Stanford's Sapolsky On Depression in U.S. (Full Lecture)

Brilliant now I understand so much more thank you for putting the jigsaw pieces together for me.

As a man who used to struggle with depression these are the most helpful things I can think of:

-Take Risks, don't let the fear of failure stop you from trying something new or something great

-Do things that genuinely scare you or that you're afraid of (Even little things like climbing onto a roof and helping to put up Christmas lights if you're afraid of heights or saying something to the cute cashier girl other than "hi" and "thanks")

-Pursue an ambitious goal, one that a lot of people don't believe you can achieve (It doesn't even matter if you fail this because no matter what the pursuit of an ambitious goal will make you a better person and give you fulfillment) With that being said, do your best to succeed

-Have a passion, basically this means to find a hobby that you enjoy so much that you will spend hours and hours getting better at it

-Study history, pick a role model, and then analyze the traits of your role model and list the reasons why you admire them. Then start to emulate these traits in your everyday life and eventually you will become your own role model.

-Don't ever quit something just because it's hard (You can quit a crappy job if it's not the right fit for you, but never quit solely based on the fact that something is difficult). Embrace challenges and look for opportunities to improve yourself mentally, physically, and spiritually.

-Never put yourself down. Try not to think negative things about yourself and especially never say them out loud. You will think more highly of yourself when you say positive things about yourself, at the very least avoid putting yourself down on purpose.

-Live purposefully. Have a direction for your life and if you don't already have one, make one. Decide what's most important to you and live accordingly. If you have a family or even a single loved one, your first priority (other than serving God if you're religious) should be to provide for them, to protect them, and to help them become the best version of themselves

-Develop Integrity. I can't even explain how much this increases your self-repsect. Be honest, be trustworthy, don't cheat (unless you're in a street fight) and live with honor.

-Find a hobby that you're really passionate about and strive to become a master at it

-Finally, probably the most important thing I can say is to think less about yourself. Think less about yourself but not less of yourself. In other words, think about other people before you think about yourself, especially your family and loved ones. If you're focused on helping them with their problems I can promise you that your problems will become less important and less troublesome. Look for opportunities to help others and make them feel better about themselves. Nothing lifts you out of depression better than helping someone out of theirs.

I hope this helps. I realize that some people are genetically predisposed to having a harder time with depression, but I believe that there's nothing you can't overcome with a strong mindset. In addition, I strongly believe that going through depression and having such terrible lows actually gives you the capacity to feel even greater happiness and joy. The reason I say this is because when you feel genuine joy after being depressed for so long you can't help but feel grateful.

The beauty of life is that we are meant to experience the full range of human emotions, from happiness to anger to jealousy to despair to joy. We couldn't feel genuine happiness if we never knew what it was like to be sad. If I could talk to whoever is reading this face-to-face, what I would say to you would be simple: don't quit. A quote from Winston Churchill kept me going in times when I thought I had nothing left, he said: "If you're going through Hell, keep going."

Everything in life can be and is meant to be an opportunity to make yourself better, and depression is no exception. Keep fighting, all of you are descended from warriors no matter what culture or country you are from. You wouldn't be here today if it weren't for the conquering spirit of your ancestors. Live a life that would make them proud. While most of us will not fight in physical wars, no one is exempt from the battlefield of life. Depression can be a battle every single day, every single second in some cases. Keep fighting, it will only get better. And the more you fight, the more you will gain respect for yourself. I've conquered my depression. Every now and then it will start to try and creep back into my mind but I don't let it. I destroy those feelings with action. I go lift weights, I go running, I listen to metal music, whatever it takes for me to regain my confidence.

You can conquer depression, no matter how severe it is. That doesn't mean you'll never have days where you feel down, but it does mean that you'll have the strength to push through and do what you need to do as a man regardless of how you're feeling. Stay strong, stay hard, and fight like dragons 🐉 You're going to be very glad you did.

And now they've weaponized depression in the US and have the average person in control

Doç I remember you from the 90's 289 all the way.

I'm so glad this video got recommended to me. I'm 19 now and I've been depressed since I was 10-11 years old. I don't remember if there's any other way to live this life. Never been medicated and I'm still waiting for the opportunity to get therapy. But watching videos like this, I feel so relieved that at least somebody knows how hard it is. Cheers to all my depressed buddies in the comments.

REAL depression is absolutely devastating, completely disallowing you to function. Most 'depressed' people today experience is something dramatically less. Beyond that, as a result of the distorted leftist propaganda in our education system, there's millions of young people who'll claim they're mentally ill since it's a type of status symbol.

This is what Stanford used to be. Wow!

Fascinating stuff. I represent the left side of the bell curve smarts-wise. It helps my processing to playback at .75 speed.
If I’d have been exposed to this stuff when I was a college kid I might’ve made a career turn. Thank you for posting!

Yeah, idk about depression being "the worst disease you can get." I think Alzheimer's, lung cancer, and Guillain Barré syndrome may be a little worse. Kinda cringe!

Cripes, thankfully I am cooked up on my meds for this one

God will knock over the mountain for you trust him wait he will suddenly lift you up 🙏🏽❤😇😍😇God is good and faithful he never ever fails and can’t and he is very loving and kind

I just realized I have depression

I just want a push. Its so difficult being sad and depressed daily for years. Im 45, lost my family and am too old to start again.

