Depression, whether clinically diagnosed as dysthymic disorder, major depressive disorder, or comorbid with an anxiety disorder, is a mental health condition with a high prevalence. It is estimated that, over a lifetime, around 15 to 20% of people will experience a form of depression at some point in their lives. I, too, am no stranger to depression, having been diagnosed at a relatively young age.

You, too, may be familiar with the enormous impact of melancholia, whether it be the intense dejection, cavernous emptiness, hopelessness, bone-crushing fatigue, chronic sleeplessness, suicidal ideation, self-loathing, and other deeply distressing symptoms associated with this truly unpleasant condition. With depression, life can look and feel utterly colourless, devoid of any semblance of brightness or vibrancy. Many days I would awake to the sense that the cessation of consciousness would be a blessing, freeing me from the monotony of seemingly unbreakable hopelessness. Other days, I wouldn’t feel anything at all. Thankfully, even though we may not feel it, there is reason to hope.

What can I do? Well, in terms of treatment options, evidence shows that psychopharmacological medication, specifically antidepressants, combined with counselling or psychotherapy, is the most effective combination in reducing symptoms. Both person-centred counselling (PCT) and ACT are evidence-based modalities that have been shown to help sufferers heal, grow and live lives of vitality. ACT, in particular, boasts of numerous studies attesting to its efficacy as a reliable intervention.

As a transdiagnostic approach, PCT and ACT target processes documented across psychopathologies. Both forms of treatment of depression focus on building psychological flexibility, whether directly or indirectly, enabling one to make room for difficult thoughts and feelings, remain in contact with the present moment, and, in connection with what truly matters to you, live a rich and meaningful life. By learning to relate to troubling thoughts and feelings in different ways, rather than trying to control or fight them, you free up space to live your life in line with your most treasured values.

I can speak from experience of the unparalleled physical and mental exhaustion that plagued me in the throes of depression. Like many others, my treatment consisted of antidepressant medicine and psychotherapy. With kind, compassionate and empathetic exploration aplenty via person-centred therapy and the practice of an arsenal of skills designed to foster adaptive, flexible behaviour, my depressive thoughts, feelings and sensations lost much of their potency, liberating me to live my life fully. Depression is no longer something that controls me or derails me from living my life based on my chosen values.

If you’re suffering from depression and looking to move forward, please get in touch today to arrange a consultation. I will gently walk you through the process, and if what I share appeals to you, we’ll start your journey towards recovery and self-reclamation.

If you have any questions, please email me directly or use the contact form.