| Of course therapists don't define it that way... their definition is limited by what the treatment options are. Those options basically amount to prescribing drugs or becoming a friend for hire, not changing the structure of society. And there are plenty of therapists (and researchers) who would definitely say that the quality of the relationship with a depressed patient makes or breaks treatment, in many cases it actually is the distinguishing factor. At the very least, it's a necessary one. "The literature" isn't even clear on what major depressive disorder is. Well, the clinical definition is clear: literally sadness/low mood for at least 2 weeks. But what does that mean? I guess what I really mean to say here is that we have essentially created a situation where people are pushed toward being alone. Then when a whole bunch of them feel empty about their state of being, we assign the label of "depressed" on them and give them drugs that are only barely effective. The lucky ones can afford to buy someone who basically takes the place of a close friend or parent. We have no framework to describe this state of affairs because every single one of us only has our permanently modern society as a point of reference. It's easy to forget that the human brain is not designed to live the way we live. It's designed to spend every waking moment together with a very small group/family, always outdoors together, always doing something entirely tangible and physical together. Seeing a stranger was a rare occurrence. Imagine that! "Sadness" happens when someone close dies. "Depression" happens when a huge number of human relationships that the brain needs get replaced by vastly inferior alternatives -- coworkers, social media, video game friends, service workers, etc. Nothing else but modern society creates this. |