Getting philosophical about depression.
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 6:13 pm
I think I read it or heard somewhere: "There is nothing wrong with the depression, but our attitude toward it".
The medical and pharmaceutical establishments pathologize every situation where someone feels unmotivated, anti-social and sad for extended period of time. Why wouldn't someone driven, gregarious and upbeat gets pathologized? The former is a valley, while the latter is a peak.
Taking that geographical analogy as an example what would we say about the land surface of our planet adopting the commonly held perspective on what is known as "depression"? "The valleys are abnormal, they are the wounds, illnesses of the planet Earth", we might say. While the peaks are the hallmarks of the planet's health. We get a sense of a great accomplishment for climbing a peak, the higher the peak the more acclaim for conquering it (even if that results in perishing in an attempt: eg George Mallory). Peaks are healthy, while valleys are sick. Very rarely you hear the news or announcements or ambitions to get to some valley as the destination (there are a few notable canyons that are tourist attractions, but the accolades or bragging rights are not even close to what you get for getting to the top of some peak).
Despite the objective nonsense of the described bias, I'm completely in the grip of common illusion, just like most of us. I get to the peaks. I rarely go to the valleys, then back up to the rim as I do my hikes. I do believe it is better to be excited, upbeat and social than unmotivated, reclusive and sad.
But isn't this attitude the reason of my deep dissatisfaction with the way things are (see the first sentence of my post)?
Maybe, I am a valley, not the deepest one, but with the valley floor below the average elevation of land mass surface above the sea level. Am I to work hard all my life in attempt to elevate my "valley floor"? How high would I have to elevate it to be satisfied? Do I have to becaome a peak? Will it be unquestionably healthy? Will it make me feel better (even though from the valley floor it feels like it will)? Is it worthwhile to spend resources to build the earthwork? Is it possible to change the point of attack and spend my resources (if any required at all) to get satisfied with the geographical fate of the valley?
As you have correctly guessed, I'm finding no answer:)
The medical and pharmaceutical establishments pathologize every situation where someone feels unmotivated, anti-social and sad for extended period of time. Why wouldn't someone driven, gregarious and upbeat gets pathologized? The former is a valley, while the latter is a peak.
Taking that geographical analogy as an example what would we say about the land surface of our planet adopting the commonly held perspective on what is known as "depression"? "The valleys are abnormal, they are the wounds, illnesses of the planet Earth", we might say. While the peaks are the hallmarks of the planet's health. We get a sense of a great accomplishment for climbing a peak, the higher the peak the more acclaim for conquering it (even if that results in perishing in an attempt: eg George Mallory). Peaks are healthy, while valleys are sick. Very rarely you hear the news or announcements or ambitions to get to some valley as the destination (there are a few notable canyons that are tourist attractions, but the accolades or bragging rights are not even close to what you get for getting to the top of some peak).
Despite the objective nonsense of the described bias, I'm completely in the grip of common illusion, just like most of us. I get to the peaks. I rarely go to the valleys, then back up to the rim as I do my hikes. I do believe it is better to be excited, upbeat and social than unmotivated, reclusive and sad.
But isn't this attitude the reason of my deep dissatisfaction with the way things are (see the first sentence of my post)?
Maybe, I am a valley, not the deepest one, but with the valley floor below the average elevation of land mass surface above the sea level. Am I to work hard all my life in attempt to elevate my "valley floor"? How high would I have to elevate it to be satisfied? Do I have to becaome a peak? Will it be unquestionably healthy? Will it make me feel better (even though from the valley floor it feels like it will)? Is it worthwhile to spend resources to build the earthwork? Is it possible to change the point of attack and spend my resources (if any required at all) to get satisfied with the geographical fate of the valley?
As you have correctly guessed, I'm finding no answer:)