How Neuroplasticity Could Help with Depression, with Ruby Wax | Big Think

How Neuroplasticity Could Help with Depression, with Ruby Wax
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Ruby Wax put her comedy career on hold a few years ago in order to research mental illness and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy at Oxford. It's there that she first encountered neuroplasticity: the ability to rewire your brain just by changing the way you think. Wax, who sports a Master's in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, now travels the world promoting mental health awareness and stigmatization. Her new book is titled "Sane New World."
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RUBY WAX:
Ruby Wax is an American born, naturalized British comedian and author. She is a classically trained actress, well-known interviewer, and renowned mental health advocate. In battling her own depression, Wax put her career on hold to research the workings of the mind. She earned a master's degree in mindfulness based cognitive therapy from Oxford University in 2013 and has since authored a book, Sane New World.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Ruby Wax: About eight years ago in the U.K. I was outed by a mental health charity because they asked me if they could take a photo of me to raise money in one of their little, you know, pamphlets. And I said yeah and I thought it was going to be a tiny fingernail clipping of a picture but they were huge posters all over the U.K. - gigantic. And I looked like a Lithuanian peasant and it said on it - I don’t know who wrote this - one in four people have mental illness, one if five people have dandruff. I have both. I mean, you know, mortified. So I thought you know what I’m going to do. I’m going to write a show and I’m going to make that look like it’s my publicity poster.
So I did write a show and I did it in mental institutions for the first two years. And I think they liked it. Well I couldn’t tell because they weren’t always facing me. And then I made a joke. I said the bipolars used to say I laughed, I cry. And really if you can make a psychotic laugh you’re halfway to Broadway. What happened was then we would have - I would do my show. Then we’d have a little bit of a lunch break and we used to steal food from the anorexics because they didn’t mind. And then we’d come back. We’d have a discussion, fabulous discussions - I won’t even go into their questions.
Oh, P.S., I wasn’t talking down to them because they knew I was of the tribe, okay. So you know how people go, “How’d you do that?” I was one of them. So then the show took off and I did it in all theaters. In Australia, in Capetown, in London. Everywhere I did the show and the audience would ask me the same questions and it became a kind of - even for a thousand people one guy would stand up and he’d say, you know a real butch guy - I’ve been on antidepressants for 20 years. I’ve never told my wife and she was sitting next to him. And it was like the Muppets in there like people would be beside themselves, you know, where do I go? How do I get help? And sometimes it was heavy, you know. One woman said I have cancer and depression and I said, “Well, which is worse?” And she said well with the cancer all I wanted to do was live and with the depression I just wanted to die. Other people were quite funny. So this became a walk in center. And on my days off I would use it as a walk in center and I’d bring in doctors and neuroscientists and invite people off the street and have a whole army of therapists so they could get help, bully for me. You know we needed a kind of AA, have it so organized. And this is like, you know, how did they get it together? They’re drunks.
So I made this a walk in center. And then what happened was I had a depression. It doesn’t define my life. Seven years ago I had a really bad one. I ended up on kind of a chair for a few months. Let me just say people think I’m just going sideways. That depression is about having a bad hair day or your cat left town. It isn’t sad. Nothing to do with sadness. It’s like your old personality slowly leaves town and you’re left with a block of cement which is you. I mean it’s like being in hibernation but you can’t wake up. And so I ended up in a chair. To take a shower was unimaginable. I didn’t tell anybody....
To read the transcript, please go to bigthink.com/videos/ruby-wax-...

[@MaeBlues]

Reading through the comments, I agree with a few. I've had depression since I was about 10, had CBT for 2 years and have visited several counsellors. I could not make it through my studies. I missed days at a time, just laying in bed. I think the issue behind mental illness is that people don't understand just how crippling it can be.

[@rustile306]

She's a very interesting speaker, but this video has a problem that affects many big think videos; it's lacking in actual content. It's pretty much just advertising for her book. The title says "how neuroplasticity could help with depression", yet the video does not explain how, it simply restates that it can.

