Depression & Psychedelics: Dancing with the Black Dog
Life is a Festival #35: Dr. David Rabin MD, PhD (Apollo Neuroscience)
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Depression. In ancient Mesopotamia, they called it demonic possession. For Hippocrates it was an excess of black bile. In the Renaissance the culprit was witchcraft. In the Enlightenment it was a weakness in temperament. Abraham Lincoln had a tendency for melancholy. Georgia O’Keeffe often wept uncontrollably. For William James it was a crisis of meaning. For Winston Churchill it was a black dog.
I too have suffered from spells of depression and so it is an honor to offer this conversation with my very own doctor, David Rabin.
Dr Rabin is a board-certified psychiatrist, a translational PhD neuroscientist, and an inventor. Dr. Rabin co-created Apollo, the first scientifically-validated wearable that improves focus, sleep, and access to meditative states. Along with Rael Cahn MD, PhD (USC), Ben Kelmendi MD (Yale), Joe Tafur MD, and MAPS, Dr Rabin is conducting the world’s largest psychedelic study: the Modern Spirit Epigenetics Project.
On the podcast Dave addresses any listener currently experiencing depression (:12). We talk about the myth of the “chemical imbalance” (:19) and how psychedelics interrupt neural pathways that associate depressive ideation and identity (:32). We cover preparation and integration (1:06), nutrition to support mood health (1:24) and finish with ways to help a loved one experiencing a mental health crisis (1:33).
Dr Rabin is a psychiatrist and he’s my psychiatrist, however he is not your psychiatrist and so this episode is intended for entertainment purposes only. We hope you get something amazing and meaningful out of it but no podcast is a substitute for good therapy. If you are experiencing depression please reach out for support.
Also it’s important to mention that while we tackle the myth of chemical imbalance and the overprescription of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) we are by no means saying that depression isn’t real. It is real and it can be terrifying. But there is always hope.
If Life is a Festival, we have to learn to dance with the black dog sometimes.
LINKS
TIMESTAMPS
:03 - Dr Rabin’s background
:09 - My background with depression
:12 - Dr Rabin speaks directly to any listener experiencing depression emphasizing using breath to engage the parasympathetic nervous system
:19 - The myth of a “chemical imbalance” and the difference between genetic and epigenetic factors for depression
:32 - How psychedelic experiences interrupt depression
:47 - Why Ketamine therapy is particularly efficacious for depression
:52 - Modern Spirit’s massive study of psychedelics
:53 - How the Zendo Project creates a safe space for psychedelic healing in public environments
1:06 - How to prepare for a psychedelic experience
1:16 - The Apollo wearable designed by Dr. Rabin
1:24 - What should we eat to support mental wellness
1:33 - How to support others who are going through an experience of depression
Graphics Designed by Andy McErlean
Theme song ““Peculiar Colors” [Manjumasi]“ by dj atish