When I talk about self-compassion with clients who are struggling with depression, often, it is hard for them to imagine themselves expressing that kind of concern for themselves.

In one of his workshops on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Daniel Moran says that an important part of treating depression is “behavior activation.”

Perhaps the title to this blog sounds a bit strange to you. It would make more sense to you if I was talking about how to stop being depressed or how to stop feeling depressed. That is the way we normally think about depression.

Imagine that you are floating down a river on an inner tube. You have never been to this river, but it is easy to relax as the water moves slowly. You are at peace and at ease. But soon you hear the sound of rushing water. You look ahead and see rapids.

You can say two things about the emotional upheaval that happens with loss, rejection, or disappointment. First, these emotions are normal. Second, these emotions are not only normal, but they are also important. These feelings tell you that you are experiencing distress in some area of your life that really matters.

Can I Live A Normal Life With Depression? If you are struggling with depression, you might consider that question to be nonsensical. If I have depression, then, no, my life is not normal.

“I am depressed…I have depression.” These are words I hear often when people come into my office for an initial session. I will ask them to describe what it is like when the depression is there.

Kristen Neff, in her book, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, identifies three core components of the practice of self-compassion. In previous posts, we have looked at the first two of these components.

When you are struggling with problems like anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, or stress in some area of your life, it is easy to conclude that the one thing all these problems have in common is you.

In her book, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself, Kristin Neff says that self-compassion “entails three core components.