About Depression

About Depression… depression, depression, depression… We hear this word all the time it seems. Does this mean it has lost value? Have we become desensitised to the word ‘depression’, what does it really mean?

In the psychological sense, we can consider ‘depression’ in its simplest form as ‘depressed’ thoughts, as in keeping them hidden away, or thoughts and emotions that you cannot express for whatever reason. Maybe ‘repressed’ would be more apt? Often it is an inability to examine an area of your life, present or past, and say what needs saying… or experience what needs feeling!

Symptomatically, a sufferer may feel ‘low’; we all have ‘low’ days, and are what differentiates happy from less happy! However, when we feel ‘low’ or have other symptoms typical of depressed states for longer periods, we face a risk of holding on to these unhealthy thought patterns with a greater chance of re-occurrence. I would suggest that if any emotions are disturbing your normal level of daily balance in sleep, eating, relationships, or work, to name a few, then it is worth reflecting to consider if something needs your attention.

We continue regardless in mental and emotional turmoil, because we can! Yet, if we get a stomach ‘rumble’, injure ourselves physically, we are very quick to act; perhaps taking time off work and certainly telling others we hurt our … doing …

 

Wouldn’t it be something if we attended to our mental injuries as they arise with such ease!

 

Depression is often less than clear in how it presents to the sufferer and to others. The root causes and triggers may have come from recent or distant past and may have other contributory factors worth consideration such as physical and biological health, diet, relationships, work, and past events that may, or may not be understood or remembered!

Therapy, whether for minor irritations of our daily emotions and functions, or more significant disruption will vary from case to case, person to person and therapist to therapist. Some individuals will benefit from spending time unpacking and reflecting on the past, others will only benefit from a cursory examination of this area;  all however will benefit from learning to bring daily thought processes to the present, and with a little assistance this is really easy to learn, and practice.

However, one thing clear is this. If left, minor emotional disruption continuing for longer periods creates opportunity for further negative impacts on your emotional and physical health, your relationships, and your performance in all you do. Early intervention is paramount and this is about giving the sufferer the power to understand and manage more healthily, their own challenges, and creating an achievable strategy that is straightforward in reducing the effects of negative thoughts, now, and in the future. It is really a bit of skilful coaching, if you prefer!

 

We often fear anything we are unable to understand and this is natural. Society however has somehow contrived to encourage us to believe that seeking a trained professional helper to guide us through our challenge is in some way a ‘failing’!

 

We already know that if we have a physical ailment, we are accepting for the most part and feel able to get help and share what we are suffering with others. Now is the time, with stigma reducing to afford ourselves the skills and experience of a counsellor or therapist of your choosing to enlighten and educate you to be the best you can be.

Clear the emotional ‘junk’ and that which no longer serves you – so you can be ‘here’, living your life in this day as it is meant to be. When the time comes, doing anything other than the best for yourself in this life is much more likely to be seen (by you) as a failure, than gaining an understanding to be the best you can be. Work and family get to benefit too. How cool is that!

 

It’s our reactions, feelings and emotions to an event that hurts us, rather than the event itself!

 

About the author

Bob Brotchie is a counsellor, mindset consultant and creator of "Conscious Living by Design"™. He writes for Anglia Counselling, is featured on various other websites and introduces us to many guest writers all covering topics related to mental health and wellbeing.

Bob provides bespoke counselling services to individuals and couples in the privacy and comfort of a truly welcoming environment at his Anglia Counselling company office, located near Newmarket in Suffolk, England. Bob also provides professional online counselling, for local, national, and international clients. The therapeutic models offered are bespoke to the client’s needs, especially those in receipt of 'childhood emotional neglect' (CEN), whilst integrating a mindful approach to psychotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) principles. For clients experiencing trauma and/or phobia, Bob offers EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing).