The Science To Depression and Anxiety

The science to depression and anxiety
By Kieran Hedley
What is happening? A quick intro 2
Is mental health hereditary? 3
Important note on our primitive mechanisms 5
What happens when someone is anxious or depressed? 6
What about medication? 8
What can I do for my mental health organically? 9
Please note 10
A quick summary about the author 11
References 12
What is happening? A quick intro
By studying the reasons why something has been triggered within us, we can then take the
steps required to reverse engineer the experience, and to ultimately become free of it.
This mini e-book covers the main points highlighted in scientific literature in recent years
that promote mental health struggles such as anxiety and depression. Due to my past
suffering of anxiety and depression, and because these are the most common mental health
issues, I focus on these in this e-book.
Other mental health issues are important to highlight also and can be triggers for
depression and anxiety to arise; however, my intention around succinctness in this e-book
means centralising my focus. Other mental health issues are more closely related than many
may think. Everything I touch on will cross over to any mental health issue. Eating disorders,
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, OCD, ADHD and so forth will all stem from the
highlighted points in this e-book.
After working on people’s mental health and coaching them through their suffering for 4
years, and full-time for the last 2 years, many common denominators also present
themselves. Alongside the research, I will tie in my own experience from working with
people working through their struggles over extended periods. What’s researched and what
works for each individual can sometimes differ.
The first and very commonly argued piece of information to touch upon is the idea that
depression/anxiety etc. is a hereditary gene that gets passed on. Let’s discuss this in-depth.
Then, let’s talk about how and why mental health issues occur down to the neuroscientific
(study of the brain and nervous system) and endocrinological (study of the endocrine
system and hormones) reasonings. Finally, I will share recommendations on steps forward
to overcome suffering. Unless a piece of the brain has been taken out or has been severely
damaged, there’s enough evidence for me to say that any mental health issue is possible to
overcome with the correct guidance and tools.
A QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE E-BOOK
This e-book is written from a mixture of experience (from my own healing and in working
with many others), the literature I’ve studied, and teachings from various mentors in the
science, mindfulness, and Buddhist worlds. Naturally, as it has a singular author (myself),
biasness is entirely possible. I did my best to remain unbiased in my research, but you can
clearly see I have strong views on certain points I make. This doesn’t make them right or
wrong, it’s simply because of how profound what I am writing has meant for my healing,
and in the evidence of how it’s helped many others (or in how it’s inhibited other’s if that
point is made).
Please make your own judgement and do your own research based on what’s shared. I
would invite that you apply this with any new information or teaching too. This has enabled
me to more deeply understand what I speak on. There are many arguments still being made
in science, as a collection of studies don’t necessarily prove something right indefinitely.
www.healingwithkez.com/coaching 2
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kieran@healingwithkez.com
Is mental health hereditary?
The short answer is yes. The long answer is that the short answer is a terrible answer. After
years of research on traits being passed down generations through genetics, scientists have
found that there is no such thing as an “anxiety” or “depression” gene. These labels have
been created to categorise a particular experience that happens within a person’s nervous
system.
What does get passed down are groups of neurons that signify a particular experience that
has cultivated strong memory within someone (Callaway, 2013). This can mean “trauma”
technically gets passed onto future generations. If one was to experience an abusive
relationship that instilled a strong emotional reaction within them, this becomes “stored
trauma”. If this person developed a fear of dominance within relationships from this
trauma, this particular fear will be passed down.
These groups of neurons (the stored fear/trauma) produce a receptor protein that triggers
when that person is exposed to a situation that possibly represents something similar
(Callaway, 2013). As an example, if this person initiated a new relationship and their partner
acted dominant, the fear within will trigger the exact same sensation as when they were in
the abusive relationship. These groups of neurons that represent the memory light up, thus
the same emotions and thoughts flow through. This is a primitive mechanism designed to
make us act with either fight, freeze or flight depending on the reaction that served our
safety most previously.
