Is depression a natural reaction to an insane world?

[Unbeliever]

This is a thought I have been pondering for a while.

The default to view depression as "something wrong", or a "brain chemical imbalance" or as "a disease" or something that "needs to be fixed" or requires "medication" or "therapy" appears to be the most common response of practically everyone. 

From doctors, to psychiatrists, to therapists, to the general population, to the depressed individuals themselves... the universal belief appears to be that "the person needs to get help".

But what if... the living in depressed state is correct? What if it isn't an "imbalance" or isn't something "wrong"? What if being depressed is the only natural state to be in for an intelligent, empathetic, compassionate, informed, thinking individual to exist in the current state of our world?

What if to NOT be depressed about is the true indication of mental sickness?

I'm not saying that being depressed is fun in any way... most people on this forum would be well aware that it sucks. But that is not what I'm saying. 

What I mean is... could existing in a state of depression be completely natural for someone living in a place where so many things are obviously terrible... both on a personal level and in the world as a whole?

My reasons for this perspective are numerous. Far too many to write in only 2500 words. But basically...

The real world is an extremely depressing place for any person that cares at all about anything outside of themselves.

Eg. If you care about animals... the reality is many beautiful species are already lost forever, many others are so close to the verge of extinction that even if everyone worldwide decided to do everything they could to save them... they would still be lost. At home there are people that still buy people animals as christmas gifts, refuse to desex their pets, the massive amount of pets put down in pounds annually. There is backyard animal cruelty, the dog racing industry using live bait, shooting race horses with legs, women's hormonal treatments for menapause, the meat industry, birds choking on our plastic half a world away, overfishing. The list goes on and on.

It is reality and it is depressing. Care about animals and feeling "depressed" about it IS correct. And that is one tiny subject in a plethora of subjects.

3 billion people in starving poverty, the water wars, religious fanatics, corrupt governments, womens rights violations, slavery, wars, child rape, etc etc

It's the people that are not depressed that worry me.

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Unbeliever (and a wave to all),

I think, to a large extent, I understand what you’re saying. But of course, please feel free to let me know if I’ve misinterpreted...

I get that, for you (and possibly others as well), a large part of your own depression is the state of the world, human apathy in some (not all) people, wilful ignorance, self serving behaviours that are detrimental to the environment, etc, etc.

As I’ve said before, I agree with you that small scale positive changes (by most or all people) can create a tidal wave of positive change. I get your frustration that there needs to be more people making those small changes in order for our combined human effort to be sufficient...

Individual circumstances aside, I still maintain that I think the single most powerful anecdote to painful feelings elicited by large scale problems is to firstly find the space within ourselves to sit with the enormity/complexity of the issue. But then, and this is the important part, figuring out how to channel those feelings of anger, frustration, sadness, etc into positive action to address those issues.

I’m not going to repeat my previous post on this thread...but basically what I said before...

Or more succinctly, in Jane Goodall’s words:

Cumulatively small decisions, choices, actions make a very big difference.

The (positive) cumulative effect 😉 Perhaps something for us all to think about...

Thanks for reading!

Pepper

[IsaJett]

Ok I had some sort of trauma that occurred to me that has resulted me in being depressed . Ex had an affair and the mistress was nuts ...she tracked me and tried crazy stuff...so long story short ..I should have got out sooner but I didn’t . So I got tormented 😩 lol but I am now in An awesome space now ...best ever ...learned so much about myself and this thing called depression that my Pyschologist mentioned I had . I had always ascertain to myself that it was me that was not able to get myself out of the situation I was in. Until I finally did . So I’m only speaking about my situation ...I never once wanted depression to have a grasp on me..and I’m like ..on depression ..nah I ain’t got it ..and I ain’t going there .

but in saying that ..I look back now ...and I think I fought depression like a pro ...hahaha some might call it denial ,...but whatever it was ...it was my ability to laugh ..and my ability and believe in myself that I can beat ..whatever the hell it was I was going through .

