Depression is it really just a state of mind or is it situational?

The medical profession would probably grind me into the ground for saying this, but I speak from a viewpoint where in the past I have done a lot of in-depth voluntary work with people suffering various degrees of depression. It is easy for medical people to throw a bottle of pills at the condition and state that it is "endogenous", but the work I did involved taking time with the sufferers, exploring their feelings in great depth, and giving them a safe, non-judgmental environment in which to talk. I found with every single case I encountered (and there were, over a period of many years, thousands) if you explored deeply enough, there was always a root cause - sometimes way way back in their very early childhood, even babyhood. From the point of view of babyhood, these people had often absorbed an atmosphere going on in their family home, but in people who became depressed when older, I found it was always, 100% of the time, a reaction to a specific event or chain of events. For that reason, I have never considered that anti-depressant medication could be of any real use, except for maybe distancing a seriously depressed person from their depression, so that they can get the wheels of their life moving again. I would like to see much more emphasis placed on counselling/therapy - maybe with the aid of anti depressants - to determine the root cause(s) of the depression, then for a counsellor/therapist and the patient/client to work together on healing the negative event(s) which caused the depression in the first place.

Oh Sweetheart this is one of my pet subjects as I have battled sever clinical depression most of my adult life! Don't get me wrong it isn't always sever but it is always in the back of my mind that the next flare up may not be far away! I get low on the chemical serotonin and I have been so bad that I couldn't walk as my balance was so bad or talk properly - I didn't have the strength or coordination to get the words out - everything was just a slurred noise - it is a bit like trying to run a car when the petrol(gas) tank is empty - it just doesn't happen! I know that if I stayed on medication then I probably wouldn't get as bad but I don't like to be on medication that I don't need and my doctor is happy that I know myself when I do need to be on the medication to build those chemicals back up- he has also made sure I had Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in a group session and access to a key worker when I need him! I know my experience of Depression is not the experience of all as there are many levels and types of depression but I KNOW that no matter what trying to deal with it yourself and hide away from it only makes things worse - you need to be able to let the pain and anguish out somewhere, somehow otherwise you end up in a far deeper, darker tunnel than you would want to know existed! xxxx

There are several arguments for depression by Psychology researchers. The thing is they cannot come up with an answer because the variables they are studying are not constant. They study people and people are all different so it's hard to get a definitive answer even with the same symptoms. There have been known chemical imbalances in the brain which lead to severe clinical depression. There are also other people with no known imbalances and they are as depressed as the ones with the imbalance, so their depression is coming from elsewhere. Factors in their life are playing a part. Usually people with stuff that happens to them can work through it without the help of meds. They just need some guidance or a life change. Those with definitive chemical imbalances need medication, supervision, and intense therapy as their brain is actually misfiring in some way. This is mental illness which is more than going through bad times in life. We have all been depressed at one time or another. But when it is a constant for an extended length of time or it seems that you were born with it- then that person should be checked for mental illness and seek treatment ASAP.

Having my own issues with depression earlier this year I think I have a pretty good handle on this now, at least how it pertains to me. I had a bunch of crap on my plate and wasn't in control over any of it. Dealing with all of that coupled with the fact that regardless of what I did it wasn't going to give me control over the outcome made it even worse and thus I ended up depressed. After I did all of the things I had to do and they were over so was my depression. But that didn't stop my doctor from prescribing me a daily pill to take to cope with my depression. So I believe that at least for me my depression was situational. I took the pills and they didn't help. I got out of my depression on my own and have stopped taking the pills and feel fine with the exception of the depression I am feeling over another situation I have little to no control over. (my conference call and recommendations from VBH) But I know this depression will be over when I get the determination letter then it will turn to anger and I will move on from there. Now I'm not saying that some people do not suffer a daily depression from the time they wake until the time they go to sleep. This kind of depression isn't situational even though it may have a lot to do with situations in the persons life but it goes deeper than that to levels of seratonin (sp?) or other chemical imbalances in the brain. Maybe these people do need a daily medication regimen to level themselves out. Maybe not. I just know why I was depressed and what worked for me and how I got out of my funk.

