Is depression the absence of happiness or the presence of sadness?

Question

It is my understanding that there is no such thing as cold. It is simply the presence, or lack there of, of heat that determines temperature. So my question is, is depression simply a normal state with sadness put upon it, or is depression the normal state having too little happiness?

Thanks in advance for all input

Answer 1

I, personally, think that depression is a terrible desease that gets overlooked by everyone except those who suffer from it. You will find those that say "get over it, its all in your head". Well you know what? they are exactly right. It is all in your head, its a chemical imbalance that causes the symptoms of depression. Its not that easy though, you can't "just get over it" in most cases. I am sure that everyone experiences depression in their lifetime. Its the cases where it lingers, in some cases for no real reason at all, that are "true" depression. In my experiences with this thing called life, and having battled it most of my life, its not an easy fix. I have been through the meds and all that bull sh*!. I think that they work for awhile. At least they make you feel like they are working. To me though, from experience, once they have you your done. Your hooked on them whether you need them or not. Your mind knows they are gone and without them you will slide back into that black hole that started it all. Its a never ending cycle if you ask me. And yes I do know what I am talking about. Try going through it for most of your life and I bet your will consider yourself and expert too. Depression is a serious illness that gets overlooked if you ask me. I'm not a doctor, but just my opinion, and coming from someone that has battled this, I have found "cures" that work for me. And no they are not drugs, they are things that no one else other than me can explain. Those that I am speaking too will know exactly what I mean. Thanks for letting me voice my thoughts. We will make it through, just takes time. Right? luamu

Answer 2

I love this question! I don't think it is a must, since, consciously or unconsciously, we decide how to feel. Some people choose to live an unhappy life, others the opposite, but the absence of these moods makes me think like I'm dead. In a car, NEUTRAL , means going nowhere and life is a journey which implies movement . This movement is , to my understanding, the fluctuation of moods and feelings that we come across. The absence of happiness could be the presence of tolerance, resignation, acceptance, sacrifice... it is up to each one if he wants to turn it into unhappiness. But definitely I wouldn't say that one can live a neutral life.

Answer 3

Speaking only for myself and my low points (and I have had some) depression is the absence of joy. I'm not looking for happiness. Not sure I trust it. I get greedy with happiness. It's rarely enough. It doesn't stay long and I hate it when it leaves. And it always leaves. I am worse than before by investing so much so quickly. Besides, Longfellow said "Some days must be dark and dreary". I THINK I am trying to develop Fortitude for the low times. Maybe it's something else though. I'm not that clear. I very much want to make it to the next dimension. Oh YES, I'll wait until I'm dead. No comets for me!! Depression is the presence of sadness.
Good Question!! Good Luck!! @8=)

Answer 4

Cross-cultural research in the life satisfaction area reveals that the average person in all societies is relatively satisfied with life. Monozygotic (identical) -dizogotic (fraternal) twin studies reveal a genetic component to life satisfaction. If you think about the issue from an evolutionary psychology perspective, persons who are chronically depressed would have been less likely to stay in the gene pool (the pool with no lifeguard), although they would not have been eliminated (procreation often occurring before depressive symptom onset). That is, clinical research finds that non-depressed persons do not enjoy interacting with depressed persons (even in double-blind studies where research participants don't even know they are in a study of reactions to depressive others) and do not want to interact with them again. So, we are not likely to choose a depressed person as a partner. Altogether, these studies have suggested to clinical and social psychologists that a slight positive perspective on life has evolved and is a part of us. Depression is a state with manifestations of 1) hopelessness for the future/helplessness to do anything about it, 2) sleep changes (more or less sleep, usually more but not always), 3) changes in sexual habits (more or less, disinterest is the more common), 4) cognitive impairment (not being able to see things more than one way, not being able to solve simple problems), 5) irritability/anxiety, and several other factors (e.g., suicidal thinking).

Answer 5

Depression is feeling sick and tired and disinterested in just about everything. In a lot of ways you don't feel anything. You remember what it was like to feel and you grieve for that and you become overwhelmed and stuck.

You can be happy and sad about different aspects of the same situation; your child getting married or your child leaving to go off to school. The emotions are not mutually exclusive.

Answer 6

I was born with depression. (I was told by my mother once in counseling that she used speed when she was pregnant with me, and the Dr. thinks this may be the reason for my chemical imbalance)

The way I think of it is that if you have never seen the color red in your life, how can you describe it? You know somethings missing when you hear someone talking about how somethings red but it looks like green to you. This is what I feel like when I see someone getting really excited about something, or smiling for no apparent reason. Emotions are relative to the individual. Personally I think its fine to be the way you are as long as you don't get stuck in blue and it affects your functioning or those around you.

Answer 7

Depression is a mental condition that can be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Therefore, I would classify it as the absence or reduced presence of normal brain chemistry.

Answer 8

I've never thought about that before! What a great question. I feel depression is in between the two. You don't feel happy but you don't feel sad either. It's kind of a neutral feeling. At least that's what I think.

Answer 9

Well, since we have another emotion for the lack of both sadness and happiness, I would call it more the presence of sadness over a long period of time, though there are more aspects to it than that.

Answer 10

I'd say depression is the presence of sadness as opposed to the absence of happiness since one who is not depressed can be neutral, not necessarily happy.