helped many resolve depression.
Thank you.... I Love all the contents of your Videos....so very HELPFUL Blessings to you always Julianne You Are Making A Positive Difference to so many.
Good information. Thank you.
You make great content. I love your channel
So true about a chemical imbalance in the brain...known that for years.
The whole concept that industrial chemicals would actually make human beings feel better...and heal...is ridiculous. They numb and toxify, causing an inflammatory autoimmune response. That's ALL they do. Thanks for your courage. I am a licensed MH provider, and I 100% agree w/your interpretation. You rock.
And now it has been confirmed by scientists in the UK,that there is definitely no evidence that a chemical imbalance causes depression.Excellent presentation and the truth will always out.
How can I add Portuguese subtitles to your videos? I recently discovered your channel and have been binge watching! As someone who has been taking antidepressants for almost 4 years, I’m in a place where I want to learn more about depression and alternatives treatments. I’d love for my mom to watch your videos too, but she doesn’t know English. Is there a way I could translate your videos and add Portuguese subtitles? I’ve never done this before, so I don’t know how it works, but your message is amazing and I would love to share it to the people close to me
Great work
Your brave, good for you! Such a disservice to the public today by the mental health profession!
Can you please tell me what is the best treatment for mental illness like psychosis?? BTW great video...😊😍
My mom is always trying to say that depression and anxiety are caused by a chemical imbalance. I know she is wrong. They are caused by the fucked up way in which we live. They are caused by a soulless society based entirely on competition in every possible way.
Exactly! Someone speaking sense. I have been severely depressed because I'm surrounded by toxic people and a non loving family. Working jobs we hate. That's the world
❤️❤️❤️🦋 great video. Completely agree with you. I took antidepressants for 29 years (I’ve used them all) I now use only psilocybin as my “medication”, for me it’s been the ONLY thing that’s worked. Mushrooms saved my life, literally.
I'm doing the same thing now.
@@toadabone 😄😄😄
Bello from Argentina. What you say that psilocybin is the only thing that worked with you gives me faith that I can get a cure for depression.
I am very interested in this subject. I have recently started micro dosing and I am appreciate of information about its “in and outs.”
Thank you ❤!!!!
I am an LCSW and in clinical private practice for 15 years. The pharmaceutical companies may have used a simplified concept in order to market SSRI’s. This does not mean that SSRI’s are a total hoax and a conspiracy. SSRI’s have saved many lives. They have their purpose and are part of the evolution in the understanding of the brain. This does not mean we stop prescribing just bc the pharmaceutical companies used the chemical imbalance idea. It would be extremely dangerous to “cancel” SSRI’s just because of a marketing message. The actually medicines have their place in mental health treatment. And we will continue to learn about the brain and develop treatments, including the study and use of psychedelics. Going all one way “no western medicines or medical doctors, just herbs and plants” is imbalanced and dangerous.
Hi Julianne, just found you and loving your videos. I have a question, what do you think about ANXIETY and the chemical imbalance ? Can this be something you would agree or disagree with? Thanks so much.
Its subjective. Theres no one fits all reason.
That was good. I have some family that might benefit from it. In my opinion, depression is caused by powerlessness and social isolation, which causes further isolation in a destructive feedback loop. I have some experience with this... In my case, I was basically saved by an old friend who asked uncomfortable questions, discovered my hell, and insisted that I go with him to another country. We used to talk about our dreams to travel, so he knew it's what I needed. So we went to China, where I ended up taking a job and staying for a few years. It wasn't really anything great, but it gave me a chance to stay in a different environment, which was what I needed.
I came back to the US right before the pandemic hit (it wasn't me! 😂) Bad luck. But at least now I know the way out.
Also the only reason they chose "antidepressant" as the name for this category of drugs was because anxiolytics (anti-anxiety drugs) had gotten a bad name after pills like Valium had proven to be habit-forming after pharma companies having promised they were not.
What’s your thoughts 💭 on Lyrica and Amitriptyline? I’m on Lyrica for nerve pain from my lower back and the Amitriptyline is to counter some of the side effects from Lyrica also for the headaches just about every day sometimes migraines.
Thank you
Hey, I am starting my own CZcams channel....How do you take to the camera so fluidity, while remembering so much facts? Do you use a teleprompter?
Very insightful and persuasive, thank you! However, aren't there some individuals (maybe not that many) who are helped by antidepressants?
Brilliant.
