Posted by SLS on April 21, 2008, at 5:11:52
In reply to You are all missing the point..., posted by antiserial on April 21, 2008, at 3:06:19
> depression...
> suppression...
> oppression...I LOVE these words. I use all of them to describe the various experiences of depression, particularly biological depression. I find that they are all applicable, yet different enough to warrant the use of all three. Where we differ, however is that a biological depression can be understood using them.
> depression... Yes. This is the most difficult to qualify because it encompasses so much of the pathological experience. Part of it is a warping of thought processes leading towards negative outcomes. It is the lack of energy, motivation, volition, and the loss of interest in paticipating in activities. It often includes characteristic vegetative symptoms including perturbations of sleep, loss of libido, changes in appetite and body weight, etc.
> suppression... Yes. It is a suppression of cognition. It is the suppression of mental and biological processes. It numbs the experience of cognitive, emotional, and affective components to one's life. It is the inhibition of behavior. It dulls the reaction to external and internal stimuli.
> oppression... Yes. This is psychic pain. It is extreme dysphoria that makes the conscious experience intolerable.
> aren't they really all connected?
I think so. However I think for any individual, there are different ratios in the magnitude of these aspects of the altered state of consciousness that we call depression
> if you remove the sources of suppression and oppression from your life, will you then also be free of depression?
I don't believe this is a universal experience. Reducing the amount of negative psychosocial stress can help minimize the depressive state, although not always. It can also reduce the probabilities that genetic vulnerabilities towards depression will be expressed, as well as causing treatment-breakthrough.
Depression, whether biologically-driven or psychologically driven, is such an extremely frustrating to experience and see in others. I don't doubt that you are trying to help everyone. Why else would you spend the time contemplating and proposing ways to prevent the initiation and perpetuation of depression?
Just my take on the meaning of your three descriptor words.
Thanks.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:824521
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080420/msgs/824531.html