23. How to Reverse the Course of Depression With Dr. Alex Korb

Author: Tara Bixby
Published: Mon 28 Sep 2020
Episode Link: https://courageouslyu.libsyn.com/23-how-to-reverse-the-course-of-depression-with-dr-alex-korb

Given the season of life we are in, I felt it was only fitting to do an episode on depression. I don't know about you, but I'm no stranger to struggling with depressed mood.

Today's guest is Dr. Alex Korb.

Dr. Korb is a neuroscientist, writer, and coach. He has studied the brain for over 20 years and is the bestselling author of The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time.

He earned his undergraduate degree in neuroscience at Brown University and then later completed a Ph.D. in neuroscience at UCLA. He has published over a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles on depression, neuromodulation, and other topics. He is currently an adjunct assistant professor at UCLA in the department of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences, as well as vice-president of research and development for BrainSonix.

In today's episode, we talk about:

What depression looks like in the brain (5:40)
The roles the cortex and limbic system play in depression (8:31)
How the "spiral" begins (11:25)
The role genetics play in depression (18:09)
What the upward spiral is (23:44)
What contributes to seasonal depression and how you can manage your symptoms (28:52)
Why feeling terrible is a natural part of life (38:03)
The correlation between suicide and depression (41:09)
The importance of moving your body (48:32)
Why there is power in putting emotions into words (50:53)
Why you should start small if depressed (57:16)
The role habits play in the upward spiral (1:00:54)
Dr. Alex Korb's thoughts on postpartum depression (1:07:03)