All forms of depression diminish meaning and purpose. A subset of depression is caused by a lack of meaning and purpose, which eventually leads to feelings of hopelessness. The following is such a case.

Sherrill was a 45-year-old divorced parent of two young children, who lived with their mother. He had a history of short-term relationships before marrying the love of his life a decade ago. Things started going wrong in the marriage soon after the birth of their first child. Sherrill worked hard in a successful family business, but he hated the job and felt unappreciated by his father, who started the business. He felt doubly unappreciated by his wife, who felt emotionally isolated in the marriage. They saw several marriage counselors before she initiated the divorce three years ago. Sherrill didn’t want the divorce but chose not to contest it.

He’d spent the last three years on various medications and in treatment with several psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapists. He described these experiences as increasing his self-knowledge with no improvement in his dysphoria. As he........

© Psychology Today