Recently I had the opportunity to read Madness a Philosophical Exploration by Justin Garson and it caused me to as some really interesting and mind expanding questions. When you think about anxiety or depression, what comes to mind? For years, the dominant narrative was that mental health struggles stem from chemical imbalances in the brain. It’s a straightforward story: something’s broken, so we fix it with medication. But what if there’s more to it? What if anxiety, depression, and even self-criticism are less about something being “wrong” with you and more about your brain’s way of adapting to the world?
According to Garson that’s where evolutionary biology comes in, offering a perspective that’s equal parts enlightening and compassionate.
Your Brain: An Adaptation Machine
Let’s rewind for a second. Imagine your brain as an adaptation machine, constantly learning and responding to your environment. Growing up, you faced challenges—maybe unpredictability, stress, or even trauma—and your brain found ways to help you survive those moments. It developed patterns and responses that worked at the time. Anxiety might have kept you alert in chaotic situations. Self-criticism might have shielded you from external judgment. These responses were functional. They helped you get through.
Fast forward to today. You’re in a different environment, but your brain is still running those old survival programs. Anxiety and depression, which once served as adaptive responses, can feel like they’ve overstayed their welcome. They show up, uninvited, even when they’re no longer useful.
The Fever Analogy
Here’s a way to think about it: anxiety and depression are like a fever. A fever isn’t the problem itself—it’s your body’s way of signaling that something’s off and trying to fix it. Similarly, mental health struggles are signals. They’re your mind’s way of saying, “Hey, something here isn’t working.” The trouble is, these signals can become overwhelming, and instead of addressing the underlying issue, we get stuck trying to treat the symptoms.
Rethinking the Problem
The big takeaway here? You’re not broken. Your brain isn’t malfunctioning. It’s doing exactly what it was designed to do—adapt and respond. But now, the challenge is to help your brain update its playbook. To recognize that the tools it used to survive the past might not be the ones you need to thrive in the present.
Moving Forward with Compassion
So, what do you do with this information? Start by shifting your mindset. Instead of seeing anxiety or depression as enemies to fight, try viewing them as messengers. Ask yourself: What is my mind trying to protect me from? What need isn’t being met?
Once you identify the message, you can start exploring new ways to respond—ways that align with where you are now, not where you were back then. It’s not about erasing those old patterns; it’s about creating new ones that serve you better.
The Bottom Line
Your mental health story isn’t about being broken—it’s about adaptation. It’s about understanding the patterns your brain created to keep you safe and choosing, with compassion, to rewrite the narrative. Because you deserve to move forward, not just survive.
So, the next time anxiety or depression shows up, pause. Take a breath. Remember, it’s not the villain of your story—it’s a clue, a breadcrumb on the path to something better.