Notes on Depression: Impeding Progress to Mental Wellness

What is "Depression"?

Why do people get "depressed"?

What can a person do to guard against it?



Depression could be said to have four (4) fundamental causes:

1) The perceived inability to make happen what one wants to make happen,

2) The perceived inability to prevent from happening what one doesn't want to happen,

3) The perceived inability to stop or change what IS happening,

4) The awareness that something "has happened" that one could not, or did not, prevent from happening.

Any one, or any combination, of these conditions - persisted in - can produce in a person the feeling that he or she is incapable of effectively dealing with the natural challenges of his or her existence, thus making him/her feel "de-pressed", meaning "pressed down" or "held down" by the circumstances of life.

Much of the time, it is the result of MISUNDERSTANDING -- misunderstanding of events, actions, words, etc. When our FUNDAMENTAL ASSUMPTIONS about Life are based on flawed information ("false data"), or on traumatic experiences, then the result can be anything from "unrealistic expectations" to "low self-esteem"...both of which can lead to disappointment and depression.



Example:

A man or woman is depressed. When asked why, he or she explains that "I will never find a mate". (perceived inability #1) When asked "why not?", the person responds, "Because all men/women are _______", or, "Because I'm not good enough".

Upon being further questioned as to why he or she believes this, he/she responds, "Because every relationship I have been in...I've been cheated on." (perceived inability #2, 3 and/or 4) When asked how many relationships he/she has been in, the answer comes back, "two or three". (How did "two or three" relationships become "all men/women"?)

Here, we have an individual who has sentenced himself/herself to a life of solitude and disappointment because he/she misinterpreted the reality of what happened in his/her relationships, and thus made an erroneous assumption that is against his/her well-being and natural desires for happiness.

What is "false data"?

Logically speaking, "false data" could be any data which, when acted upon, brings about a "false" conclusion.

The different types of "false data" could be classified as follows:
1) Data that is completely false.
2) Data that is partly true and partly false.
3) Data that is true, but incomplete.
4) Data that is true and complete, but misunderstood because of previously accepted "false data".

Like any computer, the Brain/Mind's answers to problems can be only as good as the information it has to work with. The more "true" the information being used to draw a conclusion, the more rational or "correct" the conclusion will be.

When one formulates rational conclusions, the outcomes from such conclusions are generally favorable, and one gains a certain satisfaction from this experience...accomplishing what one intends to do.

When one formulates irrational conclusions, the outcomes from such conclusions are generally unfavorable, and one experiences a feeling of disappointment or dissatisfaction, because he or she was not able to accomplish the intended objective.

Most people have experienced the feeling or sense that they are greater than their circumstances suggest. Where does this feeling or sense come from? The Bible Teaches that "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."

The Idea here is that the Essence and Spirit and Power of God is in EACH of us. However, unless that Essence, Spirit and Power are Cultivated by the acquisition and application of proper Knowledge, then the "Greatness" of God within us will be "held down" by the circumstances of Life.

When a Divine Being perceives that He or She is UNABLE to manifest His or Her own Divinity and Power, that Being is without sufficient Knowledge of Self (and/or of that which He or She is attempting to do), and the result is...Depression.

The "bio-chemical imbalances" in the brain associated with depression are, in truth, more often the "effects" of depression...not the "causes".

Depression can be remedied with the Proper Knowledge...if spotted and handled in time.


http://caeringsolutions.webs.com/causesofdepression.htm

Submitted by Bro. Reuben Muhammad