To overcome depression or not? That's the tough question. Meet the ultimate verdict based on holistic research.
Before we start, do an exercise. Take your diary and list all the possible reasons for depression, without reading this article. Then, list why you may want to overcome your condition. Later, check the text below and make a decision: to stay depressed or not.
Why Is It Worth the Trouble to Be Depressed?
Firstly, I will give you two authentic examples of the struggle with making a decision about being depressed or not:
"Keep in mind I’m just a stranger on the internet so take what I saw with a grain of salt but what I’ve noticed in myself is that when I wanted to be depressed at first I sort of strived and chased it and almost applauded myself when I finally became surrounded by all these negative thoughts and actions. what I’m going to tell you is what everybody tells you, talk to someone professionally. what I think is that if you want to be depressed there is a big chance that there is definitely something going on and that enough could be a sign of depression…. again I don’t really know what I’m talking about this is just what I’ve noticed with myself. anyways good luck and please take care of yourself." Source Quora Quotes.
"When I was dealing with depression, I would do the bare minimum: Wake up. Go to school. Go home. Even though this was a simple routine, I still struggled to go through the motions. (...)
I’ve had different periods of my life dealing with depression, and they all follow a similar cycle. My depression would come back gradually, a slow period of it creeping back up on me. By the time I thought, “I think I feel depressed again,” my depression was already back.
I didn’t want to have depression. But at a certain point, it became comfortable. Like a blanket." Source Quora Quotes.
Why Is It WORTH Trouble to be Depressed?
Now let's come to the point and learn why it is comfortable to stay in depression:
1. No Need to Make an Effort
Taking action and getting out of your comfort zone may be stressful. Our mind does not like changes because it perceives them as a danger to survival. Think how many times you went on a diet and gave up after some time, experiencing the jo-jo effect. What about doing exercises or observing other new year's resolutions?
Exercise
Take your diary and list the things that you do not want to change. Then write why you do not want change.
2. No Need to Stop Playing the Victim
It is so nice to have a helping ear which will not be helpful as such but serves as a receiver of your victimism. Complaining about the boss, low-paid job, inflation, traffic jams, abusive partner, nasty children and many more...
Just find a decent listener who will agree with you and also start to complain about their life. No need to change your language or thinking. Is it a brilliant perspective?
3. Others Will Take Care of You
Now, let's say that you cannot get out of bed because of being obese, and have pain in your body. What will happen? Someone will take care of you, e.g., your mother., child or partner.
Even in less severe cases, a helping ear or hand is a good idea. Hence it is better to complain and be down than take responsibility for your life.
We all have ups and downs but depression is often an excuse for keeping the status quo. You may feel some emotional and sometimes physical pain but it is more convenient than leaving your comfort zone.
4. Financial Assistance
In some countries, depression is considered a disability and therefore you are entitled to financial assistance, which means you do not need to work. It is not a significant amount of money but enough to pay basic bills and sustain your basic needs for food etc.
Is it a great perspective instead of overcoming your mental health challenges while being around people, and struggling to make money?
5. Comfort, Even If It Pinches
As I wrote above, depression is often considered the lesser evil. Even if you need to function as a zombie because of the side effects of antidepressants. Even if you become dependent on people and their help, it is still a better option than facing the truth that no one will change your nappies or breathe for you in the long run.
The now is more important and temporary exemption from hard work of self-growth is more alluring.
6. Less Shot-Term Stress
Antidepressants help to elevate your mood, even for the sake of side effects. You do not need to do anything then, the tablet solves the problem. Also, being depressed is a great excuse for not making an effort to clean the house yourself or help other people with the chores. You are ill and therefore treated in a more lenient way.
Why Is It NOT Worth the Trouble to Be Depressed?
Now, let's examine if depression is really so great solution for a lifetime. Is it really worth the trouble to be depressed? I will give you ten counter-arguments that show that staying in depression is a not good investment of your time and energy. However, we will weigh if depression is good or bad later in this article.
1. You Still Need Help
We all are connected in this world and there are no totally independent people unless you become Robinson Crusoe on a deserted island and have to survive. Normally, you can fulfil your dreams and meet your basic needs yourself but you still need other people to live with, e.g. food providers, farmers, milkmen, refuse a collection company, an electricity provider and so on.
However, in the case of moderate to severe depression, you become dependent on other people: doctors, counsellors, social workers, and family members. And in the case of obesity or secondary illnesses, resulting from depression, other people become indispensable in your life.
You are also at risk of giving out that help, not everyone is generous and decent enough to help you selflessly. This puts you at risk of deeper depression because of abuse. Also, your ego will not stand out too much help from others, plus you may feel redundant, and unneeded.
2. You Lose Your Independence
Our primary need is to feel needed and independent. Hence, in the long run, you can be even angry with those who are helping you and with the fact that you cannot live without medication, counselling or other mental health supervision.
This is a brutal piece of truth: as long as you are depressed and take no action to improve your condition, you lose your independence and this is a downhill spiral.
3. Depression Ruins Relationships
Firstly, this happens because of an increased risk of abuse. You become more vulnerable to stings, insults and violence, and the need for extra help may be bothersome to some people.
Secondly, you ruin your friendships and even intimate relationships by constant complaining - in the case when nothing is done to improve your mental health state.
