As a result of my experience in working with others and myself, and through my study and research of Western and Eastern philosophy, psychology, mythology, anthropology, history, theology, and indigenous traditions, I have come to recognize and delineate various “steps” or phases that occur within the process of depression. Each of these phases needs to be consciously experienced and integrated if one is to be able to understand, see through, and consequently move through the confining and often arresting condition of depression.
I present them in this chapter in a preliminary and introductory form to illustrate the developmental parts of the process of depression so that you might begin to absorb and integrate this information, consciously and unconsciously, and thus become more receptive and permeable to its actual experience as you proceed through this book.
The intent is that, by the time you reach Chapters Seven and Eight, you will eventually consciously work with these phases as they occur within you; utilizing them specifically
as you experience each step of the depressive process within yourself. Depression‘s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding are logical, understandable, and practical, both in their composition and their progression, and make complete psychological sense.
It would be very helpful at this point to hold the possibility
in your mind that we are able to comprehend “lessons” of
self-understanding within and through our own depression. A formal presentation of Depression‘s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding is given in Chapter Seven, which also includes a more thorough examination and discussion. But it is important that these developmental steps in the process of depression be introduced now, since they may be new and unfamiliar, and it is vital that we familiarize ourselves with these new ideas and feel as comfortable as possible with this notion of self-understanding through depression.
Depression is perhaps most clearly understood as possessing two parts: the depression itself, and our reaction to this initial depression. When depression initially appears, we don’t necessarily “see it coming,” and may therefore experience it as quite alien to ourselves. As the recipients or “victims” of this depression, we instantly react to it, and, through our reactions and responses, create and establish our own particular relationship with depression, including our mode of dealing or not dealing with it.
In depth psychology, depression is considered to come from
the psyche, the soul, or what is called “the unconscious,” the
unknown part of ourselves. In addition to this, the psyche-soul, in and of itself, is considered to have its own existence and identity, connected with our conscious being, yet also
independent. Thus, the psyche-soul is seen as having power
not only in its own life, but also in ours. This overpowering
influence upon us has often been referred to as “destiny,” “fate,” or “God’s will.”
These depth psychological ideas regarding the psyche or soul and the part it plays in our lives may be difficult to understand, much less accept, at this point, but in our intention of learning to work with and learn from depression, it is helpful and practical to see it in this way. Otherwise, we will want and try to believe that the process of depression is all under our control and that we should therefore understand its operation and its goals. Such a belief, which is only partly true, is an obstacle to our receptivity, understanding, and ultimate acceptance of our depression as it is rather than as we would like it to be. In this process of coming to terms with our depression, we therefore work both with ourselves as we respond and relate to our depression, and also with our depression as if it were a
separate entity.
Depression’s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding illustrate a
process through which we expand our viewpoints to include
other perspectives and possibilities pertaining to depression,
and also in which we open up our views of ourselves to include a greater spectrum, resulting in an expanded understanding of who and what we are and can be. These perspectives and possibilities are discussed further in the next chapter.
The formal presentation of Depression‘s Seven Steps to Self-
Understanding in Chapter Seven is similar in many ways to this preliminary introduction, however, to provide this blueprint for you now will lend itself to the building of your own structure of comprehension upon a firm foundation that you will be able to utilize for yourself in your own life. Once you take in the information, knowledge, and perspectives provided in the ensuing chapters, and participate in the experience of Depression‘s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding, you will have a much greater understanding of the deeper process of depression presented in Chapters Seven and Eight, and will be more able to actually employ this understanding in the living of your own life.
Following in the next edition of this blog is the preliminary presentation of Depression‘s Seven Steps to Self-Understanding. At this point it is best to just read, absorb, and accept them as best you can, even if you have doubts and questions. You needn’t believe them nor accept them as true, but do consider the possibility that this process to self-understanding through depression may be possible. You may, if you like, imagine how it might unfold within you and manifest in your life. However, the intent at this point is simply for you to be exposed to this view of the depressive process as a way to an eventual attainment of deep self-understanding. Again, there is perhaps new information for you that is given here. Just read it, take it in, and don’t try to figure it all out, necessarily understand it, or experience it at this point. You’ll have ample opportunity to do that later.
