The Pulse

Erica Gerard tried to find the right antidepressant for over two decades, one where the benefits outweighed the side effects. Finally, she decided to get off her medication. What followed was a harrowing journey she was not prepared for. On this episode, what people should consider before quitting. We also explore whether new tools could help doctors better match patients with medications.

Journalist Erica Gerard was first prescribed Prozac in college after years of feeling sad, lonely and disconnected from her peers. The medication helped — but it also left her constantly exhausted and feeling as though she was watching her own life from behind a screen. After more than two decades, she decided she wanted to stop taking the medication. She documented her journey for The Pulse, and what she learned about tapering off safely.

A new federal initiative aimed at getting Americans off antidepressants has put a spotlight on this issue. Psychiatrist Jonathan Slater joins us to discuss the complexities of de-prescribing these medications. He says there’s a lack of training and guidelines for tapering off safely, adding that the process requires individualized, monitored care with psychological support. 

When a mental health issue made it impossible for British author Madeline Dyer to focus on her writing career, a physician suggested she should try an antidepressant. She was reluctant to give it a shot, fearing it would make her less creative. The medication ended up helping her a lot, but she says it impacted her genre of choice.

In some ways, our imagination is like an all-access pass. It can transport us to a different place, it allows us to picture a beautiful beach, or a lush flower garden. We can envision what our lives may look like in the future or revisit the past. Psychologist Cassandra Vieten argues that using our imagination is not about immersing ourselves in a fantasy world. It’s a powerful tool that affects our physical and mental health, our relationships with others, and life trajectories and careers. Vieten joins us to talk about her research, and her new book, “Imagine That: Transform How You Think, Feel, and Live with the Science of Imagination.”

We tend to think that creativity flourishes in the absence of limits, when we have all of the freedom to innovate and dream big. But what if the opposite is true? What if constraints — from strict rules to tight deadlines — actually make us more creative?
On this episode, we explore how limitations force us to think differently, solve problems in unexpected ways, and allow us to create our best work. We talk with science writer David Epstein about his new book “Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better.”
He explains how restrictions led to the invention of everything from impressionism to the iPod, and how to develop rules and limits for your own creative work that could encourage innovation.

Millions of people in the U.S. have chronic pain that’s unresponsive to medical interventions. But there are new and comprehensive ways of treating pain. We explore how emotions, stress, sleep, and diet impact pain, a new option for easing labor pain, and emerging research that could reduce the addictive properties of opioids.

We often think of pain as a physical ailment — but newer research shows that pain has as much to do with our brains as it does our bodies. We talk with pain researcher and psychologist Rachel Zoffness about how emotions shape — and construct — our experience of pain, and how identifying the unique biopsychosocial factors contributing to pain can ultimately help patients overcome it. Her new book is "Tell Me Where It Hurts: The New Science of Pain and How to Heal."

Giving birth is one of the most painful things many people will experience — which is why a majority of expectant mothers choose epidurals, IV opioids, or both to manage their pain. But recently, another option has been making its way into the delivery room— nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas. Reporter Andrew Stelzer explains how N02  stacks up against its competitors, and why a growing number hospitals in the U.S. are offering it as an option.

Opioids work well on all kinds of pain — but, as the last few decades have shown, they also pose a severe risk of addiction. We talk with neuroscientist and addiction researcher Anjali Rajadhyaksha about a recent discovery that could make opioids safer.

Vacations are a time to experience new things, and restore our minds and bodies — but sometimes the opposite happens. On this episode, when vacations wreck your health — and how to deal. We hear about evidence-based ways of overcoming jet lag, tips for avoiding "vacation constipation,” surviving the cruise from hell, and what's behind snorkeling deaths in Hawaii.
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We hear from listeners about their worst vacation-related health incidents, ranging from chicken pox to head injuries. 

Ahead of an international trip, Pulse host Maiken Scott talks with Olivia Walch, a researcher at University of Michigan and CEO of a circadian rhythm startup called Arcascope, about the biological processes behind jet lag, and evidence-based tips on how to prevent the worst of it. 

Ever notice that your first couple days on a trip, you become a little … backed up? Pulse producer Nichole Currie talks with neurogastroenterologist Trisha Pasricha about what causes “vacation constipation,” and how to overcome it. Pasricha’s new book is “You’ve Been Pooping All Wrong: How to Make Your Bowel Movements a Joy.” Listen to their full  interview. 

As avid globetrotters, Gay and Phil Courter always loved going on cruises — until their trip got taken over by an unexpected threat. Pulse reporter Liz Tung recounts the story of how they ended up trapped on a cruise they didn’t want to be on — and how they ultimately escaped. Watch their documentary on the experience, or read Gay’s book.

Of all the adventurous activities on offer while traveling — from volcano trekking to whitewater rafting — there's one that might be a bit more dangerous than you'd expect: snorkeling. We talk with Caitlin Thompson, an investigative reporter for Honolulu Civil Beat, about Hawaii’s perplexing number of snorkeling deaths, and the potential causes.