i hope everyone who reads this take a positive message with them .

that there is the light at the end of the tunnel...a freaking glimmer ..sometimes u just be fumbling in total darkness ..but rest assure that you will somehow be yourself again ..maybe a new and improved version of yourself .with or without depression .

we have an amazing life ahead of us ...and we just gonna embrace it all ..take the good and the bad ...ride the bad stuff out...try and duck all the shit in between ...but always remember to have fun and laugh 😂 I know I did ...

and do it your way ...and there are oh so many ways good luck to you all

[IsaJett]

Hey u ..I read your post and I found it interesting that u notice other people happy and wondered why u aren’t happy etc .

i thought I share something with you ..that hopefully helps u

going through my stuff ...no one had any idea I was suferring ...I smiled and put on this facade and when everyone wasn’t looking .i crumbled.

Even in hindsight I tell my friends what I had to go through ..they are all in utter disbelief .

in all those moments ..I really did one day just thought...omg I got to get myself out of this ..and really it’s just me ...my thoughts and my mind.

so I realise how powerful my mind is ....just some tweaking ...I know it sounds almost too simplistic ..like ..r we talking about the same thing ? Depression and anxiety ...and yes we are ..we can tweak it to our advantage . Self awareness is key ...like be a witness to your feelings and just sit with it ...and really you will be ok ...be ok being uncomfortable . Don’t strive to be happy ...Strive to be balanced....if that make sense ..

learn to regulate emotions ...like a synthesiser ..haha don’t hone in on being happy alone ...cos that will swing u too far left ...aim for middle ground .

Good luck

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Unbeliever (and a wave to all),

UB: I have missed you. How have you been? Any thoughts or observations you would like to share? That said, there’s no obligation or pressure to post if you’re not feeling particularly talkative...

IsaJett: Great posts there 🙂 I think you have a wonderful outlooks. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, and I hope you continue to do so...

[Unbeliever]

Peppermintbach,

My existence is little more than a succession of thoughts and observations. Most not relevant to this thread however. This thread represents one of my more relaxing and frivolous trains of thought if anything. I use it to go on vacation from intense thinking.

Hmmm... an observation huh? Let's think.

This period is not one of my favorite times of the year. People are on break, drinking and eating more than usual... happier generally. It makes me feel more "outside" of others than usual. The difference between me and them feels more substantial.

Plus my grandmother always loved this time of year and since she died I feel her absence more keenly now than during other times... even on her birthday.

It is the one season from which there is literally no escape. Most other society accepted celebrations can be avoided with little to no effort. But the Christmas period is just not one of them. Especially since the decorations, products and Chissy music start becoming noticeable in late October usually (which really irritates me).

Thankfully I don't find this period stressful. Just... uninteresting and without anything to motivate any kind of celebration. And memories in general are not friendly (ironically because they are actually very good... and therefore so completely seperate from my life now that they feel unpleasant and make me feel sad).

Every time around this time of year I notice more homeless people on the street. They seem more ragged and desperate (even more than the middle of winter). I think it's because the average person over-extends themselves at this time of year and perhaps on the street people are less generous. Of course the heatwave also doesn't help.

Walked into a pet shop for the first time in many years today. I usually avoid them, but I saw something in the window that would be good for my animal at home. The faces of the animals for sale in there haunted me for the rest of the day. They exist as nothing more than a commodity, disgarded if they don't make profit... it's all so disrespectful. No shop should be allowed to sell live animals, but just "pet products" for them.

If you want a pet, you apply for one. Have animal cruelty conviction?... you get rejected. If accepted you have to complete a course for how to care for that specific animal. And then, perhaps a year later they breed one for you (or earlier if you take in a pre-loved animal).

Yet another small thing commonly accepted that just feels "insane".

