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

Length: 5 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

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

Best Depression Book I Have Read.

What did you love best about The Upward Spiral?

The well thought out explanations and specific behavioral recommendations. Very, very useful.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The narrator. Mercy but he is clear and has an interesting rhythm. Very upbeat. An excellent choice for this material.

Which scene was your favorite?

There are no scenes per se. I did like the discussion about the brain, its various components. Very clear and interesting.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me appreciate crystal clear explanations of sometimes abstruse material.

Any additional comments?

If you suffer from depression you Must listen and read this book.

“I wish I would have found it earlier.”

I would have thought to myself, If this book haven’t had been in my library for the past one and a half years. I was already tired, by the time I bought this book, from being tormented by this “disease”. I had no motivation to listen to it, or for anything for that matter.
So here I am, listening now. And just in to 1/3 of the book I realise that I’m getting all this knawledge. I get a shiver as I start to comprehend the importance of causality. It seems often logic is in its own deluded realm, in which the reality of human existance is just a couple of questions away, but we’re asking the wrong questions.

Good information, dry performance

Very helpful and informative. I’ll buy the hardcover as a reference guide. I am a PA in psychiatry so learning the neuroscience behind behavioral activation gave me a new appreciation for psychology and behavioral medicine. The narrator felt like listening to a boring lecturer and that was hard at times, but the information provided kept this gal with ADHD listening anyway

Concise

A convenient format for presenting the information, particularly good for those who want to refresh thier knowledge of the topics.

Packed with science; helpful message

Overall, I enjoyed this book. To sum it up without also giving everything away, Korb's message is that just as one negative event can sometimes trigger a falling down into depression, one positive event can also have the equal yet opposite effect. Thus, most of the book is a describing of the science behind such statements as well as an exploration into the specific things we can do to trigger such "upward spirals."

If I had one criticism of it, it would be that Korb doesn't really spend much time talking about one's thoughts and beliefs. At least in my opinion, those two things are where depression starts for most people. Though he gives readers many ways to help themselves reverse a downward spiral, he doesn't spend as much time getting at the root of the problem itself.

That said, this book has a ton of science and research to back up its claims. It's also compassionate and understanding of the reader and what he/she is going through. It's a quick read, which I think most folks will find refreshing. It gives you all the technical knowledge you need without becoming too dry. I'd recommend checking it out if you're looking for help with your own depression or to assist a loved one.

-Brian Sachetta
Author of "Get Out of Your Head"

Amazing!

I loved this book. it dives into the neuroscience of the brain and shows many ways you can help combat depression.

small changes

This book gives great tips to apply small habit or life changes that will produce small results that gain momentum to create HUGE changes in brain chemistry. the 1st part of the book is quite technical, but it can be followed. the second part is an easy to follow guide to these suggested changes.

tips to combat depression

easy to follow and to the point with a variety of tips and why it works

Answered many questions and helped clear my mind !

Loved it, great tool to combat depression. heavy on medical names but loved it.

extremely informative

Loeb makes the interaction of different parts of the brain and the function of neurochemustry and activity easy to understand without dumbing it down. An excellent book. Highly recommended.