When it comes to conflict, we usually think of issues that arise with other people. Yet, what if your struggles come from your own internal conflicts? What happens when you struggle to make peace within yourself? Your own turmoil and emotional battles? Sometimes you may not even be aware of inner-conflicts that are seeing you stuck emotionally.

The most important conflicts to face are your own internal conflicts! 

Your own internal conflicts can be the source of you being stuck, perpetually unhappy, and hopelessly not able to change your life. And, it can lead to feeling depressed or even clinical depression. 

Often, the result of ongoing internal unresolved conflict is emotional unrest or discomfort, guilt or shame, loneliness or hopelessness. Unsettled internal struggles can lead to dark moods and declining self-esteem. Eventually, too, depression can set in. 

When that happens, it’s difficult to find the energy to resolve conflict of any kind – you feel trapped, unconnected, unable to express your sense of agency, or shine creatively at all. You need help to get out and start connecting with yourself, your life energy, and others.

Are you dealing with an unsolved internal conflict? 

If you find yourself isolating, feeling emotionally empty, or you can’t seem to get inspired or motivated may be a sign. If you feel stuck in your life and not really participating in creating your life, it’s a sign. Or, if you are feeling like you don’t have fulfilling relationships, it is also a sign. And, if you can’t seem to value yourself and you don’t feel grounded in your authentic you, it is another sign. 

Let’s look closer at what you’re dealing with:

So, What is Internal Conflict?

An unconscious conflict is an internal struggle between opposing desires, impulses, or feelings that exist within the mind. These conflicts are typically not accessible to conscious awareness but can influence your emotions, believes, and actions. They influence how you connect with others, your career, your ability to  be emotionally present, and your vitality. They often arise from repressed experiences, desires, or fears.

For example, you might unconsciously desire both independence and security, leading to conflicting emotions and actions. Unconscious conflicts can manifest as depression, or other psychological symptoms, as the mind tries to manage these conflicting forces without your conscious awareness. 

Usually an internal conflict is what keeps you stuck in some way in your current life. It’s the underlying cause of your emotional pain, struggle, or challenges. Is what holds you trapped in an emotional place that doesn’t allow you to be you – connected to your real, authentic, vulnerable self. 

You can’t express you or be you. You can’t be in touch with your sense of agency or your creativity. It keeps you emotionally alone and isolated. 

Depression is just the symptom, trying to communicate to you something about your inner conflicts. 

A few examples of internal conflicts:

• A part of you wants something and another part of you wants something else 
• Being thorn about a important relationship 
• Your false self – fake mask – is at the forefront of guiding you through life
• You want to succeed but you feel scared – you’re afraid others would be jealous, or to lose people you care, or you feel guilty to take the time you deserve
• You want to accomplish something but you’re not putting the efforts
• You long for fulfilling relationships but you’re alone over and over again 
• You love and hate someone at the 

Although you may be aware of some of your conflicts, you may also have conflicts that operate at an unconscious level. 

Even if you’re aware of some of your internal conflicts, you may not be able to make any changes. The conflicts tend to take over controlling you. More so, you can be deceived by unconscious conflicts, not allowing you to see what it at the root of your struggles.  

Living with these feelings and emotions without knowing the cause can start to wear at you and compromise your emotional health. Internal conflicts are unlikely to improve until you work to resolve them.

However, with the right help, you can face your internal conflicts and work them through – you can access your innate drive to connect, accomplish, and create – and shift to living with more joy, authenticity, and emotional fulfillment. 

Many creatives slip into depression if they don’t have ways to cope between their visions and a perceived reality of the artistic career – what is marketable, acceptable, or profitable. An in-depth work through of internal conflicts contributing to your depression is key. 

How Your Internal Conflict Contribute to Your Depressive Mood

Internal conflict can often lead to the following:

• deep guilt/shame about normal and natural needs
• lack of emotional stability or strength
• lack of knowing yourself and your core values
• no sense of your own personality, likes, dislikes
• a feeling of powerlessness regarding future plans, dreams, or goals
• the dreaded feeling of being stuck and no matter what you do, you can’t shift from being trapped 
• disconnect from your authentic self, life energy, and creativity

If your mind and heart are in a constant battle, it’s no wonder that depression is keeping you hostage. Ignoring internal conflicts cannot work for long without an impact on your emotional wellbeing. 

Suppressing your need to resolve inner conflict will only lead to darker moods and regret.

Recovery and genuine happiness are possible.

How Your Internal Conflict & Depression can be Overcome

The most important first step: simply start by reaching out to professional help. You can reconnect to your authentic self and your life energy to keep moving forward. Let’s connect soon. 

You can also contact me for your free 15-20min phone consultation.

I am Mihaela Ivan Holtz, Doctor in Clinical Psychology. My expertise is emotional trauma that manifests in depression, anxiety, creative blocks, performance anxiety, relationships difficulties, PTSD, and addictions. One of my specialties is also working with creatives, performers, artists. You can read more about therapy on my depression treatment page.