We often hear that depression is caused by a “chemical imbalance” in the brain. While this idea has helped many understand that depression isn’t a personal failure, it doesn’t capture the whole picture. Depression doesn’t simply arise from having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. Instead, it’s shaped by a complex interplay of factors:
- Genetic vulnerability
- Stressful life events
- Medications or medical conditions
- Faulty mood regulation mechanisms
These forces don’t act in isolation—they interact, sometimes subtly, sometimes suddenly, to bring on depression.
Medication and Its Limits
From the medical model, antidepressants—especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)—are commonly prescribed. These medications can help regulate mood, but they often take time to work, and not everyone experiences relief. Research is still exploring whether antidepressants effectively address the cognitive symptoms of depression, such as impaired memory or attention.
Medication can be one part of the healing process. But for many, it’s not the whole story.
The Healing Space of Counselling
This is where counselling or psychotherapy can offer something uniquely powerful.
It’s estimated that we have between 25,000 and 50,000 thoughts a day (and perhaps more), and many of them lean toward the negative. These thoughts shape how we feel, how we act, and how we see ourselves. Counselling offers a space to gently explore these patterns, to bring awareness to the inner dialogue that often goes unnoticed.
Through counselling, you can:
- Gain insight into your thinking patterns
- Learn to challenge and reshape unhelpful thoughts
- Develop coping skills to navigate life’s stresses and conflicts
- Feel heard and held in a space that honours your vulnerability
Counselling doesn’t promise instant transformation. But it does offer companionship on the journey - someone to walk beside you as you rediscover your strength, your voice, and your capacity for joy.
A Gentle Invitation
If you’re living with depression, know that you’re not alone. Healing isn’t linear, and it doesn’t have to be rushed. Whether through medication, counselling, creative expression, or quiet self-care rituals, there is a path forward—and it begins with acknowledging where you are.
You deserve support that honours your complexity. You deserve to feel safe, seen, and gently empowered.