It is not that simple. You cannot just throw a pill at it and expect it to go away. Pills can help, but depression is not that straightforward. It is a complex mental challenge that has various layers: biological, social, physical, psychological, spiritual, and more. Because depression is so complex, treating it is also complex. So argues journalist Johann Hari in his book, Lost Connections: Why You’re Depressed and How to Find Hope. Hari is quite familiar with depression. Throughout his life, Hari has struggled with brutal bouts of despair and anxiety. After attempts to combat depression and much research into the topic, he found out that antidepressants do not only come in the form of pills. Lost Connections is Hari’s in-depth exploration of depression that includes various causes of depression and multiple ways to combat it.
In the first part of this book, Hari gives his own personal story of depression and anxiety. He did follow his doctor’s advice to take an antidepressant. And it helped to some extent. But Hari said the medicine did not ultimately help his condition. This led him to ask questions: Is depression simply a chemical imbalance in my brain? How can I be depressed when I am taking antidepressants? And why does it seem like more people are dealing with depression than ever before? Hari’s questions led him to do the work of a journalist by researching depression and interviewing over two hundred people about it. For over three years, Hari interviewed social scientists, medical doctors, psychologists, and people who dealt with depression. This book is the outcome of his extensive research.
The first part of Lost Connections includes Hari’s discoveries about antidepressant medications. He notes that many drug companies do not release all the information about their antidepressant medications. For example, most drug companies only release selective information and weed out any adverse findings of the medication (18). This is called “publication bias.” Hari also notes the placebo effect of medication, which is a real thing. This section of the book is where Hari also mentions the many doctors who say chemical imbalances are not nearly as legitimate as once thought. Drug companies, however, have capitalized on the term “chemical imbalance” and cashed in on it (36). Finally, Hari notes that even if medication works for depression at first, studies show that in the long run, it does not (45). Although this section of the book may sound like Hari is a conspiracy theorist who is anti-medicine and anti-psychology, he is none of those things. But his research did show that many “facts” about antidepressant drugs are certainly not accepted as “facts” by all doctors and scientists.
In chapters five through thirteen, Hari gives nine causes of depression and anxiety. He notes there are more causes, but the ones listed are those his research and experience showed to be most common. For example, one cause of depression and anxiety is disconnection from meaningful work. Slogging through a monotonous, unimportant job with no purpose, no control, and no prospects of advancing can lead to depression. Hari also gives evidence in another chapter that disconnection from other people can lead to depression. Research and experience show that a lack of friendships and meaningful social interactions leads to depression and anxiety.
In other chapters, Hari also shares his research showing how the following can also result in depression and anxiety: disconnection from meaningful values, childhood trauma, disconnection from status and respect, disconnection from the natural world, and disconnection from a hopeful future. In the first section of the book, he also interacts with the role genes and brain changes play in depression and anxiety. All of these chapters were incredibly informative. It is fascinating to learn about various stories showing that people who have no real values suffer from depression more than those who do. I have seen some of these examples in real life. Indeed, people without hope for the future also often have a bleak outlook on life. People who never get outside to take in the beauty of the natural world never experience how nature can invigorate the mind, heart, and soul. Hari’s research in these areas is an essential read for those who want to learn more about some common causes of depression.
The second half of the book is Hari’s list of antidepressants. In his research, he found things that help people lessen the effects of depression and anxiety. “An antidepressant . . . isn’t just a pill. It’s anything that lifts your despair” (241). Again, he notes that medication may help in some instances and in some ways. Still, in Hari’s research, he found many other antidepressants. Wonderfully, most of these antidepressants are neither expensive nor have negative side effects. In the second half of the book, Hari shares stories he learned about people who had depression but reduced it significantly by things like meaningful work, connections with other people, spending time in nature, embracing important values, practicing selflessness, and finding hope for the future. Hari notes that happiness does not come from living by yourself for yourself. Instead, his research showed that “happiness is a social thing” (220).
In the chapter on sympathetic joy, Hari gives examples of how feeling happy for other people’s joys and successes breaks “addiction to ourselves” and lifts our moods (286). One other helpful example of an antidepressant is Hari’s story about a woman he interviewed who was surprised to find out that being an active member of a gardening club lifted her depression. Her connection to people and nature was a ray of light that cleared away the fog of depression. This book is full of similar stories.
Lost Connections is meant to help people understand and combat depression. But I believe it will also be informative for people whose loved ones are challenged by depression. In fact, Lost Connection will be helpful for anyone who faces times of melancholy and sadness. I appreciate Hari’s personal and detailed explanation of depression in this book. His perspective on medication for depression was also balanced. Finally, Hari’s practical approach to combating depression was a refreshing perspective on a sensitive but important topic. I am weary of hearing people who have never faced depression make dogmatic statements about treatments for it. I believe that many Christians have a very thin view of depression and anxiety. In reality, it is not so simple. Drugs might help in some situations. In other situations, they might not. It is a very complex and difficult mental challenge. Hari’s book understands this about depression and approaches it in a well-rounded and balanced way.
I should note that Lost Connections is not a Christian book. I do not agree with everything Hari wrote. This book, however, really is a common grace treasure chest full of helpful insights about depression. As a pastor, I have used some of Hari’s insights to help people deal with depression. I have also utilized some of his research for application in my sermons that address anxiety or depression. A believer reading this book will see that the various aspects of the Christian faith fill in the findings of Hari’s research. For example, in the historic Christian faith, a person finds important values, hope for the future, fellowship with other people, a God-centered view of creation, a God-centered work ethic, and a meaningful life of self-denial in following Christ.
In this fallen world, all sorts of people suffer from anxiety and depression. Certainly, Christians are not exempt from these mental challenges! We need God’s help and the help of other believers when we face depression or help others go through it. We also need good resources to help us understand and manage anxiety and depression. Lost Connections is one such resource. It is far from perfect, but I do highly recommend it.
©Shane Lems. All Rights Reserved.
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Shane Lems
Shane Lems is a graduate of Westminster Seminary California and has a DMin from RTS Orlando. He has been a church planter and pastor in the URCNA. Since 2013 he’s been serving as pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) in Hammond, WI. He is married and has four children. Shane has written numerous articles for Modern Reformation, New Horizons, and other publications. He is also the author of Doctrines of Grace: Student Edition and manages a book blog, The Reformed Reader.
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