Is Depression An Extension Of Your Ego?

Philosophy Forums Psychology and Mind
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At the moment I am recovering from a fairly deep period of depression, and on the way out, I am thinking this statement could be true in some cases, perhaps mine too.

I don’t really care, it’s a dysfunction that has begun to annoy me, and I am trying to solve it. (don’t bother pointing out that most things we live with today can be classified as dysfunction in the evolutionary capacity, I know, I’m just not as annoyed with them yet)

What’s more annoying than depression is always sounding melodramatic, I am constantly apologising for it, which is also annoying.

So, thoughts on the statement, anyone?

One of the things other than personal experience that has led me to this is that if you tell a person who is depressed that you yourself are also depressed, almost every time, they will try and ‘‘out-depress’’ you, if you know what I’m saying.(if you don’t, the exit is to your left…no, your other left :unamused: )

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How long have you suffered from depression?

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As far as too much focus on yourself, I think there might be some truth to the connection. Ego in psychology does not quite mean the same thing as in everyday speech.

Depression is often fed by an obssessive kind of introspection. If there are problems you look at yourself as the root of the problem. It is a turning inward. This can be damaging. It can be healthier to look outward for the roots of the problems and to allow reactions - even if they are ‘wrong’ - to what is outside you. This is way repressed anger can also feed depression, because unpleasant events or people instead of being reacted to are accepted as ‘the way things are’ and the anger - and other emotional responses get turned inward.

Thinking about the self can also add to the depression. No new information gets in often with depressed people. So while they are drawing conclusions about their own faults and the hopelessness of their situation they cannot get a realistic reaction from someone else - in the privacy of our own homes and mulling in our own brains we can think the worst things, especially about ourselves, and not meet any contradiction.

But as far as ego, like its narcissistic or selfish to be depressed, I think that is just adding another judgement of yourself onto a batch of others. If somehow you feel liberated hearing the idea that you are being egoistic, well great, ignore what I say. But it does just sound like another thing to beat yourself over the head with.

Who is at fault for your unhappiness?
you don’t have to grip the answers like they are facts, but allow the feelings around this express themselves, including feelings about how fucked up the universe is or God is, even if you don’t believe in God. If you allow these reactions to flow there is a better chance that the depression will loosen. Depression (and mania) are incomplete emotional expressions. Only certain feelings are allowed and often pointed back at the self rather than towards others. If you allow the full range of emotional reactions and try to see what reactions you are skipping over I think you have a much better chance of not getting stuck in depression.

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TM, yes people will often try to outdo the other and it is ego. Depression maybe part ego, but, it is largely due to chemical imbalance or just plain out and out mental fatigue.

Ego does play a part in emotions and experiences.

John : I was in a car accident and broke my arm

Jack: yea I was in one once, I broke my arm and had a concussion

John: That had to hurt , My worst pain though was when they had to stitch up my 6"gash.

And never stop and listen when women are talking about childbirth, Now that is ego competition to the extreme. :laughing:

We seem to enjoy competing in experiences… With anything, be it illness, success, or even how boring we have it. Perhaps it is part of the survival instinct " I am bigger than you so you back down, this is my kill"

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My depression is a result of my own cowardice, but if I were not a coward, and sought retribution for the things which have caused the depression, I risk greater consequences that could make me more depressed than had I just remained passive.

As a general rule my depression is a result of other peoples mistakes, people who are inferior to me but have authority over me. This is my fault because I allow them to control me, or rather, it is my fault insofar as I do not try to destroy those who’s mistakes affect me.

The battle is with myself and the question to myself is “how far am I willing to go” to get retribution.

It would be far easier to tell a person “remember, you are about to make a decision that will affect me. If you fail in your effort, despite your good intentions, I will hold you responsible for how your decision affects me. Because of this, I am offering you a chance, before you fuck everything up, to decide not to make a decision that affects me.”

An excellent example is the situation with Natalie, my girl. More than a year ago we decided to be together in a relationship. We encountered resistance from everyone. She would run away. I would get arrested and go to jail for 51 days. I would get out of jail, and she would then run away with the assistance of her parents, they very people who had me locked up for aiding her in running away.

So, the parents did the very same thing I did, after I did it. They helped her runaway to be with me. What the fuck is wrong with this picture? I’ll tell you. Had the fucking parents listened to me in the first place, none of this shit would have happened. Had they simply given Natalie permission to be with me, I wouldn’t have gone to jail, and if I didn’t go to jail, I wouldn’t have a vendetta for everyone involved in the making of bad decisions WHICH AFFECT ME.

Again I suffer from the incompetence of lesser mortals. This is my weakness. Pity. I have pity for them. I prefer to kill all the little cops and detectives and social workers who have had a hand in my demise…all as a result of their own incompetence. And yet, if I had told them all before this all got started- “you have been warned. If in the future what you do ends up being a mistake that costs me, I will fuckin shoot you”- I would have been arrested for threats no doubt, rather than thanked for the warning in advance.

There really is no diplomatic way about it. The only solution is to literally end those people who cause such problems.

My war is with myself, and gathering the courage to do what I truly want to do to to other people who should not have the authority to do anything…not even tie their own shoelaces.

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I beleive depression is related to Schopenhauer’s διαστολη/συστολη, resembling respiration in inhaling/exhaling.

It is in the end of exhaling where one feels the weakest, before inhaling again.
Human psyche goes through a similar process.

This is why deeper thinkers, deeper breathers, experience a longer period in between breaths, thoughts.

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Yes, and this cycle depends on individual traits.

Those that think deeper, have a longer cycle but with fewer peaks.

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Satyr is right about it. It goes along with keeping yourself occupied. If at work you do little to nothing, the day goes by painfully slow. If you are kept busy the day speeds by.

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My outlook is very similar to yours. A few key differences, but overall I concur. I’ve learned to put on a mask (aka play the game). Make like a good little sheep on the outside to make life a little smoother. Attempting to position myself, to counter the weakened state Society keeps us in.