Comments on: Why It’s OK To Be Depressed Sometimes

By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author)

Jeremy (PsyBlog author) — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 10:36:00 +0000

The simple answer to your first question is: we don't know because the question is really hard. The problem is the causes of depression are many and varied and it's extremely difficult to disentangle causes from effects.

Certainly psychologists, psychiatrists and so on are working at both ends - both on a cure and on alleviating the symptoms.

By: Sunny

Sunny — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 15:04:00 +0000

I know there's been quite a bit of research done on the neurotransmitters and that end of the physiological causes/effects of depression, but what puzzles me is that while it's now known that those who suffer from depression have low serotonin levels, it's still unknown whether the low levels are a cause of depression or a result of it... and, well, perhaps I haven't read enough studies on this to know for sure, but why can't it be determined? If psychological research has come so far to determine that a relationship exists, why is it that we don't know which causes which?

Apologies for going off on a rant there, but I guess my point is, if we were to know that the physiological factors were a result of depression rather than a cause, it seems to me that it would change the way people view it currently -- it'd be more of a "let me treat the symptoms" rather than a "let me cure it" approach.

By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author)

Jeremy (PsyBlog author) — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 10:45:00 +0000

Hi anonymous, I'm sorry to hear you're suffering at the moment. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Apr 2007 16:24:00 +0000

As someone who is experiencing a bout of depression at the moment, i wish that cognition could be employed to control the stress response as I have had to resort to bloody anti depressants again. I cannot seem to control the acute physiological reaction i get when i am trying to deal with relatively banal life events. I am not talking about feeling a bit down, I usually feel suicidal during these episodes and out of control. Now is it really possible to take responsibilty for such a depression, or are emotional responses different in nature to rational thought. David Wainwright The author of Stress The Making of a Modern Epidemic said in a recent interview that emotional responses are not something that people have opted into like an ideology, they cannot be argued out of it, the emotional life is very physiological. He does not think that we should not try to struggle against it however.
It would be very convenient for me if the Cartesian model of humanity was true, but I become incapacitated when i face adversity.

By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author)

Jeremy (PsyBlog author) — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 11:04:00 +0000

Hi Kat, I'm glad it's useful for you. Good points, particularly about taking responsibility which is vital.

By: Kat Wilder

Kat Wilder — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 00:31:00 +0000

I've been reading your blog for some time now (even referencing it sometimes in my own). You address some very interesting topics, and this one resonated with me.

We are a society that tends to slap "disorder" to lots of things. I see it as a way that this generation (meaning the boomers) has tended to want to point a finger at something as being the culprit instead of taking responsibility for our own actions and behaviors.

Plus, we are the instant gratification generation, too, and if Prozac or whatever will make our problems go way, well, why not?

And we have unrealistic expectations of "happiness," and so we think something's wrong if we're not happy 24/7.

It's not much fun to be sad sometimes, but it's part of the human condition. And then, it goes away.

By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author)

Jeremy (PsyBlog author) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:24:00 +0000

Apologies Greg, I shouldn't have said 'physiological basis', I meant 'physiological causes'. I'm saying the physiological causes of mental illness have been over-stated.

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:15:00 +0000

If not, where is it located? I don't believe in metaphysical entities.

By: Jeremy (PsyBlog author)

Jeremy (PsyBlog author) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 10:20:00 +0000

Greg, when you say most mental illness is physiologically based, do you mean its cause is physiological? If so, I would take issue with that. It's one of the main points this post is making is that a Western viewpoint over-emphasises the physiological basis of mental illness.

By: Greg

Greg — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:04:00 +0000

Thank you! This needs to be brought to the forefront of discussion about mental disorders. My opinion is that for the most part so-called mental illness probably is physiologically based, but that does not imply finding a magic bullet medical "cure" for it. You didn't mention insurance companies who would rather pay for a few visits and some pills rather than the often lengthy but ultimately more fruitful traditional talking therapy.