Depression
There were several
psychiatrists and psychologists gathered
together for a discussion on the subject
of depression. They had come together to
identify all of the inaccurate,
incorrect and misleading information
regarding depression and the desire to
educate and inform society regarding the
real nature of depression. Also invited
to attend was a world-renowned wise man
to act as a mediator.
The discussion
began when a doctor addressed the bind
that depression creates for the patient.
"When depression is stigmatized as
illness and weakness, a double-bind is
created; if we admit to depression, we
will be stigmatized by others; if we
feel it but do not admit it, we
stigmatize ourselves, internalizing the
social judgment…The only remaining
choice may be truly sick behavior—to
experience no emotion at all."
At this point the
wise man interjected the question,
"Is depression the root
problem—or a symptom of another
problem?"
Another clinician
responded, "That's a good question
when you think about it because what
sane person could live in this world and
not be a little crazy or
depressed?"
The wise man
declared, "It is no measure of
health to be well adjusted to a
profoundly sick society."
"That's the
truest sign of insanity—insane people
are always sure that they're just fine.
It's only the sane people who are
willing to admit they're crazy,"
said yet another clinician.
"Another
consideration is that depression is made
up of the two human emotions, anger and
sadness over a loss. The anger one feels
with themselves is aimed at the utter
helplessness one experiences and a
self-deprecating judgment about that
helplessness. The sadness is rooted in
the loss of the self and the inherent
hopelessness that accompanies that
loss," offered another doctor.
A member of the
group addressed the wise man, "How
do you, who is untrained in these
matters see it? Please answer the
question you posed regarding whether
depression is the root problem or just a
symptom."
The wise man
responded, "That will become clear
when we begin to ask the real questions.
Questions like the ones that obtrude
upon your consciousness whether you like
it or not, the ones that make your mind
start vibrating like a jackhammer, the
questions that you come to terms with
only to discover that they are still
there. The real questions refuse to be
placated. They barge into your life at
the times when it seems most important
that they stay away. They are the
questions asked most frequently and
answered most inadequately, the ones
that reveal their true natures slowly,
reluctantly, most often against your
will. So, it seems to appear that
depression may well be a symptom to some
degree, and as you experts can also
attest—a chemical imbalance on other
occasions."
A doctor followed
up by saying, "So, problems or real
questions are, shall we say, the
intellectual function of problems, so as
to lead men to think; in which case
depression is a small price to pay if it
induces us to think about the cause of
the disorder, confusion and insecurity
which are the outstanding traits of our
social life."
The wise man said,
"That is precisely it. Depression
often settles itself on the hearts of
some of the world's greatest thinkers
and wise men because they are willing to
battle it out with the real questions to
discover the truth of a thing at any
price. That price is often,
depression."
V.P. Mosser
©2001-2005 V.P. Mosser
You're welcome to use this article in
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Successful entrepreneur, V.P. Mosser is
the creator of the Learn the Lessons
Series, the Life's Journey publication
and numerous thought-provoking articles.
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