Having worked with hundreds of clients who complain of being depressed, I have seen a common feature of this experience we call Depression. The word De-press indicates pushing down. An individual who feels de-pressed certainly experiences a weight on their shoulders. Contemporary treatment often focuses on alleviating the symptoms and helping the individual return to their normal life or what is considered ‘normal’. Ironically, this attempt may actually propel them towards the very thing causing their depression in the first place, although they may be unable to make that association easily.
Modern living is undoubtedly stressful. The pace of change and enormity of opportunity and choice can be confusing. On the one hand, we are encouraged to live our lives to the full whereas on the other, we are penalised if we don’t conform to social and cultural expectations. We respond to the promise of freedom by choosing new options, often revealing empty promises since the options taken are not really what we want – but the pressure to conform to what we believe we should be doing or having. Who wouldn’t feel depressed under these circumstances? However, rushing to return to normal might actually interfere with us facing the bigger meaning behind our depression