I have an underlying depression and anxiety disorder plus had 7 bouts of major depression. I have childhood trauma and fears that still come up and was triggered by having a full hysterectomy 8 years ago. I am on hormone replacement therapy since last Aug. If I go off my med then I will spiral downwards again. Psychedelic therapy is very interesting to me but I am over 50 and have never tried shrooms. I had so many breakdowns and now in EMDR therapy but were you off meds before trying microdosing?
I personally could not tolerate SSRIs. The negative side effects always outweigh the benefits for me
I was on SSRIs since I was 12 I stopped at 19 and honestly for the first 4 or 5 days after stopping I felt happier than I ever have in life I smoke the greengo and honestly THC has help me more the SSRI
No background music fine dear
Hi! But then I have a question, what happens with the theory that psychedelics has a serotonin like molecule that might increase your mood?
From what I understand, the psilocin hijacks the serotonin receptors and causes it to no longer pick up serotonin, and tricks it into thinking the psilocin is the serotonin instead. I actually noticed when I take LSD I get withdrawals from my SSNRI, so I'm assuming that's because the LSD hijacked the receptors, causing the SSNRI to no longer be taken up by the serotonin receptors. If that makes sense. All in my experience.
I don't notice any withdrawals from microdosing (psilocybin and microdosing alike). Not sure about the other commenter's account... But speaking for myself, I haven't noticed any withdrawals
I don't believe it's a theory. Psilocybin hits the same receptors as most ssris do. When I started microdosing I didn't feel a thing which no thought was odd. I tapered off the ssri and two days later I felt the mushrooms slightly and it's been great!
You explained this very well.... listening loud and clear from someone who has been on and off of AntiDepressants... for decades
How do you explain Bi Polar ???? Now getting ready for MD Mushrooms.
I saw a vending machine with a shoe leather deficiency once. It wasn't working, and then I exposed it to my shoe leather, and then it gave me my food.
Loved this video Julianne... thank you for for doing all this work and sharing with us..... pushing pills in this country unfortunately has become the norm... they treat the symptom, not the underlying problem.. Someone said that the US is the only country in the world that has commercial on tv for drugs..... hmmmm
Oh wow! Yes, I've read that somewhere once before too. I live in Canada and I don't see pharma ads on TV... except when I'm watching American channels! That is a really interesting observation indeed.
@@JulianneKeu Wow!!!!! Whereabouts in CANADA (HOME OF THE BEST MUSICIANS) R U from?
Thank u
This video is so one-sided. The chemical imbalance thing is a theory and just that. It is not proven but it also has not been disproven. I am not aware of any tests that can measure your serotonin levels. Not only that, we are talking about an imbalance and mood is dependent on other chemicals in the brain other than serotonin. Dopamine, Epinephrine and endorphins all play a part. As of now, this isn't something that can be measured and maybe one day they can link it to depression/anxiety. Only then this can be proven or be called a myth. You calling it a myth is your theory.
I hate pharmaceutical companies because they are robbing our country. Yes they advertise horribly and misuse the information to sell their drugs. This I agree with in your video but you aren't actually disproving the theory by any means.
I like you and follow you for your microdosing videos since those have wonderful information. SSRIs saved my life 6 years ago though. I do everything I can to lift my mood, meditate, workout 5 days a week, go on adventures every weekend, have a job I like with higher than average salary, surround myself with friends/family and yet I still am anxious/depressed. Everybody is different and these drugs won't work for everyone. I don't think you should be calling this a myth. You should explain your experience with them and offer an opinion. You don't know if you just discouraged someone who these drugs could have helped.
Several prominent psychiatrists have called it a myth. I cited one such person in my video - he is a lecturer of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. What do you think of that? Do you distrust what he says? American psychiatry no longer endorses the chemical imbalance hypothesis (not theory) as a biological root cause of depression. It has never been shown that those with mental illness have any chemical imbalances - and it's not for a lack of trying.
This does *not* mean that depression doesn't have a biological component to it. It absolutely does. The latest research seems implicate maladaptive plasticity more than anything - a process (fun fact) that psychedelic medicine has been shown to reverse.
What you said about "discouraging someone from taking SSRI's"... I find that to be manipulative. I am of the belief that the truth will set us free. You are welcome to watch my videos, but please be mindful of projections you might make in the comments.
This video , the way I see it, is about the low rate of success antidepressants have. What do you think it's the cause of depression, if not a chemical imbalance?. Try to remember different chemicals in our brain are responsable for how we feel, it's not magic!.
