Depression

Sadness is a normal part of our human experience. When we become stuck in sadness for an extended amount of time, we call this depression. Depressive sadness may be accompanied by changes to sleep or eating patterns, shaming or negative self-talk, and loss of interest in activities that used to be joyful. We tend to beat ourselves up or feel excessive guilt while depressed, which further disconnects us from the people and activities that we love. 

I think of depression as similar to a fever. The symptoms themselves are clearly identifiable, yet they tell us little about the causes. Part of therapy work is to uncover what lies underneath your depression. For some, depression can be clearly traced to a significant negative event, life transition, or social isolation. For others, depression can emerge as a result of burnout, disillusionment, or moral injury. Some people are quite prone to depression and may experience it as part of a seasonal cycle without any clear cause. Hormones and brain chemistry are also important variables. Suffice it to say, depression is complex and treatment must be individually tailored to your unique set of circumstances. 

We tend to feel better when we make changes (even small ones!) to our internal and external worlds. Internally, we’ll work on relating to your problems in a new way, supporting more flexible thinking, and better coping with uncomfortable emotions. These internal changes help to usher in and reinforce external changes, like reconnecting with the types of people, play, and pleasure that bring meaning to our lives. 

If you are interested in mediation as a complement to therapeutic work, I will happily connect you with a trusted prescriber.