[rhizome]

The discipline of Psychology is regional. It's only a bit over 100 years old and (basically, work with me here) originated in Austria.

As I read just the other day from, I think, Linda Tirado, many cultures have no concept of mental illness. Either you're normal or you're retarded, and normal people are expected to power through whatever problems on their own. If you can't, then you must be developmentally disabled.

[ams6110]

Warning: personal, not medical opinion: I've always subscribed to the theory that depression is an indicator that you need to make changes in your life.

I've been more-or-less depressed for probably 10 years. If I have nothing else that I have to do I'm very likely to spend the day in bed. I hate weekends because there's no work/office routine to distract me. I know (or think I know) what the cause is, and I could pull up stakes and make major changes and get away from it, but I've chosen not to for reasons that are complicated. If I'm right, it will resolve itself in about another four years.

[DanBC]

> I've always subscribed to the theory that depression is an indicator that you need to make changes in your life.

Depression is an umbrella term that covers several different forms of the illness.

But most people treating depression talk about the "bio psycho social" model - that people may needs meds for the biological stuff; a talking therapy for the psychological stuff; and lifestyle changes and interventions for all the rest.

[rhizome]

My point is that there are a lot of people who don't have any concept of depression as a chronic condition. In your example, you should simply make those changes, and if you can't do that then try harder.