The Upward Spiral: Using Neuroscience to Reverse the Course of Depression, One Small Change at a Time

Depression is like a spiral that drags us down and keeps us there. Where there should be some emotion, people feel empty. What once gave pleasure no longer gives pleasure. Everything seems difficult, and nothing is worth the effort. However, you can move up the spiral by taking small steps. Sometimes just a few positive emotions start a process that gives strength for positive changes in different areas of life. In this book, Alex Korb explains what happens in the brain of a person in a depressed state, what thoughts lead down, and how to “reflash” destructive patterns to supportive ones. Unlike typical advice, the book relies on new neurobiological data to show that even the smallest actions - physical activity, breathing, socialization - can affect the activity of various neural circuits and change the quality of life.