As this fear gets passed on through generations, one might not understand why they have a
fear in a certain region of their lives that others don’t seem to experience as intensely. This
then gets labeled as “relationship anxiety”, or if it’s developed “panic disorder”. If someone
in your past few generations experienced deep pain from loneliness or rejection that was
intense enough, it’s possible that you may find that deep sadness gets triggered in rejection
or when alone more so than your peers. This can build over time and become labeled as
“depression”.
Of course, these are simply examples. There are still insufficient data on these topics to
clarify that this is the main reason it occurs. It is however one of the big reasons why it can
occur. Various other nurture aspects that cultivate mental health issues through one’s
upbringing and into adulthood.
Studies have found that when mice get a small electric shock while smelling acetophenone,
more than three generations experienced a fear of the smell of acetophenone even though
they had never been exposed to the smell before (Hughes, 2014). This is because the same
receptor protein known to detect odor gets passed down alongside the stored memory of
what that scent represented to past generations (Callaway, 2013). It is unknown as to how
many generations a fear/pain/trauma gets passed down in humans. However, it’s fair to
hypothesise that the extent to this depends on how intense the emotional experience was
for them, as this dictates how strongly these groups of neurons bind together as memory.
The final piece to the puzzle here is this. The qualities that get passed down that cause these
neurological formations in the system are called “epigenetic formations”
(whatisepigenetics.com, 2012). Our genome structure that gets passed on that dictates eye
colour, body shape, whether you can roll your tongue or not, etc. are our genetics. The
“tags” that attach themselves to these genetics are called epigenetics
(whatisepigenetics.com, 2012). This is stored information designed for the individual and
future generations to keep themselves safe from danger. These “tags” contain data that
gets “expressed” situationally or experientially.
Think about the tag clip that comes on bread bags. The bag and bread are the genes, and
the small clip attached is the epigenome. It’s just an add on to the gene itself. This gets
passed on alongside the gene, however, it does not “turn on” unless a situation or
experience similar to the previous generation’s situation or experience occurs.
Continuing with the “fear of dominance” example, this gets imprinted as data that attaches
itself to the DNA of the individual. Future generations will have this data passed down. This
data is attached to the DNA, not the DNA itself. The individual won’t have this “turned on”
from birth, it will only turn on if it must (whatisepigenetics.com, 2012). This is why siblings
have different gene expressions or traits. This is also why people may suddenly experience
mental health issues at a random age. It’s not instilled from the moment they come out of
the womb.
The data only gets triggered when a circumstance/thought arises that represents similarities
to someone being dominant over them or the possibility of this occurring arises (Callaway,
2013). This is the “gene expression” that occurs, thus the fear within the next generation
arises without the knowledge of why or how this fear has come, even if they have not
experienced an abusive relationship.
Epigenetics are like Christmas lights (Garber, 2019). They light up when needed, and they
turn off when not needed. When an individual is put in a situation that represents the
memory in some way, they light up. To turn them off there are two ways. The first is to
escape the situation and not have any thought processes that represent the situation. This is
of course not very sustainable. The second is to change your relationship with the fear and
to “heal it”. This is an absolute possibility for any human.
As to “how to heal it”, that’s a different matter. It requires what we call “leaning in”, and is a
lengthy process, but a far less complicated process than one might think. We will discuss
that further on.
Important note on our primitive mechanisms
These mechanisms aren’t to serve our happiness. The brain and the nervous system are
designed to keep us alive primarily over any other objective including happiness. We will
simultaneously avoid pain while seeking pleasure rather than focus on what genuinely
serves our wellbeing No matter how much one might want to die if they were suicidal, the
brain and body do everything it can to keep you alive. Hence why most suicides are done
abruptly. The missing link however is the happiness component. Our system is not designed
to mold into a constant comparison, structured 9-5 and segregated society that promotes
“shoulds” and “musts”. These become experiences equivalent to life-or-death situations. So
much so that even a small “no” can feel like you’re dying or someone close to you has died.
It’s our job to consciously evolve alongside society.
This stems the question; is it easier to change the world, or to change ourselves? Yet most
