Depression is a profound spiritual territory that teaches us about vitality and the depth of emotions.
Medication is not artificial or inauthentic in managing depression, but a way to restore vitality and help individuals reconnect with their own lives.
Deep dives
Depression as Profound Spiritual Territory
Depression is described as profound spiritual territory that is difficult to articulate. It is the shadow side of human vitality and teaches us about vitality. Depression is an experience of finding ordinary tasks incredibly difficult, being weighed down by fear and overwhelming feelings. It is not primarily an experience of sadness but rather a way to understand the depth of emotions and the inner self.
The Paradox of Suffering
Suffering is a central aspect of human life, and depression is a form of suffering that cannot be glorified. The experience of depression can feel like a betrayal by oneself, and it is characterized by a sense of loneliness and isolation. Finding the self and one's essential being become difficult during depression, leading to a heightened awareness of vulnerability and a reevaluation of the interior monologue.
The Role of Medication and Authenticity
Medication is not viewed as artificial or inauthentic in managing depression. Depression brings about changes in the self, and medication aims to address the effects caused by chemical imbalances. The use of medication is seen as a way to bring one back to their authentic self, restoring vitality and helping individuals reconnect with their own lives.
Depression as a Spiritual Journey
Depression is seen as a spiritual journey that can lead to personal growth and a deepening capacity for intimacy. The experience of depression challenges conventional notions of the spiritual life, inviting a reevaluation of one's relationship with darkness and suffering. It is through the process of sitting in silence, embracing darkness, and being present in suffering that one can emerge on the other side with a new understanding of oneself and a greater appreciation for the value of love.
We’re increasingly attentive to the many faces of depression and anxiety, and we’re fluent in the languages of psychology and medication. But depression is profound spiritual territory; and that is much harder to speak about. This is an On Being classic. Krista opens up about her own experience of depression and talks with Parker Palmer, Anita Barrows, and Andrew Solomon. We are putting this out on the air again because people tell us it has saved lives, and so many of us are struggling in whole new ways right now.
Anita Barrows is a psychologist, poet and translator. Her most recent poetry collection is We are the Hunger. She has translated several volumes of the writings of Rainer Maria Rilke together with Joanna Macy, including Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God.
