SpiritualWiki - Depression

Die Mehrzahl der Menschheit führt
ein Leben in stiller Verzweiflung.
Henry-David Thoreau (1817-1862) US-ameri-
kanischer Philosoph, Historiker, Transzendentalist

Depression ist die
Belohnung fürs Bravsein.
Marshall B. Rosenberg (1934-2015) US-ameri-
kanischer Psychologe, Gewaltfreie Kommunikation,
S. 78, Junfermann, Februar 2007

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Geschichtlicher Überblick – Depression

Historisch gefärbte Diagnosen und Behandlungen von Depression

Zeitraum	Urheber Quelle	Depressions-These	Behandlungsansatz
1550·v.·Chr.	Papyrus Ebers	Geisteszustand, der durch Dämonen ausgelöst wurde	Beschwörungen (incantations)
1000 v. Chr.	König David Psalm 6, Psalm 38	Geisteszustand ausgelöst durch Gott, Stress und Schuld	Göttliche Befreiung (deliverance)
150 n. Chr.	Galenus von Pergamon [Galen]	Schwarzgalligkeit Melancholie, Mönchskrankheit	Aderlass, Klammern und Bläschenbildung Jahrtausende lang
19.-20. Jht.	⚡ Sigmund Freud	Innere Konflikte	(Freudsche) Psychoanalyse
1950er Jahre	Allopathische Medizin Pharmakonzerne	Entdeckung von Psychopharmaka ⇒ Chemisches-Ungleichgewicht-Theorie, erkranktes Gehirn bei Depressiven	Medikamente
1987	Romano Guardini	"Beunruhigung des Menschen durch die Nachbarschaft des Ewigen"¹	Hinwendung zum Geistigen
21. Jht.	Ganzheitliche Psychomedizin	Komplexe Krankheit von Psyche, Gehirn und Körper Kompliziertes Zusammenspiel von biologischen, psychologischen, spirituellen und gesellschaftlichen Faktoren ⇒ veränderte Gehirnschaltkreise, Immun-/Entzündungsreaktion, zelluläre und subzelluläre Zerstörung	Angesagt und umfassend

Quelle (engl.): ► Videovortrag von Dr. med. Timothy R. Jennings, US-amerikanischer Facharzt für Psychiatrie, Psychopharmakologe,
Das Gehirn, Depressionen und Gott, präsentiert von YHWHJesusAlive, YouTube Film, 38:19 Minuten Dauer, eingestellt 20. März 2013

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Daten und Hintergründe zum Thema Depression

Die Depression ist eine Selbstwertregulationsstörung. Die Ursache der Depression ist eine emotionale Mangelsituation ("zu wenig" Zuwendung und Geborgenheit) in der Schwangerschaft und frühen Kindheit. Mangelnde Versorgung und man-
gelnde Wertschätzung führen zu einem eingeschränkten Selbstwertgefühl.
Mögliche Folgen sind:

Versorgungswünsche und Abhängigkeit
Idealisierung von anderen / Selbstentwertung
Enttäuschung, Wut, Trennungsangst, Hilflosigkeit
Unterschwellige Erwartung, dass in Beziehungen keine dauerhafte Sicherheit und Geborgenheit erreicht werden kann

Kompensationsstrategien:
a) Symbiotische / abhängige Beziehungen (Ich brauche "immer" jemanden.)

Überanpassung
Zurückstellen eigener Bedürfnisse
Aggressionshemmung
Autoritätsgläubigkeit
Überverpflichtung
Helfersyndrom
Unangemessener Altruismus
Überhöhter Leistungsanspruch

b) Pseudo-Unabhängigkeit

Rückzug auf sich selbst
Selbst-Idealisierung
Überhöhter Leistungsanspruch

Laut Angaben der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) leiden über 300 Millionen Menschen an Depressionen. Die WHO sieht voraus, dass chronische Depression im Jahr 2020 weltweit die zweithäufigste Erkrankung sein wird – unmittelbar nach den Herzkreislauf-Erkrankungen.
Deutschland mit einer Gesamtbevölkerung von über 83 Millionen hat 6% Depressive (ohne Dunkelziffer). [Stand 2021]

Laut einer Studie der Deutschen Angestellten Krankenkasse (DAK) durchgeführt im Zeitraum 1997-2004 stieg die Zahl der psychischen Erkrankungen um 70%. Am häufigsten litten die Betroffenen unter Ängsten und depressiven Störungen. In der Altersgruppe der 15- bis 34-Jährigen hat sich die Zahl der Fälle von klinischer Depression zum Teil verdoppelt. Sie tritt vorwiegend im Alter von 24 bis 44 Jahren auf, bei Frauen ist sie doppelt so häufig anzutreffen wie bei Männern. Seit der Jahrtausendwende ist ein Anstieg der psychischen Krankheit bei Männern zu beobachten.

Neuere Studien ergaben, dass Gewalt- und Missbrauchserfahrungen die höhere Depressionsrate von Frauen erklären können. Mädchen haben ein doppelt so hohes Risiko als Jungen, missbraucht zu werden.

Siehe auch: ► Die Stimme des wahren Selbstes erheben

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Die Stimme des wahren Selbstes erheben

Spektrogramm einer weiblichen Stimme (0-5000 Hz)
Satz: "It's all Greek to me", August 2007

Frauen können ihre depressive Erkrankung eindämmen, indem sie den Weg zu ihrer eigenen Stimme finden.
Die amerikanische Psychologin und Professorin für Genderstudien Dr. Carol Gilligan betont die Wichtigkeit, das weibliche "Bezie-
hungsselbst" dem männlichen "autonomen Selbst" gleichzu-
stellen und aufzuhören, fremde, männliche Werte überzubewerten. Weibliche Depression kann überwunden werden, wenn Frauen ihre eigenen Fähigkeiten und Ressourcen aufspüren und sie für ihre ur-
eigenen Ziele einsetzen. Wichtig ist, dass sie sich erlauben, Unter-
stützung und Hilfe anzunehmen und zu aktivieren.

Das Risiko für Frauen, depressiv zu werden, erhöht sich, wenn sie ihr Bedürfnis nach Bindung unterdrücken und ihr wahres Selbst zum Schweigen bringen, weil sie glauben, dass dieses im Außen nicht akzeptiert und anerkannt wird.

Quelle: ► Dr. Carol Gilligan (*1936) US-amerikanische Professorin für Genderstudien, Psychologin, feministische Ethikerin (Gemeinschaft,
Beziehung), Autorin, Die andere Stimme. Lebenskonflikte und Moral der Frau, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag (dtv), München, 1996

Siehe auch: ► Stimme

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Lösende Tränen

Im Grimmschen Märchen Das Mädchen ohne Hände hatte ein armer Müller seine Tochter – im Glauben, es handle sich um einen Apfelbaum – dem Teufel verschrieben, um selbst zu Reichtum zu kommen. Drei Jahre später kam der Teufel, um seinen Teil des Handels abzuholen. Dreimal erschien der Teufel bei der Müllerstochter, doch jedes Mal musste er weichen – ohne Beute.

Beim ersten Mal hatte das Mädchen einen magischen Kreidekreis um sich herum gezogen und seine Hände mit Wasser gewaschen.
Beim zweiten Mal hatte das Mädchen seine Hände mit ihren eigenen Tränen gewaschen.
Beim dritten Mal hatte das Mädchen die blutigen Stümpfe seiner vom Vater ab-
gehackten Hände mit seinen eigenen Tränen gewaschen.

Durch die Reinheit ihrer Tränen, mit denen sie sich die Hände gewaschen hatte, ent-
zog sie sich dem Zugriff des Teufels. Bei dem Vater, der sie, um sein eigenes Überle-
ben zu sichern, verstümmelt hatte und folglich ihre Handlungsfähigkeit eingeschränkt
hatte, wollte sie ebenfalls nicht bleiben.

Im Grimmschen Märchen von Rapunzel kann der durch einen Unfall erblindete Königssohn wieder sehen, als die Tränen seiner geliebten Rapunzel seine Augen berühren.

Artikel: ► Heldenweg-Stationen im Märchen vom Mädchen ohne Hände

Tränen sind das Kondensat einer inneren Dramatik. Sie sind das Überlaufventil des Körpers bei Stress, Traurigkeit, Trauer, Angst, Frustration und Wut. Neben der körperlichen Entgiftung entlasten emotionale Tränen das Herz und die Seele. Tränen (der Freude) – beispielsweise nach einer Geburt oder Prüfung – drücken Erleichterung aus. Tränen helfen, schwierige Gefühlslagen zu lindern und Negativität zu vertreiben. Zu weinen vermittelt ein besseres Gefühl, insbesorndere wenn der auslösende Streit damit beendet wurde. Es erleichtert auch dann, wenn ein Problem fortbesteht. Heftig zu weinen, kann – 90 Minuten danach – die eigene Stimmung verbessern.² Für manche, die Tränen eher zurückhalten, ist weinen zu können, ein Durchbruch.

Der menschliche Körper erzeugt drei Arten von Tränen.

༺༻	Tränentyp	Bemerkung
1.	Basale Tränen	Sie werden kontinuierlich und automatisch vom Körper gebildet, um die Augen feucht zu halten. Der darin enthaltene chemische Stoff "Lysozym" wirkt antibakteriell und schützt die Augen vor Infektionen. Der Tränenfluss befeuchtet auch die Nase und hält sie bakterienfrei.
2.	Reflextränen – (Reflexrisse)	Sie treten auf, wenn das Auge durch äußere Einwirkung gereizt wurde (Staubkorn, Rauch, Abgase, Zwiebelschälen). Sie bestehen zu 98% aus Wasser.
3.	Emotionale Tränen	Sie werden von Gefühlswallungen ausgelöst. Dieser proteinhaltigste Tränentyp schwemmt Stresshormone und Giftstoffe aus und ist daher³ gesundheitlich besonders vorteilhaft.

Tränen sind bei Männern und Frauen gleichermaßen ein Zeichen von Mut, Kraft und Authentizität. Tränen zu vergießen, fühlt sich reinigend an. Mit Weinen lassen sich aufgestaute Emotionen be-
seitigen und Stresssymptome (Müdigkeit, körperliche Schmerzen) abbauen. Weinen tut gut und ist gesund. Es ist unerlässlich, um Trauer zu lösen. Periodische Tränenschübe helfen, den Verlust eines geliebten Menschen zu verarbeiten, um mit offenem Herzen weiterleben zu können. Wer starke Gefühle unterdrückt, kann sich in eine Depression oder Angststörungen manövrieren.

Das unter einem Tränenschleier verschwommene Sehen behindert aggressive oder defensive Handlungen / Reaktionen des Weinen-
den. Außerdem sind Tränen ein zuverlässiges Signal, um andere zu beschwichtigen, Verletzlichkeit oder das Bedürfnis nach menschli-
cher Zuwendung zu zeigen.

Ergebnisse von empirischen Studien

Menschen in wohlhabenden Ländern weinen häufiger als Menschen in ärmeren Ländern.
In kälteren Ländern wird häufiger als in wärmeren Ländern geweint.
In Ländern, wo es ein größeres Maß an Meinungsfreiheit und Sozialhilfe gibt, wird deutlich mehr geweint.
In armen Ländern, wo Redefreiheit und Sozialhilfe eingeschränkt sind, weinen Frauen nur geringfügig häufiger als Männer.
Man weint hauptsächlich zu Hause, überwiegend allein oder in Anwesenheit eines anderen Menschen.
Man weint vorzugsweise abends – in dem Zeitfenster 18 bis 22 Uhr.
In westlichen Gesellschaften weinen Jungen und Mädchen bis zum zwölften Lebensjahr ähnlich häufig.
Im Alter von achtzehn Jahren weinen Mädchen im Schnitt viermal häufiger als Jungen.
Das männliche Hormon Testosteron verhindert, dass Männer weinen.
Die größeren Tränenkanäle von Männern gewährleisten, dass aufsteigende Tränen selten überlaufen.
Frauen weinen überall auf der Welt häufiger als Männer.
Der Gehalt des tränenauslösenden und mit Stimmungsschwankungen verbundenen Hormons Prolaktin ist
bei erwachsenen Frauen fast 60% höher als bei Männern.
85% der Frauen fühlen sich besser, nachdem sie sich ausgeheult haben.
Westliche Frauen weinen zwei- bis fünfmal im Monat, während Männer einmal im Monat oder gar nicht weinen.
Emotional relevante Frauentränen wirken hemmend auf den Testosteronspiegel von Männern und verderben
somit deren sexuelles Verlangen.⁴
Weinen dient vor allem der sozialen Bindung.
Weinende Kinder und Erwachsene erhalten eher Zuneigung und Unterstützung als stoische, nicht weinende Menschen.
Freudentränen vergießt man, weil man sich an vergangenes Unglück erinnert und Hormone der Aufregung
die Tränen zum Laufen bringen.
Die Menge der beim Weinen ausgeschiedenen Giftstoffe ist gering.
Das Lachen stärkt das Selbstbewusstsein, was beim Weinen nicht der Fall ist.
Sowohl beim Lachen als auch beim Weinen beruhigen sich typischerweise die Atmung und der Herzschlag (Blutdruck), wodurch biologische und emotionale Entspannung einsetzt.
Lachen und Weinen verzögern auch das Altern und bauen Stress und Spannungen ab. Die hippokratische Medizin spricht hier von "einer Reinigung der Temperamente".
Weinen regt die Endorphinproduktion an und hilft somit dem körpereigenen Schmerzmittel und "Wohlfühlhormon"
auf die Sprünge.
Menschen sind die "einzigen" Lebewesen, die gefühlsbedingt Tränen vergießen. Mitunter weinen auch Elefanten,
Kamele, Kühe und Gorillas. Andere Säugetiere und auch Salzwasserkrokodile erzeugen Reflexrisse, die das Auge geschmeidig
halten und schützen.

⚑ Wie das Meer bestehen Tränen aus Salzwasser.

⚑ Alle Tränen enthalten Wasser, Elektrolyte (Salze), Proteine, Enzyme, Lipide, Stoffwechselprodukte Hormone,
Antikörper und Mineralien. Das Verhältnis dieser Inhaltsstoffe ist unterschiedlich.

