THE DEPRESSEED MIND ( ARTICLE 1 )

If we use the three circle-model, we can see that what happens when we get depressed – our emotions can become severely out of balance.

First, we can see that the threat system has become overstimulated so the dominant feelings are increases in anxiety, tension, frustration, irritability and anger.

Second, many of the things that give us pleasure don’t seem to any more . So it is as if our capacity to experience pleasure and excitement and look forward to things has taken a dive. When this happens, life can feel flat and we can feel hopeless or even despairing.

Third, we often have a feeling of disconnectedness from others, which can be associated with intense loneliness . Sometimes we feel as if there is a barrier between us and other people; we are emotionally cut off from the.

It may be difficult to feel affection for others , even…