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There were several psychiatrists and psychologists gathered together for a discussion on the subject of depression. They had come together to identify all of the inaccurate, incorrect and misleading information regarding depression and the desire to educate and inform society regarding the real nature of depression. Also invited to attend was a world-renowned wise man to act as a mediator. The discussion
began when a doctor addressed the bind
that depression creates for the patient.
"When depression is stigmatized as
illness and weakness, a double-bind is
created; if we admit to depression, we
will be stigmatized by others; if we
feel it but do not admit it, we
stigmatize ourselves, internalizing the
social judgment…The only remaining
choice may be truly sick behavior—to
experience no emotion at all." At this point the wise man interjected the question, "Is depression the root problem—or a symptom of another problem?" Another clinician
responded, "That's a good question
when you think about it because what
sane person could live in this world and
not be a little crazy or
depressed?" The wise man declared, "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." "That's the truest sign of insanity—insane people are always sure that they're just fine. It's only the sane people who are willing to admit they're crazy," said yet another clinician. "Another consideration is that depression is made up of the two human emotions, anger and sadness over a loss. The anger one feels with themselves is aimed at the utter helplessness one experiences and a self-deprecating judgment about that helplessness. The sadness is rooted in the loss of the self and the inherent hopelessness that accompanies that loss," offered another doctor. A member of the group addressed the wise man, "How do you, who is untrained in these matters see it? Please answer the question you posed regarding whether depression is the root problem or just a symptom." The wise man responded, "That will become clear when we begin to ask the real questions. Questions like the ones that obtrude upon your consciousness whether you like it or not, the ones that make your mind start vibrating like a jackhammer, the questions that you come to terms with only to discover that they are still there. The real questions refuse to be placated. They barge into your life at the times when it seems most important that they stay away. They are the questions asked most frequently and answered most inadequately, the ones that reveal their true natures slowly, reluctantly, most often against your will. So, it seems to appear that depression may well be a symptom to some degree, and as you experts can also attest—a chemical imbalance on other occasions." A doctor followed
up by saying, "So, problems or real
questions are, shall we say, the
intellectual function of problems, so as
to lead men to think; in which case
depression is a small price to pay if it
induces us to think about the cause of
the disorder, confusion and insecurity
which are the outstanding traits of our
social life." The wise man said, "That is precisely it. Depression often settles itself on the hearts of some of the world's greatest thinkers and wise men because they are willing to battle it out with the real questions to discover the truth of a thing at any price. That price is often, depression." V.P. Mosser
©2001-2008 V.P. Mosser |