I really appreciate this perspective, and as a psychologist I would add that most of us are trained to first look at energy basics like sleep, food and physical movement and engagement in social/productive activities (the very technical term is behavioral activation) and I explain it to my clients as “priming the pump” or reminding your system of what feels good, even when you’re not feeling motivation yet.
The problem is often from the psychiatric side, where clients are usually prescribed a drug and given a depression identity, which suggests there is something fundamentally wrong with them, which decenters agency, essentially colluding with the negative lens that the depressive state already creates.
This usually confuses the whole process of self-healing and prevents the condition from resolving as a temporary experience. It is really frustrating to see that happen to people.
There is also the concept of “susto” or soul loss, which explains depression as a temporary withdrawal or loss of connection with the soul. Sometimes there is a reason related to a persons life or past experiences that causes this to happen, and warrants some exploration. Even when this is the case, the energy approach outlined in your article is the best first line approach, and the person can begin to explore what is out of alignment when they feel a little more energy and hope.
Such a complex, nuanced human experience, and I’ve learned so much from my own experience recovering from depression, and from working with my clients.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment! The system still runs people through the same sequence: diagnosis, prescription, done - without checking diet, energy deficits, or basic metabolic function (at least in the US). I talk about this more in my other piece, The Anxiety Scam: Why Doctors Push Pills While Your Biology Collapses.
I went through long periods of chronic anxiety and depression myself, so I’ve had to figure this out the hard way. I also believe that short-term melancholy/depression can be a signal to change direction or reassess your values. The real issue is when you’re stuck there while the body is depleted.
Your point about “susto” makes sense. People do lose connection with themselves after stress or traumatic past experiences. Whether you frame it psychologically or spiritually, the pattern is the same: the system withdraws. But even then, energy has to come first because without fuel, self-exploration isn’t possible. And yes, once energy returns, the emotional landscape becomes workable instead of overwhelming.
I appreciate your perspective. It’s rare to see someone in psychology connect physiology, agency, and the deeper loss of self instead of defaulting to the diagnostic script.
There are more of us out here than you might think! We are the well-trained therapists doing the slow, patient, behind-the-scenes work of sitting with people through difficult times, really listening, and offering support that is grounded in mind-body reality. We don't get a lot of media attention. We don't take out flashy ads and we can't promise that we can "cure" your depression by tomorrow. I feel like my job is often harder BECAUSE of the medical model mindset and interventions, even as I am forced to know enough about that system in order to get paid by insurance to help my clients. Its a strange place to be.
Yes. The biggest unlock is remembering it’s a state, not your identity. It passes. When you're in that fog, “processing” it doesn’t do much. What actually works is doing something physical, then feeding the system: clean, cook, fix something, go outside, move, get some sun in your eyes. And eat real food, especially carbs, something warm. A lot of anxiety/depressive states are just under-fueling + unstable blood sugar on top of stress. Movement + fuel resets things way faster than staring at your thoughts and doing nothing.
I really appreciate this perspective, and as a psychologist I would add that most of us are trained to first look at energy basics like sleep, food and physical movement and engagement in social/productive activities (the very technical term is behavioral activation) and I explain it to my clients as “priming the pump” or reminding your system of what feels good, even when you’re not feeling motivation yet.
The problem is often from the psychiatric side, where clients are usually prescribed a drug and given a depression identity, which suggests there is something fundamentally wrong with them, which decenters agency, essentially colluding with the negative lens that the depressive state already creates.
This usually confuses the whole process of self-healing and prevents the condition from resolving as a temporary experience. It is really frustrating to see that happen to people.
There is also the concept of “susto” or soul loss, which explains depression as a temporary withdrawal or loss of connection with the soul. Sometimes there is a reason related to a persons life or past experiences that causes this to happen, and warrants some exploration. Even when this is the case, the energy approach outlined in your article is the best first line approach, and the person can begin to explore what is out of alignment when they feel a little more energy and hope.
Such a complex, nuanced human experience, and I’ve learned so much from my own experience recovering from depression, and from working with my clients.
Thank you for the thoughtful comment! The system still runs people through the same sequence: diagnosis, prescription, done - without checking diet, energy deficits, or basic metabolic function (at least in the US). I talk about this more in my other piece, The Anxiety Scam: Why Doctors Push Pills While Your Biology Collapses.
I went through long periods of chronic anxiety and depression myself, so I’ve had to figure this out the hard way. I also believe that short-term melancholy/depression can be a signal to change direction or reassess your values. The real issue is when you’re stuck there while the body is depleted.
Your point about “susto” makes sense. People do lose connection with themselves after stress or traumatic past experiences. Whether you frame it psychologically or spiritually, the pattern is the same: the system withdraws. But even then, energy has to come first because without fuel, self-exploration isn’t possible. And yes, once energy returns, the emotional landscape becomes workable instead of overwhelming.
I appreciate your perspective. It’s rare to see someone in psychology connect physiology, agency, and the deeper loss of self instead of defaulting to the diagnostic script.
There are more of us out here than you might think! We are the well-trained therapists doing the slow, patient, behind-the-scenes work of sitting with people through difficult times, really listening, and offering support that is grounded in mind-body reality. We don't get a lot of media attention. We don't take out flashy ads and we can't promise that we can "cure" your depression by tomorrow. I feel like my job is often harder BECAUSE of the medical model mindset and interventions, even as I am forced to know enough about that system in order to get paid by insurance to help my clients. Its a strange place to be.
Wow that is indeed really good/interesting information.
Thank you, Luke!
You are welcome. lol am going to be honest, thought you were my friend Kimberly lol.
Seriously tho great article. Sent to a few family members.
That’s funny :) Not Kimberly, but thanks for sending it to your family!
Nicely done!
Here it is in The Odyssey:
https://andrewsawyer.substack.com/p/the-way-home-part-3-the-cicones-and
Thank you for sharing! I’ll check it out 🙏🏻
where/when did you sus this out?
Yes. The biggest unlock is remembering it’s a state, not your identity. It passes. When you're in that fog, “processing” it doesn’t do much. What actually works is doing something physical, then feeding the system: clean, cook, fix something, go outside, move, get some sun in your eyes. And eat real food, especially carbs, something warm. A lot of anxiety/depressive states are just under-fueling + unstable blood sugar on top of stress. Movement + fuel resets things way faster than staring at your thoughts and doing nothing.