[Wings2W]

"meaning and purpose" of our depression.

[Curupira]

I personally it is more about creating meaning. In my mind depression is a mental illness with a genetic component. As such I see it as a luck of the draw thing. I do think we can make friends with our depression, learn compassion, learn to appreciate the good times etc.

[monkeybruv]

If you're talking about the other thread I think they mean finding meaning and purpose in life in spite of depression. because depression can make everything seem meaningless and empty, and you often lose sight of your goals xx

[TheOriginalMe]

I'm pretty lost and adrift right now, I struggle to find any meaning or purpose that isn't negative. I have my dog and I love her to bits, she is my reason for living right now, but even a healthy emotion like love feels self indulgent, what right do I have to love? Also why should an animal be so important? I know I chose to give her a home and that makes me responsible for her but why do I love an animal over people? There must be a meaning to my choice but I'm scared to look it in the face because I will see selfishness.

[Altered Moment]

No in the other thread it was about both. Finding purpose and meaning in life even if in the smallest things like feeding your dogs. But also about finding meaning in depression, in suffering.
Sister Rags summed the whole thing up best....

There is a saying about Buddhism...that the Buddha's purpose was "to learn to come joyfully into suffering".

I cried when I read that and I have not cried in a long time.

http://forums.psychcentral.com/depre...g-meaning.html

[Wings2W]

Thank you. The only thing that came to mind was Karma.

I read about a study that asked depressed people and nondepressed people questions about things going on in the world and what they meant, etc. depressed people are more realistic about the world events. Think about how the world has changed since 2001 and again in 2008. Maybe we need more depressed people right now. I have often felt we are meant to be part of a whole... Whole culture, Gaia, mammals and even "ether". Part of a whole means you are only responsible for a piece of the pie. Maybe that's why we are social creatures.

I have learned that my depression causes me to retreat AND reflect. Think. Process. When I come out I have more creative energy. That might be something to observe over time. It doesn't change being depressed but maybe being a little more forgiving knowing there is something at the end.

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[Nammu]

I've had enough suffering, thanks anyway.

I've had enough of being treated like the crap on the bottom of everyones shoes.

If the purpose and meaning of depression is to find joy in suffering I don't want it.

[Altered Moment]

Originally Posted by sidestepper

I've had enough suffering, thanks anyway.

I've had enough of being treated like the crap on the bottom of everyones shoes.

If the purpose and meaning of depression is to find joy in suffering I don't want it.

Sometimes there is just no way out of suffering. What are you to do then?

If you don't want it what are you going to do about it? Besides ending it all.

What is a person who has terminal pancreatic cancer who is just in pain and suffering all the time to do?