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2024-11-11

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We’ve Got Depression All Wrong. It’s Trying to Save Us. (www.psychologytoday.com)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by nifty@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

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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

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvagal_theory

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[–] drspod@lemmy.ml 27 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Porges believes

This is an interesting article and yet you've chosen to quote the most speculative unscientific part of it from the final paragraph.

"Have you tried going outside" is not a scientific cure for depression.

[–] nifty@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

That’s not what it’s saying at all, it’s talking about immobilization as a survival strategy as induced by the body’s neurophysiology, think of it as another option after flight vs fight responses.

Here’s the report mentioned in the article https://explore.bps.org.uk/content/report-guideline/bpsrep.2020.rep133

Edit looking closely, the report itself doesn’t mention anything about the immobilization defense.

Edit2 so on further review, I agree that this article is low quality. Apologies, was just browsing while half asleep and thought it was interesting

Polyvagal theory itself does not seem promising so far. Oh well, editing this post to highlight that…

[–] MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 9 points 2 months ago

think of it as another option after flight vs fight responses

Usually expressed as fight, flight or freeze...

[–] Wiz@midwest.social 4 points 2 months ago

The article resonated with me, and I'm glad you posted it. Thank you.