Rethinking Depression: A Holistic Perspective
When people talk about depression, the conversation is often framed within a narrow lens: a “mental illness” caused by chemical imbalance, faulty genes, or faulty thinking. While biology and psychology can absolutely play a role, this explanation alone leaves many people feeling confused, powerless, or even broken.
But what if depression isn’t simply a malfunction inside the brain? What if it’s also a signal, from a system that has become overloaded, disconnected or inflamed? A response to a combination of pressures, environments, and unmet human needs?
With decades of experience in somatic therapy and integrative counselling, I am still often surprised by how many people believe they have a mental health issue without recognising the interconnectedness between the mental, physical, energetic, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of their being. At our core, our natural state is one of health and vitality, and part of my role is to support individuals in identifying and releasing the forms of resistance that may be impeding this innate flow.
A growing body of research and writing suggests that depression is better understood as a whole-person experience. Authors such as Dr Julie Smith, Johann Hari, Edward Bullmore, and others mentioned below have all contributed valuable insights that expand the conversation beyond the traditional mental health framework.
The Mental – Everything Is Connected
Psychologist Dr Julie Smith, in her book Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?, emphasises a simple but powerful truth, that our minds are deeply influenced by our environments, bodies, and daily habits.
Mood isn’t generated in isolation but emerges from an interaction between:
- our nervous system
- our physical health
- our relationships
- our sense of purpose
- the environments we live in
She highlights specific everyday factors that strongly influence mood but are often overlooked. These include:
- sleep disruption
- chronic stress
- poor nutrition
- lack of physical movement
- isolation or lack of social support
- unresolved trauma
- excessive digital stimulation
- unhelpful thinking patterns
Another important element to consider is the pace and structure of contemporary life. Many people today face:
- constant digital stimulation
- financial pressures
- social comparison through social media
- reduced downtime and reflection
- fragmented attention
When several of these factors accumulate simultaneously, the nervous system may become overwhelmed, leading to symptoms that resemble depression. Importantly, this perspective shifts the conversation from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What might your system need right now?”
The Heart – Disconnection Seeking Connection
Journalist Johann Hari, in Lost Connections, argues that many forms of depression are rooted in disconnection, not simply in brain chemistry.
He identifies several types of disconnection that modern societies have intensified:
- Disconnection from Meaningful Work
Many people spend large portions of their lives in work that feels repetitive, controlled, or devoid of purpose. Humans evolved to create, contribute, and solve meaningful problems. When work feels empty or powerless, motivation and mood can suffer. - Disconnection from Other People
Loneliness has become increasingly common. Social isolation activates the brain’s threat systems and can significantly affect emotional wellbeing. Humans are fundamentally social creatures; relationships are not optional luxuries but biological needs. - Disconnection from Values
Modern culture often pushes external success markers — status, money, appearance — over intrinsic values like community, creativity, and growth. Research consistently shows that intrinsic values are far more protective for wellbeing. - Disconnection from Nature
Many people now spend the majority of their lives indoors, under artificial light, surrounded by screens. Time in natural environments has measurable benefits for stress regulation, mood, and cognitive functioning. - Disconnection from Community
Strong communities provide support, belonging, and shared identity. Without them, individuals are left to navigate life’s challenges largely alone.
From this perspective, depression may sometimes arise not because something is wrong within us, but because something is wrong around us.
The Body – Inflamed body = Inflamed Mind
Psychiatrist Edward Bullmore, in The Inflamed Mind, highlights another important dimension: the biological link between physical inflammation and mood.
Inflammation is the body’s natural immune response to threat or injury. But when inflammation becomes chronic, through lifestyle or environmental factors, it can affect the brain.
Research suggests that inflammatory chemicals can influence:
- motivation
- energy levels
- mood regulation
- cognitive clarity
In other words, the brain can become biologically primed for low mood.
Several factors in modern life are known to contribute to systemic inflammation:
- Poor diet: highly processed foods, excessive sugar, and nutrient deficiencies can disrupt gut health and inflammatory pathways.
- Sleep disruption: chronic sleep deprivation alters stress hormones and immune responses.
- Chronic stress: long-term stress activates inflammatory processes and keeps the nervous system in a heightened state of alert.
- Sedentary lifestyles: regular movement has anti-inflammatory effects, while inactivity can worsen inflammatory markers.
- Environmental toxins: pollution, chemical exposure, and other environmental stressors can also contribute to inflammatory load.
When viewed through this lens, the mind and body are clearly intertwined. Emotional distress cannot always be separated from physical wellbeing.
