Do you think that there is ever a difference between depression and simply not liking life?

[Unending]

In recent times I have began to ponder if there is ever any difference between being a depressive person/having depressive tendencies or just not liking life. Realistically, I think that the answer isn't so black and white and that it probably has something to do a lot more with the subjective than the objective (also wether someone externalizes or internalizes how they feel.) That being said, I am definitely not deadset on believing any one answer. I'll keep this short as I'm primarily curious to hear what everyone thinks rather than typing a wall of text at the moment.

 

[eldiablo666]

The question is very complex and have many answers. But in short I think generally the depressed person makes himself depressed.

Like if you believe you're depressed you're gonna feel depressed. It's a self fulfilling prophecy. Then there's different variants of depression, like if you're seriously disabled.
Then I think it's a different form of inevitable depression that one cannot cut themselves loose from every time.

 

[Smart No More]

Of course there is a difference though. If you're in a shitty situation in the world that is your reality. It may be depressing but it's not the result of depression. When you explain your situation to a doctor they tell you you're depressed but they will never say "yes, the world is shit in your case" even if that's the truth. This confuses many people who will take their doctors word as gospel and eat all the psych med they throw at them and then end up in a real bad place because there was nothing wrong with their brain chemistry in the first place.

 

[freedomcalls]

I keep trying to clarify my thoughts on this and end up going in a circle, so I'll try to simplify

Often, in my opinion / experience, what is called depression is actually a very logical and reasonable reaction to circumstances that make life incredibly difficult

There's an interesting book on this topic called Lost Connections that I found very insightful

 

[FuneralCry]

To me, I believe that rather than being a 'mental illness', feeling negatively can be a rational response to seeing life as not being worth enduring. I mean life can certainly be torturous and it can be a burden having to continue to endure this existence. After all, we were all forced to endure a life that we never asked for so not everyone is going to be suited for life or meant for this world. I absolutely despise existing in every single way and suicide is what has always made sense for me, it's rational to not want to suffer anymore and free myself from the tedious torment that existence causes us to experience.

At least to me, they are basically the same thing and depression is what disliking life is often labelled as, and people often view this as being a 'mental illness' as they don't want to come to terms with the rationality of suicide and the fact that for so many in this world life can certainly not be worth it, to the point where suicide is the more preferable option.

 

[UngaBungaVampy]

I'm just a nobody, but I think there's a difference between the two. Going through the motions, it feels like I've experienced the both of them at separate times, with each being fairly different. Life has a bunch of things wrong with it that greatly affects one's view with it: uncontrollable aspects, working, bills, debt, aging, etc. How you react to all of it, however, determines the motions one may end up going through and change the experience completely. A person may become apathetic to life and just not want to put up with it any longer. The roses may no longer smell as sweet, their days a repetitive drawl with the future being a stagnant chore to wade through. There's no real stress, it can just. SUCK! I wouldn't say that's depression, but definitely not liking life, possibly even to the point of CTB.

Then there's actual depression, where your feelings are spiraling or stuck in some state. Stress from life's trials and tribulations may be too heavy to endure and the feeling of despair becomes oppressive. Maybe an insurmountable sadness lingers for no reason instead. Yet, a person can still wish to push through. A loss of a family is a common reason for depression, yet it's not going to stop a person from wanting to keep going, usually. Sometimes, time does heal the wound, or maybe they do need medical help to proceed.

In the end, I think people just often feel both at once, thus the common connection between them. After all, if one CTBs, it's usually a solution to some kind of problem.

 

[Asiam]

I have a friend with major depression, not as bad as mine. His lifted dramatically after his dad gave him 50k, he invested it properly and has hundreds of thousands of savings. Now he's not depressed majorly. He said it's because life gets better and depression gets better naturally after your 20s. I believe his depression was influenced by environment and circumstance. It's genetics plus environment in some cases, and environment can be a factor, imo

 

[fayth2567]

The question is very complex and have many answers. But in short I think generally the depressed person makes himself depressed.

Like if you believe you're depressed you're gonna feel depressed. It's a self fulfilling prophecy. Then there's different variants of depression, like if you're seriously disabled.
Then I think it's a different form of inevitable depression that one cannot cut themselves loose from every time.

I'm afraid I have to disagree that someone who is depressed makes themselves depressed. It sounds like they never had depression in their life before, to understand it can be a chemical imbalance.

 

[FrankyPie]

But in short I think generally the depressed person makes himself depressed.

Doesn't seem likely. Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance, PTSD, exhaustion, poor diet, substance abuse. Even people who work nights are statistically more likely to get depressed.

