Core beliefs are found at the centre of every depression and can be thought of as nuggets of self-hatred. They develop in the aftermath of experiences that you think define who you are. In short, all your mental anguish is caused by identification with experience. As an example, think of what happens when a child is raised by psychologically unbalanced, alcoholic parents. They elect to spend their time going out drinking rather than raising their child. As a result of that experience the child comes to understand "they rebuff me because I’m unlovable". But the actual source for the rejection is that the parents don’t have the necessary emotional understanding to parent a child, nor the desire to develop them. When experience is misinterpreted and taken personally, a core belief evolves: "This experience means I am…"

Freedom from misery and depression involves rupturing that identification. There is a dual reality: 1) you are who you are and 2) you experience all sorts of incidents in your life that have nothing whatsoever to do with who you are. Having an embodied, innate awareness of that truth is the definitive cure for depression.

Core Beliefs Have These Features:

=> You are certain they are real

=> You intensely feel how real they are

=> They are very painful (emotionally they are equivalent to hitting your head with a hammer)

=> They start with the statement "I am"

=> They differ from the actual fact of what is

Layers of Anguish

Core beliefs, although false, are so painful that a variety of strategies are used to avoid and reduce them. A strategy evolves to handle the painful core belief, but that hurts too so another strategy is used to manage that and so on, like the complex layering of an onion.

The more strategies you produce, the more convinced you become that the core belief is actually the real deal All this activity uses valuable energy (mostly unconsciously) – which is why depression is such a drained energy state. In contrast, when the core belief is discharged, there is a free flow of life force energy throughout the body which brings about a natural, comfortable feeling of joy.

The following example shows how one reaction brings about another reaction, forming numerous layers around a core belief until it is utterly irrecognisable:

=> I am substandard in some way => That means I’m repulsive => The reason is that my body looks deformed => I have to hide it by smiling a lot => I was rejected because I didn’t get it right => I just need to try harder, then John will love me.

The names of the strategies might be:

=> Core Belief => Conclusion => Rationalisation => Compensation => Pressure To Be More / Better => Masking by Pleasing & Placating.

But the facts are:

=> As a human being I struggle to understand all the complex feelings I have => Human personalities are numerous and I have my own unique characteristics => My body is normal in that it varies from every other body => When I smile but I don’t mean it, it puts others ill at ease. => because I’m not being myself. => It’s so tiring trying to be something that I’m not that I have no energy to just benefit from life.

How to Heal From Depression

Recovering from depression involves becoming consciously aware of self-judgements by noticing your experience as objectively as possible. The truth heals when it reveals your core beliefs as a falsehood, then you experience relief. Above all, BRING AN END TO JUDGING THE JUDGING! Therapy is unparalleled in helping you to melt away self-destructive layers by applying a skill called "mindfulness" At Henshaw Consulting, Psychologist Perth, you can learn more about mindfulness and recovering from depression by downloading our free E-Book at: www. HenshawConsulting.com.au.