There’s apps you can do if you don’t have a therapist. It’s identifying and labeling types of thinking. But if you get a therapist, just be aware that sometimes with therapists, they’re doing more damage. So, know that going in and don’t blame yourself if it’s not working out. And definitely don’t keep going to the same therapist out of guilt. I did that for years. Good luck!
Thank you so much for raising neuroplasticity, which I have been so interested in. I am a big believer in the value of understanding the mind-body connection, "hard wired" neuro-receptors, and how psycho-physical approaches and somatic experiencing etc. can help.. To be honest it seems that CBT can only go so far (i.e. if the root is unresolved emotions or trauma that has been hard-wiring the brain for physical pain, depression, CFS etc.), so its helping me to see how to integrate these different related tools.
Can we rewire the brain of the person suffering from chronic depression/MDD? Since this condition is considered to be life long and though can be managed as they say but doesn't completely go away..
Near the end you say: in other words we can literally rewire our brain by changing our thinking patterns and 10:34 changing our Behavior and cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing negative thought 10:40 patterns and behavior patterns that contribute to depression. This is the nuts and bolts. Depression is not a brain disease. If you look closely you will find that the organ that is affected and which causes the depression, which is essentially low metabolism and low heart rate variability, is yes, the heart! Consider, the vast 90% of people with depression either have severe anxiety, like PTSD and /or sadness and grief. So why would these lead to depression? How can they affect the heart. In themselves they don't BUT there is a fight or flight response along side the anxiety and/ or grief. It is not a malfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System, but that's another story. Firstly anxiety. Anxiety is seen as "an emotion" by the medical scientists. But, it is two emotions and they don't coexist. Furthermore, they are conflicting. One is fear and the other is worry. Fear raises the metabolism and does so by sending signals to the heart to go faster. If there is a fight or flight response, which is seen in a vast majority of cases, then these are strong signals to the heart to go faster. Worry on the other hand is about thinking and reasoning, trying to find a solution to some problem. With the fear response cognitive function is somewhat declined. So when a person desires to worry the body moves to resting metabolism to facility thinking and reasoning. This means there are signals to the heart to go slower. If the problem is intense and the fear is intense then there will be a back and forward swing between high and resting metabolism. When the person tries to think they become aware of the danger and when the person is experiencing fear they feel the strong need to find a solution. That means the heart is getting signals to go fast then slow then fast again then slow again and so on. With this situation the heart will become ineffective as a pump. So the metabolism ends up low and the heart rate variability is low. Hence the anhedonia. The same sort of thing happens with sadness. And here I believe that impairment of neuroplasticity may be a factor too. With the thought of the loss/ lost loved one and thus sadness the metabolism goes low. Then with the fight or flight response seen the metabolism is raised again. And if it is seen as the high excited state that needs to be readjusted (neuroplasticity effort) then the metabolism goes low again. So here again the heart is getting signals to go fast then slow then fast again and slow again. And again will become ineffective as a pump so the metabolism ends up very low. And here again the heart rate variability will be low so the person can't get excited about anything, can't feel pleasure. Help your patients overcome the underlying real causes of depression and you will help them overcome the depression. You'll become a legend.
Thank you for the video. I was wondering if you have a strategy on how to combat the specific sexual anhedonia that medications like ssris can cause, assuming switching or stopping medication is not an option currently?
Why are you raising the tone of your voice so much? The video info is great, but you need to stop the high-pitched half whisper thing. Just speak normally, man
Dr Rami just want to say a massive Thank you!! Your video's have been a huge help on my recovery journey from depression! 🙌
I'm really glad to hear that! So pleased that you have found the videos helpful.
Thank you! It's be very helpful to know exactly how to apply CBT exactly, the practical steps.
You're very welcome!
There’s apps you can do if you don’t have a therapist. It’s identifying and labeling types of thinking. But if you get a therapist, just be aware that sometimes with therapists, they’re doing more damage. So, know that going in and don’t blame yourself if it’s not working out. And definitely don’t keep going to the same therapist out of guilt. I did that for years. Good luck!
