Situational Depression

In 2013, I was what I considered “situationally depressed”.

The feeling of constant stress and pressure due to the amount of student debt I was carrying was starting to leave me feeling worried, unhappy, and hopeless, more often than feeling anything else.  The point at which I started to become concerned, was when I thought,  what happens if this doesn't go away? It seemed like it had become my new normal and that thought scared me.  

I realized that the 8 years of time and $185,000 I had invested into my profession, only got me to a place I realized wasn’t really for me, but here I was… stuck with this debt from a career I didn’t really want. 

I was angry. I felt stuck. I thought I had done everything I was "supposed" to do. I was 29 and had no idea what I was going to do with my life. These thoughts had been going on for 3 years already… “these thoughts”, I realized, were going to be the death of me unless I did something to change them. 

"These thoughts" were what were making me "sick". 

2 things happened: 

#1: I realized if I kept having the same thoughts, I was going to stay in the same situation, and eventually end up being properly depressed. (Not a good option, I thought.)

#2: I knew literally no one was going to get me out of this situation other than myself. It was time to accept and own the situation I was in. It was time to take full responsibility in order to make a change.

“I’m depressed," I thought, "but it’s only because of my situation. It’s just because of my debt. If I didn’t have this debt, I wouldn’t be depressed…? So am I really even depressed?” (I thought I was coining this term ‘situational depression’, but clearly I wasn’t - it’s a thing! 

I knew I wasn’t going to be out of debt overnight, but wondered how it was possible to feel better in the meantime. I knew if I didn’t change something (ultimately my thoughts), I was going to lead myself down a dark path. 

I thought visiting a counselor was a waste of time given she wasn’t going to pay my debt off, but I didn’t know what else to do. 

“Even though you feel your depression might be situational, constantly feeding your brain these same thoughts is going to negatively impact you and change your brain chemistry," she told me. And then she recommended this book. ​

“You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay. This was the first book I read in my self development journey and it changed my life (summary of my favourite takeaways here).

This counselor didn’t get me out of debt (that took moving to another country and another 6 years in a career that burnt. me. out), BUT, it did catch me before I fell further. Even though my situation didn’t immediately change, reading that book left me feeling empowered. I felt hopeful and in control of my future. I realized that in many ways, I was the only thing holding myself back and keeping me stuck where I was - and trust me, when you realize this, it’s immediately uplifting. 

I think I only had 2-3 sessions with that counselor, however it took one book recommendation to change the trajectory of my life. This debt gave me the opportunity to see how powerful (and how important) 'thought work' can be. This situation was going to be the ultimate example of how a huge hurdle will force you to grow. Change the way you think, and you will inevitably see change in your life. 

“I feel so much better… This book is exactly what I needed. Thank you.” 

Yet nothing in my actual life had actually changed.
Nothing changed, except my thoughts, and I felt so much better - that was all that mattered. 

Don’t suffer alone. Ask for help. 

Other times I have found myself situationally depressed:

• "Stuck" in an unhealthy relationship 
• "Stuck" in my career
• The universally difficult experience of  going through a break-up

(All things I ultimately got myself out of by working on the thoughts.)

What about you? Have you experienced situational depression?
Do your thoughts support you? Or hold you back?

Coaching people through their thoughts is incredibly powerful as you can help show people that they have more power and control over their life and  happiness than they realize.
This is exactly what Mindset Coaching is. 
This is exactly what my 3 and 8 month programs are designed for. Where are you feeling stuck? Unfulfilled? Unhappy? 
How would your life be different if you were able to see the path you would rather be on?

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