[@soulbrown7838]

it's obviously not a tutorial, it is a short clip on neuroplasticity with ruby wax lol

[@ems7623]

Yeah. Big Think is not really as intellectually ambitious as their name implies. I suppose it's okay for a general audience but, you know, there's plenty of us who actually do want detailed, nuanced content on scientific or academic topics. Maybe we should start an alternate channel called "Better Thinking"

[@ChannelMath]

@@ems7623 yep, and each video isn't nearly as ambitious as ITS title implies

[@3GRealty]

Bravo! I had just commented on the Eckhart Tolle video about a man who woke up with a severe "pain body". I have read enough Tolle to know what he means by "pain body" it is called depression everywhere else in the world. The question was, "why do I wake up with this feeling of doom every day, even when I went to sleep happy? " Tolle asked the man was there any certain thought associated with the feeling and went on to explain he should except the feeling and use "presence" and pacifity, and meditation to eventually erode it or at least make life bearable. I commented that when you are in major depression you are barely capable of sitting quietly for one minute with the mental torment and this advice is basically a prison sentence for the severely depressed. Other people commented that you should learn to live with it because it is part of who you are, and others said "don't fight it, use acceptance because the "pain body" is an entity that will be with you for the rest of your life. I was almost outraged because not only was the advice defeatist but potentially harmful. Waking up with my own "pain body" for years prompted me to look into solutions and I found that these depressing feelings are most likely a remnant of some past trauma in the subconscious. I commented that there are major breakthroughs in neuroplasticity that suggest one can virtually rewrite the subconscious down to the cellular level. Science has proven that every cell completely regenerates in a few months so it stands to reason that with enough new experience one could create brand new programming for the mind and subsequently the emotions. This concept gave me hope for the first time in years. I told the Tolle groupies that I wasn't going to accept this tormenting disease with the spiritual action of "pacifity" any more. Can not sit back and let the disease ruin my life nor am I willing to make peace with it. It is time to extract that crap once and for all then replace it with our divine birthright.

[@ChannelMath]

good for you, not listening to that woo! Some of your own reasoning is just as faulty (learn a little more science and you'll see), but never mind all that, because science isn't going to save you any more than Tolle! "New experiences" is right (internal or external)! Don't get stuck if you're not happy. Meet new people, try new things, try new drugs, learn new ideas! And if you you end up deciding to leave this world at any point, you still deserve all the respect and love in the world.

[@roscosmith8698]

i wish this woman was my therapist. You get the sense she's authentic as fuck. Thanks for existing Ruby.

[@JBrazielGreen]

Absolutely amazingly beautiful! Enjoyed her transparent humor as well. lol We Can HEAL ourselves and create the life we desire.🙌🏽

[@Beef1188]

4:56 - Its not being shouted from every rooftop because it would take psychologists and psychopharmacologists out of business.

[@nicolabenassi9979]

Ruby.. I am sorry that I can't do for you what you do for me honey but I am sooo glad that you've spoken out and shed understanding on this ass busting shit that me, you and most have suffered with. A pleasure to have you breaking through and expressing, truly grateful and hope that there has been ease for you. Peace out xxxx

[@bryten157]

what if these were taught to children in grade school, when there minds are still developing, it would make for such an amazing future filled with so many people reaching for the stars cause they felt it actually possible to reach. I cant wait till we as human beings all come together to help each other reach our goals as to just living life and find internal happiness and growth! living positive is so amazing, and wish you all the best in what ever path you set your eyes upon!

[@birkdaleneurorehabilitatio9539]

Dear Robi Thank you. you were an amazing help for one of my client.

[@LordJasonKing]

An outstanding piece. I pray to my god for everyone suffering from mental health problems.

[@cortster12]

I have depression and it has ruined my potential for a life. I am trying to change the way I think, I have been trying for the past year, and it is slowly changing. But by the time I am changed enough to be able to go back to school It will already be too late...

[@Jahooba]

Well, I've found that all smart people are depressed. Perhaps your depression is because of realizations you're having that go beyond the limits of understanding of those you are surrounded by. Just a wild guess! Maybe you need to put yourself into a position where you're surrounded by like-minded people? This isn't fool-proof! I went to college for 5 years looking for like-minded people in my life and it was totally fruitless.

[@lilkitten545]

I feel your pain :/ I'm in the same position but pair that with bad anxiety in several forms.

