3 Baffling Depression Treatments and Why They Might Work

Scientists have found some effective alternative treatments for patients with treatment-resistant depression, but they are not exactly sure why these treatments work.
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[@silverandexact]

"As many as one-fifth of people"... I can't even fathom the fact that 4/5 of the population doesn't ever experience depression. Wild.

[@profoundminds_9021]

Im depressed to the point where i dont wanna talk to anyone. But i feel that other people who have been depressed before. I feel more comfortable with

[@oldcowbb]

depression and sad is not the same

[@joshdt7598]

It’s talking about being diagnosed with depression. The vast majority of people are never diagnosed.

[@luckyduckydaisyflower2344]

That amazes me too

[@RazorM97]

it's super weird, but unknown

[@shaktimaan09]

1. Ketamine 2. Sleep deprivation 3. Vagus nerve stimulation

[@silvermoonshineX3]

damn I thought they'd mention shrooms. But maybe it's not that baffling?

[@necrisro]

1. Illegal 2. Short term solution 3. Too expensive and invasive. Make KETA legal pls.

[@pangolothian]

@Benghazi gaming ahahaha good lord.

[@pangolothian]

@@account-not-found-try-again I agree with the controlled setting 100%. But only in a high dose? Not so much.

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

Jason Statham thanks!

[@DasIllu]

Sleep deprivation is used to break an intense depressive episode. My doctors explained to me it works by keeping neurons active for more than 24h so that they start to release serotonin reserves from synapses that are not involved in the depressive symptome, making more serotonin available for the rest. Well at least that is how i understood them.

[@sebastianelytron8450]

Video suggestion: Why is starting an activity always the hardest part?🤔

[@MsJaneEHawkins]

Yeah, it can get weird, can't it? One of the many things I lose when in a bad depressive episode is my "On" button. I know what needs to be done and how to do it, I may even know it will help me feel better, and yet I just can't seem to take that first step.

[@DJNHmusic]

@@MsJaneEHawkins That probably stems from the feeling that the thing at hand is not worth doing, because the nihilistic state of mind that is a depressive episode makes you think that there's no purpose in doing anything. You need to figure out what keeps you going, why it's worth to do all those things. Every little thing you do then become steps toward that purpose, and depending on how strongly you feel about that purpose, you'll gain the motivation to do stuff. However, this can be very challenging if you struggle with the sense of purpose in the first place, which is very common in depression. In that case, it helps to read some literature which deals with that.. Viktor Frankl and Irvin Yalom are both amazing authors and are a good starting place for rediscovering why it's worth living.

[@commanderwaddles3483]

Like showering. I fuckin love showering but I always dread getting ready to do it lmao

[@Leeqzombie]

Executive dysfunction and momentum, my bet is.

[@thugai8150]

@@DJNHmusic Rediscovering? What if you've never discovered it in the first place?

[@Master_Therion]

Wait, isn't ketamine also a horse tranquilizer? So if it treats depression, why then do horses still have a long face?

[@RemizZ]

Get outta here...

[@genericangst8665]

buh dun tssss

[@gravijta936]

Master Therion One might say ketamine calms "nightmares". ;)

[@abibas3050]

..... Oh god

[@vileguile4]

Well done

[@ApeSpork]

I just started ketamine infusions to help with my treatment resistant depression last week. I’ve had 4 infusions so far and I’m seeing some really promising results so far. First time I’ve had hope in a very long time!

[@gigiatkins5923]

Gray McElveen I know I’m late but that is wonderful 👍🏼

[@1happypiranha]

Good for you! Ketamine therapy had been working for me as well! I’m so happy for you! Never give up hope ☺️

[@_DiJiT]

Are you taking enough to experience strange visuals? If so, are they giving you guidance during those times?

[@dahliablack3999]

How do you even go about getting to try ketamine as a treatment?

[@macnutz4206]

@@1happypiranha What part of the world do you live in? I am just curious regarding where such treatments might be available.

[@davidvandrunen3516]

"Are you still having seizures?" 'Yah, but it's all good.'

[@ryan94589]

This comment needs more credit hahahahah

[@BrokebackBob]

Brit is a really terrific host! Who agrees?

[@Semmelein]

I love her. She's awesome! :-)

[@GigaBoost]

No, I think she's really good, why are you so mean?

[@amanatee27]

+

[@tomhannah3825]

Agree, I like her energy and intelligence, ...but she looks a little like Kathy Bates in Misery, which creeps me out.

[@SpriteWild]

For some reason my brain read terrifying I was like what

[@pacingBlue]

I have also noticed that sleep deprivation improves my mood and boosts my eagerness to do stuff. But incapacitates my mental abilities. Oh well, can't have it all.

[@harperl2]

Get ketamine, got it

[@martinsalko1]

Weed's good too I guess.

[@redhaloSix2SixBallsDraggin]

@@martinsalko1 no

[@Telleryn]

unfortunately weed has a high chance of triggering paranoia in people susceptible to depression and/or anxiety

[@linkinl1]

@@Telleryn Can confirm

[@uss_04]

Worked for House’s leg pain... for a while

[@fearlessjones]

I do Ketamine Infusion Therapy every 3 weeks for OCD, anxiety, and depression. It has worked miracles for me. Highly recommended.

