What is the purpose of Existential Depression?
“One such possible cause [of depression] is existential in nature, that is, a person ends up questioning his or her life, death or meaning of life, and by doing so, lapses into depression.”
Two thoughts about this:
• I wouldn’t classify existentialism as a subtype of depression
• I have a hard time believing that existential issues CAUSE depression.
First, I think that existentialism is a common feature of general depression. People think, “What’s the point of living? I have no purpose in life,” and other “existentialist” thoughts when depressed. Not that existentialism and depression are synonymous, but I definitely agree that some type of existentialism is PART of the depression diagnosis. Not it’s own subtype.
Second, I would definitely not declare existentialism a CAUSE of depression. It’s like saying that perfectionism or strict religious views are CAUSES. Okay, maybe the type of person who are driven to find their meaning or purpose in life is the same type of person who is prone to depression… but I would consider that a biological predisposition. I would also argue that one’s own questioning of his/her life is not significant enough of an event to trigger depression. I would think that it was another factor in life that would contribute to one’s existential thinking and depression.
I don’t know. Been asking “why” all my life since early childhood according to my parents. Sought meaning in the R.C. religious life, but found my way out of this via Albert Einstein and Bertrand Russel. Tried lots of the medications to cure depression without success and finally realizing that a medication can’t treat this thing. Just glad it finally has a name — “Existential depression”.
Understanding how existentialism causes depression requires an objective rather than subjective examination of peoples possible reactions to being unable to conceptualise an everyday reality such as “why am I here?” or more often “what happens when I die?” etc. Beyond the scope of human capacity to answer, these can lead one to become overwhelmed and subsequently stare at their infinitesimally small place in the universe (sounds kinda ‘cosmic’ but there’s only so much space here). This leads to self-examination and the big buggers…lowered self-worth and self-esteem…often the building blocks for depression…a major step to feeling hugely inadequate and insignificant. Trust me, it’s a bugger to “treat” those who have found depression through existentialism because you’re up against ‘BIG’ stuff and have it thrown at your own smallness in the big scheme of things. In the end I have taught people to live with it and embrace it…eventually. PS…I work in mental health (25-years).
Not that I’m impressed a lot, but this is a lot more than I expected when I found a link on Delicious telling that the info is quite decent. Thanks.
WOW wonderful article on existentialism man !
well it is but true the brain , The most advanced of biological mechanisms .. should wonder …about the nature ..source and reason for its existance . I would call existentialism but an expression of brain ! its intelligence .. only directed inwards !