Action - The Antidote for Depression

Nearly six months ago, I went to see the EAP counselor provided by my employer. She suggested that I was suffering from depression. My retort was, I am not depressed! Mind you, I have worked in the field of counseling for 34 years. When I began to argue with her, she casually asked, What would you tell a client who said that she cried daily, was having trouble sleeping, experienced problems concentrating, and didnt feel joyful? I replied that Id tell her she was depressed. The counselor strongly encouraged a visit with my doctor, and a trial of anti-depressant medication loomed on the horizon. Years ago, I was stunned to see a smiley face imprinted on an anti-depressant medication. I knew for myself that medication was not the answer - it would merely mask the symptoms.

I left her office talking to myself. According to all the symptoms of clinical depression, Im depressed. Then I decided to ask myself a deeper question:

What am I depressing? Here is how the dictionary defines depression:

1a. The act of depressing

1b. The condition of being depressed

2. An area that is sunk below its surroundings, a hollow

3. The condition of feeling sad or despondent

4. Psychology: Clinical depression. A disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness

5a. A reduction in activity or force

5b. A reduction in physiological vigor or activity.

In the thesaurus, you will find words that describe emotional states of being: despair, sadness, gloominess, misery, hopelessness, melancholy. You will also find words that describe inactive states of being: slump, recession, decline, fall. Do we fall into depression or is it a gradual decline? Isnt it time we take a look at the word depression, not as a noun but as a verb? When you are depressed, it is because you are depressing something. Everyone experiences declines in life. The sun comes up, the sun goes down, the seasons change. Depression is a normal part of the life cycle, the changing of the seasons of our lives. We can continue to look to nature for the answers. When light enters darkness, the darkness goes away. The same is true with awareness and action. When awareness is followed by action, depression goes away.

If you are experiencing depression, ask yourself, what passion or anger or grief am I depressing? What joy have I been denying myself? Have you been holding down your dreams, depressing your desires, turning away from the action you are afraid of taking? It takes a lot of energy to be depressed. When you are actively depressing something, you are keeping the truth down. The truth is not that you are depressed, but that you are depressing. Shine the light of truth - when light enters darkness, the darkness goes away.

Nanci Weston Adair, MA, LCPC GoalModel Life Coaching 11 Rowe Avenue, Portland, ME 04102 Nanci@goalmodel.com http://www.goalmodel.com Nanci Weston Adair MA, LCPC Founder of The GoalModel MethodTM. Nanci is a delightful and energetic presenter. She brings 30+ years of dedicated service in the holistic health field together with a lifelong passion for metaphysics. Coaching clients describe Nanci as challenging, encouraging and strategic. Nanci has delivered seminars to business leaders and corporations across the U.S. Nanci has recently completed her book on The GoalModel Method for personal and professional achievement. Nanci maintains a home, studio and business in Portland, Maine.

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