[@213243D]

Injected?? Idk that's a scary thing to do oneself.

[@willrogers9932]

@@213243D it's safer, cleaner and more controlled than snorting garbage off the streets at a party

[@leenlovesdancing3561]

Maybe the sleep deprivation shifts the focus from depression triggering thoughts to the unfulfilled primordial need ➡️ sleep. Maybe the body releases happiness hormones as a protective mechanism. When I'm very hungry my stomach doesnt hurt all the time. When I'm very tired I've got phases where I just laugh about (almost) everything.

[@TheNipSnipper]

ive found my anxiety gets really bad when i dont sleep. it's like being drunk in a lot of ways. thats just me though.

[@eris4734]

Yeah I can get high on sleep deprivation

[@QsPhilosophy]

I've had depression, and I'm a night owl, and I've found that there's something really calming about watching the sun rise when I pull an all nighter. It's really symbolic and it really helps me

[@Marz859]

LeenLovesDancing 🎈 I've been depressed af lately but then i stayed up for 24hrs (not on purpose) and felt great

[@BlackCampariBlue]

LeenLovesDancing that's actually one of the theories scientists have! The sleepy brain tries to find stimuli to stay awake, similar to tired kids who become hyperactive. So that's actually the opposite of most depressions that lead to being slow and disconnected to the surrounding world

[@BriefBrainSnacks]

Of the three mentioned, Ketamine as the least invasive and easiest to maintain (no chronic sleep deprivation required), may be the easiest and most patient friendly one to both study and administer as a treatment for Depression.

[@olavoxavier4353]

but no sustained results. it fades out after 2-4 weeks =[

[@BriefBrainSnacks]

Olavo Xavier so it would need to be administered once every two weeks. That’s not too bad considering how frequently typical antidepressants need to be administered. At least once a day.

[@olavoxavier4353]

@@BriefBrainSnacks for the articles i've already read, it's not a fade from single use, but repeated use. ECT and TME for example have a decent amount of trials for use on monthly or weekly administration, but the evidence on ketamine as a long term treatment is not so good yet. I work in this area ^^ (but my mother language is not english, so I don't like to write long texts ^^)

[@BriefBrainSnacks]

Olavo Xavier is the reduction in efficacy due to tolerance buildup, something else, or is it too early to know? Also, your English writing ability seems just fine 😃.

[@jackbyrley6441]

@@BriefBrainSnacks Does the tolerance go away if you abstain from ketamine for a while, the way it does with THC, alcohol, etc? Plus ketamine can have a negative impact on the liver if you do it too often...

[@shyshydrake3730]

tfw you have insomnia and depression and still feel crappy... tbh i feel even worse than usual if i don't get enough sleep. that's just me tho, it might work for somebody else... also happy turkey day

[@MsJaneEHawkins]

Forcing yourself to stay awake and active all night is different from insomnia. For me, it actually does cause a mood lift. BUT, as she says in the vid, the effect is temporary (maybe a day?) and the method can't be used often.

[@cathy-pz2to]

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!😆

[@commanderwaddles3483]

For me not sleeping first makes me dissociative af & then I enter a near delirious episode of manic joy, like a happy energetic child. However I can't do things very properly in that state & I see shadows & get easily panicky at any movement around me so I don't consider it a more than momentary solution for desperate times.

[@sprigganpanda]

In the video she mentions that it's okay temporarily but if used too often it can actually worsen your mood. For me I have to stay up to at least 4 am if I wanna stay up late otherwise I'll just feel exhausted but staying up that late makes me feel better in the morning than going to bed on time does, it makes me more motivated even. However, if I keep staying up late then I start fall asleep easily if I'm just remotely comfortable or I close my eyes for a second, I drift off a lot, so I can't use it forever otherwise I could land myself in some trouble. Last time I pulled an all nighter I accidentally fell asleep on the bus and when I woke up I was in a part of town I didn't recognize and I had a bunch of missed calls from my sister. In short, staying up once or twice is ok but doing it for repeatedly for a long time does more harm than good.

[@Gr95dc]

I forced myself to not sleep because when I get really tired I feel emotionless, I did it for so long now I have severe sleep problems. After at least one year of those sleep problems I'm starting to normalize them

[@espional7598]

In my anecdotal experience, I often feel at my most productive and motivated when it's late at night and I've been up for a long time. I hadn't thought about it beyond that, but it's interesting to see that depressive symptoms like that have been tested on a greater scale. Though my problem is bipolar 2 depression, so I wonder if it works differently in different 'flavors' of mood disorder?

[@sprigganpanda]

I find myself doing better with my studies and I find it easier to focus when I stay up late, my brain works better sleep deprived. I just don't do it often cuz too many late nights causes me to fall asleep almost anywhere.

[@kennethfoster3913]

I've been on depression therapy pretty much forever, and if I can reach my "second wind" where my body gives up on putting me to sleep, I feel great. Fascinating that professional researchers are seeing this as a trend!

[@bluestrife28]

As someone struggling against this deluge of depression my whole life I learned it’s caused at least for me by all the horrible ppl in my life. Now that I’m alone I’m better...ish.

