A client walked up to me and said "Look doctor, I am depressed because my business is in a state of loss and I won't feel okay until that is settled. So there is nothing you can do about it, right!"
WRONG!!! Here is why!
This is one of the common misconceptions about depression. Healthy human beings are normally able to adapt to a wide range of environmental insults, the reason why we have survived on this planet! This includes situations that provoke sadness and depression. Normally, when faced with a setback, a person might feel sad or anxious for relatively shorter periods of time - which is normal. Soon he/ she learns to cope up with it, either by generating a practical solution to the problem in question, or when the problem is not correctable, by learning to take alternative routes or simply accepting the situation. This results in resolution of sadness/ anxiety. However, problem arises when the abnormal mood persists - as in case of a depressive disorder.
Although it may seem counter-intuitive, it is not uncommon for a psychiatrist to see clients continuing to be depressed even though the original situation that precipitated the depression has been resolved!
So why does this happen? This is because 'normal, short lasting sadness' and 'abnormal longer lasting depression', although seem similar superficially, are actually quite different. The former is a part and parcel of a normal life whereas the latter is a disorder which needs to be treated. The positive aspect of this is that depression can be corrected irrespective of the life situation that apparently caused it. Thus, in our above example, poor business may have started it, but, it can still be corrected irrespective of the business status! So how would it look like?
Situation 1 (depression + poor business):
Oh! I am feeling terrible! I have no money, how will I take care of my family? I feel like crying! I don't know what to do! Life is not worth living.
(Takes no action which further worsens business)
Situation 2 (Depression treated/ resolved + business still poor):
Ah! Business is not going too well, but I think I can handle it. Its been a bad season generally, and I have to take these actions (new marketing strategies or product list etc). This may be an opportunity to get ahead of my competitors!
(Takes corrective action and brings business back on track)
Thus the take home messages are:
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WRONG!!! Here is why!
This is one of the common misconceptions about depression. Healthy human beings are normally able to adapt to a wide range of environmental insults, the reason why we have survived on this planet! This includes situations that provoke sadness and depression. Normally, when faced with a setback, a person might feel sad or anxious for relatively shorter periods of time - which is normal. Soon he/ she learns to cope up with it, either by generating a practical solution to the problem in question, or when the problem is not correctable, by learning to take alternative routes or simply accepting the situation. This results in resolution of sadness/ anxiety. However, problem arises when the abnormal mood persists - as in case of a depressive disorder.
Although it may seem counter-intuitive, it is not uncommon for a psychiatrist to see clients continuing to be depressed even though the original situation that precipitated the depression has been resolved!
So why does this happen? This is because 'normal, short lasting sadness' and 'abnormal longer lasting depression', although seem similar superficially, are actually quite different. The former is a part and parcel of a normal life whereas the latter is a disorder which needs to be treated. The positive aspect of this is that depression can be corrected irrespective of the life situation that apparently caused it. Thus, in our above example, poor business may have started it, but, it can still be corrected irrespective of the business status! So how would it look like?
Situation 1 (depression + poor business):
Oh! I am feeling terrible! I have no money, how will I take care of my family? I feel like crying! I don't know what to do! Life is not worth living.
(Takes no action which further worsens business)
Situation 2 (Depression treated/ resolved + business still poor):
Ah! Business is not going too well, but I think I can handle it. Its been a bad season generally, and I have to take these actions (new marketing strategies or product list etc). This may be an opportunity to get ahead of my competitors!
(Takes corrective action and brings business back on track)
Thus the take home messages are:
- Depression seemingly caused by a social situation can be corrected even if the original situation continues
- Depression may continue even if the original situation that seemingly caused it has resolved
- Unresolved depression may further worsen the original situation by a variety of mechanisms including an inability to think and act in a constructive manner
- Treatment of depression improves ability to think and act constructively and may bring about rapid resolution of the original problematic situation in question
Hope that was an insightful discussion, friends!
Please let me know if there is any specific issue that you want me to address. Write in at stayhappy.prakash@gmail.com
So until next time, STAY HAPPY!
Dr. Sathya Prakash, MD, Dip. CBT
Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist and Behavioural Sciences Expert
lybrate.com/dr.sathyaprakash
icliniq.com/drsathya
Well written sir
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