New research shows us better ways to think about — and care for — our mental health.
What if depression isn’t just a disorder — but the brain’s way of helping us solve life’s toughest challenges?
As solopreneurs, we often juggle multiple roles — creator, strategist, accountant, marketer — and that mental load can take a toll. It’s easy to feel drained, detached, or discouraged when things don’t go as planned. But new psychological research is challenging how we understand those feelings, offering a more compassionate and constructive lens.
Two recent breakthroughs — one reframing depression as an adaptive process and another redefining self-esteem as a social gauge — are transforming how psychologists approach mental health.
Here’s what the science says — and how these insights can help you strengthen your emotional resilience as a solopreneur.
💡 Quick Takeaway:
- Depression may be a rational response to unresolved challenges, not just a chemical imbalance.
- Self-esteem acts as a gauge of social belonging, not a static personality trait.
- Therapy helps you process and grow through emotional lows, not just numb them.
Is Depression an Adaptive Response to Life’s Challenges?
In order to effectively treat depression, we must first understand it — and a recent review paper published in Cognitive Therapy and Research makes significant strides in clarifying our understanding of nonpsychotic depression.
According to the authors, depression is an ‘evolved’ response to help people find answers to complicated social problems. In other words, it is an adaptive phenomenon — one that kept our ancestors ‘safe’ by ruminating about complex social problems until they arrived at a solution.
They view this to be the case because of evidence suggesting:
- People are more likely to engage in causal analysis and deep thinking when they are depressed
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Depression-like symptoms such as lassitude and the loss of interest in hedonic pursuits serve as the body’s way of redirecting energy to the brain to solve important problems
The authors state, “In melancholia, energy flows to the cortex and makes it resistant to distraction, presumably to keep the individual focused on the problem at hand (ruminating) until he or she arrives at a solution.”
What are the implications of this reconceptualization of depression? For one, it suggests that numbing people from feeling the pain of depression by prescribing antidepressants may actually do more harm than good. This is because it prevents people from engaging in the deep thinking necessary to pull them out of the depressive state.
Second, it sings the praises of therapy as the first line of defense in the treatment of depression. The researchers cite studies showing that therapeutic approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have been shown to speed up recovery time and protect people from relapsing into a depressive cycle. While therapy may not dull the pain of the depression per se, it is a true treatment for depression, not a mollification.
“Depression is the most prevalent of the psychiatric disorders and the second leading cause of burden worldwide,” say the researchers. “Cognitive therapy is the most extensively tested of the psychosocial interventions and has been found to be as efficacious as and more enduring than antidepressant medications.”
💡 Learn how self-doubt affects confidence in entrepreneurship. Read “How Freelancers Can Overcome Impostor Syndrome and Build Confidence”.
What Is Sociometer Theory — and How Does It Redefine Self-Esteem?
Psychologist Mark Leary of Duke University has spent his career studying social acceptance and belonging. One of his key contributions has been shifting people’s understanding of self-esteem to view it less as an ‘entity’ and more as a psychological ‘meter’ or ‘gauge.’ In a recent interview with Mark, he expanded on this illuminating idea:
“As we studied reactions to acceptance and rejection, we found that rejection consistently lowered people's self-esteem — how they felt about themselves at the moment.
Changes in self-esteem were so strongly and consistently associated with rejection that we concluded that self-esteem is part of the psychological system that monitors and responds to social feedback.
We proposed a new theory, sociometer theory, that suggested that self-esteem is a subjective gauge of interpersonal acceptance and rejection, an internal reflection of others' feelings about the person.
Not only does self-esteem reflect people's perceptions of the degree to which they have relational value to others, but increases and decreases in self-esteem may calibrate people's interpersonal aspirations. Acceptance increases self-esteem, emboldening people to be more socially confident, whereas rejection lowers self-esteem, leading people to be more socially cautious.
Taking this idea one step further suggests that, contrary to the popular view, people don’t need to seek self-esteem for its own sake. Rather, people are motivated to behave in ways that increase acceptance and avoid rejection, and those behaviors are precisely those that raise self-esteem.”
In other words, think of self-esteem as a weather report. If you want to get rid of the clouds and rain, do things that bolster your sense of belonging and strengthen your interpersonal relationships.
💡 Explore more on mental well-being and productivity. Read “Top Productivity Tips for Freelancers”.
Depression isn’t always a malfunction — sometimes, it’s a signal. It can be your mind’s way of slowing down, redirecting energy, and helping you face unresolved challenges with clarity and care.
Likewise, self-esteem isn’t something you “have” or “don’t have.” It’s a living gauge that reflects your social world — rising when you feel accepted and dipping when you feel disconnected.
For solopreneurs, learning to read these signals with curiosity instead of judgment can transform your mental well-being. Start with therapy before medication, nurture your relationships, and remember that growth often begins in moments of reflection.
🧘 Build a business that supports your mental well-being. See how Xolo helps freelancers simplify their work-life balance.
💬 FAQ: Rethinking Depression and Self-Esteem
Q1: Is depression always a sign of illness?
Not necessarily. Research suggests that certain forms of depression may be an adaptive response — a mental process that helps us reflect deeply and solve complex social problems.
Q2: Should therapy or medication come first when treating depression?
Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is often recommended as the first line of treatment. Unlike medication, which can mask symptoms, therapy helps uncover and resolve the root causes.
Q3: What is Sociometer Theory in psychology?
Developed by psychologist Mark Leary, Sociometer Theory suggests that self-esteem acts as an internal gauge of how accepted or rejected we feel by others — much like a social “feedback system.”
Q4: How can I improve my self-esteem based on this theory?
Focus on connection rather than validation. Strengthen relationships that make you feel valued, and let go of social comparisons or opinions that drain your energy.
Q5: Why is this research important for freelancers and entrepreneurs?
Because our mental health directly affects creativity, motivation, and business success. Understanding these insights helps Xolopreneurs manage stress, avoid burnout, and cultivate emotional resilience.
About Mark
Mark Travers, Ph.D., is an American Psychologist with degrees from Cornell University and the University of Colorado Boulder. Xolo helps him run his online therapy practice, www.awake-therapy.me, from whatever part of the world he is currently living in.