Depression
Broken and worthless, life seems pointless…
Laura* is a third-year college student. She’s been so distraught after the breakup with her boyfriend of two years that she has trouble getting out of bed.
The things she used to do… gone.
Friends? They’re fading away… which happens when you avoid them and their calls.
Feeling increasingly disconnected, she’s eating more and exercising less.
This is a classic case of depression.
Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistent sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest or pleasure in activities.
It affects how you think, feel, and behave… and can lead to various emotional and physical problems.
Sleeping more than usual: Laura used to sleep between 6-8 hours a night. Since the breakup, Laura sleeps between 10-14 hours a day.
Isolation: Despite not doing any activities, Laura’s friends would constantly ask her to spend time with them and go out to eat. Her friends like to go out to bars at night to have fun, but Laura mentions that she feared she would meet another guy that would just hurt her like the previous one.
Suicidal Ideation: Laura sometimes contemplated whether she had a purpose on this earth. She asked if it was worth continuing since she felt she was not worth it.
Overeating: Laura would spend hours eating to feel better. Laura would only eat when the negative thoughts came about the breakup and would start finding comfort foods.
In therapy, we will work on safely challenging the negative thoughts.
We will work on finding coping skills to help deter negative thoughts and focus on letting the brain heal from pain.
Brainspotting is a technique that helps process the hurt safely. Less than 7% of therapists are trained to use Brainspotting, which has been used to help heal painful wounds from depressive thoughts.
After therapy, Laura’s feeling much better.
After her first session, she reported feeling calmer and more relaxed. She had never had a space where she felt safe to talk about her depression.
In therapy, she felt safe enough to explore the pain and trauma from her verbally abusive mother… and the difficulty of not having a father around.
She reports better concentration and connecting with friends more. She’s also started exercising again… and hasn’t had suicidal thoughts in months.
She’s even talking to new friends she’s attracted to. She doesn’t know where it is going, but she’s living in the present and enjoying the moment – “the best feeling I’ve had in a long time.”
Don’t let depression rule your life.
Depression can make you feel like you’re worthless and there is no hope for change. I am here to help you and let you know there are ways to cope!
Your personalized plan is for your eyes only. If you are ready to start your plan for healing from trauma, just call me for a free 15-minute consultation: (407) 912-4177.
*Name and story are a composite narrative and do not reflect an actual client.