Depression or Deep Rest? Rethinking a Crisis in Western Society Through a Survival Mode Lens

Think of the word "depressed" as if it literally meant "being pressed down." Its roots come from Latin and old French, where the components meant "down" (de-) and "to press" (premere). Originally, the term described something physically lowered or weighed down. Over time, people started using it to capture the emotional experience of feeling weighed down by life, hen your mood or spirit seems to be pressed down by stress or sorrow. In this way, the word mirrors our very human feeling of being overwhelmed, as if life itself is giving us an uninvited squeeze.

In Western society, depression is often cast as a personal failing, a sign that something is fundamentally wrong with you. Everywhere you look, from smiling billboards to relentless social media feeds, you’re told that happiness is not only possible, it’s expected. When you don’t feel happy, you risk being seen as defective. But what if that pervasive sadness isn’t simply a disorder to be fixed, but rather a protective, even adaptive, response?

Depression is more than just feeling sad or having a bad day, it’s a complex condition that affects how you think, feel, and interact with the world. While everyone’s experience of depression is unique, many of its features and underlying causes share common threads.

Inspired by Dr. Gabor Maté’s work, we can begin to explore the idea that what we call depression might, in some cases, be an expression of deep rest, a survival mode enacted by our overstressed nervous systems.

What Depression Can Look Like

Depression can manifest in several ways that touch both your mind and body. Here are some key characteristics:

• Persistent Low Mood:   You may feel a deep sense of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness that lingers for weeks or even months. This isn’t just an occasional bout of gloom, it’s a weight that colours everyday life.

• Loss of Interest:   Activities that once brought pleasure might no longer feel engaging. Whether it’s hobbies, social interactions, or work, anhedonia (loss of interest) can make life seem dull and unfulfilling.

• Energy and Fatigue:   A common sign is a pervasive exhaustion, where even small tasks feel insurmountable. Depression often drains both mental and physical energy, leaving you feeling slowed down and lethargic.

• Cognitive Changes:   You might experience difficulties with concentration, making decisions, or remembering things clearly. Negative thought patterns, self-criticism, and feelings of worthlessness can also become more pronounced.

• Physical Symptoms:   The body can register depression through unexplained aches, changes in appetite, sleep disturbances (insomnia or oversleeping), and a general lack of motivation. These physical signs are part and parcel of the interplay between mind and body in depression.

• Social Withdrawal:   People dealing with depression often isolate themselves, avoiding social interactions or activities that once felt comforting. This withdrawal can further intensify feelings of loneliness and disconnection.

• Suicidal Ideation:   Depression can sometimes manifest as recurrent thoughts about death, dying, or suicide. These thoughts might range from fleeting ideas to persistent preoccupations that signal deep hopelessness. This symptom is a serious indicator that the depression may be intensifying, and it underscores the importance of seeking immediate professional support.

  
  

Why Depression May Occur

Depression doesn’t have a single cause. Instead, it typically arises from a complex mix of factors that may interact differently in each individual. Here are some of the most commonly recognized contributors that are thought about...

• Biological Factors:

  • Genetics: A family history of depression can increase your susceptibility to the condition.

  • Brain Chemistry: Imbalances in neurotransmitters, the brain’s chemical messengers, can play a significant role in mood regulation.

  • Hormonal Changes: Shifts in hormones, whether from life events like pregnancy or underlying medical conditions, can trigger depressive episodes.

• Psychological Factors:

  • Personality and Coping Style: Individuals prone to negative thinking or with low self-esteem might be more vulnerable to depression.

  • Trauma and Stress: Past traumatic experiences or ongoing stress, whether from loss, abuse, or challenging relationships, can wear down resilience over time.

  • Learned Patterns: Persistent exposure to negative thinking or stressful situations can create a cycle of self-doubt and hopelessness.

• Social and Environmental Factors:

  • Life Circumstances: Difficulties such as unemployment, financial strain, or relationship issues can contribute to depressive feelings.

  • Cultural Expectations: In cultures that value constant positivity and achievement, deviations from these ideals can intensify feelings of inadequacy.

  • Lack of Social Support: Feeling isolated or disconnected from supportive networks can leave you more vulnerable to depression when challenges arise.

    
    

The interplay of these factors creates a unique internal landscape where depression can develop as a means of coping with overwhelming internal or external pressures.

The Western Society View of Depression

In many Western cultures, the ideal of constant positivity reigns supreme. Advertisers, influencers, and even our closest peers often propagate the notion that a happy life is the only acceptable life. This cultural bias has two important effects:

• Pressure to Be Happy:   We’re bombarded with images of joy and success. In this relentless pursuit of happiness, any deviation, any hint of sadness or vulnerability, is interpreted as a personal shortcoming. Negative emotions are often viewed as failures, rather than natural human experiences.

  
  

• Medicalizing Normal Emotions:   The prevailing mindset in the West emphasizes treating depression as an individual pathology. The conventional response is to correct presumed chemical imbalances with medication or to seek a quick fix through therapy, often overlooking the broader picture. This approach tends to frame depression solely as a deficit, something to be eradicated, without recognizing its possible roots in sustained, overwhelming stress and trauma.

  
  

Research suggests that in Western cultures, depression is not only more prevalent but may also be linked to the high cultural value placed on perpetual happiness. When sadness or discontent arises, it becomes intolerable, a sign, many believe, that something is catastrophically off track.

Gabor Maté’s Perspective: Deep Rest as a Survival Mode

Dr. Gabor Maté offers a refreshingly alternative view. According to Maté, when life becomes unbearably stressful or traumatic, our nervous system may choose to “shut down” as a protective mechanism. Rather than being a mere malfunction, what we see as depression might be our body’s emergency power-saving mode, a state of deep rest designed to conserve energy when we’re overwhelmed.