Tränen unterm Mikroskop, fotografiert von Maurice Mikkers

"Der Flüssigkeitsfilm, der häufig mit einer Rötung der Au-
gen einhergeht, erschwert Betrachtern die Sicht auf Blick-
richtung und Pupillenbewegungen des Weinenden. […]
Exzessives Weinen könnte so Informationen darüber zu-
rückhalten, welche Absichten gehegt werden und somit andere hemmen." Oren Hasson, israelischer Evolutionsbiolo-
ge, Tel Aviv Universität, Fachzeitschrift Evolutionary Psychology,
Juli 2009, zitiert in: Artikel Tränen-Studie. Warum wir weinen, präsentiert von dem deutschen Nachrichtenmagazin Spiegel Online, 31. August 2009

"Durch Weinen teilt man anderen nicht nur mit, wie man
sich fühlt, Säuglinge sichern sich dadurch sogar ihr Überleben. Weinen hat viele Vorteile für den Körper und die See-
le. Es verlangsamt sich die Herzfrequenz und die Atmung, die Verdauung wird wieder aufgenommen und der Körper entspannt sich. Weinen kann sogar dem Immunsystem auf die Sprünge helfen. Es setzt nämlich Stresshormone frei, die als natürliche Schmerzmittel fungieren und dem Körper so helfen, sich zu entspannen."
Artikel Deswegen geht es Menschen, die oft weinen tendenziell besser, präsentiert von dem internationalen französischen Lifestyle-Magazin Elle, Michelle Hartmann, 19. Oktober 2017

Tränen reinigen das Herz.
Fjodor Michailowitsch Dostojewski (1821-1881) russischer Romanschriftsteller, zitiert in: Aphorismen.de

Tränen sind ein Strom, der uns anderen Ufern entgegenträgt. Weinen schafft einen Strom um das Schiff, das unser Seelenleben trägt. Tränen lösen unser Schiff vom Felsen, vom trockenen Grund, und führen es den Fluß hinab zu einem neuen, besseren Ort. Clarissa Pinkola Estes (*1945) US-amerikanische Jungsche Psychoanalytikerin, Posttrauma-
spezialistin, Dichterin, Die Wolfsfrau. Die Kraft der weiblichen Urinstinkte, Heyne Verlag, 8. Auflage 1. September 1997

༺༻	Vorteil des Weinens	Bemerkung
1.	⚑ Weinen reduziert Stress, es dient der psychischen Hygiene.	Tränen schwemmen das Stresshormon Adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) aus und setzen die natürlichen Schmerzmittel Prolaktin und Leucin-Enkephalin frei.
2.	⚑ Weinen ist gesund und verbessert die Stimmung.	Weinen kann Stimmungsschwankungen mildern.
3.	⚑ Weinen hilft, Schmerzen zu verarbeiten.
4.	⚑ Weinen lindert psychosomatische Beschwerden.
5.	⚑ Weinen kann Beziehungen verbessern.
6.	⚑ Weinen ist gesund für die Augen.

Quelle: ► Artikel Weinen ist gesund: 6 gute Gründe, präsentiert von der Publikation Besser Gesund Leben, 13. April 2018

Artikel:
► Tränen-Studie. Warum wir weinen, präsentiert von dem deutschen Nachrichtenmagazin Spiegel Online, 31. August 2009
► Was Nahaufnahmen von Tränen verraten, präsentiert von der überregionalen deutschen Tageszeitung Die Welt, Wissen,
Julika Meinert, 5. Oktober 2014
► Deswegen geht es Menschen, die oft weinen tendenziell besser, präsentiert von dem internationalen französischen Lifestyle-Magazin
Elle, Michelle Hartmann, 19. Oktober 2017
► Weinen ist gesund: 6 gute Gründe, präsentiert von der Publikation Besser Gesund Leben, 13. April 2018
► Heul doch! – Warum Tränen so wichtig sind, präsentiert von der Pforzheimer Zeitung, Magazin, Simon Walter, 17. August 2018

Siehe auch: ► Traurigkeit und ► Trauer und ► Lachen und ► Mut und ► Echtheit

See also: ► Benefits of tears – Judith Orloff

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Funktionelle Hypoglykämie

Hypoglykämie bezeichnet einen zu niedrigen Blutzuckerspiegel, einen zu geringen Glukoseanteil im Blut (Unterzucker).
Oft geht das mit Symptomen verminderter Hirnleistung, Krampfanfällen oder verstärkter Adrenalinausschüttung einher. Bei einer Unterzuckerung sinkt der Zuckergehalt im Zwischenzellwasser so weit, dass die Zellen deshalb nicht korrekt funk-
tionieren. de.Wikipedia-Eintrag

Der amerikanische Psychiater ⚡ Dr. David Hawkins hat im Lauf seines Berufslebens Tausende von Patienten, die unter Depressionen und Angststörungen litten, behandelt. Er selbst hatte Angststörungen, bei denen Antidepressiva nicht an-
schlugen.

Das 1996 im Verlag Zweitausendeins, Frankfurt am Main erschienene Buch Zucker Blues. Suchtstoff Zucker von William Dufty, gab ihm den entscheidenden Hinweis auf den oft übersehenen Auslöser von 95% der Depressionerkrankungen: Funktionelle Hypoglyklämie.
Zuckerunverträglichkeit von Glukose und Saccharose wirkt sich schädlich auf das Gehirn eines Depressiven aus. Der Ver-
zicht auf Industriezucker ist angezeigt. Fruchtzucker (Fruktose) ist möglicherweise ein geeigneter Ersatz. Wenn diese Voraus-
setzung erfüllt ist, haben Antidepressiva überhaupt erst die Chance, zu wirken. Laut Hawkins, der sich damit auf die überholte
Chemische-Ungleichgewicht-Theorie berief, sind sie hilfreich, um die Gehirnchemie eines Depressiven ins Gleichgewicht zu bringen.

Quelle: ► Audiointerview (engl.) mit ⚡ Dr. David Hawkins, Dr. David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D. – Internationally renowned psychiatrist,
physician, researcher, präsentiert über den US-amerikanischen Webradiosender Blogtalkradio, Sendung Awakenings,
Gastgeberin Michele Meiche, Minute 49:52, 55:18, 90:00 Minuten Dauer, Mittwoch, 15. Juli 2009

Siehe auch: ► Essen

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Fünf Strategien angesichts des Unausweichlichen – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Menschliche Reaktionsmuster angesichts von gravierenden Irrtümern,
unausweichlichen Verlusten, schweren Krankheiten und Tod

In ihrem Buch Interviews mit Sterbenden, 2001 (Originaltitel On Death and Dying, 1969) beschreibt die Psychiaterin und Sterbeforscherin Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross die seither bestätigten fünf Phasen bzw. Strategien, Tragödien wie man sich der Diagnose einer tödlich endenden Krankheit, einer unausweichlichen Erkenntnis und der immanenten Sterblichkeit stellt. Sie sind nicht festgelegt in der Reihenfolge des Auftretens. Wiederholungen der einzelnen Phasen sind möglich.

Phase	Trauerverhalten	Schlüsselsatz von Patient / Trauernden	Verhalten des Arztes / Begleiters
1.	Verleugnen, Nichtwahrhabenwollen einer tödlichen Diagnose, Isolierung	Das kann nicht sein. Mir geht's blendend!	Akzeptieren, aushalten, nicht widersprechen
2.	Zorn, Wut	Warum ausgerechnet ich, warum nicht die anderen?	Zuhören, aussprechen lassen, aushalten, nicht persönlich nehmen, negative Gefühle aussprechen helfen
3.	Verhandeln / Bitten	Bitte, ich will nicht sterben. In Zukunft werde ich auch alles anders machen.	Verstehen, vertiefte Hoffnung gewähren, Wahrhaftigkeit
4.	Depression	Das bringt alles sowieso nichts mehr...	Nicht aufmuntern, nicht trösten, aushalten, Trauern ermutigen, unerledigte Dinge erledigen helfen
5.	Akzeptanz, Zustimmung	Wenn es sein muss, dann ja.	Ruhe gewähren, nicht im Stich lassen, Gesten erlauben

Literatur:
► Buch: Dr. med. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross (1926-2004) Schweizer US-amerikanische Psychiaterin, Ärztin, Sterbe- und Nahtodforscherin,
Autorin, Interviews mit Sterbenden [Originial 1969], 3. Auflage 10. September 2009
► Buch: Bernard Jakoby sterbeforschung.de (*1957) deutscher Sterbeforscher, Nahtodexperte, Literaturwissenschaftler, Dozent, Autor,
Geheimnis Sterben. Was wir heute über den Sterbeprozess wissen, Langen-Müller, 3. Auflage 1. Juli 2004
► Buch: Bernard Jakoby sterbeforschung.de (*1957) deutscher Sterbeforscher, Nahtodexperte, Literaturwissenschaftler, Dozent, Autor,
Wir sterben nie. Was wir heute über das Jenseits wissen können, Rowohlt Taschenbuch Verlag, 5. Auflage 2. Januar 2009

Referenzen: de.Wikipedia-Eintrag ► Die fünf Phasen des Sterbens and Pflegewiki and ► Phasenmodell nach Dr. Kübler-Ross

Reference: en.Wikipedia entry ► The Five Stages Of Grief – Model of Coping with Dying

Siehe auch: ► Sterben und ► Krankheit und ► Ignoranz und ► Zorn und ► Akzeptanz

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Lebensverlängernde Verhaltensweisen – Statistik

Sieben Faktoren der Lebensführung für eine hohe Lebenserwartung
Ermittelt durch mehrere Langzeitstudien

1.	Mäßiger Alkoholkonsum
2.	Verzicht aufs Rauchen
3.	Stabile Ehe / Partnerschaft
4.	Regelmäßige Bewegung / Sport
5.	Angemessenes Körpergewicht
6.	Fähigkeit, positiv mit Problemen umzugehen
7.	Vermeidung depressiver Erkrankungen

Source: ► Article Title unknown, presented by the monthly peer-reviewed medical journal
American Journal of Psychiatry, volume 6, S. 158, 839-847, 2001

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Zitate zum Thema Depression

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Zitate allgemein

Persönliche Bekenntnisse von Depressiven und deren Angehörigen und Freunden
Während einer Depression von Mitte August 1945 bis Mitte April 1946 schrieb Frankl an seinen Freund Rudolf Stenger, Wien,
30. Oktober 1945.

Es freut mich nichts. Alles hat sein Gewicht verloren. Ich habe eigentlich kein Heim, keine Heimat, kann nicht recht Wurzel fassen. Und alles ist so zerstört und gespenstisch, beladen mit traurigen oder süßen und dann erst recht so wehen Erinnerungen. Du kannst mich ja verstehen – wahrscheinlich klingt das alles riesig banal.
Ich glaube nicht, dass ich noch lange leben werde. Nicht, als ob ich den Tod fürchtete oder wünschte. Sondern ich
habe nur das Gefühl, nichts zu suchen zu haben […]
Gegenüber der Traurigkeit versagt das Wort. Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ein Mensch so einsam und allein sein kann, ohne einfach sterben zu müssen. Und ich hätte nie gedacht, dass einem das Sterben so leicht werden kann.
Die Sehnsucht nach Tilly ist mein inneres Brot, von dem ich lebe. Und die Fülle des Leidens ist mir zuletzt irgendwie
als eine Auszeichnung, eine Nahesein gegenüber etwas Höherem vorgekommen. […]
Es ist nur arg, dass einem so die Bodenlosigkeit des Leids zu Bewusstsein kommt: Im Lager dachte man, am Tiefst-
punkt angelangt zu sein: aber er wurde erst erreicht, als man 'frei' nach 'Hause' kam. Viktor E. Frankl (1905-1997) öster-
reichischer Psychiater, Psychotherapeut, Neurologe, KZ-Überlebender, Sinnforscher, Begründer der Logotherapie, Autor, 1982, Es kommt der Tag, da bist du frei. Unveröffentlichte Texte und Reden, S. 35, Kösel-Verlag, München, 28 September 2015

Die Liebe der Ehepartnerin reichte nicht aus, um die Depression des deutschen Nationaltorwarts Robert Enke zu neutralisieren.

Ich habe stets versucht, ihm [meinem Mann] Perspektive und Hoffnung zu geben. Ich habe geglaubt, mit Liebe können wir das durchstehen.
Aussage auf Pressekonferenz von Teresa Enke, Witwe des depressiven deutschen Nationaltorwarts Robert Enke (†10. November 2009 durch Selbstmord), zitiert in: Artikel Tod von Robert Enke: Tag der Trauer und der Tränen, präsentiert von dem deutschen Nachrichtenmagazin Spiegel Online. Sport, Markus Tischler, 11. November 2009

Ich war deprimiert über die Zukunft der Welt. Deshalb habe ich mich aufgerafft, Orangenkonfitüre zuzubereiten. Es ist erstaunlich, wie es einen aufmuntert, wenn man Orangen zerkleinert und den Boden aufwischt! D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930) englischer Literaturkritiker, Maler, Dichter,
Roman- und Bühnenschriftsteller, James T. Boulton, Herausgeber, The Letters of D. H. Lawrence (1901-1913), Band I, 1932,
S. 506, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, VK, 1979, neu aufgelegt 5. September 2002

Schlussfolgerungen

Tränen reinigen das Herz.
Fjodor Michailowitsch Dostojewski (1821-1881) russischer Romanschriftsteller, zitiert in: Aphorismen.de

Der Unglücklliche ist nun derjenige, der sein Ideal, seinen Lebensinhalt, die Fülle seines Bewusstseins, sein eigent-
liches Wesen irgendwie außer sich hat. Der Unglücklliche ist immer sich abwesend, nie sich selbst gegenwärtig. Ab-
wesend aber kann man offenbar entweder in der vergangenen oder in der zukünftigen Zeit sein.
Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) dänischer existentialistischer Philosoph, Theologe, Schriftsteller, Entweder – Oder Teil 1 und 2,
S. 259, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag (dtv), ungekürzte Ausgabe 1988, 1996, München, 2005

Die Wahrheit ist, du kämpfst nicht mit Depressionen, du kämpfst mit der Realität, in der wir leben.
Keanu Reeves (*1964) kanadischer Filmschauspieler, Filmregisseur, Filmproduzent, Bassist, Autor; zitiert in: SCHWESTERN-
BRIEFE, 14. Januar 2020

Einsichten

Depression ist die einzige neurotische Manifestation, die der alten Seele geblieben ist. Selbst Jesus war davon be-
troffen. Jeder von euch brachte Jahre damit zu, diese Fassade aufzubauen, Meint ihr nun wirklich, dass ihr euch mit
linker Hand dieser verfestigten Kruste entledigen könnt? Es wird nicht ohne Tränen abgehen.
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (*1942) finnisch-italienisch-US-amerikanische Schriftstellerin, Michael, Mensch sein, Band 1, S. 90,
Edition Borg, 1. Auflage Januar 1998

Die Masse der Menschen führt ein Leben in stummer Verzweiflung.
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) US-amerikanischer führender Transzendentalist, Historiker, Philosoph, Naturalist, Sklaverei-
gegner, Steuergegner, Dichter, Schriftsteller, Walden oder Leben in den Wäldern, Ticknor and Fields, Boston, 1854

Die Schwermut [von Depressiven, Melancholikern] ist Ausdruck dafür, dass wir begrenzte Wesen sind, die Wand an Wand mit Gott leben. Dass wir angerufen sind durch Gott; aufgerufen, ihn in unser Dasein aufzunehmen. Die Schwer-
mut ist die Not der Geburt des Ewigen im Menschen. […]
Es gibt solche, die gewissermaßen ohne weiteres "drüben" sind, unirdisch lebend, fremd hier, wartend auf das Eigent-
liche. […] Es gibt aber auch solche, welche tief das Geheimnis der Angrenzung erfahren, Menschen der Grenze.
Romano Guardini (1885-1968) italienischer katholischer Religionsphilosoph, Theologe, Autor, Essay Vom Sinn der Schwermut, 1928, Vom Sinn der Schwermut, Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz, 1987, Topos Plus, Kevelaer, Taschenbuchausgabe 1. September 2008, 10. Auflage 2010, 12. Auflage 2017

