Seattle Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • Abandonment and Neglect
      • ADHD
      • Aging and Geriatric Issues
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Coaching
      • Codependency
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Depression
      • Eating Disorders
      • EMDR
      • Grief and Loss
      • Individual Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Lifespan Integration Therapy
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Personal Development
      • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
      • Professional Development
      • Psychological Testing
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sex And Porn Addiction
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Spiritual Development
      • Trauma
      • Weight Loss
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
      • Marriage Intensive
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Couples Counseling
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Counseling for Children
      • Family Counseling
    • Group CounselingBenefit from the support of others
      • Men’s Christian Recovery Groups
      • All Counseling Groups
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Marriage Counseling
    • Sexual Addiction
  • LocationsChoose from our variety of office locations
    • Bellevue Office FrontBellevue
    • Bothell Office Front EntranceBothell
    • Edmonds Christian CounselingEdmonds
    • Everett Office Front EntranceEverett
    • Federal Way Office ParkingFederal Way
    • Hansville
    • Kent Office FrontKent
    • Kirkland OutsideKirkland
    • Lacey Christian CounselingLacey
    • Mill Creek OfficeMill Creek
    •  1Monroe
    • Oak Harbor Office OutsideOak Harbor
    • Poulsbo
    • Puyallup Christian CounselingPuyallup
    • Redmond OfficeRedmond
    • Seattle Downtown Christian CounselingSeattle Downtown
    • Seattle Greenlake OutsideSeattle Greenlake
    • Silverdale Office FrontSilverdale
    • Spokane OutsideSpokane
    • Spokane Valley Christian CounselingSpokane Valley
    • North Spokane Christian CounselingNorth Spokane
    • Tacoma Office EntranceTacoma
    • Vancouver
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind the best counselor for your needs
  • CareersBecome an affiliated Christian counselor
  • (206) 388-3929Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

Dealing with Depression: How Depression Affects Your Brain

Seattle Christian Counseling
https://seattlechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Crowds-file8791310093803.jpg 900 600
https://seattlechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/seattle-greenlake-6-scaled.jpg
https://seattlechristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/cropped-cropped-seattle-logo.png
6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B
SEATTLE, WA 98115
United States
6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B
SEATTLE, WA 98115
United States
Photo of Lisa Velin

Lisa Velin

Apr
2017
13

Dealing with Depression: How Depression Affects Your Brain

Lisa Velin

“And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.” – Oh The Places You’ll Go, by Dr. Seuss

Whether you wake up in an unexplainably foul mood, or whether you have been dealing with depression for months or years, we all know what it feels like to be in a “slump.” And once we get stuck, it really can be difficult to get un-stuck. It seems our brains more easily ruminate on bad feelings than relish the pleasant ones.

Are You Dealing with Depression?

According to Rick Hanson in his book, Hardwiring Happiness, our brains are wired to take in the bad and ignore the good. This makes us worried, irritated, and stressed, instead of confident, secure, and happy. The good news here is that we can build inner strengths through daily practice and actually change our brain.

Like us if you are enjoying this content.

Sit down for a minute and just let your mind wander. If you can, take note of the thoughts as they seemingly involuntarily come and go. Whether we’re dealing with depression or not, the majority of our thoughts naturally turn to the negative things – ruminating about how a partner constantly lets you down, or a boss who is unfair, the limits of a chronic illness, or just an unpleasant interaction with the salesperson at the store. The brain’s default is pessimism. But we can change this through time and steady practice.

Practicing this simple exercise for a few minutes a day can make a huge difference – not just in your mood – but in your relationships, your career, your creativity, your success. This is not just positive thinking, which only impacts your thinking short-term. This is going more deeply into your brain to change patterns that have been deeply rooted for years and years. This exercise will teach you how to relish the pleasant experiences in your life – experiences that are just as real as the negative ones. We can change our way of being in the world.

Sit down in a safe, comfortable spot. With hands relaxed and shoulders relaxed, give the full weight of your body to the chair, couch, or floor. Close your eyes and simply breathe. In slowing down like this, thoughts may become rapid fire: To Do list, what you need at the grocery store, an upcoming work deadline. Just observe these thoughts and then create distance between you and them. One way to do this is to imagine your thoughts as clouds in the sky – way up there – passing by one by one. Then immediately return your focus to your breaths – how the air feels as you inhale and where you feel it is as you exhale. Breath by breath, move into deeper inhales and longer exhales until you find your rhythm.

Once you are there, remember one moment of joy or contentment – whatever comes into your mind as you keep breathing. (This may take a few minutes, and that is okay. Our brains are not naturally wired to relish those positive experiences. Just keep breathing and waiting.) When you have your moment – maybe from years ago, from childhood, or from just yesterday – picture in your mind’s eye what you saw around you in that moment. A color, an outdoor setting, a person, a beloved animal…. As you breathe in and out still, just picture where you were in that moment of joy.

