Mental Health Is Your Natural State—What’s Really Causing Depression and Anxiety?
When we think about mental health, we often think of it as something that has to be actively cultivated. And why shouldn’t we; There are countless methods, routines, courses, books and videos made about improving your mental health. Usually the emphasis is on fixing it.
But the whole premise in fixing mental health is upside down. We need to start thinking about health, be it mental, physical or spiritual, as the baseline.
The definition of health is that it’s the normal, natural state.
We lose our health when there are disruptions to this natural state. Often these disruptions are external.
Therefore, if health is a natural state and being unhealthy is a disruption of normal function, then mental health isn’t something we need to constantly chase or “achieve.”
Instead, it should be our default state, naturally emerging when nothing interferes with it.
If we apply this to mental health, it suggests that mental health issues arise not because something is inherently wrong within us, but because external factors disrupt our natural mental state.
Key Takeaways
- Mental health is a natural state: Just like physical health, mental health is our default state, and disruptions to it are often caused by external factors like stress, trauma, or disconnection.
- Depression and anxiety are signals: Instead of being seen as issues to “fix,” these emotional states are signals that something in our environment or life needs to change—such as reconnecting with purpose, people, or nature.
- Chasing mental health can backfire: Constantly pursuing mental well-being can reinforce the belief that we are lacking something. A better approach is to remove the external stressors or disconnections that block our natural state of mental health.
Mental Health as a Natural State
To make idea easier to understand, think about physical health:
when your body is functioning normally, you don’t have to “work” to be healthy—you simply are.
Sure, you might support your health by eating well and exercising, but your body wants to function properly; It’s designed to do so.
Being healthy is your birthright. This applies to all of your facets: your physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Children, for example, don’t wake up every day asking themselves how to maintain their mental well-being. They naturally experience joy, curiosity, and emotional balance—unless something disrupts it.
Depression Isn’t Just Sadness — It’s also a Signal
Another point to consider is that what we perceive as symptoms of physical or mental illness are not merely symptoms, but signals.
For example, when we experience physical pain, that is a signal from our body that something is wrong or is going wrong. Pain is meant to protect us from harming our bodies.
The most common example is the pain we experience if we place our hand on a hot surface. The pain we experience quickly signals us to pull our hand away, thereby protecting us from harming our body further.
The same can be applied to mental health, or let’s say mental pain. We often think of depression just as emotions like grief and anger as problems to fix.
But emotions are actually guides, helping us navigate away from pain. Grief, for example, helps us to let go, even when we don’t want to. Similarly, anger helps us set boundaries and say, “That’s enough” when we otherwise can’t.
Depression: A Signal for Change
Depression, while not exactly an emotion, acts in a similar fashion to emotions; It’s a signal.
It’s not simply sadness but a persistent message that something in our life needs attention.
Instead of suppressing it, we should listen closely to what it’s trying to tell us. It’s of course more complex than feeling physical pain, but it can be thought of in the same way as a signal to move away from something that’s causing us pain.
Unlike emotions, depression isn’t just a passing state—it’s a persistent signal that something in life needs attention.
It’s often a response to disconnection, unmet needs, or prolonged grief, stress and anxiety.
Just like grief, anger, and other emotions help us navigate difficult moments, depression can guide us toward necessary change—whether that means reconnecting, shifting priorities, or addressing underlying struggles.
Why Chasing Mental Health Can Backfire
When we frame mental health as something we must actively “pursue”, it implies that we are inherently lacking it.
This can create a paradox: the more we chase after it, the more we reinforce the belief that we don’t already have it.
It’s a trap to avoid. We experience something called belief-dependent realism, where our mind actively focuses on what we believe to be true.
If we fixate on the idea that our mental health is broken and needs fixing, our mind continuously searches for evidence to confirm that belief. The result is that we remain stuck in a cycle of feeling like something is wrong, even when nothing is.
Furthermore, constantly monitoring our mental state, overanalyzing emotions, or following rigid self-care routines can sometimes increase stress rather than relieve it.
When every thought or mood shift is scrutinized, it can create pressure to “feel good” all the time—an impossible standard. This vigilance can turn natural ups and downs into sources of anxiety, making us feel even further from the mental well-being we seek.
It makes otherwise beneficial mental health routines feel like chores, that instead of relieving emotional pain create more stress and anxiety.
Instead of chasing mental health, what if we removed what’s blocking it?
Just like physical health, our natural mental state is one of balance. When we stop seeing ourselves as “broken” and instead focus on reconnecting with meaning, security, and what naturally supports well-being, mental health isn’t something we need to force—it emerges naturally.
The Key Causes of Depression
We’re used to thinking of depression as an imbalance in brain chemistry, or otherwise as something “breaking” in our neural processes.
But depression is far more complex than that.
For me, depression was caused by not allowing myself to feel grief for the loss of my brother. I held it in, burying my feelings or avoiding them by distracting myself with everything else: Work, partying, travelling, etc.
Not dealing with our emotions in a healthy way (by allowing them to be expressed the way they naturally would) is one cause of depression.