Moreover, you repel helping people with your aggression and irritation, just because they do not agree with your viewpoint but nag you to do something with your life.
I look at it this way, even if you do deliberately want to make yourself feel worse, is that okay? No. You still need help. Even if you’re doing it to yourself, you need to talk to someone about it. - Anonymous
4. Addictions
It is proved that untreated depression increases the chance of risky behaviours such as drug taking or alcohol abuse. it is easy to use some stimulants to alleviate the episodes of low mood. it is easy to have a drink just to give yourself extra pleasure, to compensate for the discomfort of depression. And this is an obvious way of autodestruction.
5. Obesity
Compulsive eating is also destructive and it is regarded as a kind of addictive behaviour. Food soothes your low mood and it is much easier to eat a snack than go out for a walk and start talking to people about something positive.
Eventually, binge eating leads to obesity and this makes you more and more disabled to the stage where you cannot move on your own, e.g., get up from bed, or lace your shoes.
Of course, antidepressants also cause weight gain, which is why it is better to avoid depression at all costs of doing your best to recover from this condition.
6. Increased Risk of Serious Illnesses
It can be caused by both depression as such and the medication you will take. The question is which is more harmful. Even without medication you can overeat, take drugs or drink. And as depression means autodestruction, stroke, coronary disease and cancer kick on.
Let me quote some facts presented by WebMed:
"Results have shown that people with major depression who are recovering from strokes or heart attacks have a more difficult time making healthcare choices. They also find it more difficult to follow their doctor's instructions and to cope with the challenges their illness presents. Another study found that patients with major depression have a higher risk of death in the first few months after a heart attack."
7. Disrupted Sleep
The same website states that one of the most telling symptoms of clinical depression is a change in sleep patterns. Insomnia is the major problem but people sometimes feel an increased need for sleep and experience excessive energy loss. On the other hand, lack of sleep can cause some of the same symptoms as depression, mostly extreme tiredness, loss of energy, and difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
8. Depression Increases the Risk of Suicide and Death
Because depression is autodestructive, it carries a high risk of suicide. This is the worst but very real outcome of untreated or under-treated depression.
Also, as I mentioned above, many serious medical conditions emerge, being a result of autodestruction: any kind of cancer, heart disease, lung disease, migraines, hypertension, diabetes, brain gliomas, kidney disease, liver disease, strokes, and leukaemia. Death will not be nice, in agonal physical pain, feeling of helplessness and despair.
9. Possession by Negative Entities
Now let's mention some spiritual aspects of depression, neglected by academic medicine: demons and some malevolent extraterrestrial beings. They talk to your head by voices, considered as schizophrenia by academic medicine.
So then you have both depression and schizophrenia when you tell your doctor about these voices. However, these voices induce and deepen the depression.
Demons' goal is totally to possess a victim and do as much evil as possible. Eventually, the demon aims at the suicide of the victim as then the victim will also serve them after death.
By your passive attitude, and aggression towards those who want to help you, you invite negative beings, and demons, in particular, to start the process of enslavement. Eventually, the help of people working with energy is necessary as no tablets or self-help techniques work. when the voices in your head control your life.
Long-Term Stress
I have already mentioned the short-term pleasure given by drugs, alcohol, food and other addictions. Now, if you do not try to handle your depression, there will be long-term or even permanent stress in your life. Who wants constant dependence on his/her partner, doctors, or psychologists? Who wants to be unable to move because of obesity? Who wants to be on medication to the last day of their life?
Is Depression Worth Trouble?
Before you need further, please do an exercise. Take a journal or diary and do the cost-benefit analysis:
Costs of being in depression | Benefits of being in depression |
| |
Cost of overcoming depression | Benefits of overcoming depression |
| |
After you have listed all the reasons, mark them according to their importance, from 1 to 10 (where 10 means "extremely important" and 1 "very little important").
What have you learned? Are you ready to overcome depression or is it better to stay where you are?
If you still think that depression is worth the trouble, consider these things:
Depression doesn't destroy the people around you, just you. It is you who suffers, you take medication, and you have negative thoughts.
It's much easier to complain than to answer the question, 'What are you going to do about this? 'What will you change in your life so as not to complain?'
You decide whether an event will build your way to depression, destruction, anger, or build the strength to change your life.
And finally, answer these questions, in writing:
DO I WANT TO VEGETATE IN LIFE OR DO I WANT TO LIVE?
Is depression a lifestyle and so you are comfortable or do you want to get out of it?
Do you really want to get out of it?
Will you take action?
If yes, what can you do today to recover from depression?
Remember, the choice is yours and it will be you who reap the crops of your decision.
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In a Nutshell
There are many arguments for and against depression. However, this condition, if untreated, is always destructive. It is your choice to decide if you want to vegetate or live. Good luck with making the right decision. With lots of love and light,
Vicky
About
Vicky is an experienced holistic writer and coach who inspires, motivates, and encourages everyone to become the best version of themselves - physically, mentally, and spiritually.
DISCLAIMER
The content of Awaken Happy Life is published for educational and informative purposes only. It does not substitute medical or any other professional advice. Please seek professional care if you believe you may have a condition. The author of Awaken Happy Life is not liable for any consequences of applying any advice published on this website by the reader.