Depression is caused by desire and expectation

0/10.

This sounds more like the whole disappointment (often read as depression) is due to failed expectations that I hear a lot floating around lately. Maybe that's an AA thing. I have clinical depression. There have been times where I have literally not bathed in REDACTED. I'll let your mind float to how bad of a time period that redacted covers.

I'm not saying you aren't depressed, but god knows there are levels of it, and it's not mine or anyone else to say how deep in it you are. No one should try to "one up" a person in the depression department, but I see it all of the time. Do what you can is all you can fucking do. Some can do more, like, actually function to the point they can cook a meal, and some to the point where they can't bathe. It's ALL horrible and my heart goes out to you. Also good for you for trying to suss it out instead of just crawling under the covers wishing for death.

Yeah, people who get bummed when things don’t work out... are not depressed, I’m sorry. Clinical major depression doesn’t care if things are working out in your life or not.

FFS sweetheart, you're not depressed, you're sad.

Agree with other posters here. I would kill for something as adorable sounding as "the noonday demon" to be honest That just sounds like you need a fucking snack or a stiff one. Jesus Christ. I'm in R1s boat who was awfully kind considering. "REAL" depression... It is hell. What R4 said too.

Remember when Oprah said she had depression when she was sad for two weeks because her stupid Beloved movie was a flop, despite her buying books and books of tickets to it.

I love you guys. Like you I’m just trying to live through this one.

Oh, my depressions have been so ferocious as to prompt me to attempt suicide on more than one occasion, though it’s been over a decade since any of that. And although I suspect a doctor [italic]could[/italic] diagnose me with depression now, I’ve developed too much of a fighting spirit to subject myself to that. I’d much rather consider it a dark night of the soul.

Sometimes I struggle with feeling hope and gratitude but humility and empathy for others, along with a boundless faith I have developed and which had been validated many times, always bring me around. All in all, though I’m not necessarily giddy nor jumping up and clicking my heels midair, I’d say I’m doing pretty damn good: close to four years sober, straight As in school, money in the back, and a keen awareness of the fact that we are all, even the worst of us, in this together.

R8 is me.

Actually, R8 now that you've given more detail, I think you might want to find/start a different thread, asyou do seem to be in a different...clubhouse...for want of a better word.

Let me guess...hunger is caused by not having eaten?

Depression is caused by a lack of God in your life, as is homosexuality

R11 Um, what? Why?

Depression is purely a brain disease. People with horrible toxic families going back generations always end up depressed. They are miserable wretches for many good reasons.

R14 No.

R16 Honey, you don’t get to tell people whether they are sufficiently down in the druthers to be considered depressed. What the fuck is wrong with you?

OP, you are substantially correct. A positive attitude often boosts mental health.

[quote]Depression is caused by desire and expectation

*MY depression seems to be caused by disappointment" - OP*

you're welcome.

& sorry you're so sad and disappointed with your life.

[quote] including pop culture, which is covertly pernicious.

turn off your radio, gurl.

That's very eloquent R8! While I can't claim depression, I am in a big time funk & I appreciate your words of inspiration. I will try to be more hopeful & grateful, even for the small things.

I agree with your analysis OP. Very deep thoughts here, very rare on DL

Some people over-identify with their depression, personalizing and even growing to love it.

This OP also makes up other stupid threads like “I’m stroking my cunt’s labia”

Maybe OP’s depression is caused by being insufferable

Having been through both clinical depression (the lock-oneself-in-a-dark-room-crying for weeks on end variety), and what OP is describing, I both agree and disagree.

IMO a bout of depression can be severely protracted and entrenched by defeatist or embittered and negative attitudes, or by an attachment to the comfort zone of depression. However, one can be flying high, having no reason to feel downtrodden or hard done by, surrounded by a positive environment and life experience, and still want to end it all. Disappointment isn’t really a cause, more of a dangerous longterm symptom.

R23 Stroking my labia is not stupid; it is essential goddammit!

R24 I don’t consider myself depressed, love. I was just ruminating. Parasitic vultures like you, however, do cause some stress and even depression, I’m sure.

Thankfully, I’m immune to your pernicious tendencies.

Bull, OP. I have a totally different mindset, I've never desired perfection or had trouble adapting to change, in fact, my general low expectations make me more adaptable than most. I expect things to suck, and when they do suck I do my best to accept and deal because I'm not shocked, and when things are good I'm pleasantly surprised.

OP, I think what we are talking about are the thoughts that run through our heads when we are depressed... but them thoughts themselves are not the *source* of the depression, THEY ARE THE RESULT. The depression itself comes from somewhere else.

[quote] I expect things to suck

R28 Do you see the problem with this?

Yes, R28, which is why I actively work to avoid self-fulfilling prophecies and appreciate when my low expectations are not met, and things turn out nicely.

But anyone who reads the news these days knows that having low expectations for humanity in general will usually be met.

Is OP the Buddha?

What you’ve expressed, OP, is also the Buddhist core concept of suffering; that life is suffering. There are some quite remarkable books out there that you might find helpful. The writings of Thich Nhat Hanh I think would be a great place to start.

As someone who is a Buddhist and also has dealt with lifelong depression, I think I understand how you feel.

R32 I study Buddhism along with Christia, Judaic, and Hindu Mysticism. I love Thich Nhat Hanh, by the way, and especially love the writings of Thomas Merton, John of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila. The Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads are also wonderful. All of the aforementioned are wellsprings for me.

*Christian