You posted this not long after I had to hang up on you today bella. I'm so sorry about that. I just don't want any cause for fighting in my house right now, and couldn't stay on the phone. He was in the room when I was saying good bye and he asked me who it was. I told him and he frowned and I picked up my lighter and he changed the subject! LOL I'm glad to see though that you wrote out what you thinking. I hope you're feeling better now sweets.

To me depression starts from the situation. If you are in a situation and you receive help then you will be out of it. Depression is not to take lightly. To me it is best to talk with someone who you trust if you have a problem. This also works.

most of the time it is fully situational. one has to be optimistic as to how i get out of this foul thing right.be positive .

Some depression is situational and some is chemical. I have chemical depression and I have to take meds. Some people can pull themselves out of it with diet, exercise, and vitamins, especially if its situational. I have taken breaks from my meds over the years but always had to start back up.

i think its the combination of both. here you have given farely many cases of it. i think its both. its a situation when we find ourself within it. its a state of mind as it is psychological.

I get depressed as well but it isn't a mental illness it's more b/c of things going on around me. Once the situation clears up then I'm back to normal. Depression as a mental illness is normally looked at when the person doesn't really have a reason to be depressed. They just wake up in a dark depression and can't seem to shake it. I think everyone goes through times when life gets you down and you get bummed out...but that's part of life and living. **AT PEACE WITHIN** ~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~

Being "depressed" and suffering "depression" are not necessarily the same thing Bella. But there is no substitute for proper medical advice and if you are concerned then that is where you must go. I am clinically depressed and whilst I could tell you what my symptoms are, your might be totally different and to that extent I don't feel that I can help you too much.

I think depression can be of both, real nature due to imbalance in the functioning of neurotransmitters and a situational & circumstance related.

i wud say its a combination of both..u keep thinkin gon one and other reason automaticaalyy catches up...keep thinking its situational u ll psychologicaaly get depressed...

it is both, medication do nothing but to shut it down artificialy and temporarily, whatever the issue, psychological issue, that is causing the brain to function like that, i dont know whether its the way the mind think that is causing the brain to function abnormally or its the other way around, brain disfunction, chemical inbalance or i dunno, but whatever the cause is medication only as the sole solution is not gonna work, the way of thinking cause by dealing with depression should be fix too

Hi bellaofchaos, Not being schooled on the subject, I'd guess that a mental state of depression embodies an attitude that one's circumstances are bad and there's no way to improve them. If there WAS a path to improvement, then the depressed feelings could be mitigated and eventually overcome. So depression might be an attitudinal fixation - if so, there might be two ways to defeat it: 1. Decouple one's assessment of one's state from the surrounding circumstances. One can choose to be happy despite an adverse situation. This might amount to redefining the meaning of what is "good", "bad" or "acceptable" in one's external environment, or reprioritizing the significance of one's interior and exterior dispositions. 2. Identify a viable path to improving or correcting an adverse situation. Either strategy, or a combination of both, might cure a bout of depression. If the underlying cause is rooted in some past experience or related to one's self-respect or some other internal value judgment, then the first strategy might be the more appropriate path to a solution.

I don't think depression is a state of mind or situational. I think it is an illness, a medical condition. I think that many who are sad or down for no apparent reason assume and say they are depressed when they are not, in reality. To me depression is when you are malfunctioning in several areas because of feelings and emotions which are out of your control. I don't believe medication is the answer unless some chemical imbalance is detected. I also believe that we are not taught the realities of life very well by our parents and teachers so we progress through life unprepared for the eventualities that occur and the consequences of our actions. I think family values and functions are important in ways of love and support. I believe family structure is slowly breaking down and many people have no safe haven and no-where to turn for love, support, encouragement, help with day to day issues, lauhghter and assistance in time of need.

