Depression is often mistaken for simple sadness, but it is usually the nervous system’s shutdown response to prolonged stress, overwhelm, or emotional pain. Many people with depression do not feel intensely emotional; they feel flat, heavy, or numb. Motivation fades, once-meaningful things feel distant, and even small tasks can feel exhausting. The body is deeply affected, too: low energy, brain fog, changes in sleep or appetite, slowed movement, and a heavy or weighted feeling are common. From a protective perspective, depression may be the body’s way of conserving energy when it feels that nothing will help. Therapy gently restores connection—to feelings, self, and meaning—so the nervous system no longer needs to remain in shutdown.
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