'Depression' Articles
Our minds break because our thinking requires concepts that we get really emotionally invested in. We come to see our lives as defined by certain emotions and beliefs, and when these are challenged, it causes us a lot of stress. Mostly, we get in trouble with depression, because of our beliefs surrounding the state of being. Our value judgements, or the idea we have or were taught regarding how to deal with depression.
Depression is a clarity of awareness. It’s your body and mind telling you the game is over. It isn’t fun anymore. But it is not telling you that there will be no other games. It’s a chance to actually, deliberately, choose this time.
“If depression is creeping up and must be faced, learn something about the nature of the beast: You may escape without a mauling.” Dr. R. W. Shepherd
“Depression opens the door to beauty of some kind.” James Hillman
What Is Depression?
First and perhaps most important, let’s define depression. What is it? I get horribly depressed. I get a heavy feeling in my head. An imbalance that makes you feel unmotivated to do much of anything? How much of this is connected to health and in particular MS? Depression is despair about life and has many forms. About loss too. Hopelessness, helplessness. I’ve noticed a heavy feeling that is often not connected to thoughts but clouds them. A sadness that just never seems to go away. Depression is also often despair over the state of things and a feeling of helplessness… Seek More
Needs Of The Mind
Depression is potentially inevitable. It’s so much a part of our potential that whole types of music and art are defined by it. Whenever you struggle to the point your strength fails you, you will go into at least a temporary depression. Mostly, we get in trouble with depression, because of our beliefs surrounding the state of being. Our value judgements, or the idea we have or were taught regarding how to deal with depression. Like the idea that trying to forget it will make it get better. Forgetting that our body has needs can wind up making you very… Seek More
Controlled Depression
How can we be depressed on purpose? How would one live with a controlled depression? Is there really much difference between clinical depression and just feeling sad, or is it just a matter of severity? It’s actually a matter of balance. Both can be equally severe, but they don’t necessarily involve the same things. For a moment, let’s discuss depressions more popular counterpart. Elation. How many of you enjoy being elated? I do, usually. Elation can be an enemy if its part of a bipolar type mood swing. Indeed, it can. I see the draw of it, but I see… Seek More
Permission To Be
I’m reading a book called “Reality Is Broken” which is about games and how they are designed to put us into the zone and make us happy. Would game playing help with depression or would it just be avoidance? It actually helps. It helps a lot. Some people take the attitude that everything is a game to be nihilistic. They don’t believe it shows adequate respect for experience. I disagree. This is why we lose our sense of direct experience and enjoyment in the first place. This book says the most successful games are the ones that make us the… Seek More
Live It
You will always fail. The game will always be over. You will always lose. Bushido teaches that the secret to developing genuine virtue, genuine values and ethics and meaning, is to see yourself as already dead. Then look at the world. When it’s all over anyway, what can upset you? When there is nothing to gain, what did you really lose? Or imagine that today is the last day you have to live. That can be very positive, too. Indeed, and it is the last day. Tomorrow, you won’t be who you are today, and next week might as well… Seek More
We Can Grow
To take depression somewhere useful… A plant grows from its roots. We grow from that lowest of our emotional points, but we can grow. If the forces we choose for ourselves are too harsh, we grow twisted, like a blighted tree. But if we grow from our inner game, we will grow in the true way that is meant for us. Ever notice that children will just sing or drum or play pretend without really intending anything by it? They don’t even have to be taught. Left to their own devices they just find something to do, and the defining… Seek More
