Lost Connections
Uncovering the real causes of depression - and the unexpected solutions. By Johann Hari.
I was first introduced to this author in a class about treating addiction. (I linked the author’s TED talk below.) I was so mesmerized by the author’s ideas, I immediately sought out this book. His ideas about a SOCIAL PRESCRIPTION were very attractive to me as a physician. In my experience, treating depression as solely a chemical imbalance in the brain and then sending the patient on their way is a truly ineffective treatment for depression. When I treat anxiety and depression in the clinic, I am very interested in the circumstances of the depression. What is the context of these emotions? Does a patient feel safe in their home, their relationships, and their jobs? For so long, these emotions have been treated as just a chemical imbalance. I see it more as an internal reaction to our external interactions. Emotions are on our side. They exist as motivators to change what needs to be changed. We can learn so much from how our body is reacting to our lifestyles.
While acupuncture is a perfect tool to navigate the physical presentation of really any emotion, this book helps patients take the medicine into their own hands. To see through a new lens of understanding their reaction to their world and what may need tweaking.
Everything we interact with will affect our nervous system.
Our nervous system is in charge of every bodily function.
Acupuncture regulates the nervous system. We can alleviate the symptoms of depression: cloudy head, insomnia, loss of appetite, and tension in the chest, throat, and upper back. In a session, we can chat about small, manageable steps to take to make more connections, change your lifestyle, and change your health.
In this book, Johann Hari describes what he has learned about the human condition. Struggling with his own depression, he searched for scientists who studied the internal and external aspects of depression. What he found was a set of lost connections. Connections we lost along the way in our modern society. Connections to nature, meaningful work, each other, and a secure future. I revisit this book whenever I’m in a transition. It guides me as navigate the feelings of anxiety and depression. What connections may be missing or ignored? I recommend this almost as mandatory reading to my patients. If I can pass on the knowledge contained in this book, we are off to a running start!