The Neuroscience of Depression with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Heather Berlin

What is depression? Neil deGrasse Tyson and co-hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly break down the neuroscience behind major depression, its treatments, and the factors that contribute to this pervasive condition with neuroscientist Heather Berlin, PhD. Is there any adaptive reason behind depression?

What is the difference between depression and just being sad? Learn about how people get diagnosed with depression or dysthymia. We discuss the history of psychological disorders and how the serotonin pathway contributes to depression. Find out how SSRIs work and why we don’t just take Serotonin pills.

Chuck shares his experience with depression and what it is like to fake being happy when you are not. We break down the dopaminergic system and how there is now evidence that glutamate is involved in depression. Discover different treatments like ECT and transcranial magnetic stimulation. We discuss different environmental triggers, or “stressors,” for depression. Is seasonal depression real? We explore people’s ability to tolerate stressors, exposure therapy, and the stress diathesis model.

How do hormones affect depression? We discuss postpartum depression and menopause. We explore if there is an adaptive reason behind depression and how depressive signaling works in our society now. Is it possible that features that used to be adaptive are now maladaptive in our current environment? Could we someday have a pill to cure all mental illness?

Thanks to our Patrons Geoff Malone, Neander Rowlett, Brial Teel, Baran Blaser, Maxwell Miller, Doug Litwin, and Edward Bally for supporting us this week.

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00:00 - Introduction
2:40 - What is Depression?
6:55 - Anxiety and depression together
8:00 - The History of Mental Illness
10:08 - Treating Depression & The Serotonin Hypothesis
13:10 - Pharmaceutical Intervention & SSRIs
14:43 - Chuck’s Experience with Depression
16:46 - Dopamine Systems & Alternative Treatments
18:29 - Triggers & Seasonal Affective Disorder
22:48 - Social-Cultural Causes
27:43 - The Stigma
31:26 - Postpartum Depression
34:49 - Adaptive Signaling & Our Society
39:00 - Could There One Day Be an A Cure?

[StarTalk]

Do you experience seasonal depression in the winter months? 🌧

[RyanHess-nb]

I have major depressive disorder and extreme anxiety, I got so bad that I completely stopped doing everything I liked, barely drank, didn't eat, got dangerously underweight shaked nearly uncontrollably and wouldn't speak and I just waited to die, got involuntarily committed and got put on medication and I can't believe this is how people are normally supposed to feel. It was always like I was lost in the dark. It's important to get help, I almost didn't make it.

[thoso]

The challenge with describing depression to someone who never experienced it themselves, is similar to the challenge of describing sounds to someone who was born deaf.

[chrisjelley]

Timely. After 50 + years of suffering, finally reached out for help. Thanks.

[JDabc]

First i want to applaud Chuck for his courage in sharing his personal situation. Very helpful to the rest of us who are guarded against social criticism for depression and anxiety.
This episode of star talk is incredibly helpful and informative. Far more practical and relevant to the masses than another show on black holes. Great job to NDT and the doctor.

[LenoreEvermore]

It took me 30 years to finally get the real diagnosis and medication. I suffer from Bipolar 1 and the mania almost took me out over a 12 year period. Finding the right medication has changed my life for the better . I am thankful I am finally going to live the rest of my life in a more calm and collective way. The chronic mania literally made me almost give up on a half normal life. I am no longer shaking .❤

[xneapolisx]

Way to go Chuck!!! Been listening to and following you since your days on the radio in NYC with The Radio Chick (Leslie Gold) and "attaboy"... lol. Good on you for bringing a voice to this serious and painful issue. No need to unnecessarily suffer.

[barrywhite]

I'm 44 and have suffered from major depression, anxiety, and PTSD since I was 13, and am also medicine-resistant so it's been a constant battle.

[mikaeljacobsson]

I broke up with the neurotypical world and it did wonders for my mental health.

[vickieysacoff]

As much progress that we have made regarding mental health, it's still not talked about much. Even between friends. People still worry about being judged. I'm a school Psychologist at a high school and we need more open discussions like this one. Thank you!

[darkphotonllc]

I tried contacting a doctor about my depression and in so many words they asked me if I could afford care. I could but that really was a deterrent and I haven’t revisited it.

[ADergal]

The best guest of them all! Please have Heather Berlin on as much as possible!

[peterkk]

The level of information and education that you get here is remarkable and so precious! This channel should have hundreds of millions of subscribers!

[amethystrocks]

Great episode. I'd love to see more like this. 😊
One note: Heather was introduced as a clinical psychologist, not a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are medical doctors, and can prescribe medications or arrange for ECT. Clinical psychologists have a PhD or PsyD. They can't prescribe meds or other physical symptoms, but, as clinicians, they can do "talk therapy."

[CthulhuInc]

i've suffered from Depression and Dysthymia for my whole life. sadly, it took 25 years before i was finally diagnosed with the illness and began to understand that well, i don't think/act "normally" - whatever that means! love from canada, @Startalk 😊

[amaellio]

Living in Extreme poverty, and the circumstances the occur throughout, causes one stress, releasing high levels cortisol in the blood over a long period of time.
Resulting in, not only CPTSD, but often many physical ailments.

Also, undiagnosed mental illnesses, which is generational in my family, causes a cycle of abuse; both of self and others.
My family self-medicated by drinking, which compounded the issues and led to the early death of most of my family.

Mental health awareness is so important.
I appreciate this episode, thank you for taking for time on the subject! 🙏🙏

[ZeroOskul]

Imagine the sensation of happiness.
Focus on the feeling of it for as long as you can.
Do this often.
Neuroplasticity and dendritic remodeling are your friends.
The feeling of happiness is exactly what you feel when you imagine it.
This rejects the pursuit of happiness and gives it to you straight away.

[Kushy]

It boggles my mind to know that there are people in this world who don't know what it's like to have chronic depression.

[fortheloveofmusicandphilosophy]

It's sad that this edition got much less views than when Neil talks about the stars. I'm glad these special editions exist, especially on a topic as serious as depression. Having seen first hand the devestation it can wreak upon a household, as well as my own struggles with it, this video is a great example of how we should approach educating people on this subject.

[chrisbrowning]

Heather is absolutely my favourite guest, always.