Depression ist die Belohnung fürs Bravsein.
Marshall B. Rosenberg (1934-2015) US-amerikanischer Psychologe, Psychotherapeut, Entwickler der Gewaltfreien Kommunikation, Gewaltfreie Kommunikation. Eine Sprache des Lebens, S. 78, Junfermann, 9. Auflage 12. Februar 2007

Die blinden Flecke in unserer Wahrnehmung helfen uns also offensichtlich, besser durchs Leben zu kommen. Henrik Ibsen, der die Fähigkeit des Menschen zur Selbsttäuschung in vielen seiner Werke thematisiert hat, schreibt ihr eine wichtige Funktion zu: "Nimm dem Durch-
schnittsmenschen seine Lebenslüge, und du hast ihn auch seines Glückes beraubt."
Ursula Nuber (*1954) deutsche Diplompsychologin, Psycho-
therapeutin, stellvertretende Chefredakteurin der Zeitschrift Psychologie Heute, Autorin, Depression. Die verkannte Krankheit,
S. 137, Kreuz-Verlag, Stuttgart, 1991, Januar 2001, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag (dtv), 4. Auflage 1. Januar 2006

Depression bedeutet Wegdrücken. Um ein Idealbild aufrechtzuhalten, drücken wir Impulse, Empfindungen, Gefühle
und Emotionen weg. Die dafür verbrauchte Kraft fehlt für die gesunde Aggression: Die Fähigkeit, auf das zuzugehen,
was nährt und nützt, von dem wegzugehen, was zehrt und schadet, und gegen das anzugehen, was uns bedroht.
Dr. med. Wolf Büntig (*1937) deutscher Arzt und Psychotherapeut, Gesunde Aggression und Normale Depression, präsentiert
von ZIST Penzberg, Newsletter "ZIST POST", 2017

15% der an schweren Depressionen Erkrankten begehen Selbstmord, 56% versuchen, sich das Leben zu nehmen.
Jährliche Todesstatistik in der EU: 58.000 EU-Europäer sterben durch Selbstmord oder Selbstschädigungen,
etwa 50.700 sterben durch Verkehrsunfälle und etwa 5.350 durch Mord oder Totschlag.

Psychische Erkrankungen können genauso tödlich sein wie körperliche, zum Beispiel wie Krebs. Jedes Jahr sterben
mehr Europäer durch Selbsttötung als in Autounfällen oder durch Mord. Dennoch widmet man der psychischen Ge-
sundheit erstaunlich wenig Aufmerksamkeit – man könnte sagen, dass psychische Erkrankungen Europas unsicht-
bare Todesursachen sind. Ich bin fest entschlossen, dies zu ändern.
Markos Kyprianou (*1960) zypriotischer Politiker, EU-Kommissar für Gesundheit und Verbraucherschutz (2004-2008), Außenmi-
nister von Zypern (2008-2011), Psychische Erkrankungen sind Europas unsichtbare Todesursachen. Ergebnisse der Europäischen Ministeriellen WHO-Konferenz Psychische Gesundheit, präsentiert von der Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer, 17. Februar 2005

Referenzen: de.Wikiquote-Einträge ► Depression und ► Seele

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[Edit]

General quotes

Personal avowals of depressives

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Personal avowal

Bill Wilson and his mistress Helen Wynn experimented with LSD to help diehard drunks discover a power greater than themselves. In 1956 Bill W. set out for his first LSD trip.

I am certain that the LSD experience has helped me very much. I find myself with a heightened color perception and an appreciation of beauty almost destroyed by my years of depression […]. The sensation that the partition between "here" and "there" has become very thin is constantly with me.
⚡ Bill Griffith Wilson [Bill W.] (1895-1971) US American co-founder of the international mu-
tual aid fellowship Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), 1957

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Churchill referred to his depression as his "black dog".

I don't like standing near the edge of a platform when an express train is passing through. I like to stand right back and if possible get a pillar between me and the train. I don't like to stand by the side of a ship and look down into the water. A second's action would end everything. A few drops of desparation. ⚡ Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British prime minister of the United Kingdom during the 2nd World War (1940-1945) and (1951-1955), racist war criminal, admission to his doctor Lord Moran, August 1944, cited in: Mary Soames, Clementine Churchill, S. 87, Doubleday, 1979

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Feeling unloved, Churchill's journey to leadership was compensatory.

If I can't be loved, I'll find a way to be admired.
⚡ Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British prime minister of the United Kingdom during the 2nd World War (1940-1945) and (1951-1955), racist war criminal, Speech in the House of Commons, June 1940; cited in: article Churchill & Depression, citing: Sue Chance, M.D., "Chance Thoughts. Churchill's Black Dog'', January 1996

Bill Moyers: Are you're happy at 80?
Robert Bly: Yeah, i am happy at 80. I can't stand so much happiness.
And sometimes – maybe one day at the week – I'll become depressed.
But the rest of the time, especially if I'm writing poetry, I'm never depressed.
Bill Moyers: What depresses you?
Robert Bly: Who knows? Depression comes up from underneath. It just grabs you.
It is an entity of its own. We are built for depression in a way because the nafs
[i.e. the "greedy soul"] is so strong in us it doesn't want us to be happy and give away things.
It wants us to pull back inside.
Video interview with Robert Bly (1926-2021) US American leader of the Mythopoetic men's movementt, activist, poet, author,
Bill Moyers talks with Poet Robert Bly, presented by the US American TV station PBS, current affairs TV show Bill Moyers
Journal, producer and host Bill Moyers, interview transcript, minute 24:30, 27:22 minutes duration, posted 31. August 2007

As I've gotten older, I find I am able to be nourished more by sorrow and to distinguish it from depression.
Robert Bly (1926-2021) US American leader of the Mythopoetic men's movement, activist, poet, author, cited in: Sy Safransky,
editor, Sunbeams. A Book of Quotations, S. 61, North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, California, 1990

I personally think that most depression has its roots in loneliness, but that the medical professionals are a lot more comfortable calling it 'depression' than calling it 'loneliness.' Video presentation by Patch Adams, M.D. (*1945) US Ame-
rican physician, social activist, citizen diplomat, author, sponsored by "Conferenza con Patch Adams", recorded by Arcoiris.TV,
Reggio Emilia, 27. March 2008, minute 4:48, 1:00:12 duration, posted via Google 25. January 2009

I got the blues thinking of the future, so I left off and made some marmalade. It's amazing how it cheers one up
to shred oranges and scrub the floor! D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930) English literary critic, playwright, essayist, poet, novelist,
James T. Boulton, editor, The Letters of D. H. Lawrence (1901-1913), volume I, 1932, S. 506, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1979, paperback reprint 5. September 2002

It is so strange to me that I cannot get it right – the depression, I mean, which does not come from something definite, but from nothing. "Where there is nothing" the phrase came back to me, as I sat at the table in the drawing room. Of course I was interested and discovered that, for the first time for many years, I had been idle without being ill.
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) English publisher, essayist, writer of short stories, Anne Olivier Bell, editor, The Diary of Virginia Woolf. Vol. 3. 1925-1930, diary entry 28. September 1926, S. 111, Mariner Books, 1st edition 14. September 1981, Hogarth Press, 1980

I have studiously tried to avoid ever using the word 'madness' to describe my condition. Now and again, the word
slips out, but I hate it. 'Madness' is too glamorous a term to convey what happens to most people who are losing their
minds. That word is too exciting, too literary, too interesting in its connotations, to convey the boredom, the slowness,
the dreariness, the dampness of depression.
Elizabeth Wurtzel (1967-2020) US American journalist, confessional memoir writer, Prozac Nation, Riverhead Trade, 1994

If I had not been already been meditating, I would certainly have had to start. I've treated my own depression for
many years with exercise and meditation, and I've found that to be a tremendous help.
Judy Collins (*1939) US American social activist, folk and standards singer, songwriter, cited in: Nancy Hine, The Depression Trap. Ten Ways to Set Yourself Free, S. 89, Red Raft Publishing, February 2008

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From the age of five, Daphne Merkin has battled depression over the course of forty years.

For four decades I have sat in shrinks' offices and talked about my wish to die the way other people talk about their wish to find a love. Daphne Merkin (*1954)
US American literary critic, essayist, novelist, Daphne Merkin on her forty year battle with depression, presented by the British Sunday newspaper The Observer, 13. September 2009

I am so often accused of gloominess and melancholy.
And I think I'm probably the most cheerful man around.
I don't consider myself a pessimist at all.
I think of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for it to rain.
And I feel completely soaked to the skin. […]
I think those descriptions of me are quite inappropriate to the gravity of the predicament that faces us all.
I've always been free from hope.
It's never been one of my great solaces.
I feel that more and more we're invited to make ourselves strong and cheerful. […]
I think that it was Ben Jonson who said, "I have studied all the theologies and all the philosophies, but cheerfulness keeps breaking through. Leonard Cohen (1934-2016) Canadian musician, depressive, singer-songwriter, poet, novelist, cited
in: article 1993 The joking troubadour of gloom Leonard Cohen article, originally presented by the English daily newspaper The
Daily Telegraph, Tim Rostron, 26. April 1993

Tears

I cry a lot. My emotions are very close to my surface. I don't want
to hold anything in so it festers and turns into pus – a pustule of
emotion that explodes into a festering cesspool of depression.
Nicolas Cage (*1964) US American actor, producer, director, cited in: Nathan Hook, The Green Book, S. 38, selfpublished via lulu.com,
12. May 2011

My recovery from manic depression has been an evolution, not a sudden miracle. Patty Duke (1946-2016) US American actress, dia-
gnosed with bipolar disorder [manic depression] in 1982, educator on mental health issues, Gloria Hochman, coauthor, Brilliant Madness. Living with Manic Depressive Illness, S. 289, Bantam Books, July 1992

I got a diagnosis: clinical depression. I received treatment, which included medication and therapy. And I'm happy to say that they worked and I recovered.
Interview with Tipper Gore, US American potential First Lady, wife of Al Gore, Tipper Gore Says She Took Treatment for De-
pression, presented by the US American daily newspaper The New York Times, 8. May 1999

I don't believe in depression. Wipe it out! You've got to replace a bad thought with a good one. Happiness is a habit,
a good habit. [...] I don't get bored because I know how to go into the unknown. I can just sit here and go off into
the world of my own thoughts.
Mae West (1893-1980) US American actress, sex symbol, playwright, screenwriter, source unknown

I don't believe in happiness: why should we expect to be happy? In such a world as this, depression is rational, rage reasonable.
Interview with Fay Weldon (1931-2023) English feminist, playwright, essayist, author, cited in: Bruce Lloyd's collection of quotations
The Wisdom of the World and an article by a Sunday newspaper, 1995

If I wasn't doing this [music entertainment], I'd probably be a depressed little person.
Britney Spears (*1981) US American recording artist, singer, entertainer, presented by the platform eAtomic Teen Cafe, written reference: 30 Famous People Alive Today Who Have Battled Depression, presented by Social Work Degree Guide, undated

I'm not crying because of you; you're not worth it.
I'm crying because my delusion of who you were was shattered by the truth of who you are.
Dr. Steve Maraboli (*1975) US American internet radio commentator, motivational speaker, author, Unapologetically You. Reflec-
tions on Life and the Human Experience, A Better Today, paperback edition 7. May 2013

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Hopkins' wife saved him from depression.

She met me ten years ago when I was shut down. Shut down for some years. I didn't feel shut down at that time. I felt I was quite happy. But I was dealing with slight depression. Not trusting anyone. Certainly not trusting women.
Everyday she wakes up happy. She's very positive about everything. I learnt from her just to take life as it comes. So
I live my life in non-expectation.
Interview with Anthony Hopkins (*1937) Welsh actor of film, stage, and television, composer, Anthony Hopkins' wife saved him from depression, presented by the London-based regional free daily tabloid Evening Standard, 31. January 2011

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Hopkins' is not concerned with what people think of him anymore.

My philosophy is: It's none of my business what people say of me and think of me.
I am what I am and I do what I do. I expect nothing and accept everything. And it makes life so much easier. Interview with Anthony Hopkins (*1937) Welsh actor of film, stage, and television, composer, Anthony Hopkins' wife saved him from depression, presented by the London-based regional free daily tabloid Evening Standard, 31. January 2011

Recommendations

When you're depressed, the whole body is depressed, and it translates to the cellular level. The first objective is to get your energy up, and you can do it through play. It's one of the most powerful ways of breaking up hopelessness and bringing energy into the situation. O. Carl Simonton, M.D. (1942-2009) US American radiologist, oncologist, pioneer of psycho-oncology, founder of the "Simonton Cancer Center (SCC)", cited in: Paul McGhee, Humor as Survival Training for a Stressed-Out World: The 7 Humor Habits Program, S. 19, AuthorHouse, 13. July 2010

You can't reason yourself back into cheerfulness any more than you can reason yourself into an extra six inches in height. Stephen Fry (*1957) English activist, actor, comedian, presenter, writer, cited in: James Egan, 3000 Astounding Quotes,
S. 203, Lulu Publishing Services, 24. August 2015

Exercise.
Eat omega fatty acids.
Exposure to sunlight.
Healthy sleep.
Anti-ruminative activity.
Social connection.