[@aishahsiddeeqa8311]

I don’t understand why the entirety of the comments section feels the need to trivialise depression and treatment resistant depression specifically. Would you make fun of treatment resistant cancer in the same way? Would you trivialise it in the same way? It’s ridiculous.

[@aishahsiddeeqa8311]

Kim Kardashian Un I’m not. I’m just saying making a joke and trivialising an issue are two different things. Tasteful jokes do exist. And this is an issue that’s trivialised enough as it is. I’m not a white knight. I’m someone who suffers from depression and would like it to be treated as equal to physical health issues. It’s not a joke and it’s not a personality quirk. It’s not a teenage emo thing and it’s definitely not the same as being sad.

[@aishahsiddeeqa8311]

Kim Kardashian Un individual biochemistry might mean that certain medication won’t be as effective for you as for other people with depression. It’s similar for the treatment of epilepsy. Have you tried talking to your doctor about trying something else if you have been taking it for 4-6 week already?

[@weregretohio7728]

Problem every time... feels like a lot of these people act like shills for drug companies. It's sad and obnoxious.

[@tenaciousdean6179]

Tbf I get the feeling that a significant portion of the people watching these types of videos (not even this one specifically), probably have a predisposition to depression themselves anyway. A lot of people deal with stuff in different ways and one of the best coping mechanisms is to just make jokes, even if they may seem distasteful to some people.

[@aishahsiddeeqa8311]

Tenacious Dean I just think that trivialising an issue which is already trivialised enough as it is isn’t going to help anyone. It isn’t funny for the 37% of children who get rejected from camhs support because there isn’t enough funding or the 32% who have to wait over a year for support. This is because there’s isn’t enough funding put into it. And part of that is because of the lack of equality between mental and physical health.

[@littlelunanova2591]

I was surprised transcranial magnetic stimulation wasn't included. I know it works well for some but not others, but the science behind it is interesting.

[@samuelsmith7866]

TMS is weird. It’s not approved, nor recommended for treatment resistant bipolar disorder, yet my old psych tried to get me to do TMS

[@matovicmmilan]

@@samuelsmith7866 You mean he tried to help you and suggested the TMS but you refused?

[@breno855]

@@matovicmmilan im also bafled by this, I've been trying to convince my doctor for years

[@matovicmmilan]

@@breno855 It doesn't surprise me mate, just like the previous case - attitudes do not match. As someone who comes from medical background and at the same time the patient who suffers from depression and anxiety, I've witnessed some unbelievably ungrateful patients but also very stubborn and problematic doctors. One thing I've noticed though which could be unpopular for some "democratic" peope these days(but I've seen whom they choose for a doctor when their own or their children's ass comes to question) is that those problematic doctors, particularly psychiatrists and psychotherapists, are 9/10 females.

[@RangerRuby]

It's nice that SciShow Psych gives some theories for these treatments and doesn't leave us wondering!

[@nobodyspecial3123]

I have treatment resistant depression. I've tried a lot however what I found works best for me is the drug extacy, 2 pills and my depression disappears for a month...actually once it went away for 2 months...with 2 freaking pills. The funny thing about it I didn't try the X for antidepressant effects...that night I did it the first time I wanted to get high and forget my issues. Well the high part not so much...but the depression went away. BTW I don't know why but E doesn't do for me what it does for others. It fixes the depression but I don't get that body high people report getting from it.

[@silverandexact]

Interesting. I'm always down for alternative treatments to depression but I'm afraid using recreational drugs would induce mania (I have bipolar).

[@SolarShado]

I'm not 100% familiar with street names, but "extasy" is MDMA, right? MDMA works by stimulating serotonin release, which isn't *entirely* different from how SSRIs (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors; a fairly common class of prescription anti-depressants) work. Seems odd that one dose could have such long-lasting effects though... but, as this channel regularly points out, brains are weird.

[@psykkomancz]

My experience with MDMA was the same. One pill improved my mood in stable way for one month.

[@wschippr1]

Shea Pierson Yes, I have Bipolar as well and I'd recommend being cautious with recreational drugs.

[@Vaneska59]

Really interesting, as if taking the drug put your brain with normal concentration of serotonine. That's why your depression went away, but you did not get high as much (so far my hypothesis). REALLY interesting.

[@Becca-bm8rt]

Huh. That sleep deprivation one rings true to me. I suffer from chronic depression and often have to resist the urge to stay up all night, because even though I'm physically exhausted I usually feel more mentally 'up'. I always figured it was something specific to me, but if that research is true then maybe I was self-medicating?

[@cleox1215]

Becca interesting... maybe it’s your body’s way of trying to treat itself? I do have that but always mentally fight it, so not very effective

[@andyowens5494]

I had ketamine during surgery. Woke up feeling relaxed and fantastic, and that lasted a good few days. There might be something in it!

[@tomasranta6154]

My 50 year history of MDD is vagal. Modafinil has helped me get off of Elavil. I now feel pretty good except for poor sleep. Still, it’s worth it. Fasting is helping too. Mooji’s teaching and meditations are most relaxing and he makes me laugh. The best diet for an optimum micro biome is hard to find but will hunt for one.

