mattyman wrote:I think that depressions arise as a natural reaction to circumstances that feel overwhelming to the individual. Depression happens when one's innate emotional needs are not being met and the individual feels unable to meet them. There are a variety of reasons of which they are too numerous to go into here. You may for instance, see many people who seem to have it all, but deep down they are lacking the most important emotional needs, of which a lot are satisfied through relationships and others satisfied through work.
One is emotional intimacy (by that I mean a sense of friendship, companionship, you feel you can really be yourself) which I think is all too often overlooked these days, especially in western countries.
What stops people from getting their needs met? Well, there are all sorts; bad conditioning and fear can be a major barrier for some people. Whatever there is, there is something that makes people feel unable to change their circumstances (of which harsh criticism can amplify). So basically a bad situation (emotional needs not met, stressful, bad for self-esteem) + feeling unable to move on
When you do slip into a depressed state, whatever difficulties you experience tend to become amplified, self-doubts for example, get amplified as with any sense about one's capability to move on in life. When people lose hope, they can also get very worried and anxious.
If there is a 'chemical imbalance' I would argue that it's the RESULT of the above and not the cause, the trouble is, is that it tends to feed on itself; by making you sluggish, tired, reclusive, fewer needs met, less motivation etc. more things to feel bad about and vice versa.
What I hate is the the conventional view of depression as a 'mental illness' that can be treated with medication. I think that view of it as an 'illness' as opposed to a natural emotional response that we're all vulnerable to is perverse.
The best way to sort depression out is really, to sort out the underlying problems, and of course have supportive people around. As for physical activity? I think it has it's place but is not a cure all, though can do its part to overcome the inertia that a depressed state can bring on.
It's not surprising that so many people in USA, UK etc. suffer from depression, if you look at the standards people are expected to live up to, and the fact that people don't talk about their emotions. I think that the biggest risk factor is a sense of isolation and alienation. That can deprive one of several fundamental emotional needs and can give one a sense of worthlessness and make one feel helplessness, but society doesn't see it this way, which is a shame.
BINGO. The only time I've ever read someone's take on depression and said to myself, "this person gets it." It is clear that you are not merely regurgitating some verbage from a book you read, but that you have honestly reflected on this topic and have cogently summarized it. It's like you've managed to convey every bullet point that has wrung true to me about what causes depression. Unfortunately, this is also the reason why overcoming depression seems so hopeless. It truly stems from the very fabric of how this world is structured and how we must all carve out a niche amongst the global patchwork of insanity. Non-participation is not an option. I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that I must pay to live on the planet I was born on.
However, I could feel significantly better if indeed my emotional needs were being met. No pill or exercise regiment can substitute the comraderie of deep friendships and the satisfaction of loving and being loved by a mate. All this talk these days about nutrition has nothing to do with emotional nutrition.
What one member said about trying to be like the women that we enjoy, sounds good to me. They live simple lives and have simple goals like, "work to live, and find a good companion." In the west these days its more along the lines of "live to work, and find a good career." I keep inching closer to this vague suspicion I have. The suspicion that there is no such thing as a good career.
