Research on Depression
CharlasDepression and Anxiety: Books That Help
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1thomas.merton Primer Mensaje
Hello everyone,
Just a note to let any interested parties know that I myself am very seriously considering writing a book about depression, but from a spiritual, Christian perspective rather than psychological. (My user name is a big clue that I often look at things from a spiritual perspective!)
I have fought a nearly endless battle with depression for over 35 years. Right now I'm doing quite well, but only thanks to God's help.
Right now I'm collecting books about depression and they way it effects a person mentally, in terms of their thoughts and ideas. The technical term is "cognitive." If you check out my current library list here on LT, you can find the books I'm studying by clicking or seraching on the keyword "research."
Just a couple of notes as to my own ideas on depression:
1. I firmly believe that depression is truly a spiritual problem, not physical or psychological, though it certainly affects us in those ways.
2. The causes of depression are actually external to us, but how we interpret these external causes can affect us in a very negative way (obviously!). Not surprisingly, the causes are often negative things that have happened in our lives, like the loss of a loved one, or a relationship that has gone bad. But it can literally be any negative event that affects us emotionally.
3. No matter the cause, the solution is simply this: we must realize that we aren't the worthless scum we think we are. That realization, sadly, isn't going to come from another person, we ourselves must come to this conclusion. Admittedly, this is very, very, very, very difficult to do--darn near impossible most of the time.
If anyone has any books that they think I should take a look at which I don't already have in my modest library, please feel free to post them in this thread.
Now here's an interesting revelation about books that have helped me the most with depression: not a single one of them had anything to do with depression!!! Someday I promise to write a little essay about this, and post it to this forum.
God bless,
pseudo Thomas Merton.
Just a note to let any interested parties know that I myself am very seriously considering writing a book about depression, but from a spiritual, Christian perspective rather than psychological. (My user name is a big clue that I often look at things from a spiritual perspective!)
I have fought a nearly endless battle with depression for over 35 years. Right now I'm doing quite well, but only thanks to God's help.
Right now I'm collecting books about depression and they way it effects a person mentally, in terms of their thoughts and ideas. The technical term is "cognitive." If you check out my current library list here on LT, you can find the books I'm studying by clicking or seraching on the keyword "research."
Just a couple of notes as to my own ideas on depression:
1. I firmly believe that depression is truly a spiritual problem, not physical or psychological, though it certainly affects us in those ways.
2. The causes of depression are actually external to us, but how we interpret these external causes can affect us in a very negative way (obviously!). Not surprisingly, the causes are often negative things that have happened in our lives, like the loss of a loved one, or a relationship that has gone bad. But it can literally be any negative event that affects us emotionally.
3. No matter the cause, the solution is simply this: we must realize that we aren't the worthless scum we think we are. That realization, sadly, isn't going to come from another person, we ourselves must come to this conclusion. Admittedly, this is very, very, very, very difficult to do--darn near impossible most of the time.
If anyone has any books that they think I should take a look at which I don't already have in my modest library, please feel free to post them in this thread.
Now here's an interesting revelation about books that have helped me the most with depression: not a single one of them had anything to do with depression!!! Someday I promise to write a little essay about this, and post it to this forum.
God bless,
pseudo Thomas Merton.
2barney67
Sounds like an interesting project.
If someone could show you an MRI of a brain that suffers from depression, and point out why it is different from a healthy brain, would that convince you of the biological (neurochemical) nature of the disease?
If someone could show you an MRI of a brain that suffers from depression, and point out why it is different from a healthy brain, would that convince you of the biological (neurochemical) nature of the disease?
3thomas.merton
I do not deny the biological impact of depression, it's obvious enough even without an MRI, but I do not believe that the root cause of depression is always biological. Certainly, there are instances where it is, and those cases are well documented.
However, my focus is on root causes other than those known to be biological in nature--like the loss of a loved one and so forth, and why these types of negative events have such a profound emotional impact on a person. Science alone can not fully explain the complexity of our response to negative events in our environment, it can measure the effects of these events, but is not always so good as to explain exactly why they effect us the way they do. For a fuller, more thorough understanding of depression (and emotions in general), one needs to go beyond the physical to the spiritual and philosophical.
At least such an approach has certainly helped me!
However, my focus is on root causes other than those known to be biological in nature--like the loss of a loved one and so forth, and why these types of negative events have such a profound emotional impact on a person. Science alone can not fully explain the complexity of our response to negative events in our environment, it can measure the effects of these events, but is not always so good as to explain exactly why they effect us the way they do. For a fuller, more thorough understanding of depression (and emotions in general), one needs to go beyond the physical to the spiritual and philosophical.
At least such an approach has certainly helped me!
5byzanne
One book on depression which makes me smile is Sunbathing in the rain by Gwyneth Lewis, who is a poet. I think there is something spiritual about her approach to dealing with her own depression and seeing in terms other than simple biological.
Another book on depression from a spiritual perspective is The Zen path through depression. I've also found books by Mark Epstein very good - another Buddhist.
Sheila Cassidy hasn't written specifically on depression but her book Sharing the darkness has been very helpful to me. And M. Scott Peck's books as well. Finally, Man's search for meaning Viktor Frankl.
I'm interested to see what other people recommend. I am not a Christian or a Buddhist - but have gained a great deal from reading some writings. For myself, my understanding of mental health problems of all kinds is that they are over-determined i.e. there are many causes and many approaches to healing - medicine can offer some explanation and some help - but there are too many of us for whom medicine has not delivered on its promise and often has been downright abusive.
Another book on depression from a spiritual perspective is The Zen path through depression. I've also found books by Mark Epstein very good - another Buddhist.
Sheila Cassidy hasn't written specifically on depression but her book Sharing the darkness has been very helpful to me. And M. Scott Peck's books as well. Finally, Man's search for meaning Viktor Frankl.
I'm interested to see what other people recommend. I am not a Christian or a Buddhist - but have gained a great deal from reading some writings. For myself, my understanding of mental health problems of all kinds is that they are over-determined i.e. there are many causes and many approaches to healing - medicine can offer some explanation and some help - but there are too many of us for whom medicine has not delivered on its promise and often has been downright abusive.
