Depression: Understanding the Black Dog
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Depression - Stephanie Sorrell
2013
Introduction
Depression is a direct result of our attempts to be happy all the time.
Mary Rose
In order to fully understand what the Black Dog is, it is important to look at the polar opposite of depression which, loosely defined, is a sense of well-being, purpose and meaning. This can be a sense of ‘feeling at home with ourselves’ in the world. Our happiness may be a natural state of being derived from involving ourselves in a goal or work we enjoy, family and relationships or both. Happiness is where purpose, meaning and value are engaged. As primarily social beings, it is vital to experience a sense of belonging in our environment, manifesting through family, work, colleagues and friends and, if we are lucky—all three.
On the premise of this, the recipe for happiness appears to be quite straightforward. Purpose is unique to us all. For some, it may be taking pride in a garden, working with the seasons, planting seeds or bedding plants into a border. The satisfaction or reward in this is in witnessing the cycle of shoots emerging through the soil, to the blossoming, ripening of fruit or bud into blossom. Others may derive satisfaction from baking cakes, making bread or jam, or preparing for the next social event, a dinner party or family get-together. Still others may anticipate a longed-for holiday; going on a trek across the Himalayas or merely a visit to a warmer climate. If our time at work is mundane, tedious or stressful our inner sense of well-being may be rooted in the company of supportive friends, pets, grandchildren or an engaging hobby like scuba diving or getting involved in one of the many conservation projects worldwide.
On a more attainable and mundane level, listening to music, reading a book or watching a video may suffice. More creative people may take time to express themselves by writing a book, painting a picture or designing a poster. Hard work and being one pointed is a way of channeling frustration and depression in a more creative direction as illustrated in chapter 2. When there is difficulty and conflict, there is a longing for meaning, purpose and value. This can manifest on a spiritual level where depth and vision are sought as demonstrated in chapter 3.
Intrinsically, like the layers of an onion, we consist of complementary levels of expression and need. These levels of being as physician and homeopathic practitioner, Mabel Agahdiu lists in her excellent book, Soul Matters, the spiritual dimension in Healthcare, consist of five levels of manifestation:
Cultural
Spiritual
Physical
Mental
Psychological
For each individual, these levels of identification and expression vary in significance and value according to personal and cultural experience. For example, a predominately somatic person is someone who identifies strongly with their physical world through their senses and body. They may work out regularly at the gym, go running or cycling regularly each week. If this focus becomes eclipsed by a physical injury which needs a long process of rehabilitation, their focus may undergo a total catharsis in outlook. Through time and frustration, value and identification may shift to a psychological awareness through a need to process his experience and sense of loss. Crises in any shape or form, shatters ones current values and erodes the framework of what was once held to be important. For many people who become depressed and, in an effort to find guidance and meaning, will begin to identify with the spiritual component of their life. Belonging to a spiritual community in a time of crisis confers a much needed social network. Not only that, but it addresses psychological needs of belonging and cohesion. In the face of disaster and loss, spiritual value is often sought as shown in chapter 9.
As youngsters, our social network plays a vital role in our sense of belonging in the world. If we lack this amongst our peers, we become depressed and isolated. Social networks not only define who we are, but they engage us with the needs of others. In the language of group dynamics, the ‘whole’ is always stronger than the ‘parts’. Because of our inherent need to fit into a group identity, there is a tendency in the young to sacrifice all sense of moral responsibility.
But, supposing we don’t fit into the social framework around us? We can feel ostracized and disconnected, making us vulnerable to losing our ground and sometimes our moral compass as we struggle to fit into any social network in order to belong. In short, belonging to a social network can override all moral and societal injunctions in the young troubled person. I do believe that unidentified depression underlies a lot of crime in young people, especially males, which makes early diagnosis so important. The finalizing chapter, The Value of Depression, opens up a relatively unexplored or recognized byproduct of the Black Dog—that it might have value in the form of creativity. Although I have not covered the creative process, I have described this at great length in my previous book, Depression as a Spiritual Journey. It is from this work that I have included an abridged copy of the value of medication to address deep and unremitting depression. This works very effectively on a therapeutic level. Unlike psychiatric medications of the past, the medications of today are far less sedating than the old ones; not only that, they are designed to work specifically on particular neurotransmitters. After being antagonistic towards the invasion of a ‘chemical cosh’ for some time, I have learned through experience that medication is just as important in some cases, as medical intervention in the form of warfarin and beta-blockers are for the ailing heart. Both conditions are potentially life threatening.
Chapter 1
Is Depression Really that Serious?
Yes!
300 million Americans are depressed at any given time! 75,000 lives are lost through depression globally each year. Furthermore, suicide is the leading course of death in the male population of 15-24-year-olds.
That is serious!
Statistics reveal depression is increasing and that it is, currently, the third biggest cause of death behind heart disease and stroke. It is estimated that by 2030 it will move up to second place. One million people are desperate enough to commit suicide each year. Although older men dominate the statistics for taking their own lives, younger people, especially males, overcome by social and financial expectations are opting out too. The impossible expectations to be rich and successful channeled endlessly through the media does little to help.
But these are not the only reasons.
Depression is