Byron Athene, Psychotherapist Psychoanalyst and Grandpa Bill talk-Depression,which is a common but serious mood disorder that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. It's more than just feeling sad: Depression involves persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest, and other emotional and physical symptoms that interfere with daily life.It's a medical condition: Depression is a real illness, not a weakness or something you can simply "snap out of."It's treatable:Depression symptoms can vary from person to person, but common signs include:Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessnessLoss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyedChanges in appetite (weight loss or gain) Sleep disturbances (insomnia or oversleeping)Fatigue or loss of energyFeelings of worthlessness or excessive guiltDifficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions Restlessness or irritabilityThoughts of death or suicideCauses:Treatment:Effective treatments for depression include:Psychotherapy (talk therapy): Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) are common types of therapy used to treat depression.Medication: Antidepressant medications can help regulate brain chemistry.Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep can improve symptoms.It is important to remember that you are not alone, and help is available.1. How do Freud and Skinner's theories complement or contradict each other in our understanding of depression today?Freud and Skinner had quite opposing views. Freud ascribed depression to childhood experiences or and the consequent conflict between the id, ego and superego. Skinner ascribed mental challenges to associations. Other approaches regard depression in different ways. In REBT, it’s you having demands and those demands not being met so the unhealthy negative emotion of depression is accessed. If you had a preference instead, the healthier emotion of sadness would be accessed instead. In narrative therapy, it’s about the global story you’re telling yourself. In transactional analysis (TA), it’s a result of conflicting drivers (motivators) and injunctions (rules about how to live life). In Gestalt, depression is a result of unfinished business. In person-centred, it’s a critically low sense of self-worth. You probably have an external locus of valuation rather than an internal one so maybe because there are less than ideal external factors in your life, you feel like crap. In solution-focused, you're focusing on what's going wrong and all the things that may be going well. 2. In your experience, how do early childhood experiences manifest in adult depression?We developed schemas in early childhood that serve as templates for the way we view the world and ourselves. These schemas create biases so if we think we’re a failure, we’re going to seek out and perceive evidence that supports that.3. What are some practical, behaviorally-focused strategies someone struggling with depression can implement in their daily life?4. How can we, as a society, create more supportive environments that reduce the risk of depression?5. What are some common misconceptions about depression that you frequently encounter?· That it’s a sign of weakness· It’s the same as sadness· It’s always linked to anxiety· If it’s genetic, there’s no escape· It affects everybody in the same way6. Are there specific therapeutic approaches that you find particularly effective in treating depression, and why?7. Beyond therapy, what role do lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and social connection play in managing depression?Social connection seems to be a big factor. Diet and exercise can also be factors but I don’t imagine they can play as significant a part.
