Posted by maxime on August 21, 2006, at 20:09:27
In reply to Is Depression a choice?, posted by rjlockhart on August 21, 2006, at 19:37:17
Complex question.
TRUE depression is not a choice. But I know some people who have started to recover from their depression and they become scared. Scared that they will have to be involved in life again. So they don't get well.
Having a positive attitude helps ... but when you are depressed, it's hard to be positive.
I think hope is important. If you see a glimmer of hope ... then you can recover. Once the hope is gone, all is lost.
I do believe that some people choose to stay depressed because it's easier than living ... but I don't think there are many people who do that. It all depends on the situation.
I think people who haven't been depressed believe that you can will yourself out of a depression. You can't.
I don't many people know that there are psysical manifestation of depression as well.
I could go on forever ... but I will stop here.
Here is something to think about. Maybe the brain/body chooses depression as a defense mechanism. It can't handle everything that is going on and so it becomes depressed.
Oh and I know that part of my depression is caused by malnutrition. Even though I know that ... I continue to restrict my calories. I don't want to be depressed ... but my fear of fat is greater.
Take care Matt.
Maxime
> I have just been thinking, when you get depressed, do you choose to get in that state, or is it the actual state you in.
>
> Can you chose not too? and say no, do anything to do it, but i have noticed sometimes the problem is motivation.
>
> What do you think?
poster:maxime
thread:678826
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060818/msgs/678834.html