Inner Void and its Connection to Depression

Depression is a common disorder that is very wide spread. It happens due to some life circumstances or genetic factors can also trigger depression. The question is why do we feel depressed and anxious? Sometimes we just have a vague feeling of being depressed but do not know the precipitating factors. In this post, I will be discussing some signs and symptoms of depression and factors contributing to its onset.
When we are disconnected from others, there comes an inner void in us and makes us feel incomplete. Any life event can cause this inner emptiness. If one’s physical health is not good, the person will become fragile and experience deterioration in health. If psychological health is affected, then the person will become susceptible to fears, phobias, and anxiety. The effect of fragmentation can be very subtle and this can make it harder to combat with the issues. Even if we have everything we want, there could be something vital missing and can create an inner emptiness.
The inner emptiness can manifest itself in symptoms like depression and anxiety.
Signs of Depression are
Hopelessnesss
Difficulty in concentration
Indecisiveness
Not laughing anymore.
Feeling angry inside but suppressing it on the outside.
Loss of interest, feeling agitated, fidgetiness, feeling compelled to move around, feeling anxious in the presence of others, even friends.
Feeling constantly exhausted, trapped and anxious.
Feeling depressed even when good things happen, changes in normal eating pattern and feeling suicidal.
If these symptoms have existed for more than two weeks, it needs professional help. It is possible to overcome depression. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help the person by changing the thoughts and becoming aware of the faulty thinking style and making rational coping statements to counter depressive feelings. Depression can also hurt self esteem and confidence. It is advisable to engage in social and recreational activities to counter depression. The emptiness that is created, can be remedied by our actions and interventions.

Resentment, anger and violence
The inner emptiness can also cause the person to become very resentful and angry. These feelings also give rise to violence and aggression. If you have been manipulated by others and others have taken advantage of you, you might implode or explode. Inner pressure can cause you to internalize your anger and lead to depression. If you have been hurt repeatedly by others, you may not be able to forget the experience for many years. The feeling of hopelessness and helplessness can linger on with the same intensity as if the event happened yesterday. If you do not address the issue with the person who has hurt you, your resentment will build into anger. This is often released towards a third party who has nothing to do with it. In this way anger will be displaced on innocent people. Anger is a normal emotion and we all are guilty of it. However, if it happens on a daily basis, then it is a matter of concern.
Warning signs of anger are:
Obsessive thinking about particular event
Persistent angry feelings in the stomach area
Lack of concentration
Feelings of explosion
Wanting to hit and damage something, accompanied by shouting.
Using alcohol, cigarettes or drugs to keep angry feelings unexpressed.
When the level of anger escalates, people are often violent because body and mind both are overloaded and the release comes in the manifestation of physical action. The person becomes aggressive but then the feelings of guilt, regret and shame are followed. Sometimes the violence makes the person feel self important and gives a sense of power leading to more violent acts.
Loneliness
A person can be lonely even when surrounded with family and friends. Loneliness can be a matter of perception. If you feel connected to people around you, your feelings of loneliness will be comparatively lower than if you feel disconnected with folks around you. When you do not feel connected to others because of a lack of positive feedback, your Self remains un nurtured and your fears and doubt tend to become more pronounced.
Rootlessness
Sometimes depression can be caused by a feeling of rootlessness. Rootlessness happens when the person has to move in a new place and start all over again making friends and getting familiar with the new place. These days people are changing jobs more frequently than before and this requires adjustment. It takes time and effort to build a new social network and get accustomed to the demands of a new job. Even when you are given a temporary office when you choose to work freelance, this is not the same thing as belonging. People know you are there for only a temporary period, which is often not long enough to establish a new social circle. So feelings of rootlessness creep in and in order to address these feelings, one must feel at home within oneself. You need to get connected to your inner you.
Emptiness
Emptiness can happen even when you are surrounded by others and have health, and good relationship. This is an inner state that can develop at any stage in life and is not affected by social status. When we lack meaning in life and lose purpose, we feel emptiness and lose enthusiasm in life.
Signs of emptiness manifest themselves in feeling unfulfilled by work, loss of purpose, listlessness, avoiding the company of others, inability to laugh, feeling something is missing in life and despair.
As children we learn to attribute meaning to our actions. We get praise for our efforts and that helps putting meaning in doing good work. When we become adults and lose the meaning , we feel depressed and the feelings of emptiness creeps in. Writer has written a blog post on the importance of Having Meaning and Purpose on this website. Readers are referred to this blog post for more details.
Dependency
Dependency can take various forms and it can manifest itself in becoming dependent on person, spouse, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and caffeine. When you lack the motivation you want others to do things for you that you are capable of doing. This is called secondary gains and you become used to getting attention this way from others.
Dependency on drugs and alcohol can also happen when the person is depressed and has an inner void. You latch on to food, drugs, alcohol and other addictive substances to fill that inner void. There is a physiological and psychological dependence when it comes to dependence of alcohol and drugs. The craving has a physiological aspect and psychological dependence is caused due to trauma, loss, grief, stress or a lack of confidence.
In order to fill the inner void and remove the feelings of emptiness, it is important to clear up the past, eliminate negative life patterns, overcome a limiting past, transform emotions through positive thought forms, self preservation, changing perception, being true to oneself, tuning in to inner world, connecting with the emotional side, tuning in to the spirit, positive visualization, and becoming aware of your patterns and addressing them adequately.
Meditation, Emotional Freedom Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and self healing exercises help remove the inner void. Even hypnosis can help you learn some effective relaxation techniques and manage stress in a healthy way.It can also help break bad habit of stressful eating, dependence on alcohol and drug addiction. It is important to notice and recognize if you have the inner void and emptiness lingering in you for years. The person’s depressive symptoms can become worse and there could be an escalation in the level of inner void, if left untreated.
In this way we see that there is a way to fill the inner void and emptiness which causes depression. By engaging in self nurturing exercises and doing activities that give you pleasure, you can reduce the intensity and frequency of depressive symptoms. You will feel connected to your inner self and that void that was created will be filled in. When you feel connected and complete, you will begin to rejoice life events and have a better social life. You may want to visit the Blossom Hypnosis page of this website to learn more about how hypnosis can help improve self esteem, break bad habits, and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Hypnosis can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and improve the well being of the person. Please visit our Blossom Hypnotherapy page to learn how hypnosis can help reduce symptoms of Anxiety disorders.

Reference: Inner Happiness, Positive Steps to Feeling Complete by Vera Peiffer