"What really causes depression and anxiety, and how can we really solve them? Journalist Johann Hari suffered from depression since he was a child and started taking anti-depressants when he was a teenager. He was told that his problems were caused by a chemical imbalance in his brain. As an adult, trained in the social sciences, he began to investigate whether this was true, and he learned that almost everything we have been told about depression and anxiety is wrong. Social scientists are uncovering evidence that depression and anxiety are not caused by a chemical imbalance in our brains. In fact, they are largely caused by key problems with the way we live today. From a mind-blowing series of experiments in Baltimore, to an Amish community in Indiana, to an uprising in Berlin. The author uncovered nine real causes of depression and anxiety, leading him to scientists who are discovering seven very different solutions - ones that work. Things like reconnecting to people, meaningful work, overcoming childhood trauma and a guaranteed basic income for everybody. This is a journey that will change how we think about one of the biggest crises in our culture today. His TED talk 'Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong' revolutionized the global debate. This book will do the same"--Provided by publisher.

Prologue: The apple ; Introduction: A mystery -- Part I: The crack in the old story. The wand ; Imbalance ; The grief exception ; The first flag on the moon -- Part II: Disconnection : nine causes of depression and anxiety. Picking up the flag (an introduction to Part Two) ; Cause one: Disconnection from meaningful work ; Cause two: Disconnection from other people ; Cause three: Disconnection from meaningful values ; Cause four: Disconnection from childhood trauma ; Cause five: Disconnection from status and respect ; Cause six: Disconnection from the natural world ; Cause seven: Disconnection from a hopeful or secure future ; Causes eight and nine: The real role of genes and brain changes -- Part III: Reconnection; or, A different kind of antidepressant. The cow ; We built this city ; Reconnection one: To other people ; Reconnection two: Social prescribing ; Reconnection three: To meaningful work ; Reconnection four: To meaningful values ; Reconnection five: Sympathetic joy, and overcoming addiction to the self ; Reconnection six: Acknowledging and overcoming childhood trauma ; Reconnection seven: Restoring the future -- Conclusion: Homecoming.