[@marylamb6063]

Antibiotics cured my severe, suicidal depression. For good. I was taking it for a sinus infection, but it killed the bad gut bacteria that was causing my depression. I've have normal moods now for years.

[@psycobasschick]

Vagus nerve is controlled by serotonin, so there could be an over all increase by stimulating it. I'm one of those with treatment resistant depression. I have to take things to help me sleep (5htp and melatonin) and things to help me stay awake (b vitamins, ginseng and ginko). Physical exercise makes my depression worse. Like many with treatment resistant depression, I have comorbid conditions (mine are autism, ADHD, anxiety, GI disorders, fibromyalgia, and a few more). I have often found myself explaining the difference between living with depression and being depressed as driving over a bridge. When you live with depression, you wonder what it would be like to turn your car and drive over the edge. When you are depressed, you have to fight to keep yourself from doing it.

[@doogandoggin2571]

Most experiences I've ever had with vagal nerve stimulation was autostimulation and they usually involved a quote-unquote Code Brown. This was when somebody who pushed too hard had a heart attack DJ vagal nerve stimulation resulting in v-fib

[@FlubberGamer]

Our brain is one of the most beautiful things in the universe, and not just human brains but brains in general, it’s an amazing biological machine that we know so little on how it fully works, psychology and neurology are definitely the most exciting fields as we are getting better and better technology

[@meagain9987]

3:19 It is very interesting that a treatment for epilepsy like that also helps people suffering from depression. Some epilepsy meds are also used to help people with a bi-polar disorder.

[@danielshae3300]

I was in treatment for trauma earlier this year, i made friends with a girl who has been held captive for 6 years and was put through awful awful things. She has has dissociative identity disorder (multiple personality) that was worsened by brain damage she got during boxing. She was introduced to ketamine treatments, I believe at first once a week, then once every 2 week then once ever month and I think she’s done for now and with that along with the intensive therapy she got for 70 days, she’s doing amazing.

[@Locut0s]

Wow, I thought I was crazy. I’ve had a lot of cases where I’ve had really fantastic days after a really sleepless night. My usual norm is low grade depression, and in recent weeks I’ve been going through a really dark dip into more severe depression.

[@hellNo116]

For me it worked that I found out what was causing mine and I had the luck to be able to fix it. I am not like a super happy individual right now(I don't think I ever was), but I am incredibly more focused and energetic. I haven't lost my track with studying and going to university for almost two months now.

[@teknodisko]

Going through benzo withdraws helps too. After the symptoms where gone I felt so happy and motivated for like 2 weeks and had such a fresh outlook a life.

[@cmilkau]

Thank you for taking the time to add an audio transcription.

[@MegaRudeBoy69]

I did Ketamine once. It was so awesome, while it lasted (very shortly) and coming down was immediate and left me extremely agitated, so i feel i shouldn't do it again. I like it way too much and it was way too short.

[@officeaddict33]

The clinical application is not the same as taking the "party" drug yourself.

[@andrewsteinhaus8267]

Please do a show on neurogenesis. That seems to be the key to solve for many mood disorders and other brain related disease.

[@ReesesMonkeyXP]

I heard an interview in a podcast with a woman who had the electrical stimulation implant. She had said that she had had to up the voltage gradually to get the same affect, only there's a limit she can do that before causing nerve damage.

[@Garbaz]

Can definitely confirm the sleep deprivation treatment for myself. Or maybe it's the other way around. I tend to fall back into really bad depression on days where I've slept well. Maybe it has to do with the fact that you have to focus more to do things when you lack sleep.

[@mlck24]

Usually when I'm tired or depressed, I prefer staying up late. It improves my mood. The video might have just answered why.

[@Camperniki]

Wish you’d talked about the trans cranial treatment. I know it exists but I don’t know much more than that about it

[@noahsarkhive4482]

For the last 3/4 years I'm getting treated by a former surgeon who turned to biochemistry n has his own private praxis n I've never felt this stable before. I have clinic depression for about 20 years already n I never felt that the drugs really helped me. Now I'm getting regular infusion (at least once a month) with all kinds of neuro relation minerals n vitamins n whatnot n it works really well. I think the main reason why so many people getting treated wrong n why many treatments won't work is because barely any doctor every tries to actually find out WHY the patient is depressed. Depression has many roots n finding the individual ones is key to the right treatment. I for example have a lot of metabolic issues n food related allergies n hence a lot of deficiencies in my blood n brain. That's why regular anti depressants don't really work for me cause my main issue is that I need a regular infusion cocktail to help with my deficiencies.n as long as I get those I am as stable as can be. Other people might have issues to produce enough serotonin cause their l-tryptophan is being held back n blocked. Again others might regulary consume things they might be very a sensitive too n this produces neurostress which leads to depression. There are so many reasons n yeah, I think doctors should start to start there when treating a patient

[@martinogolls5765]

Im watching this just crying, wish i could stay happy

[@DeputatKaktus]

Fun fact: there is brand of breakfast cereal in Germany called „Special K“. The only thing it seems to cure though is hunger in the morning.

