The central premise of Servan-Schreiber's approach is that our emotional brain is much more closely related to the parts of our brain that control our bodies than it is to our rational brain. (That's why we get "sinking feelings" when we're apprehensive, and "heartaches" when we're sad.) We have a hard time reasoning ourselves out of our emotions. In fact, too often, we let our emotional brains overrun our rational brains. But, as hard as it may be to reason ourselves out of emotional turmoil, we can gain some control over them by controlling the parts of our bodies that are closely tied to our emotional brains. That's what we do when we take a few deep, calming, breaths before stepping up to make that big speech, or when we count slowly to ten to avoid an angry confrontation. Those are the simple, instinctive, steps we take. According to Servan-Schreiber, we could do more. Much more, or at least seven more things of varying complexity to help control our depressions, rages, and anxieties.
The first is a method he calls "heart coherence." By consciously controlling the variability of our heart rates, we can induce a sort of negative feedback loop to fool our emotional brain into becalming itself. It's the same theory that has been promulgated by the dubious HeartMath Institute, but it's also the same principle that lies behind yoga and meditation. And although there's never been a large clinical trial to prove its efficacy, it probably works for some people - at least for those who are able to learn the technique (usually done with the assistance of computer software that monitors and displays the heart rate in real time).
The second is the awkardly labeled, and much more controversial, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR for short, a technique that's often promoted for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. The theory is that by invoking the sorts of eye movements we have when dreaming, or watching a movie, while thinking of a particularly traumatic event, we are able to establish new connections in the brain that override the old ones associated with the bad memory. Some studies have found the technique wanting, although there have been some that suggest it might be effective. And the case studies that Servan-Schreiber details in his book certainly seem compelling, especially those involving Kosovar children traumatized by the brutality of war.
Methods three through five are even less compelling. One is the use of light to treat depression, specifically a dawn simulator, which is a light switch that gradually brightens the room lights to mimic the rising of the sun. Instead of a jarring alarm, you wake up slowly and peacefully to the rising light. Another is the use of acupuncture, not just to treat physical pain, but to treat depression. And perhaps his weakest claim is that omega-3 fatty acids, the kind you get from taking fish oil supplements can effectively treat depression, and even in one case, schizophrenia.
Article comments
1 - Chris Kent
This is a great blog Sydney and fascinating. You probably didn't need the final sentence as what you were insinuating was clear.
I have seen some people on anti-depressants and I could see how it changed them in odd, zombie-like ways. From that experience, I don't believe I would ever take such drugs to cure anxiety or depression. I do believe talking to a therapist is productive in the short term for most people.
Just about all of the suggestions from Instinct to Heal sound productive....
2 - Shark
Nice work, Sydney. Sounds interesting. Will check it out.
One shouldn't discount 'complementary/alternative medicine' too quickly, especially when it's practiced by an MD (ie. under scientific auspices).
My wife is an RN, and a lot of MDs are getting into 'alternative' medicine these days. The science lags behind, but because some are using clinical applications, more studies should arrive sooner than later.
re. Omega-3 --- Believe it: From what the RN says, Omega-3 appears to be somewhat of a miracle 'drug' for many illnesses.
The big complaint with most Americans is stress/depression, and doctors are finding these anti-depressants often cause physiological imbalances that end up making the situation worse. But as your review / author acknowledges, a lot of this is 'lifestyle' depression, meaning you're bummed out because your life sucks. Hard to treat that w/traditional drugs. And it's the rare family physician who'll say, "Dump your jerk spouse and get a pet."