When you are feeling depressed, it can be easy to think, “This is just who I am.” The weight, the low energy, the lack of motivation—it can feel like it defines you. But depression isn’t your identity. It’s not the essence of who you are. Depression is more like a state your mind and body shift into, often because at some point in life, it was the only way to cope.
Why Depression Shows Up
Depression is closely linked to the nervous system. When life feels overwhelming—especially in childhood when support may have been missing—the body learns survival strategies. Sometimes that means shutting down, numbing emotions, or pulling back. At the time, this was protective. But as the years go by, the same pattern can reappear whenever stress or pain feels too heavy to manage. That heaviness isn’t weakness—it’s your body doing what it learned to do long ago.
Moving Toward Healing
The good news is that patterns can change. By learning how to tune into your nervous system, understand your emotions, and give yourself the support you may not have had in the past, you can begin to loosen depression’s grip. Therapy helps create that space: a place to slow down, untangle old patterns, and reconnect with your authentic self.
At Newmarket Therapy Centre, we support people in exploring depression with curiosity and compassion. You are not “a depressed person.” You are a whole, complex, resilient individual whose mind and body learned one way of coping. With support, you can learn new ways of responding —ones that bring more energy, clarity, and connection into your life.
If you are feeling overwhelmed and want support, we are here to help. Reach out to Newmarket Therapy Centre to book a session or learn more about our services.