analog

I'm glad you got over your depression and don't actively consider yourself a failure. The ability to self-actualize (develop or achieve one's potential) is quite a feat, especially if you're going about it alone, and starting out in a less than perfect state of mind (negative thinking, depression).

I will, however, bring to task a few of your points.

That is absolutely correct. Your problem, however, is in turning a rather simple expression into an absolute. Through your words and examples, you assert that ANY time when emotion interferes with well-being is unacceptable. What you leave unaccounted for is that many of the human emotions, specifically some of the "sad" ones, exist to cushion us in times of stress. A prime example is grieving for a loss. Without the emotional reactions that come during these times, a person's brain is burdened tremendously with the weight of the unresolved emotions. There are large bodies of study into people such as hospital workers, emergency medical providers, or military personnel who are trained to "shut off" their emotional responses to the pain, suffering, loss, and death of others. People in these areas, who are specifically "shutting off" their negative emotional reactions so as not to harm their well-being, still go through their own personal emotional healing. Some cry later that day at home, some meditate, other find creative outlets to express their feelings of sadness or shock.

The point of the matter is- those who don't deal with their negative emotions at some point, suffer greatly from the mental burden they leave themselves. They let the harshness of the reality of their job get to them, rather than allowing the natural and necessary process of dealing with them take place. After a while, those who deal with their negative emotional stressors effectively are much less bothered by the same sorts of emotional stressors that others experience, because they're used to dealing with it in a healthy way.


For pretty much most people, depression is a chemical issue. You may be referring to cases where the cause is *purely* chemical, but that still dismisses a very large majority for whom the chemical make-up of their brain is still the root of their ongoing depression. That is why there are so many anti-depression drugs (that, and the pharmaceutical companies like large, steady paychecks). There may be alcohol or drug abuse that helps to fuel it, or it may be real mental trauma such as the death of a loved one, or an unstable/broken family life.

The emotional responses we go through are almost completely controlled by a chemical in the brain called serotonin (this is not serotonin's only job, though). To put it plainly, anti-depression drugs work by blocking the brain's ability to reabsorb the higher levels of serotonin it produces, thereby limiting the emotional responses- your brain chemistry changes so that you no longer have those intense feelings of depression.

Being unable to mentally "will" the chemistry of your brain to change so that your depression goes away hardly makes a person a loser.

If you're trying to bring people out of depression, the "buck up, camper" approach does not work, which is essentially what you're trying to do here.

If your noble goal is to help those afflicted with persistent depression, you need to understand that a negative approach does not work in this case. There are times when the "tough love" system can inspire people to achieve, can drive people to succeed... but not for depression.

Here's the most important bit:

It may have worked for you, so congratulations... but in the process, it seems to have made you feel so worthwhile that you put down those who haven't had your relatively unique success. Indeed, this is like if the world's strongest man lifted 1,000 pounds over his head, put it down, and then started to actively belittle everyone on the planet who couldn't do the same, and called them all pussies and wimps. Most people need help from a couselor of some kind, perhaps some therapy, or even chemical interventions to have a better or normal quality of life.

You may also look into why you're projecting failure on everyone who suffers from the same depression you used to have. Is it possible- just think about it for a little minute- that you're inwardly, secretly fearful that everyone considered you a failure when you were depressed? That your bigger fear is that they still do? Perhaps you've "healed" yourself from your depression, but have yet to shake that feeling of failure that once captivated you? Feeling ashamed of your past, especially a past you feel you've not only overcome, but gloriously triumphed over, is quite normal, but only healthy in small doses. It should only carry so far as to motivate you, never to make you feel bad, or use the stored anger, disappointment, and loathing for yourself to project onto others.

Mull it around a bit and get back to me.