Article The Ancient Cure for Depression, presented by the blogspot Uplift Connect, Sara Burrows, 14. March 2016

Appeals

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Living intensely

Life should be lived to the point of tears.
Albert Camus (1913-1960) French Algeria-born French philosopher, journalist, author, Nobel laureate in literature, 1957, cited in: Goodreads Quotable Quote

Don't say, "I am depressed." If you want to say, "It is depressed," that's all right. If you want to say that depression is there, that's fine; if you want to say gloominess is there, that's fine. But not: I am gloomy. You're defining yourself in terms of the feeling. That's your illusion; that's your mistake. There is a depression there right now, but let it be, leave
it alone. It will pass. Everything passes, everything. Your depressions and your thrills have nothing to do with happi-
ness. Those are swings of the pendulum. If you seek kicks or thrills, get ready for depression. Do you want your drug? Get ready for the hangover. One end of the pendulum swings over to the other. Anthony de Mello SJ (1931-1987) Indian Catholic Jesuit priest, psychotherapist, spiritual leader, author, Awareness. Conversations with the Masters,Center for Spiritual Exchange, 1990, Doubleday, New York, S. 80, Image, reprint paperback edition 1. June 1990, May 1992

You largely constructed your depression. It wasn't given to you. Therefore, you can deconstruct it.
Albert Ellis (1913-2007) US American psychologist, developer of the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), 1955

So often we dwell on the things that seem impossible rather than on the things that are possible. So often we are depressed by what remains to be done and forget to be thankful for all that has been done.
Marian Wright Edelman (*1939) US American activist for the rights of children, president and founder of the Children's Defense
Fund, cited in: Quotes of Gratitude, presented by timmiles & Company Tim Miles, undated

Conclusions

What cannot be said will be wept.
Sappho (630-570 BC) archaic Greek poet from the island of Lesbos, cited in: Goodreads Quotable Quote

It's interesting that the word "depressed" is spoken phonetically as "deep rest". We can view depression not as
a mental illness, but on a deeper level, as a profound (and very misunderstood) state of deep rest, entered into
when we are completely exhausted by the weight of our own identity. It is an unconscious loss of interest in our
story. It is so very close to awakening – but unfortunately rarely understood as such. Or as one friend put it, "de-
pression has awakening built-in."
Jeff Foster lifewithoutacentre (*1980) English astrophysicist, depressive, spiritual teacher, Facebook entry, 3. May 2012

Depression is known to be caused by a deficit of certain neurochemicals or neurotransmitters, especially norepi-
nephrine and serotonin. Daniel G. Amen, US American psychiatrist, self-help guru, bestselling author and medical direc-
tor of the Amen Clinic, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life. The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression,
Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness, S. 48, Three Rivers Press, 1998, reprinted edition 31. December 1999

Inquiries

Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?
Move outside the tangle of fear-thinking.
Live in silence.
Jalal ad-Din Muḥammad Rumi (1207-1273) Persian Muslim Sufi mystic, jurist, theologian, poet, cited in: Goodreads Quotable Quote

Insights

He that increaseth wisdom increaseth sorrow.
Robert Burton (1577-1640) English scholar, University of Oxford, vicar, The Anatomy of Melancholy, 1621

The opposite of play is not work. It's depression. To play is to act out and be wilful, exultant and committed, as if one
is assured of one's prospects. Brian Sutton-Smith (1924-2015) New Zealand born-American play theorist, dean of Play Studies,
University of Pennsylvania, author, cited in: What is 'The Play Ethic'?, presented by The Play Ethic, 1. January 2010

There is nothing more threatening to human beings than disconnection. The brain needs emotional connection, and our culture highlights connections.
Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D., US American psychologist, co-founder of The Center for Mindful Living in West Los Angeles, speaker,
author, Uncovering Happiness. Overcoming Depression with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion, Atria Books, 27. January 2015

It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment.
Aphorism by Naomi Williams (1979-2009) US American wife, mother, photographer, cancer fighter, It is impossible to feel grateful and depressed in the same moment, Independently published, paperback edition, 1. January 2020

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Wisdom seekers are prone to melancholy.

Melancholic Socrates was an obsessed (manic) seeker of truth, and his madness, the love of wisdom (he was a philosopher), as well as the deep melancholia stemming from that, gave him some insight into the most profound secret.
László F. Földényi, Melancholy, S. 31, Yale University Press, 26. April 2016

Depression: A psychological state characterized by lack of energy. Energy not available to consciousness does not simply vanish. It regresses and stirs up unconscious contents (fantasies, memories, wishes, etc.) that for the sake
of psychological health need to be brought to light and examined.
Depression should therefore be regarded as an unconscious compensation whose content must be made cons-
cious if it is to be fully effective. This can only be done by consciously regressing along with the depressive tendency and integrating the memories so activated into the conscious mind – which was what the depression was aiming at in the first place. Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, founder of a new school of depth psychology, au-
thor, R.F.C. Hull, translator, Symbols of Transformation – Collected Works of C.G. Jung, Volume 5, "The Sacrifice", paragraph 625, 1st edition 1911-1912, Princeton University Press, 1952, 2nd edition 1. January 1977

Depression is not necessarily pathological. It often foreshadows a renewal of the personality or a burst of crea-
tive activity. There are moments in human life when a new page is turned. New interests and tendencies appear
which have hitherto received no attention, or there is a sudden change of personality (a so-called mutation of cha-
racter). During the incubation period of such a change we can often observe a loss of conscious energy: the new development has drawn off the energy it needs from consciousness. This lowering of energy can be seen most clearly before the onset of certain psychoses and also in the empty stillness which precedes creative work.
Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) Swiss psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, founder of a new school of depth psychology, author, General problems of psychotherapy. The aims of psychotherapy – Collected Works of C. G. Jung, Volume 16, "The Psychology of the Transference", paragraph 373, Princeton University Press, 2nd edition 1. June 1966

This melancholic state is so powerful that, according to scientists and doctors, it can attract demons to the body, even to such an extent that one can get into mental confusion or get visions.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim (1486-1535) German humanist scholar, theologian, astrologer, lawyer, physician, alche-
mist, occult writer, Three Books of Occult Philosophy, 3 volumes, published in Cologne, 1533

Depressions and melancholy are often a cover for tremendous greed.
At the beginning of an analysis there is often a depressed state of resignation-life has no meaning, there is no feeling
of being in life. An exaggerated state can develop into complete lameness. Quite young people give the impression
of having the resignation of a bitter old man or woman. When you dig into such a black mood you find that behind it
there is overwhelming greed – for being loved, for being very rich, for having the right partner, for being the top dog,
etc. Behind such a melancholic resignation you will often discover in the darkness a recurring theme which makes
things very difficult, namely if you give such people one bit of hope, the lion opens its mouth and you have to with-
draw, and then they put the lid on again, and so it goes on, back and forth.
Dr. Marie-Louise von Franz (1915-1998) Swiss Jungian psychologist, scholar, author, The Psychological Meaning of Redemption Motifs in Fairytales, Inner City Books, 1st edition 1. December 1980, 1. January 1985

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1940: England needed Churchill's predicament to lead the country out of predicament.

Had he been a stable and equable man, he could never have inspired the nation. In 1940, when all the odds were against Britain, a leader of sober judgment might well have concluded that we were finished. Anthony Storr (1920-2001) English psychiatrist, historian, author, Churchill's Black Dog, Kafka's Mice, and Other Phenomena of the Human Mind, Ballantine Books, 12. May 1990
- If we fail, then the whole world will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age, made more sinister, and perhaps
  more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.
  ⚡ Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British prime minister of the United Kingdom during the 2nd World War (1940-1945)
  and (1951-1955), racist war criminal, speech Their Finest Hour, House of Commons, 18. June 1940

It's a recession when your neighbor loses his job; it's a depression when you lose yours.
⚡ Harry S. Truman (1884-1972) 33rd US president during World War II, 33rd degree Freemason, war criminial, unsourced,
cited in: Goodreads Quotable Quote

Most people live their lives in silent agony. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the des-
perate city you go into the desperate country, and have to console yourself with the bravery of minks and muskrats.
A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of
mankind. There is no play in them, for this comes after work. But it is a characteristic of wisdom not to do despe-
rate things.
Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) US American historian, philosopher, leading transcendentalist, naturalist, abolitionist, sur-
veyor, tax resister, development critic, poet, author, Civil Disobedience and Other Essays, Dover Publications, 20. May 1993

Depression is an emotion to be consciously transformed;
grief is a reaction to loss that can transform you.
Judith Orloff, M.D., Ph.D. (*1951) US American assistant professor of psychiatry, UCLA, empath, dying companion, lecturer, au-
thor, Healing Loss: The Difference Between Grief and Depression, adaptation from Emotional Freedom. Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life, Harmony Books, March 2009

The most painful tears are not the ones that fall from your eyes and cover your face. It's the ones that fall from
your heart and cover your soul. Author unknown

Results of depression studies	Legend
⚑ Depression is [NOT] caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.	In six decades, not a single study has proven [the theses of chemical imbalance in the brain].
⚑ The serotonin theory of depression is a myth.	[This theory] has been supported by the manipulation of data and an echo chamber of industry and media rhetoric.
⚑ Depression is not a genetic disease. It is an epigenetic syndrome.	In 2003, a study published in Science suggested that those with genetic variation in their serotonin transporter were three times more likely to be depressed. But six years later this idea was wiped out by a meta-analysis of 14,000 patients published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that denied such an association.
⚑ Depression is often an inflammatory condition.	Irregularities in the body can start far away from the brain and are not associated with the simplistic model of so-called 'chemical imbalances'.
⚑ Depression is an opportunity.	[Depression] is a sign for us to stop and figure out what's causing our imbalance.

Source: ► Kelly Brogan, M.D., US American holistic psychiatrist, author, Kristin Loberg, author, A Mind of Your Own. The Truth About Depression and How Women Can Heal Their Bodies to Reclaim Their Lives, Harper Wave, 15. March 2016

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Quotes by David R. Hawkins

⚠ Caveat See Power vs. Truth, January 2013

There is no anti-depressant that will cure a depression that's spiritually based, for the malaise doesn't originate from brain dysfunction, but from an accurate response to the desecration of life. Dr. David R. Hawkins, Power vs. Force. The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior, chapter 23 "The Search for Truth", S. 278, Hay House, February 2002

Each negative input brought the [TV] watcher closer to eventual sickness and to imminent depression – which is now the world's most prevalent illness. Subtle grades of depression kill more people than the other diseases of mankind combined. Dr. David R. Hawkins, Power vs Force. The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior, chapter 23 "The Search for Truth", S. 278, Hay House, February 2002

In Zen, it is said that heaven and hell are only a tenth of an inch apart. It is often in the pit of despair that the ego lets
go so that all crises can be turned into the opportunity of spiritual discovery.
Dr. David R. Hawkins, The Eye of the I From Which Nothing is Hidden, chapter 9, S. 144, Veritas Publishing, revised edition 2002

All the negative energy fields are based on placing the source of our happiness externally. This results in being vulnerable and also being the potential, hopeless victim. Being the victim means perceiving a cause as being outside ourself. Therefore, the vulnerabiltiy to depression is present as long as we think the source of our happiness is something outside ourselves.
Dr. David R. Hawkins, Healing and Recovery, chapter 12 "Depression", S. 366, 2009

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[+Remedy for depression: owning oneself as the source of one's happiness

All the negative energy fields are based on placing the source of our happiness externally. This results as being vulnerable and also being the potential, hopeless victim. Being a victim means perceiving a cause as being outside of ourselves. […] It is only by owning ourselves as the source of happiness, as the experience of our existence, independent and beyond that which happens within the world, that we become immune to depressive epi-
sodes. Dr. David R. Hawkins, Healing and Recovery, chapter 12 "Depression", S. 366-367, 2009

Each time we look at the Map of Consciousness, it is from a different perspective with a different emphasis. It alters our understanding of the nature of human consciousness as we approach it from a different context with a broader under-
standing. The levels of consciousness have either a positive or a negative direction, with a crucial intersection in the middle at the level of Courage, which is crossed over by telling the truth. In this case, the telling of the truth is that "My happiness does not depend on anything outside of me. I, of myself, am the source of my happiness by my own inner decisions, integrity, intentions, and by the way I see myself and my relationships with the events of life."
Dr. David R. Hawkins, Healing and Recovery, chapter 12 "Depression", S. 367, 2009

One might say that anybody who gets depressed has been addicted to placing their survival on something outside of themselves. Dr. David R. Hawkins, Healing and Recovery, chapter 12 "Depression", S. 370, 2009

Suicidality is a risk when very depressed patients begin to improve. I believe that this risk occurs independently of antidepressants per se. The severely depressed are too apathetic to activate suicide.
Dr. David R. Hawkins, Suicidality and Antidepressants, presented by Psychiatric News at American Psychiatric Association, volume 40, issue 10, S. 52, 20. May 2005

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Recovering from depressed.

Threefold approach to healing depression: antidepressants, positive thinking [LoC 499], spiritual work.

The belief system changes your brain chemistry. The more positive your belief systems the more positive is your brain chemistry. So, the brain chemistry follows the direction of your own mental orientation and not the other way around.
Everything is physical, mental and spiritual.
1. Physically you take antidepressants.
2. Mentally you try to adopt a positive mental attitude.
3. Spiritually work on evolving as well as you can.

And if you do all three you will recover. Everybody recovers if they do all three.
Removed audio interview The True Meaning of Healing and Recovery, prweb.com, presented via the broadcaster Blogtalk-
radio, US American talk radio program Align Shine Prosper, host Doreen Agostino, aired 23. September 2009

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Quotes by Dorothy Rowe

Conclusion

Having to take responsibility for yourself can seem like a tremendous disadvantage, but there is a great advantage. If you don't understand how you created your depression, then by learning more about yourself you can uncreate it. In the same way many people diagnosed schizophrenic have recovered by coming to understand themselves. Dorothy Rowe (1930-2019) Australian clinical psychologist, researcher of treatment of depression, voted as one of the 50 wisest people in the United Kingdom by the Saga Magazine (2003), author, The Real Causes of Depression, presented by the British Saga Magazine, February 2007

Nobody has a happy childhood!
Life is difficult.
Only 'good' [good according to one's family's definition of "good", guilt-ridden] people get depressed.
Actually, what's falling apart are our ideas, but it feels like yourself falling apart. And that's utterly, utterly terrifying.
It comes about the way how we see ourselves in the world. It feels like falling apart. When we suffer loss the natural feeling is to feel sad. But when you turn that loss into blame you fall into depression.
I like to know how stories turn out. Audio radio interview with Dorothy Rowe (1930-2019) Australian clinical psychologist, researcher of treatment of depression, voted as one of the 50 wisest people in the United Kingdom by the Saga Magazine (2003), author, Wisdom Interviews, presented by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC Radio National, program Wisdom Interviews, hosts Peter Thompson and Paul Barclay, 25. July 2004

There never has been any evidence that any brain chemical was depleted when a person was depressed. […] Now, thirty years after the hypothesis was first produced, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Institute of Psychiatry have accepted that depression isn't caused by a chemical imbalance. But you'll find this out only if you visit their web-
sites. They haven't issued a press release saying, 'We were wrong.'
On the Institute of Psychiatry's website there is a lengthy notice about an important conference on depression which
will be held in April 2007. The preamble to this notice reads, 'Depression cannot be described any longer as a simple
disorder of the brain, but rather as a series of behavioural and biological changes that span mind, brain, genes, body – and indeed affects both psychological and physical health.'
The website of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has dropped all references to chemical imbalance causing depression. If you look at the very detailed and informative pamphlet on depression made available on the website, under the heading, 'Why does it [depression] happen?’, there is a statement which says that sometimes there's an obvious reason for becoming depressed and sometimes there isn't. It's different for different people. Then there’s a list of the things that can lead you to be depressed […] such as a bereavement, a divorce or losing a job; circumstances, such as having no friends, being stressed or physically run down; physical illness, such as having a life threatening illness like cancer or a chronic disease like arthritis or bronchitis;
personality which 'may be because of our genes, because of experiences in our early life, or both’; alcohol 'It often
isn't clear which came first – the drinking or the depression';
gender 'Women seem to get depressed more than men do. It may be that men are less likely to admit their feelings and bottle them up, or express them in aggression or through drinking heavily. Women are likely
to have the double stress of having to work and look after children;'
and genes – depression can run in families. Dorothy Rowe (1930-2019) Australian clinical psychologist, researcher of treat-
ment of depression, voted as one of the 50 wisest people in the United Kingdom by the Saga Magazine (2003), author, The Real Causes of Depression, presented by the British Saga Magazine, February 2007

For many years geneticists have been saying that a single gene cannot be the cause of complex behaviour, but only recently have psychiatrists stopped talking about 'a depression gene’ or 'a schizophrenic gene'.
Moreover, developmental psychologists studying newborn babies have shown that babies born to depressed mothers become distressed and then apathetic when their mother fails to respond to the baby’s attempts to engage his mother in those little conversations which undepressed mothers have with their babies all the time. […] Depression does run in families, but it's not through the genes. Dorothy Rowe (1930-2019) Australian clinical psychologist, researcher of treatment of depression, voted as one of the 50 wisest people in the United Kingdom by the Saga Magazine (2003), author, The Real Causes of Depression, presented by the British Saga Magazine, February 2007

Psychiatrists don’t talk of curing depression but of managing it in a way similar to the way doctors manage a chronic illness like diabetes or epilepsy. Dorothy Rowe (1930-2019) Australian clinical psychologist, researcher of treatment of depres-
sion, voted as one of the 50 wisest people in the United Kingdom by the Saga Magazine (2003), author, The Real Causes of Depres-
sion, presented by the British Saga Magazine, February 2007

The different experiences which psychiatrists call mental illness or mental disorder begin with an overwhelming fear
and a feeling that your very self is shattering, even disappearing. This happens when you discover that there is a se-
rious discrepancy between what you thought your life was and what it actually is. Mental illnesses are not illnesses
but defences to hold the person together when he feels that he is falling apart. These desperate defences are terrible to endure but, if we are willing to learn, they can teach us that we need to change the way we live our
life. It isn't always easy to change how we see ourselves and our world but, as the testimonies of many people show, it is in our power to do so. Dorothy Rowe (1930-2019) Australian clinical psychologist, researcher of treatment of depression, voted as one of the 50 wisest people in the United Kingdom by the Saga Magazine (2003), author, The Real Causes of Depression, presented by the British Saga Magazine, February 2007

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Englische Texte – English section on Depression

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Healing depression without drugs – a cure for life

25% of the Americans and every 5th person worldwide are depressed.
Since the Second World War depression rates have risen 10 times more. Its numbers have doubled since 1990.
Within the past 20 years, the use of antidepressants have gone up by over 300%.
It is expected that depression, an inflammatory disease, will be the 2nd largest killer next to heart diseases in 2020.

