Depression as a Shutdown State 

 

Polyvagal Theory sees depression as the body getting stuck in its deepest survival mode: shutdown. This isn't a sign of weakness but a natural biological response when stress or trauma becomes too overwhelming.

Think of it like your body's emergency power-saving mode. When you feel helpless or chronically unsafe, your system "powers down" to conserve energy.

When you're in this shutdown state, you might feel:

• Frozen or Stuck: Feeling numb, tired, and emotionally or physically immobilized.

• Low Energy: Your body slows everything down, including your heart rate and motivation.

• Disconnected: A sense of being detached from your own feelings, your body, and the people around you.

 

 

The Mind-Body Connection in Somatic Hypnotherapy

 

How Hypnotherapy Helps Break the Cycle of Negative Thinking hypnotherapy helps you reconnect with your body and move out of a "shutdown" state by focusing on the mind-body connection. Hypnotherapy vs Traditional Depression Treatments: What’s Different, Rather than just talking through emotions, this approach works with the physical sensations that are at the root of your feelings. Hypnosis Supports Emotional Wellbeing​.

It uses a combination of deep relaxation and focused awareness to guide your nervous system back to a state of balance. Here’s how it works:

• Calming the System: Hypnosis creates a deeply relaxed state, signaling to your nervous system that it’s safe to move out of a high-alert or frozen state.

• Releasing Trapped Energy: You're guided to safely notice and release the stuck survival energy that can keep your body in a state of shutdown.

• Updating the Subconscious: In this receptive state, you can introduce new, positive suggestions and imagery to help your body learn what it feels like to feel safe and connected.

Ultimately, somatic hypnotherapy teaches your nervous system that the threat has passed, allowing you to move beyond a protective shutdown and feel engaged in your life again.