Antidepressants Explained: Benefits, Risks, and Alternatives for Depression | Dr. James Greenblatt

The Dr. Hyman Show

Dr. Mark Hyman

Medicine, Health & Fitness, Nutrition

4.5 • 9.1K Ratings

🗓️ 3 June 2026

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Depression is often treated as a single condition. But two people with the same diagnosis can have completely different underlying causes. On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I’m rejoined by Dr. James Greenblatt to explore why depression may be less of a disease and more of a signal that something deeper is going on. We discuss how a root-cause approach can uncover what’s driving symptoms and why finding what’s beneath them matters. Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. We discuss: Could nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, or gut issues be contributing to symptoms of depression What tests can help uncover the biological factors that may be affecting mood and mental health Why can two people with depression have different root causes—and require different solutions How do blood sugar imbalances, hormone changes, and metabolic health influence the brain What should you know about antidepressants, tapering, and addressing the factors that may affect recovery Hope doesn't come from ignoring symptoms—it comes from understanding them. Sometimes the most important question isn't "What's wrong with me?" but "What might my body be trying to tell me?" One of the key themes in this conversation is that mental health is deeply connected to what's happening throughout the body. In my Brainshaping Academy, you'll learn how to support the biological systems that shape cognitive, emotional, and mental well-being. View Show Notes From This Episode Depression symptoms aren’t always just “in your head.” Dr. Hyman’s Brainshaping Academy shows how your gut, immune system, and nutrient levels may be responsible—and what you can do about it. → https://drhyman.com/products/brainshaping?utm_source=dr_hyman_show&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=may_27&utm_content=link Get Free Weekly Health Tips from Dr. Hyman https://drhyman.com/pages/picks?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Sign Up for Dr. Hyman’s Weekly Longevity Journal https://drhyman.com/pages/longevity?utm_campaign=shownotes&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=podcast Join the 10-Day Detox to Reset Your Health https://drhyman.com/pages/10-day-detox Join the Hyman Hive for Expert Support and Real Results https://drhyman.com/pages/hyman-hive This episode is brought to you by Seed, Made In Cookware, Perfect Amino, BON CHARGE, and Big Bold Health.Go to seed.com/hyman and use code 20HYMAN to get 20% off your first month.Visit madeincookware.com and use code HYMAN10 for 10% off your order.Go to bodyhealth.com and use code HYMAN20 to get 20% off your first order.Head to boncharge.com/hyman and use code HYMAN for 15% off.Go to bigboldhealth.com/drhyman and use code HYMAN15 to save 15% on your first order. (0:00) Antidepressants, Cooking at Home, and Introducing the Brain Shaping Academy (3:14) Prevalence of Depression and Personal Stories (4:27) Exploring Root Causes of Depression (5:07) Influential Figures and Orthomolecular Psychiatry (12:29) Gut Health, Gluten Sensitivity, and Brain Inflammation (20:22) Neuroinflammation and Root Causes of Depression (22:10) Biomarkers, Hormonal Imbalances, and Insulin Resistance (25:34) The Role of Toxins and Diagnostic Testing (31:15) Case Studies and Patient Stories (34:29) Challenges in the Mental Health System (37:05) Effectiveness of Antidepressants and Patient Resistance (43:17) Role and Need for Nutritional Lithium (45:00) Sponsor: Big Bold Health (46:00) Identifying Nutritional Lithium Need (47:13) Integrating Modalities and Supplements vs. Medications (48:04) Psychotherapy Methods and Addressing Root Causes (49:34) Dr. Greenblatt's Book and the Finding a Living Platform (51:03) Systematic Approach and Global Impact of Depression (52:39) Sharing, Disclaimer, and Closing Remarks

Transcript

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0:00.0	What if brain fog, anxiety, and mood swings aren't simply all in your head?
0:04.7	What if the health of your mind actually starts deeper in your body, in your gut,
0:09.7	and your hormones, metabolism, and your immune system?
0:12.3	Well, let me tell you, the connection is real, and it affects how you think and you feel
0:16.4	every single day.
0:17.3	And that's why I created Brain Shaping Academy, a six-week program that shows you how
0:22.1	healing your body can help you heal your mind. Brain Shaping Academy relies on the same targeted
0:27.6	nutrition and lifestyle strategies that I've used for 30 years to help my patients improve their
0:31.9	mental, emotional, and cognitive health. So if you want to feel calmer, clear, and more in control,
0:37.4	and stay sharp and protect your brain as youmer, clearer, and more in control, and stay sharp
0:38.2	and protect your brain as you age, check out Brain Shaping Academy at Dr.hyman.com for slash
0:44.3	brain shaping. That's Dr.hyman.com or slash brain shaping.
0:48.3	Let's talk about antidepressants, what percent of they affected for, who they're affected
0:52.1	for, and where are we failing with these medications? For too many years, this psychiatric community completely ignored what happens when
0:58.6	you stop these medications. I call it withdrawal. They call it discontinuation syndrome, and it was
1:04.1	just kind of eye-opening when I had two people stopped the same medicine, it was Selexa, and one person
1:10.0	did it fine, and the next one had these
1:12.9	intractable, you know, brain zaps and suicidal thoughts. And I realized what's not the medicine,
1:19.5	it's what's going on in that individual. And once we do the functional testing, we replete the
1:24.4	D and the B12 or the amino acids, we can safely withdraw someone from these antidepressants.
1:30.1	If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you've heard me talk about seed before.
1:33.8	Now, I've reviewed countless of probiotics over the years, and Seed continues to stand out as the
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