Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a very serious mental disorder

characterized by a "perception of hopelessness ... often accompanied by

deep feelings of sadness, loss of interest in what previously made life
meaningful, and sometimes thoughts of suicide" (Robbins, 1993). This
mental disorder is very prevalent among adolescents, with "approximately
28% of adolescents have experienced a major depressive episode by the age
of 19" (Lewinsohn et al., 1998a). Although depression is widely known of and
recognized by a majority of the population, the public view towards
depression varies greatly as known information remains obscure. What else
is still out there waiting to be uncovered about Depression?
Major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression and more
commonly referred to as simply 'depression,' is a type of mood disorder
whose classification by the DSM-IV leaves it along the spectrum of
depressive disorders. "The classic symptoms are well known: feelings of
sadness, helplessness, and hopelessness, changes in eating and sleeping
patterns, low self-esteem, lack of energy, crying, and isolating oneself from
others. (Lynch & Kilmartin, 1999) Other typical symptoms or signs of
depression include a loss of interest in usual activities, excessive self-
reproach, feelings of guilt, thoughts of suicide, trouble sleeping (insomnia),
slowed reactions, chronic fatigue, inability to concentrate, and an inability to
remember things (Robbins, 1993). It's almost as if depression manages to
put its sufferers up to a mental test, consisting of a horrible bad mood that
will seemingly never end and instead play on forever.
If you haven't already noticed, the central "pain" to be felt by
those suffering from Depression, is a mental anguish. Mentally, this disorder
will immediately drive you down the craziest and steepest emotional roller
coaster of your life, and it gives no sign of letting up the pressure any time
soon. Other downsides that can be experienced with Depression include
negative affects upon a person and: their family, relationships, work, school
life, sleeping & eating habits, and their overall general health and well-being.
But this is just what the downsides to depression are defined as. Imagine
waking up each morning with one goal in mind: to scurry along the day
avoiding the hell of a reality the world has become, masquerading your aura
in doom in effort to cover any & all potential happiness that might be left
exposed to your pathetic, worthless body. You lie awake at night, troubled by
the loss of your sense of self worth and plagued in sorrow. Your sole purpose
for waking up each morning is to continue your search for the next place to
put down your head to sleep and forget it all. Imagine these being your
actual, reoccurring everyday thoughts. Now imagine them being your
everyday thoughts for months at a time. Or, perhaps depression and
insomnia have been keeping you awake in the night? How do stop the
irrational thoughts brought about by your deprivation of sleep? What if you
never are able to fall asleep again? And what if, you had to live the rest of
your life while fighting off the mental pain of believing you are absolutely
'nothing?' These sick, twisted and jumbled types of thoughts are very similar
to the types of thought an extremely Depressed person will actually go
through all the time throughout periods of deep depression.
After being given this brief rundown of depression, the notion that it is
a debilitating and difficult disorder to live with can be realized. But what is
publicly known of depression? Rather, what are the publicly accepted ideas
concerning depression? In his article, "The Social Stigma of Depression,"
Kevin Caldbeck addresses the idea that there is a type of 'social stigma'
associated with depression. But what is meant by this idea of a 'social
stigma' of depression? Simply put, it is the way people tend to react and
behave towards people with a depression diagnosis. Caldbeck suggests that
people behave and act so oddly around those diagnosed with depression
because they "are often misinformed, and so are nervous. They assume that
anyone who has a mental illness is potentially dangerous, turning violet at
any moment, and so they're afraid." ("Social Stigma Depression," 2008).
Fortunately, those suffering with depression are most likely not going to 'turn
violent any moment;' but instead will most likely remain silent and passive.
