BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Q: I’ve been feeling depressed for the last few months. My husband has been telling me that I need to “snap out of it” and I know that I’m not doing myself any favors by spending all my down time laying around. It’s just that I don’t feel the motivation to do anything. Do you have any advice?

A: We call it the cycle of depression for a reason-all of the things that depression tells us to do are all of the things that make us depressed! One of the hallmarks of depression is the inability to feel joy. Our interest, energy, and motivation go out the window and so we end up spending our days doing very little outside of our obligations (if we can even manage those). Meanwhile, the things that protect us from depression (for example, keeping a routine, spending time outdoors, exercise, and meaningful social interactions) feel pointless.

Waiting until the motivation strikes you could cause feelings of failure. You can’t make yourself “feel like” getting out for a walk when you’re depressed any more than you can get yourself to like broccoli if you hate broccoli! This is where therapy can help. Specifically, Dialectical Behavior Therapy is a skills-based approach that balances acceptance and change strategies to help reduce depressive symptoms and promote engagement with life. For the situation you just described, that might mean accepting that given your current depressed state, you will not feel motivated or enjoyment in engaging in meaningful activities. AND, while accepting that reality, and with the support of a DBT therapist, developing feasible but challenging goals for incorporating activities and self-care back into a routine. This is one step toward treating a depressive episode. It’s the equivalent of accepting that you don’t like broccoli and committing to finding palatable ways of incorporating broccoli into your diet.

I work with a talented team of professionals at PBHS who specialize treating depression as well as a full range of behavioral health concerns. If you would like some help creating an individualized treatment plan, please call us; we would love to schedule an assessment with you.

Natalie Grandy, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist Premier Behavioral

Health Service 8701 Mentor Avenue Mentor 44060 440-266-0770