When you're depressed, you may be tempted to focus on your symptoms, such as feeling down, being unable to eat or sleep, or difficulty concentrating. But a 2019 paper on depression suggests that "a sense of self" is what you should pay attention to.
According to psychology professor Edward Higgins, the "self" has three aspects: an actual, ideal, and ought self.
An "actual" self is who you think you are, and how you assess your characteristics such as talent, intelligence, and looks.
An "ideal" self is what you wish you would or could be.
And an "ought" self is what you or others think you should be.
Research indicates that when there is a mismatch between your "actual" and "ideal" selves, you are likely to get depressed.
The degree of match between who you are and your ideal self also determines your self-esteem. And low self-esteem contributes to depression.
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