14 yrs ago

I ‘discovered’ Prof. Sapolski about 3 years ago here on YT. Yup, he’s up there in the genius mind. I am totally fascinated by his Stanford lectures.
This was a simpler, but such a good talk. Of course, it’s even more complicated, but he gave the very basic biochemical and psychological causes of depression and generalized anxiety.
I love the diabetic bit, “Come on, get yourself together. It’s not the insulin, you just gotta pick yourself up.” Yeah, right. Like people say, “Just get outta bed and do some yoga!” What was that first part - “Get outta bed?!!” They just do not get it.
Thanks again for your fantastic, clear, and incredible thought process. It’s better than meditation ( which never works for me at all).
Hope I’m being coherent as I am in the midst of a longish anxiety attack - (Nothing to do with the talk!} Have an interesting Sapolski type day :) 🌷🌱

bro's voice is really creapy like someone who's so in fear

Wish I went to university surrounded by such deep thinking people

This is what a structural engineer looks like when every thing is getting worse.

He’s a freelance heating engineer we all know it.

❤

I would say I’m experiencing my first real depression. I lost my best friend, my job and my apartment all within the span of a couple months.

I cannot process why some students laughed when the professor gave an example of delusion.

Sadly, this video was made 14 years ago. The amount of work and research done by scholars is admirable and to some extent instead of gatekeeping it was available to the general public but now at the end of 2023 almost 2024 we still struggle to talk about mental health. Acknowledge that as a real disorder and in some sense add more fuel to that inward aggression of the sufferer. Force people to believe that they are not lazy they are sick and struggling. I have been going through my depression for years and throughout this time only one friend outside the therapist and psychiatrist sat down and told me I know you are suffering if you had cancer or heart attack or anything visual would I or people be calling you lazy. No! Your brain is actively working against you every day. It's a struggle. I am grateful for having him and I wish there were and are more people who explain this to you. I think this video explains that. This video was posted a long time ago but it would be nice to know what gene it is and what ways we can access or quantify the major stressful disorders in our lifetime.

This was so well explained. It seems some can’t grasp the gravity of MDD. Thank You R. Sapolsky & Stanford for sharing this wealth of knowledge. This should be viewed in every jr. high/middle, high school in USA/world.

thank you so much, this lecture really gave me a greater understanding of my condition, I've been suffering from bad depression since i was 12

Had moderate to severe depression, anxiety, rage and insomnia since 13. 40 now- finally stumbled onto something that sort of works (although I still hate myself and humanity in general- but love animals) but my actual symptoms are much better. Multiple meds and therapies. Still - full of regret and have to drag myself to do anything. How do I justify being alive when I don't enjoy it all that much and I pollute the planet - which causes a lot of serious turmoil. It is what it is. Not everybody but plenty of people kick me when I'm down. Eventually might go with Sarco which is allegedly a painless death

And then, after this class, the professor organized 30 liberal kids to protest Israel, push for 11 new trans pronouns, make Trump is racist, signs, etc. He’s a busy man.

This was extremely validating, enlightening, and just plain fascinating

This guy is deranged

Psychic retards

How do I steal his fit

Brilliant thanks

After watching this lecture: ‘I’m a bit of a Stanford scholar myself”

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Low serotonin, grief and obsession
Low dopamine, ahedonia
Depression -> high cortisol
Ruminate bad feelingd -> depression
Hypothyroid -> depression

Can I participate in a study for my depression?

I've been depressed ever since I can remember. I'm 67. I think ashwagandha may be helping a little now.

Had to confirm I was safe and ok to watch this video which may co tain harmful stuff. Click ok. He starts talking about cannabalism.

Depression and obesity. Only in a 1st world country would you consider being sad or fat a disease.

❤❤

I'm not sure but I'm pretty sure I got a viewer discretion warning for this video that's hilarious😂 and sad like a gulag😢

I am fighting ( cortex) alcohol and hormone depression. Thank you for your Diagnosis. I seriously appreciate your dictation. Your ability to spread knowledge

The camera guy sucks so bad.

I thought tbe three brain theory was finally totally bogus based on bad science. Is it true?

it’s wild when he explained the waves of depression, because i never understood why i got so depressed around the same time frame every single year since i was like 14 years old. it usually either happens right after my birthday or during the holidays. it’s pretty bad. i stop eating, i lose a bunch of weight, i call in from work, i don’t want to be out in public, i feel a overwhelming sadness for no reason in particular, i start getting intrusive thoughts, etc. my mother has helped me get through a lot of hard times when i go through these episodes. they usually last a couple of weeks or so. my mother always tells me to make small efforts to better myself. self love/self help type stuff. positive affirmations, guided meditation, yoga, working out, cleaning, eating and staying hydrated even if you don’t feel like it, salt baths, etc. surround yourself with positivity. it honestly helps. i eventually get to a point to where i am just tired of feeling this way and then it goes away. the scary part is it never truly goes away, you just have to learn to accept it and fight it when it returns. don’t let it take control of you. you are stronger and more in control than you think. you’ve been through so much and here you are. it doesn’t last forever. good things are coming! stay strong all! 💪

Turn mono audio on if you’re wearing headphones

I listened to the whole thing and took it all in but my god I’d it so unsettling. The changes in volume every word he speaks and the noises in the background Jesus it fills me with rage like a nightmare

And how do we tell the difference between prolonged legitimate unhappiness and depression?

What if most of the time when people get diagnosed with depression it's actually legitimate on happiness because their life is horrible but we just want to label them as depressed so we don't have to focus on all of the societal problems that the rich are responsible for causing?

30% of diagnosis are misdiagnosis. Doctors can't seem remove implicit biases from their diagnosis.

Psychiatry is just used to discredit people who don't like the way society treats them. It's an oppressive field and we should be ashamed of it.

Medical fascism is out of control in this country just as much as religious and corporate fascism in general are out of control and they are destroying people's lives and then using psychiatry to discredit them and oppress them, rob them of a voice and deny them equal rights.