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Episode 4022:

Ingrid Y. Helander explores how fear of returning depression can quietly intensify anxiety and emotional shutdown, especially during the summer when sadness feels harder to hide. Drawing from Polyvagal Theory and Internal Family Systems, she offers simple ways to shift your nervous system toward safety, connection, and emotional balance so you can move through difficult feelings with more confidence and self-compassion.

Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ingridyhelanderlmft.com/hack-your-nervous-system-to-prevent-summer-blues/

Quotes to ponder:

“Any energy (even fear) is actually a great way to move out of symptoms that feel depressing.”

“When you get overly anxious about becoming depressed and push those old feelings away, you are actually more likely to fall back into a depression.”

“Breathe and recognize that you shift up and down between these portions of your nervous system all the time every day.”

Episode references:

Internal Family Systems: https://ifs-institute.com/

Polyvagal Theory: https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/

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