The Upward Spiral

Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time

By: Alex Korb PhD.

Narrated by: David deVries

Depression can feel like a downward spiral, pulling you down into a vortex of sadness, fatigue, and apathy. Based in the latest research in neuroscience, this audiobook offers dozens of little things you can do every day to rewire your brain and create an upward spiral toward a happier, healthier life.

Depression doesn't happen all at once. It starts gradually and builds momentum over time. If you go through a difficult experience, you may stop taking care of yourself. You may stop exercising and eating healthy, which will end up making you feel even worse as time goes on. You are caught in a downward spiral, but you may feel too tired, too overwhelmed, and too scared to try to pull yourself back up. The good news is that just one small step can be a step in the right direction.

In The Upward Spiral, neuroscientist Alex Korb demystifies the neurological processes in the brain that cause depression and offers effective ways to get better--one little step at a time. In the book, you'll discover that there isn't "one big solution" that will solve your depression. Instead, there are dozens of small, practical things you can do to alleviate your symptoms and start healing. Some are as simple as relaxing certain muscles to reduce feelings of anxiety while others involve making small efforts toward more positive social interactions. Small steps in the right direction can have profound effects--giving you the power literally to "reshape" your brain.

Like most people, you probably didn't wake up one day and find yourself completely depressed. Instead, it probably happened over time, as a series of reactions to difficult situations and negative thinking. But if you are ready to reverse the trajectory of your depression and find lasting happiness, this audiobook will show you how.

©2015 Alex Korb (P)2015 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

Good overview.

Lots of good information but nothing new or ground breaking. It's one of those books that reinforces ideas that you may already know and that can be helpful.

The author uses numerous neurological terms and brain area functions. There are terms and certain brain areas that he
repeatedly references that becomes (to me) distracting. Overall this is a bite size, easy to understand book if you ignore the jargon.

I found a Great Courses dvd program at my library titled understanding the brain by Jeanette Norden . It is an amazing wealth of information about the brain in an understandable format.

lots of information I wish it was summarized a lit

a summary would have been as there is a lot of technical information that sometimes clouded what we really needed to do

This book changed my life!

I had been suffering from depression for over 3 years. I have spent thousands of dollars on counseling sessions, psychiatrists, life coaches and drugs over the years. None of them helped me for more than a few days to a few weeks. I had hit rock bottom physically, mentally and financially at just 30 years old. Coming across this book at that time didn't give me much hope, but I was desperate to do anything to get better. Once I started listening to this book, I experienced noticeable changes from day 1. I understood so much more about myself, my habits and patterns that I had never noticed before. This book gave me a complete understanding of how my brain works making me more self-aware of everything I think of and do. No counselor or psychiatrist I went to, was able to create this understanding and awareness. Since the first day I listened to this book, I have lost 14kgs in weight, developed good habits, started traveling, got my friends back, sorted my finances, and many more achievements, but most importantly, I'm just happy. I'm ever grateful.
Thank you.
Dipak

Incredible Eye-Opening information

I got this book in the audible format. I have listened to it twice and still find it as fascinating as the first time listening. While I do not suffer depression this book has helped me to understand how my environment, the food I eat, the quality of sleep I get, the exercise I do, and my moods are all linked to my fantastic brain. I feel empowered to follow the suggestions now that I know these things work.

I have already shared this book with family and friends. I hope they find it to be the eye-opener that I did.

I bought this book because I was feeling a bit low and wanted to get a better understanding of what was happening. I found this book to be informative and presented in a way that is easy for most people to understand. After I finished I genuinely felt better.

Blessing

An awesome book for the depressed intellectual. Recommended to read if you started with audiobook- lots of difficult neuro-lingo

Pretty Good

Better than many of the books I’ve read on depression, in that it details what is going on in our minds and bodies and how little we can control it because every case of depression is different from every other case of depression. But the notion of small changes bumping us into an upward spiral is helpful but not always realistic.

Power of positive thoughts

I enjoyed listening to this book on my walks. The beginning of the book is very clinical and anatomical so you will learn a lot! The second half of the book is the practical tips and tricks of positivity to get on that upward spiral. Enjoy!

Things will never be the same!

Your brain is not a terrible companion, it is just badly tuned. After reading about how different activities affect different parts of the brain, I'm now able to label symptoms to specific brain regions, then look up the various activities that boost the correct neurotransmitters.

A little bit of science helps a long way to reduce anxiety of what step to take next to get better.

Loved it!

A very practical way to go upward in the spiral and many ways and reasons to stop myself from dragging me down.