20 million people suffer from depression in the US. Symptoms of depression include; sadness, loss of pleasure in activities you used to enjoy, change in weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness, thoughts of death or suicide. Depression and trauma go hand in hand. Many people who have experienced trauma have symptoms of depression. When the body and mind are overwhelmed by a traumatic event its natural response is to shut down emotions and feelings…both good and bad. Healing from depression can take time and requires the integration of a whole body approach-mind, body and spirit.
The use of intention can be a corner stone for depression recovery. According to the dictionary words to describe intention are, “purposeful, determined to act in a certain way, to do or bring about, meaning, significance and something that one hopes or has an intention to accomplish”.
One can be intentional in their healing process of depression. Your intentions play a vital role in your healing process, as a positive attitude promotes healing. Medical communities in cultures all around the world have known for thousands of years that a focused positive patient is more likely to heal. You probably have heard the phrase, “where your mind goes energy flows.” So easy to get caught in the outcome what it is we think we want or how we think we should be feeling. The purpose of intention is to slow down, live life on purpose. The point of intention setting is a reminder to us that we can enjoy your life even when sometimes it doesn’t feel worth living.
Here are six ways that you can be intentional in your healing journey:
- Be clear-Set your intention about what you want as the end result. Answer the question: What will I (or my life) look like, feel like and sound like when I have achieved my healing goal?
- Be flexible in your thinking– Our healing journey has ups and downs and may not always look like what we imagined it to be. Be open to listening to your gut, trying a variety of approaches that incorporate the mind, body and spirit for healing.
- Be open minded-You can enjoy your life even when it is a work in progress.
- Be honest– Be honest with yourself about how you are feeling. If you are not even sure what you are feeling a great way to better understand yourself is through counseling. Learn to listen to your gut. Practice quieting your mind and inquiring into your feelings.
- Be loving- Being kind and gentle to yourself is key to any healing or recovery process. Try a compassionate practice and be loving towards yourself. Your depression is trying to communicate something to you. Approach it in a loving way and ask yourself what is it that my depression wants me to know? What message or purpose does it serve in my life?
- Be positive– Depression does not change overnight. It usually shift gradually….a little bit at a time. Your depression did not start suddenly it is a process and therefore, can take time. Surround yourself with positive and uplifting people who can encourage you in your recovery process.
EMDR therapy is a mind body approach and can be part of your intentional process for healing from depression. If you feel drawn to try something different than what you already have been doing on your own or you feel stuck in your depression and don’t feel able to set intentions, then EMDR therapy can help you. EMDR therapy also gets to the root cause of depression when you have experienced distressing and traumatic life events whether in childhood or as an adult.
Setting intentions for healing from depression can help you on your path to being your authentic self, where you can feel productive, healthy and joyful. Don’t wait! Reach out for help today to heal from depression.