Berkeley Depression Help
The cycle of depression
Feeling depressed is depressing. It’s a kind of self-fulfilling prophecy, like wearing coal-colored glasses. Because you feel depressed, you tend to view your yourself and your life as inadequate, unsatisfying or hopeless.
Breaking the cycle of depression
The key to breaking this self-perpetuating cycle is often to look at the basic beliefs that you hold about yourself and life, especially those you picked up from parents, peers, teachers and religious figures as you were growing up.
If you received the message as a child that you were not worthy, you may carry this belief over into your adult life and, without realizing it, judge yourself, your life or even others harshly. Sometimes children feel that if they risk being themselves, they will be shamed, rejected or even be a danger to themselves or others. To avoid this, they end up bottling up their joy, their love, and their natural good instincts.
As we explore where these beliefs and behavior came from and see them more objectively together, you can begin to forgive yourself for things that never were your responsibility, and find the inner kindness to accept yourself, and even accept the past, however difficult it might have been. As old beliefs get replaced with more accurate ones, you have more room to breathe, be yourself and discover the joy of following your own interests, talents and intuition. You can begin taking the kind of risks that will bring you more fully into the life that you want to live.
If you are interested in exploring what depression is about for you, or just to have the opportunity to talk together, I am happy to offer you a free 30 minute appointment at my office or by phone. Please do not hesitate to call. You can reach me at (510)540-0813 or ninashilling@msn.com or you can click here.
Specialties
About Nina
Nina Shilling provides warm, nurturing therapy to individuals and couples. She welcomes spiritual inquiry and is LGBT friendly. Her office is near the Downtown Berkeley Bart station and all major freeways.