Is depression good for you?

[Paddy Landau]

Well, here's a good point. If something is good for the survival of a species, it will tend to continue even if unpleasant.

So, why does the human race suffer depression?

The BBC reports on a possible reason:

Is depression good for you?

Next question: Do animals suffer depression?

Paddy

[Gandalf]

[hypno-therapist]

[hypno-therapist]

[Gandalf]

[hypno-therapist]

[Gandalf]

[eireann]

Phew, this is a tough one, and I can see you guys have kind of descended down a path into different areas already!

Well, to go back to the original question, I wouldn't say that depression is a good thing. For one thing, not everyone goes through one, and for those who suffer from it, they try to find the path to recovery. Oh, and of course, it is essential that we first define exactly what kind of depression we're talking about before delving any further into the subject.

[Paddy Landau]

[hypno-therapist]

[Paddy Landau]

[Gandalf]

I saw recently a statue in honour of the late great Tommy Cooper was unveiled in Wales, my Father is a great fan of his, he even has a brass statue of him in his sitting room (Only 14" high)

Tommy Cooper is one famous comedian out of a few comedians that famously suffered with depression, it seems that fame alone can be hard for the famous, Paul Gascoigne is another that comes to mind... Jim carrey has been known to suffer along with many other celebs...

As it says in the story in Paddy's original post, many people use the 'Black dog days' as a platform to springboard to greatness.

It is a very important not to repress emotion as it can bubble up in many ways... Do you remember the film, "Falling Down" !!

[eireann]

I realize that going through a depression and then overcoming it may be a positive experience. However, that doesn't mean that depression by itself is a good thing. I'm just thinking in terms of, what about the people who never go through a depression? Are they missing out on something? But it's an interesting thing to think about..

[Paddy Landau]

[Gandalf]

I read a paper recently, MENTAL CHEMISTRY
By Charles F. Haanel, here is an interesting (Very small part) of the paper.

Mental is defined as “of or appertaining to the mind, including intellect, feeling, and will, or the entire rationalnature.”

Science is knowledge gained and verified by exact observation and correct thinking.
Mental chemistry is, therefore, the science which treats of the changes which material conditions undergo through the operations of the mind, verified by exact observation and correct thinking.

As the transformations which are brought about in applied chemistry are the result of the orderly combination of materials, it follows that mental chemistry brings about results in a like manner.
Any conceivable number may be formed with the Arabic numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0.
Any conceivable thought may be expressed with the 26 letters of the alphabet.
Any conceivable thing can be organized with the 14 elements and always and only by the proper grouping of electrons into molecules.

When two or more molecules are grouped a new individuality is created, and this individuality which has been called into being possesses characteristics which are not possessed by either of the elements which gave it being.
Thus one atom of sodium and one of chlorine give us salt, and this combination alone can give us salt, and no other combination of elements can give us salt, and salt is something very different from either of the elements of which it is composed.

What is true in the inorganic world is likewise true in the organic--certain conscious processes will produce certain effects, and the result will invariably be the same. The same thought will always be followed by the same consequence, and no other thought will serve the purpose.

This must necessarily be true because the principle must exist independently of the organs through which they function. Light must exist--otherwise there could be no eye. Sound must exist--otherwise there could be no ear. Mind must exist--otherwise there could be no brain.

Mental action is therefore the interaction of the individual upon the Universal Mind, and as the Universal Mind
is the intelligence which pervades all space and animates all living things, this mental action and reaction is the law of causation.

It is the Universal Chemist, but the principle of causation does not obtain in the individual mind but in the Universal Mind. It is not an objective faculty but a subjective process.

The individual may, however, bring the power into manifestation and as the possible combinations of thought are infinite, the results are seen in an infinite variety of conditions and experiences.

______________

It might not be as clear cut as we think, thought, or realised but maybe Einstein was on to something, its all a mathematical Illusion...

What do you think?