I agree with Juice. Sounds like a bullshit article to me.

On a personal level--having suffered relentless, treatment resisant, severe major depression for nearly a quarter of a century---I believe depression is a cruel and terrorizing illnes, an illness which undrermines and ravages our lives, and is the polar opposite of "good" for us. I have lost 2 loved ones to the ravaging cruelty of depression--to suicide--and have lost most of the potential and productivity, and ALL the joy, of my own life to it, also.I believe this article is about only the mildest and most temporary forms of depression, NOT depression in its chronic and severe form. I have been crushed, battered and depleted by this illness, and robbed by it, not strengthened, enriched or enlightened by it.I probably have greater compassion for the suffering of others b/c of my depression, but increased empathy does not remotely begin to compensate for the self confidence, resilience, productivity, optimism, freedom, and capacity to enjoy myself and life that has been taken from me by depression. (Tez62: Thougts not only hurt us, they can undermine, impair, incapacitate, and even fatally wound us--as depression can and does. Without human thought, there would be no psychological suffering or illness.)

I agree with Kaitrin, depression has destroyed my life. There is nothing good about it

I think that the article is crap, written by a person who was behind deadline and had an ill-formed idea. The only good thought I can extract from that article is that when we encounter adversity we can either let it hurt us, or we can learn from it.

But who in their right mind would want to "get depression" in order to become a stronger person? I broke my arms a total of 4 times in my life and I did learn a lot; but no way in hell would I ever advise a person to break an arm on purpose in order to become stronger.

Pratt.

IF IT PARALYZES ONE TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY CANNOT PULL A TRIGGER OR SWALLOW A PILL, OR WIELD A KNIFE; IN ONE RESPECT, I SUPPOSE, IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.

DEPRESSION, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, (AND I WISH I DID NOT) IS AN ILLNESS. ILLNESS IS NOT GOOD FOR US. BUT I SUPPOSE HAVING A COLD WOULD BE CALLED GOOD, COMPARED TO, SAY, MULTIPLE MYELOMA. ODD QUESTION. BUT A GOOD ONE!!!

Actually, the article is based on the results of research studies. It is not just something that someone wrote based on his/her opinions. Some of the conclusions may be based on single studies and need more research to be conclusive (or to be dispelled).

I had not heard about most of those studies, except for the fact that people who are depressed tend to see things more objectively. This is arguably a good thing. It means non-depressed people basically have more hope and a more positive outlook than is granted by the objective reality. That is what keeps them sane and part of what keeps people depressed.

I do think depression can have positive effects. It doesn't mean that it is pleasant. Neither does it mean that the positive outweighs the negative. I think it is particularly positive when you overcome it. That is not because of the depression itself, but because of what overcoming depression means to a person. You learn great coping skills, become more spiritual/find new meaning or make a great change in the way you perceive yourself, others, the world.

Depression--like any other crisis--*can* lead to a positive transformation. The problem is that a considerable number of people do not recover from it.

From personal experience, I know depression has made me more humble, more compassionate and it has made me appreciate enormously the few months every year that I feel better. I know how it feels to be so down you cannot even go out of the house, so when I feel I can experience joy again I try to do the best I can with it. I give more love to others and enjoy every sound, sight and emotion.

So is a glass of wine or bottle of beer once a day....REALLY??? Tell that to someone who has scoliosis of the liver.

Rambo,

I did not say research was perfect and I never heard any study concluding any amount of alcohol was good for people with liver dysfunction.

I don't think the liver can have scoliosis. I think you meant cirrhosis.

Research studies--like all information--should be evaluated, compared and contrasted. No point of view contains every answer. However, scientific studies do have a degree of methodological rigor that renders them more credible than heresay, myth or other less rigorous forms of knowledge.

Kaitrin, sorry if I upset you, I really sorry you have had to live with depression for that long. I haven't lost anyone to suicide but I was hospitalised a year and a half ago for thinking about it myself. I was at my lowest, I'm now glad I didn't follow through. I go to an outpatient course every Saturday and have done since getting out of hospital. We learn there that thoughts are thoughts and if we let them be they will eventually pass and we shouldn't be afraid of them. I used to have the thoughts racing 24/7 but don't anymore. I would never wish it upon anyone and do not entirely agree with the article. For some, maybe a small number, it may make them stronger if they get through it.

It can definitely be affected by scoliosis but what I MEANT to say was sclerosis...
There have been countless "studies" that say... a glass of wine or bottle of beer once a day is good for you just as the OP had brought to light (and I quote) I read an article on the internet saying that depression can be good for you
I was mearly stating that the OP's article had as much merit to a depressed individual as my "study " had to one suffering liver disease. Furthermore mcb00 nowhere did I ever make reference to you or any of your comments so stop taking it as a personal attack. AGAIN its not all about you this was a sarcastic retort to the OPs "article" he/she was refering to.

Rambo,

I didn't take it personal. I was just adding to the discussion.

There is research supporting the idea that certain types of alcohol in moderation are good for the average individual. No one ever said it applied to people with cirrhosis. In fact, the studies are not based on people with cirrhosis so the findings cannot be generalized to people with cirrhosis.

Some studies are good. Some are not as good. We should not disqualify them all. We should, however, understand their strengths and limitations. Not every finding from research cited in the news is interpreted accurately by the reporters. Researchers often complain that the findings of their studies are interpreted incorrectly in the news.

Depression is a part of who I am. Without it who would I be?
I tend to look at things a bit negatively, but this means that whatever the outcome it's no worse than expected.
Part of me likes being depressed, sometimes angry.
Is it good for me? It can't be much worse than drinking, smoking and unhealthy eating can it?

I've read it now; it's definitely a crock of shit.

Just the premise of the article alone makes me want to see Juice rip this article to shreds. Because I would pay money to see Juice in action anyday; she is a goddess and I worship her unconditionally.

The same for Pepper's opinion.

I will go read it but if they thinks it's a crock, I can almost guarantee I won't like it.

I thinks...heheheh....

Yepp. Definitely written because some editor gave somebody a ridiculous job to do on a deadline. I can just hear them saying,"An'give it a "positive spin!!!". Buhh.

On SOME of the points made, I actually agree with it. It does also seem from sevral aspects, genuine research is there to back it up. As the writer points out, my experience with depression has forced my decision-making skills to become more sharpened, with more of an eye toward the future; I've learned to give a lot more weight to my intuition; and I now have a much more conscious and deliberate way of approaching my priorities in life. Compassion and being realistic were already there, but are better and stronger, deeper and wider, now.

But I think the problem is that it still does perpetuate the ancient (and very dangerous) notion that depression springs from bad thinking or poor life decisions, to start with. As if the depression itself is part of the cure for what caused it...The "You must endure this, because you were dumb, and you somehow did this to yourself" line of approach. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

This thinking does nothing to further the fact that millions of perfectly lovely, brilliant, mindful and wise people go on to develop depression every year. Lives are thunderstruck and left devastated.

But let's brush past that and talk about how wonderful you will feel when you "get your symptoms under control....", she said in a whisper.....

I guess the desire to put a positive spin on everything has struck again. I've found, it's easy to be breezy, breezy about things which are not completely understood (and rather terrifying, TBPH). It makes life less frightening that way.