Experience may heal runaway stressed out inflamed brains.
Depression is a disease of civilization, the Western lifestyle.
Stephen S. Ilardi, Ph.D., US American associate professor of psychology, University of Kansas

Ilardi's non-pharmaceutical cure is called Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC). It's success rate in curing depressives is 77%.
It adopts a 19th century life style like the Amish people (who have only one tenth of depressives in the United States among them).

༺༻	Behavior	Lifestyle change advice	Remark
1.	Intense physical activity	Follow the physically active routines of hunter-gatherers, agrarians.	30 minutes of brisk walking 3 times a week beats Zoloft medication for depression.
2.	Diet	Ingest Omega-3 fatty acids (cod liver oil)	Daily: 1000 mg EPA, 500 mg DHA. Take a daily multivitamin dose.
3.	Environment	Get 1 hour, at least 30 minutes, of continued sunlight exposure daily.	Sunlight enables Vitamin D production.
4.	Interpersonal contact	Have close and frequent human exchange, social support, friendship.	Friends of depressives never suggest: "Get over it." "Snap out of it." "Move on."
5.	Engaged joyful activities	Join a dancing class. Join a quoir. Join a chess club. Paint mandalas. Don't watch TV instead.	Avoid ruminating (brooding) on negative thoughts in lonely leisure time.
6.	Sleep	Sleep at least 8 hours, better 9 hours daily.	Sleep restores the inflamed brain.

Sources featuring Stephen S. Ilardi, Ph.D., US American associate professor of psychology, University of Kansas
► Book The Depression Cure. The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression without Drugs, reading excerpt Introduction to The
Depression Cure, Da Capo Lifelong Books, 1st edition 1. June 2009
► Educative video Anti-Depression "Stone Age" Remedy, presented by the Watercooler Diaries KBT, YouTube film, 5:21 minutes duration,
posted 15. October 2007
► Audio Interview MP3, presented by the US American Radio Project, series Equal Time, aired July 20th, reaired 7. September 2009
► Audio Interview The Depression Cure on Positively Incorrect!, presented via the US American broadcaster Blogtalkradio, show
Positively Incorrect, host Scott Cluthe, 60 minutes duration, aired 12. June 2009
► Video presentation Stephen Ilardi: Therapeutic Lifestyle Change for Depression, sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts, University
of Kansas (KU), YouTube film, 1:44:39 duration, posted 8. January 2013
► Video presentation Depression is a disease of civilization, sponsored by TEDxEmory, Atlanta, Georgia, YouTube film,
22:20 minutes duration, 23. May 2013

See also: ► Keeping one's heart healthy

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Depression research – status 2018

Intricate multi-level causes of depression and anxiety – current considerations

༺༻	Theme	Finding	Remark
1.	Anti·depressants	65-80% of people taking anti-depressants are still depressed after a year.	Drugs are relatively ineffective.
2.	Genes	35% of the genes play a role in depression and anxiety.	Genes are not the predominant cause.
3.	Serotonin	Meanwhile scientists have dismissed the theory that Serotonin is a chemical that caused depression if it was naturally lacking in people's brains.
4.	Control at work	The key effect that is making a lot of people depressed is when they have no control over their work.
5.	Friends Loneliness	One scientific study asked Americans how many close friends they have who they can call on in a crisis. At the beginning of the study the median answer was five friends. Decades later the most common answer is NONE.	Western culture is the loneliest society ever. Loneliness increases depression.
6.	Trauma[❄]	Those who have had a traumatic childhood, are five times more likely to become depressed as an adult.	Childhood stress linked to adult illness – ACE Study 1996⁵
7.	Group activity	A doctor's practice in London conducted an experiment. It "pre- scribed" depressed people to take over a patch of barren land, and make it into a beautiful garden, together, as group, over many months.	Early scientific evidence showed, prolonged joint activity worked better than the intake of chemical anti-depressants.
8.	Security[*]	In the 1970s, the Canadian government conducted an experiment in Dauphin, Manitoba. A group of randomly selected citizens re- ceived a guaranteed income for several years that was enough to live on. Their rates of mental illness dropped by 10%.	If people have a sense of security, they become less depressed and anxious.
9.	Dignity gap[♦]	Main conclusion by the United Nations about depression: "The dominant biomedical narrative of depression" is based on "biased and selective use of research outcomes" that "must be aban- doned". We need to focus more on "power imbalances". World Health Day 7. April 2017⁶	When the inequality gap gets acknowledged real solutions may be found.

Source: ► Quiz How much do you know about depression?, presented by Lost Connections, 2018

Reference: ► Article Do Antidepressants Work? The most comprehensive study on them has recently been published, showing mostly
modest effects., presented by the US American daily newspaper The New York Times, Aaron E. Carroll, 12. March 2018

Health is not an individual dynamic, but very much a product of the social and economic environment. Medicine thinks illness is an individual problem with individual solutions. It's organized insanity for the medical profession to ignore those links. The biggest predictor of health or lack thereof is actually social status.
The socioeconomic system doesn't support a healthy childhood and we try to medicate kids' brains. It's not just money; it's the degree of control over our lives.⁷

Research shows that what is most stressful for people is:
1. uncertainty
2. lack of information (secrecy)
3. loss of (self)control and
4. lack of opportunity to express oneself.⁸

People with childhood histories of trauma, abuse and neglect make up almost the entire criminal justice population in the United States.⁹

The American nun study of aging and Alzheimer's disease founded and led by epidemiologist David Snowdon was a continuing longitudinal study (1986-2001). 678 Catholic nuns (aged 75-106) were annually tested on dementia. Hardly any examined nun suffered from dementia, although the tissue of their autopsied brains was partially degraded. The brains of the nuns had succeeded in compensating the natural biological degradation via neuroplastic compen-
sation (rebuilding of new neuronal pathways).
The three basic salutogenetic principles ⚑ comprehensibility, ⚑ manageability, ⚑ meaningfulness were present in the life of the nuns, hence their lives were coherent. A ⚑ sense of coherence allowed the potential of neuroplas-
ticity of their brains to remain intact. These teacher nuns met the basic prerequisites for maintaining health; they enjoyed their purpose-driven lives, had a grip on their world, and helped to shape it.

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Abraham Lincoln's depression

Lincoln and His Depressisons. His unremitting despair and constant failure steeled his character,
excerpts by John McManamy, presented by mcmanweb.com, 10. November 2005, reviewed 13. July 2016

"Lincoln’s look at that moment – the classic image of gloom – was familiar to everyone who knew him well. … He often wept in public and cited maudlin poetry. He told jokes and stories at odd times – he needed the laughs, he said, for his survival. As a young man he talked of suicide, and as he grew older, he said he saw the world as hard and grim, made that way by fates and forces of God. 'No element of Mr Lincoln's character,' declared his colleague Henry Whitney, 'was so marked, obvious and ingrained as his mysterious and profound melancholy.' His law partner, William Herndon said, 'His melancholy dripped from him as he walked.' " Joshua Shenk, US American essayist, author, creative strategist, Lincoln’s Melancholy. How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness, Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005

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Confession at age 31

I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth. Whether I shall ever be better I can not tell; I awfully forebode I shall not; To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) assassinated 16th US President (1861-1865), abolisher of slavery, Letter to John Stuart, 23. January 1841

Lincoln's melancholia allowed him to see events with preternatural second sight. […] Nevertheless, he felt compelled to speak out against the madness, even at the risk of his career. Paradoxically, his political career took off […] .

Back in Lincoln's time, living successfully with a mental illness was viewed as a character virtue.
[H]aving decided that he WOULD live, he then decided HOW to live. When faced with the challenge of a lifetime, he proved more than ready.

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Lincoln's advice given to a colleague

"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) assassinated 16th US President (1861-1865), abolisher of slavery, cited in: The Leisure Hour, Volume 30, Paternoster Row, S. 127, 1881

[…] On assuming his second term of office, Lincoln spoke the finest words ever uttered in the English tongue:

"With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive
on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds."
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) assassinated 16th US President (1861-1865), abolisher of slavery, 20. January 1865

Not only did Abraham Lincoln suffer from serious bouts of depression, but he also tried to give advice to others he knew were suffering. Lincoln's depressions, whether they lasted for hours, days, weeks, or months always came to an end. Knowing this, he could encourage others. It would seem his own experience led him to believe that depression was not a permanent condition.

Reference: ► Abraham Lincoln Research Site

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Benefits of tears – Judith Orloff

Personal avowals

For over 20 years as physician, I've witnessed time and again the healing power of tears. […] In my own life, I am grateful when I can cry. It feels cleansing, a way to purge pent up emotions so they don't lodge in my body as stress symptoms such as fatigue or pain. To stay healthy and release stress, I encourage my patients to cry. For both men and women, tears are a sign of courage, strength and authenticity.

I've been this enthusiastic about crying for years. In fact, during my psychiatric residency at UCLA when supervisors and I watched videos of me with patients, they'd point out that I'd smile when a patient cried. "That's inappropriate," they'd say. I disagreed then; I still do. I wasn't smiling because my patients were depressed or grieving. I was smiling because they were courageously healing depression or other difficult emotions with tears. I was happy for their break-
through. In my life, too, I love to cry. I cry whenever I can. Wish I could more. Thank God our bodies have this capacity. I hope you too can appreciate the experience. Let your tears flow to purify stress and negativity.

When a friend apologized for curling up in the fetal position on my floor, weeping, depressed over a failing romance,
I told her, "Your tears blessed my floor. There is nothing to apologize for."

The benefits of tears

Tears are your body's release valve for stress, sadness, grief, anxiety and frustration. Also, you can have tears of joy, say when a child is born or tears of relief when a difficult time has passed.

Crying makes us feel better, even when a problem persists. In addition to physical detoxification, emotional tears heal the heart. You don't want to hold tears back.

Tears of ending and beginning, photographer Rose-Lynn Fisher

Like the ocean, tears are salt water. They lubricate your eyes, remove irritants, reduce stress hormones and contain anti-
bodies that fight pathogenic microbes. Our bodies produce three kinds of tears: reflex, continuous and emotional. Each kind has different healing roles. For instance, reflex tears allow your eyes to clear out noxious particles when they're irritated by smoke or exhaust. The second kind, continuous tears, are produced regularly to keep our eyes lubricated. These contain a chemical called "lysozyme" which functions as an anti-bacterial and protects our eyes from infection. Tears also travel to the nose through the tear duct to keep the nose moist and bacteria free. Typically, after crying, our breathing and heart rate decrease, and we enter into a cal-
mer biological and emotional state.

It is good to cry. It is healthy to cry. This helps to emotionally clear sadness and stress. Crying is also essential to resolve grief, when waves of tears periodically come over us after we experience a loss. Tears help us process the loss so we can keep living with open hearts. Otherwise, we are a set up for depression if we suppress these potent feelings.

Emotional tears have special health benefits. Biochemist and "tear expert" Dr. William Frey at the Ramsey Medical Center in Minneapolis discovered that reflex tears are 98 percent water, whereas emotional tears also contain stress hormones which get excreted from the body through crying. After studying the composition of tears, Dr. Frey found that emotional tears shed these hormones and other toxins which accumulate during stress. Additional studies also suggest that crying stimulates the production of endorphins, our body's natural pain killer and "feel-good hormones." Interesting-
ly, humans are the only creatures known to shed emotional tears, though it's possible that the elephants and gorillas do too. Other mammals and also salt-water crocodiles produce reflex tears which are protective and lubricating.

Source: ► Blog article by Judith Orloff, M.D., Ph.D. (*1951) US American assistant professor of psychiatry, UCLA, empath,
dying companion, lecturer, author, The Health Benefits of Tears, presented by the US American liberal-oriented
online newspaper Huffington Post, 21. July 2010, updated 17. November 2011

Both urination and tears clean out impurities.

When there is an emotional crisis men are very ill equipped to handle them. […] Telling a man not to cry is literally biologically the same thing as telling somebody not to pee. The purpose of urination and tears are very similar. They clean out impurities in your system. […] It was important historically for men to repress their feelings.
Video interview with Warren Farrell Farrell.com (*1943) US American political scientist, author, spokesman of men's liberation, men's rights activist, former director of the National Organisation for Women, speaker, author, Primal Desire Versus Rational Love, presented by the US American Freedomain Podcasts, A Voice for Men, founder and host Stefan Molyneux (*1966) Irish-born Canadian blogger/vlogger, podcaster on anarcho-capitalism, politics, secular ethics, atheism, right-libertarianism, cryptocurrencies, self-published author, recorded ~2013, Altcensored film, minute 10:08, 58:46 minutes duration, posted 19. August 2015, reposted 9. February 2013

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, of unspeakable love.