Next, with each inhale you take, imagine what you were smelling in that moment of contentment or joy. The freshly cut grass, the cake baking in the oven, the puppy breath, the salty air surrounding the ocean water….

Now remember what you heard in that pleasant moment. The waves crashing, the laughter of your children, complete silence, the music that was playing….
Crowds-file8791310093803What was your body experiencing in that moment of joy? Maybe you were lying on the sand looking up at the sun, or your feet were pounding the dirt trail in the mountains as you ran…. Maybe your body was immersed in warm water as you took a bath, or your fingers were intentionally feeling each blade of grass….

Even your sense of taste was involved in that moment joy. Whether it was that cup of coffee or tea you could still taste, or the lingering dark chocolate flavor…. The gum or favorite candy in your mouth.

Next time you find yourself dealing with depression, stuck in a negative thought cycle, ruminating on an unpleasant interaction, or feeling overtaken by a bad mood or depressing sadness, try this exercise. Be patient with yourself as you start practicing. But have hope that this will make a huge difference in your brain and in your life.

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” – Philippians 4:8

Photos
“Downcast,” courtesy of AvenueG, Flickr Creative Commons; “Journal Entry,” courtesy of Ray Dumas, Flickr CreativeCommons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

DISCLAIMER: THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this article are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact one of our counselors for further information.

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top
Photo of Lisa Velin
Schedule with Lisa
  • Appointment Info

  • Your Info

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Lisa Velin

Licensed Counselor and Clinical Supervisor
(206) 452-6727 lisav@seattlechristiancounseling.com

I’m a firm believer in the limitless possibilities for redemption through faith in Christ. I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Supervisor with extensive experience in bilingual counseling, and helping people work through anxiety, depression, women’s issues, and trauma. I understand what it feels like to go through dark, seemingly hopeless times, but I know that everything God brings you through will shape you into all you are meant to become. Working with you is an honor, and I’m dedicated to helping you learn, heal, and grow as you work towards a future that is made new in Christ. Read more articles by Lisa »

Other articles that might interest you...

Dealing With Depression: Tackling Energy Issues 1
Photo of Lisa Velin

Lisa Velin

Dealing With Depression: Tackling ...

Part 2 of a 4-Part Series Depression involves a deep and painful struggle that is often seemingly resistant to treatment....

continue reading »
Stop Self-Destructive Behavior: Dealing with Depression 3
Photo of Lisa Velin

Lisa Velin

Stop Self-Destructive Behavior: Dealing ...

Part 4 of a 4-Part Series In this last article in a four-part series on helpful tips for dealing with...

continue reading »
Why Balance is Needed When Dealing With Depression
Photo of Lisa Velin

Lisa Velin

Why Balance is Needed When Dealing With ...

Part 3 of a 4-Part Series This is the third article in a four-part series on helpful tips for dealing...

continue reading »

About Lisa

Photo of Lisa Velin

Lisa Velin, MA, LMHC

Licensed Counselor and Clinical Supervisor

I’m a firm believer in the limitless possibilities for redemption through faith in Christ. I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Clinical Supervisor with extensive experience in bilingual counseling, and helping people work through anxiety, depression, women’s issues, and trauma. I understand what it feels like to go through dark, seemingly hopeless times, but I know that everything God brings you through will shape you into all you are meant to become. Working with you is an honor, and I’m dedicated to helping you learn, heal, and grow as you work towards a future that is made new in Christ. View Lisa's Profile

Recent articles by Lisa

  • Aug 21 · What is Group Therapy and What are the Benefits?
  • Apr 16 · Children of Divorce: How to Help Them Cope
  • Apr 15 · Hope in the Dark: A Reflection on Coronavirus and Easter
See all articles by Lisa »

Lisa's Office Locations

  • Photo of the Seattle Greenlake office

    Seattle Greenlake

    Washington

    General Office Number

    (206) 388-3929
    6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B Seattle, WA 98115

    View Office Details
Seattle Christian Counseling Logo
Seattle Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
Welcome to Seattle Christian Counseling. We are an association of professional, independently licensed Christian counselors with more than 20 office locations throughout Washington state for your convenience, including the Seattle neighborhoods of Greenlake, Ballard, and Downtown Lower Queen Anne. We look forward to meeting you soon.
© 2025 Seattle Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
6827 Oswego Place NE, Suite B, Seattle, WA 98115. Tel (206) 388-3929.
Facebook Twitter Online Counseling About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!
We are open for business. In person and online counseling are available now.