For Personal and Professional Assistance
Serving Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area
220 S. California Ave. Suite 202 Palo Alto, California 94306
(650) 455-5040
Psycho-Therapy and Counseling FAQ 2:
So what if I am a little depressed sometimes?
The self-caring
basics of life such as eating, sleeping and paying attention
can become difficult. People with periodic depressive feelings
sometimes find they struggle to meet the most minimal demands
on them. Getting through the day may "use up" too much of
their energy, making it difficult for them to enjoy leisure
time or to feel desire and joy.
Some people experience an intense shyness that results from
feeling the loss of social energy, due to depressing feelings.
The lack of self confidence and motivation may effect how
a person reaches out socially. Anxiety attacks can lead
to further social fears and phobias. Intimacy--whether it's
laughing over a private joke in the living room or making
love in the bedroom-is a quiet, but devastating casualty
of depression. Depression sufferers have less emotional
and physical energy for intimate relationships. A depressed
person's partner is often an observer to the painful process
of disconnection. Misery may not love company or it may
want it too much, often causing couples to withdraw from
each other.
Depressed people sometimes transfer their inner pain to something
or someone outside themselves. Partners often become the target of anger, blame or dependency. As
a result, they may feel abandoned, confused, frustrated or fearful. They may resent the extra burdens
they have to bear as a result of their partner's struggle. Depression can be subtle and insidious.
It can both isolate partners from others and deny them the social support they need.
How do you deal with the isolating loneliness and loss of
time and opportunity that depression introduces or intensifies
in your life? How do you find the energy, initiative and
the self esteem necessary to make positives happen in your
life again? Depression can rob you of your talents, dreams
and chances to fully experience love and intimacy. How can
you turn this around to discover the life and freedom that
are available to you?