[@catfish684]

That brand is also in United States. Cures the same thing :)

[@CreativeHappiness]

Recently been looking into REM sleep (because I dream excessively and have depression) and how too much of it brought on by the worrying of the depressed person leads to dreaming which makes the brain as active as when it’s awake. Therefore waking exhausted and unmotivated. So, I think the sleep deprivation works to alleviate depression. because there has been no REM sleep. Instead of deprivation I’ve also read about waking a person periodically to avoid the REM cycle a few times a night. I would love if your channel could do an episode on this specifically. Because not much comes up when you search “how to reduce REM sleep”. Thanks for the great content as always!

[@OneironauticalOne]

It makes sense for Ketamine. I actually think I was self medicating with DXM which is very similar to Ketamine. I'm not saying it was a wise thing to do but it seemed to be an interesting explanation.

[@bekkaanneee]

it's really interesting that there's evidence that sleep deprivation helps depression symptoms, bcs when my depression gets really bad i go back and forth between wanting to only be asleep and not being able to sleep at all

[@Lagspikee]

Psychedelic drugs are also showing promising results for treating depression.

[@doxed64]

...but they also have been shown to cause Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) when abuse. It would be nice to have a device that could measure the right interval-to-dose for individuals...

[@DeltaNovum]

I feel like low macro doses 20-60ug and the microdosing of a psychedelic compound have been a life saver! Paired with regular therapy this substance helped me overcome or get a handle on at least 20 years of chronic depression, ptsd, anxiety disorder, attachment disorder and a personality disorder. Not only that, but it brought my ego down to a healthy level and it has made me more empathetic. Of course different substances have different outcomes for different people. I'm just really glad it has helped me heal. If anyone is looking at taking a similar path, using substances as a way to SUPPORT the healing process, please do your research. And if you don't take any medications that might interact, start out on the lowest dose possible to see how your body and mind interact with it. Also be aware of any mental health issues in yourself and your family. Always get it tested or test it yourself ! And remember you still have to do the work and you might have a long road ahead. But that's okay. Falling back down is a part of it, just make sure you keep standing up. Much love to everyone out there.

[@ems7623]

@@doxed64 This is still an area of very tentative and unclear science. The reports of HPPD are old and largely associated with LSD. But how anecdotal are those reports? How often does it really happen? At what dosage and frequency? In what sorts of patients? It's best if we all be very careful both not to overdo the optimism about psychedelic therapy or overdo the cautionary tales. The fact is that real, substantial medical research into these substances was delayed for decades. We don't know nearly enough to talk about them with any certainty.

[@jasonjackson3114]

I skip sleep once every 4 days. Works ok. Running and clean diet is awesome. Journaling is awesome. I grew up in an abusive household and was an outcast in high school. I had depression right through adolescence and adulthood. Been 90% symptoms free for 6 years. I don't want people to miss out. Hang in there.

[@1happypiranha]

I get Ketamine Infusions every 4 weeks. Just had my most recent one 5 days ago. My brain feels lighter than air, I can get things accomplished and am not feeling depressed. However the disassociation feelings you get when you are new to treatment are not very pleasant. You grow to tolerate it better. Makes you nauseous too, take an anti-nauseant and eat something about 30min before treatment. It really helps with nausea!

[@hyperspaceoddity7805]

Maybe sleep deprivation gets rid of depression, but increases stress, irritability, and anxiety, at least in myself.

[@mikamekaze]

Hard to feel ANY emotions when you're exhausted- Depression included. Can vouch for that one.

[@elmondark]

I experienced the same thing with ecstacy - i had recurring boosts in my mood, daily, for 2-3 weeks after; it would spontaneously feel like when the drug effect kicks in. For me it's recalling and reenecting the feeling, which ends up mimicking the effect, but sometimes it would just pop up out of nowhere. About sleep deprivation - i usually feel depressed after taking power naps, so i think part of the problem is with sleeping itself, and sleep deprivation skips the problems associated with sleep - so i think something happens during sleep, that messes you up. Also i noticed certain foods cause depression, anxiety or even panic attacks - it's fine during the day, but the anxiety/panic attacks always show up at night, when i'm trying to sleep, or wake up in the middle of the night, with a building attack.

[@XantroyX]

Ketamine it is then...

[@seppetoni7227]

Great video. thanks for the insights! Great production quality. And I cherish the scientific accuaracy! Have you ever thought about indexing your references and referencing them in the video itself (like e.g. 'fact 1' [1], because it has been show that 'fact 2' [2]). It's just a pain to work through the reference lists, if I'm just interested about one or two of the references. Anyway, highly appreciate the existence of the references !

[@zainsalazar3382]

For the sleep deprivation one, I'd say that it helps because serotonin and melatonin are switched, so when you go to sleep and are supposed to melotonin, you actually get a rise in serotonin, which is why the patience start to feel good. That's what I would think because I get really happy in the night and depressed in the morning, which is why I belive my chemicals are switched.