Depression has A LOT to do with attitude. There are some lucky people out there that have an amazing capacity for positive thinking. This doesn't mean they never get sad, it's just that they deal with their emotions and bounce back. I am not one of those lucky people. It is easy to be irate about your current situation. It may be brought on by pain or discomfort, or perhaps things just don't seem to be going your way that day. String a few of those days together and you've got a rut. If you stay stuck in that rut long enough it starts to shape your outlook. That's when it gets tricky. I've suffered from prolonged periods of depression at a time in my life when I really didn't have much to complain about. My situation was good, as was my health. My mind was exploring all the dark corners of the world. There is alot of negativity in the world one can fixate on. It can be a sad and lonely place if you accept that as the reality of the situation. I felt like there was something wrong with me, and there was. It was my outlook on life. They way you look at the world is not something that changes overnight. It can take years to recover from depression. Now imagine if your life has lots of problems in it, that are influencing your outlook, because they make you miserable. Poor home life, abuse, neglect, fatigue, chronic illness, feeling isolated, unloved, finacial difficulties; this list could take all night as the many ways a human can suffer are quite abundant. A situation can amplify the state of mind, but the state of mind is the root problem. You can aleviate the situational problems for a depressed individual and they will still suffer from the depression. They are so used to looking at the world a certain way that the potential for a change in attitude does not even occur to them. They have witnessed "proof" that life is like this, why should they believe it is different? Changing yourself is hard. Fortunately things are always changing. A depressed person really needs to accept that there are other ways to view life than the way they are currently doing so. They also need to take responsibility to put forth effort to change any situations that are amplifying their depression. They need to assert their desire for a better life and take it back themselves. I have a real problem with the concept that medication will aide a severely depressed individual. They lack energy and enthusiasm, and those pills turn people into zombies. Exercise and outdoor activities, and recreation in general are important. Positive social interaction. A hobby to enjoy. Feed your body and soul. Flush those negative toxins. Think about things that make you profoundly happy. Ask others what makes them happy. Then go out and do these things. You must do them, make each day at least a little special. They blend together otherwise.

To be honest with you bella however no pun intended, I don't care which it is because I know depression is real and very debiliatating because I have it. I take zoloft and it works wonders for me. I have tried other kinds of medications but none of them worked and I thought I'd lose my darned mind and finally went back to zoloft. My husband had tried cymbalta and it made his jaw lock up so he quit taking it. It's not for everybody and is why there's so many out there because we're all different. As for me, I'll never ever come off of zoloft again, not even if someone were to give me a million dollars!! Heck no! lol I'd rather be happy and poor than to be sad and rich any day of the year. Sure, money can make one's life much easier but it doesn't buy happiness.

How can you get rid of depression? I have a suggestion: Go for a walk, change the place for a little while or one week. Try to make new friendships. Help the other who are depressed. I know some bad words or bad deeds can bring a person to a sadness and after this depression. For example: I was visiting a home for disabled people in Asenovgrad, Bulgaria. I saw a depressed man, he was so calm and sad. But when I make a joke with him imiating a woman, he began to smile and after the smile on his face, he began to laugh. I remember the same man who begged my favour to help him, I tried to tell him encouraging words. It is very hard to tell someone a word of kindness or encouragement.

It's both I think. It's a state of mind caused by the environmental situation. But ofcourse, everyone's mind is different, so people can respond differently to the same situations. Some things depress me that wouldn't depress other people. It depends on both my own mind, and the trigger or environment that causes a response from my mind. Illness is just a word to describe what people experience compared to the norm of what other people generally experience. So if you're mentally ill, or have mental problems, its basically saying that relative to other people, you're more depressed/hyper or what not. It's not actually that weird to be depressed if you think about what goes on in the world, and what goes on in life. It's not even very crazy to feel sad, I think it's weirder when people don't feel sad at all, as if they have to lie to themselves to make things seem 'ok' when sometimes things are not ok. It's ok to be depressed I think. But the reason why people try to help is because being depressed for long periods of time isn't functional. You don't care much about others anymore, and can't perform in your job, or it can cause personal difficulties, so that's why its an 'illness'. I think short term depression though is more like introspection. I think people should be allowed to feel sad sometimes without it seeming like they're weird or antisocial. Society shouldn't stigmatise it so much. People should feel like its ok to be depressed for certain periods of time so they can reflect on their own life, and what they want to learn from it, not just try to be impossibly happy or fulfilled all the time.