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There is another possibility: that, in most instances, depression should not be thought of as a disorder at all. In an article recently published in Psychological Review, we argue that depression is in fact an adaptation, a state of mind which brings real costs, but also brings real benefits.
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Laboratory experiments indicate that depressed people are better at solving social dilemmas by better analysis of the costs and benefits of the different options that they might take.
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Analysis requires a lot of uninterrupted thought, and depression coordinates many changes in the body to help people analyze their problems without getting distracted. In a region of the brain known as the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC), neurons must fire continuously for people to avoid being distracted. But this is very energetically demanding for VLPFC neurons, just as a car's engine eats up fuel when going up a mountain road. Moreover, continuous firing can cause neurons to break down, just as the car's engine is more likely to break down when stressed. Studies of depression in rats show that the 5HT1A receptor is involved in supplying neurons with the fuel they need to fire, as well as preventing them from breaking down. These important processes allow depressive rumination to continue uninterrupted with minimal neuronal damage, which may explain why the 5HT1A receptor is so evolutionarily important.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=depressions-evolutionary
Maybe it's better if you DON'T cheer up and just go with it until your depression-activated analytical superpowers solve your problem.
Or, maybe not.
That's full of fail, as when I am depressed I can't think of anything other than how sad I am and how badly life sucks and how disugsted I get when I get all emo like that.
Quote from: Mistress Freeky on December 14, 2009, 02:42:23 AM
That's full of fail, as when I am depressed I can't think of anything other than how sad I am and how badly life sucks and how disugsted I get when I get all emo like that.
Well, it holds true for me, I thought some of you might be interested.
If you read the article you'd notice how they said in some cases of severe depression, the negatives outweigh the positive effects.
Quote from: BAI on December 14, 2009, 02:27:30 AM
we should test this theory with Gin, as Gin always makes me depressed when I drink it.
Therefore, my problem solving skills should be great!
I'll go out and get wankered on gin & tonic, then you can all pose me some social dilemmas! wicked.
:banana:
If depression gives me powers, where are my laserbeams?
I wanna be able to fly!!!!!
Quote from: BAI on December 14, 2009, 02:27:30 AM
we should test this theory with Gin, as Gin always makes me depressed when I drink it.
Therefore, my problem solving skills should be great!
I'll go out and get wankered on gin & tonic, then you can all pose me some social dilemmas! wicked.
I'd weep for you, but i find that my salty tears take away from the glorious taste of my seagrams/bombay sapphire/whatever house gin is being offered when im too lazy/cheap to ask for either of those two.
Quote from: Suu on December 14, 2009, 03:39:23 AM
If depression gives me powers, where are my laserbeams?
Quote from: Sparkley Pink Shit on December 14, 2009, 03:40:49 AM
I wanna be able to fly!!!!!
You must be a level 3 Depressive for these powers to activate.
What must I do to be level 3? Start cutting myself, and dress in all black while listening to My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park?
i think my realative constant happiness outweighs these alleged superpowers