What if depression is not simply a “chemical imbalance” but an altered state of consciousness—a profound journey into the depths of our psyche? In this episode, we look at depression through the nuanced perspective of depth psychology, MBTI personality types, and the sheer mystery of consciousness itself. Joining me is Sarah Mergen, the creator @CarlJungMemes on Instagram. Sarah’s journey started in 2021 with a deeply personal exploration of depression, which she shared with her audience in a guide she called a "personal mythology of depression." Today, she continues that journey in her podcast series, Katabasis/Anabasis, where she delves into the intricate dance between darkness and self-discovery. We’ll discuss the surprising links between depression, intuition, and altered consciousness, as well as the way our personality types influence how we experience and understand these states. With depth psychology as our framework, Sarah and I examine what it means to navigate the darker facets of human experience, and why some of the most persistent questions about reality and selfhood often have no easy answers.

Topics Covered:

• Is there a connection between depression and intuition? Exploring how some intuitive types may experience depression differently.
• Depression as an altered state: Could depression be a unique state of consciousness that pulls us into deeper self-reflection?
• Psychedelics and mental health: When using substances like LSD, can we risk experiencing what feels like a mental break if we’re not ready to integrate what comes up?
• Dissociative states and memory gaps: The strange reality of experiencing memory loss and dissociation during severe depressive episodes.
• The MBTI and Jung’s psychological types: Clarifying the distinctions between the MBTI framework and Jung’s original four psychological types.
• Introversion and extraversion: How Jung’s view of these traits differs from popularized interpretations in the MBTI.
• Are we living in a simulation? Exploring simulation theory beyond rational thought and as a metaphor for human consciousness.
• Labyrinths as life metaphors: Using the ancient symbol of the labyrinth to help guide us through cycles of depression, healing, and growth.

Resources:

❀ “Experiences of Depression” by Matthew Ratcliffe

❀ Daughters of Saturn by Patricia Reis

❀ Hanging on and Letting Go by Tom Pyszczynski and Jeff Greenberg

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