(425) 646-8665Depression
Depression is a deep and lasting sadness, a sadness that seems to take on a life of its own. It is both psychological and biological. It is clear that some people are more biologically prone to depression than others. The psychological side of depression is tied to all of the emotionally important aspects of your life.
Even someone who is not all that prone to depression can get depressed during really difficult circumstances. In that case, therapy might focus on how to get through stressful times, how to adjust to new challenges, and perhaps how to deal with painful losses.
If depression comes back over and over, or if it is just under the surface all the time, then therapy will probably involve a deeper exploration of the workings of your life. Therapy for depression can cover a lot of territory, including these things:
- How you feel about the course of your life, the successes and failures, and whether you are on a path that will be deeply satisfying to you.
- How you feel about the relationships of your life, about love, closeness, and family, versus isolation or loneliness. Are there people in your life that give you a feeling of having a home?
- How you feel about yourself, and especially whether you feel that you are someone that others will love, accept, and draw closer to as they get to know you better.
- Are there negative and hopeless patterns in your thoughts that tend to reinforce your depressed feelings and create a vicious circle?
- Have there been painful and traumatic events in your life that cast a cloud over how you feel today?