If there were wanting any argument to prove that man is not mortal, I would look for it in the strong, convulsive emotion of the breast, when the soul has been deeply agitated, when the fountains of feeling are rising, and when tears are gush-
ing forth in crystal streams. O, speak not harshly of the stricken one – weeping in silence! Break not the deep so-
lemnity by rude laughter, or intrusive footsteps. Despise not a woman’s tears – they are what make her an angel. Scoff not if the stern heart of manhood is sometimes melted to tears of sympathy – they are what help to elevate him above the brute. I love to see tears of affection. They are painful tokens, but still most holy. There is pleasure in tears – an awful pleasure! If there were none on earth to shed a tear for me, I should be loth to live; and if no one might weep over my grave, I could never die in peace.
First appeared in the Miscellany section of The American Masonic Register, by Anonymous, Albany, 6. February 1841; secondly presented by "The Mother's Assistant", attributed to Dr. Johnson, S. 77, published 1845, later falsely attributed to Washington Irving (1783-1859)

There are those, however, that are not frightened of grief: dropping deep into the sorrow, they find therein a necessary elixir to the numbness. When they encounter one another, when they press their foreheads against the bark of a cen-
turies-old tree [...] their eyes well with tears that fall easily to the ground. The soil needs this water. Grief is but a gate, and our tears a kind of key opening a place of wonder thats been locked away. Suddenly we notice a sustaining reso-
nance between the drumming heart within our chest and the pulse rising from the ground.
David Abram (*1957) US American philosopher, cultural ecologist, performance artist, author, Becoming Animal. An Earthly Cosmo-
logy, Vintage, 1st edition 6. September 2011

Written references:
► Feature article on the works of photographer Rose-Lynn Fisher, Topography of Tears, presented by the Black+White
Photography magazine, S. 31-37, October 2016
► Q&A contribution Why is it easier for women to produce tears than men?, presented on the Californian question-and-answer
website Quora, Elfriede Ammann, 1.9k views · 8 upvotes, 23. April 2019

Media reference: ► Video presentation by Ad Vingerhoets, Ph.D., Dutch professor of clinical psychology, Why do only humans weep?,
presented by the TEDx program – TEDxAmsterdam, YouTube film, 15:58 minutes duration, posted 27. November 2015

See also: ► Sadness and ► Grief and ► Courage and ► Authenticity

Siehe auch: ► Lösende Tränen und ► Die weinende Kamelmutter

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Depression at the brink of suicide

Recommendation
My duty as physician and healer is to talk people out of suicide.
I can be effective because I absolutely know there's hope for everyone and that depression is a distortion. It swallows
the light, making misery seem like the only truth. But it is not. You must remember that. If ever suicide starts looking
good, stop, regroup, and fight to find hope. Reach out for help. Don't be seduced by the voice of depression.

Facing one's demons
Leaving your body doesn’t make emotional challenges disappear. The soul's work continues. What I intuitively sense about
its destinations is that who you are here is who you’ll be there too, albeit without the physical form you're accustomed to identifying with.
I don't mean this punitively. I'm simply saying you'll eventually have to face your demons.

Source: ► Judith Orloff, M.D., Ph.D. (*1951) US American assistant professor of psychiatry, UCLA, empath, dying companion,
lecturer, author, Emotional Freedom. Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life,
subtitle Suicide: A Perspective Beyond Time and Space, S. 284, Harmony Books, 2009

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Five strategies when faced with the inevitable – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Coping strategies in facing grave error, loss, disease, and death

In her iconic book On Death and Dying Swiss-American psychiatrist and dying researcher
Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D. presents five common stages of grief:

Strategy	Behavioral pattern	Key phrase
Stage 1	Denial, isolation	"This can't be happening!"
Stage 2	Anger, rage	"I'm furious about the loss or at everything."
Stage 3	Bargaining, pleading	"I promise I'll be a better person if only you bring him back."
Stage 4	Depression	"I don't care anymore. Life is too unfair. Why try at all?"
Stage 5	Acceptance	"I'm coming to terms with what-is. I'm devastated and I can continue to keep loving."

Source: ► Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, M.D. (1926-2004) Swiss US American psychiatrist, death and dying researcher,
founder of Near-death studies, author, On Death and Dying, 1969, Scribner, paperback edition 9. June 1997

Reference: en.Wikipedia entry ► The Five Stages Of Grief – Model of Coping with Dying

See also:
► Dying and ► Disease and ► Ignorance and ► Anger and ► Acceptance
► Quotes by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and ► Stages of deprogramming

Siehe auch: ► Fünf Strategien angesichts des Unausweichlichen – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Hurting from loss ⇔ Adjusting to loss

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Experiment on the depressed brains of men and women

J. Douglas Bremner, M.D., US American professor of psychiatry and radiology, Emory University School of Medicine,
director of mental health research at the Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center, author of the book
Does Stress Damage the Brain?, conducted experiment on gender differences in depression.
A group of former depression patients agreed to drink a beverage that was spiked with an amino acid that blocks
the brain's ability to absorb the neurotransmitter serotonin. It induces the upbeat and happy feelings.

Men's reaction to a serotonine inhibiting potion	Women's reaction to a serotonine inhibiting potion
John, a middle-aged businessman who had fully recovered from depression, thanks to a combination of psychotherapy and Prozac, shortly after drinking the brew, wanted to escape to a bar across the street. He didn't express sadness or any other feelings. He just wanted to go to Larry’s Lounge.	After taking the cocktail Sue, a mother of two in her mid-thirties was overwhelmed by her emotions. She began to cry and express her sadness over the loss of her father two years ago.

Source: ► Article by Jed Diamond, Ph.D. (*1943) US American psychotherapist, marriage and family counselor, author,
Men and Stress: Saving Your Sanity and the Only Brain You'll Ever Have, presented by the publication MenAlive, 2. August 2012

"Although most depressed men tend to "act out" their unhappiness through anger or alcohol, around 10% are prone to "acting in." They think, ruminate, and feel sad. Most depressed women tend to "act in" their unhappiness, about 10% of them use the more traditional male style of acting out. I’ve found some men and women who go back and forth between both styles." See source below

Study results on serotonine inhibited men versus women

10% of the women act out.	90% of the inhibited men act out.
10% of the men act in.	90% of the women act in.

Source: ► J. Douglas Bremner, M.D., US American professor of psychiatry and radiology, Emory University School
of Medicine, Atlanta VA Medical Center, cited in: Article Men and Women React Differently to Depression,
presented by the independent mental health social network PsychCentral, Corinna Underwood, 3. October 2006

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Poems on depression

A lazy part of us is like a tumbleweed.
It doesn't move on its own. Sometimes it takes
A lot of Depression to get tumbleweeds moving.

Robert Bly (1926-2021) US American leader of the Mythopoetic men's
movement, activist, poet, author, Morning Poems

Hiding in my room, safe within my womb,
I touch no one and no one touches me.
I am a rock,
I am an island.
And a rock feels no pain;
And an island never cries.

Paul Simon (*1941) US American singer-songwriter,
guitarist, poet, cited in the song: I Am a Rock

See also: ► Poems

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Links zum Thema Depression

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Literatur

Romano Guardini (1885-1968) italienischer katholischer Religionsphilosoph, Theologe, Autor, Essay Vom Sinn der Schwer-
mut, 1928, Vom Sinn der Schwermut, Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz, 1987, Topos Plus, Kevelaer, Taschenbuchausgabe
1. September 2008, 10. Auflage 2010, 12. Auflage 2017
Ursula Nuber (*1954) deutsche Diplompsychologin, Psychotherapeutin, stellvertretende Chefredakteurin der Zeitschrift Psychologie Heute bis 2018, Autorin, Depression. Die verkannte Krankheit, Kreuz-Verlag, Stuttgart, 1991, Januar 2001, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag (dtv), 4. Auflage 1. Januar 2006
William Dufty [William Francis Duffy] (1916-2002) US-amerikanischer Ernährungsaktivist, Autor, Zucker Blues. Suchtstoff Zucker, Verlag Zweitausendeins, Frankfurt am Main, 1996
Franz Sedlak, Autor, Eva-Maria Stelljes, Herausgeberin, Georg Lhotsky, Herausgeber, Aufbruch aus der Dunkelheit. Hilfe in
der Depression, Ibera Verlag – European University Press Verlagsgesellschaft, 1. Januar 1997
David Servan-Schreiber, französischer Psychiater, Die Neue Medizin der Emotionen: Stress, Angst, Depression – Gesund werden ohne Medikamente, Goldmann Verlag, 16. Januar 2006

Betonung auf Herzkohärenz: Synchronisierung von Herzschlag, Atmung und Blutdruck zur Verbesserung der Herzratenvariabilität

Kyra Kauffmann, deutsche Heilpraktikerin, Sachbuchautorin, KPU/HPU häufige, aber verkannte Mitochondrienstörungen, Dustri-Verlag Dr. Karl Feistle, 3. Taschenbuchauflage 9. März 2018

Etwa 10% der Bevölkerung leiden unter den wenig bekannten Stoffwechselstörungen Kryptopyrrolurie (KPU) und die Hämopyrrolaktamurie (HPU); mögliche Folgen: Histaminintoleranz, Ängste, Depressionen, Schilddrüsenstörungen (Hashimoto Thyreoiditis), chronische Erschöpfungszustände
mit oder ohne Nebennierenschwäche

Edward Bullmore (*1960) britischer Neuropsychiater, Neurowissenschaftler, Akademiker, Autor, Die entzündete Seele. Ein radikal neuer Ansatz zur Heilung von Depressionen, Goldmann Verlag, Kindle E-Buch, München, 11. März 2019

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Literature (engl.)

Dorothy Rowe dorothyrowe.com Australian clinical psychologist, researcher of treatment of depression, voted as one of the
50 wisest people in the United Kingdom by Saga Magazine (2003), author, Depression. The Way Out of Your Prison, Brunner-Routledge, 1st edition 1983, 3rd edition 3. July 2003
William Dufty [William Francis Duffy] (1916-2002) US American nutrition activist, writer, Sugar Blues, Grand Central Pub Mass Market, Warner Books, 17. March 1986
Anthony Storr (1920-2001) English psychiatrist, historian, author, Churchill's Black Dog, Kafka's Mice, and Other Phenomena
of the Human Mind, Ballantine Books, 12. May 1990
Eric Maisel ericmaisel.com (*1947) US American psychotherapist, atheist, teacher, coach, author, US American psychothe-
rapist, The Van Gogh Blues. The Creative Person's Path Through Depression, 2002, New World Library, 28. December 2007
Jon Kabat-Zinn (*1944) US American professor of medicine emeritus, founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mark Williams, John Teasdale, Zindel Segal, The Mindful Way through Depression. Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness, The Guilford Press, 2. June 2007
Stephen S. Ilardi, Ph.D., US American associate professor of psychology, University of Kansas, The Depression Cure. The 6-Step Program to Beat Depression without Drugs, reading excerpt Introduction to The Depression Cure, Da Capo Lifelong Books, 1st edition 1. June 2009
Joan Mathews Larson, Depression-Free, Naturally: 7 Weeks to Eliminating Anxiety, Despair, Fatigue, and Anger from Your Life, Wellspring/Ballantine, Kindle edition, 11. May 2011

Orthomolecular medicine approach (high dosage of multivitamins)

Eric Maisel ericmaisel.com (*1947) US American psychotherapist, atheist, teacher, coach, author, US American psychothe-
rapist, The Future of Mental Health. Deconstructing the Mental Disorder Paradigm, Transaction Publishers, 1st edition
9. December 2015
Kelly Brogan, M.D., US American holistic psychiatrist, author, Kristin Loberg, author, A Mind of Your Own. The Truth About Depression and How Women Can Heal Their Bodies to Reclaim Their Lives, Harper Wave, 1st edition 15. March 2016
Neel Burton, Ph.D. (*1978) British psychiatrist, philosopher, educator, writer, Growing from Depression, Acheron Press,
2nd revised edition 9. Februar 2017
Johann Hari (*1979) British columnist, journalist, writer, Lost Connections. Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and
the Unexpected Solutions, Bloomsbury, 23. January 2018

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Externe Weblinks

Wikipedia-Einträge Antidepressiva, Beck-Depressions-Inventar, Depression, Hikikomori sich einschließen; gesellschaftlicher Rückzug, Selektive Serotonin-Wiederaufnahmehemmer (SSRI)

Artikel Tränen-Studie. Warum wir weinen, präsentiert von dem deutschen Nachrichtenmagazin Spiegel Online, 31. August 2009
Artikel Todesursache gebrochenes Herz. Verlust erhöht Risiko, präsentiert von dem deutschen Nachrichtenportal des Kölner Nachrichtensenders der RTL Group n-tv, 15. September 2009
Archivierter Artikel Neuer Ansatz zur Depressionstherapie Wissenschaftler testen neuen Wirkstoff erfolgreich an Ratten, präsen-
tiert von der deutschen Hörfunkanstalt Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Martin Hubert, 24. August 2011

Vier Millionen Deutsche leiden an Depressionen. GLYX-13 ist ein Antidepressivum ohne Nebenwirkungen.

Artikel Stress im Mutterleib kann Depressionen auslösen, präsentiert von der deutschen Wochenzeitschrift Stern, 19. Okto-
ber 2013
Artikel Entsteht Depression direkt im Mutterleib?, präsentiert von der überregionalen bürgerlich-liberalen österreichischen Tageszeitung Die Presse, Alice Grancy, 6. Februar 2015
Artikel Entstehen Depressionen im Darm?, präsentiert von der Schweizer Tageszeitung Aargauer Zeitung, Stefan Müller, Nordwestschweiz 23. Februar 2017
Artikel Entzündete Seele. Die Hinweise mehren sich, dass chronische Entzündungen Auslöser für Depressionen sein können., präsentiert von der überregionalen deutschen Wochenzeitung Zeit Online, Max Lebsanft, 12. Juli 2017
Artikel Melancholische Mikroben. In falscher Mischung können Darmkeime der Seele schaden. Psychiater wollen mit dem Wissen Bakterien für Therapien nutzen: gegen schwere Depressionen oder Panikattacken., präsentiert von der überregionalen deutschen Wochenzeitung Die Zeit Wissen/Gesundheit, Jakob Simmank, 31. Juli 2017
Artikel Deswegen geht es Menschen, die oft weinen tendenziell besser, präsentiert von dem internationalen französischen Life-
style-Magazin Elle, Michelle Hartmann, 19. Oktober 2017
Artikel Was Deutsche oft nicht über Depressionen wissen, präsentiert von der überregionalen deutschen Tageszeitung Die Welt, Claudia Becker, 28. November 2017

Laut des Robert-Koch-Instituts (RKI) gehören Depressionen zu den häufigsten psychischen Leiden in Deutschland. Rund 5,3 Millionen der in der Bundesrepublik Lebenden erkranken jährlich an einer behandlungsbedürftigen Depression. Doppelt so viele Frauen wie Männer erkranken an der Volkskrankheit, die auch Angehörige, Freunde und Kollegen in die Leidensspirale reinzieht. Experten gehen nicht von einer Zunahme von Depres-
sionen aus, wiewohl die Rate der Frühverrentung aufgrund psychischer Erkrankungen zwischen 1983 und 2016 von 8,6 Prozent auf 42,9 Prozent gestiegen ist.