Learn more here then school I just ino wen I get kids they will be beyond woke n learn more then school n that’s facts
Same! The Internet is my teacher 🙏🏼 today's generation of kids makes me feel optimistic about the future too
Genetics load the gun, lifestyle pulls the trigger
The chemical imbalance is the person who feels depressed even when situations in life are going there way witch is only 2% of people with depressing thoughts
The industry is past due for a Renaissance in its approach to psychiatry, isn't it?! I'm rooting for MAPS, now in phase 3 of trials for MDMA in the treatment of PTSD. Also, it seems like there's good data for ketamine infusions in those with drug resistant depression and suicidal ideations. Shame on Nixon and his war against drugs. It's now obvious that it was attempt and criminalizing substances in order to have control over certain classes of people. It's a shame that this halted research of substances that were shown to successfully treat alcoholism, resistant depressive behavior patterns etc. So funny how SSRIs have been modified slightly, rebranded and have made billions for the pharmaceutical industry; it's a money making machine at the cost of those who are really struggling. I'm certain that we'll see change in our lifetime. The current approach to treating psychiatric disorders will soon look ridiculous when they realize that there's more to it that suppressing symptoms. Hacking at the roots is the only way to get permanent and life changing results; unveiling past traumas, bringing them to the surface and not masking. Thanks again for taking the time to research these topics and sharing your discoveries!
So eloquently put. Can I screenshot part of your comment to display in my next video? I'll credit you of course :) Specifically this: "The current approach to treating psychiatric disorders will soon look ridiculous when they realize that there's more to it that suppressing symptoms. Hacking at the roots is the only way to get permanent and life changing results; unveiling past traumas, bringing them to the surface and not masking." I don't know how you found this channel. You sound like you should be making one of your own! Thanks again for leaving a comment on yet another one of my videos
@@JulianneKeu I would be honored! I'll admit I'm a little camera shy! We'll see! The furthest I've gone was (I'm not a drummer but can keep a beat) was playing a simple set up for a friend that played at the Casbah in San Diego. Edit: I suppose youtube's algorithm brought me to your channel. Your content is spot on, for me and I'm certain many others. It's comforting to know that there's a mind out there with similar thoughts, feelings and perspectives! :)
I have a coworker that is convinced that he has a "chemical imbalance" for his depression. I tend to think that it is an excuse for him to be a victim. You know, the old "I can't help it because ... (fill in the blank) or (it's not my fault). His depressION is depressiING and even though I've told him about microdosing, it falls on deaf ears. If anybody here knows a smarter way to present this, please let me know.
I have a friend who keeps relapsing every time he goes back on an SSRI. 10 years later... I worry for him. I fear he might wake up one day to believe that he's hopeless. This is the tragedy nobody talks about. And it doesn't help that videos with the word "antidepressant" in them automatically get demonetized. This video you're seeing, for example, isn't monetized. So aren't my other videos on the subject. I'm glad they're at least being discovered by my newer subs. Thank you x 10
I m a say dis : correlation is not causation. We dont really know. BuT Serotonin certainly is lower in depressed people
Interesting how they’ve built an multi-billion dollar industry off “we don’t really know”.
100
Haters are just triggered because of cognitive dissonance. I was on meds most of my life and I have never had more clarity & spiritual connection since being off of them. HOWEVER... I started taking them because I was suicidal. It helped stop the suicidal ideation but then I realized the true root cause of this depression was family, trauma & birth control. Anyone would be depressed in a depressing environment ingesting poisons. I know there are FEW rare cases of true mental illness like schizophrenia but for the most part it is just ignorant people like myself who are programmed to think they are f*cked up. It's appalling to me that medical professionals will diagnose someone with a disorder by asking a few questions & write a prescription without even doing a brain scan!!! People with trauma & depression from OTHER biological & social factors are being exploited & harmed which infuriates me. If you really care about mental health we need to expose the malpractice & disservice to these vulnerable people & demand that its reformed. We shouldn't be given mind altering psychotropic drugs without addressing MANY other factors since it can cause harm to people. It's no different than putting children on puberty blockers - reckless & irresponsible.
Check out the research mind medicine is doing on mental health, help is on the way
You have completely been vindicated by a pretty vast study that came out recently.
Not a medical profesional not a scientist alright so how are you qualified to talk about this?
Because I'm reporting research and statements made by scientists, psychologists, and psychiatrists. According to your logic, if you're not a scientist, you're not allowed to report on science? That doesn't make sense. Hope you see how ludicrous your question was.
@@JulianneKeu i was asking a question no need to be triggered
@@user-ly1ml6ue9n You're welcome