First of all, let me start off this blog saying that I have at times struggled with some form of depression. I think that most people do. This blog may be offensive to anyone who is officially diagnosed, so I would like to warn you before you read it. Also, I do not necessarily believe in this idea, it was just a question posed to me by a youth leader at my church (who also is not sure that he agrees with it).
So, here is the question I want to ask you: Is depression a selfish feeling?
Here are a couple definitions:
de·pres·sion P Pronunciation Key (d-prshn)
n.
- The condition of being depressed.
- The condition of feeling sad or despondent.
- Psychology. A psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, anhedonia, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death. Also called clinical depression.
- A reduction in activity or force.
- A reduction in physiological vigor or activity: a depression in respiration.
- A lowering in amount, degree, or position.
self·ish P Pronunciation Key (slfsh)
adj.
()
- Concerned chiefly or only with oneself: “Selfish men were... trying to make capital for themselves out of the sacred cause of human rights” (Maria Weston Chapman).
- stinginess resulting from a concern for your own welfare and a disregard of others
I deleted a few parts of the depression one that did not have to do with the emotion. Now I am going to state things as if they are facts, but please do not take them that way... this is just a possible statement.
People who are depressed (sad, despondent) are concerned mainly about themselves. They think that they have a horrible life, or that nobody cares. There is little they can see that is good. However, if they were to look around, there is much that they can see that is worse than their situation. There is always someone worse off than yourself, and someone better. Perhaps, the people who are depressed need to stop looking at "poor them" and look at the people who are worse off than themselves.
People who are depressed are concerned for their own welfare. They think they deserve something better than what they have. Saying they are depressed, and acting that way, will draw attention to them. If they act like no one cares and they have nothing to live for, people will start paying attention and trying to help. They don't care about the people who have to devote time to them, all they care about is getting what they want.
Now, as I said before, I know that depression is a serious thing. There are people who are diagnosed with depression, and I am not trying to say that they should not be. I thought this was an interesting view point brought up by one of the youth assistants, and I wanted to see what other people thought.
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