Perhaps why a whole generation spent the rest of their lives (in the UK) really missing the war - which I just could never understand.

In my deepest depression I was admitted to a clinic in Switzerland. Before any kind of medication was administered I was subjected to sleep and wake therapy. I can't really explain it in scientific terms, but in my layman's relation, this is how it went.

I was left alone for the first day and night, then I was wakened (disturbed in my neither sleep or awake state), just my twilight zone. I was accompanied by a nurse and the object was to keep me awake during the night. I was also brought, high carb ,quite high sugar snacks every 2 hours which I was encouraged to eat as part of the therapy. I was so exhausted when I was allowed to go to bed, I actually slept for the first time in ages. During this time my mood was highly scrutinized and every 2-3 nights they spared me the waking therapy.

During the awake therapy I was allowed to read, write or paint but music or chatting to other night owls wasn't allowed. (Was allocated my own lounge) After about 2 weeks of this I was given an anti-depressant.

I had to prove that I was functioning by taking on communal tasks such as going into the garden and working, or shopping and cooking for a communal meal. The variety of people (10) was amazing. After a couple of weeks of this my ex boss found out where I was and called me, to ask if I would like to come back to work for him on a 50% basis. I had to go in front of a panel and my group to say why this was the best option for me, and my boss also came to say why my job would be beneficial and how the family would support me through times of stress.

I was not committed, and could have left at any time I liked but the outside support saved me from being there a lot longer. I truly believe when a person has suffered real depression and have the capability, they will do everything in their power to never go there again. Unfortunately not everybody can achieve this, as I have so painfully learned.

My heart goes out to anyone and everyone who is stuck in the black hole.

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www.thehappynest.ch

Do you think perhaps everyone had a common goal during the war, something that held them together. And, they were all so busy. No time to think... And in retrospect, things always look different (hindsight is 20-20). They miss a time of high arousal and clearly defined purpose? I don't know.

My father was a Marine in WWII. He did not miss the war, he would not talk about it - only the MASH-like funny stuff of getting drunk, building a still, stealing concrete and his rash of promotions/demotions.

I would have thought problems determining reality would be a positive

Only if abused i.e., too much, too often

Perhaps this is for another thread and not particularly relevant to the OP?

"Slaphappy" people DO seem rather shallow and superficial sometimes and not given to deep, philosophical thinking.

The challenge is to "see things as they really are", and not to let reality drag you into a deep pit of depression but to maintain peace of mind in the face of whatever life throws at you.

Unless perhaps someone is interested in LSD therapy combined with physcotherapy with a psychiatrist!

In response to several posts in this thread:

Forgive me, but I stuggle to see anything positive about going through depression.

Insight? Wisdom? Critical thinking?

If depression is the price we must pay for that, then we're better off without, in my opinion.

I agree that there is nothing positive in actually going through depression, but I do think that it equips sufferers with a huge amount of empathy once they emerge the other side.

Nope.

I'm still a selfish, egocentric bastard.

True, but being an empath can sometimes be a hindrance to happiness - picking up on everyone else's feelings and troubles can make you exhausted.

Not that I am at all like that. I'm like him above - an egocentric b****........

This is true, however, I have found there are some positives.

Knowing quite a few people who suffer from depression at work and earlier at school, I have found such people to be excellent trouble shooters and risk identifiers in projects.

The mind frame of negative thought and perspective actually came in quite usefull when undertaking larger projects with unknown outcomes. I would always go to my 'depressed' collegues for what-could-go-wrong consulting. Believe it or not, they always had a keen eye on potenial hurdles and road blocks where the positive co-workers would over look.

Small note but very extremely usefull.

__________________
"You have reached the end of you free trial membership at BenjaminFranklinQuotes.com" -Benjamin Franklin

LSD wouldn't work wonders at all on depression. It would be a horrendous experience for someone who was unhappy with themselves, I couldnt imagine anything worse.

Survivors of depression are quite often more sensitive to others' emotional bouts. It's a long lasting side effect of conquering the evil demons inside and pulling yourself out of the deep, dark, endless hole of hopelessness.

Speaking with other survivors of depression is an exhilarating experience. The insights, the battles and the feeling of "I understand you because I've been there too" is unique. Kind of like a special members-only club.

I found you quite generous when it comes to beer.

There are various schools of thought on depression and the ego. A common thread is that depression occurs when an illusion collapses in the face of reality. Perhaps the most difficult one is when the illusion that collapses happens to be one's ego. The darkest depressions are the death of the ego. Pain and suffering occurs as the ego struggles against its death.

But there is a vaster reality beyond the ego. The death of one's ego allows one to get in touch with this vaster reality. By preventing this death, the growth of the person is stunted. It's quite possible to go through depression without the struggle, minimizing pain and suffering. And it is possible to get to the other side of depression as a whole new person, enlightened by the vaster reality.

One of my favorite prose from Goethe:

Und so lang du das nicht hast,
Dieses: stirb und werde,
Bist du nur ein trüber Gast
Auf der dunklen Erde.

"As long as you do not know how to die and come to life again,you are but a sorry traveler on this dark earth".

-Goethe

Interesting concept for HR management. Now, how does one incentivise one member to stay depressed, and the other to be happy-go-lucky?

I think the best is somewhere in the middle. You have to be able to do both - dream a little, fantasize, but then be able to figure out how to solve a problem. It's this balance which is so difficult to achieve in so many of us. I also think that you have to learn to let yourself feel. My psychiatrist in the US helped me realize that when I let myself feel - anger, frustration, sadness and not keep it inside. I was less likely to build up anxiety. It's worked too. And I learned that i need to judge/analyze my own feelings less and just feel them. It doesn't mean being completely selfish though, and not recognizing others feelings.

As for positivity out of depression/anxiety - well, it's given me much to think about, it's who I am, and it's given me research topics. I think it has helped me to be better at solving problems. Anyway, I can't go back and change what's already occurred so I might as well learn what I can from it, - but at the same time, try to develop resillience from it.

If any of that makes sense.

It's important to know yourself......