Common wisdom says depression starts in the mind with distorted thinking. But newer models suggest depression starts when the body initiates a defense strategy to help us survive.

If depression is the emotional expression of the immobilization response, then the solution is to move out of that state of defense. Porges believes it is not enough to simply remove the threat. Rather, the nervous system has to detect robust signals of safety to bring the social state back online. The best way to do that? Social connection.

For people who don’t prefer social connection, I’ve seen that exercise works well

Edit: just want to highlight that polyvagal theory, the main point behind this article, is unsubstantiated thus far

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvagal_theory

  • @some_guy
    17•12 days ago

    Fourtly we’re socialized to hide depression. As everybody knows, the first step to solve a problem is to recognize it exists. Stigmatization of depression has held back effective treatment for way too long.

    “Hey, how’s it going?”

    “Good, you?”

    Honesty about our emotional state (with people who aren’t trusted friends / partners) is programmed out of us by social norms.

      • @some_guy
        2•12 days ago

        Like the joke the mother tells around the dinner table in Good Fellas. The punchline was something like, “Shut up, you’re always talking.”