Can feeling depressed actually make you healthier?
According to a 2008 CDC report, 1 in 20 Americans are reported to be depressed. 80% of them report some level of functional impairment because of their illness, 27% report it being extremely difficult to work, to get things done at home, or get along with others due to these depressive symptoms.
In 2000, almost 2/3 of the estimated $83 billion dollars which depression cost the USA, resulted in lowered productivity and workplace absenteeism.
In the USA, the prescription use of anti-depressants has doubled in the last ten years. About 10% of the adult population in the USA takes anti-depressants. Yet, the vast majority of people take pills and do not seek the proper treatment that they may need to overcome the depression.
Now, please do not misunderstand me, I am not opposed to people taking anti-depressants. I do believe anti-depressants certainly have their place in treatment for some people. What I am opposed to, is the over-use, over-prescribing, and over-dependence on using anti-depressants while not actually facing the real issues. Anti-depressants are great at masking your symptoms, however, they do not cure you of the problem.
I think one of the reasons why the use of medication is more popular over therapeutic treatments for depression/anxiety come down to the common attitude among Americans’: taking a pill is the easiest way to ‘cure’ what ails me.
American’s don’t like to exercise – take a pill. They don't like to eat right to get the necessary nutrients in a day – take a pill. They don’t want to cry, be sad, face their fears – take a pill. We are even told that it is the best method for helping us - we are bombarded by anti-depressant, anti-anxiety ads on TV – so it is too easy to go into your doctor’s office, ask for them by name, and your doctor agrees to prescribe them, because they don’t have time to listen to your troubles (average office visit with a doctor 3-7 minutes).Also, people feel that if they are not better after 6 sessions, then therapy must not be working. This is a complete misinterpretation of therapeutic expectations. Therapy doesn’t have to take years, but it may take longer than 6 session to see a real improvement.
There is a silver lining to depression, sadness, or the tragic events which can happen to us throughout our life. We’ve all heard of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. Definition from the Mayo Clinic Website), but have you ever heard of Post Traumatic Growth?
Post-traumatic Growth- is a positive change experienced as a result of the struggle with a major life crisis or a traumatic event. The idea that human beings can be changed by their encounters with life challenges, sometimes in radically positive ways, is not new. This concept appears in many ancient spiritual and religious traditions, literature, and philosophy. What is reasonably new is the systematic study of this phenomenon by psychologists, social workers, counselors, and scholars in other traditions of clinical practice and scientific investigation.
Rich Tedeschi, a professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte who coined the term "post-traumatic growth,” studies people who have endured extreme events such as: combat, violent crime, natural disasters or sudden serious illness. His research has shown that most people feel dazed and anxious in the immediate aftermath of “the event.”
They are preoccupied with the negative and with the belief that their lives have been completely negatively altered or devastated. A few are haunted (sometimes for a long period of time) afterwards by memories; they can have trouble with sleep, and even experience similar symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. But Tedeschi and other researchers have found that for many people—perhaps even the majority of the population—life ultimately becomes richer and more gratifying.
Posttraumatic growth tends to occur in 5 general areas:
1) Sometimes people who must face major life crises develop a sense that new opportunities have emerged from the struggle,
a) opening up possibilities that were not present before.
2) A change in relationships with others.
a) Some people experience closer relationships with some specific people, and they can also experience an increased sense of connection to others who suffer.
3) An increased sense of one’s own strength – “if I lived through that, I can face anything”.
4) A greater appreciation for life in general.
5) The spiritual or religious domain is affected
a) Some individuals experience a deepening of their spiritual lives, however, this deepening can also involve a significant change in one’s belief system.
So, life doesn’t have to be full of painful, tragic memories. How we choose to remember the event or examine our past negative events can certainly influence our future trajectory in life. Now, it’s not easy – it takes work on your part to overcome these negative feelings or memories, but there is hope. You can overcome!
In fact, depression may be our body’s natural way of telling us to stop and focus on what is troubling us, so we can move beyond it. From an evolutionary perspective – depression may lead to better mental health. Even Aristotle wrote about this theory during his time (384 BC – 322 BC). Today there are many proponents of psychology who feel that depression should not be a “disorder” based on this evolutionary psychology perspective of humans and their emotions. Dr. Paul Andrews (PhD) of Virginia Commonwealth University and Dr. J. Anderson Thomson (MD) of Student Health Services and Institute of Law and Psychiatry at the University of Virginia believe that depression can actually facilitate the kind of rumination one needs to help overcome tragedy.
Most depressed individuals say they have a hard time concentrating and paying attention because they are focused solely on the problem. Thomson feels that this perception isn’t entirely accurate. He says, “the real problem is that they can think about only one thing – the issue that’s troubling them- and that gets in the way of trying to concentrate on work or anything else.” He references studies that show sadness can actually promote analytical thinking which may allow one to break down a complex problem into a smaller more manageable issue to solve.
There isn’t one way to overcome depression. There isn’t one sure fire “cure” – whatever your beliefs and philosophies about how to best treat your depression just remember – seek help. Whether it is from a professional or a loved one/friend/family member, depression makes us want to retreat inwards and become solitary. Yet, seeking social situations is also a necessary part to overcoming and beginning the long journey to recovery.
For more information on depression or for obtaining help for depression – check-out: http://www.apa.org/topics/depress
Information on the American Psychology Association’s Website:
Depression is more than just sadness. People with depression may experience a lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
Depression is the most common mental disorder. Fortunately, depression is treatable. A combination of therapy and antidepressant medication can help ensure recovery.
What You Can Do
Seek the right kind of social support - Social isolation increases the risk of depression. But it turns out that spending too much time discussing problems with friends could actually increase depression as well.
Exercise Helps Keep Your Psyche Fit - Exercise is an effective, cost-effective treatment for depression and may help in the treatment of other mental disorders.
Getting Help
Depression is a real illness and carries with it a high cost in terms of relationship problems, family suffering, and lost work productivity. Yet, depression is a highly treatable illness, with psychotherapy, coping and cognitive-behavioral techniques, and medication.
What You Can Do
Exercise: You don't have to knock yourself out to feel good - Even a little exercise can reduce depression and boost your energy levels.
Turning Lemons into Lemonade: Hardiness Helps People Turn Stressful Circumstances into Opportunities - Research shows hardiness is the key to the resiliency for not only surviving, but also thriving, under stress. Hardiness enhances performance, leadership, conduct, stamina, mood and both physical and mental health.
The happiness diet - Sonja Lyubomirsky argues that limiting overthinking can improve our emotional well-being.
Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. - Helen Keller
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