Tomtegubbe said:
Voidmatrix said:
I find that depression itself and all that comes with it can be hard to identify seeing as it imbeds itself within our minds. It can be hard to find the distinctions that highlight depression.
Depression is quite a conglomerate of emotions and thoughts. With current psychiatric paradigm we only see a problem that you need to get rid of.
However, people who go through depressive episodes in their lives, or even constantly struggle with low energy and low mood, often gain perspective and empathy through their own suffering. What we name depression may be a big opportunity for spiritual growth.
Medieval mystic St. John of the Cross wrote about the concept of Dark night of the soul which I believe is related to this. When life treats you in a way that you are not able to live up your previous ambitions and dreams you are forced to look inside. Not everyone comes back, but those who do often have perspectives and attitudes that don't develop without first having to go through personal struggles.
Well said. In regards to the comment about psychiatry and depression being a problem to be solved, I personally feel (as my old therapist helped me understand) that it's better to learn to manage it. Granted, I do have persistent depression, which for the small number of people who have, can be life long. As
I don't really fight my depression anymore (like when I tried to "cure" it or had expectations for such), but rather inversely manipulate it. Having depression has taught me a great deal, that may not be aware of if I didn't deal with it. As Tomtegubbe said, I have gained perspective, understanding, and empathy not only for myself but for others as well.
St. John of the Cross had some resonance with this in the above shared. While it's not only about prior ambitions and dreams for me, there still exists the impetus to look inward, to walk the path, and to grow with perseverance and resilience.
Bisy said:
some interesting perspectives on depression, ill add one that is new to me as a result of all that ive recently experienced..
nobody likes to admit to being depressed, to themselves more than others prolly. and a day or two or even a week of melancholy is not depression. so it comes on slow and stealthily, giving you time to find all sorts of excuses for the decline in ambition and mood.. ultimately leaving you unaware that you are functioning far below your potential.. at some point, you begin to become aware that youre just idling, and start to push yourself to perform better. you become more productive, which in itself feels good, so you then use that change to tell yourself that youre doing better. but youre really not, youre just being more productive, which feels a little better.. but at the same time is causing you to believe that being productive solves your problem and also that you are finally back to achieving your potential..
what im experiencing is something VERY different. im not making effort to get up and stay busy so that so much gets accomplished this day. i dont have a list of things to do. and i dont get discouraged if i have to do something twice. (rare occurence)
its not just my productivity either.. my childrens mother is a sociopath, literally. (she isnt diagnosed, but ive spent many years learning this, and i am 100% sure of this) anyone remotely familiar with what this means knows what it does to the minds of their loved ones..sometimes forever damaged.. so dealing with her has always been challenging.. im suddenly and totally over it, above it, and unaffected by it..
theres so much more too....
its amazing.. the only thing that comes to mind as concerning is the possibility of this being something like the high you get from the first few experiences with some drugs, before they turn on you and kick your ass to the dirt.
Depression is indeed sneaky. And I identify with the rationalization effect that comes with depression, where one finds inaccurate justifications for what they're dealing with outside of saying that it's depression. I've had to really soul search to find out what I really think and feel about various things versus depression's intrusive thoughts and feelings. This time of year is a good example. I love a beautiful sunshine day, but it can be hard to embrace because of my situation and an invasion of feelings that aren't mine, though I feel them. I'm not always in control of its effects, but I am in control in recognition of the source and that it is not me.
Your example with productivity is an insightful example of the internal delusions and manipulations that can occur. This one specifically has (and still sometimes does) happen to me. I have come to recognize it for what it is and do my best to make it work to my advantage instead of against me.
Spice has yet to turn on me. But your concern applies to my past cocaine use lol! I'm not sure if it's my perspective(s) of DMT, the relationship I'm building with it, or something else, but it's only been a helpful tool.
I would like to clarify, I don't run to the Spice when I'm in a deeper sense of depression or whatnot. The Spice has taught me not to, and to be sure try to persevere on my own (this could be related to my neurosis about attachment lol) I had DMT experiences yesterday and the day before. Today was a harder day for me, but I'm not going to blast off. I'm going to use past experiences to propel me forward into making it through on my own. This is how I'd like it to be until the Spice and I grow closet to each other.
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