A short YouTube monologue by psychotherapist Betsy Guerra arguing that "depression" is a label ("just a word") that people often identify with, which can limit them. Guerra encourages viewers to challenge that identification, choose alternative behaviors (e.g., get out of bed, assert energy), and offers a motivational reframe—ending with a claim that reprogramming the mind can alter genetics and a link to resources at betterwithbessie.com.
Chapters
Today I am going to tell you the real truth about depression. What is depression? A word? Depression is just a word that somebody decided to use to describe a set of symptoms that a person presents. So if someone is sad and has anhedonia, doesn't feel like doing anything, has lack of energy, no appetite, then they're depressed. But depressed is just a word. The problem is that we have personified that word and used it to identify with it and to describe us. So it's almost part of our personality. Now we have decided that, oh, we're depressive, yeah, I suffer from depression. We've owned it. And in doing so, we've given that simple word a lot of power. You may have a genetic predisposition to feel a certain way that may resemble depression. You may have endured life experiences that have led you to feel sad. And because you felt sad so much or so many times, it's become a habit. But at the end of the day, depression is just a word that you choose. How you're going to define it? Is it going to determine your life? Is it going to be part of you and your personality? Is it going to limit you? Are you going to use it as a crutch? Or are you going to tell her, hey, word, thank you for being around, because I'm sure you serve that purpose in my life, but I don't need you anymore. You don't serve me anymore. Every time that you don't want to get out of bed, you choose to get out of bed. When you feel sad and are moping around, you should stand up and smile. Every time that you have no energy, you tell yourself, I am full of energy. Every time depression shows up, you tell it, sorry, buddy, there's no room for you here. Depression, anxiety, adhd, all the diagnoses out there, they're words. They're words that professionals use to describe symptoms. They are not you. So why don't you challenge that thought that you've had that habit of believing that you can't accomplish what you want to and you cannot be as happy and joyful and fulfilled as you wish you were or as other people are, because you suffer from depression. Challenge that. Get out of that. Choose otherwise. So just so you know, it has been proven scientifically that outsmarting your mind, reprogramming it, will alter your genetics. So no more excuses. Depression suddenly is not a good excuse. You are not depression or depressed. You have some symptoms, maybe, or you've identified with them. Choose otherwise. Diagnosis, Chronic. Jo, if this was helpful, please remember to like and subscribe and share with somebody that needs to listen to this message. For more information and resources, please Visit us@betterwithbessie.com.
