Depression as a Messenger: Decoding the Deeper Purpose, Meaning and Healing Potentials
Depression can be a challenging, incredibly painful experience, but it can also pave the path to change and transformation. Experiences of numbness, despair, emptiness, fatigue, loss of meaning and all the things that get labeled as depression are emotional and physiological responses from the body. The question that has always been quite interesting to me is: what is my body trying to tell me through depression? What is the message behind these signals?
“Depression makes holes in our theories and assumptions, but even this painful process can be honored as a necessary and valuable source of healing” -Thomas Moore (psychologist)
So in this episode we explore depression as complex trauma processing, nervous system overwhelm, a values crisis, a signal of physiological illness, basic needs not being met, a response to toxic culture and society, and a spiritual awakening.
What You’ll learn in this episode:
Is there value in the experience of depression?
What are some of the messages depression may hold for us?
Does our reductionistic way of viewing depression as something to be eliminated limit our healing capacity?
What changes in our lives or society could depression stir up if we can be in the experience?
DEPTH Work - A Holistic Mental Health Podcast
This is a space for those who love to dive into the underbelly, to revel in the mystery, question assumptions about what is normal, play in the both/and, and honor the wide range of human emotions.
As a complex trauma survivor, holistic counsellor and co-founder of a mental health institute, I learned that there is immense wisdom in our pain and what we call crazy is just what we are yet not willing to understand and explore. Let’s dive in!
Research:
Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/295132.Care_of_the_Soul
JAMA article on brain-body health - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2804355
Depression: Integrating Science Culture and Humanities by Dr. Bradley Lewis https://www.routledge.com/Depression-Integrating-Science-Culture-and-Humanities/Lewis/p/book/9780415877213
GROUNDING PRACTICES:
FOR ALLEVIATING FEAR, ANXIETY & DISSOCIATION
12 SIMPLE GROUNDING PRACTICES TO HELP YOU COME BACK TO YOUR BODY