Artikel Weinen ist gesund: 6 gute Gründe, präsentiert von der Publikation Besser Gesund Leben, 13. April 2018
Artikel von Dr. phil. Eike Brock, deutscher Philosoph, Lehrbeauftragter für Ethik und Ästhetik, Ruhr-Uni Bochum, Die Tiefe der Endlichkeit. Schwermut bei Guardini, Kierkegaard und Nietzsche. Die 'radikalanthropologische' Dimension der Schwermut, präsentiert von dem Journal für Philosophie weiter denken, Nr. 2, Herbst 2018
Artikel Ad Vingerhoets, zitiert in: Artikel Heul doch! – Warum Tränen so wichtig sind, präsentiert von der Publikation Judetta, Judetta, 29. April 2020

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Weblinks zum Thema Depression – Quora

Beiträge verfasst von Elfriede Ammann, präsentiert auf der kalifornischen Frage-und-Antwort Webseite Quora DE

Beitrag Welche effektiven Methoden existieren, um Depressionen zu bekämpfen?, 623 Aufrufe · 10 Likes, 2. März 2019
Beitrag Sind Depressive wirklich überdurchschnittlich intelligenter?, 6.4k · 43 Likes, 23. April 2019
Beitrag Warum weinen Menschen? Was hat der Körper davon?, 699 Aufrufe · 20 Likes, 25. April 2019
Beitrag Warum bin ich plötzlich so unmotiviert in der Schule, obwohl ich die letzten 11 Schuljahre trotz schwierigster Lebens-
phasen weiterhin motiviert und ehrgeizig war und meine Noten immer im Einserbereich waren. Was kann ich dagegen tun?,
79 Aufrufe, 26. Mai 2019
Übersetzter Beitrag von Marcia Sirota, Psychiaterin Wie redet man bestenfalls mit einem Depressiven?, 3.4k Aufrufe ·
49 Likes, 22. Oktober 2019
Beitrag Wie gelingt es, vom Todesufer zurück ins Leben zu finden und seine Berufung zu erfüllen?, 478 Aufrufe · 14 Likes,
30. Oktober 2019

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External web links (engl.)

Wikipedia entries Antidepressant (i.e. SSRI), Beck Depression Inventory, Black dog metaphor, coined by Horace, popularised by Winston Churchill for the experience of major depressive (bipolar) disorder, Depression, GLYX-13 antidepressant with no side-effects, Hikikomori, SSRI antidepressants
Personalities Peter Breggin
- Famous depressives: Goethe, Schumann, Martin Luther, Tolstoy, Lincoln, Churchill

Article Understanding and Helping the Suicidal Person, presented by HealthyPlace.com, undated
Article Existential depression in gifted individuals, presented by the Davidson Institute, J. Webb, published by Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted (SENG), issued ~ February 2009

"Gifted and talented persons are more likely to experience a type of depression referred to as existential depression."

⚡ Dr. David R. Hawkins, Linus Pauling, Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D. (1917-2009) Canadian psychiatrist, biochemist, agricul-
tural chemist, Orthomolecular Psychiatry. Treatment of Schizophrenia, W. H. Freeman and Company, June 1973

Insight: Undetected reversible biochemical imbalances like low blood sugar level [hypoglycemia] which can masquerade as schizo-
phrenia and other "mental" illnesses that can be changed with diet, food supplements and life style changes.

Judith Orloff, M.D., Ph.D. (*1951) US American assistant professor of psychiatry, UCLA, empath, dying companion, lecturer, author, Healing Loss: The Difference Between Grief and Depression, adaptation from Emotional Freedom. Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life, Harmony Books, March 2009
Article People can die of a broken heart: study, presented by the news service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC News, Sophie Scott, medical reporter, 15. September 2009
Blog article Thinking Too Much in Depression. Can you analyze your problems and feelings too much?, presented by the
US American bimonthly magazine Psychology Today, Edward R Watkins Ph.D., 16. February 2012

Depressives engage a mental ability known as cognitive and emotional processing. Repeatedly thinking through stressful experiences is a coping mechanism. Yet repeated dwelling, brooding, called depressive rumination (overthinking) may be a risk factor for the onset and continuation of depression. Measures of rumination taken in adolescent girls predict their depression up to 2.5 years later. Research from nearly 40 years ago confirms that depressives tend to have more negative thoughts.

Article Yale team discovers how stress and depression can shrink the brain, presented by Yale News, Bill Hathaway, 12. Au-
gust 2012
Article 11 Historical Geniuses and Their Possible Mental Disorders, presented by the US American digital, print, and e-commerce media company Mental Floss, Kathy Benjamin, 11. September 2012
Article Can LSD cure depression? Controversial research suggests that LSD and other psychedelic drugs could have vital medical uses., presented by the English daily newspaper The Daily Telegraph, Jerome Burne, 25. September 2012
Study by Jeffrey Burgdorf, Xiao-lei Zhang, Katherine L Nicholson, Robert L Balster, J David Leander, Patric K Stanton, Amanda L
Gross, Roger A Kroes and Joseph R Moska, GLYX-13, a NMDA Receptor Glycine-Site Functional Partial Agonist, Induces Anti-
depressant-Like Effects Without Ketamine-Like Side Effects, produced by American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, presented by the peer-reviewed scientific journal Neuropsychopharmacology, issue 38, S. 729-742, 2013
Article A Blood Test For Depression Shows The Illness Is Not A Matter Of Will, presented by the US American liberal-
oriented online newspaper HuffPost, Anna Almendrala, 16. September 2014
Article 9 Sneaky Causes Of Depression, presented by the US American liberal-oriented online newspaper HuffPost,
Lindsay Holmes, 12. November 2015

1. Chronic illness
2. Smoking
3. Excessive social media use
4. One's neighborhood
5. Diet
6. Too much sitting
7. A lack of sleep
8. Brain inflammation
9. Not putting your needs first

Blog article Why Many Gifted Individuals Suffer from Existential Depression? Existential depression – it's a depth the likes of which you cannot imagine., presented by Learning Mind, Sherrie, 1. October 2016
Article New Research Shows Depression Linked with Inflammation. Plus 5 Ways You Can Fight Inflammation, presented by the US American bimonthly magazine Psychology Today, Marlynn Wei M.D., J.D., 8. January 2017
Article on study Our pursuit of happiness makes us sad, presented by the nonprofit website that aggregates news articles about scientific research Futurity, Susanna Cornelius for University of Melbourne, Australia, 13. June 2017

"Depression rates are higher in countries that place a premium on happiness. Feeling at times sad, disappointed, envious, lonely – that isn't maladaptive, it's human. Brock Bastian, Australian associate professor of social psychology, University of Melbourne

Article Depression is a physical illness which could be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, scientists suggest, presented by the English daily online broadsheet The Telegraph, Sarah Knapton, science editor, 8. September 2017
Article Is everything you think you know about depression wrong?, presented by the British daily newspaper The Guardian, Johann Hari (*1979) British columnist, journalist, writer, 7. January 2018

Extracted from Hari's new book Lost Connections. Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions, Bloomsbury,
23. January 2018

Blog article Antidepressant Microbes In Soil: How Dirt Makes You Happy, presented by Gardening Know How,
Bonnie L. Grant, certified urban agriculturist, 2018
Article The Real Causes Of Depression Have Been Discovered, And They're Not What You Think, presented by the US Ameri-
can liberal-oriented online newspaper HuffPost, Johann Hari (*1979) British columnist, journalist, writer, 28. January 2018
Article Child abuse may change brain structure and make depression worse, presented by the UK-based weekly English-lan-
guage international science magazine New Scientist, Ruby Prosser Scully, 21. March 2019

A study of over a hundred people's brains suggests that abuse during childhood is linked to changes in brain structure that may make depression more severe in later life.

Article by Jed Diamond, Ph.D. (*1943) US American psychotherapist, marriage and family counselor, author, The Hidden Cau-
ses of Depression: 5 Things Your Doctor Never Told You About, presented by the publication Good Men Project, 31. March 2018

1. Depression is not just one thing.
2. Depression involves our connection with people or our lack of connection.
3. Depression may be a normal reaction to living in a world out of balance.
4. Depression has roots in early family trauma.
5. The father wound / mother wound is the hidden cause of depression few people recognize.

Q&A contribution Why do depressed people think they're more intelligent than average?, presented on the Californian question-and-answer website Quora, Elfriede Ammann, 1.1k views · 4 upvotes, 4. February 2019
Article by Jed Diamond, Ph.D. (*1943) US American psychotherapist, marriage and family counselor, author, 5 Things My The-
rapist Didn't Tell Me About Depression (That I Wish I Had Known), presented by the online publication Your Tango, 13. April 2018

Q&A contribution by Elinor Greenberg, Ph.D., US American psychologist, expert on personlity disorders, Gestalt therapist, trainer, author, What should I say and not say to a depressed friend?, presented on the Californian question-and-answer website Quora, 8.2k views · 152 upvotes, 3. August 2019

1. Reactive depression (lasting ~12 weeks unless new stressful events occur)
2. Borderline abandonment depression
3. Narcissistic shame-based depression

Linkless articles

Essay by Anne Baring (*1931) British historian, Jungian psychoanalyst, feminist author, The Roots of Depression, Seminar 5, undated

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Audio- und Videolinks

Videoaussage von Erich Fromm (1900-1980) deutsch-US-amerikanischer Sozialpsychologe, Psychoanalytiker, humanistischer Philosoph, Autor, Konsum und Depression, präsentiert von erich-fromm.de, YouTube Film, 1:40 Minuten Dauer, eingestellt
8. Juli 2013
Video Fernsehinterview mit Prof. DDr. Gerald Hüther gerald-huether.de (*1951) deutscher Neurobiologe, Professor für neuro-
biologische Grundlagenforschung, Universität Göttingen, wissenschaftlicher und populärwissenschaftlicher Referent, Autor, Prof. Dr. Gerald Hüther: "Demenzforschung auf dem Irrweg", präsentiert von dem Online Fernsehsender KuKuK-TV, Moderator
Peter Wißmann, YouTube Film, 54:38 Minuten Dauer, eingestellt 17. Januar 2018

Die Ergebnisse der Nonnenstudie, einer Längsschnittstudie (Longitudinalstudie) über das Altern und die Faktoren der Alzheimer-Krankheit bei Frauen in den Vereinigten Staaten beinhaltete alljährliche Demenztests an 678 katholischen Nonnen (im Alter von 75-106). Der Studienleiter und Epidemiologe David Snowdon (1986-2001) stellte fest, dass kaum eine untersuchte Nonne dement war, wiewohl deren Gehirngewebe teilweise stark abgebaut war. Den Gehirnen der Nonnen ist es gelungen, den naturgegebenen Abbau durch neuroplastische Kompensation (neue neuronale Verbindungen) auszugleichen. Die drei salutogenetischen Grundregeln, die zu Kohärenz [Grundvertrauen] führen, waren erfüllt:
⚑ Verstehbarkeit, ⚑ Gestaltbarkeit, ⚑ Sinnhaftigkeit.
Alle drei Grundvoraussetzungen für die Gesunderhaltung waren im Leben der Nonnen vorhanden, weswegen das neuroplastische Potenzial ihrer Gehirne intakt blieb. Die kohärente Wohlfühlwelt der Nonnen war so beschaffen, dass sie ihre Welt verstanden, sie aktiv mitgestalteten und bis ins hohe Alter Sinn in ihrem Leben fanden.

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Dokumentationen und Filme

Fernsehdokumentarfilm Depression Eine Krankheit erobert die Welt, präsentiert von dem französisch-deutschen Fernsehsender Arte, 2013, YouTube Film, 1:23:41 Dauer, eingestellt von Leipziger Bündnis gegen Depression e.V. 18. März 2017
Dokumentation Depressionen, vorgestellt von der YouTube-Plattform Crazy Snoop, YouTube Film, 51:46 Minuten Dauer, ein-
gestellt 27. September 2017

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Audio and video links (engl.)

Video documentary The Most SHOCKING Psychiatry Documentary EVER, presented by Citizens Commission on Human Rights International (CCHR), 2006, 1:47:56 duration, posted 8. September 2013

Racist and elitist eugenics [dysgenics] was introduced by Charles Darwin's cousin Francis Galton (1822-1911) in 1883.

Video interview with Jeff Meiring, US American citizen recovered from severe depression after the death of his adopted son, strategist for the Air Force, Pentagon, Jeff Meiring on Miracles and Suicide, presented by the US American Conscious Media Network via Gaia TV, host Regina Meredith, 26:52 minutes duration, posted September 2006 Subject to fee
Audio interview with David D. Burns, M.D., US American adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Stan-
ford University School of Medicine, psychiatrist, early proponent of Cognitive Psychology and Positive Psychology, author, ''On curing anxiety and depression without medication, presented by the US American web radio station "Anxiety insights", Art+broadcasts on KDRT 101.5 FM, Davis, California, 28 minutes duration, 29MB, aired 28. March 2007 MP3 link deleted

Discussing the art of Feeling Good using Cognitive Therapy to control anxiety and depression

Audio interview with Mario Martinez, PsyD, Uruguaian clinical neuropsychologist, contemplative psychologist, psycho-neuro-
immunologist, author, Depression: An American Pandemic, MP3, presented by the dissolved US American web radio station Beyond Reason, hosts Teddy Bart and Karlen Evins, 30 minutes duration, recorded 30. March 2007
Audio conversation between Dorothy Rowe (1930-2019) Australian clinical psychologist, researcher of treatment of depression, voted as one of the 50 wisest people in the United Kingdom by the Saga Magazine (2003), author, Gwyneth Lewis, first National Poet for Wales, author of Sunbathing in the Rain. A Cheerful Book on Depression talking, About depression, presen-
ted by Podcast archive by DorothyRowe.com, Wednesday, 1. August 2007

Well documented battle with Clinical depression and alcoholism

TV presentation by Daniel Amen, M.D. (*1954) US American physician, child and adult neuropsychiatrist, medical director of
the Amen Clinic, self-help advisor, lecturer, author, "Depression Is A Symptom": Dr. Amen On Diagnosing Diseases Of The Brain, recorded January 2009, YouTube film, 1:29 minute duration, posted 3. July 2019
Video Interview with Kay Redfield Jamison (*1946) US American professor of psychiatry, John's Hopkins School of Medicine, clinical psychologist, struggling lifelong with manic-depressive illness, Nothing Was the Same, presented by the US American
web portal Big Think, YouTube film, 34:13 minutes duration, aired 5. October 2009, posted 23. April 2012
Video interview with Katherine Shear, M.D., US American professor of psychiatry, psychotherapy research, Columbia Universi-
ty School of Social Work, Current insights on dying, panick attacks, depression, grieving and bereavement, presented by the US American web portal Big Think, host Austin Allen, 32:26 minutes duration, recorded 3. November 2009, aired 14. November 2009
"Grief itself is a natural (healing) response."

