Understanding & Conquering Depression | Episode 34
Main Takeaways
- The same pathway that modulates pleasure also modulates mental anguish and pain.
- Dopamine is the molecule of craving and drive that is released when we pursue anything we think will bring pleasure.
- Pursuing pleasure constantly can result in a decrease in dopamine release and an increase in pain.
- Boredom can help reset the balance and reduce anxiety.
- Depression affects people on both a conscious and subconscious level.
- Criteria for diagnosing depression include grief, threshold to cry, anhedonia, guilt, and decreased appetite.
- Depression is related to chemical pathways in the brain that include norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
- Sleep architecture and patterns are disrupted during depression.
- Exercise and dietary supplements can be protective against depression, while stress and inflammation can be exacerbating factors.
- Ketamine and psilocybin may have therapeutic benefits in treating depression.
