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.

[Unbeliever]

...cont.

The good news about this, is that if this is the case with you... it could indicate that you have reached a turning point. That you are coming out the other side of some of the issues you have dealt with for so long and have been taking a lot of your mental concentration just to get through. Your mind perhaps has finally relaxed enough that the majority of your attention may have shifted away from simply controlling your "illness" and has started to focus more on "yourself". Which would explain why you are noticing these things.

As unnerving as it may feel... just remember that although your experiences can shape who you are, it doesn't mean that they "define" who you are. Your "illness" never DEFINED you as a person, it was mearly an aspect that required a great deal of your attention to manage it.

But in the end it was/is are just incredibly tiny piece of the wonderfully complex puzzle that you are... and perhaps for the first time in a long time you are able to finally "catch up" and find out who that actually is.

Don't consider it like a loss. More accurately it is an adventure, a rediscovery, a redefinition. It is not something to fear but something to embrace with enthusiastic curiousity.

Discovering yourself again for the first time is likely one of the greatest things a person can experience... even if it does feel scary or unnerving at first.

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Unbeliever (and a wave to all),

Thank you so much for sharing your insights, especially when my post was probably a little vague...really appreciate how you took the time and effort to reply 🙂

I found aspects of your insights resonated, and other comments, though very thoughtful and kind, perhaps don’t (personally) relate to me right this minute. Granted, I realise that I didn’t exactly elaborate or give much context, so that’s on me. Nevertheless, I thought you wrote a beautiful response. Thank you again...

I agree that, as humans, we evolve, and that our suffering, so to speak, doesn’t define us. I’m with you there on both counts 🙂 Perhaps in my case though, I feel it’s less about finding myself but rather finding a way for the greatest expression of self. Maybe, to some people, finding and expressing, are one and the same. But, to me, there is a difference...

As in, I have this “raw material” (or call it what you will/whatever you like), but I don’t quite know what to do with it...so it’s not that I am necessarily “looking” for myself at the moment, but perhaps it’s more about the search for an an outlet...I could aim high or I could aim higher. But perhaps, it’s the “higher” that I (am starting to) want to push for? Rhetorical...no need to answer 😉

I have said my little bit about me...many thanks again for your reply. As always, I enjoy your posts.

How have you been?

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[Unbeliever]

Pepper,

I've been "offline" for a while (figuratively and literally), so I apologise I did not respond promptly.

Yes hehe, it is true the little you gave me in your post it was difficult to respond. I could only go on other conversations I have had with people in the past.

From my own perspective I often feel strong disconnections from myself. The person I was is long gone, barely even a memory, the person I am is... often undesireable and the person I try to be is difficult to hold onto for any substantial amount of time.

The experience is different for everyone I'm sure.

[Peppermintbach]

Hi UB (and a wave to all),

Don’t worry about it. There’s nothing to apologise for. Thanks so much for getting back to me 🙂

I think you have an interesting take on things, which I appreciate. So it makes me enjoy talking to you. Although I’m pretty sure that I’ve said all this before....

Now, I must admit that I’m curious, but of course you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Is it okay if I please ask who is this person that you try to/want to be? Then again, I feel as though maybe you’ve indirectly covered some of this in your posts before, but I still wanted to ask anyway...

Kind thoughts,

Pepper

[Unbeliever]

A person who is proud to be human, proud to be Australian, proud to be white, proud to be male, proud to be me.

Just once in my life... even if it is fleeting.

I've never known what any of those things feels like...

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Unbeliever,

Thanks so much for sharing. I think that I, to some extent, get what you’re trying to express if I’m reading between the lines correctly (which I may or may not be).

For what it’s worth, I actually think it’s a really good thing that you take such a genuine interest in the world around you and care about various issues. If anything, I believe we need more people like that...

Always good to hear from you 🙂

[Unbeliever]

I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change...

... I am changing the things I cannot accept.

"Accepting" has rarely helped me feel less depressed. In fact, by far in the majority quite the opposite... it has made me feel way worse. Helpless, impotent, weak and a coward.

If you could reach down deep into the heart of my sadness, you would find all of the things I just "accepted".

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Unbeliever (& a wave to all),

I like your mindset. On a personal note, I agree with you to a large extent.

I would be interested to hear about the things that you want to change the most...?

Always good to hear from you. I find you are a refreshing voice and I like that you’re a thinker 🙂

Kind and caring thoughts,

Pepper

P.S. On a (hopefully) related note, I wonder if you have thought about trying to find people in the offline realm who share a similar conviction/general outlook to you?

Personally, I think it makes a difference to be surrounded by a certain understanding. I feel it’s a lot less lonely, plus you can bounce ideas off each other, capitalise on each other’s skills (talent mining) & motivate each other to continue taking action.

Recently, I met a couple of people who, to some extent, share a similar outlook to me. One of those people has certain community goals he wishes to achieve. I really liked his ideas and passion, so I offered to help.

I basically told him whenever he is ready to get it off the ground, let me know and I’m happy to lend a hand. I noticed he was maybe become a little complacent lately, so I gave him a gentle nudge...

My (long winded) point is...I think finding those people who get it, it really does help (often mutually), and I feel combined efforts can travel further than going it alone in terms of creating positive change 😉

[quirkywords]

Unbeliever,

I may post here very rarely but I read your posts.

agree with your following statement.

"Accepting" has rarely helped me feel less depressed.

I have trouble accepting things but I find people say just accept it. Why ?

Quirky

[Moonstruck]

Re "accepting things"..if you can't change it, it is pointless to do otherwise...some things are out of our control to change

perhaps a more useful phrase to use instead of "accept it" might be "let it be".

(I think Paul McCartney already said that!...LOL )