I have worked with clients who have suffered from depression for many years. Depression feels heavy and very isolating because of the thought patterns that are a symptom of the depression. These thought patterns feel very difficult and gloomy, and affect motivation and inspiration levels. These thoughts can spiral into self-blame and a sense of unworthiness.
Depression is different to grief in that it seems to “feel” very permanent. The suffering is in the thought that tells people depression is permanent. People who suffer from depression do not “see” a way out and cannot meet themselves with any kind of tenderness or kindness.
The shift in this mood disorder happens slowly when thought patterns are challenged and when thoughts are observed as “passing thoughts” rather than a reflection of oneself. Many who suffer from depression identify as being a “depressed person”. They think that their thoughts are them and that they are somehow “bad” for thinking certain thoughts. But in fact it’s their nervous system that is depressed. When they can start to separate self from depressed nervous system, a new way of managing depression starts to evolve.
We all have thoughts that are healthy and unhealthy. These thought forms arise and fall, they come and they go. However someone who is depressed cannot “see” this passing unless they learn mindfulness techniques and engage in cognitive behavioral therapy to help them create a distance from these thoughts so that they can start to see them for what they really are.
Once a way through the fog of depression in the mind has been found, the work of finding a way to support the nervous system by wise attention to what it needs can be done.
Looking into suffering 