Ive been thinking a lot about this problem lately... and I think I'm confusing myself... but nonetheless, it has intrigued me

Sooo

How do you tell the difference between situational depression and non-situational depression?

Before you answer, think: how do my depressions start? Do you begin to think negatively and therefore you become depressed, or do you become depressed and therefore think negatively? Chicken and egg problem, perhaps?

To give a real-life example: you suddenly start to think "hmmm... I think I've accomplished a lot... but now I wonder if I really have. I feel like maybe it's not a lot. Let me see what my friends have accomplished... Confirmed: they've accomplished a lot more than me. I'm a failure."

Do you think this problem statement could explain why medications help sometimes and why other times they don't? You know... maybe meds don't work so well for situational stuff? That's where I'm getting at