[@cortster12]

Victoria P I have anxiety as well. Mostly I get it when having to go anywhere at all. Or just thinking about going somewhere and doing something. Makes me almost feel physically Ill.

[@lilkitten545]

cortster12 Yeah, same :/ mine has gotten slightly better over the few years but it's still pretty hard, lots of different meds, trying to go outside on a daily basis, and therapy is what has helped a bit but yeah, it's going to be a struggle for a long time. I've heard it gets better over time and lots of trying hard though. -.-

[@wyrmsroost]

Jahooba No, not all smart people are depressed. Depression is not caused by being surrounded by people that you feel have a lesser mental capacity than yourself, and frankly to say so is to disparage both those people and the person suffering from depression. No, depression is typically caused by an uncontrolled chemical imbalance by the brain. How that imbalance occurs can vary from person to person, but for people like myself it's an inherited disorder.

[@paranor001]

"Devil with tourettes" great line

[@fuzinonzlot]

Thought so too.

[@RainbowLuminescense]

"You are the architect of your own brain" Amazing! Fascinating!!!

[@sandramedina9482]

Your wit and wisdom are so needed…thank you💟

[@ThorusCZ]

Oh, I thought the "ruby wax" is a cure for depression, not a name.

[@bend1483]

Ruby wax used to annoy the crap out of me when I was younger and she used to be on TV occasionally... but this new version of her is amazing and inspirational!

[@jcub247]

What an amazing woman! Really felt so hopeful watching this

[@hoozerob]

I think I love this woman! I have life long Schizo-affective , ADD, l severe debilitating learning impairments that have interfered with and ruined my life, in which after all the psych doctors with their meds I have seen and therapist that offer mere pep talks, I recently, by advice made an appointment with a neurologist for next month. I hope that if I discuss this neuroplasticity, that perhaps I may be able to start living my life. What if I can? I will be happier than anyone could ever know.

[@Crosshill]

Because educating yourself is a splendid way to solve a vast array of problems. Alas, I havent found great access to the knowledge i require, and I wish to dedicate more time on other sciences, but im still looking. But if you have a problem in your life, try learning about it. Its incredible what answers you may find, from depression, to relationships, to bad habits, health etc...

[@AMINDSETRESET]

Dealing with serious issues but in a very humorous way. Thumbs up.

[@alisutherland1103]

This video was a major help in my life

[@tiffanyearls9953]

neuroplasticity is how the brain can change. when some one was once well or happy but becomes depressed is because they become custom to situations atmosphere that make them stress or sad and because of no change in the environment they become depressed. once the brain becomes wired that way its hard to unwire but it can be done by change and with out medication. this is a thought I have and a theory but because of my own personal experience. my question is has this been proven in any way?

[@Procrastinerd]

So sure. Thinking a certain way can provoke neuroplasticity to occur (albeit in more temporary forms), but what about people who suffer from thought disorders like OCD? It's not as simple as changing thoughts, especially if people perceive their thought patterns as linear. We know we can meditate and focus on activities we're good at to trigger neuroplasticity, but what else can we do?

[@Procrastinerd]

***** Thanks. I see what you're saying and I also see the factor of what you're saying that is difficult to render using language. That's the strange part about the brain.

[@Procrastinerd]

***** Thank you, I appreciate your words. Language vs. logic / meaning is exactly what I meant. I sometimes wonder if in the future we'll be able to experience the consciousness of another. That pure empathy between individuals could be a possibility, and would allow meanings and points to flow between individuals in a way that is much more efficient than using language. You know what I mean even if you don't, and if you don't it's because of the fault in my lingual/text explanation. To be able to adopt your current moments, whether you're a conqueror of OCD or a person who knows of the disorder but never dealt with it, to be able to feel the current of subjective meanings, values, and mindful moments that define your consciousness and sustain your feelings of euthymia, and vice versa, I feel like this would be a fail-safe way for points to be sent across, because points and meanings would literally be sent from you to me. But now I sound like a New Ageist, which I'm not, so I'll keep these crazy ideas away for now. Yet I don't hold down the backspace button, because I want to share some fragment of my meaning to you just as you did for me. Thank you!

