Occidental Studies

Depression as a Transformation of the Lifeworld and the Decline of the Experience of Freedom: A Phenomenological Analysis

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mostafa Ahmadi Afarmajani 1
Ahmad Borjali 2

1 Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Clinical Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

2 Full Professor, Department of Clinical and General Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Allameh Tabataba'i University

10.30465/os.2025.52593.2059
Abstract
Introduction
Depression represents a profound transformation in how individuals exist in the world, altering the structures of the lifeworld that support the experience of freedom. Drawing on phenomenological insights from Husserl, Heidegger, and Merleau-Ponty, this study explores how depression affects three primary dimensions of the lifeworld: lived time, lived body, and lived space. In depression, lived time collapses into a heavy, static present dominated by the past, disrupting the flow toward the future—an “existential temporal disturbance.” The lived body, normally a source of agency and engagement with the world, becomes heavy and resistant, undermining intentionality and action. Concurrently, lived space transforms from a horizon of possibilities to a restricted and confining environment. These disruptions collectively limit the experience of freedom. The central research question is: How does depression transform temporal, bodily, and spatial dimensions of the lifeworld, and what are the implications for existential freedom?
 
Materials and Methods
 
This study employed a qualitative, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to examine the lived experience of depression. Fifteen Iranian adults with major depressive disorder participated, selected through purposive and homogeneous sampling to enable an in-depth exploration of the phenomenon. Semi-structured interviews, lasting approximately 60 minutes, were complemented by field notes capturing non-verbal behavior and contextual details. The interview guide followed Seidman’s three-stage model, including exploration of life history, detailed experience, and reflection on meaning, emphasizing time, body, and space, while allowing emergent themes. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, generating 76 pages of analyzable text. Data were analyzed iteratively using IPA, balancing description and interpretation and reflecting on the researcher’s pre-understandings. Findings were validated through member checking and ensuring ecological validity, maintaining the authenticity of participants’ lifeworlds.
 
Discussion and Results
 
Analysis revealed three intertwined transformations in the lifeworld of depressed participants:
 
1. Lived Time: Participants frequently reported a “standstill of time” and slowed temporal experience. The future horizon, normally allowing planning and anticipation, was diminished or inaccessible, while the past dominated the present. This disruption weakened agency and restricted engagement in daily activities.
 
 
2. Lived Body: The body, normally a medium of action and engagement, became heavy, resistant, and estranged. Participants described a gap between intention and action, experiencing reduced bodily agency and diminished freedom.
 
 
3. Lived Space: The environment felt constricted, empty, and devoid of meaningful possibilities. Familiar places seemed distant or unreachable, and spatial openness was lost, further limiting freedom.
 
These three dimensions collectively obstructed the horizon of possibilities, significantly reducing existential freedom. Findings indicate that freedom is not an abstract concept but emerges from the interplay of time, body, and space. When depression disrupts these structures, the capacity to exercise freedom diminishes.
 
Conclusion
 
Depression is not merely a psychological disorder but a fundamental reorganization of the lifeworld. Stagnant time, estranged body, and constricted space create an existence in which existential freedom—the ability to open oneself to possibilities—is severely limited. Interpretative phenomenological analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of these transformations, extending beyond symptom-focused approaches. The findings suggest that interventions should aim to restore temporal flow, bodily engagement, and spatial openness, thereby reconstructing conditions for lived freedom and offering a phenomenologically grounded perspective on addressing depression.

Keywords

Depression
lifeworld
experience of freedom
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
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