Therapy, Psychotherapy for Depression
Depression Therapy /Psychotherapy Mississauga, Oakville, Toronto, GTA, Ontario
What are the signs that you are talking to someone with depression?
Depression is not always easy to discern, even for medical doctors, because not everyone has the problems with sleeping at night (associated with low melatonin) or trouble getting moving in the day. Some people do not show these classical signs because they are highly driven people with a strong will-power and they can just keep going. So what is at the core of depression?
At the core of depression is not so much mood as energy. When depression is a serious issue it is not so much about sadness and grief as it is about depletion of core energy. Core energy is what you need to live: making choices, meeting people, exerting your will and so on.
1. Without this life energy your will is weaker and it is harder to 'make yourself' get up. Energy for will power is weak.
2. When life energy is low it is noticeably draining to be emotional or be around people. Energy to be around people is minimal.
3. The depressed person has a limited budget of life energy for the day’s activities even for making decisions. Energy that is normally present for making life's many decisions is missing.
Depressed people are forced to limit their goals for daily production because they do not have the energy to accomplish as much as they would like. It is like hoping to make a long trip but you only have half a tank of gas in the car and you have no cash or credit to buy more. You are forced to make difficult decisions.
You might compare it to have a flu or cold and the body is fighting with the virus. Remember how you have very little energy to do other things. That is why sick people need to stay in bed - to conserve needed energy for the immune system.
So the main sign to look for in the depressed person is this lack of energy and the frustration it is causing them and others. Underneath they feel depleted. It seems that there is block in the source of life energy. Therefore to change, to heal, to reduce energy we need to understand more about the sources of energy to the human person. Besides nutrition and getting enough exercise, fresh air and sunshine what else is there?
Finding that source of energy is something to take up with your therapist. Sometimes have someone as a counsellor who really listens to you is itself a major source of energy. Yes, the empathic caring of a good therapist can and will help lift depression especially if you do not have people in your life with a heart and the training to focus on you and acknowledge your feeling.
At Life Transformation Group our therapists have been acknowledged as radiating love, caring and empathy. Many clients name that as the most healing aspect of their counselling sessions. Call us to talk to one of our therapists about sessions for you.
(416) 939-0544 for George
(647) 712-4848 for Anna
Depression is not always easy to discern, even for medical doctors, because not everyone has the problems with sleeping at night (associated with low melatonin) or trouble getting moving in the day. Some people do not show these classical signs because they are highly driven people with a strong will-power and they can just keep going. So what is at the core of depression?
At the core of depression is not so much mood as energy. When depression is a serious issue it is not so much about sadness and grief as it is about depletion of core energy. Core energy is what you need to live: making choices, meeting people, exerting your will and so on.
1. Without this life energy your will is weaker and it is harder to 'make yourself' get up. Energy for will power is weak.
2. When life energy is low it is noticeably draining to be emotional or be around people. Energy to be around people is minimal.
3. The depressed person has a limited budget of life energy for the day’s activities even for making decisions. Energy that is normally present for making life's many decisions is missing.
Depressed people are forced to limit their goals for daily production because they do not have the energy to accomplish as much as they would like. It is like hoping to make a long trip but you only have half a tank of gas in the car and you have no cash or credit to buy more. You are forced to make difficult decisions.
You might compare it to have a flu or cold and the body is fighting with the virus. Remember how you have very little energy to do other things. That is why sick people need to stay in bed - to conserve needed energy for the immune system.
So the main sign to look for in the depressed person is this lack of energy and the frustration it is causing them and others. Underneath they feel depleted. It seems that there is block in the source of life energy. Therefore to change, to heal, to reduce energy we need to understand more about the sources of energy to the human person. Besides nutrition and getting enough exercise, fresh air and sunshine what else is there?
Finding that source of energy is something to take up with your therapist. Sometimes have someone as a counsellor who really listens to you is itself a major source of energy. Yes, the empathic caring of a good therapist can and will help lift depression especially if you do not have people in your life with a heart and the training to focus on you and acknowledge your feeling.
At Life Transformation Group our therapists have been acknowledged as radiating love, caring and empathy. Many clients name that as the most healing aspect of their counselling sessions. Call us to talk to one of our therapists about sessions for you.
(416) 939-0544 for George
(647) 712-4848 for Anna
'How can I tell if I'm depressed? I’m a college student in Africa with expensive tuition fees that my family keeps stressing. I don't know if I'm subconsciously relating to things I read about depression to make it an excuse or I'm just in denial.'
You are a human being with personal needs not just a ‘high-mark-producing -machine.’
What brings you joy? What activities would a healthy you be doing that you are neglecting because of the pressure to perform?
What if you have depression to the degree that you have shut joy out of your life? And multiply that by the length of time that you have shut joy out of your life?
If joy was a river and depression was stones in that river, how big are the stones? How completely do the stones block the flow of the river?
What do you need to do, if there were no obstacles to you doing it, to bring joy back into your life? What activities brought you joy in the past?
How long do you have to do those things that bring joy to get the river flowing and remove the rocks/depression? It takes time.
