Two questions…
-
What is depression and why has it “survived” evolution?
-
Can you reccomend any good books on overcoming it?
My definition of depression- It is what happens when you think about yourself too much.
Depression is a cop out, graciously handed to the have nots by the haves, so that they have an excuse for failing besides just telling the truth. That truth being that they have been outdone by the environment and other people. It’s nothing really, just follow the plan and go with it. The world needs you to.
Depression is the result of sexual repression. Its evolutionary purpose is to put an added pressure on the psyche of the human animal in order to force it into sexual procreation. If this pressure becomes extended and exerted over too-great a length of time, the ego of said individual will snap and likely die.
It is yet another extended form of the survival of the fittest (those able to survive depression).
I just typed up 4 pages of life and it got deleted. Ironically that would’ve fit perfectly in my response to “What is depression”. I’ll get back to you tomorrow… I’ll ask now though. Is 4 pages overkill?
Four pages would make a good start for another topic maybe, sort of like a spinoff thread. I dunno, there’s gotta be at least something interesting in 4 pages…
Wow no real pyschological post yet on here, well I might as well give the clinical definition then.
Depression is diagnosed in the psychological world when a person has many of the following symptoms, normally for a period of 2 weeks or more
Feeling “down”
Lack of motivation
Over sleeping
mild to sever insomnia
lack of appetite
overeating
having suicidal thoughts
attempting to commit suicide
Inconsolable by nature
Feeling hopeless
Feelings of guilt
High anxiety
Reduced sex drive
Constipation
Slowed movement/speech
Under performance
reduced interest in hobbies
reduced social activity.
Depression is a debilitating condition of which I think one of the worst and normally unsung things is its name. When people here depression they think back over the times when they have felt sad and unmotivated and because most people have not had “clinical depression” think understandably that the perso should just pull their socks up and get on with it. Unfortunately this is where people with depression differ from the masses. Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and though ultimately “pulling your socks up” does help the symptoms (activity is the best and most natural cure to depression). The lack of motivation felt by these individuals is incredible. and as when you have depression you hate yourself, someone saying something like that is just going to make you feel worse.
So on to treatment. Firstly give yourself tiny goals, achievement destroys depressive feelings even if the achievement is small. If you have hit rock bottom this actually is not that hard. One of your first achievements can be to admit you have a problem, and then to go to the doctors and tell all, and I mean all. It will feel horrible at first, but once it is over you will feel better for letting out all your feelings and just having someone listen without judging you as your friends may have. He may prescribe some anti-depressants. Try to avoid SSRIs as they can do you more harm than good, especially if you are a teenager. I find that quick release drugs are more useful like beta blockers, or tranquilisers (though the later can be addictive and should only be taken if you are so depressed that you are contemplating suicide or self harm) these can calm feelings in times of panic. Counseling is the next thing to consider, they can talk you though techniques that you can use as feelings arise and give you an outlet you may not already have. Once you feel a little bit better, exercise asap. It releases adrenaline which builds up when you are anxious, as it is the normal fight or flight response mechanism. It also releases endorphins into your blood stream which give you a natural high. Additionally If you get good at exercising you can often Zone out, which is almost like an out of body experience where its easier to deal with difficult questions. Exercise improves motivation and makes you tired, giving you a natural sleep pattern.
I think I’ve rambled on enough, if you have any further questions about depression or any related disorders, just say, or contact a doctor
Nicely put Rhinoboy. The problem is in this day and age we are far more prone to a sedentary lifestyle then we were in the past. Our diet has chemicals in it and fats that were not meant to be consumed in such quantities. McDonalds was a once in a while treat for kids, and now it is a weekly part of their diet. Fast food and sedentary living contribute alot to poor health and imbalances. Fast food is that prepared food you get in grocerystores too. That healthy choice food, thats a poor choice compared to fresh food without preservatives. Prepare large fresh meals in one day then divvy it all up for the week if you are concerned about eating quickly. Much healthier. Avoid microwaving as much as possible, the microwave kills nutrients, use a stove top. There are so many little ways to improve diets and get more exercise.
