Riding out the dip
May 9th, 2007 at 7:39 pm (Metaphysical)
I just walked out of a session with a teenaged client who cycles in and out of depression. Over the past 2 years, we’ve managed to even out her roller-coaster existence into a series of shallow dips. Without the drama of violent mood swings, however, she’s now being expected to perform at a higher level. This, she complains, is annoying. She no longer receives special treatment when she’s feeling this way.
I counter her frustration with a bulleted list (of course). After all — we’ve been all over the psycho-socio-emotional reasons behind her depression. Big insight wasn’t the ticket tonight. She and her parents have made immense progress already and I felt that all she needed was a little fine tuning.
I explain that when she slides into the now-shallow valley of her mood cycle, she needs to rally the troops and do extra things in order to take care of herself. She has to fortify her defenses against the gravity of her depression to keep from sliding further down — to put extra effort into treading water so she doesn’t sink. The list of reminders that we develop together is so basic, so obvious, and motivational that I have sat at my desk for 15 minutes, reading and re-reading it.
Riding out the dip
- Watch for signs and take action ASAP.
- Sleep as much as possible.
- Eat well.
- Exercise.
- Communicate and express in healthy ways.
- Talk to friends and family.
- Ask for what you need.
- Don’t be afraid of the hard questions.
- Write in your journal.
- Be creative and make things.
The curse of being a therapist: it’s really hard to take your own advice. The blessing: you get slapped upside the head with it over and over and over again.
Sarah said,
May 9, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Where were you when I was a teen? oy. Well, I’m 41 and will work to learn/take your advice. I can give it, but I just can’t take it! ha ha. Seriously, thanks for the cue card. And..how cool is it that your client has this support at such a young age? Still a tough road, but hopefully your help will allow for a stronger foundation for a less up/down future.
the veggie paparazzo said,
May 12, 2007 at 3:03 pm
I was like that teenager and still have my moments. If she can get to where she’s figuring out what makes her special and important that has nothing to do with depression–that has to do with taking interest in her interests and getting her pleasure from that–she’ll get to leapfrog a lot of trouble in life!
That’s a good list and a good way of looking at it.
Luna Bella said,
May 13, 2007 at 2:40 pm
A friend of mine (also a therapist) said this week that the thing she didn’t expect about being a grownup was that sometimes it would take a lot of work to be OK. She’s right–sometimes it is an enormous effort to be proactive about riding out the dips we all face.
How cool that you’re helping this young woman figure that out so early in her life.
I work mostly with middle aged, substance-abusing men, and so many of their lives would’ve been completely different if they’d learned the skills you’re helping her develop. I find my clients’ struggles more inspiring than they could ever imagine; I often have their words in my head at the end of the day, and I remind myself that if they can find the strength and serenity to say no to crack, heroin or booze, I can do the same with the Ben n’ Jerry’s.