Working Through Depression In Therapy

Depression is a human experience that can range from mild feelings of sadness, lack of motivation, and loneliness, to an intense sense of worthlessness or hopelessness, or a debilitating mental health disorder that impacts our ability to function and relate to others. The is not a single reason causing depression. It is not merely the result of a “chemical imbalance” but its roots are complex and multilayered, and highly dependent on each person’s history and personality.

Depression usually signals that something else is going on underneath, often something out of our awareness. Just trying to think or feel differently, even if we succeed momentarily, does not address the underlying issues at the root. From a psychodynamic perspective, depression can be understood as the result of unresolved conflicts, unrecognized emotions, dissociated experiences, and other unconscious processes within the individual's psyche. These internal processes are intrinsically connected to our earlier relationships and attachments, and to our experience of social structures, as they all play a central role in shaping our own mind.

How can psychodynamic therapy help with depression

Expanding self-awareness and understanding

Uncovering unconscious conflicts, wishes, fears, and desires can be an essential part of understanding what is at the root of our feelings of depression. Many of these emotions are difficult, anxiety-provoking, or painful, so our mind learned to keep them out of awareness, disconnected from our past and present experience.

Understanding how we protect ourselves

We employ defense mechanisms to protect ourselves from painful or anxiety-provoking thoughts and emotions. Common defense mechanisms include repression, denial, and projection. In many cases, the feelings we defend against find a way to emerge, leading to emotions that are difficult to understand, such as grief or hopelessness. Other times, the defense mechanisms themselves, while useful during previous times in our life, can become part of what leads to symptoms of depression.

Exploring how the past is still present

We cannot overstate the impact of our past, specifically our earlier relationships, on our sense of self. The root cause of our feelings of depression might reside in old wounds or be the result of complex trauma that needs to be healed or old losses that need to be mourned. Traumatic or adverse childhood experiences can shape our emotional and psychological development. Depression can be a consequence of troubled relationships or attachment issues, mostly with early caregivers but also into adulthood.

Recognizing relational patterns

Psychodynamic therapy for depression does not stop at identifying “triggers” but is concerned with understanding patterns of relationship with ourselves and with others. Based on our relational and attachment history, what have we learned to anticipate from the world? How do we tend to place ourselves in relation to others? How do we deal with rejection, disappointment or hurt in relationships? These and other questions can help us recognize how feelings of depression are rooted in old relational patterns.

Working with our Chicago depression therapists

Treating depression in therapy can be done in multiple ways. Psychodynamic therapy offers a unique lens through which we can understand and treat depression. It posits that depression is a result of underlying, usually unconscious, dynamics in our minds and our relationships. Depression is seen not merely as an individual's internal struggle but as a reflection of their relational world. By undertaking the journey of self-exploration in the context of the relationship with a trusted therapist, people can recognize the complex and profound root causes of their depression. The goal of psychodynamic therapy is not just symptom relief but a deeper understanding of oneself, leading to lasting emotional well-being. If you have a question about any of these issues or would like to schedule an appointment for depression therapy with one of our Chicago therapists, please contact us today.

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Photo credit: K. Mitch Hodge