Is There A Cure For Pessimism?

[Robbie]

I thought the article was very superficial. Probably not very helpful to anyone clinically depressed and anxious, can imagine them saying, "You've no idea!".

[Nearly Sane]

I thought the article was very superficial. Probably not very helpful to anyone clinically depressed and anxious, can imagine them saying, "You've no idea!".

It isn't a question of it being unhelpful to anyone who might have a version of depression or anxiety not covered by the article. It's just simplistic, sensationalized, and badly written.

[Dicky Underpants]

That sounds to me to be a description of someone who has had a tough time, not someone who has depression or anxiety. In fact a common thing that depressives hear is 'what do you have to be miserable about?" IIRC that was John Gregory's response to Stan Collymore.

But aren't there two types of depression - one of which Steve mentioned (reactive depression)?  The other posh name for the latter would be exogenous depression, and the type to which you're referring is endogenous depression. The type Steve referred to results from things happening to you (and having suffered it, I can tell you it bloody well is depression). The other type, much more difficult to deal with usually, and the type least likely to gain understanding or empathy from the general public, is the endogenous kind, since it originates within the brain itself, and appears unrelated to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (except in itself being one of those).
Have I spelt those two greeky adjectives right?

[Nearly Sane]

But aren't there two types of depression - one of which Steve mentioned (reactive depression)?  The other posh name for the latter would be exogenous depression, and the type to which you're referring is endogenous depression. The type Steve referred to results from things happening to you (and having suffered it, I can tell you it bloody well is depression). The other type, much more difficult to deal with usually, and the type least likely to gain understanding or empathy from the general public, is the endogenous kind, since it originates within the brain itself, and appears unrelated to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (except in itself being one of those).
Have I spelt those two greeky adjectives right?

I think there are as many types of depression as there are people who are depressed. I would think that all types are in a sense endogenous in that where else are they going to orginate. The article though seems to look on something called 'rampant pessimism' as a cause, except when it doesn't, and presents an exogenous idea at the start only to then move onto endogeneous as a cause. It is a steaming pile of wombat shite.

[Shaker]

I think there are as many types of depression as there are people who are depressed. I would think that all types are in a sense endogenous in that where else are they going to orginate.

I think if we're honest "endogenous" in terms of depression occupies the same niche in psychology and psychiatry that "idiopathic" does in medicine generally - in other words: "It just happens. Why? Search me, sunshine. Haven't a Scooby."

[Nearly Sane]

I think if we're honest "endogenous" in terms of depression occupies the same niche in psychology and psychiatry that "idiopathic" does in medicine generally - in other words: "It just happens. Why? Search me, sunshine. Haven't a Scooby."

agree, but then the worst issue there is the use of exogenous as how would you tell?

[Rhiannon]

But aren't there two types of depression - one of which Steve mentioned (reactive depression)?  The other posh name for the latter would be exogenous depression, and the type to which you're referring is endogenous depression. The type Steve referred to results from things happening to you (and having suffered it, I can tell you it bloody well is depression). The other type, much more difficult to deal with usually, and the type least likely to gain understanding or empathy from the general public, is the endogenous kind, since it originates within the brain itself, and appears unrelated to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (except in itself being one of those).
Have I spelt those two greeky adjectives right?

Of course reactive depression is a thing, but that isn't what I read Robbie's description as. PTSD is also a thing, as are single point and complex trauma. Still not sure what any of this has to do with 'rampant pessimism' though

[Robbie]

It isn't a question of it being unhelpful to anyone who might have a version of depression or anxiety not covered by the article. It's just simplistic, sensationalized, and badly written.

Wot NS said.