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For Darwin, depression was a clarifying force, focusing the mind on its most essential problems. In his autobiography, he speculated on the purpose of such misery; his evolutionary theory was shadowed by his own life story. “Pain or suffering of any kind,” he wrote, “if long continued, causes depression and lessens the power of action, yet it is well adapted to make a creature guard itself against any great or sudden evil.” And so sorrow was explained away, because pleasure was not enough. Sometimes, Darwin wrote, it is the sadness that informs as it “leads an animal to pursue that course of action which is most beneficial.” The darkness was a kind of light.
The article is really fascinating--hit that link for more. The basic gist, though, is that too many folks treat their depression rather than letting it focus their attention on fixing the problems in their lives. I've wrestled with depression a bit myself and after several months of it, debating whether to get out of bed in the morning (seriously) and some days not (and just staying in bed), I realized that I needed to do *something* to make my life better. To put up with it as it was would have been ridiculous.
But too many people today think depression is something to be avoided. Drug it out of yourself, rather than finding the activities or behaviors that will help you deal with or at least ignore the depression. Darwin focussed on his research and look where it got him (and us). If you're feeling down, just try going in the opposite direction. Focus on what makes you feel happy--if you don't know what that is, keep trying new things until you find it. Sacrifice what ever you need to--after all, the alternative is staying depressed, right?
And hey, if you're already depressed, how could it make things worse?
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