[@keheungan]

I just had 2-3 weeks of peak depressed and anxiety after about 2 months. I realize i ran out of my omega3 supplement. I ordered again today to see if it actually can improve my mood 😥

[@willb5278]

If making new connections helps people not be depressed I suddenly want to know more about that neurological process in general. How does it happen? Biochemically I mean? Is fatigue a thing there? Like, after forming a lot of connections, is there a reset period where making new connections is harder? Would that period be on the order of hours? Or months? Would forming an excessive number of them early in life alter the system to make it slow down years later? How's that change with age? That sounds fascinating and I think I'm starting to understand why people study and work in biology now. Teasing out how things work and the connections between them sounds rewarding.

[@becool365]

I have had depression summarised as feeling sick. I think this is quite a key part of its solution as well. For some reason we feel down as if we are actually sick, and that makes us sick and suffer in turn.

[@MikeStinse]

its been thought that the minor depression caused by being sick is an evolutionary way prevent the sick from spreading the illness through self-seclusion.

[@theMoporter]

Kind of, but not really. Depression is an illness, but it isn't the same as a chronic physical illness.

[@macnutz4206]

I'm in my seventies and have dealt with depression since I was 14, with only occasional periods of not being in a depressive state. I have had an active life and had some real world accomplishments but have enjoyed very little of it. Sleep deprecation is a normal state for me. I am a poster child for SSRI drugs ut they only reduce symptoms to a more manageable state and often it is not enough. I have tried micro dosing with hallucinogenic mushrooms and LSD, with some success but being so ancient of days, it is difficult to find such things. I'm not in the party scenes these days, oddly enough. The trouble with the party drugs being that you do not actually know what is in the stuff. It might not be what it is claimed to be or it might contain other chemicals with other psycho active effects.

[@Semmelein]

Stumbled upon sleep deprivation by accident a few months ago. I really needed to get some things done so I just skipped sleep this night and, as the hours went by, my symptoms gradually got better until I felt tired but almost energized. It all went away the night after this though. Since then I've been using this from time to time to get stuff done or just feel a little bit better.

[@lpsglitterpaws8536]

Great show! Please keep making these kind of videos!

[@Christieinthejourney]

I've done Ketamine infusions with no success and am scheduled for a vagal nerve stimulator implant within the next month. I'm excited. Hoping that it will be the final thing I've tried to give me some relief. I will update!

[@garypalmer997]

You should do a show on large amounts of published psychology papers turing out to false.

[@moragmacgregor6792]

Singing and chanting can help me in the short term. I believe it's because they stimulate the vagus nerve. But when I feel depressed I often don't feel like singing. I chanted for a few weeks but it takes a certain amount of discipline and depression makes it hard to follow through on self discipline. I was diagnosed with chronic clinical depression 40 years and fortunately I respond to conventional drugs. Unfortunately nothing works 100% of the time.

[@CourtneyCha0s]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE discuss Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. If you have trouble finding information about it, I can assist with that. Or you could go to the Neurostar website and find a local coordinator who can help explain TMS better. Maybe even bring them on the show or something. TMS saved my life and I wish more people knew about it so it can help them too. A few weeks of treatment lasted about 6-7 months free of symptoms from treatment-resistant depression. PLEASE DO A VIDEO ON IT.

[@DavidBakhash]

I did Ketamine over 8 weeks at the hospital. It didn't work for me, but it worked for many other patients.

[@pookamonsta]

i always feel great when i dont sleep. i feel more awake and energetic, have much sharper focus and much better moods. i feel like im the only one here that feels this way lol.

[@daithiocinnsealach1982]

My gut feeling tells me that way more than only 1/5th of people have suffered with some form of depression in their lives. My feeling is that this is a very natural feeling, but some of us can get out of it and move and others tend to get stuck in it or go through cycles with it.

[@pianoguy222]

I'd be interested to see if some sort of fatigue-ish mechanism is at work with the Ketamine. While the plural of anecdote isn't data, I know personally that my depression really weighs on me at times relentlessly, in a way that makes it continuously harder to endure. I wonder if it might not be a good idea to research whether Ketamine is providing some sort of "break;" an opportunity to put down metaphorical burdens and rest before having to tackle the depression again. I know that personally, other life events or treatments that offered short-term relief also helped me be productive well after the initial symptom relief occurred.

[@seatbelttruck]

Huh. When my depression acts up, I tend to be reluctant to sleep. Wonder if my body is sub-consciously trying to treat itself... Of course I haven't noticed any improvement from staying up late, so maybe it's just the general self-destructive behavior that tends to come with depressive episodes. On the other hand, I almost always end up sleeping at least a little, so perhaps I just haven't been doing it right.

[@chandniwani3085]

Well that's actually the exact way this whole evidence of sleep deprivation came into picture ! Researchers wondered if a depressed individual's body was just trying to maintain homeostasis by being reluctant to sleep. And they found with some evidence that PARTIAL sleep deprivation does help !

[@ziziroberts8041]

You can stimulate your vagus nerve on your own by slow diaphramatic breathing, by splashing your face with very cold water, or by pinching your nose and doing the same thing as you do on an airplane to relieve pressure in your ears. I read about these techniques online. Stimulating the vagus nerve can also help with atrial fibrillation.

