All problems eventually lead to self-growth, and we are all in this together.
Have you ever been looking for an outlet for your emotions? 】
Have you ever noticed that sometimes, even though the outside world is quiet, your heart is like being hit by a huge wave, and it is difficult to calm down?
When you look at the raindrops falling quietly outside the window, there seems to be a voice shouting in your heart
"I don't want that".
Is there a moment when you sit in your circle of friends, everyone is sharing their daily routine, laughter is rising higher and higher, and you feel like you are isolated in a transparent bubble, you can see their happiness, but you can't touch it?
Let's go through the case of Mr. Zhang (pseudonym) and get to the bottom of this question.
Mr. Zhang is a programmer who is usually busy with work and a lot of pressure.
He came to the consultation room with a tired expression.
After sitting down, he shared with me his recent troubles:
I don't know why, even though I've achieved some things at work and my family is harmonious, I just don't feel happy.
When I come home in the evening and sit alone on the sofa, I feel a sense of loneliness and emptiness.
I tried exercising and reading books to distract myself, but it was only temporary. ”
Mr. Zhang's confusion may also be your confusion.
Depressed mood, a seemingly simple word, hides a complex emotional world and psychological mechanism behind it.
We live in a fast-paced, high-stress environment where everyone is on the run for their own lives, and it's easy to lose sight of the voice of the heart.
Feeling down isn't just about "feeling bad", it's like a deep alarm that we need to stop and listen to our hearts.
But many people, like Mr. Zhang, are aware of this, but often don't know how to cope with it, or even understand what the real cause of the low mood is.
This article will take you step by step to explore the labyrinth of low mood, from recognizing the problem to finding a way out, and looking for the outlet of your emotions together.
Why is depression our common language? 】
Before we delve into the causes of depressed mood, let's review Mr. Zhang's situation.
Mr. Zhang, a successful programmer, has everything that should be envied on the surface:Stable career, harmonious family life, adequate financial support.
However, he often felt depressed, and this feeling was like an invisible fog that enveloped his daily life.
During a counseling session, Mr. Zhang shared his feelings:
Even at the party, I felt empty and lonely inside, as if there was an invisible wall between me and the others. ”
Why do people like Mr. Zhang also suffer from the challenge of being emotionally depressed?
The answer is not simple, but with a deeper analysis, we can reveal several key reasons.
First of all, personal physiological factorsIt has a non-negligible effect on low mood.
Disruptions in the biological clock, malnutrition, or chronic fatigue can lead to mood swings and even persistent depression.
Mr. Zhang once mentioned that he was under a lot of pressure at work, often working overtime late at night, which undoubtedly caused disturbance to his biological clock and exacerbated his low mood.
Secondly, the psychological factorIt is also one of the important causes of low mood.
Long-term work stress, a gap between personal expectations and reality, and a lack of self-worth can all lead to low mood.
In Mr. Zhang's case, while he was successful professionally, he expected much more from his heart than meets the eye.
Whenever he was in the dead of night, the gap between his expectations and reality became a source of depression.
Thirdly, environmental factorsThe impact on depressed mood should also not be overlooked.
Interpersonal conflicts, dissatisfaction with the work environment, and the pressure of social competition can all become external causes of low mood.
Although Mr. Zhang has a seemingly harmonious family, he lacks in-depth communication and understanding with his wife, and this emotional distance makes him feel extremely lonely.
In addition, cognitive factorsIt is also the cause of low mood that cannot be ignored.
Negative self-talk, pessimistic worldview, and lack of hope for the future are all cognitive distortions that can profoundly affect a person's emotional state.
Mr. Zhang mentioned in the consultation that he often feels lost and hopeless about his future, and even though the external conditions seem to be going well, his heart is full of uncertainty and fear.
Finally, socio-cultural factorsThe same should not be overlooked.
In today's highly competitive social environment, where success is emphasized, it is easy for individuals to feel anxious and stressed because they do not meet societal standards.
Although Mr. Zhang has made certain achievements in society, the society's continuous pursuit and comparison of success makes him feel that he is always catching up and has never really arrived.
Through Mr. Zhang's case, we can seeLow mood is the result of a combination of factors. It is not only a reflection of an individual's psychological state, but also a product of multiple intertwined factors such as physiology, environment, cognition, and social culture.
Understanding these causes is the first step in exploring low mood and finding a way out.
[Going Astray: Three Common Coping Traps When You Are Feeling Down].