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Unbeliever (and a wave to all),

Thanks so much for responding 🙂

Your comment made me smile:

My existence is little more than a succession of thoughts and observations.

I’m really sorry about your grandmother. Sometimes I must admit that I feel phrases like that can feel a bit like an empty platitude, but I do mean what I said...

I think this period can elicit a whole range of emotions in different people. I don’t know the stats on homelessness around Christmas time compared to the rest of the year, so I can’t really comment. But I feel homelessness is tough in general, regardless of the time of the year. Although I think maybe winter months might be the worst?

I also don’t quite understand certain pet shop practices. I personally feel if someone is interested in giving a non-human animal a home that the most humane course of action is to adopt from an animal shelter...there are many animals there that could benefit from a loving home.

Now, I believe that I wouldn’t be wrong in saying that those issues...homelessness, pet shop practices, etc all contribute to your feelings of depression.

Kind thoughts to you,

Pepper

[Unbeliever]

You mean to say that depression might actually be a resultant reaction to our REALITY?

What an interesting concept... you should start a thread about it. Haha 🙂

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Unbeliever (and a wave to all),

Lol. A big smile here. Thank you for the suggestion, but I think that I’ll leave the honour to you. I’ll probably just chime in from time to time if the mood strikes 😉

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hi UB (and a wave to all),

You know, for whatever reason, I had a sudden urge to talk to you, even though I’m not even entirely sure what I want to express...

I think that I’ve become this diluted version of myself. My own fault, my own problem. My issue. Not blaming anyone else but me.

More to the point, why am I suddenly talking to you? Even I’m not 100% sure, but maybe it’s because I figured you’re someone who isn’t afraid to challenge others...?

I know you’re relatively free of platitudes, which is sometimes what I need. That being said, I dish out platitudes pretty liberally, so I’m really in no position to comment...

As I said, I think maybe there’s a part of me that wants to talk to someone who can challenge me. I’m not necessarily looking for empathy or comfort as I write this, but perhaps someone who can engage with me on a certain level...

Okay, this is a strange post, and I feel like I’ve talked about more or less nothing, yet at the same time, I really wanted to share my thoughts...

I’ll leave it there before this gets even stranger. Thank you for letting me use your space here to share some of my thoughts 🙂

[Unbeliever]

Peppermintbach,
I'm not sure if you are talking about what I think you are but I have heard other people talk of things like this before. A feeling of a loss of self and being unsure of what exactly is left of themselves with those parts of their "original self" stripped away.

I have heard it being described as feeling fractured, or watered down, or being a shadow or ghost of their former selves. Or even feeling like an inauthentic version of themselves like being a fraud or a fake version. As if they are just pretending to be "them" to themselves and everyone else around them.

My understanding is that many people (especially after a long period of dealing with a trauma or suffering) one day wake up and suddenly become acutely aware of a vast distance between the person they are now and the person they were before... and it scares them. Many times REALLY scares them.

Here's the thing... humans are meant to change. Adaptability is pretty much our most powerful asset (for better or for worse). Basically... Time + experiences = change of self.

Now, lets say that in an alternative universe where you never suffered from those issues that have plagued you. Over the same amount of time you would have inevitably changed as a person... even without those issues. The old version of yourself would not be "lost"... simply "evolved" in the natural process of living a life.

However, in the case of a person having to deal with something over a long period that requires the majority of their focus and attention these little details and changes can happen without you noticing them. But after that period is over all those changes can hit you all at once and be quite disconcerting and make you question who you are in comparison to who you remember you were. This appears to come into sharp focus normally when they are actually starting to recover and feel better (ironically).

This is not just the case with only long term traumas, but can also be the case after raising a child and them moving out or after a long period of extreme dedication yourself to a particular goal, or after retirement, or a long term relationship ending etc. When it is over, many people claim feeling a loss of identity, no longer sure of who they are. The person they were during seems gone as does the person they were before... leaving them with a feeling of themselves being lost.

...cont.