people are constantly trying to change the way things are for their happiness. This will never
bring genuine freedom from mental health. What will bring freedom is the conscious
evolution of how we internally operate. Only then can we be free and operate in the world
more consistently and abundantly.
What happens when someone is anxious or depressed?
Studies have shown a correlation between the following points and mental health issues
arising.
- Inflammation (C-Reactive Proteins) (Toker, 2005) (William E. Copeland, 2012)
- Lower grey matter (tissue formations) in the frontal lobe regions of the brain (Haochen
Qi, 2014)
- High activity in the Amygdala (fear region) of the brain (Thomas Frodla, 2002)
- Low activity in the Habenula (strong dopamine center) of the brain (Luis R. Jacinto,
2017)
In other words, alongside these four factors, there are common denominators amongst
those that experience a lot of anxiety and depression in their lives.
The simple methodology would be to understand each factor and then reverse engineer it.
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Figuring out exactly what is leading to the issues is the
difficult part. This is the true key to helping someone struggling. Talk therapy or even
cognitive behaviour therapy is limited to shifting the thought processes, not shifting the
underlying causation that led to the sufferable experience initially. This does not prevent
new problematic thoughts from arising.
When someone experiences depression, commonly one would feel like life has
overwhelmed them. The feeling of simply existing, or not even wanting to exist becomes
prominent. Feeling like the safest place to be is their own bed, away from the world and in
the comfort of the thing that produces the most dopamine (reward and “on the right path”
neurotransmitter) for them depending on their relationship with said thing. Examples are
pornography, movies, emotional songs, fatty or sugary foods, coffee or alcohol, weed or
nicotine, the list goes on. Sending that text, mindlessly scrolling through social media, and
being addicted to dating apps are also signs you’re subconsciously seeking more dopamine
due to a lack of it being produced naturally (Boadie W. Dunlop & Charles B. Nemeroff,
2007).
This seeking for dopamine is the brain’s way of finding the quickest possible “thing” that will
stimulate the Habenula (dopamine region). This quietens down the Amygdala (fear region)
making one feel safer in their environment. Comfort is perceived as safe, even when in
reality that person isn’t existentially in danger, the perceived danger in their life is very real
and overwhelming.
This is very closely related to what happens when someone experiences anxiety. Only, the
reaction is different. It’s the feeling of not being able to escape like impending doom is
occurring or is about to occur any moment. It’s this crippling experience as if there’s a tiger
just around the corner that has come to eat you for breakfast. It’s horrifying.
When anxiety arises, the brain sends signals to the heart to speed up because the brain and
muscles require more oxygen to face the perceived threat. The brain will react the same
way to receiving a bad text message as it will to a tiger hiding around the corner (the
intensity will probably be different). The increased heart rate will demand more oxygen
making you feel the urge to gasp for more air or hyperventilate. This whole situation spikes
inflammation in the body and brain, and cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine (stress
hormones and neurotransmitters) spike also. Serotonin (calming
hormone/neurotransmitter) may spike to help calm the system due to the overload of
stress the system is experiencing. This leaves the person feeling incredibly tense, short on
breath, red/overheated, in a huge state of fear and worry, and unable to make clear
decisions because the brain is concentrating on only one of three options; fight, freeze, or
flight. Nothing else serves the brain in these moments.
When someone is trying to run from anxiety, the above examples around the craving for
quick dopamine remains for anxiety too… however, there’s a stronger seeking for serotonin
(Graeff, 2014). This is the calming chemical. This can easily be found by smoking weed or
nicotine, taking a drug, trying to control the environment around you, food, pornography,
and so on. The urge to check your phone, to avoid your bank account, to rush things, to
contact that person… these are all reactions of the perceptively unsafe brain.
What about medication?
The simple thing to say would be to see what you are lacking or creating a surplus in and
then to medicate you based on this. Here is why this could be one of the most problematic
(long-term) things that you could do for yourself unless guided correctly by a specialist. If
you’re considering taking medication, please advise with a specialist such as a psychiatrist
experienced in the area of medication who is willing to guide you on and into a tapering
process for the medication.
Medicating yourself for anything is taking the body’s responsibility of production or

