Andrew Solomon said in his wonderful and eloquent TED talk on depression, that “The opposite of depression is not happiness. It is Vitality”
Many sufferers of depression will resonate with this statement. Often one of the worst things about depression is the complete lack of energy and zeal. I believe that this is the reason why many interventions or attempts at lifting depression, personally or professionally, are unsuccessful.
It doesn’t matter how well designed or insightful the intervention may be. It doesn’t matter how many times it has worked in the past, or for others. If we cannot muster the energy to try it, then it will never work.
Many sufferers of depression will resonate with this statement. Often one of the worst things about depression is the complete lack of energy and zeal. I believe that this is the reason why many interventions or attempts at lifting depression, personally or professionally, are unsuccessful.
It doesn’t matter how well designed or insightful the intervention may be. It doesn’t matter how many times it has worked in the past, or for others. If we cannot muster the energy to try it, then it will never work.
Lacking the vitality, being unable to do the things that might help us when we are depressed – this just compounds the problem and makes us feel even worse. It can lead to a begrudged acceptance and a resignation that there is nothing we can do about our depression. On the other hand there is the fact that there are things that we can do to help ourselves. There are ways to begin to lift the weight of depression. If only we were just able to do them.
The way around this problem is not brilliant, or esoteric, or beyond our ability. We tackle this problem by doing the very things that we feel we are unable to do. We get off the wheel by stepping in a different direction. Break the cycle by doing things differently.
Now it may seem overwhelming, perhaps impossible even. If so, we start small. Take tiny steps in a new direction, away from the powerlessness and towards a new way of being. Make deliberate choices and take positive action to empower ourselves. For one client this started with the choice to get out of bed and take a shower. Later that became the choice to get on a bus and go to therapy. Small choices, small actions, but a big difference for the individual, and an empowering one too as she was making choices in a new way and beginning to build confidence that she was not as powerless as she had believed.
Chances are if you are suffering with depression you may already know the steps you could take to help. Your therapist may have made some suggestions. If these things seem impossible then break them down into smaller pieces. The smaller the better. And as you make these small choices and take these small steps, acknowledge yourself for doing so. What may seem small can actually be a very positive achievement.
The way around this problem is not brilliant, or esoteric, or beyond our ability. We tackle this problem by doing the very things that we feel we are unable to do. We get off the wheel by stepping in a different direction. Break the cycle by doing things differently.
Now it may seem overwhelming, perhaps impossible even. If so, we start small. Take tiny steps in a new direction, away from the powerlessness and towards a new way of being. Make deliberate choices and take positive action to empower ourselves. For one client this started with the choice to get out of bed and take a shower. Later that became the choice to get on a bus and go to therapy. Small choices, small actions, but a big difference for the individual, and an empowering one too as she was making choices in a new way and beginning to build confidence that she was not as powerless as she had believed.
Chances are if you are suffering with depression you may already know the steps you could take to help. Your therapist may have made some suggestions. If these things seem impossible then break them down into smaller pieces. The smaller the better. And as you make these small choices and take these small steps, acknowledge yourself for doing so. What may seem small can actually be a very positive achievement.
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