Guys household chores are a great way to exercise and it is a great way to get out of some really depressing honeydo chores, your lady will impressed, heck you might even get lucky and then there is another exercise for you 
No it was all research and examples of depression. Then I netted it together into a very poorly written view on depression as an "illness’. It was beautiful. ](https://www.ilovephilosophy.com/uploads/default/original/2X/7/7c349bf1053f368a5729d053e1e91215f22ce66c.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
been there done that cba, it sucks to have that happen it is
Hi Maynard,
I think we started talking about this in another thread. But I want to hit a few points that have been made first.
Good point, but does depression make you think about yourself too much, or do you become depressed after thinking about yourself too much?
I think the entire “depression doesn’t exist” bit is the same one used by people who aren’t gay. How can one understand being gay if they aren’t gay themselves? So they go on assuming nobody can truly be “gay.”
I have a long family history of mental illness and drug dependence. My grandmother had electro-shock therapy to help with her depression. My sister slit her wrists constantly until she spent time in a mental institution for a while. My mom suffered from clinical depression for most of her life. My dad has been addicted to pot, and now is an alcoholic. My uncle is schizophrenic. My grandfathter attempted suicide, and my great grandfather killed his wife and then himself.
I recently watched a PBS special about male depression. They say the onset is usually between ages 18-24. I myself picked up a pot habit when I was 18, and kept it until recently. Now, I believe the reason I kept it for so long was to cover up my own depression. It’s something I’m still battling with. I keep quitting jobs that pay well and have great benefits after only a few days or weeks. I’ve considered cutting myself quite a bit recently, the same path my sister went down. I am hoping that by doing things in my life, I’ll kick these feelings. I work out regularly, and eat healthy during the week (on the weekends my girlfriend and I go out to dinner). I am on a gaming team. I’ve recently decided to try to go back to school, and I’ve enrolled in bartending college to accomodate it. Nonetheless, my thoughts constantly drift to hurting myself to relieve the emotional pain.
I wish it was because I am a failure at life so it made more sense, like smears suggests, but truth is, I’m becoming a failure because of depression, not the other way around. It sucks.
Stop thinking about yourself, depression gone.
Yes, think happy thoughts, depression gone! Who needs psychology anymore, when you have the genius of muscular philosopher…
I didn’t say it was easy, but it is true. I didn’t say ‘think happy thoughts’ either. Every depressed person I’ve ever met were in a constant negative dwell. Nothing more, nothing less. Every person I know that got through depression simply stopped the negative dwelling. It isn’t as complicated as some want it to be.
We can trace it to myelin connections that were traumatized. Even so, what does the person do? Re-coats, and that starts with…thinking. What you think about is what you are.
You can offer it as a fact with no evidence, but don’t expect me to swallow it.
Offer what as fact, the myelin process? It’s well known how trauma and stress ‘shock’ the myelin coating. It’s also well known how it re-coats.
If a young girl love dogs and one day goes to pet her favorite dog and gets mauled, she most likely will be traumatized. This act ‘zaps’ the myelin sheathing, breaking the neuron path that she took that caused her to ‘default’ and loves this dog, or dogs.
Most likely, if traumatized, she now fears dogs. This is because the connections are not there and she made new ones, new ones with the memory of the attack.
Now she fears dogs.
The way around this is mental. it is actual thinking. Thinking, that will re-coat the connections to whatever she thinks about.
This is why I say depression is thinking about yourself too much, or dwelling on the negative. This coats the thoughts and you become depressed.
If you are doing this…STOP IT!!! 
Here I turn to Murakami, as in so many other matters:
“First, about the mind. You tell me there is no fighting or hatred or desire in the Town. That this is a beautiful dream, and I do want your happiness. But the absence of fighting or hatred or desire also means the opposites do not exist either. No joy, no communion, no love. Only where there is disillusionment and depression and sorrow does happiness arise; without the despair of loss, there is no hope.”
Depression is a signal or state of mind that is created when you don’t think you’re doing anything worthwhile.
from an evolutionary perspective that’s a good thing.
Philosophy itself can act as a depressant or an up-lifter. it depends on which philosophies you subscribe to
So I guess the soldiers who are returning from Iraq should be able to think their way out of the mental trauma?
Thats not depression, thats PTSD. Total different crittur than depression.