Depressions – how to look at them in a different way

What are depressions in connection to mental health?

The Depression (Major depressive disorder) is known as one of the world’s most common psychical diseases. From a medical and psychiatric view, depression is a serious and potentially dangerous (danger of suicide) mental health. Depressions can impress by several severe symptoms, such as deep sadness “without reason”, psychical and physical pain, self-hate, hopelessness, the feeling of feeling nothing, the wish of coming to an end with this kind of life (suicidal thoughts).

Please note: If you feel depressed, see a doctor or professional psychotherapist. This text is intended to be discussed with health care professionals. It can be used in addition to psychotherapy. 

What are the main causes for depressions?

From a psychiatric point of view, the main causes for depressions include the loss of a beloved person, the theory of Serotonin (false) or other “genetic” causes, bad living circumstances, no visible perspectives for life, severe physical illnesses. One of the most important reasons for depression is the attempt to change the past.

From a systemic and salutogenic perspective, depression can also be described as an adequate response or reaction to a diseased system in which a person lives.

What symptoms describe depressive people?

• Depressive people feel (quite) all the time sad.
• Some describe a state of emotional emptiness and hopelessness.
• In between, some depressive experience angry outbursts. They are easily irritable or frustrated by “nothing”.
• Depressive describe a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed.
• The night sleep of depressive people is disturbed. Some can’t find into sleep or awake ruminating in the early morning. Others are sleeping excessively.
• Patients diagnosed with depression report that even small tasks are too much for them due to fatigue and lack of energy.
• Some face changes in their appetite and weight, others in their libido (sexual desire).
• Depressive people often feel nervous, agitated or restless.
• In some cases, speaking or body movements may slow down.
• There is guilt in the center of the attention.
• Due to the lack of perspective, how to start a better life, thoughts of death and suicide may rise

Are there ways to stop a depression without antidepressant and therapy?

Yes, there are ways to leave the state of depression without typical medical and psychotherapeutic interventions.

In some cases, a depression can go by itself (spontaneous remission). This also might mean that one detail in the living circumstances of the patient changed.

In other cases, a depressive person makes a groundbreaking experience that changes one important detail in life, followed by many changes. Watch for depression treatment on YouTube the “Milton H. Erickson M.D. Treating Depression” (In the room with Milton H. Erickson)

Who can try to change one detail in his depressive perspective?

Everyone can change his point of view, even in a state of depression.

If someone suffers from catastrophic pictures of the future, he can change the pictures.

A person who feels guilty about her past, can change her point of view.

After some time (hours, days, weeks), everyone may be able to experience other thoughts and feelings.

Why do many people rely only on the effects of classical depression treatment?

Many simply do not know that there are alternatives or supplements to traditional depression treatment.

How a totally different on the phenomena of depression could look like?

A totally different way of looking at depression might be the following one.

Imagine you were living in a country where just nature is. No hospitals, no antidepressants, no psychiatrists. Ask yourself this question.

If you were a wise man (or woman) and you had to talk to a depressive person: Sitting together at a fire, what would you ask the person about her biggest desire?

What might she answer – not thinking about a hospital or a therapy?

When I asked this question to a doctor in a clinic for depressive and psychotic patients, he told me: I would ask this man: What made you so tired? What is your desire now?

Do you want to change a bit in your pattern and see what happens to your depression?

Explore this short-time therapy self-help concept, based on hundreds of systemic treatment and counseling sessions on anxiety, OCD, and conflicts.

Take five minutes and read the free reading sample of the e-book Mind Rooms – ready to download for you here.