Depression

Depression

Depression is on the rise in our society, and many people silently struggle with it.

You are not alone.

From a trauma-informed perspective, depression is often not just a chemical imbalance or something “wrong” with you. Many trauma experts understand depression as a protective response - a slowing down of the system after prolonged stress, loss, emotional pain, or unmet needs.

Dr. Gabor Maté, in The Myth of Normal and When the Body Says No, describes depression as a form of disconnection from the self, often rooted in early relational wounds, chronic stress, or the need to suppress emotions in order to survive. Over time, this emotional suppression can turn inward, leaving people feeling numb, depleted, or shut down.

Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, author of The Body Keeps the Score, emphasizes that trauma doesn’t just live in our memories, it lives in the body and nervous system. When the nervous system has been overwhelmed for too long, the body may shift into a state of collapse or low energy as a way to conserve resources. Depression, in this sense, can be the nervous system’s way of saying “I’ve been carrying too much for too long.”

Similarly, Dr. Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing and author of Waking the Tiger and In an Unspoken Voice, describes depression as a state of dorsal vagal shutdown, where the body moves out of fight-or-flight and into immobilization. This can look like exhaustion, heaviness, lack of motivation, disconnection, or a sense of being stuck, not because you’re weak, but because your system is trying to protect you from further overwhelm.

Sometimes you may wonder, “Am I depressed?” because from the outside it looks like you’re functioning - you may have a stable job, relationships, or hobbies. Yet internally, it can feel like your engine is slowing down or there’s a deep sadness within. There may be little energy left, joy feels distant, and getting through the day requires enormous effort. You might smile and show up for others, while quietly suffering inside.

Common Symptoms of Depression:

Depression can show up differently for each person. Some common experiences include:

Persistent sadness or emotional heaviness

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities

Fatigue or low energy

Sleep difficulties (sleeping more or less than usual)

Irritability or agitation

Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

Feelings of worthlessness

Feelings of guilt, shame, or self-blame

Feelings of hopelessness or emptiness

Physical aches or unexplained pains

Self-harming thoughts or behaviors

Suicidal thoughts

Feelings of loneliness and isolation

Not everyone will experience all these symptoms, and their intensity and duration can vary. These experiences are not personal failures, they are signals that something within you may need care, support, and compassion.

Healing Depression Through a Trauma-Informed Approach

In trauma-informed therapy, we don’t ask “What’s wrong with you?”, we ask “What happened to you?” Depression is often connected to past trauma, chronic stress, attachment wounds, or long-standing emotional neglect.

Healing involves gently reconnecting with the body, restoring nervous system regulation, and creating a sense of safety, choice, and agency. Somatic and trauma-focused approaches such as EMDR, Brainspotting, and other body-based therapies can help address depression at its roots, not just manage symptoms, but support deeper healing and reconnection with yourself.