Depression requires psychotherapeutic and medicated help.
Current insights on dying, panick attacks, depression, grieving and bereavement

Video interview with Elizabeth Debold, Ed.D., US American gender researcher, senior teacher of evolutionary enlightenment, cultural commentator, former senior editor of the dissolved magazine What is Enlightenment? / Enlightennext, author, Big Think Interview With Elizabeth Debold – Why Women Are Sad?, presented by the web portal Big Think, 15:38 minutes duration,
aired 6. November 2009
Video interview with Susan Piver, How to Mend a Broken Heart, presented by the monthly news magazine U.S. News & World Report, YouTube film, 5:14 minutes duration, posted 14. January 2010
Video interview with Jaak Panksepp, Ph.D. (1943-2017) Estonian-born American professor of psychology, Bowling Green
State University, psychobiologist, neuroscientist, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, author, The Primal Power of Play, presented by the Washington State University, YouTube film, 3:31 minutes duration, posted 16. June 2010
Vimeo video presentation by Jaak Panksepp, Ph.D. (1943-2017) Estonian-born American professor of psychology, Bowling Green State University, psychobiologist, neuroscientist, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, author, Social Emotion Systems of Mammalian Brains and Vicissitude of Early Social Bonds: The Transformation of Social Delight to Grief, Depression and Despair, sponsored by the convention "Human Nature and Early Experience", sponsor University of Notre Dame Continuing Education Center, 10.-12. October 2010, 1:03:00 duration, posted 14. December 2010
Video presentation by Kevin Breel, US American comedian, activist, Kevin Breel: Confessions of a depressed comic, pre-
sented by TEDxKids@Ambleside Talks, written transcript, 11:00 minutes duration, filmed May 2013, posted 2013
Video presentation by Andrew Solomon, US American writer on politics, culture and psychology, Depression, the secret we share, presented by TEDMET 2013, 29:22 minutes duration, filmed October 2013, posted December 2013

Andrew Solomon: "The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and it was vitality that seemed to seep away from me in that moment."

Video presentation by Robert Maurice Sapolsky, Ph.D. (*1957) US American professor of neurology, neurological sciences, neurosurgery and biological sciences, Stanford University, Stanford's Robert Sapolsky On Depression, YouTube film,
52:01 minutes duration, posted 25. May 2014

Depression is as real of a biological disease as is diabetes.

Video presentation by Lisa Miller, Ph.D., US American professor of clinical psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University, research scholar on spirituality in psychology, speaker, author, Depression and spiritual awakening – two sides of one door, presented by TEDxTeachersCollege, YouTube film, 15:52 minutes duration, posted 24. July 2014

Research that lends meaning to the experience of depression

The Science of Depression, presented by AsapSCIENCE, YouTube film, minute 2:37, 3:45 minutes duration, posted
19. August 2014
Audio presentation by Jon Kabat-Zinn (*1944) US American professor of medicine emeritus, founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Zindel Segal, Mark Williams,
John Teasdale, The Mindful Way Through Depression narrated, 5 hours duration, 4 discs, presented by the educational podcast service Learn out Loud, 23. November 2015
Video presentation by Ad Vingerhoets, Ph.D., Dutch professor of clinical psychology, Why do only humans weep?, presented by the TEDx program – TEDxAmsterdam, YouTube film, 15:58 minutes duration, posted 27. November 2015
Video interview with Anne Baring (*1931) British historian, Jungian psychoanalyst, feminist author, The Roots of the Ecological and Spiritual Existential Crisis of our Time, presented by Talkworks Films, ⚤ SERIES 3 2019 "Insights & Connections", YouTube film, 18:00 minutes duration, posted 9. February 2018

Linkless media offerings

Video TV presentation by Louann Brizendine MD-PhD (*1952) US American neuropsychiatrist, professor of neurobiology,
UC Berkeley, founder of the first US clinic to study and treat women's brain functions, lecturer, author, The female brain, sponso-
red by the Book Passage, Corte Madera, California, recorded by the event video production company Fora.tv, minute 37:08,
1:06:24 duration, aired 17. November 2006

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Audio and video links (engl.) – Sean Blackwell

Media list provided by the YouTube channel Bipolarorwakingup – Sean Blackwell

Video presentation by Sean Blackwell, Brazilian psychology researcher, author of A quiet mind (2008), Bipolar Info: How
to Heal Depression?, presented by Bipolarorwakingup, YouTube film, 10:25 minutes duration, posted 18. November 2007
Video presentation by Sean Blackwell, Brazilian psychology researcher, author, Bipolar Depression: 8 Reasons to RUN
from Anti-Depressants, presented by Bipolarorwakingup, Youtube film, 6:12 minutes duration, posted 7. March 2008
Video presentation by Sean Blackwell, Brazilian psychology researcher, author presented by Bipolarorwakingup, posted
21. August 2008
- Levels of Consciousness, Spiral Dynamics and Bipolar Disorder / Spiritual Emergencies, part 1 of 3, Youtube film,
  10:40 minutes duration
  Levels according to Graves Spiral Dynamics; status 1999:
  1. Archaic (survival) (0%),
  2. Tribal (us against them) (4%),
  3. Feudal (me) (15%),
  4. Traditional (religion) (40%),
  5. Modern (science) (30%),
  6. Post-Modern (pluralistic) (10%)
  7. The Power of Now (spontaneous) (1%)
- Levels of Consciousness, Spiral Dynamics and Bipolar Disorder / Spiritual Emergencies, part 2 of 3, 11:00 minutes duration
- Levels of Consciousness, Spiral Dynamics and Bipolar Disorder / Spiritual Emergencies, part 3 of 3, 10:00 minutes duration
Video presentation by Sean Blackwell, Brazilian psychology researcher, author of A quiet mind, Youtube film
- The Spiritual Evolution of Bipolar Disorder: Love, Fear and Spirituality, part 1 of 2, 10:00 minutes duration, posted
  27. May 2009
- The Spiritual Evolution of Bipolar Disorder: The Hard Evidence (Spirituality), part 2 of 2, 10:22 minutes duration, posted
  6. July 2009

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Audio and video links (engl.) – Peter Breggin

Peter R. Breggin, M.D. (*1936) US American psychiatrist, critic of biological psychiatry and psychiatric medication, director of the non-
profit organization Center for the Study of Empathic Therapy, Education and Living

Video presentation Peter Breggin, MD, Debunks Drugging Children (1998), recorded by Preston Enright, Denver Colorado, 1998, YouTube film, 1:41:22 minutes duration, posted 18. August 2012

Video series: Simple Truths in Psychiatry

Video #1 presentation Do You Have a Biochemical Imbalance? Simple Truths About Psychiatry, recorded 2012, YouTube film, 7:42 minutes duration, posted 11. March 2014
Video #2 presentation How Do Psychiatric Drugs Really Work? Simple Truths About Psychiatry, YouTube film, 10:50 minutes duration, posted 13. August 2012, reposted 19. March 2021
Video #3 presentation What is Medication Spellbinding? Simple Truths in Psychiatry, YouTube film, 13:31 minutes duration, posted 1. December 2012, reposted 20. July 2021

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Audio and video links (engl.) – Colin Ross

Audios and videos on Psychiatry by Colin Ross, M.D. (*1950) Canadian psychiatrist, trauma expert, president of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (1993-1994), researcher, lecturer, author

Type	Offering	Title	Sponsor ♦ Location ♦ P-Date	Minutes duration	Release date
YouTube video	Interview	*Is Psychiatry A Scam? Truth About Mental Disorders, Psychiatrists*	Psychetruth, host Corrina Rachel	19:59	27. July 2012
YouTube video	Interview	*Cause of Mental Health Disorders: Chemical or Trauma?*	Psychetruth, host Corrina Rachel	13:55	23. August 2012
YouTube video	Interview	*What's Wrong With Psychiatry & Mental Health APA DSM*	Psychetruth, host Corrina Rachel	13:40	9. September 2012
YouTube video	Interview	Do Antidepressants Cure Depression? Are Psych Drugs Safe? Antidepressants are not more effective than placebos.	Psychetruth, host-correspondent Corrina Rachel	17:22	26.·November·2012
YouTube video	Interview	*Truth About Self Mutilation, Pain Addiction, Depression, Therapy, Drugs, Psychology*	Psychetruth, host Corrina Rachel	12:52	25. January 2013
YouTube video	Interview	*Does Electroshock Therapy Work? Is Electric Shock Safe? ECT Psychiatry*	Psychetruth, host Corrina Rachel	17:05	21. February 2013
YouTube video	Interview	*Schizophrenia: Cause & Treatment, Truth about Mental Disorders & Psych Drugs*	Psychetruth, host Corrina Rachel	15:47	4. March 2013
YouTube video	Interview	*Vitamin D, Health & Disease: Deficiency, Toxicity, Depression, Mental Health* Enhanced Vitamin D levels defy cancer, MS, and depression.	Psychetruth, host-correspondent Corrina Rachel	19:44	11. April 2013
YouTube video	Interview	*Mental Health Disorders & The DSM 5, Psychiatrist Tells the Truth* Issued by the APA: DSM-1, 1952, DSM-3, 1980, DSM-4, 1994/2000, DSM-5, May 2013	Psychetruth, host Corrina Rachel	17:08	5. July 2013
YouTube video	Interview	*Mental Health Stigma, The Truth Talks: Psychiatry & Mental Disorders*	Psychetruth, host Corrina Rachel	19:25	1. September 2013

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Audio and video links (engl.) – Abram Hoffer

Audios and videos on Depression featuring Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D. (1917-2009) Canadian psychiatrist, biochemist, agricultural chemist
Focussing also on: Hypoglycemia [Unterzuckerung], coauthored with David Hawkins, Linus Pauling

Type	Offering	Title	Sponsor ♦ Location ♦ P-Date	Minutes duration	Release date
YouTube video	Interview	*Natural Cure for Depression, Bipolar, ADHD, Schizophrenia*	"Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour" 2006	9:26	21. January 2008
YouTube video	Interview	*Dr Abram Hoffer*	Community Addiction Recovery Association (CARA), Sacramento, California, 27.-29. September 2007	9:31	21.·February·2008
Discussing addiction, Depression, AA, Bill W., Niacin, Linus Pauling, orthomolecular medicine, his colleague Dr. David Hawkins who had successfully treated schizophrenic alcoholics with Niacin Minute 6:40
YouTube video Playlist	Documentary	*Masks of Madness*	International Schizophrenia Foundation (ASA), host Margot Kidder, recorded 2008	46:23	4. May 2012

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Audio and video links (engl.) – Vitamine D3 intake / Vitamin D3-Gaben

Audio interview with Gabriele Stähler, German naturopath, Gabriele Stähler on Vitamin D3, with Bill Ryan a Project Camelot interview, presented by the platform Project Avalon, host Bill Ryan, YouTube film, 1:00:22 duration, posted 20. November 2009, reposted 8. July 2021
Video interview with Colin Ross, M.D. (*1950) Canadian psychiatrist, trauma expert, president of the International Society for
the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (1993-1994), researcher, lecturer, author, Vitamin D, Health & Disease: Deficiency, Toxi-
city, Depression, Mental Health, presented by Psychetruth, host-correspondent Corrina Rachel, YouTube film, 19:44 minutes duration, posted 11. April 2013

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Documentaries and movies (engl.)

Animated and narrated lesson A brief history of melancholy, presented by TED-Ed, educator Courtney Stephens, animator Sharon Colman Graham, YouTube film, 5:28 minutes duration, posted 2. October 2014
"Many thinkers contend that melancholy is necessary in gaining wisdom." Minute 2:03

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Interne Links

Hawkins

¹ Romano Guardini (1885-1968) italienischer katholischer Religionsphilosoph, Theologe, Autor, Vom Sinn der Schwermut, S. 45, Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz, 1987 ⇑

² Article Crying has its perks. Effect of crying on one's mood, presented by the US American news website for topical science articles Science Daily, 24. August 2015 ⇑

³ Laut der Forschung des Biochemiker und "Tränenexperten" Dr. William Frey vom Ramsey Medical Center in Minneapolis ⇑

⁴ Ergebnis von Tränenstudien des niederländische Professor für Psychologe Ad Vingerhoets, zitiert in: Gelöschter Artikel Heul doch! – Warum Tränen so wichtig sind, präsentiert von der Pforzheimer Zeitung, Magazin, Simon Walter, 17. August 2018 ⇑

⁵ Kaiser Permanente-CDC Adverse Childhood Experiences Study ⇑

⁶ Article Is everything you think you know about depression wrong?, presented by the British daily newspaper The Guardian, Johann Hari (*1979) British columnist, journalist, writer, 7. January 2018 ⇑

⁷ Gabor Maté, M.D. drgabormate.com (*1944) Hungarian-Canadian addiction expert, talk at St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church, Vancouver, 27. November 2011; cited in: Article Gabor Maté: 'Organized insanity' for doctors to ignore health, poverty link. Can social inequity cause sickness? Vancouver's Dr. Gabor Maté thinks so., presented by the independent Canadian online newspaper The Vancouver Observer, 29. November 2011 ⇑

⁸ Audio presentation by Gabor Maté, M.D. drgabormate.com (*1944) Hungarian-Canadian addiction expert, Capitalism Makes Us Crazy: Dr. Gabor Maté on Illness and Addiction, presented by zvents.com, recorded by the listener-funded Californian radio station KPFA Public Radio Exchange (PRX), Berkeley, California, minute 11:58, 29:00 minutes duration, aired 19. November 2011 ⇑

⁹ Bessel van der Kolk, Ph.D. (*1943) Dutch-American professor of psychiatry, researcher in post-traumatic stress, Boston University, educator, author, 2005, cited in: Video opening public keynote address by Gabor Maté, M.D. drgabormate.com (*1944) Hungarian-Canadian physician, addiction expert, speaker, author, Women, Addictions and FASD – Public Keynote Address, sponsored by the Regional FASD Conference "Hope in Action – A Caring Community", Smithers, B.C., 7.-9. February 2012, YouTube film, minute 100:13, 1:44:36 duration, posted by SCSASmithers 6. March 2013 ⇑

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Übersicht

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Depression

Geschichtlicher Überblick – Depression

Daten und Hintergründe zum Thema Depression

Die Stimme des wahren Selbstes erheben

Lösende Tränen

Funktionelle Hypoglykämie

Fünf Strategien angesichts des Unausweichlichen – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Lebensverlängernde Verhaltensweisen – Statistik

Zitate zum Thema Depression

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General quotes

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Quotes by Dorothy Rowe

Englische Texte – English section on Depression

Healing depression without drugs – a cure for life

Depression research – status 2018

Abraham Lincoln's depression

Benefits of tears – Judith Orloff

Depression at the brink of suicide

Five strategies when faced with the inevitable – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Experiment on the depressed brains of men and women

Poems on depression

Links zum Thema Depression

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Literature (engl.)

Externe Weblinks

Weblinks zum Thema Depression – Quora

External web links (engl.)

Audio- und Videolinks

Dokumentationen und Filme

Audio and video links (engl.)

Audio and video links (engl.) – Sean Blackwell

Audio and video links (engl.) – Peter Breggin

Audio and video links (engl.) – Colin Ross

Audio and video links (engl.) – Abram Hoffer

Audio and video links (engl.) – Vitamine D3 intake / Vitamin D3-Gaben

Documentaries and movies (engl.)

Interne Links