At a time when love can seem far distant, it can be helpful to know there are sources of it that can help you out of depression.  One of those is Bishop Michael Curry’s new book Love is the Way.  I review it in this week’s blog.

Lack of Love is Part of the Problem

When you are feeling depressed, it may seem like you have no love in your life.  You may have family and friends who care deeply about you, but you can’t feel how that helps you at times like this.  Most people who have depression are so isolated they have no sense of others caring for them when quite the opposite is true.  If you feel like you are at the bottom of a deep well, the care and concern of others for you is the last thing on your mind.  

What Michael Curry Says About Love

The definition of love in Love is the Way is about extending yourself to connect with or be of help to others, which is the opposite of the experience of selfishness.  He talks about selfishness as the opposite of love.  He also talks about how important community is in experiencing love, and this is something that is probably so foreign to you when you are in the midst of depression.  Being depressed isn’t the same as selfishness, so it’s nothing to feel guilty about.  The effect can be similar to the extent that you are in so much pain that you can’t think of anyone else other than yourself, however.

Our Stories Are at the Core of Love

One of the main ways that Bishop Curry says we can get out of the enmity and hatred of others that is so prevalent today is to listen to the stories of how others have come to take the stances they do about religion, politics, etc.  The thing to know if you are suffering from depression is that your story is important, and someone needs to hear it if they haven’t already.  Sometimes just opening up to others can help depression to go away.  Whatever the case, you do need to find a way to reach out to someone else to eventually get out of depression.  If you are able to tell your story to someone who cares, then any unexpressed grief can surface and any unprocessed trauma can also be identified.  Often being able to heal either of these can be key to overcoming depression.  

Being Part of Community is Important With Love

Michael Curry talked a lot in his book about how much the example of family and others in his community served as positive examples of how he can and should love others.  He also talked much about how being part of a community was central to the experience of love.  As I mentioned above, being depressed can make one feel so totally cut off from others, but it can be so central to recovery from depression to connect authentically with others.  I have had some of my own best recovery experiences coming out of depression by being in a therapy group or 12-step support group that was able to accept me and love me back to wholeness.  This was part of the healing effect of others accepting me for who I was, warts and all.  At that point, I was better able to further connect with others and regain functionality in my life in general.  Community can be very hard to find, especially when you are depressed and living through a time of social distancing like we are right now.  

How I Can Help You Find Love and Overcome Depression

I have been a clinical social worker for almost 12 years now and have helped hundreds of people to overcome depression and regain love in their lives.  I’m not talking about finding the perfect partner, but I am talking about learning to love oneself and then being able to regain an overall experience of love in their lives.  If you want to find out if I can help you in your own efforts to get out of depression, don’t hesitate to call the number at the top of the page or fill out the form below to get a free 20-minute phone consult.  You have nothing to lose and can regain your life and ability to experience the love you’ve been cut off from for so long.

Visit our page on depression therapy to learn more about how Scott can help you overcome depression.

About the author:  Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland.  He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin.  He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His new book is entitled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.