[@mcspikesky]

Mushrooms, LSD etc.

[@Procrastinerd]

***** I'm looking to go into pre-med next year as it will be my first year of university. All I really mean is that language can only transmit meaning through audio or visual means. We as conscious entities understand meaning to be so much more, predominantly in how we feel. If one could "feel" how someone else is in the context of their circumstance, one could grasp their meaning much better than they ever could through listening to him or her speak about their meaning. In other words, we could feel empathetic towards a mass murderer if we could experience his consciousness. I like mcspikesky 's comment because the idea of experiencing another's perception seems very psychedelic in nature, and maybe it requires I look more towards neuro-biological engineering if I ever wanted to help work towards some type of technology that can do this, but who knows I'll just go into college undecided. Sorry I flipped the conversation around. I'm ultimately interested in how our brains work. While there's sub-communication, I guess I'm trying to find hyper-communication. I get a lot of my ideas from Sam Harris but I will admit a lot of my guilty pleasure comes from Terence McKenna.

[@the1andonlytitch]

Quasi-Theoretical I don't quite understand you original point about OCD being a thought disorder, were you trying to say that depression wasn't a thought disorder? if you were I would totally disagree with you, often people with depression are completely overcome by their thoughts. When one bad thing happens to them it leads to negative ruminations that leads them to believing that everything is bad and that everyone is against them. They see things as either being black or white and fail see that most things fall into the grey category of being neither good nor bad. One thing I will say though is that OCD is quite an elusive disorder and it is often very hard to overcome and does take a long time. Good luck to you, you seem like an intelligent person and a deep thinker. p.s. as a side note do not mistake the brain as the mind, despite claim by neuroscientists we haven't got any answers to the mind-body problem we have merely changed it to the mind-brain problem.

[@serenalehman2638]

warm job in explaining..."no thought to have the energy to shower" ...the experience of depression is different for the experiencer but there are mainstays... when one hits on a few criteria they are true...the thing about it is that no one understands, a cliche, yet truth...we kinda live getting bye not sharing/revealing the side of us that thinks dark...that says life isn't so great, much pain in the world and I don't approve

[@o0Avalon0o]

I'm glad I watch this. I love this sweetie!

[@666katch]

Changing my diet really help me a lot.

[@aroccoification]

I wish she would have actually spoke about how neuroplasticity works or how I could pursue learning about it.

[@T3hTroll]

When I used "mindful" meditation, I get this idea that the place I go to is an "info hub"... You become self aware, relaxed, and you realize everything you need to know. Things I learned from this "info-hub" Theory: Stray away from technology, starting with your phone... and your perception of time increases... reason being... the more stimulated you are with the physical clock (clocks, watches, time keepers, etc), the less you make use of your perception of time to be. Theory: Neural plasticity helps your creativity... the best art you do good in, is the one your best envision and enjoy. That doesn't mean you can't develop the enjoyment of learning other mediums down the road though.

[@fnl90]

Thank you.

[@rachelbrian8573]

"You are the architect of your own brain" .... Love this phrase.

[@LucidEnigma21]

Loved it very much! :D

[@badoocee1967]

For some odd reason, I wasn't looking forward to this bit, but I am glad that I was wrong.

[@lucienharbuck2258]

Excellent Video, Thank You! Funniest treatise on depression I've ever seen! ROFL! She's a rare talent!

[@jamfretful3082]

I enjoyed this one, interesting!

[@jthompson120db]

Nice to hear more about the brains Neuroplasticity which I believed was always relevant in psychology even though there are some psychologist who dont think much of it. I hope this gets brought back to the lime light so to speak as I get slowly to my end goal in schooling as a Forensic Clinical Neuro'psychologist, thank you. ps: Thank you Ruby for shareing your story and bravo on getting on Big Think

[@dewinthemorning]

That is right. The "I" is not static, it changes little by little, all the time. Neuroplasticity. It can be used to change the mind, for the better. And this should be done by specialists, who understand neuroplasticity.

[@hostagemyth]

So, only those who dedicate their lives to neuroscience and psychology have the right to take hold of their own perspectives?