The Emotions – Messengers
Some clinicians suggest that depression may also occur when core emotional experiences remain unprocessed.
Psychotherapist Hilary Jacobs Hendel, author of It’s Not Always Depression, proposes that many depressive states arise when primary emotions such as:
- sadness
- anger
- fear
- grief
- joy
- excitement
are repeatedly suppressed or avoided.
Over time, the nervous system may shut down into a protective state characterised by:
- numbness
- lethargy
- hopelessness
- emotional flatness
From this lens, depression can be understood as a protective strategy of the nervous system, attempting to shield us from emotions that once felt overwhelming or unsafe to experience.
The Energetic & Environmental – We Are Electromagnetic Beings
Beyond psychological, biological, and emotional influences, researchers and clinicians have explored how modern electromagnetic environments can also influence human physiology.
Books such as:
- The Body Electric by Robert O. Becker and Gary Selden
- Overpowered by Martin Blank
- Disconnect by Devra Davis
- The Invisible Rainbow by Arthur Firstenberg
- Electric Body, Electric Health by Eileen McKusick
- The Non‑Tinfoil Guide to EMFs by Nicolas Pineault
discuss how electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by modern technology interact with biological systems & ways to minimise and counter their effects.
While research in this area is still evolving, commonly discussed environmental influences include:
- chronic exposure to wireless radiation (Wi-Fi, mobile phones)
- proximity to high-voltage electrical infrastructure
- electromagnetic noise in dense urban environments
- geopathic stress from certain geological conditions
- highly artificial indoor environments with minimal natural signals
These authors suggest that the human body, which is an electrically active system, responds to such influences in subtle ways that affect sleep, nervous system regulation, and overall wellbeing.
Practical Approaches to Restore Balance
From experience in my somatic therapy and integrative counselling practice – offering in-person sessions across the northern rivers, Palm Beach and the Gold Coast, and online worldwide – what people are actually seeking is relief.
Holistic approaches to depression often focus on restoring coherence across the whole system rather than addressing symptoms in isolation. Again, such reflections are never medical advice (see a medical doctor for that), they are simply pointers for you to consider researching and exploring further. Knowledge is power.
Strategies commonly discussed across the literature include:
Environmental Adjustments
- using wired internet (ethernet cable) instead of constant Wi-Fi exposure
- turning off routers and devices at night at the wall socket
- keeping distance between sleeping areas and electronic devices
- spending more time in nature
- filtered water
- natural cleaning products (online videos to make your own)
Nervous System Regulation
- breathwork
- meditation
- mindfulness
- spinal energetics
- red light therapy, infra-red saunas
- internal martial arts (Qigong and Tai Chi)
- eye exercises (Jacob Liberman)
- somatic awareness practices
- trauma-informed therapies
Lifestyle Foundations
- consistent sleep cycles (circadian rhythm)
- daily exposure to sunlight
- regular movement practices
- nourishing food
- meaningful social connection
- choose one new thing to learn (ideally in a social or community group)
Energetic Coherence
Practices sometimes recommended include:
- grounding or earthing (direct contact with the earth)
- tissue/cell salts
- spending time in forests, oceans, or mountains
- sound-based therapies and coherent frequencies
- reducing artificial stimulation before sleep (including lighting, screen time)
- reducing/removing LEDs and using incandescent bulbs where possible (Jacob Liberman – Light as Medicine)
While not every approach works for everyone, many individuals find that improving these foundational conditions gradually restores energy, clarity, and emotional resilience.
Final Thoughts – A Different Way of Understanding Depression
If depression is viewed solely as a disorder inside the brain, the solution becomes narrow. But if depression is understood as a signal arising from multiple layers of life, instead of asking, “What is wrong with me?”, a different set of questions emerges:
- What emotional experiences have been suppressed?
- What do I not want to feel?
- What forms of connection are missing?
- What stressors are overwhelming the nervous system?
- What environmental conditions might be affecting the body?
- What deeper needs are asking to be acknowledged?
In many cases, depression can then be seen not as an enemy to defeat but a messenger asking us to look at:
- relationships
- purpose and meaning
- physical health
- lifestyle choices
- social and environmental conditions
and change something about how we are living. When that message is listened to with curiosity and compassion, it can become the beginning of a deeper process of reconnection to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.
Somatic Therapy
My in-person and online work in somatic therapy, integrative counselling, and trauma resolution supports individuals and couples to restore balance, gently unwind survival patterns, and experience greater freedom, joy, aliveness, and connection in their lives.
To arrange an initial consultation to explore how I can best support you.
Book here: [introductory call] or [schedule a session].