Depressed mood is like a maze of **, and when we try to find a way out, it is easy to fall into some misunderstandings.
These coping strategies may seem like temporary comfort, but they can actually make us even more lost.
Let's go back to Mr. Zhang's story again and look at some of the ways he copes when he's feeling down, and the possible consequences of these ways.
The first myth: immersing yourself in work to escape emotional problems
When Mr. Zhang feels depressed, he often buries himself deep in his work, hoping to forget the emptiness and loneliness in his heart by being busy.
"As long as I keep working, I don't have time to think about the things that make me unhappy," he said. However, this escape did not solve the underlying problem, but instead exacerbated his physical and mental exhaustion.
In the long run, Mr. Zhang found that not only was his depression not alleviated, but he was overworked, which led to health problems and family tensions.
The second misconception is to seek short-term satisfaction through material consumption
When he was feeling down, Mr. Zhang also tried to improve his mood by shopping.
Whenever he buys a new electronic gadget or expensive clothes, he feels happy for a short time.
But that joy quickly dissipated, leaving nothing but emptiness and financial stress.
This way of relying on material consumption not only failed to solve his low mood, but increased his financial burden and further exacerbated his emotional problems.
The third misconception: avoid social activities and be alone
Faced with low mood, Mr. Cheung often chooses to be alone and avoid any social activities.
He believes that communicating with people will only lead to embarrassment and incomprehension by making one's emotional state perceived.
This loneliness has left Mr. Zhang out of opportunities to communicate with friends and family, as well as the possibility of receiving support and understanding from others.
The prolonged isolation not only did not improve his mood, but made him feel more lonely and helpless.
Through Mr. Zhang's story, we can see that although these coping styles adopted when you are depressed may bring short-term relief, in the long run, they do not solve the root cause of the problem, but can lead to more problems, such as health problems, financial burdens, social estrangement, etc.
These consequences not only exacerbate the level of depression, but also make it more difficult to find a real way out.
When facing low mood, it's important to identify and avoid these coping pitfalls.
Only by facing up to our emotions and actively looking for healthy coping strategies can we gradually get out of the labyrinth of low mood and find the path to peace of mind.
Finding Yourself in Distress: Redefining Depression
In a consultation, Mr. Zhang shared his love for his job and the physical and mental exhaustion caused by long working hours, which made him feel deeply frustrated.
During our conversation, I noticed that Mr. Zhang mentioned that "as long as I keep working, I don't have time to think about the things that make me unhappy." Behind this sentence, Mr. Zhang's evasive attitude towards low mood is hidden, and it also reflects his lack of understanding of his physical and mental needs.
Through careful listening, I guided Mr. Zhang to explore the deeper motivation behind his act of "work".
Through a series of questions:
"What are you really after?
Does the satisfaction that work brings you really equate to your deepest needs? ”
Mr. Zhang began to realize that part of the reason he was obsessed with his work was a desire to prove his self-worth through a sense of accomplishment and to escape the emotions he did not want to face.
In the process, Mr. Zhang realized that his depression was not only due to work pressure or challenges in life, but also due to his lack of understanding and satisfaction of his physical and mental needs.
He gradually came to realizeBeing depressed is actually a signal that he needs to focus on his inner world instead of constantly running away.
Through further development, Mr. Zhang also began to look back on some of the small blessings in his life, such as the warm time spent with his family, the occasional self-reward, etc., which are the parts that he often overlooks when he is down.
I reminded Mr. Zhang that everyone has their own emotional buttons, and understanding and accepting these emotions and exploring the deep needs behind them is the key to getting out of the labyrinth of low mood.
During the counselling process, Mr. Cheung gradually realized that some of his previous coping strategies, such as indulging in work and material consumption, did not really solve the problem, but could exacerbate his emotional distress.
Through our conversations, Mr. Zhang began to try more positive ways to deal with low mood, such as setting a reasonable work-rest balance, increasing interaction with his family, and finding personal interests, which are all advantages and successful experiences that he had previously overlooked.
In addition, we also took Mr. Zhang's definition of "success" and encouraged him to re-examine his life values and goals from a broader perspective.
Through reflection, Mr. Zhang gradually developed a more holistic and healthy self-awareness, and he began to learn to find joy and fulfillment in his daily life, rather than relying solely on his work achievements.
At the end of the consultation, Mr. Zhang said that he felt more optimistic about the future and had new insights and ways to deal with low mood.
For Mr. Zhang, this experience was not only about learning how to cope with emotional depression, but also a journey of self-discovery and growth.
