Understanding & Conquering Depression

This episode, I explain what major depression is at the biological
and psychological level and the various treatments that
peer-reviewed studies have revealed can help prevent and treat
depression. I explain the three major chemical systems that are
altered in depression: norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine. I
discuss genetic predispositions to depression and how stress,
thyroid hormone and cortisol play a role in many forms of
depression. I also discuss inflammation as a common feature of many
depression symptoms. I review 8 specific science-supported
protocols for treating and avoiding depression, including EPA fatty
acids (which have been shown to rival certain prescription
treatments), how exercise protects against depression, studies of
creatine, adjusting dopamine balance and more. I also discuss the
results of ongoing clinical trials for ketamine and psilocybin for
depression, how these compounds work and finally, I review how
ketogenic diets can help in certain cases of depression, especially
treatment-resistant major depression. Read the full show notes for
this episode at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1:
https://athleticgreens.com/huberman LMNT:
https://drinklmnt.com/hubermanlab Waking Up:
https://wakingup.com/huberman Momentous:
https://livemomentous.com/huberman Timestamps 00:00:00 Mood
Disorders & Maintaining Mental Health (Protocol 1)  
00:07:25 Sponsors: AG1, LMNT & Waking Up 00:11:15 Major
Depression   00:18:40 “Anti-Self”
Confabulation   00:21:42 Autonomic (Vegetative) Symptoms
of Depression   00:26:58 Norepinephrine, Dopamine &
Serotonin   00:31:50 SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft, etc.):
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors   00:37:00
Epinephrine/Motor Functions, Dopamine/Motivation & Craving,
Serotonin/Emotions   00:39:33 Physical & Emotional
Pain are Linked: Substance P   00:41:50 Hormones &
Depression: Thyroid & Cortisol   00:46:50 Genetic
Susceptibility to Depression: Impact of Stress   00:50:50
Understanding Biological Mechanism Is Key: Recipes versus
Skills   00:52:50 Tools for Dealing with Depression:
Logic & Implementation (Protocol 2)   00:56:25 Brain
Inflammation & Mental State: Cytokines, Prostaglandins,
etc.   00:59:20 Protocol 3: Essential Fatty Acids
(Omega-3, EPAs: Eicosapentaenoic Acid)*   01:02:50 How
EPAs Help Offset Depression: Serotonin Synthesis, Kynurenine,
Quinolinic Acid   01:05:25 Protocol 4: How Exercise
Offsets Depression   01:11:44 Protocol 5: Creatine
Monohydrate, Forebrain Function & NMDA Receptors*  
01:20:30 Protocol 6*: Ketamine, PCP (*Prescription-Only), &
NMDA-Receptor Function   01:33:08 Protocol 7*:
Psychedelics (*In Clinical Trials) for Major Depression:
Psilocybin*   01:47:00 Protocol 8: Ketogenic Diet, GABA
(Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid)   01:54:50 Summary of Protocols
Covered   02:00:10 Support & Additional
Resources   Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about
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