[@dewinthemorning]

hostagemyth No, I meant we should do it, preferably with the help of a specialist. :)

[@hostagemyth]

***** Ohhh. I misunderstood. In that case, yes! ALL OF MY YES.

[@calvincardenas4654]

She made my day.

[@gzarnoch]

Awesome Vid! I love the window cleaner comment, hilarious!

[@cadethumann8605]

Will Neuroplasticity be able to treat my struggle to feel joy (apathy/anhedonia)?

[@fokkenhotz1]

my cure for depression is gratefulness. and not thinking of myself but of and for others .

[@rasa019960]

Norman Doidge "The brain that changes itself" is a book about neuroplasticity. MUST READ

[@daynerpotter9514]

I've always fancied Ruby, such a sweet heart ♥️

[@vaidikjagani7846]

Now she is the top G!!🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@hippieparents420]

" neuroplasticity is like how you know you're Your Own Worst Enemy"

[@h7opolo]

A very inspiring presentation this was. She has New York written all over her.

[@JULEMANDEN99]

1 thng i dont understand ive seen this before but it came out in monday but my history dossent show it has this one been send up before monday happy newyer

[@RolandBayse]

Ruby Wax rocks! I love her!

[@ABetterWeapon]

The whole things boils down to, "Fake it 'til you make it." Which actually can work, unless something else slams your face in the dirt, or you quit doing it.

[@ChrisPollitt]

Excellent video

[@MarkLucasProductions]

God that was good. What a gal.

[@PaulBarthmaier0]

I love the hopefulness heralded by recent studies on neuroplasticity as much as anyone else, but I have to stop short of claiming panacea. There's a reason why the concept isn't shouted from rooftops, namely we don't have a full understanding. While neuroplasticity may ameliorate problematic thinking, it isn't likely to have as strong an affect on other areas. I doubt the phonology of second language learners past the critical stage can be as nimble as those acquiring their first language.

[@rupalpandey5788]

She is beautiful soul. Nice content ❤

[@mikebell4649]

She’s brilliant

[@gruesomenewsome]

im reading sane new world at the moment, its great. well worth a look.

[@OmniphonProductions]

"If the Devil had Tourette's..." Great analogy.

[@SueTamaniYES]

fantastic! "What rhymes with neuro[lasticity?"

[@azuralsplace]

My past life, a window cleaner. Everyone else is Nefertiti, I'm a window cleaner. Love it. lol

[@ems7623]

I just want a cure for recurrent depression. It's destroying my life

[@intorpere]

"Like a deck of cards, but how you play them is up to you" How are you supposed to learn be any good at cards, if your brain isn't working? Wouldn't everyone choose to be great at it, if it were that simple? She talks about "wiring," but how scientific is that, really? If we had the answers, I think we'd be able to put them into precise terms. Exactly which neurotransmitters are we talking about? Which hormones are you somehow secreting more of with your positive thoughts? How does that work specifically, on a physiological level? If you have to resort to metaphors like wiring and card games, I have to wonder if you really know what you're talking about at all. It all sounds very superstitious to me, like suggesting that we have some sort of magical inner self that can lift our brains by the bootstraps, no matter what might actually be going wrong neurologically.

[@ABetterWeapon]

The whole things boils down to, "Fake it 'til you make it." Which actually can work, unless something else slams your face in the dirt, or you quit doing it. Cheers to ya.

[@SawyerKnight]

Yea ive always hated that saying, because you can be the best bluffer in the world but at the end of the day, when everyone else is out and its just you, one on one, if you never get a good hand you are going to lose the match

[@intorpere]

***** I've been meditating (samatha, mostly) for over 20 years. I'll swear by it, to a point. That point being somewhere short of it being a tool for understanding brain physiology. I also have a rare form of acute hypopituitarism, and I have to say, despite my best efforts over all these years, I can't seem to meditate my way to making up for that.

