Is it possible that a depressed person is justified in their depression?

[cuppajoe_9]

In other words : is it possible that a person is chronically depressed for legitimate reasons? Just a question that occured to me recently.

[Virgil]

I think it is possible, but he/she should go to a doctor nonetheless.

[muhsin]

It's possible. Again the advice given by Virgil is right. But I think I should add; he should go to either doctor or their guidance and counciling body that is near him to seek for another hint.

[RobinHood3000]

Define legitimacy.

"It's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything."

[subterranean]

"It's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything."

Awww...Tyler's wisdom.

[Logos]

In other words : is it possible that a person is chronically depressed for legitimate reasons?
What an odd question.. of course it is, unless you want to set back *decades* of advancement and research into the understanding of mental health issues like brain function. Or are you just using the term "chronically depressed" in a figurative way? since you posted this in Philosophical Lit :)

[RobinHood3000]

That brings up the question, however, as to what constitutes mental normality. It's frustrating when science is slave to the opinion that everything treatable is a disease, and when people are chemically tweaking their own brains to try and force them into a mould that doesn't exist.

[Logos]

Well I'm the last person to tout pharmaceuticals :p but science (MRis, PET scans etc) has proven that people who suffer anhedonia, are clinically depressed, or say, have schizophrenia have areas of their brains that are less-than-the-norm or have different brain activity.
http://www.valleyhealth.com/images/image_popup/c7_pet_depression.jpg

[RobinHood3000]

Maladies and ailments of the brain (tumors, strokes, Parkinson's, Huntingdon's, Alzheimer's Disease) are one thing; emotional problems are another, at least to me.

The fact that the root of depression exists in the brain is unsurprising -- where else would they be? Whether depression and other emotional conditions make the brain "broken" and thus require fixing is something I'm still pondering.

[Daniel A. C.]

That is interesting. I know for myself that in every "down" period it seemed like I was seeing things as they really were - during one period, it seemed to me that even hearing my thoughts would cause my psychiatrist to be depressed, which is laughable to me know.

I know that psychologist have discerned a phenomonenon called "mood congruity", meaning that the mind has a tendency to access memories and thoughts that match your current mood. Therefore, a person feeling sad will tend to remember previous sad moments or sad thoughts, while a happy person will tend to recall good things and see hapiness everywhere. Our minds tend to exagerate our present emotions rather than temper our mental experience.

When asking whether a mood like depression is justified, I think we should remember that a mood isn't really something that can be considered correct or incorrect, as it doesn't correspond to anything particular in the external environment. It is, I think, basically a attitude the mind adopts towards circumstances based on it's past conditioning. Insofar as depressed feelings are a signal that something needs to be changed or taken into account, I think they can be usefull, but if they remain for too long I think a person should look for help to shake what should probably only be a temporary experience.

[Mary Sue]

Obviously, when a person is depressed, he is likely suffering from
(a) some sort of chemical imbalance in the brain, i.e. a clinical condition, or
(b) some unhappy circumstance/circumstances in his present or past life.

As to MEDICAL depression: Most chemical imbalances can be treated by drugs, although in many cases there's no easy "fix." The important thing is to find the right medication for the right person, of course. Once the correct meds are prescribed, a clinically depressed person will usually begin to feel better. He'll think more clearly too, and he'll regain the ability to put things in perspective.

But how about SITUATIONAL depression? Well, most unhappy circumstances in the current life can be changed. If the unhappy person doesn't know how to do that, then he should seek guidance from a professional. Some depressions stem from the past, not present, in which cases it's helpful to vent and "talk it all out" in therapy. But even then, improvement may be slow. What's essential is that the therapist establishes a good rapport with the patient. And if the two aren't a compatible "match" then the therapy will be counterproductive. The patient must necessarily TRUST his doctor, else they're simply be at cross purposes all the time.

But the bottom line is: are you---and by YOU I mean the universal "you"--- justified in feeling depressed? Well, yes. If you have a clinical depression that's a very real disease, and you're not to blame for having inherited the gene. And if your depression is situational, then bad things really have happened to you and as a natural consequence, you've been affected. What IS your fault is the attitude that you choose to take in coping. If you go for help, then assuredly you're doing the right thing. But if you prefer to just wallow in your misery, saying things like "I don't need therapy!" or "I don't need drugs!" then you're in denial of your own problem. And worse, you're cheating yourself. You owe yourself every chance to live a happy, productive life...and medicine being what it is today, there's no excuse for not at least making the attempt.

[PeterL]

Depression is mostly a matter of definition. Unhappiness that is caused by unpleasant events can lead to depression, if the unhappiness doesn't go away after a reasonable amount of time, but unhappiness isn't depression. Anti-depressants might make an unhappy person feel less unhappy, but that would do nothing to improve the situation that caused the unhappiness.

From Wikipedia
#Clinical depression: a medical condition identified by clusters of symptoms such as markedly-decreased mood, motivation, interest, energy levels, etc.

# Depression (mood), an everyday term for a sad or low mood or the loss of pleasure.

[Themis]

# Depression (mood), an everyday term for a sad or low mood or the loss of pleasure.

I'm not sure if that applies to the English language too but in German depression is more serious than just a low mood. It's an illness.

