Depression, low moods and emotional disorders

Some people may experience periods of low mood and depression that seem to 'come out of the blue' referring to life seeming very normal, no major sad events or clear situation that may explain why the person feels depressed. This may be a one-off event, or a repeated pattern in life that happens periodically. We often refer to this as a biological-based depression. 

A situational-based depression, also known as reactive depression, is based on tangible real life events that either triggered the depression, or the person may report that the event caused them to be depressed. 

Over time the distinction between these two causalities makes far less sense. Our brains are dynamic biological organs that change greatly over time based on factors such as activity, environment, functionality, genetics, overall health, disease and illness, and our lifestyle. This change is known as plasticity of the brain. 

I often think of our emotional state as the bodily representation of our thoughts. We have little control over our emotions, and cannot direct our emotional state in the same way we can direct our behaviour or even how we influence our thoughts. Hence, nobody choses to be depressed, and it is not their fault. 

Low moods, depression and other mood disorders vary greatly based on duration, severity of symptoms, as well as life impact. 

As part of our work together we will determine the type of depression you are experiencing and the many ways this may impact your life (called 'formulation'). Together we will decide on a treatment plan that is best suited to you, your goals, your philosophy and personality, as well as symptom severity and duration.

If after reading this page, your mind is now telling you how there is no way you will ever get better, how it's just your fault based on your awful personality and behaviour, and how you are overall screwed up - I want to assure you these thoughts are typical and common during depression (aka depressive triad: permanent, personal, and global). 

We might try an overall ACT approach - including 'defusing' from the thoughts, to stop engaging with them or no longer trying to counter-act them with happy thoughts (as this just causes more thinking - one moment good and the next moment bad again). We don't want to think about being happy, but rather engage in life, doing what matters, and actually be happier.   

The mind is a wonderful universe. But it's also a never ending thought machine with no 'off' switch.