[@parteffect]

see, that's why you're fucked. instead of googling hormones, instead of going to college to learn like she did, you need to be spoon fed everything in a youtube comment section. it's not the fault of anyone that you are wallowing in ignorance. take responsibility for your life. "which hormones?" have you ever heard of serotonin? you don't have to go to oxford, that is like highschool level biology man. what modes do you think psychotropic drugs operate on? molecular biology maybe? furthermore, the fact that you latched onto her passing comment about a deck of cards so literally, as in, the need to play to "win" is absurd and says a lot about the way you are approaching this issue. no body wins at life, nobody gets to choose all the factors that affect them, the only thing you can ever chose is how to react, how to play the cards you have been given. not to win, because no one wins, but to PLAY. do not take offense, because you are me 15 years ago. but you will only make it if you try without wanting to "win". if you play for the game and not the prize, then you always win. nothing in life is perfect, existence is absurd, but you can choose to accept it and find things to enjoy. but the hardest part of accepting life is submitting to the uncaring universe, and deciding that while none of it matters all that much, you'd simply like to spend your time seeking happy things, and then doing so. there is nothing to win remember. you never have to be "good" at all, accept who you are and find joy. i know that, in the midst of depression this SEEMS so hard but it's not. you cannot "beat" depression, you do not "win". you accept the feelings as a part of the universe you cannot control, but not nessesarily who "you" really are. when you feel that way, you can start finding small things that actually do make you happy, outside of any desire to be "good" or "win" at all. we're all gonna make it brah.

[@intorpere]

parteffect You make some pretty harsh assumptions, here. You think that because I make a KZbin comment, this is where I try to get most of my info? Seriously? I asked, because I'm looking for some discussion. Of course I know what serotonin is. Norepinephrine, dopamine, cortisol, somatropin, oxytocin, I know they've figured a lot of this out, to some degree - but when you have a problem, like depression, is it necessarily a serotonin imbalance? No. It's a hell of a lot more complicated than that, generally caused by a variety of factors, and chances are there is no solid medical answer regarding what to do about it. There's also a whole lot they've yet to figure out. I've been studying this for a long time, including a whole lot of Googling. I just get frustrated by people claiming to have answers that don't amount to anything with any real evidence of efficacy. And yeah, sure, I'd love to go to college. I'd love it if that were a viable option for me. I'm not looking to "win" at life, I'm not sure where you even got that part from.

[@Groaznic]

She was brilliant but then she had to go and share that she's a reincarnated 1700's window cleaner...

[@SaturnElena]

with that she was making a point that in 2014 educated people believe in nonsense ('past lives'), also she later says , 'star sign ? what the hell are you talking about?'

[@Yotrymp]

She was being sarcastic. Pretty hard to tell by the way she did it though.

[@Groaznic]

SaturnElena TSyoutubin Ah okay then brilliant all the way!

[@verbindung]

haha wow, thanks for making that clear :D

[@Chronix74]

Oh my fuck! I love this woman! more please!

[@jacksonsjuicythighs6227]

What did she master in ?

[@PhantomKenTen]

wow, that was good

[@serenalehman2638]

sensitive people we are...hard for us to absorb...bleeders are attracted...her video is good...I am not alone

[@powderfinger12345]

Ruby is a great woman

[@ToMs4Lt]

this lady is cool :)

[@benjameme]

Lol, that intro

[@JosephStokes87]

Never underestimate the plasticity of the brain. This is why drug addicts, even though they will always be an addict, can eventually get to the point where they can resist doing their drug of choice without much trouble. People tend to think the brain doesn't heal if it's damaged when in fact the brain can do amazing things to help repair itself after it has been damaged. Whether that's physical trauma, drug abuse or whatever the case might be. While the brain cannot regenerate new cells on its own it can repair connections between two living cells.

[@Olterior]

She did not just say Lithuanian Peasant. Thats just not cool.

[@Tweogan]

It's a joke, go be offended somewhere else

[@zygos]

Damn, it seems some peasants can't take a joke. Oh wait, I'm Lithuanian... so I guess I should be offended or smth.

[@Olterior]

Considering the fact that immigration to UK is a very sensitive issue in UK ( I live in ROI btw), implying that her appearance was so bad that she looked like a "Lithuanian" peasant is very out of place. In places were race is not an issue ( for example Lithuania) You will hear a joke or 2 about someone skin colour, yet if you make a joke about Nazi Germany or SSSR you can be jailed for it. On the opposite end of the spectrum as sensitive as Nazis or SSSR are in UK, you can make jokes about it all you want without a worry of being arrested. Yet race s a very big taboo. With all the hate crimes happening against immigrants (Lithuanian or any other nationality for that matter) It wasn't her place to be making jokes in such a bad taste. It's not that I was offended. It just wasn't appropriate. Besides Considering that the majority of the target audience is American( US based YT channel) I very highly doubt most of the viewers even copped the joke here as they have never seen a Lithuanian Peasant.