Thank you so much for raising neuroplasticity, which I have been so interested in. I am a big believer in the value of understanding the mind-body connection, "hard wired" neuro-receptors, and how psycho-physical approaches and somatic experiencing etc. can help.. To be honest it seems that CBT can only go so far (i.e. if the root is unresolved emotions or trauma that has been hard-wiring the brain for physical pain, depression, CFS etc.), so its helping me to see how to integrate these different related tools.
Great video. Thanks Doc. 👍👍
You're very welcome. Glad you found it helpful!
Really useful .thanks very much
You're very welcome!
very pleasant and relevant explanation on depression. Very useful and down to earth. Thank you very much!!
Glad you found it helpful!
I love your videos so much. Thank you! ❤
Glad you find them helpful! Thank you for your kind and encouraging words.
Can we rewire the brain of the person suffering from chronic depression/MDD? Since this condition is considered to be life long and though can be managed as they say but doesn't completely go away..
Near the end you say:
in other words we can literally rewire our brain by changing our thinking patterns and
10:34
changing our Behavior and cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing negative thought
10:40
patterns and behavior patterns that contribute to depression.
This is the nuts and bolts. Depression is not a brain disease.
If you look closely you will find that the organ that is affected and which causes the depression, which is essentially low metabolism and low heart rate variability, is yes, the heart!
Consider, the vast 90% of people with depression either have severe anxiety, like PTSD and /or sadness and grief. So why would these lead to depression? How can they affect the heart. In themselves they don't BUT there is a fight or flight response along side the anxiety and/ or grief. It is not a malfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System, but that's another story.
Firstly anxiety. Anxiety is seen as "an emotion" by the medical scientists. But, it is two emotions and they don't coexist. Furthermore, they are conflicting. One is fear and the other is worry.
Fear raises the metabolism and does so by sending signals to the heart to go faster. If there is a fight or flight response, which is seen in a vast majority of cases, then these are strong signals to the heart to go faster. Worry on the other hand is about thinking and reasoning, trying to find a solution to some problem. With the fear response cognitive function is somewhat declined. So when a person desires to worry the body moves to resting metabolism to facility thinking and reasoning. This means there are signals to the heart to go slower.
If the problem is intense and the fear is intense then there will be a back and forward swing between high and resting metabolism. When the person tries to think they become aware of the danger and when the person is experiencing fear they feel the strong need to find a solution. That means the heart is getting signals to go fast then slow then fast again then slow again and so on. With this situation the heart will become ineffective as a pump. So the metabolism ends up low and the heart rate variability is low. Hence the anhedonia.
The same sort of thing happens with sadness. And here I believe that impairment of neuroplasticity may be a factor too. With the thought of the loss/ lost loved one and thus sadness the metabolism goes low. Then with the fight or flight response seen the metabolism is raised again. And if it is seen as the high excited state that needs to be readjusted (neuroplasticity effort) then the metabolism goes low again. So here again the heart is getting signals to go fast then slow then fast again and slow again. And again will become ineffective as a pump so the metabolism ends up very low. And here again the heart rate variability will be low so the person can't get excited about anything, can't feel pleasure.
Help your patients overcome the underlying real causes of depression and you will help them overcome the depression. You'll become a legend.
Thank you for the video. I was wondering if you have a strategy on how to combat the specific sexual anhedonia that medications like ssris can cause, assuming switching or stopping medication is not an option currently?
I don't know much about managing the side effects of SSRI's, sorry. It's very common though and one of the reasons people don't like to take SSRI's.
How can I get to work with you?
As I am only licensed to practice psychology in BC, I am not able to provide psychological services to anyone who does not live in BC.
😮
Why are you raising the tone of your voice so much? The video info is great, but you need to stop the high-pitched half whisper thing. Just speak normally, man