122 - Alex Korb - Conquering Depression

Two for Tea Podcast

General Alex’s website: https://alexkorbphd.com/ Follow Alex on Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexkorbphd Buy Alex’s book ‘The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time’: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1626251207/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=gs2&linkId=TQYPHQ6B534LQ4PZ&creativeASIN=1626251207&tag=alexkorbphd-21&creative=9325&camp=1789 Buy Alex’s book ‘The Upward Spiral Workbook: A Practical Neuroscience Program for Reversing the Course of Depression’: https://www.amazon.com/Upward-Spiral-Workbook-Neuroscience-Depression/dp/1684032423/ref=sr_1_3?qid=1647360558&refinements=p_27%3AAlex+Korb&s=books&sr=1-3 References Iona’s book ‘Our Tango World Vol. 1’: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Tango-World-vol-1-Community/dp/1999755189/ref=sr_1_1?crid=33Z83DRW14VH6&keywords=iona+italia&qid=1647360598&s=books&sprefix=iona+itali%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C130&sr=1-1 Iona’s book ‘Our Tango World Vol. 2’: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Tango-World-vol-2-Milonga/dp/1999755197/ref=pd_sim_1/138-2548482-3504021?pd_rd_w=slzAZ&pf_rd_p=dee70060-7c6d-4721-a321-50a27281cd22&pf_rd_r=J6DTTMK1E0GSZSFYK31S&pd_rd_r=7df296cd-2d08-40e6-8586-2af4d7b9472c&pd_rd_wg=KEJIt&pd_rd_i=1999755197&psc=1 Timestamps 00.00 Opening and introduction. 1:57 How Alex became interested in neuroscience, addiction, and depression. 4:44 Alex’s own experiences with depression and the nature of depression. Depression, diagnosis, and the brain. 13:16 Why we should stop obsessing over the diagnosis of depression and start treating diagnosis as a starting-off point to do something about the issue. Depression as a continuum. Iona’s experiences of depression. 21:59 The artificial distinction between “real chemical depression” and “situational depression” and how life experiences affect you at the level of the brain. Why medication is just one of many ways to combat depression. 27:01 A discussion of the relationship between life circumstances and depression. 42:16 The small, positive steps one can take to overcome depression and find fulfilment. 45:11 Iona’s two different forms of pleasure/satisfaction (of doing and of having done) and ensuing discussion on how individuals’ brains differ. 52:37 On the tools and habits that will help you gain greater fulfilment (and a diversion on sharing the same lab as Sam Harris). 1:02:11 The benefits and hazards of faking it till you make it when it comes to depression. Taking actions rather than being hamstrung by feelings. 1:10:13 Some questions for Alex from listeners. Is depression evolutionarily adaptive? Does anti-depressant medication lead to long-term dependency? How would you reach out to a friend who has withdrawn into depression? 1:21:39 What does Alex think is the most underrated thing a person who is depressed can do to help themselves? 1:23:55 Last words and outro.