55. Depression as a Messenger: Decoding the Deeper Purpose, Meaning and Healing Potential

Depression can be a challenging, incredibly painful experience, but it can also pave the path to change and transformation. Experiences of numbness, despair, emptiness, fatigue, loss of meaning and all the things that get labeled as depression are emotional and physiological responses from the body. The question that has always been quite interesting to me is: what is my body trying to tell me through depression? What is the message behind these signals? “Depression makes holes in our theories and assumptions, but even this painful process can be honored as a necessary and valuable source of healing” as psychologist Thomas Moore says. So in this episode we explore depression as complex trauma processing, nervous system overwhelm, a values crisis, a signal of physiological illness, basic needs not being met, a response to toxic culture and society, and a spiritual awakening. Also in this episode: Is there value in the experience of depression? What are some of the messages depression may hold for us? Does our reductionistic way of viewing depression as something to be eliminated limit our healing capacity? What changes in our lives or society could depression stir up if we can be in the experience? Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠ Resources: Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/295132.Care_of_the_Soul JAMA article on brain-body health - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2804355 Depression: Integrating Science Culture and Humanities by Dr. Bradley Lewis https://www.routledge.com/Depression-Integrating-Science-Culture-and-Humanities/Lewis/p/book/9780415877213 Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

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