want to shower with us? sign up to get on the list.

the goop podcast

How Do We Heal from Depression?

Published on:

Duet Postscriptum

Psychiatrist Steven Levine was drawn into his profession because he loves the human story. But as a doctor, he found himself dissatisfied with the options being offered to patients struggling with depression and other forms of mental dis-ease. “People aren’t just a big bag of chemicals,” he says. And there could not be a successful one-size-fits-all approach. He spent a long time looking for innovative treatments for his patients. And he found something unlikely: a drug—ketamine—that’s historically been used as an anesthetic and that seemed to have antidepressant effects. Levine, who now runs clinics (called Actify) that offer ketamine infusions (and other support), is quick to point out that ketamine is not a cure. But for a growing number of people it could be a tool that allows them to break through what has previously felt like impenetrable darkness. Beyond ketamine, Levine believes we are on the cusp of more major frontiers that will change the way we think of and address depression. His work and perspective carry much-deserved hope for us all.

more from the goop podcast
Emily Hickey
podcast
read now

Emily Hickey

Emily Hickey and Gwyneth explore esoteric systems like astrology, tarot, and Human Design—and share how they've used them for personal growth.

Trae Stephens
podcast
read now

Trae Stephens

Gwyneth sits down with Trae Stephens, the co-founder of the AI defense company Anduril, for a wide ranging conversation about how Trae reconciles his Christian faith with an industry built around weapons and warfare.

Abbie Schiller
podcast
read now

Abbie Schiller

Author and goal coach Abbie Schiller guest-hosts this episode to talk about one of the lesser-known forms of grieving: identity grief. Whether you are a mother whose child just went off to college or someone switching careers, if you have ever felt unmoored after a major life change, this episode is for you. Schiller explains how identity grief shows up across an entire lifetime, not just midlife, why it hits some of us harder than others, and gives a framework for moving through it, not just around it.

Kara Swisher
podcast
read now

Kara Swisher

Gwyneth sits down with longtime tech journalist Kara Swisher to talk about the past and present state of Silicon Valley.

Judith Enck
podcast
read now

Judith Enck

How dangerous are microplastics for us really? And how can we avoid them in our own lives while also working to remove them from our community? Gwyneth sits down with environmental advocate and president of Beyond Plastics Dr. Judith Enck to talk about the ways we have been misinformed about microplastics and their true effect on our bodies and the environment.