Trauma Therapy and EMDR for Depression
Understanding Depression and Trauma: When Feeling Low Goes Beyond the Everyday
Feeling sad or low at times is a natural part of life, especially when facing challenging or painful experiences. However, if you find that these feelings last for extended periods, with little to no moments of happiness or contentment, you may be experiencing symptoms of depression.
Could Trauma Be Behind Your Depression?
Depression can sometimes be linked to unresolved trauma. Research shows that certain traumatic events may trigger depression, especially when the trauma remains unprocessed. Additionally, for those who have tried other therapies without success, trauma-focused therapy—such as Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)—has shown promising results in addressing both trauma and its depressive symptoms.
Traumatic Events That May Lead to Depression
Trauma doesn’t always stem from major life events like accidents or assaults. It can also come from deeply personal experiences that impact one’s self-worth, relationships, or sense of security. Examples of life events that may trigger depression include:
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Relationship breakups: The end of a significant relationship can leave lasting emotional scars, sometimes leading to unrelenting feelings of hopelessness and loss.
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Relationship betrayal: When trust is broken, especially by someone close, it can be profoundly painful and trigger feelings of worthlessness or isolation.
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Public humiliation or shaming: Being humiliated or shamed, especially in a public setting, can deeply impact self-esteem and emotional well-being, leading to persistent feelings of shame or guilt.
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Making a significant mistake: Errors with serious consequences—especially those affecting others—can result in a cycle of guilt, regret, and self-criticism, potentially contributing to depression.
Why Trauma Therapy and EMDR May Help
For those whose depression is rooted in trauma, traditional talk therapies may not always address the underlying issues effectively. Trauma therapy, and particularly EMDR therapy, works by helping individuals process difficult memories and emotions that may be "stuck" in the brain. EMDR has been shown to reduce the emotional charge of traumatic memories, allowing individuals to gain relief from depressive symptoms and other trauma-related effects.
Depression stemming from unresolved trauma is treatable. If you think past experiences may be contributing to your low mood, reaching out to a trauma-focused therapist could be the first step towards healing. Therapy approaches like EMDR can help unearth and process the root causes, allowing you to move forward with a renewed sense of well-being.
Depression and trauma may seem overwhelming, but with the right support, recovery is entirely possible.
How We Can Help
I will conduct a thorough assessment to determine the likely causes of your depression. This assessment allows us to create a customised treatment plan based on your unique experiences. If we find that a traumatic event may have triggered your depression, I will recommend trauma therapy, with a particular focus on Eye-Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) if it aligns with your needs.
One way to identify a trauma-related origin for depression is to think back to when your symptoms began. If you notice they surfaced after a specific event, it’s possible that unresolved trauma could be contributing to your feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
When Trauma Is Not the Cause: Evidence-Based Therapies for Depression
If your assessment reveals that trauma is unlikely to be the cause of your depression, we will utilise effective, research-backed therapies specifically for treating depression, such as:
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Mindfulness
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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Compassion-Focussed Therapy (CFT)
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Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
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Dialectical-Behavioural Therapy (DBT)
If this information resonates with you or you would like to know more, get in touch.