[@p165711]

Don't be so damned sensitive.

[@Groaznic]

Olterior "I live in ROI" -- Roi stands for Rovaniemi? (At least, in Rovaniemi it does)

[@Moonsabie]

Good genetic mixing helps with mental health? Genetic purity increases potential for mental issues?

[@happypoo3201]

Insanity without neuroplastisity.

[@ChannelMath]

an anecdote from a nonexpert does not a "big think" make. This is sad (no pun intended) "why don't people know this?" WE DO! those of us with a history of depression anyway. Those without don't NOT know it, they've just haven't had to think about it. But it's not like anyone thinks "oh, depression is totally inherited and unavoidable!" And she's just giving us the good news, anyway. The bad news is the longer you have it the more likely it gets permanantly burned into your brain circuits. (Of course, anything has a CHANCE of reversing. I could start a brilliant career playing classical music at 45.)

[@shamanahaboolist]

Nice 1 Ruby. People do shout it out, I do anyway. But people don't want to hear it. It conflicts with the gay lobby a lot who want to assert sexuality is fixed from birth and many other's victimhood narratives are ruined by this premise and so they choose not to accept this.

[@216trixie]

Amazing people "don't know this information". Yes. Considering J. Krishnamurti was lecturing all around the world on this very topic, from the 1920's until his death in the '80's...................{Without the hard science}......

[@seamusandpat]

I don't believe Ruby was saying that the neuroplasiticity idea is new or that she invented it. I think she is saying that she studied and researched the topic for her Masters Degree (good job by the way Ruby!) and the ideas have helped her and wonders why the idea has not been more widely considered. Having an idea without the supporting evidence is just an idea looking for a home. An idea with evidence to support it is science.

[@216trixie]

Seamus Griffin Okay then.......My point stands. Science is just starting to recognize and study something previously dismissed as "mystical".

[@derekonlinenow777]

Really a bad title.

[@abdookali]

it is 2024 and ppl still dont know about this .

[@NatashaG1987]

That was hilarious and enlightening! Stole food from the anotexics, cuz they didn't mind. HAAAA!

[@figtherthor]

"and i looked like a lithuanian peasant"? .....

[@OVXX666]

acid acid acid do acid it saved my life

[@josephpa05]

The cure for my depression was psychedelics

[@christopherherrell2108]

It caused mine

[@shastakennmpx17]

I think I will be continuing my CBD treatment. I was just given CBD products from Weedborn and I feel so much better these days : D

[@luvyou-baby]

did anyone here try magic mushrooms to treat their depression or anxiety??

[@bodhifyer]

I didn't use it to treat anything but it sure changed my perspective about a lot. Although you could have the same endorphins pumping doing something else, psilocybin is one path of many. It changes the way you think about an object, and opens your ears to hear new information in ways you hadn't previously heard, opens your eyes to interpret information differently, and opens your mind to listen to new realities or possibilities.

[@KudistosMegistos]

Psychedelics (I prefer LSD to shrooms) didn't permanently cure my depression, but they did remind me what being happy felt like.

[@CircumcisionIsChildAbuse]

***** finally someone with some real experience to teach the people who think mind altering drugs are harmless.

[@DrOman5596]

