Depression

Depression is a common experience. Globally, hundreds of millions of individuals are reported to suffer from depression. 

Depression has been described as: “The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest that can lead to a range of behavioral and physical symptoms.”

The list of symptoms associated with depression is wide and varied, including apathy, anxiety, fatigue and even thoughts of suicide, which negatively affect sleep, appetite, concentration, and self-esteem.

It is interesting that depression is generally defined by the symptoms that are experienced. Efforts to heal depression often focus on relieving and managing the troubling symptoms. 

When the experience of depression occurs it may be helpful to ask “What is depression?”, not “What are the symptoms or experiences of depression?” but “What is depression?”

Here is a definition of depression to consider. As you read it, see if there is any relevance to the thoughts and experiences of depression you or others may have encountered.

Depression is the expression of a thought that we have lost, or do not have, something that we believe is essential to our life and well-being. This could be either real or imagined, it could involve a person, place, thing, identity or belief. 

Let’s break down this definition and see if it is helpful. 

“expression of a thought” means it is just a thought expressing itself as an emotion, behavior or physical symptom.

“Lost” or “do not have” means we no longer have what we once had or do not have what we want.

“that we believe is essential to our life and well-being” means it seems necessary or extremely important to our life and happiness.

“either real or imagined” means that what we thought we had, or what we think we don’t have, might be true or not.

“of a person” could refer to a friend, family member, loved one, or even a public figure, with something that has changed, such as mutual interests, moving away, loss of health or even dying. 

“place” This could be a house, neighborhood, vacation spot, school, an office setting, any physical location that we consider important. 

“thing” could be money, a car, a pet, anything we cher­ish.

“identity” could be how we see ourselves, our appear­ance, our self-esteem, what we think others think of us, what we think is good or valuable. 

“or belief” could be political, religious or intellectual concepts that we consider vitally important.

Contemplating this definition of depression can help us recognize the thoughts at the root of our suffering and lead to healing. 

Does this suggest that depression is just a thought and one can be healed of it? Yes, as the thoughts we pay attention to are expressed as our experiences, including the symptoms of depression.

In the Spiritual View depression is a misunderstanding of what really is essential to our life and well being. The misunderstanding comes from the widely accepted thought that people and things are the source of our happiness.

This is the Personal View, a precarious way to live as we do not have or lose people and things in many ways and many times during our life. The understanding that the source of our well-being is available and cannot be lost heals depression.

So what is essential to life and the source of well-being? It would be helpful for everyone to ask this question, whether depressed or not, every moment of every day of our lives. The answer is found in becoming interested in what is good instead of being concerned about “what is good for me”. The focus on “what is good for me” is the Personal View which is just what we want at the moment. This is troublesome as we may not have what we want, or it can be lost or unavailable.

With the Spiritual View we see that we can be here for the non-personal good of peace and gratitude, which is free of personal conditions. – there is no “I want this or that.”For example, if we want others to love or admire us we can become depressed if we believe we are not loved and admired.

This is the Personal View, where there is an overriding interest in “myself.” If we put aside our interest in “myself,” and become interested in non-personal non-conditional goodwill, we can express it and see it in everyone around us.

In the Spiritual View friendliness is expressing the quality of goodwill. This is always available and cannot be lost. The experience of depression is an opportunity to  awaken  to  the  realization  that  getting what we want is never the source of lasting happiness. But with the Spiritual View we can realize  a  good  life is the moment to moment awareness and expression of the qualities of peace, goodwill, intelligence and gratitude.