Descriptions of depression

Depression is a common affliction. The percentage of people suffering from depression is staggering. Of course, the pandemic contributed to these numbers, but even before the pandemic the numbers were staggering.

There are many ways to define depression. I want to use descriptions, not definitions.

Depression is experienced as feeling low -- not having much energy for daily events or situations. Sleep tends to be affected, as well as thinking and focus. Depression affects appetite, and a person's interests can become non-existent. Sadness often accompanies depression, as well as helplessness, low self-esteem, despair and other negative feelings about life. Clearly, there also are many descriptions associated with depression but I want to provide one other that might not be familiar. We can begin by remembering that consciousness helps us to be aware of daily experiences and life.

Now, imagine looking out your window on a sunny day and seeing far and wide. Now, imagine looking out your window on a cloudy day. You probably can't see nearly as far or wide. If you're looking out your window at dusk, your ability to see would be greatly diminished. If only the moon and stars are lighting up the sky, then, of course, your vision would be highly impeded. Finally, on a night without moonlight, you would barely see anything. Okay, so what do these descriptions have to do with depression? Well, each description represents a progressive state/condition of depression and another way to understand the many experiences of depression.

Depression can be considered a person's consciousness moving into the unconscious (hidden psychology). As depression progresses a person consciously experiences less and less of daily life, represented by the progressively diminishing light.

Treating depression can require medication and psychotherapy, but typically, it's the meaning of a depression that is most important. If a person has enough consciousness to discover the meaning, a depression can lift – a person's consciousness can move out of the unconscious. Discovering the meaning, however, is not easy. This can take time, since finding the meaning is related to the depth of a depression.

This description of depression differs from the others because it provides the psychological dynamics, not the symptoms of depression which clearly varies in degree of severity. These dynamics, however, are not necessarily the causes of depression. Depression is caused by situations, personal relationships and personal psychological issues.

Each of us can attempt to assess our experience of depression and its associated meaning but if a depression becomes debilitating, then seeking professional help is necessary.