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 UB, Sez and all,

As always, I find it interesting and eye opening to learn about your thoughts and theories. Thank you so much for sharing 🙂 I’ll be back later to comment but have to go now.

Kind and caring thoughts,

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hi UB (and and all),

Thank you so much for sharing 🙂 At a glance, your theory makes a lot of sense. I can see how it could potentially explain aspects of addiction, pain avoidance and pleasure seeking behaviours 🙂 I think you have some thoughtful ideas there!

Admittedly, I don’t know enough about neuroscience to say too much but intuitively your reasoning makes sense to me. Something akin to becoming (chemically) desensitised to pleasure/avoidance of pain over time...so we crave more and more and enough is never enough...that is essentially my simplified interpretation of your theory. Feel free to let me know if I’ve misunderstood or misinterpreted; I’m happy to be corrected 🙂

Although I’m not sure that I feel your theory necessarily applies to (escalating) violence, cruelty or infidelity...

For example, I think there are many alternative explanations for cruelty with anything from outright apathy to wilfully ignoring the plight of others or being born with lower levels of empathy, etc, etc. I suppose what I’m trying to say is the concept of “cruelty” is complex...or at least to me anyway and especially if we are speaking in such general terms about it.

To borrow your infidelity example, I know some people believe we are not biologically programmed to be monogamous (oversimplifying here) so they see infidelity as simply giving in to our primal instincts rather than necessarily craving the chemicals associated with the early courtship stage. Now I’m not saying it’s right or wrong (not talking another morality here) but I’m simply presenting an alternative theory that some people back (and of course others don’t). Again, I want to reiterate that I’m not talking “right” or “wrong” but simply presenting an exisiting theory...

There are countless other theories too...

I think different theories focus on different aspects of what it means to be human...your theory might explain an arm while another theory explains the leg...I’m just stating the obvious now. Lol.

Anyway, I feel your theory could possibly apply to aspects of my great (and somewhat unhealthy) love of alcohol though. Lol. Granted, I’m not professing to be any kind of role model or good example by any means 😉

Thanks again for sharing your thoughts. I like how you seem to have always taken the time to reflect and ask questions. I appreciate that quality in you and I also appreciate how you challenge some things that perhaps aren’t questioned as often as they need to be 🙂

Pepper

[Beleg]

I agree with what i believe your ideas to be. We seem to avoid going to the root cause of our problems. Instead of living healthy lives we take medications for the diseases caused by poor lifestyle. Instead of reducing school work load and occupational workload we overwork ourselves, leaving us drained and unreceptive to the world. People will say 'stay' positive and call you pessimistic. But doing so is equivalent to turning a blind eye to bad things that we can and should change. If you're a prisoner of war, it's a great attitude to have and it mightt keep you alive, but we are not prisoners. The stay positive attitude doesn't deal with issues. It just postpones the feeling into the future.

[Peppermintbach]

Hi Beleg (waves to all),

I just want to say that I really enjoyed reading your post 🙂

Thanks so much for writing in...

Pepper

[Peppermintbach]

Hi birdy (waves to UB and all),

I’m really sorry but I forgot to add this in my previous post. My bad...I hope that I can quickly mention it here...

Thanks so much for sharing this quote by Andrew Boyd...

Compassion hurts. When you feel connected to everything, you also feel responsible for everything. And you cannot turn away. Your destiny is bound with the destinies of others. You must either learn to carry the Universe or be crushed by it. You must grow strong enough to love the world, yet empty enough to sit down at the same table with its worst horrors.

In my opinion, I feel that it’s a brilliant quote but a tad incomplete...I would add the following words to the very end of that quote:

...and then do something about it.

Or else, it’s just good intentions in my eyes. Good intentions are great but I feel good intentions alone aren’t adequate to drive any sort of positive social or cultural change if not backed by action...

I feel thoughts reveal our intentions but our actions reveal our true heart...perhaps something to contemplate...maybe.

Pepper xoxo

[Birdy77]

Dear Pepper,

Your post reminded me of another quote:

The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion. -Paulo Coehlo

Which is pretty much what you said.

🌻birdy

[Peppermintbach]

Hi birdy (waves to UB and all),

100% agreed 🙂

Succinctly put! Thanks birdy 🙂

Pepper xoxo

[Peppermintbach]

Hi UB and all,

It suddenly occurred to me that I never answered your original question:

Is depression a natural reaction to an insane world?

Yes, I think it can be...

So...that’s my answer 😉

Pepper

P.S. Then again, I’m probably also complicit in some of the world’s insanity...

[Unbeliever]

Peppermintbach,
Hahaha... Finally. I've been waiting for someone to say that since I started this thread. This is a core part of my theory.


I theorise that it is likely that depression has become such an epidemic mainly due to most people being unable to find any other options except TO BE complicit in the insanity that our species has created.


And that this on a subconscious level causes a severe mental anguish that is near impossible to escape from except by superficial means (and even then only temporarily)... or by artificial means (and then only for the duration of taking those artificial means).


And that this might be true for anyone with a reasonable level of intelligence and self awareness who also are unfortunate enough to have the time to stop and think about it. Which is likely why so many people can't allow themselves to stop EVER and so fill their lives with constant work, stress, unnecessary drama and various ridiculous obsessive behaviours (or getting constantly intoxicated etc if there is any time left over etc).


Interestingly, "sedatephobia" is described as being a fear of calmness, tranquility or silence.


I think in the modern world this might be the most common phobia in human existence... because just "stopping and thinking" might be the scariest thing a person can ever do... and due to what we have created inevitably causes depressing thoughts.


If this is true, it is a seriously messed up society we have created... but then again, it would explain so much.

[blondguy]

Hey UB

Always great to have you as a part of the forum family and reading your posts too!

I dont think depression is a reaction to an insane world....especially when there is no such person as a 'normal' one on the planet to start with

You have a great post above UB. There are some readers/members that would have difficulty in understanding your post with a 'tired mind' as concentration can be hard to find when we are in a dark place.

I do agree that society as a whole has become so over complicated and busy that we have trouble keeping up the pace...thus the high incidence of anxiety disorder/depression.

Its just my humble opinion UB....I prefer to leave the use of the word 'insane' to the legal profession....as in whether a person is deemed responsible for their 'actions' or not where a serious crime is concerned.

my kind thoughts

Paul