Depression's Evolutionary Roots
Depression seems to pose an evolutionary paradox. Research in the US and other countries estimates that between 30 to 50 percent of people have met current psychiatric diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder sometime in their lives. But the brain plays crucial roles in promoting survival and reproduction, so the pressures of evolution should have left our brains resistant to such high rates of malfunction. Mental disorders should generally be rare — why isn’t depression?
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This analytical style of thought, of course, can be very productive. Each component is not as difficult, so the problem becomes more tractable. Indeed, when you are faced with a difficult problem, such as a math problem, feeling depressed is often a useful response that may help you analyze and solve it. For instance, in some of our research, we have found evidence that people who get more depressed while they are working on complex problems in an intelligence test tend to score higher on the test...
Read more @ Scientific American
So does this mean that whenever your parents are unfairly having a go at you for something, they are actually helping...
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
my dad is alwayzzzzzz having a go at me. even if av done nothing wrong he'l find the smalllllest thing and just start on that. its like he constantly wants to jus shout at me. its sooooooooooooooo anoying
"ThiS WoRlD Iz A PrIsOn 4 A BeLiVeR AnD PaRaDiSe 4 A NoN-BeLiVeR.........."
there there, go to your happy place
Ever considered becoming a psychologist or a counsellor?
"For too long, we have been a passively tolerant society, saying to our citizens 'as long as you obey the law, we will leave you alone'" - David Cameron, UK Prime Minister. 13 May 2015.
Just because you may have visited a shrink, it doesn't mean you're depressed. And just because you may have been through depression, it doesn't mean you're smart. That's an error in Statistical reports. One does not cause the other but it may be a contributing factor, no doubt.
I think alot of people just become cynical when they're depressed and that causes them to question alot of things which may help in the intelligence department. Ofcourse this doesnt work for everone.
I understand this is a very old thread, but ive been curious about this for a loong time and wondered how the state of depression can effect intellegence.
This is because when i have spouts of depression i can actually see my mental abilities increase. I can take my thinking to higher levels with ease without getting distracted and losing my trail of thought. combine this with a lack of sleep and i feel like i could solve anything! I have actually tried completeing difficult michanical equasions when depressed and it becomes much easier.
has anybody else found this increased mental reasoning abilities when depressed?
Worked for House
Back in BLACK
Depression makes you smarter? That explains the loss of 850 000 lives every year.
If you are depressed, you're more likely to concentrate less and overlook the positive things in life.
If that just makes you cleverer, its not really depression then is it. Just using your brain a teeny bit does help - believe it or not.
Im not sure if thats intended for me or the discussion in general but I am well aware of what depression is. The majority of my family suffer from it including members who have had it push them over the edge.
But when im depressed there arent any positive things in life to overlook.... i see how corrupt everything is and how pointless our lives are. How humans are too evolved and too efficient for the worlds good. We destroy everything because nothings easy enough the way it is.
This clarification is what enables my brain to work more efficiently when depressed. Everything becomes clear.
So im sorry if your depression comes from the 'stress' of being in school, or not being attractive enough or whatever it is that makes you feel the need tto spend your time online talking down to strangers but its uncalled so if you dont get something....DONT SAY ANYTHING.
@dp1, I'm guessing you're a Muslim, right? Do you mind making a proper user account for this site?
"How many people find fault in what they're reading and the fault is in their own understanding" Al Mutanabbi
nice way of calling someone dumb and ugly...
Welcome to TheRevival! in the beginning of your post you said you werent sure if she was talking to you or in general. and by the end ofyour post you decided she was talking to you and insulted her (back..maybe)
calm down, and enjoy this place. its pretty cool that u can do so much when you're "depressed". i mean, if i was to think abt how corrupt humans are..i'd just want to crawl in a whole... BUT YOU!! you should chnge the world while being depressed!! you should!! stand up to all thats wrong etc..
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Depression does NOT make you smarter and i strongly believe in that.
If you take a look into the definition of it, you'll find that its accompanied by 'feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy' along with 'lack of energy' and 'difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life'.
This is polar opposite to what the qualities of smartness entail. If your smart, you're intelligent, your clever, your knowledgable, you think for yourself, you see outside of your bubble, and you know how to solve problems in different ways.
Perhaps, being on your own and not relying on anyone, being alone with your thoughts and thinking deep into the roots of bizarre things, helps you to become more independent as a person and more dependent on tablets, yet it most definitely does not make you smarter.
I think you can still thave these thoughts without being depressed. Its just so much more easier, living the non-depressed life and becoming smarter and smarter at the same time.
Deleted
Don't get your knickers in a twist. It was a general comment & my own opinion.
Euh, what you sorry for?! I don't have depression neither do I waste my time talking down to strangers. Where did that come from? It wasn't my intention so I apolgise. But maybe you should think before you say SOMETHING. That may help your depression.
I don't get a lot of things yet I'll still say whatever pleases me. So, if you don't like what I (or anyone) says, do something else with your life.
haha now who's getting theyre knickers in a twist. (joke)
Sorry for the way i came accross on that last message. Reading back over it it may have been a little un-called for.
Although, i do find it odd strongly disagreeing with something you have no personnel experience with. And by all means express your oppinions, but saying whatever comes to your mind, when you dont 'get' something could potentially get you into trouble.
As for the comment about do with my life, i'm more than happy with the way im living my life, and just thought this question about depression making you smarter seemed like an interesting idea.
If i was disagreeing with it, I would have stated in my original post. I didn't say whether I disagree or not, It was just what I thought of the idea, that's all.
Saying whatever comes to your mind whether you get something or not, ain't a bad thing. Expressing your opinion don't get you into trouble either, depending on the matter. Its how you LEARN and get your point across through listening what others have to say. -.-
thing is though.. you do need to GET the stuff you're talking abt before talking abt it. its...obvious..how can you talk about... integration of trigonometric functions when you dont have ANY or only a slight idea of it.
its like saying you dont like Tofu without ever having tried it.
see?
now people. think before you speak. stop calling each other ugly or telling each other to get lives. let's be niiiiiiiiiiiiiice to each other. there's enough evil out there.
Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?