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

The Science Behind Stress Management

Anyone who has suffered from depression, anxiety, etc has heard that it helps to "stay positive," smile at someone, help someone else, think of things you are grateful for. This book explains the science behind why those techniques and more really are not just platitudes. They really work if you apply them. Many of us have known that horrible moment when you realize that you are I'm a downward spiral and you feel helpless to pull yourself out of it. This book can help.
The narration was right for the material and the material was presented succinctly.

Learn tools to fight depression

Provides a lot of good takeaways and things you can do to help battle depression. Can get dense at times with brain anatomy but overall very good. Make sure to take notes to put those actionables into place

Practical to a point

This book offers a good combination of neuroscience with a good practical advice. First you learn how the brain works, and then what to do about it of you're depressed.

Calm clever critical thinking author.

This is a wonderful smart book that contains so much brilliant information well worth the time. thank goodness

Depression? Cured. /joke

Finally finished this book and definitely worth the listen! If you're someone really trying to get down to the nitty gritty of your depression, this is the place to start. Gives a lot of information about how your brain is wired and how certain things cause depression, which is just so helpful and encourages better habits (whenever you're ready). This book actually helped me go to my first work social event in two years, and I know without it I couldn't have done that. I will say the words he uses are very scientific (we are talking about all parts of the brain) and it's a bit hard to keep up sometimes about what part of the brain does what. But in the end, it's really all about how to improve that sector, which he goes into detail about. The narrator/author is also just a very enjoyable person to listen to. :)

significantly useful lists of things to help

would be a much shorter book with the list but there's referencial data from various studies to immediately give context to suggestions and improvement steps. it's a short listen and the visual of an upward spiral is itself a fragment of this book's core message.

docked points because the list wasnt long enough and there wasnt much on progression between being depressed and being 'normal'.

Well worth hearing

Gave me a much better understanding of the neuroscience of depression and specific steps I could take to help interrupt the downward spiral and Begin to improve. I ended up purchasing the book so that I can highlight the parts I found most helpful. Even without remembering every single part of the brain and how it functions in depression, I have a much better understanding that I need to take regular self care steps in order to support healthy functioning throughout the brain. This book helped me really internalize that.

very insightful, practical, edifying, & inspiring

I loved this book... I've already recommended to more than a dozen people... the science behind it all is very fascinating and empowering

Incredible data-backed science with a touch of humor

Loved this book! It is amazing and has inspired me to enter my own upward spiral.

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.