Agreeing with Halx I must say that I am, and have been many times, clinically depressed; that is diagnosed after taking the proper steps by trained and certified physicians. And I have also been diagnosed, at an early age, with severe social anxiety. I am not, and I am quite clear, a life long failure or loser. In fact, Clinical Depression effects many people who's bodies simply cannot produce the bodies normal needed and required amount of seratonin. Chemicals are fickle but depression is a very serious and a very real thing. As real as being struck by a car or breaking your leg. And it's not so much that you are offending me, you just seem to be ignorant.
This is MY Opinion of course and should be taken with a grain of salt. But it seems that you are refering to sad people. Sad people and depressed people are not the SAME people. You see being depressed does not mean total and unwavering sadness... it is exactly how it sounds... as if you are a ball that has had all the air let out. It is less about sadness then it is about a numbness.
Being numb, being confused, living life without as much joy, physically and mentally, sexual confusion... all side effects of depression. And although crying and whining accompany it sometimes there are very few depressed men and women I have seen who are very emotional, if "emotional" is something that still exists to them at all. I find that there is exactly an opposite response to life, when depressed, then that of what you speak. It is NOT, and I repeat, NOT emotional. It is far from it. Depression's biggest weapon is just that... it steals that joy from you. Sadness, fear, happiness, horniness, excitement... and leaves you with a numb buzz.
But unlike yourself I am going to say that this is NOT a standard but are my own experiences, as well as many experiences I have stumbled upon in my life, including my extremely successful girlfriend, her father, my father, seven of my university professors, more then one director I've worked with (one, who suffered severely from depression and anxiety that I worked with countless times), three highschool principals/vice principals and their children who, their parents confessed, suffered from my probelm, as well as many countless adults, young men and women, peers and authority figures I have come across.
I am, I repeat, NOT offended by your post; just sad that you have standardized a large community of very strong, sucessful, and bold leaders and behind the scene play makers I have met in my life, as well as putting me in a group that I do not deserve to be boxed into. Although, you are free to disagree sir; although I believe doing so would be altogether ignorant.
Also, to give an answer to your own answer to mals question. "Can anyone really defend depression as a good thing?" (and excuse my own paraphrasing) I can answer that simple. This so called WEAKNESS or FAILURE that you have attributed to me and hundreds of thousands of others that I'm sure exist, and that is not a hyperbole, has, very VERY much so, created a stronger and more versitial man out of me. It has taught me countless lessons and put me many hard and almost unescapable struggles and situations. This is not me being a crybaby, it is simply the truth. And although I have been put in these situations (including taking my grad year off with pending scholarships to two of atlantic canada's best music programs) I have gotten out. That sir, is not failure, that sir is very much success.
I would very much like you to respond to this post because I want to see how you feel about what I have to say. I say this not to be rude but I feel your response will be feble and filled with holes that just attribute to your own ignorance and hostility. Please feel free to prove me very wrong.
Thank you. PMF21
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Originally Posted by raeanna74
Not all people who are even clinically depressed are failures.
Not all people who are failures are clinically depressed.
I believe the two do not truely have a connection.
I do believe that almost all failures will come up with some REASON for their failure other than themselves. Depression is a popular excuse for failure because it's not something that other people can measure or deny. There is no concrete proof of depression unless a Dr can diagnose it.
I have a friend who is clinically diagnosed as Bi-Polar. He has socked away a lot of money, has a job that he's held down for 10 years (he's only 32) and is a very responsible person. I could consider him successful. Depression has nothing to do with success or failure.
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Depression is considered nurosis while bi-polar disorder is considered pyscosis. They are unrelated but I see your point completely. And agree. I think the lack of public awareness that accompanies mental health, or lack thereof is disgusting. I was very pleased to see that you are an understanding friend and have taken his experience to enlighten others. Thanks for your post