Map of Your Mind: Navigating New Paths to Depressed Mood
As we explore the complex labyrinth of emotional downturn, it's like we're drawing a map of our minds, trying to find those hidden passages and exits.
Mr. Zhang's story shows us a journey of courage to face our innermost emotions, from which we learn how to find a way out by gaining a deep understanding of our own emotions and needs.
In the process, we discover that feeling down is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity – an opportunity to explore ourselves deeply and discover our inner strength and potential.
Just like Mr. Zhang, everyone can map out a path to greater understanding and self-acceptance on their own mental map.
Now, I'd like to invite you to share your own stories and opinions in the comments section:
Have you ever been in a situation like Mr. Zhang, how did you find your way out when you were depressed?
What are some methods or strategies that have been particularly helpful to you when dealing with low mood?
What do you think about the experience of feeling down?
What role do you think it has played in your personal growth?
Hopefully, these questions will stimulate your thinking, and perhaps in sharing and communicating, you will find new paths that you have not noticed on your mental map.
Feeling down, while a difficult journey, also provides us with valuable opportunities for self-discovery and growth.
Each person's story is unique, and by sharing it with each other, we are able to not only find empathy, but also to support and inspire others.
Hopefully, these thoughts will give you some inspiration and let us move forward bravely on the journey of the soul together.
[Surprise Easter Egg: 6 Perspectives to Help You Improve Your Self-Awareness].
The following questions are like a mirror to help you look at yourself, understand your true heart, and be aware of your behavior and thinking patterns in relationships.
You ready? Let's get started!
1.What do you usually do to cope with low mood? Multiple choices.
a.Distract yourself by working overtime or devoting yourself to work.
b.Seek short-term gratification by shopping or spending.
c.Choose to be alone and avoid social activities.
d.Try to communicate with family or friends for support and understanding.
e.Ease your mood by exercising, reading, or developing personal interests.
2.How do you see what you've achieved at work and in life? Multiple choices.
a.Think of it as an important way to prove your self-worth.
b.I feel that although I have achieved some achievements, I always feel dissatisfied.
c.Feeling lost and unsure if these accomplishments really make you happy.
d.Think of accomplishments as a part of life, but not the whole story.
e.Believe that accomplishments can bring short-term happiness, but long-term satisfaction ** is peace of mind.
3.How do you usually understand and deal with feelings of emptiness and loneliness on your own? Multiple choices.
a.Trying to ignore these feelings by being constantly busy.
b.Fill a void in your heart by buying items or pursuing material satisfactions.
c.Avoid thinking about these questions and choose to be alone.
d.Find out the causes and solutions through self-reflection and psychological counseling.
e.Share these feelings with someone you trust, seeking understanding and support.
4.What factors do you think have the most impact on you when you're feeling down? Multiple choices.
a.Work stress and uncertainty about career development.
b.The gap between personal expectations and reality.
c.Interpersonal conflicts and the stress of social activities.
d.Uncertainty and fear of the future.
e.Lack of self-worth and the pursuit of success.
5.What do you do when you realize that you need to focus on your emotional needs? Multiple choices.
a.Continue to ignore because you don't know where to start.
b.Try to solve the problem on your own, but often don't know where to start.
c.Look for books and resources to get help.
d.Ask friends for advice and confide.
e.Seek professional counselling and support.
6.What do you think is the most important thing for personal growth and emotional management? Multiple choices.
a.Constantly improve your professional skills and professional status.
b.Look for material satisfaction and social status ascension.
c.Learn self-acceptance, understanding and expressing your emotions.
d.Build stable and deep relationships.
e.Keep exploring yourself, finding the true meaning of life and your personal interests.
Vote. Congratulations, you've completed another journey of self-discovery.
I hope that the perspective of these questions can help you to be more aware and understand yourself, and be more calm and determined on the road of life.
According to the troubles covered in this article,
I asked 1 related question to the AI consultant (Chun Buyuan).
Here's its first round of replies, and I hope its replies can give you some inspiration and help:
If you feel that this article has inspired youRemember [Like + Watching].
Thank you for reading
———Original article from previous issues].
How do emotions arise? Deep psychoanalysis (worth collecting).
What's going on with a sudden depression? Deep psychoanalysis (worth collecting).
What are the effects of emotions on the body? This article is priceless (worth collecting).
How to manage your emotions? You may need this method (worth collecting).
What causes low mood? This article is priceless (worth collecting).