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Maybe Depression is Your Mind’s Way of Saying “You Suck.”
Posted on October 4, 2010 by Kat French in managing attentionPlease excuse the rather brusque post title. I’m currently channeling my inner Sue Sylvester.
Lately, I’ve been pondering the concept of “productive depression.” Have you ever heard that term before?
I hadn’t either, till a year or so ago, when a counselor pointed out that I was currently in one at the time. The brief, eHow definition of “productive depression” is a depression that “calls attention to life circumstances that may require attention and a change.”
In other words, productive depression is sort of your mind’s way of saying you suck. Or at least, your mind’s way of telling you that there’s something you need to change.
Constructive living philosophy teaches that every feeling, no matter how unpleasant, has its uses. Some feelings simply need to be felt and accepted. Some feelings, however, point to something that needs doing. (“What needs doing?” is a central question of Constructive Living.)
If you appreciate Biblical wisdom, Proverbs 13:12 says “Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick, but a sudden good break can turn life around. [MSG]” In other words, when you’re stuck, a change can do you good.
img "fall leaves" johnnyberg on sxc
One thing I’ve been realizing lately is that I am in the middle of some big changes, as is Chris. They’re largely different sets of changes for each of us, but we’re both in about the same place in the process. We’ve both been feeling blah lately, and we nailed it down to “I’m different, but I’m not that good at it yet.” The “new way” isn’t comfortable, because it’s new.
But even the “old way” isn’t comfortable when we fall back into that, either, because if it were, neither of us would have decided to change. The discomfort of the “old way” was a kind of “productive depression” that let us both know that change was needed.
We both feel like snakes in the middle of shedding an old layer of skin. Itchy and a little irritable.
6 Responses so far.
Who is That Darn Kat?
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Hi, I’m Kat French: gen-x wife, mom, writer, web nerd & follower of Christ.
I haven’t heard the term before but I know the concept and agree that is what it often is. I’ve been quite familiar with it recently.
Bill Wren´s last [type] ..Intersection- I reveal what it is I do
As usual I’m right there with you. I’ve lived with depression for a long time and this feels a lot different. About four years ago I realized that my career in IT was coming to a close. My heart just hasn’t been in it. As I looked around I eventually kindled a strong passion in culinary arts.
Now I’m feeling a bit wobbly as I work to embrace my new reality. I’m not proficient yet and that only makes me feel even more out of sorts. I never considered that it was depression, just adjusting to the changes.
Charles Robinson´s last [type] ..The best meal of my life
I believe all depression signals that a change needs to be made (whether it is physical or mental).
I write a lot on my blog about seeing the good in negative emotions. One example: “Depression Is Just A Stepping Stone.”
I think the stuff you touch on in this post is key to a real path of personal development. We have to listen to what our emotions are telling us, not see them as a crutch.
Steven H´s last [type] ..PsychNews- Sep 26 – Oct 2
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Rebecca Leaman and Kat French, Bill Wren. Bill Wren said: RT @KatFrench Is Depression Your Mind's Way of Saying You Suck? | Internet Bard http://ow.ly/1r0wYa [...]
Bill: I would say that I’m sorry to hear you’ve been experiencing this lately, but since I’m pretty sure it’s a good (if uncomfortable/unpleasant) thing, I guess I’ll say congratulations instead.
Charles: Agreed. There’s a distinct difference between “unproductive” depression and your brain telling you it’s time for a change. “Adjustment” is a good descriptor, because it implies that the wobblyness is only temporary.
Steven: Welcome to the blog! I do think all depression signals a change is necessary. I don’t know that all depression is a clear signal, though.
In automotive terms, some depression is like a warning light on your dashboard (what I’m talking about here). Other depression is like your vehicle becoming incapacitated on the side of the road (which also should tell you you need to change something!)
[...] I investigate the feeling, follow through on the yellow light, and do what needs doing, it goes away, and I have greater [...]