If you suffer from depression and anxiety, it is highly likely that you engage in self-attack. Narratives such as “I’m not good enough, I’m such a loser, I’m so stupid, etc are often so unconscious and automatic that you have become oblivious to the constant self-abuse to which you subject yourself. The consequences of these self-destructive mechanisms invariably leads to depression and/or anxiety. Imagine if you observed this emotional abuse happening to someone you love. You might feel horrified and want to protect that person.
Your awareness of this self-abuse does not necessarily lead to change. Because unconscious emotions fuel this destructive narrative, it important to “exorcise” them through a therapeutic relationship. In ISTDP, we attempt to block these narratives and apply pressure in sessions to evoke a transformative emotional experience to help you overcome the debilitating symptoms of depression and anxiety.