As someone that has faced depression in my own life, I can relate to the experience the author describes. Fortunately, in therapy, I have also experienced the "simply were witnessed". In family, my track record is spotty, both for witnessing but not trying to fix, and for being just witnessed. In both directions (as the depressed, or as the witness) historically the family, myself included, has been more either the fixer or even more likely the denier/avoider...giving space but not really witnessing.
On Nov 3, 2022 Ray wrote :