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
“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.
Start telling people the truth to that question and watch them flee
You’ll separate your friends from your good friends.
Or find out that you don’t have any true friends
I sometimes tell people “it’s complicated” to test the waters if I want to be truly honest it not.
Like the joke the mother tells around the dinner table in Good Fellas. The punchline was something like, “Shut up, you’re always talking.”
<Grins ear-to-ear.>
<Rotates head 720 degrees.>