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Depression's Evolutionary Roots
from Scientific American, 08/25/09
www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm
from Scientific American, 08/25/09
www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm
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SF Bay Area
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Fri, August 28, 2009 - 9:42 PM
Of course people with depression are smarter and understand the world better. That's why they're depressed.
Patrick
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Sat, August 29, 2009 - 1:25 AM*VERY* interesting... gotta fwd it to many
...and Patric is right! -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Sat, August 29, 2009 - 7:42 AMPatrick thanks for my first chuckle of the day! and yes, you are right! -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Sun, August 30, 2009 - 12:54 PMPatrick, I think I love you! -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Sun, August 30, 2009 - 1:05 PMThere's another aspect of advantage/disadvantage of depression; it is both the best and worst of it.We KNOW the emotional pain there is inside of us. We acknowledge it, no matter how sucky that is. Instead of just pasting on the June/Ward Cleaver fakey smile, we honor the reality of what we feel. Yeah, it may hurt like hell, but at least it's honest. -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Sun, August 30, 2009 - 6:24 PMOnly a person who has never been bitten by the black dog could consider it an advantage. Personally, I think it's preposterous - no offense intended, Ron, I know you posted the link.
Next thing you know, they are going to want to cut off what little health coverage we have for mental illness because we have an "advantage."
Sorry, just not buying it. -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Tue, September 1, 2009 - 11:59 AM
Darla:
I have not just been bitten by the black dog, I've been malled and saveged by the thing. Yet still I can see our minds work different than others. That sometimes lets us see what other can not.
an advantage, sometimes
worth it, never!
Patrick
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Mon, August 31, 2009 - 1:43 PM
<Patrick, I think I love you>
oh to be 20 years younger!!!!
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Mon, August 31, 2009 - 3:07 PMwell that's takin' the ball and runnin' with it!
LOL! no offense taken. I did title it in the form of a question because of my own skepticism. -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Mon, August 31, 2009 - 4:54 PMI tend to agree with Darla. Depression isn't nature's way of telling me I've got complex social problems to think through, it's nature's way of telling me that I haven't been getting enough sunlight. If it were as simple as a complex social problem, would it be a lifelong struggle? Wouldn't I have figured out the solution by now?
There is so much bullshit in these fly-by-night studies. They pull an answer out of their hat and publish it before there's any real data. -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Mon, August 31, 2009 - 9:10 PMmaybe being pissed off is better than being apathetic.
i know having depression helps me understand others who have it. helps me take things (slights, scowls, criticisms, harsh words) less personally cause i think to myself "maybe they acted that way because they're in a depression or have unresolved childhood issues like me." LOL!
other than that i've found no apparent advantages -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Tue, September 1, 2009 - 2:07 PMThe point of understanding others is an excellent point,
and I've certainly experienced alot of that, too.
I've also, however, become more aware of my own
mind, feelins, psyche, place in the world, etc.
by processing my depression for so many years.
It's also led to a real creative streak in me..
I'm glad it no longer rules my life, but I have to say
there are definete advantages, too.
Just my 50c worth. -
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This is the maximum depth. Additional responses will not be threaded.
Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Tue, September 1, 2009 - 2:11 PMI'm not buying that you can't get those "advantages" without suffering from depression. I think it's just a way to make us feel better about this crap - we have been whupped with the depression stick and it sucks. -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Tue, September 1, 2009 - 8:12 PMgee whiz let me take cover first.
no one said depression's the ONLY way for someone to have insite, compassion or empathy.
the article says it might be one way that some people gain access to these attributes, maybe, maybe not.
" I think it's just a way to make us feel better about this crap" makes me think maybe other people actually give a damn I'm suffering and are doing anything they can think of to ease my pain.
I know that's not what you had in mind Mama D but thanks anyway. -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Wed, September 2, 2009 - 12:18 AMRon, like I said before, this is SO not personal! Just hit me the wrong way I guess!!!
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Thu, September 3, 2009 - 12:00 AMEveryone can be depressed. It's part of the human condition in my opinion. But I think ( probably could be it's own thread subject ) that being officially on record as depressed is BAD. If youre applying for a higher payout life insurance policy ( or many other things, like a job ) why would it matter if you have been to a psychiatrist? If youve been depressed? Etc? This will prevent acceptance? So fucked up. If everyones paying a premium for something they will never use and wont matter when theyre dead anyway? And if there is the notorious fineprint / loopholes that absolve payout? Isnt it win win to the death co? It's not like there's gonna be some huge suicide wave exaccerbated by more lenient / sane policy. Unfortunately the Holy Dollar still reigns supreme.
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Tue, October 13, 2009 - 1:13 PMIf ANYTHING has stuck around for so long, it obviously has some advantage. Apparently people who have major depression still breed just fine. Maybe some of it is making us feel better, too...if so, who cares? God knows if anyone needs it, we do! My boyfriend got pissed at me for implying I care more about people because I understand pain better. His point was that he does care, a lot, but is more optimistic...but for sure, I can empathize better, and not nearly as frequently say things that are insensitive and invalidate people's feelings. Sometimes depression is socially isolating...until someone in pain reaches out to you (which they tend to do, because we're more understanding), and then I think the experience means you can really be closer to truly getting that person's POV. -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Tue, October 13, 2009 - 1:36 PMI still don' t see that it's an advantage for the person WITH it. Cancer has been around for a long time, too...but I don't see any advantages there, either! LOL - and what is depression but cancer of the soul? -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Tue, October 13, 2009 - 6:09 PMI'm sorry you're in such a dark place right now.
"cancer of the soul" , hope you really were LOLing!
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Sat, October 17, 2009 - 1:04 PM
I have to agree with Anon124. In the history I've read clinicla depression as been around as far back in time as we have records. If it didn't have some advantage we all would have died off long ago.
Patrick
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Tue, October 13, 2009 - 7:58 PMOkay...well, I don't know what to say to that. It's kind of hard to argue for depression, really. No one would volunteer, that's for sure. -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Sat, October 24, 2009 - 1:46 AMI need to apologize. Darla I'm sorry. I got defensive around this topic. Don't know why since I only posted it as an article that theorizes about depression and I really have no vested interest in it or strong opinion about it. -
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Re: An Advantage from Depression?
Sat, October 24, 2009 - 8:57 AMRon, Ron, Ron.
No apologies necessary, from you or anyone. We can disagree - hell, we can even argue. FAMILY is beyond that. I am not of the school that says "Love means never having to say your sorry" but I am of the school of "Love covers a multitude of sins." However, in this case, there was no offense taken. Additionally, trust that our relationship is such that, if there ever were a blow up, my affection for you would cover any perceived slight.
Who loves you, baby?!!!!
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