Depression can be so difficult to understand, we’re guessing that if we asked

you to draw a picture of it right now, that it would look like a big, tangled ball of
confusion.
Instantly
Understand Your
Depression
The Storm To Sun
Framework gives you a
clear, simple, yet powerful
picture of your depression -
which can really help you to
navigate your way through it.

Because depression can be so

difficult to understand, we’re
guessing that if we asked you
to draw a picture of it right
now, that it would look like a
big, tangled ball of confusion.
However, you can easily
draw a much clearer picture
using The Storm To Sun
Framework. In case you haven't heard of it before, it's comprised of three "Zones"
that at any point in time, people with depression can find themselves in.

The Storm Zone The Rain Zone The Cloud Zone

THE STORM ZONE
This is when your depression is at its worst - i.e. when it feels like there's a storm raging in your mind. In this
Zone, simple tasks like getting out of bed or having a shower can feel like climbing a mountain; going to work,
socializing and other commonplace activities are often unmanageable; and you may feel so miserable, broken
and hopeless that overcoming depression can seem impossible.
THE RAIN ZONE
When you're in the Rain Zone, the storm in your mind has calmed down or not yet started. Consequently, since
your symptoms are only moderately severe, you'll find it easier to uphold your responsibilities and carry on with
life - however, getting burned out is common; you're prone to snapping easily; and interacting with others often
feels overwhelming. For this reason, there's always a risk that you'll soon fall back into the Storm Zone.
THE CLOUD ZONE
When you're in the Cloud Zone, you feel more or less “normal” – in the sense that your days are only mildly
impacted by depression. Consequently, you're able to function without becoming easily tired, and you're a lot
more likely to want to interact with other people. In the Cloud Zone, your motivation is at its highest, so you're
most able to do the things you may've been putting off while in the Storm or Rain Zones.
 THE STORM ZONE

This is when your depression is at its worst - i.e. when it feels like there's a storm raging
in your mind. In this Zone, simple tasks like getting out of bed or having a shower can feel like
climbing a mountain; going to work, socializing and other commonplace activities are often
unmanageable; and you may feel so miserable, broken and hopeless that overcoming depression
can seem impossible.
 Storm Zone Objective:
“Survive”
When you’re in the Storm Zone and therefore
have severe symptoms and a low ability to
function, the best way to combat depression is
to implement “survival strategies” that give
you immediate, short-term relief to prevent it from completely consuming you –
and in the worst cases, to prevent you from turning to suicide. Examples of survival
strategies include doing pleasurable things that relax you (e.g. watching your
favorite TV show), talking to someone you trust, doing a calming breathing
exercise, curling up under a weighted blanket, or calling a crisis line.

The Danger of Not Implementing Survival

Strategies in The Storm Zone
Having Depression Completely Consume
You:
If you don’t implement survival strategies
that give you immediate, short-term relief,
then your depression is going to completely
consume and overwhelm you – and in the
worst cases, it can lead to suicide.
 THE RAIN ZONE

When you're in the Rain Zone, the storm in your mind has calmed down or not yet
started. Consequently, since your symptoms are only moderately severe, you'll find it easier to
uphold your responsibilities and carry on with life - however, getting burned out is common;
you're prone to snapping easily; and interacting with others often feels overwhelming. For this
reason, there's always a risk that you'll soon fall back into the Storm Zone.
Rain Zone Objective:
“Cope”
In the Rain Zone, your symptoms are
moderately severe, and you have more ability
to function than when you’re in the Storm
Zone. For this reason, rather than just trying
to “survive” depression, you should now try to “cope” with it as best as possible
– so that you can function and uphold your day-to-day responsibilities, without
getting burnt out or having your symptoms intensify. In order to do this, you need to
learn and implement “coping strategies” - e.g. exercising, meditating, journaling,
challenging negative thoughts, participating in a depression support group, or
practicing gratitude.

The Danger of Not Implementing Coping

Strategies in The Rain Zone
Burning Out and Falling Back into
The Storm Zone:
If you don’t implement coping strategies
that help you function and manage your
depression as best as possible, then it's
only a matter of time until you burn
yourself out, your symptoms worsen,
and you find yourself back in the Storm
Zone.
 THE CLOUD ZONE

When you're in the Cloud Zone, you feel more or less “normal” – in the sense that your
days are only mildly impacted by depression. Consequently, you're able to function without
becoming easily tired, and you're a lot more likely to want to interact with other people. In the
Cloud Zone, your motivation is at its highest, so you're most able to do the things you may've
been putting off while in the Storm or Rain Zones.
 Cloud Zone Objective:
“Heal”
In the “Cloud Zone”, your symptoms are mild
and your ability to function is high, so rather
than focusing on “surviving” or “coping”
with depression, the challenge now is to
actually “heal” from it – i.e. to clear up the
clouds that are still hanging over you, so that they stop bringing on rain or worst of
all a storm. This is done by learning “healing strategies” that help you overcome
the underlying causes of your depression.
For example, if one of your underlying causes is low self-esteem, then a healing
strategy may be to challenge and re-frame past instances which you believe are
evidence that you're "a failure". If another one is a painful divorce, a healing
strategy may help you to make room in your heart for love again. If a third one is
childhood trauma, a healing strategy would help you work through complex
emotions surrounding this event.

The Danger of Not Implementing Healing

Strategies in The Cloud Zone
Never Beating Depression:
If you don’t implement healing strategies that
help you overcome the underlying causes of
your depression, then you will never beat
depression. This explains why some people's
depression never improves over time –
because while they might learn strategies to
survive and cope with depression, at no point
are they ever taught strategies to heal from
depression.
THE RAIN ZONE