Know yourself. Be true to yourself. Work hard on your courses for yourself and no one else. Ask yourself if you really want to learn this. Start to think for yourself. Start writing your thoughts and feelings. This is your life. So YOU have to live it.
Stop living for your family. Stop studying to get ‘high marks.’ Study to find yourself and express yourself so when you graduate you can think for yourself. That way you will be able to THINK and express yourself. That is the value of your education and that is how you will bring value to the world.
Go for it.
You are a human being with personal needs not just a ‘high-mark-producing -machine.’
What brings you joy? What activities would a healthy you be doing that you are neglecting because of the pressure to perform?
What if you have depression to the degree that you have shut joy out of your life? And multiply that by the length of time that you have shut joy out of your life?
If joy was a river and depression was stones in that river, how big are the stones? How completely do the stones block the flow of the river?
What do you need to do, if there were no obstacles to you doing it, to bring joy back into your life? What activities brought you joy in the past?
How long do you have to do those things that bring joy to get the river flowing and remove the rocks/depression? It takes time.
Know yourself. Be true to yourself. Work hard on your courses for yourself and no one else. Ask yourself if you really want to learn this. Start to think for yourself. Start writing your thoughts and feelings. This is your life. So YOU have to live it.
Stop living for your family. Stop studying to get ‘high marks.’ Study to find yourself and express yourself so when you graduate you can think for yourself. That way you will be able to THINK and express yourself. That is the value of your education and that is how you will bring value to the world.
Go for it.
Q and A about Depression:
Can you be depressed your entire life or for a majority of it?
Yes, you can have an underlying depression all your life. A person is depressed inside if they have not felt unconditional love and are going through life feeling that they need to be good enough and work hard enough to deserve to be loved. That is one example.
Remember that a lot of people have depression but they do not know they have depression. For one thing they are used to it!
People think depression means an obvious feeling of sadness all the time. People are not familiar with the signs of depression. As a therapist it is an intuitive call based on a person’s low energy.
Doctors look at broken sleep patterns and trouble getting moving in the morning. Even here, they can miss people with a strong will and high achieving who plow through the normal signs and just keep going - though depressed inside.
The person who has been depressed all their life may not know it or be aware of it. It has been there like a cloud following them everywhere they go.
Can you be depressed your entire life or for a majority of it?
Yes, you can have an underlying depression all your life. A person is depressed inside if they have not felt unconditional love and are going through life feeling that they need to be good enough and work hard enough to deserve to be loved. That is one example.
Remember that a lot of people have depression but they do not know they have depression. For one thing they are used to it!
People think depression means an obvious feeling of sadness all the time. People are not familiar with the signs of depression. As a therapist it is an intuitive call based on a person’s low energy.
Doctors look at broken sleep patterns and trouble getting moving in the morning. Even here, they can miss people with a strong will and high achieving who plow through the normal signs and just keep going - though depressed inside.
The person who has been depressed all their life may not know it or be aware of it. It has been there like a cloud following them everywhere they go.
When talking to someone, what are some signs that you're talking to someone with depression?
Depression is not always easy to discern, even for medical doctors, because not everyone has the problems with sleeping at night (associated with low melatonin) or trouble getting moving in the day. Some people do not show these classical signs because they are highly driven people with a strong will-power and they can just keep going.
At the core of depression is not so much mood as energy. When depression is a serious issue it is not about sadness and grief as it is about depletion of core energy. Core energy is what you need to live: making choices, meeting people, exerting your will and so on.
Without this life energy your will is weaker and it is harder to 'make yourself' get up. When life energy is low it is noticeably draining to be emotional or be around people. The depressed person has a limited budget of life energy for the day’s activities.
Depressed people may have to limit their goals for daily production because they do not have the energy to accomplish as much as they would like. It is like hoping to make a long trip but you only have so much gas in the car and you have no more resources to buy more. You are forced to make difficult decisions.
You might compare it to have a flu or cold and the body is fighting with the virus. Meantime you have very little energy to do other things. That is why you advice sick people to go to bed - to conserve needed energy for the immune system.
So the main sign to look for in the depressed person is this lack of energy and the frustration it is causing them and others. Underneath they feel depleted.
Depression is not always easy to discern, even for medical doctors, because not everyone has the problems with sleeping at night (associated with low melatonin) or trouble getting moving in the day. Some people do not show these classical signs because they are highly driven people with a strong will-power and they can just keep going.
At the core of depression is not so much mood as energy. When depression is a serious issue it is not about sadness and grief as it is about depletion of core energy. Core energy is what you need to live: making choices, meeting people, exerting your will and so on.
Without this life energy your will is weaker and it is harder to 'make yourself' get up. When life energy is low it is noticeably draining to be emotional or be around people. The depressed person has a limited budget of life energy for the day’s activities.
Depressed people may have to limit their goals for daily production because they do not have the energy to accomplish as much as they would like. It is like hoping to make a long trip but you only have so much gas in the car and you have no more resources to buy more. You are forced to make difficult decisions.
You might compare it to have a flu or cold and the body is fighting with the virus. Meantime you have very little energy to do other things. That is why you advice sick people to go to bed - to conserve needed energy for the immune system.
