This isn't a perfect test, but the linguistic cue to pick up on the difference between clinical depression and mere sadness is whether the person describes it in terms of temporary emotional state ("I'm so depressed") or something more permanent ("I live with depression").
In the context of Seligman's work, it is interesting to note that you can't just ascribe everything difficult in your life to temporary things. A symptom of depression can absolutely be temporary, and part of managing depression is to recognize this. Depression itself, for many people, is effectively permanent, and part of managing depression is recognizing that as well.
So, thanks for a comment that seems quite germane to the talk!
Thats such a strange and convoluted distinction. Even the author of the post equates depression with sadness. He equates not depressed with ' happier and more productive'/'happiness and success', which is simply being not sad.
>This isn't a perfect test
But, don't you think we need clear definition of problem before we go about finding solutions for it ? Just feels a little odd to talk about overly elaborate solutions for a poorly defined problem.
> But, don't you think we need clear definition of problem before we go about finding solutions for it ? Is that too much to ask for? Just feels a little odd to talk about overly elaborate solutions for a poorly defined problem.
Not really. In practice it's fairly common for doctors to try treatments without being sure what the cause of the symptom is. I don't think it makes sense to say "well, we're not going to try to do anything to help those with clinical depression until we understand the underlying mechanism" because in the meantime you have people who need help and are not going to get it.
>In practice it's fairly common for doctors to try treatments without being sure what the cause of the symptom is.
You mean nonchalantly prescribing anti depressants? I was put on zoloft about 1.5 years over 7 years ago and I still suffer from side effects despite being only on 'pediatric dosage'.
The entire point of the presentation was to talk about my journey to the place where I think this comment says far more about you than it does about me.
>Those of you who have not had this affliction may question this
Do you think there are people out there who don't suffer from 'depression' ? Is depression not common to all of humanity?
>I have had many high points in my life, but I also have had many low points
Do you think there are people out there who believe they never had any 'low points' in their lives ?
Aren't you doing great injustice to people who need genuine (medical) help due to depression by lumping yourself with them just because you had 'low points' in your life?
Your statement is all about you, it's about your feelings. The fact that you feel compelled to make this statement again is about you, not me.
Now you make this follow-up, which I will summarize as "You're not special!" And again, this is actually about you, not me. You feel compelled to point this out. You feel some kind of discomfort with other people voicing their experience, and this propels you to tone police them.
That is entirely your bag, and I am not going to carry it for you.
thats a false analogy though, is it not? the word 'depression' here is not used as a metaphor like crippled. I am not talking about depression as in 'economic depression', I am talking about depression in terms of how the author is using it.
I know this is HN and all, but do we need to provide references, links, papers and medical proofs about every single statement? I dont think it would add much to the discussion.
