Marybeth Viglione, PhD, clinical psychologist, offers psychotherapy services with an emphasis on life-stage transitions and personal development.

Doldrums: stagnation, slump, depression, unhappy listlessness, inertia. We've all been there. Sometimes, we can see it coming as our personal tempo gradually slows down and the activities of daily life seem to retreat. At other times, the doldrums catch us unaware, almost as if by surprise. We can feel at a complete loss, listlessly cast about for a sense of direction. Old time sailors were rightly wary of being caught in the doldrums, and sometimes their very survival hinged on a change in the winds. Metaphorically "capturing the wind" can be a way out of our own doldrums.

It's important to acknowledge when we are in the doldrums. It's critical to not give in to hopelessness and fear. However, adopting a "business as usual" attitude can foster a kind of denial as to how dire the situation actually is. Taking stock of one's emotional resources can help provide a sense of stability during times of uncertainty.

Finding meaning as one waits for a shift in the winds, so to speak, can be very useful in fending off growing despair. If one thinks about doldrums as a period of calm instead of stagnation, the stillness can offer an opportunity of deep introspection, an opportunity to reexamine personal values and decide what really matters. The gift of this period of calm is to appreciate the changes generated, however subtle.

Paying keen attention to the situation allows for that initial detection that things are about to change. All too often, we expect a major boost to come out of nowhere and push us back into the swing of things, while we effortlessly go along for the ride. However, being ready to take advantage of even subtle changes is crucial to moving ahead. Sometimes, these changes are external, such as the arrival of a long-awaited letter or a job offer. More often, I believe the subtle changes are generated from within; the Psyche has somehow shifted. It can be a change in perspective, such as what was once seen as overwhelming is actually a chance to challenge oneself in life more fully, to feel more alive, not less so. It can be a greater awareness of one's surroundings, being more attuned to Nature and the lessons she has to offer. It can be a powerful dream, rich in symbolism that profoundly touches our waking life. It can be a sense of creativity that comes from all manners of artistic endeavor. Or perhaps a truly meaningful connection with another: a friend, a lover, a mentor, a religious guide, or a therapist. In that moment of meaningful connection, words that we may have heard many times before without much impact now resonate more deeply and can be enough to propel us forward.

The challenge is to differentiate waiting out the doldrums from intense feelings of despair and hopelessness, treacherous whirlpools which threaten to engulf us. Recognizing the power of these feelings is the crucial first step to avoid being drawn down even further. At such times, lifelines to a therapist may provide the needed source of hope, stability and guidance as we struggle to find our way back.

Once we notice the psychological shift towards movement, we are then in position to take great advantage of this opening. While the difficulty of our particular task may not have fundamentally changed, we can now face it with renewed enthusiasm and determination. As our psychological energy gains momentum, we find ourselves once again moving forward with a sense of purpose and direction and clarity of vision.