Others are explained in an eye-opening way by Johann Hari. I’ll link his TED talk here. Hari’s work captures what we’re exploring in this post, that depression isn’t just a chemical imbalance; it’s a signal that something deeper is missing.
In his book, Lost Connections, he uncovers how a lack of meaning and security in our lives can lead to persistent sadness, exhaustion, and hopelessness.
When we feel disconnected from purpose, community, and stability, our minds and bodies respond with distress.
Depression Isn’t About Brain Chemistry
Johann Hari challenges the mainstream belief that depression is purely caused by a serotonin imbalance. He presents research showing that external factors—like social isolation, stress, and lack of meaning—play a much bigger role than we’ve been led to believe.
Just like a virus, toxins, or malnutrition can disrupt physical health, mental health can be thrown off balance by:
- Chronic stress from work, financial struggles, or social pressure.
- Social isolation or lack of deep, meaningful connections.
- Excessive stimulation from social media, news, and modern fast-paced living.
- Unresolved trauma from past experiences.
- Cultural narratives that tell us we’re never enough or always lacking.
These influences can create anxiety, depression, and other struggles—not because our minds are broken, but because something external has thrown us off balance.
Trauma, stress, isolation, and societal pressures can knock us out of alignment, but our baseline is wholeness.
Causes of Depression & Anxiety
Hari identifies nine key disconnections that contribute to depression:
- Disconnection from Meaningful Work – Many people feel unfulfilled in jobs that lack purpose or autonomy.
- Disconnection from Other People – Loneliness and social isolation weaken our mental health.
- Disconnection from Meaningful Values – Society pushes materialism and superficial success over deeper fulfillment.
- Disconnection from Childhood Trauma – Unresolved past trauma continues to shape adult mental health.
- Disconnection from Status & Respect – Feeling undervalued or powerless in society can fuel depression.
- Disconnection from Nature – Modern life isolates us from the natural world, which is vital for well-being.
- Disconnection from a Secure Future – Economic instability and uncertainty cause chronic stress.
- The Role of Genetics & Brain Changes – While biology plays a role, it doesn’t explain the epidemic of depression.
- The Role of Real Trauma in Our Lives – External crises, such as loss or financial struggles, often lead to depression.
Lost Connections reframes depression as a signal, not a malfunction. It’s not about a “broken brain” but about a broken environment. Hari suggests that the best way to heal is not just through medication but by restoring the lost connections that naturally support our well-being.
This further supports the idea about mental health being a natural state of being.
Restoring vs. Forcing Mental Health
So with all that being said, how do we use this idea of mental health as a natural state to improve our mental well-being?
Well, instead of thinking of mental health as something to be built from scratch, a better approach is to remove what blocks it:
- Reduce stress and stressors instead of trying to force relaxation.
- Address fears and griefs rather than trying to fake positivity.
- Reconnect with people instead of convincing yourself you’re happy alone (it’s a basic human need to be connected no matter how introverted you think you are).
- Let go of external expectations about how happiness should look, and reconnect with your innate happiness.
When you stop trying so hard to be mentally healthy and instead focus on undoing what’s unnatural, well-being starts to resurface on its own.
Just like a wound heals once the irritation is removed or a broken bone grows back together naturally, your body and mind have all the mechanisms needed to return to their normal state: Being healthy and happy.
Reconnecting with ourselves
Hari argues that instead of just relying on medication, we need to rebuild connections in our lives:
- Strengthen relationships – Deep social bonds are crucial for mental health.
- Find purpose in work – Work that aligns with personal values improves well-being.
- Reconnect with nature – Time outdoors reduces stress and boosts happiness.
- Prioritize community over individualism – Strong communities protect against depression.
- Shift societal values – Moving away from materialism and toward meaning can help people feel fulfilled.
But the most important connection of all is the one we have with ourselves.
We have lost connection with who we truly are deep inside and who we wish to become.
We have given in to society’s expectations and chase goals set to us by others.
When we grow up, we lose (well, not lose, but bury) our childlike curiosity and daydreams, and conform to what is expected of us. Bluntly put, we drop our dreams for more “realistic” goals, often involving just making a big enough pay check to get by.
But we shouldn’t lose our hopes and dreams when we grow up. Meaning and purpose in life are some of the biggest drivers of mental health and happiness.
Turn inward and seek the answers there:
Who are you,
and more importantly,
who do you wish to become?
Conclusion: Mental Health Should Be the Baseline
Mental health is not something we need to chase or fix; it is a natural state that can be disrupted by external factors.
By reframing depression and anxiety not as inherent flaws but as signals guiding us to reconnect with what matters—meaning, security, and self-understanding—we can shift our approach to mental well-being.
Instead of forcing health, we can remove the blocks, reconnect with ourselves and others, and allow our natural state of well-being to emerge.
As Johann Hari suggests, it’s about rebuilding the lost connections that support our true, unbroken selves.
Disclaimer
The entire contents of this blog are based upon the opinions of the author. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The information in this blog is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care professional before trying any of the products or methods based on this content. I cannot guarantee that you will be free of stress, anxiety or depression, or that you will be happy. I simply want to share with you what I have discovered during my twenty years of seeking happiness and what has worked for me may not work for you.