• A Protective Shutdown:   Maté suggests that this shutdown isn’t about laziness or deficiency. Rather, it’s a radical form of self-preservation. Your body, overloaded by emotional pain or relentless stress, essentially says, “I can’t keep fighting this onslaught from the outside world,” and instead retreats into a state of passivity.

• Adaptive, Though Painful:   This state of deep rest isn’t meant to be blissful. It’s more like the forced pause of a computer overheating. While it may leave you feeling numb, disengaged, or isolated, it’s also your body’s way of protecting itself from the continuous barrage of stressors that Western society often inflicts.

• A Call for Compassion:   Understanding depression through this lens transforms it from a sign of personal inadequacy into a response to unrelenting external pressures. It’s less a personal failing and more a survival strategy in a world that doesn’t make room for rest, vulnerability, or slow healing.

  
  

My Perspective as a Somatic Trauma Therapist

As a somatic trauma therapist, and at a personal level, I resonate deeply with Dr. Maté’s insights. In my practice, many clients describe their experiences of depression as an overwhelming shutdown, almost as if their bodies are intentionally retreating to protect them from further pain. I’ve seen first-hand how this “deep rest” serves as a survival mechanism.

• Listening to the Body's Wisdom:   Somatic therapy teaches us that the body holds its own record of traumatic experiences. When faced with too much stress or repeated trauma, the body’s natural response is often to disengage. What might be perceived as clinical depression could be understood as your nervous system’s way of saying, “I need to conserve energy and protect myself.”

• Integration Through Awareness:   By gently bringing awareness to physical sensations, such as aches, tightness, or even numbness, we allow clients to reconnect with parts of themselves that have been shut down. This process of mindful reconnection can gradually support the transition from a state of forced deep rest back to one of engagement and healing.

• Reframing the Narrative:   I believe that seeing depression as a protective, albeit painful, response helps reduce the self-stigma many clients feel. Instead of feeling broken for “not trying hard enough” to be happy, clients learn to recognize that their experience is a necessary, albeit imperfect, survival strategy. This understanding opens the door for more compassionate self-care and gradual reactivation of the body’s natural energy reserves.

  
  

In my view, and echoing Gabor Maté’s work, it’s essential that we reframe the conversation around depression. It isn’t simply a deficit or a malfunction, it’s a complex interplay of intense societal pressure, unmet needs, and a nervous system desperate for rest.

Where These Views Intersect

When you consider the Western emphasis on constant positivity alongside the survival mode perspective, a stark conflict emerges. On one hand, you’re built into a society that demands you always be “on” and happy. On the other hand, your body, worn down by these unyielding expectations and possibly past traumas, seeks refuge in a state of deep rest. This deep rest, unfortunately, is misinterpreted both by yourself and others as depression in the pathological sense.

• The Cultural Irony:   Imagine being in a society that prizes constant productivity and cheerfulness while your nervous system is literally hitting the pause button to avoid burnout. It’s a dramatic miscommunication where the signals of survival are mistaken for personal weakness.

  
  

• Rethinking Treatment:   If we accept that sometimes what we label as depression is actually a protective shutdown, a deep rest, then perhaps the path forward isn’t solely about trying to “fix” or eliminate depression with medication. Instead, it means creating environments that allow for genuine, restorative rest and healing. This could involve rethinking societal values, giving ourselves permission to feel all emotions, and actively cultivating spaces of safety and compassion for our nervous systems.

  
  

Finding Balance: A New Narrative for Healing

Reframing depression as a survival mode, a deep rest necessitated by overwhelming external pressures, can be an empowering first step. It shifts the focus from individual blame to an understanding of how our culture, with its relentless drive for happiness, contributes to these states.

• Cultivating Rest:   Recognize that sometimes what feels like depression is your body's way of asking for a break. Embrace strategies that encourage genuine rest, mindfulness practices, deep-breathing exercises, and other forms of self-care that allow your nervous system to recover.

• Redefining Success:   Let’s challenge the idea that constant cheerfulness is the ideal. By creating space for pain, reflection, and even withdrawal when necessary, you give yourself permission to heal without the guilt of not conforming to societal expectations.

• Building Compassionate Networks:   Whether in therapy, among friends, or through community support, acknowledging the broader systemic pressures at play can help reduce self-blame. It paves the way for collective healing that transcends individual pathology.

  
  

In Conclusion

The dominant narrative in Western society has long dictated that happiness is the only acceptable emotional state, and that any deviation is a sign of personal inadequacy.

However, as Dr. Gabor Maté reminds us, what we sometimes label as depression might be a necessary, albeit painful, state of deep rest, a survival mechanism to cope with an unforgiving world.

By understanding depression through both the lens of cultural expectations and as a protective shutdown of our nervous system, we open up new avenues for compassion and healing. It’s time to rethink our approach: rather than fighting against the state of deep rest, let’s create environments that honour our need for genuine healing and recovery. In doing so, we can begin to rewrite the narrative, from one of relentless pressure and personal failure to one of understanding, balance, and profound self-care.

Disclaimer

Please note: The ideas discussed in this blog are intended for informational and reflective purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you are experiencing any mental health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare provider or a licensed mental health professional.

These ideas reflect our current understanding, and much research continues to expand our knowledge. While one size does not fit all, and many tools and approaches can help you reach your destination, each journey is unique. Collaboration between you, your healthcare professionals, and your support network is crucial.

This is the way I see my work: I honour each individual’s unique journey and offer perspectives designed to empower you on your own healing path. This blog does not recommend discontinuing or altering any prescribed medications or treatment plans; always make decisions regarding your health in consultation with a trusted healthcare professional.

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