[@danopticon]

Low-dose long-term psilocybin or LSD intake has also shown promising results. Prolonged low-dose use (just barely at the threshold of being noticeable by the patient) may be conditioning the patient’s brain either to increase its serotonin production or to increase its receptivity to existing serotonin, doctors aren’t sure which. But prolonged low-dose use of either of those psychedelics does seem to improve mood in the long term, and mood does seem to be tied to serotonin, and both drugs affect the neurotransmitter receptors that respond to serotonin.

[@amanatee27]

Excellent episode, thank you!

[@DJNHmusic]

Sleep deprivation helps with depressive symptoms because depression and the thought patterns associated with it are cognitively complex and abstract. When you don't get enough sleep, your cognitive abilities are hindered and you therefore don't engage in your usual ruminations, overthinking, and other self-sabotaging thought patterns as much. Your focus is instead shifted to your feeling of tiredness. It would make no sense that this would help with depression and in fact it doesn't, it just masks the symptoms temporarily.

[@StarryNightGazing]

Depression is not just a thinking pattern. That's why there's still stigma. Actual research is being conducted, don't jump to conclusions please

[@DJNHmusic]

@@StarryNightGazing Where do I state that depression is just a thinking pattern? It says "depression and the thought patterns associated with it", hence the wording of this sentence itself disproves that I stated that. And no, that's not why there's still stigma. And I think I've come to a very reasonable conclusion.

[@StarryNightGazing]

@@DJNHmusic well you tried to discredit research based on your preconceptions. And by doing that you show that you assumed that depressive symptoms come exclusively from overthinking and are not actual physical issues. Sleep deprivation could induce remission of symptoms through particular biological processes and not just by "huh you tired you no think" (as clearly stated in the video).

[@DJNHmusic]

@@StarryNightGazing ​ @Stargazer It was also clearly stated in the video that chronic sleep deprivation makes things worse. So don't you think it's a fair conclusion that short-term sleep deprivation doesn't actually help with the underlying cause but rather masks its symptoms? I'm also really not sure why you'd make it seem like overthinking, and thoughts in general somehow aren't related to physical processes. Consciousness is a product of your neurochemistry, which is clearly physical, so of course it's also a physical issue. It's two different ways of looking at the same thing.

[@StarryNightGazing]

@@DJNHmusic but the symptoms one feels are not necessarily related to his *current* thinking. Also no, your inference doesn't make sense. Long term sleep deprivation has negative health effects and that is the most obvious fact ever, but this doesn't imply that some processes involved in it cannot be helpful.

[@mathepants]

I have a request for a sci show psyche video. Are weddings worth it psychologically? Does spending more or less make people happier? Does it make the couple last longer? Would love to see a video about this, thanks!

[@GrunOne]

I don't usually comment about stuff like this, but Brit has a great voice for voice acting!

[@miyod]

About point two, the thing that most helped me with my long-standing treatment resistant depression was modafinil -- a stimulant. I also had wicked hipersomnia, though! It may have been just that.

[@johnphillips4909]

My Grandpa once told me a story of how he overcame depression in one day. He walked up to his father and told him he was depressed. His dad told him to pull up roots, and if my Grandpa wasn’t done by the time his father got back from work, he would get a whooping like he’d never seen. About the time he started, he told me he thought to himself, “Wow, this is hard. I don’t think I’ve ever been depressed in my life.” About the time he finished, he told his brother, “I don’t reckon I never was depressed, and if I ever do become depressed, I won’t tell Daddy about it.” True story.

[@avi3423]

The vague nerve is also thought to cause the pain associated with heartbreak

[@justbean007]

This video is super insightful, and I’m very thankful to see so many others acknowledging the importance of finding a cure. And in ways it’s nice knowing I’m not alone. I have treatment-resistant depression but sadly am highly allergic to Percocet and Ketamine.... (my luck) but I’m hopeful that one day scientists can find a cure :) please message me if your allergic to Percocet/ketamine and have depression too.

[@grainneocruhuir6383]

I have insomnia and depression and chronic illnesses etc but I was unable to get onto a normal sleep schedule so I partially accidentally got on to a nocturnal sleep schedule. I would fall asleep between 10am and 1pm and would wake up between 8pm and 10pm and I felt generally better I still felt the same way as I do when I’ve been up all night on a normal schedule but I was still getting sleep

[@gratituderanch9406]

My mom is on Ketamine IVs at a hospital. For a few years. Makes me nervous as there’s a big history of drug abuse, but may help. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@businesschicken8699]

I can tell you from experience that the sleep deprivation thing is usually a short term solution for depressed, angry, or anxious people because you simply become too tired to act or focus on manic thoughts. The ketamine treatment won't work really. It'll help for 2-3 months, if taken at what is considered recreational doses now, twice a month MAX. More than that will alter a person so drastically so quickly in a psychological way that it's not safe. I'm interested in the VNS though. I have dealt with manic-depression and anxiety so bad for so long that I would seriously give my voice for some lasting friggin peace.

