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
All my and my wifes depression come from problems that we cannot really solve. I mean when there is a source of depression I don’t really see a solution until the source is rectified. If your depressed because your homeless and living on the streets talking with people will not get rid of it.
I spent quite a while paying for therapy to overcome depression.
Problem was that my depression was basically just caused by poverty: Too poor to afford healthy food, a car, a living situation that didn’t include unstable abusive narcissists causing me stress, lack of sleep, constantly guilt tripping me for things I had no control over, shaming me for enjoying anything they didn’t approve of, telling me I have mental issues.
So … what I need is money, a fresh start, a new living sitch… and I am paying a bunch of money for my therapist to also become depressed at my situation and just give me the same CBT exercises I already know.
Why did I pay for all those sessions?
Oh right, my roommates were gaslighting me.
I am currently extremely not depressed now that I am finally faaaaar away from them.
Literally the reason why I don’t bother. What’s the point to feel content that my father is a disappointment or that I feel like one dispite the fact i felt I made all the right choices in life. No spending that cash on therapy is not going to make all the issues go away. It will just make me feel like it’s acceptable? F that. My problems wouldn’t be an issue if I had more money.
I just had the same experience with therapy and psychiatry. Even Zoloft does nothing, it might dull it slightly but it doesn’t fix the problems underlying my depression.
I make $77,000 a year, and I’m living the same as a person making minimum wage in the 70s.
I have a side job too, and I’m still struggling to just feed myself and pay rent. I don’t know how people working serving and retail jobs are even affording to live inside.
There is absolutely a difference between situational acute depression and generalized chronic depression — and they require different approaches
I suppose the response to that would be that the social interactions which makes you anxious are unhealthy social interactions, And that, instead, you should be having social interactions that don’t cause anxiety for you.
Of course, without knowing more, that’s just speculation.
Sane response to an insane world…