. When you explain your situation to a doctor they tell you you're depressed but they will never say "yes, the world is shit in your case" even if that's the truth

Not true. Mothers who lose children will get special treatment that recognises their specific trauma. People who have suffered sexual abuse, etc will often get a different form of help. Those with substance abuse are routinely aided to end their substance abuse before mental health therapy can proceed. If they're good at their job, Mental health pros (not doctors, whose job it is to prescribe shit) will always seek to recognise the cause of depression. They will not invalidate your reasons for being depressed because they'll understand that external factors can be the cause.

what is called depression is actually a very logical and reasonable reaction to circumstances that make life incredibly difficult

I agree to an extent. It's true that traumatic events and genetic makeup can cause depression. No argument there. However, it is not 'the right' state to be in. It is not morally superior. We all have a right to be energetic and motivated. There is no 'reason' to be depressed which makes depression the 'correct' way to be.

 

[TydalWave]

I do think there is a difference, but they are not mutually exclusive. There's definitely a strong correlation between the two.

Depression is a chemical imbalance that can be measured, changed and improve or degrade over time. It can make you not enjoy life but I wouldn't say its the same thing. There are people without depression who don't like life and there are people with depression who do like life despite their depression.

 

[Insomniac]

interesting question and answers so far

Personally I genuinely do not like life and my
circumstances are crushing me.

I cannot think of a single time I was depressed and that my depression was an overreaction. My depression has always been reasonably justifiable.

 

[Smart No More]

FrankyPie :Not true. Mothers who lose children will get special treatment that recognises their specific trauma. People who have suffered sexual abuse, etc will often get a different form of help. Those with substance abuse are routinely aided to end their substance abuse before mental health therapy can proceed. If they're good at their job, Mental health pros (not doctors, whose job it is to prescribe shit) will always seek to recognise the cause of depression. They will not invalidate your reasons for being depressed because they'll understand that external factors can be the cause.

I disagree entirely. That's how it should be but in my experience it's not how it is. That is my issue. I fit some of the examples you gave and have faced invalidation and been offered psych meds I didn't need multiple times and quite persistently. I ended up seeing a psychologist. Not because I nneded one. Because I was pushed down that path by those invalidating me. The psychologist made it quite clear I did not need psych meds and I wasn't depressed but even in the triage call I received prior to seeing the psychologist I was offered a prescription for sertraline. If I'd have blindly gone along with it I'd have been taking meds I didn't need and doing potential harm to myself. All this started with me getting really ill and going into the doctors office in tears. The first thing ahe said to me was "do you want something to take the edge off?" and by that she meant antidepressants. All I wanted was to find out what was wrong with my health. Again, I could have taken the anti depressants and been doing myself potential harm. This would happen a number of times on the lead up to seeing the psychologist. Since seeing the psychologist they stopped doing that. They wasted so much time and resources to reach that point when they should have been focusing on what was actually wrong with me. I eventually went private and found issues that they would have left me suffering with due to their poor practice. I'm one of many to experience this. So yes, it is fucking true! It shouldn't be but it is.

 

[Forever Sleep]

I think it comes in many different forms and intensities. I used to feel like it had to be in response to outside stimilus initially- some form of bad life situation. However, an incredibly positive and confident lady I knew developed depression as a side effect to the medication she was on.

Sometimes I wonder if it is like everything else- when we do something a lot, it seems we reinforce those neural pathways in our brains and we become good at it. Sometimes I wonder if the same thing happens with negative thinking- if we do it repetitively.

I've always wondered whether the depressed brain was different. I have to confess I'm largely ignorant. Just did a quick Google search and it seems like they don't think it's due to a drop in serotonin levels (which I thought it was) but they did say something about an increase in grey matter. Still- if it was actually possible to see- why wouldn't they send more people for x-rays? I guess maybe the expense and it's probably not terribly good for the brain!

I've always wondered the same as you- what makes someone just unhappy with life vs depressed? Sometimes, I just wonder if it's a diagnosis! I imagine pretty much all of us would end up with the diagnosis of depression or some other mental illness if we saw a doctor now.

 

[MorsRomana]

I believe there is, pro-lifers deem every suicidal person depressed so they can strip you of your liberties and lock you up in an asylum

 

[theboy]

is a great question
I believe that not liking life already makes you a depressive person. Now, it depends on the degree to which you don't like life. For example, do you plan to do CTB because you like life...or you just don't like it but want to keep living.... However, depression is characterized by "despising" life itself.