I think 'emotional problems' as Robin put it can grow to be an illness and that is depression for me. It's not mere sadness.

[Shalot]

I was treated for depression in high school, but I think the depression was the result of external events that I had no control over and that I couldn't change (at that time --- the things that were going on were too big for a kid to handle. And the teenage brain is a mess anyway). A lot of people thought that the things that had upset me were not that big --- the events were just something that I needed to deal with and get over.

However, I wasn't able to do that without some therapy. Getting through the depression was a learning experience. I will never let something like that happen to me again. I may suffer from depression again, but it won't be for the same reasons.

As for the people who scoffed at me, they just don't have any idea. Maybe my depression was a combination of external events and the chemical make-up of my brain and low levels of serotonin. But I would never say that my reasons for being depressed were not legitimate.

[PierreGringoire]

No, because he is either making himself sad voluntarily or it is uncontollable that he is sad, and in the second case wouldn't necessarily be justifying anything. And in the first; Is it right to make yourself sad....I guess if you like and or feel that that state of mind is necessary for progression.

[sybilline]

One may feel depressed because of some tragic reasons, such as somebody loved' s death or a disease. It is thus quite normal to be in a dejected state. But depression is a disease too, which has not to remain unknown because it can get worse.

[Draconeus]

Depression (coming from 1st exp) is a severe state of emotional trauma. To say that people are not justified to feel this way, is merely saying that the feelings do not exist, which quite clearly they do. It is tantamount to saying that a person is not legitimised in being in love with someone.

[oneaware]

The odd thing to me is that some can claim to be entirely non-depressed, so to speak. Being involved in humanity, I believe that a degree of discontent is expected, as well as essential, though it must not consume you. That's where the freely distributed drugs are administered to placate the mind and neutralize unrest. I heard an interesting term recently in reference to this topic- intellectual torture. We're all entitled to our perspectives on life, and I can't subdue my mind just to render my life more carefree.

[Draconeus]

The odd thing to me is that some can claim to be entirely non-depressed, so to speak. Being involved in humanity, I believe that a degree of discontent is expected, as well as essential, though it must not consume you. That's where the freely distributed drugs are administered to placate the mind and neutralize unrest. I heard an interesting term recently in reference to this topic- intellectual torture. We're all entitled to our perspectives on life, and I can't subdue my mind just to render my life more carefree.

I agree. Though i do have to point out that, drugs is not always the best solution. Its more often than not, public negligence and and lack of social support that causes these minor problems to escalate. Modern society tends to associate depression as a weak or self inflicted emotion. Most circles tend to shun the depressed, and this rejection only deepens the problem. If there was a more supportive culture, then most minor depressios would not escalate to the "point of no return" (euphemism for suicide). In addition, the drugs have been known to have long term side effects, these include various mental disords, cancers, organ weakening/faliure.

[Dr Eep]

Going back to the original question, which did seem a little cryptic,it's as if you were assuming that it's universally accepted that depression is really just a selfish form of being self absorbed and not a legitimate illness. I can assure you that there are a myriad of very real conditions that require not only emotional but clinical support.I read a little bit more into the question - that is, do you feel depressed but are not sure if it's just you or do you know someone who is depressed but deep down you feel they have no real reason to be that way? (BTW - that does exist too - when a person just needs to be told, 'C'mon, chin up and get on with your life now!')

[Eagleheart]

"How can you feel sorrow"- does it seem a justifiable question on the part the one asking it...

[0bliv!on]

Clinical depression is exactly that: a clinical matter, involving neurotransmitters, receptors, hormones and other stuff that google can help you understand more of. Certainly there are many sites which will emphasize that depression as a medical condition is no fault of the victim.

To an extent, it is just an exaggeration of the normal emotional and psychological differences between people: some people are simply more 'bubbly' and happier than others who may be predisposed to moping, etc.

[Shannanigan]

Sad events trigger chemicals in the brain that make us feel sad...when there is an overload of that, or something entirely emotionally scarring occurs, the chemical overload can cause a prolonged sadness or depression...this is at least what I gathered from my psychology class last semester...

This in no way means that a depressed person is always in need of medication (more chemicals) to correct the imbalance...getting psychological help can help address the issues that caused the imbalance, can help work through the amazing mystery of the brain, and can help change a person's perspective so that the "sad" chemicals are lessened and the more positive ones resume production...:p...I think?

I do find it hard to define the line between depression and just having a sadistic outlook on life...I was rather "depressing" to some people at a certain point in my life, but never felt "depressed" myself...I actually kind of miss feeling how I did around that time because I produced such powerful writing back then :lol:

[Turk]

Legitimate reasons? According to who?

[dramasnot6]

i think there are many exceptions, even other than genetics, for deppresion to be legitimate. it occurs in other species of the animal kingdom and is a large part of human nature. without deppresion what would be the point of elation? with nothing to compare it to, it would not be so wonderful and precious. humans emotions are all about balance, in order to be truly happy i believe you must know how it is to be truly sad. if soemthing horrible happens it is better to be deppresed then hold it in. but i suppose beliefs around deppresion vary greatly amongst both individuals and cultures.