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I recall a conversation with my best friend Debbie a PHD student studying proper clever stuff that’s way above my head . At a gathering in 2021 Debbie pipes up depression is a chemical imbalance , I replied I don’t agree with that , I certainly don’t adhere to that narrative. There was some back and forth to our conversation. Any way fast forward to April 2024 and Debbie and I went on a road trip . I look round and say “if i am to agree that depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain , then i need you to agree it would first need to be an electrical imbalance” , Debbie looked puzzled then laughed have you been thinking about that for 3 years .
For decades, we’ve been told a simple story about depression: that it is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, particularly a deficiency of serotonin. This narrative, pushed by pharmaceutical companies and echoed by mainstream medicine, has led millions to believe that antidepressants are the only viable solution. But emerging research suggests that this explanation is not grounded in science .
A major study published in Molecular Psychiatry, The Serotonin Theory of Depression: A Systematic Umbrella Review of the Evidence, examined decades of research involving tens of thousands of people. The findings? There is no evidence that people diagnosed with depression have lower levels of serotonin levels that those without it. In fact, artificially lowering serotonin in healthy people did not induce depression.
I attempt to understand psychology , I try to hang it on our primitive survival mechanisms .
What if depression isn’t a disorder, but a survival response?
Rather than viewing depression as a malfunctioning brain,what if it is an adaptive response to stress, trauma , and social disconnection.In ancient times, withdrawing from the world during a period of extreme hardship could have been a protective mechanism allowing individuals to conserve energy, reflect on their situation, and avoid further danger.
In this view, depression is not a meaningless dysfunction, but rather the body and mind’s way of signaling that something is out of alignment .Whether that misalignment stems from trauma, chronic stress, unresolved grief, or a sense of disconnection from purpose, the feelings of low energy, numbness, and despair could be messages, not malfunctions.
New understandings of depression point toward nervous system dysregulation as the root cause, rather than faulty brain chemistry. Our nervous system—the body’s command center for processing stress, emotions, and safety—can become stuck in patterns of chronic fight , flight or freeze.
Chronic stress, unresolved trauma, or overwhelming life experiences can keep the nervous system on high alert, flooding the body with stress hormones. Over time, this constant state of hypervigilance can lead to exhaustion , burnout and eventually depression
If stress becomes unbearable or goes on too long, the nervous system may shut down, leading to emotional numbness, detachment, and a sense of hopelessness all hallmarks of depression.
The question we should be asking isn’t how can we increase serotonin? but rather why is our nervous systems stuck in a dysregulated state and how can we bring balance back .
Beyond biology, depression can be seen as a spritual disconnection a call from the soul to awaken, realign, and remember what truly matters.
Many spiritual traditions recognize periods of despair as necessary stages of transformation. In mythology, the “dark night of the soul” is a profound descent into suffering that ultimately leads to renewal. In Buddhism, suffering is seen not as a mistake but as an invitation to wake up to a deeper truth.
When we approach depression spiritually, we ask different questions:
what is this experience trying to teach me ?where have i abandoned myself?what wounds need dressed, how can i reconnect with meaning and purpose and touch something greater than myself ?
Rather than numbing depression with medication, we can listen to what it is trying to tell us . Perhaps it is asking us to slow down, to grieve, to seek connection, to change direction, to step into authenticity Perhaps is not the enemy but a guide .
If depression is not caused by a serotonin deficiency, then how do antidepressants work? The truth is,no one knows .
The human mind is powerful. The mere belief that we are healing can set real healing in motion. But if hope is the true medicine, then perhaps there are deeper, more lasting ways to cultivate it—ways that do not require altering our brain chemistry.
Instead of medicating depression away, we should focus on addressing and acknowledging the root cause and regulating the nervous system, healing emotional wounds, and restoring a sense of meaning and connection.
Breathwork, yoga, cold exposure, body-based trauma release. Getting int nature which is proven to reduce stress and regulate the nervous system
limiting social media, excessive screen time, and chaotic environments
Beginning the journey home through therapy addressing childhood wounds, grief, and emotional patterns,identifying what brings meaning and fulfillment
Depression thrives in isolation; we heal in connection,seeking out people who understand and uplift,helping others can create a powerful sense of purpose
The idea that depression is soley a biological issue has led us to suppress it rather than listen to it. But what if depression is not something to be fixed, but a doorway to deeper healing ?
Maybe the darkness isn’t the problem. Maybe the real problem is that we’ve forgotten how to navigate it.
Instead of fearing depression, what if we honored it as part of the human experience a temporary passage that, when approached with awareness, can lead to profound growth , resilience and transformation
What if, instead of numbing our pain, we learned to sit with it , listen to it , and let it guide us back to being whole ?
This is not easy work. It requires courage, patience, and a willingness to feel deeply. But in the end, it is far more empowering than believing that our suffering is the result of a random chemical malfunction.
The truth is, we are not broken. And depression is not a sign of weakness—it is a call to heal, to awaken, and to remember who we truly are.
Perhaps, instead of asking How do i get rid of this? we should ask what is this trying to teach me
Because the answers we seek are already within .
Make the Connection 
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