The Myth of the Chemical Imbalance: What Causes Depression? (Lost Connections Summary Part 1)

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A chemical imbalance is not “The Cause” of depression. We have been systematically misinformed about what depression and anxiety are”. This is the main idea behind Johann Hari’s bestselling book lost connections. I recently finished it, and even though I didn’t completely agree with his conclusion, I thoroughly enjoyed his detailed, evidence-based tear-down of the overly-simplistic idea that "chemical imbalance causes depression".

What if the causes of depression are much more complicated than we thought? What if it’s not a chemical imbalance, but a combination of factors, especially what’s going on around us? And inside us. For some people who have a limited understanding of the causes of depression, moving away from the simple chemical imbalance theory sounds like heresy, but before recording this video I shared the script with 3 professionals I trust, a Doctor, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, and a psychiatrist, and all three of them said “Isn’t this basically the Bio-Psycho-Social Model?”. The bio-psycho-social model is a well understood and commonly accepted approach to mental health that conceptualizes the causes of mental illness as being an interplay of Biology, psychology (how you think) and society (your experiences, your environment). But I’m making this video because many members of the public have never heard of it.

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.

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