Situational Depression

Sometimes you just feel blue.  Most of us can relate to this statement, because human beings have various moods that are not necessarily “diagnosable”.  However, it may be extremely helpful to share your feelings with another person when you are stuck.  Friends and family often make good confidants, but if you are really troubled and want a totally objective opinion, it’s probably best to seek out the help of a mental health professional.  
 
There are so many experiences that just need a “good listening to” in order to regain a sense of control and self-management.  Everyday life interactions may sometimes leave you feeling depressed and full of self-doubt.  For example, have you ever felt hurt and betrayed when you discover some friends are having a party and you are not invited?   How about the time when a sales clerk was rude and dismissive of you?  Have you been on the receiving end of your partner’s anger outburst; or what about when your son or daughter told you that you embarrass them around their friends?  You may have experienced times when people laughed at something you have said, and you didn’t mean to be funny.  The examples of little ways we may feel stung (and experience hurt feelings) throughout a typical day are endless.
 
Certain life events appear almost to guarantee we experience pain and sadness.  Your wife tells you she wants a divorce.   A parent dies.  Your child is hurt or sick.  A friend is raped.  You loose your job.  A tornado damages your property.  Although you may be a reasonably happy person in general, situations such as these may temporarily test your coping abilities.  Often, sharing your story and exploring ways to gain self-control and maintain and enhance self-esteem may be the “magic” needed.  There are times when medication also may be helpful in addition to learning and practicing strategies to deal with these potential life-changing events.  Since situational depression is usually connected to a specific experience, most people recover and heal within a reasonable period of time after the event.  There is not a specific time period, as everyone is different and heals at different rates. But a mentally and emotionally healthy individual who seeks appropriate intervention can expect to begin the healing process as soon as they begin receiving help.
 
The upside to working through these painful experiences now is the ability to grow and develop from life’s misfortunes, as opposed to simply enduring the suffering. Learning to construe these unfortunate life episodes as opportunities to become more “effective” will not only equip you to manage your present concerns, but aid you to embrace and enjoy the future.  A life well lived is one in which you learn from your past, thereby creating a better present; this ultimately culminates in a future filled with promise and joy.  
 
 
Laura R. Meers, Ph.D.

Consulting Psychologist