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To: ACT for the Public <ACT_for_the_Public >Sent: Tue, August 17, 2010 8:35:48 AMSubject: Re: Re: Deep Depression

I see your point but said to myself "this is someone who probably never had much experience with depression," followed by "here we go again."

Saying the words "I'm depressed," and even believing it, which we all do from time to time, is quite different from having clinical depression, as (usually) diagnosed by a doctor. I think your comments refer to the first case but not the latter and, if so, I agree with you.

Depression is often diminished and minimized by those who've never experienced it. I'm not saying you did that, but your motive was ambiguous enough to get a reaction out of me. Thanks for clarifying your position!

Helena

Re: Deep Depression

I hope you know I wasn't attempting to minimize depression at all, simply a question, as I haven't had much experience with it...though maybe I have and I just didn't call it that...More thoughts, no judgments...feel free to critiqueSometimes naming gives security, but I do think certain labels add fuel to the fire...naming can give continuity, give it strength, can create a victimization and then fear of it...and words like anxiety and depression are loaded with judgments even before one identifies with them...take the name away and what are you left with...thoughts and feelings...in my experience, striping the name, can create some distance to experience it just as it is...take all judgments surrounding a feeling and what is left? I think ACT teaches that when you identify with something, you take on it's energy because you are identifying with the feeling or thoughts as if it were you..."I am depressed", "I am anxious"...but at it's

core, what is one really experiencing? I think if one can look at a feeling just as it is, it just withers awayDoes one "have" depression...do they own depression...is it yours or something you are experiencing that you call depression and then identify with it... > > > > > > > > > > Hi everyone -- I am a therapist and learning how to use the ACT principles. Right now I'm in a depression deeper than any I remember since I was a teenager. I'm trying hard to just give space to the feelings and behave towards my values no matter how I feel. > > > > > > > > > > My question is: what do you do about "wallowing" when it comes to depression? In other words, I understand all the tools - the biggest thing I fight is the part of me that doesn't WANT to feel better! I'm sure that this is common with depression...I believe the tools will work, I just can't be bothered to

use them half the time. Where do you find the motivation to feel better with the very depressed?? > > > > > > > > > > Thank you. > > > > > ... > > > > > > > > > > > > > >>