The Chemical Imbalance Myth Has Been Debunked

Why Systemic Therapy Works

Systemic therapy looks at people in context. Instead of focusing only on symptoms inside one person, it asks how relationships, family patterns, and stressors play a role. This is why therapy that involves couples and families is often so effective for anxiety and depression.

The Benefits of Couples Therapy

Couples therapy is one of the best ways to address anxiety and depression because it works directly with the system you live in every day—your relationship.

Here is what couples therapy can do:

• Reduce anxiety through connection. A secure, supportive relationship calms the nervous system and helps both partners regulate emotions.

• Break negative cycles. Many couples fall into patterns of avoidance, criticism, or withdrawal that make symptoms worse. Therapy helps identify and change these cycles.

• Build resilience together. When couples learn communication and emotional regulation skills, they become better equipped to handle stress, which improves both the relationship and each partner’s mental health.

A Better Path Forward

You are not broken by bad brain chemistry. Anxiety and depression are real, but they are not the result of a simple chemical imbalance. They are best understood through the lens of your biology, your life experiences, and your relationships.

Couples therapy and systemic therapy give you tools that medication alone cannot provide: emotional regulation, communication skills, and the ability to strengthen your most important relationship.

Learn More

If you want to explore this further, here are three excellent, easy-to-read resources:

1. Harvard Health Publishing: What causes depression? (2022)
   health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression

2. Psychology Today: Depression Is Not Caused by Chemical Imbalance in the Brain (2022)
   psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-therapy/202207/depression-is-not-caused-chemical-imbalance-in-the-brain

3. Quanta Magazine: The Cause of Depression Is Probably Not What You Think (2023)
   quantamagazine.org/the-cause-of-depression-is-probably-not-what-you-think-20230126