I have lived my whole life in Michigan. I know what winters are like so experience should have acclimated me to the cold gray days. Many people talk about seasonal effective disorder. The best counselor that I worked with whined about it many times during our times in Midland, Michigan. I always admonished her that it was a made up disorder, Scientists and researchers have studied this phenomenon and I have not.
I must admit that if I do not work at it, my mood can take on a fugue, or have a negative attitude. At these low points, I work at finding something worth doing. Going to the health club to work out seems to be the best remedy for me, but others may have their own method. Whatever brings on this state of mind it can be managed.
However you deal with this aspect of life, the blues or prolonged depression which gets deeper is something that should not be ignored. Whatever brings a client to the counselor, the person’s state of mind is not abnormal but a part of life for the person. The assessment and the beginning of therapy are focused on supporting the client in regaining a feeling of health and control. When physicians treat a patient they ask for input from them to gauge the return to better physical well being. Many of us have been asked to give a number between 1-10 on pain which assists our physician in our care. Mental and emotional pain are a part of our health, the body and mind are one.
The broad spectrum of health can be treated successfully when we seek assistance. There is no weakness or fault in going to a professional. I take my car to good automotive professionals without stigma. I do not have that skill set. I look at my work with clients as a skill set that I have been trained to use. Experience adds to these skills but I do not have all the answers to the questions that people ask. Exploration, time, and specialists are used to help people find answers and solutions for their problems.
Severe depression that has led to suicide shows how deep the pain is for people. This may stop the pain for the person but the loss is permanent and has lingering impact on those who loved them as well.
If I knew why a good friend of mine took his life it would not make me feel better. I still miss the person and use this experience with clients. In solitary moments when I think of him it helps me to reflect and move on as I will find no answer. His suicide does help me understand the pain he felt and it drives me to support and help the next client with such feelings. I can only offer to seek help and support.
Life is precious, live it, love it and share it with those that you care about.
