I recently came out of a depressive episode that lasted a couple of weeks. It was partly triggered by certain situational factors, but for the most part, it felt like an unexpected visitor — heavy, slow, and familiar. I wanted to write about this because I know many people silently go through these waves without realizing it’s depression speaking, not them.
Here are some of the symptoms I personally experienced:
- Low mood and a general sense of emptiness
- Heaviness in the chest
- Loss of pleasure in activities that usually bring me joy
- Sleeping more and struggling to get out of bed in the mornings
- Frequent crying spells
- Even some passive thoughts about death
The most important thing to understand about a depressive cycle is that it distorts your inner voice. The harsh thoughts that arise — the ones that tell you you’re not enough or that things will never change — are not the truth. It’s the depression talking. Recognizing that helps reduce self-blame and makes it easier to see the experience as temporary and external, rather than as a personal flaw.
Depression often moves in cycles, and if left untreated, these cycles can last around three months or more. Anyone can be vulnerable to it, especially when there’s been a decline in self-care or too much emotional stress.
There are different paths to recovery, including medication, therapy, and behavioural activation. For me, I leaned into behavioural activation — even when I didn’t feel like doing anything, I made a point to gently reintroduce activities that used to bring me joy. This included fitness classes, creative expression, and reconnecting with supportive people.
It’s rarely easy, and motivation doesn’t appear magically. But by scheduling activities — even small ones — we give ourselves a chance to shift the internal state. Another tool that helped me was mindfulness, especially noticing sensations and emotions without judgment. When you can observe your pain without drowning in it, something begins to soften.
And lastly, please remember to give yourself grace. Depression is not a character weakness — it’s a state of imbalance that can be healed. Take it one day at a time, and know that healing doesn’t always look linear.
If you’re going through a depressive cycle right now, I want you to know that you’re not alone. I’m cheering you on. As a counsellor who has walked through this darkness myself, I offer counselling sessions to help you navigate your healing journey — gently, at your own pace, and with full confidentiality.