Curing Depression. Are We Just Missing Something Essential ? The Human Givens Approach
Regular readers will know I’ve struggled with depression for pretty much all of my adult life. In that time, I’ve done a lot of research into depression and possible treatments to try and help myself. I read a book many years ago based on the human givens approach to treating depression. It didn’t resonate with me at the time, but recently, in desperation, I’ve taken another look.
The Premise
According to the human givens approach to therapy
“At its core is a highly empowering idea – that human beings, like all organic beings, come into this world with a set of needs. If those needs are met appropriately, it is not possible to be mentally ill.”
Quite a statement, isn’t it? If we can check off items on a list, it becomes impossible for us to be mentally ill. I’m not 100% certain I agree with this philosophy. I do agree that conventional treatment of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety seems to be either partially or totally ineffective in some cases. It’s a widely known fact that medication will not cure depression. Its role is to raise your mood enough to take additional steps or treatments that will cure you.
That, dear friends, is where I stumble. I’ve been on various medications which worked for shorter and longer times. When I felt better, I went to therapy, tried exercising more, eating healthily, changed jobs, took up new interests, etc., but none of them stopped my depression from returning.
That’s why I have decided to look at the human givens approach again. So, what are these needs that, when fulfilled, will magically “fix” me?
Our Needs
Our physical needs don’t need much explanation. Food, water, shelter, etc., in other words, the things we need to stay alive.
According to human givens, the emotional elements we need to cure mental illness are as follows:
- Security — safe territory and an environment which allows us to develop fully
- Attention (to give and receive it) — a form of nutrition
- Sense of autonomy and control — having volition to make responsible choices
- Emotional intimacy — to know that at least one other person accepts us totally for who we are, “warts’ n’ all”
- Feeling part of a wider community
- Privacy — opportunity to reflect and consolidate experience
- Sense of status within social groupings
- Sense of competence and achievement
- Meaning and purpose — which come from being stretched in what we do and think.
My Human Givens
Since I returned to this approach, I’ve tried to analyse my life and be brutally honest. What would be the point of lying? I won’t get better that way. This is where I’m at:
Security
I live in a safe area of the city in a relatively safe country. I feel secure.
Attention
My husband and I give each other lots and lots of attention. I also have a close relationship with my sister and my many cats. I genuinely believe I have this covered.
Sense Of Autonomy And Control
Yes. I take a lot of comfort in knowing I can make the choices that seem right to me and that my loved ones are very supportive.
Emotional Intimacy
My husband and sister see the good, the bad and the ugly in me. They accept me and love me, and I feel very lucky to have them.
Feeling part of a wider community
No, a very BIG no. I don’t feel connected to the wider community or anything bigger than myself. I felt this chapter leaned towards religion a little. As a confirmed atheist, finding meaning in any of the mainstream religions is a complete non-starter for me.
I don’t know how I can feel part of a wider community. I’ve thought it over, and I’m coming up empty. I strongly believe this is the main area I should focus on as I am starting at zero.
Privacy
Not always as much as I’d like, but I get time to myself to sit quietly and reflect. I’m going to start trying to build it in regularly though, rather than as and when like I do now.
Sense of status within social groupings
I’m still trying to understand 100% what this means. I don’t feel overlooked or unimportant in social groupings, and I think that’s a large part of it. I definitely need to do more reading to be sure.
Sense of competence and achievement
I have skills, and I’m very proud of some things I’ve achieved. Off the top of my head, starting my blog and completing the decoration of a Christmas cake which took three weeks as part of a cake decorating course I completed. Honestly, when Christmas Day came, I had to give my stepfather the knife and leave the room while he cut it.
Meaning and purpose
I don’t feel particularly stretched or challenged at present, either at home or at work. I’m going to give myself 4/10. I definitely need to work on it, but I’m giving it a lesser priority than feeling part of a wider community, as that is 0/10.
My Plan
So, after all that, what am I going to do? I have not given up on the idea of spirituality, just mainstream religion. I’m looking for something that does not seem to exist to raise up men while keeping us little women in our place. One clear source of beauty and power that I see all around me is nature, so I’m going to read books on paganism. I have one on Wicca to start off with. If this doesn’t work, I’ll have to rethink.
I’m also going to look at ways to challenge myself, both at work and at home. Work is going to get very busy soon, so that might be all the challenge I need.
What Do You Think?
Do you think mental illness is a matter of lacking basic needs, or is it a more complex problem? Is there anything in the human givens approach you feel you need to work on? Let me know in the comments.
