There is one very simple reason for all emotional depression. In a recent article entitled "Intelligent Emotions" I discussed how the feelings of "happiness" and "saddness" emerge spontaneously from within one's Self with every decision one makes for themselves in their lives. When the feeling of happiness emerges it does so in recognition of the fact that the particular decision made is beneficial to the individual. Conversely, when the feeling of saddness emerges it does so in recognition that the particular decision made is not beneficial to the individual. In other words there is an inner intelligence inside each of us that is monitoring and commenting on every decision that we make in every moment. It is there essentally to tell us whether we are on the right track in our lives. When we are, that is when we choose to listen to this inner intelligence and heed its advice we wind up feeling happy, joyful, content, fulfilled and therefore successful. After all isn't the definition of "success" tied to one's happiness and fulfillment? What happens when we don't, for whatever reason heed the advice of this inner intelligence? In other words, what happens when we "think" that our logical mind, or someone else for that matter, has better answers than this inner intelligence and choose to follow it or them? Well if you try this experiment for yourself you will likely find yourself feeling unhappy, sad, unfulfilled, and therefore unsuccessful. Now what happens if you go on not following this inner intelligence for a lenghty period of time, say months or even years? Well, eventually the sadness and unhappiness start to turn into something even more severe. This emerging state is what many psychiatrists and psychologists call the state of Depression. If it becomes bad enough it brings with it a host of other symptoms i.e. anxiety, hopelessness, loss of energy, loss of motivation, sleeplessness, worry, and even suicidal thoughts. Now, most mental health practitioners would say that this "theory" as they might call it is too simplistic to explain the state of Depression and will try to invoke some biological cause. In other words they might imply that there is "something biologically wrong" with the person who suffers from Depression. I ask you to judge for yourself. Just say to yourself, if you are suffering from Depression "there is something biologically wrong with me" and notice if this makes you feel happy or sad? Does it make you feel good inside or not? Does it make you feel in charge of your life or out of control? Where would you rather be? Well I'm sure that most indiviuals prefer to feel happy, in control of their own mood state and in charge of their lives. How do you feel now knowing that you have deep inside you everything you need to move you towards that state of happiness? If you have not been used to listening for these inner guiding feelings it will take some practice reacquainting yourself with them. |
