I seem to ask my best questions when I'm in a 'bad' or 'depressed' mood. What does this mean?

Question

Perhaps that we are at out best when challenged?

Answer 1

Well I know when I'm depressed, I'm frustrated and trying to figure out what's wrong. Often I find myself stuck in a loop, where the problem is its own cause.

In other words, being depressed causes being depressed (at least in part). We're most "happy" when we're not thinking about it. Caught up in the moment. a picnic. watchin a game. talking with friends.

That being said, every mood has a root cause, most of the time it's a combination fo things subtly affecting you. Sometimes you know it, sometimes you don't. And as humans we think we have control. That perception causes us to contemplate, so that we can change it for the better.

How do you get out of a bad mood or depression? I don't know. Sometimes the cascading thoughts of negativity are too much to overcome.

Sometimes you have to take the thing you fear the most and get over it.

Sometimes you just have to feel bad and there's nothing you can or should do about it.
Other times, when it bothers you more, you just pretend. Smile. Pretend to be okay. Even if you're not. Because at some point, if not right away, your mood will lighten a little. And it will grow.

Optimism has its advantages.


Haha sorry i got off course there. I think we ask our best questions when we're depressed because we are driven so much to solve it that it forces us to really let our feelings flow. An outlet of core emotion - the things that really get to us - makes us expressive creatures.

When we're in a happy mood we're not thinking about controlling things since we don't need to - we're already happy! But when we're sad...that's when we want to control and understand things the most....and we end up asking questions and contemplating.

Answer 2

Perhaps you don't ask your best questions when you are down, but are down when you ask your best questions. It's pretty common for ones questioning to turn to introspection, which tends to lead to feeling down in all but the most well-adjusted people. For that matter, considering the state of the world and humanity can be a pretty good reason for depression too!

This isn't a new thing; look at romantic poets. Their beautiful poetry was born of their dissatisfaction with the world.

Answer 3

Perhaps...

it could also mean that because you're down, your mind is thinking more actively about the whys and the hows, etc.

It's perhaps the same reason why so many great songs were written when artists weren't feeling all that great. Misery tends to bring out people's poetic (and questioning) side.

Answer 4

When we're happy, we don't push for explanations because we don't need them. We're busy smelling the roses. Chances are that when we're unhappy, we search for reasons for unhappiness that aren't obvious, and in an effort to get at the answer, we keep probing and refining our queries. The more desperate we are for answers, the more articulate or expressive we become. Sometimes.

Answer 5

It means you find your best 'voice' when you are in that mood...

all good writing is an image of the writers mind.

Answer 6

not exactly. we are at our best creatively when we are depressed. that's why many brilliant people are manic, or eventually commit suicide. the two just seem to go together.

Answer 7

Connie Willis says she writes her best stuff ( whether short stories or novels) when she is really angry about something.

Answer 8

the fight for survival is vigorous and stronger when you are down and out.

when everything is going on well, we tend to relax and well as someone already said stop questioning.

Answer 9

i would learn to channel that "bad energy" and turn it into something useful. that way you wont notice ur sad mood and u will have accomplished something positive.