This is interesting. I'm the most depressed I have been in my life. I quit my job because of it, I thought I could create a different type of income. Now I can't even get myself to even try to make an income. Last night I laid down to sleep at 12:00 and I fell asleep around 7:00 in the morning.

I think I focus on my problems, but I can't get myself to create solutions.

What the hell is with all this science garbage? "studies", "tests", "replicable results".. what a waste of time.

WE all know god gave us depression so we would feel bad after masturbating. Forgive me lord for I have sinned. Twice today

Originally posted by EnlightenUp

I think this "unnatural" element is having an environment that compels us to use natural and normally beneficial survival tactics, usually used in small doses for emergencies, on a continuous basis.

Some reject this requirement up front while with others it catches up with them later after extended periods of diverting themselves from what their physiological response is telling them to deal with.

I've seen the results of the latter.

Thats an interesting perspective you have.
Could you elaborate a bit more?
Examples of the survival tactics you speak of would be good.

So by rejecting the requirement (what requirement exactly? that of having to respond to continuous "emergencies"?) one simply gives up or transcends their instinct? Is that what you are saying?

And those who do not transcend at first tend to be eventually hit by a snow ball of whatever was being repressed? What exactly was being repressed?

Reply to post by Lucidclouds

Originally posted by lucidclouds
This is interesting. I'm the most depressed I have been in my life. I quit my job because of it, I thought I could create a different type of income. Now I can't even get myself to even try to make an income. Last night I laid down to sleep at 12:00 and I fell asleep around 7:00 in the morning.

I think I focus on my problems, but I can't get myself to create solutions.

Been away for a while. Just came back and read your post.

What you've written below, though simple in sound, is actually very profound:

I think I focus on my problems, but I can't get myself to create solutions

It sums up my son to a large degree, imo


I'm guessing your confidence is affected by your situation ?

I applaud your honesty. Sounds as if you do have what it takes to pull yourself through

[edit on 27-8-2009 by St Vaast]

I believe depression is the spirit's natural response to ratrace conditioning.

Depression, ADD and compulsive disorders often occur together. The mind of an ADD person has difficulty focusing and managing dissimilar subjects. ADD persons are however able to place extreme focus on single tasks. This focus allows them to out perform others in areas where this ability excels like programming software. The compulsiveness of their mind continues to grind away in the background subconsciously while the person maybe doing other things including sleep. This allows the out of the box great ideas common to ADD people. I often go to bed after struggling with very complex problems and wake up with an amazing answer.

That is the good side. The bad side occurs when an ADD/OCD person is painfully effected by something like the relationship break up, their mind attempts to figure out why it happened. This happens without consent of the person. It goes on subconsciously even while the person may attempt to block the thoughts. Sometimes there is no answer.

In this case the mind dwells on the loss keeping the negative emotions churning for much longer than is healthy. This builds pathways in the brain causing a PTSD type memory of the pain and causes the chemicals that control how we feel to come out of balance over an extended period of time.

A few episodes like this in life can make it easier and easier for these type people to fall into bouts with major depression and get trapped with Dysthymia.

Often as in my case, they require medication for a long period to counter the compulsive negative thought patterns they get trapped in and to rebalance the chemicals in our brain.

We get trapped because our mind gets stuck in a feedback loop like a computer. During this the mind is trying to figure out an extremely complex set of problems that may not have a solution. This only serves to make matters worse.

Through counseling and medication some people can recover but remain susceptible to returning to depression.

I've been on medication and counseling for War related PTSD and relationship problems for 2 years, and I am now having very good success at work. People seem amazed at how I can quickly conceptualize issues and can imagine processes from beginning to end often eliminating wasteful tasks or processes in areas I have never worked in or been exposed to.

If you try to get me to work on 3 or 4 things at a time I will fail miserably on 3 of the 4, but that one item I do complete will likely be the best it ever was.

Today in a meeting while I was listening to some high level execs discussing some business proposals and ideas I quickly saw the end game to their ideas and it would eventually put them out of business in this specific proposal. They have become so good at doing more with less that they had created something so good that it would lead to their elimination from the process



None of them had seen this coming and they had been working on it for months. I am getting a promotion (truth).

So it seems to me that Depression is a result of other evolutionary changes going on with ADD and OCD thinking patterns. Depression is a symptom. So ADD and OCD people can do amazing things with the brain if they can maintain balance when their brain starts obsessing over pain, anger etc...

Originally posted by Geladinhu
Thats an interesting perspective you have.
Could you elaborate a bit more?
Examples of the survival tactics you speak of would be good.

Going for extended periods without sufficient sleep.

Never taking a break; working to the bone constantly.

Constant overeating, possibly because of a repressed uncertainty about not having enough tomorrow. Sure, there is abundance of sorts but it's an uncertain abundance. It's like the squirrel preparing a good layer of fat for the winter hibernation but 365.2425 days a year.

Running off our adrenaline and cortisol at all times (a life of fight or flight) can cause brain damage, specifically to the hippocampus. The elevated Cortisol levels can lead to Cushing's syndrome.

So by rejecting the requirement (what requirement exactly? that of having to respond to continuous "emergencies"?) one simply gives up or transcends their instinct? Is that what you are saying?

People perceive that there are "requirements" and standards they have to meet in relation to others and perhaps immediately insurmountable problem that they define for themselves. The one that rejects it will allow themselves to slow down enough for contemplation, without attempting escape.

And those who do not transcend at first tend to be eventually hit by a snow ball of whatever was being repressed? What exactly was being repressed?

Hmmm. Perhaps nothing. Sometimes it's an escape. I know people that can't stand themselves if they are still for even a moment. They start to become aware of what is in the background and have to get on the move again as quickly as possible. It's not necessarily because they feel lazy but they just have to "do something". It could be any pointless activity like going clubbing. It feels uncomfortable. It isn't the same as a well-trained mind the knows how to regulate itself and be in the moment. One is antsy and fidgity; the other is calm.

*looks at thread title* Boy THAT is a depressing thought. Pun intended.

[edit on 27-8-2009 by muggl3z]

Interesting findings.
While reading it, it almost seems like common sense.

Someone jokingly mentioned to me, while reading an article about depression in children, "Has anyone ever thought that the kid is just quiet?"
It serves it's purpose.
An interesting parallel of the article referring to the "possibility: that, in most instances, depression should not be thought of as a disorder at all".

Could it be speculated, that the overabundance of medications prescribed for depressions were and still are totally unnecessary?
If so, What has been the result of our tampering with this evolutionary process?
Have we become irrevocably deadlocked by our own hampering of an evolutionary trait?

[edit on 8/27/2009 by reticledc]

I've always felt this way about depression. And especially lately. If this is what people are taking medicine for then the world is full of babies.

Years ago depression was just a chance to take a break and sort of go deeper. It wasn't a time to be sad. It might be sad kinda physically, but why identify with it. This was even before I read anything about not being attached to things.

Originally posted by Xeven
I am pretty sure your deep empathy comes from ADD/OCD.

Uhm....


Everybody, just say "NO" to Ritalin. k?

I read your post and flagged it early for myself. It is very hard even concentrate enough on this thread to answer.

I totally agree to a point.

The ruminations and tendancy toward isolation, causes a downward spiral that is not easy to remove yourself from. It actually becomes addicting, easier than dealing with the public. When you are able to force yourself to go out it takes your mind off yourself and gives a minor release.

I live within my mind, this is not a good thing regardless of evolution.

I know this is simple but I don't have the energy to deal with deep thought on this...ha, maybe in a few days when I pick apart the pieces.