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Zaulche · 10-05-2007, 03:52 PM

Ron,

What do you mean by applied accusation? I do not think you are here to burden or blame anyone, and I agree with your reason for posting in the first place. Perhaps I did not communicate my idea very well, so I will try again.

My intended message is that, in general, there is a lot of correspondence between people who are depressed and people who are not depressed about who is or is not trying or who does or does not understand the situation of the other. I thought that people who are not depressed taking into consideration unique experiences beyond their own and people who are depressed taking into consideration life lessons from others would be a better expanse of energy that having people who are not depressed saying “prove to me you are trying hard enough” or people who are depressed saying “prove to me that I am not trying hard enough.”

If you feel I implied my response as a personal attack on you, then that was not my intention. We are all free to perceive our world however we wish though. I believe anyone without a physical cause for depression (such as brain damage) is able to overcome depression someway somehow eventually, regardless of the method used. Perhaps you believe that some people will never overcome depression, perhaps you do not. Whatever you believe is your personal choice.

Do I think that people who are depressed are not normal? Absolutely not. I do not agree with normal as defined in today’s society, nor do I fault people for having a sad outlook on life. Life can be very depressing, especially with world affairs nowadays. However, I still believe that as individuals we have the power to do or become anything we truly intend.

Do I agree with a depressed outlook on life? In the past I did, but not anymore. However, I also do not find fault in people who still do. There are infinite ways to perceive our world and each is valid. My purpose in writing in this thread is not so say people should or should not change, but to give encouragement and hope to those that want to change. Will everyone be successful? Perhaps not. However, I am not going to tell someone that they are not likely going to get better so they should throw in the towel now and not even bother trying. Some people have deeply engrained depression that will take a lot of willpower to overcome. Others just need some encouragement and kind words. Since I would be foolish to think I can tell one from the other, I have chosen to give positive energy indiscriminately.

I agree with you that people must change themselves by themselves. However, just because someone must make such an effort by their own will does mean they have to do so alone. When I was depressed listening to other people who had depression and overcame it, which was encouraging for me. Did their practices work for me? Not at all. I had to devise my own way on my own terms. However, I still appreciated their time and effort and was able to take lessons they learned and integrate them into my own being. If I can share my own lessons learned and provide the same encouragement for someone else to overcome depression, then I would feel like I was able to give back to the world that helped me become a better person (in my opinion, which obviously varies form person to person). Do I think someone who is depressed is not as good of a person? Not at all. I like not being as depressed, but that is just my own preference. I simply want to be there to help anyone who might also want to not be depressed. Can I offer them a one-stop solution to fix all their problems? Not at all, and I think it would be unfair to someone to even attempt that. However, that doesn’t mean I have to give them the cold shoulder either.

You are correct to say that some people are not able to overcome depression. While I understand that someone who has been depressed for a very long time (not directed at anyone in particular, just in general) may interpret positive thoughts of recovery as something that just gets people hopes up, there are also people who interpret those positive thoughts as an encouragement that allows them to change (as well as an infinite number of other interpretations). Who has the correct interpretation? You can argue everyone or no one with points equally as valid. It all comes down to personal interpretation and choice no matter how you look at it. At least, as I perceive this it does.

Best Regards,
John

P.S. Hmm ... This seems a bit wordier than I wanted. For some reason I had trouble making more concise statements about this topic. Any suggestions?

10-05-2007, 03:52 PM	#54 (permalink)
Zaulche Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Manassas, Virginia Posts: 27	Attempt to rectify misunderstanding Ron, What do you mean by applied accusation? I do not think you are here to burden or blame anyone, and I agree with your reason for posting in the first place. Perhaps I did not communicate my idea very well, so I will try again. My intended message is that, in general, there is a lot of correspondence between people who are depressed and people who are not depressed about who is or is not trying or who does or does not understand the situation of the other. I thought that people who are not depressed taking into consideration unique experiences beyond their own and people who are depressed taking into consideration life lessons from others would be a better expanse of energy that having people who are not depressed saying “prove to me you are trying hard enough” or people who are depressed saying “prove to me that I am not trying hard enough.” If you feel I implied my response as a personal attack on you, then that was not my intention. We are all free to perceive our world however we wish though. I believe anyone without a physical cause for depression (such as brain damage) is able to overcome depression someway somehow eventually, regardless of the method used. Perhaps you believe that some people will never overcome depression, perhaps you do not. Whatever you believe is your personal choice. Do I think that people who are depressed are not normal? Absolutely not. I do not agree with normal as defined in today’s society, nor do I fault people for having a sad outlook on life. Life can be very depressing, especially with world affairs nowadays. However, I still believe that as individuals we have the power to do or become anything we truly intend. Do I agree with a depressed outlook on life? In the past I did, but not anymore. However, I also do not find fault in people who still do. There are infinite ways to perceive our world and each is valid. My purpose in writing in this thread is not so say people should or should not change, but to give encouragement and hope to those that want to change. Will everyone be successful? Perhaps not. However, I am not going to tell someone that they are not likely going to get better so they should throw in the towel now and not even bother trying. Some people have deeply engrained depression that will take a lot of willpower to overcome. Others just need some encouragement and kind words. Since I would be foolish to think I can tell one from the other, I have chosen to give positive energy indiscriminately. I agree with you that people must change themselves by themselves. However, just because someone must make such an effort by their own will does mean they have to do so alone. When I was depressed listening to other people who had depression and overcame it, which was encouraging for me. Did their practices work for me? Not at all. I had to devise my own way on my own terms. However, I still appreciated their time and effort and was able to take lessons they learned and integrate them into my own being. If I can share my own lessons learned and provide the same encouragement for someone else to overcome depression, then I would feel like I was able to give back to the world that helped me become a better person (in my opinion, which obviously varies form person to person). Do I think someone who is depressed is not as good of a person? Not at all. I like not being as depressed, but that is just my own preference. I simply want to be there to help anyone who might also want to not be depressed. Can I offer them a one-stop solution to fix all their problems? Not at all, and I think it would be unfair to someone to even attempt that. However, that doesn’t mean I have to give them the cold shoulder either. You are correct to say that some people are not able to overcome depression. While I understand that someone who has been depressed for a very long time (not directed at anyone in particular, just in general) may interpret positive thoughts of recovery as something that just gets people hopes up, there are also people who interpret those positive thoughts as an encouragement that allows them to change (as well as an infinite number of other interpretations). Who has the correct interpretation? You can argue everyone or no one with points equally as valid. It all comes down to personal interpretation and choice no matter how you look at it. At least, as I perceive this it does. Best Regards, John P.S. Hmm ... This seems a bit wordier than I wanted. For some reason I had trouble making more concise statements about this topic. Any suggestions?