So the main sign to look for in the depressed person is this lack of energy and the frustration it is causing them and others. Underneath they feel depleted.
What can you do if you lack inspiration because you are depressed?
I can can give some really quick things to do when you are depressed. They may sound too trivial to work but they do. I hope these simple things can make a difference.
1. Sunlight or UV light are needed to overcome depression. Sunlight means being outside without glasses on. The reason for no glasses is that they often have strong UV blockers in the glass and the same is true of many modern windows. Plants will not grow behind such glass and we wilt too.
2. Exercise or fitness. Men in depression respond really well to exercise and getting more fit. It helps our self-image too. Whatever method works for you to have regular exercise. Do not overdo it or try to do too much the first day. Go for consistency.
3. Use a time management too - like pomodoro - where you work for 25 minutes and then take 5 minutes break. That will give you some structure for your work.
4. Oh, I forgot to mention that you can bring UV light inside with full-spectrum lights or black lights and that will add the UV inside and can lift depression quite quickly.
5. For sleep try some Melatonin before bedtime. Shut off all lights and do not have electronics charging or active near your bed.
All the best with lifting depression to get needed inspiration.
I can can give some really quick things to do when you are depressed. They may sound too trivial to work but they do. I hope these simple things can make a difference.
1. Sunlight or UV light are needed to overcome depression. Sunlight means being outside without glasses on. The reason for no glasses is that they often have strong UV blockers in the glass and the same is true of many modern windows. Plants will not grow behind such glass and we wilt too.
2. Exercise or fitness. Men in depression respond really well to exercise and getting more fit. It helps our self-image too. Whatever method works for you to have regular exercise. Do not overdo it or try to do too much the first day. Go for consistency.
3. Use a time management too - like pomodoro - where you work for 25 minutes and then take 5 minutes break. That will give you some structure for your work.
4. Oh, I forgot to mention that you can bring UV light inside with full-spectrum lights or black lights and that will add the UV inside and can lift depression quite quickly.
5. For sleep try some Melatonin before bedtime. Shut off all lights and do not have electronics charging or active near your bed.
All the best with lifting depression to get needed inspiration.
Self help for depression
Here are some self-help things that help with depression. They may sound too trivial to work but they do help. I hope these simple things can make a difference.
1. Sunlight or UV light are needed to overcome depression. Sunlight means being outside without glasses on. The reason for no glasses is that they often have strong UV blockers in the glass and the same is true of many modern windows. Plants will not grow behind such glass and we wilt too.
2. Exercise or fitness. Men in depression respond really well to exercise and getting more fit. It helps our self-image too. Whatever method works for you to have regular exercise. Do not overdo it or try to do too much the first day. Go for consistency.
3. Use a time management too - like pomodoro - where you work for 25 minutes and then take 5 minutes break. That will give you some structure for your work.
4. Oh, I forgot to mention that you can bring UV light inside with full-spectrum lights or black lights and that will add the UV inside and can lift depression quite quickly.
5. For sleep try some Melatonin before bedtime. Shut off all lights and do not have electronics charging or active near your bed.
All the best with your project and let us know how it goes.
Emptiness is a condition of the human spirit. The human spirit is your personal core. It is core to your identity, bonding, empathy, and emotional resilience. You can feel emptiness during a bout of depression.
Feeling empty is an indication that one’s human spirit is off-line, not available, shut down. Feeling empty may be a result of being in depression.
To confirm this see if it is accompanied by:
In psychotherapy you may find both depression and the feeling of emptiness can be lifted.
Here are some self-help things that help with depression. They may sound too trivial to work but they do help. I hope these simple things can make a difference.
1. Sunlight or UV light are needed to overcome depression. Sunlight means being outside without glasses on. The reason for no glasses is that they often have strong UV blockers in the glass and the same is true of many modern windows. Plants will not grow behind such glass and we wilt too.
2. Exercise or fitness. Men in depression respond really well to exercise and getting more fit. It helps our self-image too. Whatever method works for you to have regular exercise. Do not overdo it or try to do too much the first day. Go for consistency.
3. Use a time management too - like pomodoro - where you work for 25 minutes and then take 5 minutes break. That will give you some structure for your work.
4. Oh, I forgot to mention that you can bring UV light inside with full-spectrum lights or black lights and that will add the UV inside and can lift depression quite quickly.
5. For sleep try some Melatonin before bedtime. Shut off all lights and do not have electronics charging or active near your bed.
All the best with your project and let us know how it goes.
Emptiness is a condition of the human spirit. The human spirit is your personal core. It is core to your identity, bonding, empathy, and emotional resilience. You can feel emptiness during a bout of depression.
Feeling empty is an indication that one’s human spirit is off-line, not available, shut down. Feeling empty may be a result of being in depression.
To confirm this see if it is accompanied by:
- less empathy - feeling what other’s feel,
- less sense of being present to others,
- less intuition about your life and
- some confusion about who you are, what is your purpose, etc.
In psychotherapy you may find both depression and the feeling of emptiness can be lifted.