luvyou baby Full disclosure, I'm a Catholic, I think taking these drugs is sinful, and I believe the only path to true happiness is through Jesus Christ. If you are at all open to that idea, please investigate it. Having said that, I can tell you from personal experience that it's a bad idea, even if you're not interested in Christianity. I've suffered all my life from bouts of depression, and severe anxiety. I've done psychedelics many times, often with the explicit hope that I would discover a cure for my depression. I never did, though there were many times I was "sure" I had discovered it. My takeaway from these experiences is that they are unpredictable, and not worth the risks. Sure, you might have the most beautiful, sublime, transcendent experience of your life, and that experience might even trigger a change in attitude that could help you get out of depression. The problem is that you could just as easily have the most terrifying, disturbing, and traumatizing experience of your life (imagine your anxiety now x 10) and make your depression even worse. Psychedelics have turned my world into a garden of eden paradise of pure compassion, forgiveness, and love, and they've turned my world into a living hell of pure paranoia, brutality, and viciousness. People will often say or imply that if you do psychedelics around the right people, in the right "set and setting" you can mitigate, or avoid "bad trips." These people are either inexperienced or very lucky. I had my most beautiful trip when I was lost in the woods in a snow storm running out of daylight, and my most horrifying trip in my apartment surrounded by compassionate friends. The bottom line is that when you take a drug, you're playing russian roulette with your brain. Your brain is not a roller coaster. Please don't let your desperation cloud your judgment. The problem with the way I was approaching it (and the way you might be thinking about this issue) is that though I didn't see it this way at the time, I was looking for happiness in a chemical , hoping I would stumble on some insight or epiphany that would change my perspective and magically make me happy. The reality is that these sorts of epiphanies and experiences of mountain top ecstasy never produce long term happiness. Eventually the glow will wear off, you'll realize that you aren't as enlightened as you thought you were, and the world will become confusing, boring, and dreary again. There are two responses to this: 1. Start chasing another epiphany 2. Realize that happiness doesn't come from big moments of ecstasy, it comes from small, ordinary things that you do every day. Things like eating right, getting enough sleep and exercise, good relationships, having self control, dedicating your life to something larger than yourself, fearlessly confronting past traumas etc. There's no shortcut to happiness, you won't find it in a chemical, you'll only find it through the disciplined pursuit of those things. It's hard and painful work, but you're going to have to do it if you want to be happy, the question is whether you think you need a drug to inspire yourself to do it. My advice is to skip the drugs and start doing the hard work now. Please read Sam Harris' article "Drugs and the meaning of life" and watch the video titled, "Depression is a Disease of Civilization." As a Catholic, I don't agree with a lot of what Sam Harris says but his article is the most reasonable, and even handed treatments of psychedelics I've read, and I hope it will convince you that they're not a good idea. The video is right on the money in my opinion about the external causes of depression. I will pray for you, and would be happy to answer any questions in this thread or over PM.

[@bodhifyer]

I've tried to induce bad trips because of what people said happened to them while on this terrible and bad trip and I can't induce it, only time I didn't like my trip was when I had to talk to the police, really brought the whole trip down after that By the way, one of the things psilocybin and other psychedelic's have taught me is that there is no one right answer, if anyone tells you there is only one right answer I would advise you to listen intently on what message they are trying to send you. No one method is right for everyone, and everyone is completely unique to another

[@AnneWhyte]

She should have sued them!

[@WhispersOfWind]

Schizophrenia rhymes with Neuroplasticity.

[@lovebless497]

I am :))

[@kennethmccormick1791]

I was the first. And didn't comment. Now there are few. *Comment when you arrive first*

[@bluetextbooks]

lol

[@jaychery3483]

Lollol

[@DeepValueOptions]

Ethnicity

[@krinka1458]

her hair doesn't look good behind a white background

[@quittersremedy]

Good thing here it's in front of a white background.

[@schitlipz]

Two minutes through and not a word of neuroplacity or scientific info. Just some sad-ass story. "Screw you guys! I'm goin' home." (In case you don't get the reference, it's South Park's Cartman).

[@JustOneAsbesto]

Sweet baby Elvis. Joan Rivers - talent - comedy - a brain + depression + even more craven lust for fame + even worse sense of style = this useless waste of a human.

[@LazyOtaku]

You mean you?

[@JustOneAsbesto]

LazyOtaku No, I actually AM Joan Rivers reincarnated.

[@UsyksmashedFurytopieces]

In fairness there was no need for the Lithuanian peasant comment. Was crass and racist.

[@soulbrown7838]

i agree

[@soulbrown7838]

but you have to remember she's a comedian who is known for her dry blunt humour

[@Jphthe2]

Ok Joan Rivers.