Let's Talk About Depression

Depression is such a sensitive topic. People come from different sides of the issue. Some think it is just something that people need to think positively about and suck up. Others are working to end the stigma and show that depression is a medical issue that deserves the same reactions and treatment as any other more visually apparent medical issue.

And then there is everything in between.

What I've come to know is that there are a lot of factors, many of which are specific to the individual. It is a combination of many things - physical, mental, and spiritual.

Because this is such a critical issue, I have to state that I am not a doctor and that these are merely my observations and opinions based on experience.

Yes, it is a chemical imbalance. But that is not the cause. That is the result.

The cause is limiting beliefs. The cause is a life not aligned with what fulfills you. The cause is being around toxic people. The cause is not being raised in a nurturing environment that built up your autonomy and confidence. The cause is trauma. The cause is not feeling worthy or listened to. Not feeling like your thoughts and feelings are valid. Believing you have no place in the world. Believing you don't matter. One or all of these are the cause.

Taking a drug doesn't solve deeply held beliefs and despair like this.

Working to change your very perception of reality is all that can do this. Changing your life is all that can help this. Changing who is in your life, what is in your life, and your perception of yourself and your place in life.

And it is slow. And hard. And chaotic at first. And only starts when life deems you ready. No sooner. That part I can't explain yet.

You are not flawed. You are not broken. Emotions are just feedback. Something in your life isn't right. Something in your beliefs about yourself and life isn't right. Something about what you were destined to be is not aligning with the situation you are in now. Some mindset that you learned from your family, or learned in spite of your family, is holding you back, making you feel unsafe, putting you in survival mode, and keeping you from thriving. I do believe that some physical and lifestyle issues can exacerbate the issue, too.

The APA says that biochemistry, genetics, personality, and environmental factors play a role in depression. Honestly I think a lot of those things are the result and not really "factors". Biochemistry changes based on your thoughts and feelings. You can literally rewire your brain by learning a new way to think and feel. That's the result, not the cause.

I think the genetic factor is really just learned family dynamics or mindsets. You could learn a mindset that leads to depression directly from a family member. Alternatively, it could be based on how your family interacts with you, as they have with others. What I mean by that can be explain by this example: Suppose your father had a sister who is depressed. He interacted with her in a certain way. The family interacted with her in a certain way. Then everyone grows up and moves on to their new families. Your father may notice some similar qualities in you, and his mind may react by then interacting with you in a similar way. And the more you are placed in that role, the more you are treated as if you have certain issues, you can be conditioned to develop those issues. All unintentional, obviously. But those are the family dynamics I speak of.

There are also other factors that people like Mastin Kipp are vocalizing more and more. Gut health, unhealed emotional trauma, the health of the Vagus nerve, and having a sense of Purpose. I'm a supporter of Mastin, so I recommend reading his article on that. [1]

I also know that proper amounts of movement, fun, deep breathe, sunlight, and positive/safe social interaction are necessary to vaccinate yourself against depression, as well.

I saw a video on the topic of depression the other day. The example in the video talked about a Cambodian man who worked as a rice farmer. One day his leg was blown off by a land mine while he was working in the fields. The Cambodian doctors gave him an artificial limb and he went back to work in the fields, which was extremely physically painful and made him relive his trauma. He became depressed (duh!!). The doctors sat and listened to him. They realized that his pain made sense. There were valid reasons for it. So they bought him a cow so he could be a dairy farmer instead. He became happy and productive again. The Cambodian doctors said that in this case, the cow was the antidepressant. [2]

His job made him relive trauma, was no longer something that aligned with his skill set, and caused him physical pain, but that's what he "had" to do and was "expected" to do. His life was not aligned. They made an actual change in his life so that his job was something he could actually do without pain, trauma, and feeling like a worthless failure. That's obviously a more concrete, physical example but the same goes for more invisible mental and emotional traumas and pain. Maybe you don't need a cow. Maybe you need a new set of friends. To cut people off. To change jobs. To prioritize health over other obligations. To write your story and spread your message. To follow your dream. That is your cow.

Drugs don't change the things in your life that are poisoning you. They only make you okay with being poisoned. That's no solution.

If it helps you cope in order to start making changes, that's fine. I completely get that. But it in itself is no cure or solution. And the longer you are on it, the more your body gets used to it, and it will adapt to rely on it. Not to mention how dangerous SSRIs can be. But you obviously have to weigh your options for what you need. I just want to spread the message that you CAN work through your emotional traumas, survival patterns, and change your perception of yourself and of life in order to virtually cure yourself of depression. It is possible.

You are not flawed and you are not worthless. And you won't believe that at first. But seek out stories, workshops, people, activities, books that help you realize how valuable you are. Breathe yourself back to life. It feels silly and not for you at first but I promise it's true and you can feel that way and get aligned with your true calling, your true purpose, your true tribe. This life isn't right for you. Change it. This mindset isn't right for you. Change it. Simple but NOT easy. And each journey is different, so you have to relentlessly hunt down your trail yourself. Take advice from experts and thought leaders, but only believe your own heart at the end of the day.

Here are some resources that have changed lives:

The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

Daring Greatly by Brené Brown

Rising Strong by Brené Brown

Braving the Wilderness by Brené Brown

Mind Over Medicine by Lissa Rankin

A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav

Live events and retreats with Mastin Kipp such as Enter the Heart and Claim Your Power

See the content mentioned in this post:

[1] "What is Depression? New discoveries could help us better understand & heal" Mastin Kipp http://mastinkipp.com/what-is-depression-new-discoveries-could-help-us-better-understand/

[2] "Depression is a social ill, not an individual flaw" Big Think Science https://www.facebook.com/BigThinkdotcom/videos/1457149817730471/