inhabitation away from itself. When you do this, the body and brain relax on these actions,
so the natural production or inhabitation is reduced (Claire Cartwright, 2016). This causes
issues going forward. This is why the dosages constantly need to be improved. Other issues
also revolve around the avoidance of the root issue that’s creating the lack or surplus. When
the root cause isn’t addressed, worse issues arise at a later stage either months or years
later. There are various other long-term side-affects as well (James M. Ferguson, 2001). The
microbiome of the gut also struggles to thrive when chemicals are being digested constantly
by the system (Q. Le Bastard, 2017). Lacking in certain microbiome reduces the gut’s ability
to produce serotonin (calming hormone and neurotransmitter) and amplifies the serotonin
issue long term, even if short term there’s a shift due to the brain being exposed to more
serotonin over a few weeks or months.
This does not mean you should throw your medication down the toilet. In fact, quite the
opposite. It also does not mean you should not start taking medication either. Educating
yourself first on the consequences of medication is a responsible action to take. If I was
qualified (which I am not) to make a suggestion, I would invite you to use medication as a
platform for you to start working on yourself. This platform enables you to focus on
improving your psychology, health, and hormones in a feasible way without falling into
overwhelm constantly. Please remember, medication is not a long-term fix for most based
on the evidence provided. Although, some have found . If you’re using it, do so mindfully,
and with the intention to taper off once you have created sustainable progression in your
mental health.
Once you have started producing results organically without medication, you can slowly
start to taper off the medication that you are on. I recommend working with a specialist
while doing so.
What can I do for my mental health organically?
My recommendation is to work with someone or to find a method that resonates with you
that is focused on working at the depth of the mind, and over a prolonged period.
Cultivating sustainable change is a lengthy process. Anything that indicates it’s a short-term
thing, that you’ll be healed in a short 12-week program, or that mental health is a quick and
easy fix should be avoided at all costs.
Old neurology of self-sabotage does not die out quickly, as reprogramming and rewiring
(neuroplasticity) is a lengthened process (Vyara Valkanova, 2014), however, it can
momentarily stop triggering. This gives one the perception that long-term changes have
occurred from a moment of freedom. What has happened is new thought processes are
being used. This does not solidify instantly, hence why old patterns of self-sabotage come
back over and over again until the root cause is finally addressed.
If your path of choice is working with a holistic psychologist who focuses on CBT (cognitive
behavior therapy) or NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), that’s fantastic. However,
understand that you’re focusing on changing patterns, not on cultivating an entirely new
field of mind. This will help you to shift certain perspectives and to feel differently in
situations that previously triggered depression or anxiety. This doesn’t prevent new triggers
from being created and it becomes a tiring process with no true destination of freedom.
If your path of choice is to focus on mindfulness and work at the depth of the mind, then
understand that this can be very difficult due to how overwhelming the mind is. An
exemplar practice is Vipassana the 2500-year-old Buddhist meditation technique. Many
people decide that mindful practices are not for them. In reality, it’s the only way to reach
the depth of the mind (Brantmeier, 2007). When the environment is changed within the
mind, there’s no longer a reason for the Amygdala to activate during situations, as there’s
no perception of threat no matter the situation. This enables one who has truly navigated
this path to find unconditional freedom. Although this path takes many years and if the
brain is in a state of chaos and you’re struggling with anxiety or depression, you won’t be
able to work at this level and instead of making progress, you will feel overwhelmed.
The suggestion that I would give you is coaching that revolves around both of these paths. I
found success on this path after attempting both mindful and therapy approaches. Work at
the surface of the mind on thought patterns and rewiring the way the brain works, while
simultaneously creating a brain and body state that reduces the number of new triggers
that get installed over time. Otherwise, you end up yo-yoing having constant ups and downs
unable to escape the prison of emotion.
This is exactly why I work as a coach, because I see it as the most efficient way to help
people to focus on all levels of the mind. I see it as the most practical way to incorporate
things holistically to ensure it doesn’t just become a momentary shift, it becomes a way of
life. Happiness is your right. My mission is to ensure that you discover that for yourself fully.
Head to my website www.healingwithkez.com/coaching to enquire about working with me

