According to RTL Today, Luxembourg has the EU’s highest rate of depressive symptoms, and we are not alone. Timo Kojonen, a psychologist and CEO of Therapion, reminds that depression is very common, not only in Luxembourg but across Europe.
“Depression is a state of mind that lacks positivity and hope,” explains Kojonen. “If it is deep, it is an illness. On a personal level, it causes sadness and lower quality of life. It is the type of sadness that persists and that may go from bad to worse. It sometimes lacks a low point from which to recover, or at least, that is how it feels like.”
Depression has many causes
According to Kojonen, depression comes from many causes, including clinical ones, such as the personal psychological structure of individuals.
“We all have our personal weaknesses and strengths,” Kojonen says. “Some of us have deeper thoughts and stronger feelings. Being sensible makes you vulnerable to life experiences that may sometimes feel overwhelming.”
Kojonen also points out that when looking at younger generations, new types of threats can be seen. These include the constant competition people are put into by society, and the pressure caused by social media. According to Kojonen, these types of external factors can contribute to stress and later on, to depression.
“Additionally, one depressed generation may create more depression in the future as one generation passes their ill-feeling to the next one,” reminds Kojonen.
“Life management is not just about crisis and negative moments.”
Timo Kojonen
Don’t be alone with your negative feelings
While seeking help can feel difficult, Kojonen encourages doing so, reminding that there are levels of depression and they vary greatly.
“If you feel sad every now and then and it is typical for you, it is no big deal,” Kojonen says. “Negative feelings are a normal part of life. But if you constantly struggle with negative feelings and you don’t enjoy life, it is worth acting upon. If you notice that you are getting irritable, stressed out, sad for no apparent reason, uptight or constantly have nothing but negative feelings, then it is high time to talk with a professional counselor, psychologist, or psychotherapist. It is also important to remember that not everyone who has depression is limited by it.”
Kojonen prompts everyone to think of their life as a whole. If feeling like something is off, it is already time to seek help instead of waiting until things get worse.
Kojonen also reminds that there are times when thinking about one’s life all alone is not the best option, explaining that oftentimes it is good to contemplate bigger things with someone you trust.
Access services easily online
In a multinational and multilingual country like Luxembourg, finding a professional who speaks your preferred language can be difficult. Therapion, the company Kojonen works for, recognizes this gap in services and offers easily accessible online psychologist and counseling services in 15 languages.
“Even if depression is a feeling that can be persistent and feel hard to overcome, we are here to help you prevent and overcome it,” Kojonen says. He adds that instead of seeking help only when necessary, speaking to a psychologist can be beneficial even when things are going smoothly.
“Life management is not just about crisis and negative moments,” he explains. “You can talk with a psychologist about your life when things are just fine. The purpose is to manage life actively. Nurturing a tree that grows and grows.”
