Therapy for Depression
“Still, like air, I rise”
Maya Angelou
Depression is more than an occasional feeling of sadness. It is a more persistent lack of energy, a loss of joy and connection with yourself and others. If you are experiencing depression, you are most likely feeling worthless, guilty and deeply lonely. Most days feel like a struggle and even menial, everyday tasks may feel utterly overwhelming.
Depression harms our ability to relate to others, makes us wish we were invisible. It can leave you with a numb emptiness that you can’t seem to ‘snap out of’. Whether it’s been set off by a large life event, a series of setbacks, or a constant weight at the back of your mind, depression can be a hard cycle to break.
As there is no clear cause for depression, it can be difficult to identify the initial trigger. Therapy can help you map out when your depression started, what made you vulnerable to it and what were the potential life patterns that perpetuate a feeling of stuck-ness.
Common Symptoms of Depression
Depression can vary in terms of the severity, duration and frequency of symptoms. There are three key levels of depression- mild, moderate and severe. While the symptoms manifest themselves in different ways across individuals, generally depression involves the following:
Apathy, hopelessness and loss of energy.
A markedly reduced ability to experience any pleasure
Feeling `empty’ or numb
Increased feelings of anger, irritability, anxiety, shame, envy and guilt
Difficulty maintaining attention and concentration
Reduced memory
Rumination on negative ideas
Withdrawal from social activities
Sleeping issues such as waking up too early or sleeping too lightly
Loss of appetite or a significant change in body weight
Loss of interest in sex
Causes of Depression
Contributing factors of depression are often complex, so it’s difficult to pinpoint a single ‘cause’ of depression. Life events can be a major influence on the way depression develops and takes hold. Experiences like relationship breakdowns, grief and loss, work stress, financial instability and health concerns, can create significant pressure. Even ‘positive events’ can produce unexpected stress and a feeling of being overwhelmed, such as relocating, having a new child, a change in financial responsibility with accrued wealth, taking on a more senior role at work, or completing important health treatment or surgery.
Current science behind depression shows that neurological factors can affect our brain chemistry in ways that trigger and maintain depression.We also know that depression is linked to prolonged, increased activity in our ‘stress response system’, especially when it goes into overdrive. Many people with depression have elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which has a ‘wear and tear’ affect on the mind and body.
Going even deeper, initial vulnerability to depression can come from genetic history (eg. when depression has run in the family), and early childhood trauma, neglect or instability. Growing up in environments where our core childhood needs were not met can increase our vulnerability to depression later in life.
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy can help provide structure to your life and the tools to develop your sense of hope, vibrancy, aliveness and connection.
Most of all, therapy will give you the opportunity to feel heard and understood without judgment. With warmth and curiosity, I will guide you towards recognising the routines, behaviours and values that will guide you personally towards greater wellbeing.
Therapy with me will involve:
Exploring the initial catalyst for your depression and the key triggers along the way
Focussing on the thoughts, behaviours and mental distortions that are common to depression and keep people feeling overwhelmed and stuck
Exploring your relationship to difficult emotions and painful experiences (eg. How do you usually respond to discomfort and sadness? Are you having a constant tug-of-war with yourself to perform success/happiness/stoicism?)
Exploring your past development, family and earlier life experiences to understand the context in which your coping styles and mental habits may have developed
Experimenting with practical tasks that will help you reassess self-defeating beliefs and experiment with new ways of being
Therapy for depression may also involve treatment with medication. If this is an option you are considering, we can discuss the advantages and disadvantages, including the way medication may influence your depression. If suitable, I will help you access medical treatment through referral to a GP or psychiatrist.
Throughout your therapy journey, you will rediscover your values, strengths, resources, and learn new strategies to keep you on track to recovery.