[cornstalks]

That story doesn’t work for people with depression who otherwise have very good lives.

I grew up in a stable household with a loving family and both parents present and supportive. I’ve never had financial hardship, either as a kid depending on my parents to provide or as an adult providing for myself and family. I did very well in school, had plenty of friends, never had enemies, never got bullied or even talked bad about in social circles (so far as I know…). I have no traumatic memories.

I could go on and on, but despite having a virtually perfect life on paper, I have always struggled with depression and suicidal ideation. It wasn’t until my wife sat down and forced me to talk to a psychiatrist and start medication that those problems actually largely went away.

In other words, I don’t think there’s a metaphorical “cow” that could have helped me. It’s annoying we don’t understand what causes depression or how antidepressants help, and their side effects suck. But for some of us, it’s literally life saving in a way nothing else has ever been.

[hirvi74]

First of all, I want to write that I am glad you found something that worked so that you are able to remain here with us.

Though, I am curious about the, "otherwise have very good lives" part.

Whose definition are you using? It seems the criteria you laid out fits a "very good life" in a sociological sense -- very important, sure. You could very well have the same definition, and perhaps that is what I am trying to ask. Would you say you were satisfied in life? Despite having a good upbringing, were you (prior to medication) content or happy?

I am by no means trying to change your opinion nor invalidate your experiences. I just struggle to understand how that can be true.

As someone that has suffered with deep depressive bouts many times over, I just cannot subscribe to the idea that depression is inherently some sort of disorder of the brain. In fact, I am in the midst of another bout now. One that's lasted about 3 or so years.

To me, I have always considered emotions/states like depression and anxiety to be signals. A warning that something in one's current environment is wrong -- even if consciously not known or difficult to observe. And if anyone is curious, I have analyzed this for myself, and I believe the etiology of my issues are directly linked to my circumstances/environment.

> I don’t think there’s a metaphorical “cow” that could have helped me.

The smart-ass in me can't help but suggest that maybe medication was your cow?

[cornstalks]

> Whose definition are you using?

To be honest, I've never really thought about it... I suppose I mean in both a sociological and self fulfillment way.

> Would you say you were satisfied in life? Despite having a good upbringing, were you (prior to medication) content or happy?

I would say "yes" overall. Aside from the depression (typically manifesting as a week or two of me emotionally spiraling down to deep dark places every month or so), I was very happy and satisfied. That's what makes the depression so annoying for me. It makes no sense compared to my other aspects of life.

> In fact, I am in the midst of another bout now. One that's lasted about 3 or so years.

*fist bump*

> To me, I have always considered emotions/states like depression and anxiety to be signals. A warning that something in one's current environment is wrong -- even if consciously not known or difficult to observe. And if anyone is curious, I have analyzed this for myself, and I believe the etiology of my issues are directly linked to my circumstances/environment.

I think that's a great hypothesis so long as it's not a blanket applied to everyone (which I don't think you're doing, to be clear; I mention this only because it is what motivated my original response to the other commenter).

I don't want to go into private details of family members without their permission, but I will say that given the pervasive depression in my family and mental health issues like schizophrenia and bipolar disorders (neither of which I have, thank goodness), I feel like there's something biologically... wrong (for lack of a better word?)... with us, particularly since you can easily trace this through my mother's side.

> The smart-ass in me can't help but suggest that maybe medication was your cow?

Ha fair. I interpreted the story to be about depression being a symptom of your situation (job, health, etc.) and if you just fixed that then there's no need for medication. That definitely makes sense in some (many? most?) situations. But not all, unfortunately.

[coffeecat]

Take my baseless speculation for what it's worth, but could it be that you were depressed because your life was too easy? We humans are meant to struggle through adversity. Can you really appreciate your financial security if you've never faced financial insecurity, or appreciate companionship if you've never experienced loneliness?

[cornstalks]

It’s a reasonable question but I doubt it. We weren’t affluent at all and I worked my butt off for everything. And that’s good, because I agree that if things are too easy it turns into a curse.

[jrflowers]

> I don’t think there’s a metaphorical “cow” that could have helped me.

The medication is the cow for you. In this story your support system figured out what would work best for you, which was medication, and facilitated that.

It’s a story about a doctor that serves patients in rural Cambodia. Help from the local community would look different in Borey Peng Huoth, for example.

[parineum]

I think that's a huge stretch.

"Your community" isn't your doctor. This annecdote, to me, is cleariy an attempt to blame modernity for depression.

[pronouncedjerry]

very interesting. would you be comfortable sharing what therapy uncovered as the cause for you?