Can isolating ourselves from everyone and lying in bed all day actually be keeping us safe?
Infection hypothesis has two parts to explain.One is withdraw from peers helps to stay away from any disease or infections going around while the other reason states depression helps strengthen our immune system.
Staying away keeps the doctor away.
It is thought that having a depressed state of mind and the desire to be alone is actually beneficial to our immune system. This is because depression and anxiety causes us to withdraw from relationships and our peers leading us to avoid whatever sickness may be going around. The infection hypothesis states that a depressed mental state forces us to rest up and therefore our body has a longer state of rest (by sleeping a lot more than we should be). By sleeping more than non-depressed people, we are saving more energy than usual which will be used at a later date when needed to fight an infection.
Trains immune system for a fight
Although depression may lower our immune system, the infection hypothesis states that because depression lowers our immune system and we catch colds easier when we are around people, it allows our body to be able to fight harsher infections when the time comes. This is also due to the body trying to fight off depression and in doing so is strengthening itself for harsher diseases such as the flu. Similar to how vaccines are the disease in a weaker form so your immune system can fight it. Depression also triggers the immune system to be ready to fight because the body is under constant stress, so the immune system is already "suited up and ready to go" when we possibly are in an environment where we can catch the flu or a cold.
NPY gene
An interesting study written by Brian Gabriel, is that people who have the gene NPY which is responsible for having a stronger immune system, have more response to stress and lower anxiety. Also, they were more likely to experience depression and anxiety throughout their lifetime.
Our minds keep us safe.
Our minds and bodies are very useful, especially when trying to keep us alive and although sometimes it seems like we just want to be happy, sometimes being sad can keep us alive. Lets listen to our bodies and minds instead of fighting against ourselves.
Staying away keeps the doctor away.
It is thought that having a depressed state of mind and the desire to be alone is actually beneficial to our immune system. This is because depression and anxiety causes us to withdraw from relationships and our peers leading us to avoid whatever sickness may be going around. The infection hypothesis states that a depressed mental state forces us to rest up and therefore our body has a longer state of rest (by sleeping a lot more than we should be). By sleeping more than non-depressed people, we are saving more energy than usual which will be used at a later date when needed to fight an infection.
Trains immune system for a fight
Although depression may lower our immune system, the infection hypothesis states that because depression lowers our immune system and we catch colds easier when we are around people, it allows our body to be able to fight harsher infections when the time comes. This is also due to the body trying to fight off depression and in doing so is strengthening itself for harsher diseases such as the flu. Similar to how vaccines are the disease in a weaker form so your immune system can fight it. Depression also triggers the immune system to be ready to fight because the body is under constant stress, so the immune system is already "suited up and ready to go" when we possibly are in an environment where we can catch the flu or a cold.
NPY gene
An interesting study written by Brian Gabriel, is that people who have the gene NPY which is responsible for having a stronger immune system, have more response to stress and lower anxiety. Also, they were more likely to experience depression and anxiety throughout their lifetime.
Our minds keep us safe.
Our minds and bodies are very useful, especially when trying to keep us alive and although sometimes it seems like we just want to be happy, sometimes being sad can keep us alive. Lets listen to our bodies and minds instead of fighting against ourselves.
References
Wikipedia Contributors. "Evolutionary approaches to depression." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Jan. 2018. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_approaches_to_depression#Prevention_of_infection>
ScienceDaily. "Depression: An evolutionary byproduct of immune system?." ScienceDaily. 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120301103756.htm>
Gabriel, B. "The Evolutionary Advantage of Depression." The Atlantic. n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/10/the-evolutionary-advantage-of-depression/263124/>
Shin, J. "Depression as an evolutionary strategy for defense against infection | Evolutionary Medicine." Scholarblogs.emory.edu. 26 Apr. 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/evolutionarymedicine/2014/04/26/depression-as-an-evolutionary-strategy-for-defense-against-infection/>
Orszulok, A. "Depression: an evolutionary by-product of the immune system | Science Illustrated." Scienceillustrated.com.au. n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <http://scienceillustrated.com.au/blog/science/depression-an-evolutionary-by-product-of-the-immune-system/>
Wikipedia Contributors. "Evolutionary approaches to depression." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 27 Jan. 2018. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_approaches_to_depression#Prevention_of_infection>
ScienceDaily. "Depression: An evolutionary byproduct of immune system?." ScienceDaily. 12 Mar. 2012. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120301103756.htm>
Gabriel, B. "The Evolutionary Advantage of Depression." The Atlantic. n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/10/the-evolutionary-advantage-of-depression/263124/>
Shin, J. "Depression as an evolutionary strategy for defense against infection | Evolutionary Medicine." Scholarblogs.emory.edu. 26 Apr. 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/evolutionarymedicine/2014/04/26/depression-as-an-evolutionary-strategy-for-defense-against-infection/>
Orszulok, A. "Depression: an evolutionary by-product of the immune system | Science Illustrated." Scienceillustrated.com.au. n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2018. <http://scienceillustrated.com.au/blog/science/depression-an-evolutionary-by-product-of-the-immune-system/>