if this resonates or email me kieran@healingwithkez.com.
Everyone has the ability to heal with the right guidance and tools. I never believed I would
find the freedom that I have now. Yet here I am having found it and having coached over 50
individuals to find the same freedom as I have. It’s more possible than you would believe.
Please note
Remember, I am not a doctor or a psychiatrist. Do not use this advice to prescribe or

diagnose yourself. The advice given is aimed holistically and is summarised information (for
easeful reading) based on my own experiences with mental health, and data collected over
various studies covering various topics. Naturally, there is far more depth to what’s been
highlighted, as the information shared is for a more simplistic understanding of mental
health science. We are not just looking at the neurotransmitters or hormones involved, we
look at the whole picture. I would invite you to do the same. Even if you’re just meeting the
basics with the mind, stress, gut, nutrition, and physical activity, that is far better in my
opinion for your overall wellbeing than having profoundness in just one area.
A quick summary about the author
From 11 years old, I found myself struggling to face the day, which soon manifested as
heavy depression. By 17 I had experienced crippling anxiety with my first intense panic
attack at 20 years old. From 18, I started down a path of natural healing through science,
supplementation, and mindfulness.
After years of learning powerful tools, studying medical neuroscience, studying under a
Buddhist monk, and working with mentors to overcome my suffering, I have now coached
over 50 individuals to do the same. I work with my clients through a curriculum focusing on
rewiring the brain, gut health, hormones, nutrition, and mindfulness. Mental health should
be approached holistically.
My name is Kieran Hedley. I am an anxiety coach also specialising in helping individuals work
through depression. I work through a structured curriculum so far with a 100% success rate
with those who come to a completion of the curriculum in helping individuals to take
control of their mental health.
I found when working with therapists, councilors, and psychologists in the past, I never felt
completely understood, even though I felt heard. I felt as if (bar one whom I worked with)
had not genuinely experienced mental health and successfully navigated it. It was from
intellectual knowledge, not genuine understanding. It was like they have seen the map, but
not walked the path to completion. They helped; I just never fully found the freedom I
sought.
It wasn’t until I stumbled across my own coach who had navigated depression and anxiety
successfully. Only then could I genuinely progress in full faith that this process works. Hope
was reinstalled, and I finally moved through the suffering.
You can do it too. No matter how dim the light may seem. My hope is that this e-book
grants you some understanding as to why you think and feel the way you do. With this
understanding, may you take action to build the life that you desire. May you find all the
peace and happiness that you have available to you. There is always a way.
With love
Kez
References
Works Cited
Boadie W. Dunlop, M., & Charles B. Nemeroff, M. P. (2007). The Role of Dopamine in the
Pathophysiology of Depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry.
Brantmeier, E. J. (2007). Connecting Inner and Outer Peace: Buddhist Meditation Integrated
with Peace Education. Journal of Peace Education and Social Justice.
Callaway, E. (2013). Fearful Memories Passed Down to Mouse Descendants. Nature.
Claire Cartwright, K. G. (2016, July 28). Long-term antidepressant use: patient perspectives
of benefits and adverse effects. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4970636/
Garber, K. (2019). Hidden layer of gene control influences everything from cancer to
memory. Science Mag.
Graeff, H. Z. (2014). Serotonin in anxiety and panic: Contributions of the elevated T-maze.
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.
Haochen Qi, B. Y. (2014, December 2). Gray Matter Volume Abnormalities in Depressive
Patients With and Without Anxiety Disorders. Retrieved from US National Library of
Medicine National Institutes of Health: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4602623/
Hughes, V. (2014). Epigenetics: The sins of the father. Nature.
James M. Ferguson, M. (2001, February 3). SSRI Antidepressant Medications: Adverse Effects
and Tolerability. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine National Institutes
of Health:
http://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC181155/#:~:text=The%20latter%202%20d
rugs%20are,side%20effects%20in%20clinical%20trials.&text=During%20long-
term%20SSRI%20therapy%2C%20the%20most%20troubling%20adverse%20effects,
weight%20gain%2C%20and%20sleep%20distu
Luis R. Jacinto, R. M. (2017). The habenula as a critical node in chronic stress-related anxiety.
Experimental Neurology.
Manpreet K. Singh, M. M. (2014, September 4). The Neuroscience of Depression:

Implications for Assessment and Intervention. Retrieved from US National Library of
Medicine National Institutes of Health:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4253641/
Q. Le Bastard, G. A.-G. (2017). Systematic review: human gut dysbiosis induced by non-
antibiotic prescription medications. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
Thomas Frodla, E. M.-J. (2002). Enlargement of the amygdala in patients with a first episode
of major depression. Science Direct.
Toker, S. S. (2005). The Association Between Burnout, Depression, Anxiety, and

Inflammation Biomarkers: C-Reactive Protein and Fibrinogen in Men and Women.
Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.
V Maletic, M. R. (2007, September). Neurobiology of depression: an integrated view of key

findings. Retrieved from US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of
Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2228409/
Vyara Valkanova, R. E. (2014). Mind over matter – what do we know about neuroplasticity in
adults? International Psychogeriatrics.
whatisepigenetics.com. (2012). Epigenetics: Fundamentals. Retrieved from What is

Epigenetics?: Fearful Memories Passed Down to Mouse Descendants
William E. Copeland, P. L. (2012, April 30). Generalized Anxiety and C-Reactive Protein
Levels: A Prospective, Longitudinal Analysis. Retrieved from US National Library of
Medicine National Institutes of Health: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3449031/

The Science To Depression and Anxiety

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The science to depression and anxiety

What is happening? A quick intro 2

Is mental health hereditary? 3

Important note on our primitive mechanisms 5

What happens when someone is anxious or depressed? 6

What about medication? 8

What can I do for my mental health organically? 9

A quick summary about the author 11

A QUICK NOTE ABOUT THE E-BOOK

Medicating yourself for anything is taking the body’s responsibility of production or

Head to my website www.healingwithkez.com/coaching to enquire about working with me

Remember, I am not a doctor or a psychiatrist. Do not use this advice to prescribe or

Callaway, E. (2013). Fearful Memories Passed Down to Mouse Descendants. Nature.

Hughes, V. (2014). Epigenetics: The sins of the father. Nature.

Manpreet K. Singh, M. M. (2014, September 4). The Neuroscience of Depression:

Toker, S. S. (2005). The Association Between Burnout, Depression, Anxiety, and

V Maletic, M. R. (2007, September). Neurobiology of depression: an integrated view of key

whatisepigenetics.com. (2012). Epigenetics: Fundamentals. Retrieved from What is

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