Always look on the bright side of the pits
Two new books on depression note that psychiatrists, biologists, and drug companies tend to view normal sorrow as a disorder and depression as a disease. “This might be an appropriate model for the more severe “melancholic” forms of depression that psychiatrists tend to see, but not for the majority of cases of depression,” writes Paul Keedwell, author of How Sadness Survived. “Regardless of the reason for falling into depression, the journey has the potential to make us better equipped, in a general sense, for life. If we are too busy to think and feel, to be mindful, depression might represent the first opportunity to take an honest inventory of ourselves.”
The Loss of Sadness: How Psychiatry Transformed Normal Sorrow Into Depressive Disorder by Allan V. Horwitz focuses on the validity problem of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. “Just because two examiners concur that a person qualifies for a particular diagnosis does not mean that he has an authentic mental illness. In scientific terms, the diagnosis may lack validity. How do we know, for example, that a person diagnosed with major depressive disorder is not actually suffering from a bout of natural sadness brought on by a shattering loss, a grave disappointment, or a scathing betrayal?” (Sally Satel in the New Republic book review)
In short: You’re allowed to be sad. A bout of depression may be good for you. You’re not sick, you’re just human.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
February 29th, 2008 at 08:31
Being sad makes us sick and is sickening others. That’s not uncommon.
Fact: episodes of major depressive disorder often follow a severe psychosocial stressor, such as the death of a loved one or divorce. Sadness is considered a disorder/illness only when it interferes with our regular functions and several aspects of our own lives (work, family, friends, etc.). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders indicates several symptoms that must be present before one actually qualify as having this disorder. To say you’re depressed won’t always be politically correct. Still we do not deny: in loophole-filled sciences such as Psychology and Psychiatry, it’s very hard to know which is authentic or otherwise.
Negating one’s own statement is a right.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:43
Did the books address why psychiatrists still prescribe Prozac when research shows that a placebo is just as effective?
February 29th, 2008 at 13:07
I love Twister!!! I’m addicted to it!!!
March 1st, 2008 at 14:47
Great! Thanks for validating my being human. You see, I’m a big fan of your blogs and reading this was just fitting for someone like me who failed my driving test for the third freaking time! I’m not saddened by the result but I’m definitely depressed. Is that the right way to describe it?
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:29
Jessica, I follow your site to keep abreast on the Philippines and your take on culture – thanks for all the great work.
Speaking of depression, this article recently came out in The Baltimore Sun – I’m living in Charm City now – regarding the community of Filipino teachers – some 400 – who teach in Baltimore’s public schools – probably the toughest in the country. A good number of them live in an apartment building – described in artcile – a block from my house. The article discusses two recent suicides in that community, the hardships they face, etc… – its pretty good journalism. As you probably know, Ramona Diaz is wrapping up a doc on their story…. anyways, here’s the link:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.suicide24feb24,0,4434719.story
March 2nd, 2008 at 23:38
This one makes me want to watch Equilibrium again.
March 19th, 2008 at 08:27
In a world where productivity is the only priority, depression is a sin because as previously mentioned “it interferes with our regular functions and several aspects of our own lives (work, family, friends, etc.).” It’s not even just depression, it’s anything that keeps us from delivering what others demand from us to make their lives easier, be it physical, mental, spiritual or psychological, ie, you cannot be sad/sick because your work will be compromised. You have to be professional. I guess you cannot be human. So we can choose to remain in this situation or get out. But hey, in the spirit of negating myself, I’d probably make this decision once I am done making everybody else’s lives easier. Whenever that is I hope it’ll before I’m irrevocably physically dead.