Depression

Depression is more like an implosion of self.

Life is full of experiences, both good and bad. It’s normal – even expected – to feel unhappy and sad sometimes. However, depression is much more complex, nuanced, and dark than unhappiness.

You’ve lost your zest for life or have minimal energy to engage in the activities that make you happy.

Your life might feel meaningless or devoid of purpose.

Perhaps you feel out of sync with those around you and disconnected from your most important relationships.

On the outside, depression may look like malingering, a bad temper, or extreme behavior. But on the inside, someone with depression feels raw and numb – like a half-living ghost.

There are many events that cause heightened stress and depression.

Maybe you’ve experienced the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or loss of a job.

Sometimes we’re depressed due to uncertainty or confusion about our future. You may say to yourself, “Where do I want to go, who do I want to be, and what are my next steps?”

Depression can result from regular reminiscing and re-experiencing an awful, traumatic event, like the car accident that occurred last year.

Maybe depression runs in your family, and you have a genetic predisposition for experiencing it yourself.

Or you might have no idea at all why you feel this way.

Unfortunately, depression can go from bad to worse.

Some people find a way to carry on and move past depressive symptoms. But for many, the overwhelming pain does not go away and the persistent feelings intensify over time.

What was once challenging feels overwhelming;

what was once sad feels unbearable;

what was once tolerable now feels completely joyless.

Maybe you’re at your wits’ end, feeling as though you’ve tried everything. Maybe you’re already taking an antidepressant or you’ve already seen a therapist (or multiple therapists) in the past.

Yet you continue to experience unbearable and overwhelming feelings of depression:
grief, sadness, confusion, shame, anger, and loneliness.

Depression can feel very isolating.

It seems like no one really understands… no matter how hard you try to explain it. You may find yourself isolating from those around you.

Other symptoms of depression can further contribute to loneliness. When you’re depressed, you may feel confused and forgetful, sleep more or less than usual, struggle to find motivation, over- or under-eat, have minimal desire to engage in hygiene, and become easily agitated with others.

Your friends and family care, but they have no idea how to help you. Sometimes they even seem frustrated with you for “not being able to pull it together.”

So, you go through your days… alone… with a hurting body, an aching heart, and an anxious mind… dreading your future.