I think "depression" is a terribly ill-defined term. The symptoms are far too vague and general to serve as an indication of any kind of mental illness. Rather, it seems to be the psychiatrist's universal weapon for anything that prevents patients from being obedient, productive members of society.
This list of symptoms is taken from the website of the American Psychiatric Association:
"Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
- Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- Loss of energy or increased fatigue
- Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)
- Feeling worthless or guilty
- Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
- Thoughts of death or suicide"
This list is from the National Institute of Mental Health:
"If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, you may be suffering from depression:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, or pessimism
- Irritability
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
- Decreased energy or fatigue
- Moving or talking more slowly
- Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight changes
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few symptoms while others may experience many. Several persistent symptoms in addition to low mood are required for a diagnosis of major depression, but people with only a few – but distressing – symptoms may benefit from treatment of their "subsyndromal" depression. The severity and frequency of symptoms and how long they last will vary depending on the individual and his or her particular illness. Symptoms may also vary depending on the stage of the illness."
Am I saying that no one experiences these symptoms? Of course not. What I am objecting to is trying to pass these off as signs of some pathological mental illness instead of a natural reaction to personal experiences in this world we live in.
If you lock a man in a small dark cell for several months, he will undoubtedly experience several of the above symptoms. Is this a sign that he suddenly developed a mental illness, or merely a natural reaction to his confinement?
How can you cure him of it? You set him free, but this is not the way psychiatrists approach "depression". Instead of treating the fundamental problem, which for many people is society, human nature or the nature of this world itself, their approach is much more superficial.
Instead of giving a battered passenger ship a major overhaul, the holes are patched up with duct-tape, so that it can be put back into service as soon as possible.
Like a doctor treating a lung cancer patient with cough drops, the root of the problem is ignored in favour of treating the symptom, as that is cheaper and more convenient.
