is depression actually awareness of reality?!


Question: Is depression actually awareness of reality?
i think it is.. you realize all of life's problems and it makes you sad..

Answers:

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In Social Psychology there is actually a theory, which I personally have at least some agreement with, known as "depressive realism" which basically asserts what you're suggesting, that depressed people are depressed because they actually see the world and themselves more truly as they are. It is believed in this theory that normal, non-depressed people have what are called ego-defense mechanisms, or various illusions about themselves (and the world) that enable them to maintained at least a reasonably favorable opinion of themselves which, in turn, enables them to maintain a more or less successful and adaptive relationship to society. It is further believed that what you have with depressed people are cases in which these illusion-maintaining mechanisms have failed. I tend to think that the depression comes first and is probably the result of imbalances in brain chemistry, at least with major depression; and that the realism is a consequence rather than a cause of the depression. But either way, just from a philosophical perspective, I personally don't think it's worth being depressed to see yourself and the world more realistically. My logic runs something like this; there isn't much point in seeing the world more authentically if it reduces you to a state where you can contribute little (disability) or nothing (death, as in, from suicide) to improving that vision. So I'm in favor of those illusions. I think we need them, as long as they don't completely obscure our vision or cloud it too profoundly. Furthermore, an intelligent, rational person can and does make allowance for his illusions; so I don't think it's even necessary to suffer a potentially disabling emotional disturbance to see oneself truly. It just takes a little more mental effort. Finally, it's important to bear in mind the lesson of how powerfully emotions distort perception, and depression can be like sliding down the steep side of a hill unable to control where you stop. Consequently, you may drop below the point at which your depression has given you a more honest glimpse of yourself and the world and actually end up seeing it and yourself worse than they really are. So there's perceptual error either way. And one pays a far higher price depression's way.

BA Psychology and various.



When depression gets bad enough it can block your mind from productive thoughts which causes a lot of sufferers to commit suicide (believing nothing could ever help them, their loved ones are better off with them dead, etc) so no, it doesn't give you a well rounded awareness when you're only seeing the downs instead of the ups. Happy people experience pain too, they just have good coping skills.



I agree to some extent. but then again, depressed people focus on the negatives - all the bad things that happen in the world, how unfair life can be, all the different illnesses etc.
you need to look on 'the bright side' and remeber the good things in life......



sometimes depression is reactive ie that you have had something happen and that situation is making you depressed
but generally its a chemical imbalance

www.mind.org.uk
best wishes



I'm a very happy person and yet I also get very depressed - sometimes for no reason - despite finding beauty in things, so I wouldn't completely agree with this theory. It's possible that it's like that for some people though.




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