Comments on Depression - A Glimmer of Hope

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i was getting into that sounds like something i need to read when i have more time. thanks for that waterkat

 

posted by emscorp on December 20, 2008 at 9:14 PM | link to this | reply

No, havent read Dr Frankl's book, but sure sounds like a great read, i will look him up.

Thanks Blanche

posted by WaterKat on August 14, 2006 at 7:38 PM | link to this | reply

Waterkat, I did not read the entire post, but the intro and chapter one,

and found it quite helpful and inteeesting.  The main point that I agree with, is that depression is not simply laziness, lack of will, motivation or an inability to see the bright side of life and think positively.  Although, to an extent that does seem to be what Andrew is talking about.

It coincides with one of my favorite books, which I just found and am rereading for the first time in years, Dr. Viktor E. Frankl's Man's Search For Meaning.  It seems that Andrew found a meaning for his pain, despair and suffering.  He is an empath, someone who feels the despair in the world intensely, not everyone can or will feel empathy, and many often scoff at others who do, as being overly dramatic, a term I've heard often is "wet mop" seemingly someone who just "doesn't get with the program" or refuses to see the light and funny side of things.

However, when Andrew found a meaning to his depresion, to help fellow sufferers, it enabled him to feel the empathy, compassion, and deep feelings of sadness and to make use of them.  He found his meaning.

Have you read Dr. Franikl's book?  He was a psychiatrist imprisoned in Nazi concentration camps, who decided to live in order to be able to cousnel others who survived, and in each case, he said, that each person had to find for themselves the reason for livng, the meaning for their lives and to lvie it.  I agree with him and Andrew, finding the meaning, rather than denying that suffering exists is by far more helpful than denying that it exists and simply repeating platitudes about positive thinking or mocking those who feel the despair they themselves deny exists. 

posted by Blanche. on August 14, 2006 at 4:57 PM | link to this | reply

wow... that was long but I think he makes some good points. thanks!

posted by -blackcat on August 14, 2006 at 4:55 PM | link to this | reply