Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention - Sigmund Freud

RECOGNIZING THE STAGES OF DEPRESSION
There is a wide range in the experience of depression. Sometimes we feel sad about something
happening, we experience depression with grief when we have experienced a serious loss, or we
have a building depression, which does not go away when something serious has happened and
it is not resolved or lots of difficult things happen over time without our having the opportunity
to resolve them. Also consider the following issues as related to the experience of depression:
1. You do not express your needs, thoughts, or feelings in order to keep the peace
2. You have lost your sense of identity
3. Have you lost hope with what you need and feel
4. Do you feel empty and confused
5. Have you stopped expressing your hopes and goals
6. Have you given up on your hopes and goals
Is it possible that your experience of depression is the result of you not being true to yourself?
If so, think about the following statement: If you are not true to yourself and are denying
yourself, you lose yourself, and when you lose yourself you become depressed.
The following is a list of feelings that progressively lead to depression. Read through
the list and identify your feelings. With this awareness you will then begin to monitor these
feelings and take responsibility for the appropriate self-care to decrease or eliminate these
feelings and therefore decrease or eliminate your experience of depression.
1. Withdrawn and quiet
2. Sad
3. Decreased enthusiasm
4. Lonely
4. Melancholy
5. Sense of helplessness and hopelessness
6. Feeling overwhelmed
7. Despair
DECREASING THE INTENSITY OF DEPRESSION
1. Clarify your needs, thoughts, and feelings
A. Express them
B. If others are not supportive or caring, problem-solve appropriate ways to get your
needs met
2. Be assertive; say "no" to certain activities and people
3. Identify and change negative self talk. It takes you down and keeps you there.
4. Get regular exercise; walk, it relieves stress, increases energy, and changes brain
chemistry to decrease depression
5. Prioritize tasks and do not overload yourself
6. Engage in creative projects that are fun and distracting from other stressors
7. Practice good nutrition
8. Get adequate rest (not too much or too little)
Recognizing the Stages o/ Depression 313