Existential Depression and the Way It Leads to Melancholy Essay

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When the term depression is used it may refer to the various existing types of depression depending on the factors that lead to that depression. Existential causes of depression occur when people question their life, its meaning, death. By questioning these things they end up sinking into depression (John & Grohol., 2018). The philosophy of existentialism states that human beings find meaning in life internally through their pursuits, desires and choices and not by specific type of god, authority or deity. A person is a free being who is entirely in charge of their own misery or happiness. It is the responsibility of each person to cultivate a meaning to their life in order to have the drive. These meaning can be cultivated through working, relationships, family, offspring, religion, charity, hobbies or other things. Existential depression could happen when a person contends with issues of freedom, death, finding meaning to life and life itself (John & Grohol., 2018). People suffering from existential depression may question their life and its meaning by asking themselves questions such as: What does my life mean, does it mean working from morning to evening, raising a family, and later dying? Is God concerned about me? Can I find someone who will believe and stand with me notwithstanding the situation?

Existential depression can be defined by the unique feeling of hopelessness and the feeling that there is no meaning in life. People suffering from normal states of clinical depression could as well experience existential issues associated with their life and its meaning through the process of psychotherapy for the treatment of this depression (John & Grohol., 2018). Existential issues often come up in the normal procedure of treating depression. Many clinicians will explore life and its meaning in the cause of treating existential problems. Identifying a passion or meaning in life is considered quite important by many people. The period a person suffers existential depression may be an episode that helps them focus their attention on their needs and answers to their questions (John & Grohol., 2018). The treatment of existential depression happens through psychotherapy with an intention of helping the victim find meaning to their life. There is no prescription medication to cure existential depression.

Specific situations or events throughout the life of a person can trigger existential depression. The depression can also be caused by nothing tangible. Situations such as job loss or loss of a family member can trigger existential depression. There has not been any deep research or any standard therapy processes that are proven to have better effects on the treatment of existential depression. The topic of depression is quite broad and detailed. Depression can be caused by one or a combination of the situations listed below.

· Hormonal: Imbalance of internal chemicals

· Situational: external events like job loss, tragedy, death etc.

· Biological: Genetically engineered depression

· Intrapersonal: Toxic perceptions and beliefs that result to loss of self-worth

· Seasonal: Can be triggered by seasons as in affective disorders.

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· Existential: Caused by loss of soul connection and loss of meaning

Existential depression resists conventional medication such as medicine and psychotherapy. For this reason it is considered one of the most difficult, persistent, baffling, and stubborn types of depression. Existential depression is treatable though. In short existential depression can be perceived as a spiritual condition. It can be profound, crippling, quite personal and pervasive in nature. Existential depression is clinically classified as grey because it is considered as having no cause. However, the depression can be caused by external or internal crises. Some of the signs that someone is suffering from existential depression include:

· Persistent deep thoughts concerning life, its meaning and its nature

· Persistent desires to find answers to questions that have none like; what takes place after someone dies? What is the meaning and purpose of existing?

· Passionate displeasure with society and its state

· The feeling of isolation and disconnection from other people hence resulting to fewer relationships

· The feeling that one is misunderstood or as a different level from others

· Profound and terminal loneliness or melancholy

· The emptiness and numbness sensations and the sensation of being dead

· Disinterest of social interactions because they are perceived as shallow

· Anxiety

· Melancholic moods

· Sudden disinterest on usual pursuits

· Anxiety

· Low energy

· he belief that most situations and issues are meaningless and futile

· Suicide attempts or contemplating to commit suicide

Melancholic moods among existential depression victims are developed as a result of the feeling of being misunderstood, isolated and the lack of the feeling of belonging. Soul loss comes from a loss of a person’s essence and divinity. This causes them to feel empty and lonely. Due to the cycle of the mind where melancholic people are always lost in deep thought they end up in a pit-hole of endless questions and search for answers. The vicious cycle may never end without self-realization and self-awareness. Existential depression victims become accustomed with addictive melancholic tendencies and even seek solace from their solitude and sadness. As a matter of fact they view themselves as unique and different from the typical population because of their detachment from the reality of life.

Notwithstanding the level of counseling, medication, clinical analysis etc. the feeling a person suffering from existential depression has may never leave. The state of existential depression may even get worse with loneliness and hopelessness after undergoing therapy. In actual sense the failure of the psychotherapy to work lies with the psychotherapeutic profession and not with the person suffering existential depression. Treating depression blindly with a singular approach may be the biggest hindrance. The biggest downfall with the psychological profession is the perception that depression is one blanket condition. Psychologists approach and treat depression as depression without digging deeper to understand the actual type of depression the patient is suffering from.

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