Comments on: The True Cause Of Depression http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/03/08/the-true-cause-of-depression/ Reflections of a Buddhist Physician Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:49:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dan http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/03/08/the-true-cause-of-depression/#comment-65959 Dan Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:31:11 +0000 http://happinessinthisworld.com/?p=775#comment-65959 Karen's contrast of responsibility and guilt is laudable. Our puritanical roots encourage the notion of responsibility, but as someone who comes from a chronic care family, I've known since childhood that much of our lives are beyond our responsibility. Andre Agassi helped clarify this, when he discussed taking ownership of his issues—as a tennis player from age 3, responsibility was not his, but he became empowered taking ownership of his history. Just as you have to set a bone if it's broken, depression may be part of the path to our own awareness, forgiveness, and acceptance. Our culture doesn't even really have a vocabulary to discuss our emotional lives and well-being! Karen’s contrast of responsibility and guilt is laudable. Our puritanical roots encourage the notion of responsibility, but as someone who comes from a chronic care family, I’ve known since childhood that much of our lives are beyond our responsibility. Andre Agassi helped clarify this, when he discussed taking ownership of his issues—as a tennis player from age 3, responsibility was not his, but he became empowered taking ownership of his history. Just as you have to set a bone if it’s broken, depression may be part of the path to our own awareness, forgiveness, and acceptance. Our culture doesn’t even really have a vocabulary to discuss our emotional lives and well-being!

]]> By: Depression Is a Wake-Up Call - How To Live Happily | How To Live Happily http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/03/08/the-true-cause-of-depression/#comment-62501 Depression Is a Wake-Up Call - How To Live Happily | How To Live Happily Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:49:24 +0000 http://happinessinthisworld.com/?p=775#comment-62501 [...] Depression Is a Wake-Up Call by howtolivehappily on February 7th, 2011 A couple of days ago, I posted a short summary of an article about the true cause of depression by Alex Lickerman. [...] [...] Depression Is a Wake-Up Call by howtolivehappily on February 7th, 2011 A couple of days ago, I posted a short summary of an article about the true cause of depression by Alex Lickerman. [...]

]]> By: Alex Lickerman – The True Cause Of Depression - How To Live Happily | How To Live Happily http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/03/08/the-true-cause-of-depression/#comment-62500 Alex Lickerman – The True Cause Of Depression - How To Live Happily | How To Live Happily Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:48:43 +0000 http://happinessinthisworld.com/?p=775#comment-62500 [...] Depression by howtolivehappily on February 2nd, 2011 I just came across an amazing article about the true cause of depression and would like to briefly mention a few points it makes. This is by no means a complete summary. [...] [...] Depression by howtolivehappily on February 2nd, 2011 I just came across an amazing article about the true cause of depression and would like to briefly mention a few points it makes. This is by no means a complete summary. [...]

]]> By: ATT http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/03/08/the-true-cause-of-depression/#comment-62091 ATT Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:42:52 +0000 http://happinessinthisworld.com/?p=775#comment-62091 I was wondering what you meant (in a response to RG above) when you wrote that you don't tend to consider options outside what appear to be the limited ones available until you are "forced" to do so. Do you mean that you tend to hover in indecision between limited options until you run out of time and are forced into your dilemma, and then you suddenly find yourself discovering a new option? Or do you mean that you tend to grind away at one of the horns of the dilemma for a while until you can't stand it anymore, and then you decide to abandon the whole thing and move in a new direction? I am wondering how these previously "unacceptable" options are revealed... Are they revealed usually because you finally learn through experience just how bad the "acceptable" (limited) options are? <blockquote><em><strong>ATT</strong>: Usually it's the severity of the pain a situation is causing me combined with the failure of the solutions I've tried that finally impels me to open my mind to solutions to which I've previously been closed. Alex</em></blockquote> I was wondering what you meant (in a response to RG above) when you wrote that you don’t tend to consider options outside what appear to be the limited ones available until you are “forced” to do so. Do you mean that you tend to hover in indecision between limited options until you run out of time and are forced into your dilemma, and then you suddenly find yourself discovering a new option? Or do you mean that you tend to grind away at one of the horns of the dilemma for a while until you can’t stand it anymore, and then you decide to abandon the whole thing and move in a new direction? I am wondering how these previously “unacceptable” options are revealed… Are they revealed usually because you finally learn through experience just how bad the “acceptable” (limited) options are?

ATT: Usually it’s the severity of the pain a situation is causing me combined with the failure of the solutions I’ve tried that finally impels me to open my mind to solutions to which I’ve previously been closed.

Alex

]]> By: Zoe http://www.happinessinthisworld.com/2009/03/08/the-true-cause-of-depression/#comment-61545 Zoe Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:07:02 +0000 http://happinessinthisworld.com/?p=775#comment-61545 I'm 20 years old and have been taking antidepressants since I was 16. I've tried all different classes and recently my doctor had me take a supplemental antidepressant to see if the two would work better together—we thought one would counteract the side effects of the other. I've reached another wall, where I feel that the antidepressants are only holding me at a certain, slightly-below-adequate emotional state. The medication was initially incredibly helpful, really life changing. But I've grown and changed a lot since then. I've been using these drugs as a reason not to work on curbing my overly sensitive reactions to certain situations and my moment-to-moment emotions. They've given me an excuse. I just started experiencing some bad anxiety. It leads me to realize that dealing with anxiety and depression is far more than adding a new drug, or changing the ones I'm on. It's time to put real effort into investing mental and emotional energy into reworking my cognitive patterns. When I was in the hospital for treatment for an eating disorder years ago, CBT was the most helpful. I didn't think I could apply the same techniques to help my depression. This article felt like a deep breath. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. <blockquote><em><strong>Zoe</strong>: I'm so glad you found the post encouraging. Best of luck to you. Alex</em></blockquote> I’m 20 years old and have been taking antidepressants since I was 16. I’ve tried all different classes and recently my doctor had me take a supplemental antidepressant to see if the two would work better together—we thought one would counteract the side effects of the other.

I’ve reached another wall, where I feel that the antidepressants are only holding me at a certain, slightly-below-adequate emotional state. The medication was initially incredibly helpful, really life changing. But I’ve grown and changed a lot since then. I’ve been using these drugs as a reason not to work on curbing my overly sensitive reactions to certain situations and my moment-to-moment emotions. They’ve given me an excuse.

I just started experiencing some bad anxiety. It leads me to realize that dealing with anxiety and depression is far more than adding a new drug, or changing the ones I’m on. It’s time to put real effort into investing mental and emotional energy into reworking my cognitive patterns. When I was in the hospital for treatment for an eating disorder years ago, CBT was the most helpful. I didn’t think I could apply the same techniques to help my depression.

This article felt like a deep breath. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Zoe: I’m so glad you found the post encouraging. Best of luck to you.

Alex

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