[@yushatak]

The ketamine effect is due to reduction in cytokine count. Cytokines cause depression, and inflammation causes cytokines which cause pain, which is a vicious circle for those of us with chronic pain. I don't know if the neuronal growth stimulation is part of the picture or not, but this is the primary mechanism through which ketamine works on depression, especially after a single treatment over a period (the cytokine levels stay lower until they build back up, depending on what's causing them). I have very treatment-resistant depression, the only thing that reliably works is opioid painkillers (which I take for pain as needed, and very sparingly at a few a month) - I'd love to try the ketamine therapy as I believe it will work since pain and inflammation are tightly coupled to my particular case. The sleep deprivation I think (this is my experience) is just due to parts of the brain working or working together at reduced capacity. The slight detachment from reality and "derpiness" it gives you makes you too detached to be as depressed or stressed as you'd normally be, but you're also impaired, so it isn't worth doing solely to treat depression (at least normally, I'm sure there's a scenario out there).

[@lj0339]

Yushatak if you are on opiates that will mess with your body completely. Depression can definitely be caused by it and even if not the root cause, it will certainly exacerbate it since it affects your natural dopamine levels

[@agoodusername5662]

sleep deprivation!! i discovered that when i was 11 and i ended up falling asleep in the field multiple times lol. I felt so much better tho, so it got really unhealthy. I still pull an all nighter occasionally when i need some inspiration, but i'm healthier about it now and don't go days without sleeping. If scientists found out why exactly it makes people feel better, id be THRILLED.

[@lostinthelookingglas]

Sleep deprivation makes me manic, which is not necessarily what you want when you have depression (also it makes me have seizures). I wonder if it’s making other people manic too (which can make you feel less depressed in the short term)

[@tumblingrosesstudio]

I received Ketamine as a sedative in Canada for a spinal tap and my physical symptoms of lifelong anxiety evaporated. Antidepressants are commonly also prescribed and are effective in treating anxiety. I wonder if Ketamine could be a treatment for Generalized Anxiety disorder.

[@sabyasachisen5351]

YOUR PRESENTATION IS EXTREMELY GOOD. FOR ONCE, SOMEONE WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE IS TALKING ABOUT. GREAT JOB. BEST WISHES FROM INDIA. REALLY LIKE YOUR VIDEOS.

[@shocknawe]

I've found that sleep depravation helps with the rumination aspect of my depression. It's a matter of being too tired to do some mental gnashing. Too much though, makes the symptoms waaaay worse, and like she said: sleeping again, also makes it worse.

[@bunsenn5064]

I find that sleep deprivation increases the intensity of the delirium, in which I experience an even greater level of rumination. I get more tired and more depressed.

[@Mtz2604]

What a cool update!

[@tybask8189]

That last one is really intriguing to me. I've been suffering from High-functioning depression for 6 or 7 years now, since I was 15, and lately I've taken up smoking weed from time to time, as it generally cheers me up, at least while I'm on it. I've noticed one of the things that happened when I get high is a tingling sensation at the back of my neck. It's a weird sensation, but I enjoy it. Could it be similar to vns?

[@Vaneska59]

Sounds like asmr to me :)

[@GScottChaosnaut]

I suffer from debilitating depression and suicidal thoughts daily.

[@officeaddict33]

That sucks. I'm not joking here - get Ketamine (in a clinical setting). It can literally save lives.

[@3possumsinatrenchcoat]

We've been going to a ket treatment center for a few years for my mom's depression (she's worked through almost every flavor of meds on the market with little results). her doctor toyed with trying electroshock last year, but the high memory issues and loss chance pushed that to the "last resort" spot. just yesterday she got told about some treatment with magnets though? I'd never heard of it and didn't catch the name but I was kinda hoping you'd bring it up in this video. maybe a followup suggestion? ;p

[@Budjarn]

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

[@TheJojo01902]

Thank you for this video. Interesting and hopeful.

[@mrsslibby6857]

I have a VNS for epilepsy. Hoping it will start to help with my depression too since I have yet to find an antidepressant that doesn't give me seizures.

[@1happypiranha]

I’ve been receiving Ketamine Therapy for about 6 months to help with my Bipolar Depression. I find it incredibly effective however it effects everyone different. It’s not the most enjoyable experience. Sometimes you don’t know where you are and the dissociative effects are really not ‘fun’ like people think. However, it has been very beneficial for me. (Why people take it recreationally is beyond me) I do suffer nausea from it but by taking an Anti-nauseant before going and getting the IV infused slower stops the nausea. This is a low dose ketamine. High doses are not effective. It has really helped me however it doesn’t work for everyone or work as quickly. (I didn’t get results immediately. It took a couple weeks) So everyone is different however the results are very positive indeed.

[@Pushnam1]

I remember feeling more active and alive when I had lesser sleep. Like, around 4 to 6 hours a day. I never understood why

[@derekjeffries5904]

Ketamine is a dissociative which, in large doses, basically makes you forget who you are. Your experience is stripped of all context, and your normal reaction to stimuli is shut down. It makes perfect sense that this would help with treatment resistant depression by shutting down your brains interpretive function because a depressed person is really someone stuck in a particular mode of thought.

[@Psychologielernende]

Really great and informativ video:)

[@AirsoftTempest]

I wonder how VSN may affect stuff like eating disorders or even something like that a binge eating habit. How much control does this stimulation technology potentially have?