Depression

There are many ways in which you can practice self-compassion. Learn more in this blog and webinar series by ADAA Member Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT.

With depression, there’s limited pleasure or interest in day-to-day activities and/or a consistently depressed mood. Because of this, individuals experiencing depression often pull back from life by not engaging in activities they used to before becoming depressed.

More often, people have heard about PTSD in the context of war, with combat-exposed veterans. While combat veterans often return to the normality of the civilian life after deployment, the job of firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services workers involves regular, routine exposure to all types of traumas, for years and decades of their careers.

As a young child with autism, Ben had trouble putting his feelings into words, except when he was angry. During one outburst, he told his mother he didn’t want to live. Although she took him to mental health providers, they focused on treating him for anxiety, rather than depression.  

In contrast to more traditional psychological approaches, positive psych concerns itself with the good stuff in life. It strives to understand what makes for a good life and how we can not only maintain average or ‘normal’ functioning but how we can actually surpass it. Positive psychology focuses on building strengths and on maximizing wellbeing. In a word, it’s all about thriving.