Depression

- Mindful Mage Counseling -

When Ever Day Feels Like a Loading Screen That Never Loads

Depression isn’t just sadness—it’s a loss of momentum, a fog that dulls your senses and slows your steps. Maybe you’re still showing up—at work, in your relationships, online. But it feels like you’re going through the motions with your battery perpetually on 5%.

You want to care. You want to want to. But something’s missing—and that something can’t be fixed with just positive thinking or fresh routines. You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re worn down by a mind that won’t give you a break and a body that doesn’t respond the way it used to. It feels like your mind and body feel like they're gone offline and AFK,

Signs You Might Be Experiencing Depression

  • Emotional blunting – feeling flat, disconnected, or emotionally “offline”
  • Chronic fatigue – even small tasks feel overwhelming
  • Loss of interest – nothing feels exciting or meaningful
  • Negative self-talk – cycles of shame, guilt, or worthlessness
  • Social withdrawal – avoiding friends, partners, or support
  • Sleep and appetite changes – either too much or not enough

Many clients seeking depression therapy in Calgary tell us "I don't feel like myself anymore." If that resonates with you, you're not alone, and you don't have to figure it out alone either.

A Glimpse Into a Real Story

“J was a second-year university student who had started skipping classes—not because he didn’t care, but because it felt pointless. He would doom scroll for hours Insta and Reddit, then beat himself up for doing nothing. He believed something was broken inside him, but also couldn’t explain when the sadness became a passive skill. In therapy, we used Dr. Michael Yapko’s approach: less on why he felt this way, more on how he could start acting differently even when his brain told him not to. He made a list of micro-tasks—a five-minute walk, one chapter of reading, texting a friend back. We treated the depression like a fog of war: he didn’t need to see the whole map—just uncover the next square.”

What Causes Depression?

While depression can be influenced by biology, trauma, or life circumstances, it also grows in environments of:

  • Disconnection
  • Comparison
  • Emotional suppression
  • Over-functioning or perfectionism
  • Burnout

You may have internalized stories like "I shouldn't feel this way," "No one wants to hear about it," or "I just need to push through." over time, these messages can turn inbto scripts that dreain your emotional energy. Many clients benefit from CBT for depression in Calgary that helps interrupt those storiesand rebuild ones that are more honest, compassionate, and supportive. Depression often isn’t a single event. It’s the slow wearing-down of hope and identity. 

What Therapy Looks Like

We don’t treat depression as a disorder to be fixed—we approach it as a narrative interruption that requires movement, re-engagement, and a different kind of attention.

We draw from:

  • Dr. Michael Yapko’s action-based therapy – behavior leads, mood follows
  • CBT and DBT tools – shift self-talk and build emotional resilience
  • Narrative therapy – explore and rewrite stories of failure, inadequacy, or despair
  • Mindfulness and values-based strategies – reconnect to purpose and the present
  • RPG metaphors – depression as “status ailment,” “fog of war,” or “identity loss after a failed quest”

We build from wherever you are—whether that’s climbing out of bed or redefining what fulfillment means to you. You don't have to feel better to begin. You just need a therapist who can hold space for the version of you that's showing up today.

Fox's Thoughts

Depression convinces you that you're the problem. That your life is small, your joy is gone, and your efforet doesn't matter.

But depression is a liar.

But you’re reading this. That means some part of you still hopes for more.

You don’t need to feel motivated to start therapy. We’ll create momentum together. Not through pressure—but through compassionate structure, small wins, and reminders of who you are underneath the heaviness.

Let’s Reignite the Spark

You don’t have to climb the whole mountain today. You just have to take the next step.

 Book  a free 20 -minute consult

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