To this point, depression has been presented as a severe mental
disorder that deeply affects its sufferers. But where do these ideas about
depression cross paths with the ideas regarding the topic of Encountering
Adulthood? That is, assuming they cross paths at all. Do they meet? And if
so, where? These are easy questions to answer, because these two topics
are in fact, directly correlated. The struggles of overcoming a battle with
depression and learning to live without the pains of depression is a long,
hard-fought and strenuous journey. This struggle to attain happiness is very
similar to modern day rite of passage rituals, and can even can be looked
upon as a Rite of Passage itself. Modern culture has tended to downplay the
importance of the rites of passage that mark our transition from one life
stage to another, and todays' youth is suffering because of it. Fortunately for
today's adolescents suffering from depression, they can utilize their
depression as a Rite of Passage of sorts, and as a means of finding their
adult identity.
No matter how much proof or how many testimonies from sufferers of
these mental disorders are around, there are still those who 'doubt' the
seriousness, and even the existence, of these disorders. In his article titled,
"Does Mental Illness Exist?" Lawrence Stevens, J.D. refutes the legitimacy of
mental illnesses, stating that there is no biological entity or proof to back up
the 'cause' or 'symptoms' of mental illness. He, as well as the multiple views
of doctors displayed in his article, agree that the lack of a significant
biological change means that "mental illnesses" are not in fact, legitimate
diseases or disorders. ("Does Mental Illness," 1995) These disorders are
anything but illegitimate in my mind, as well as in the minds of many
psychiatrists, psychologists, researchers, and doctors. To those who believe
they exist, and exist as a real disorder, they are just as serious as any other
illness such as cancer, diabetes, or leukemia.
In theory, overcoming the extreme grief of depression, or even
learning to simply manage the negative feelings associated with this disorder
can lead to the discovery of a new person. Those who suffer from depression
can, and will benefit from overcoming their disorder. After visiting the
deepest, darkest side of one's mind, where reason to keep on is hard to
come by, finding freedom from these thoughts is an exhilarating, jovial, and
blissful experience. After being plagued by negativity, it's easy to be thankful
for the more simple things in life. Whether intentional or not, it leads to a
new way of thinking and seeing the world. No longer will things be taken for
granted, and hope, positivity, and true happiness are found. Despite having
to deal with some minute difficulties, after overcoming depression, a greater
perspective of the world can be had. Things are put in perspective, and the
realization of dreams will begin to occur. Young adults can especially benefit
from overcoming their disorders. This is because overcoming depression is a
sort of 'Rite of Passage' into adulthood. Although it may seem metaphoric,
the struggles and hardships faced on the pursuit of happiness (or the process
of overcoming depression) almost equates to the traditional Rites of Passage
found throughout our world. Overcoming one's battle with depression is a
Rite of Passage that young adults can and will be able to use in finding their
adult identity.
Personally, I've been involved in what has been a long 'on and off'
relationship with Depression for over three years now. In the beginning,
depression started off as recurring negative thoughts, that somehow
managed to plant the seed of Major depressive disorder within my mind.
Suddenly, over the course of the end of Autumn and into Winter of my junior
year of high school, depression gave my behavior a 180 degree turn for the
worst of the worst. As January and February came, my depression got worse
and worse and worse. I recall walking from class to class, only to get there
and tuck my face into my arm because it was the closest thing I had to
escaping my living hell. I suffered from one of the most absurd sleeping
schedules, as insomnia was also prevalent now. I found safety from
Depression in my dreams, but then insomnia came to take them away. My
parents couldn't understand what was wrong with me, and they would
constantly ask me, "Bill, What's wrong with you?!" As if it would fix
something. I visited social workers whose agenda was to serve themselves,
as opposed to those who needed it, and doctors who seemingly 'SWEAR' by
the use of prescription SSRI's, (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, an
antidepressant medication) seeing as how prescriptions to these medicines
are just given out like halloween candy. The only thing that could break this
depression, was that when summer started, I had no responsibility to show
up to high school, where my ability to live happily was impeded against.
Eventually, this disorder had all but sifted away through the sands of
summer, leaving me alone with no where to turn.
While being treated for depression throughout the Junior school year,
and even into the summer, I was pretty much forced to talk to these
counselors, mostly because their doctor prescribed me to Zoloft, and as long
as I remained medicated on this SSRI, I was required to talk to professionals.
I usually argued with them, only making my depression much worse. In my
experience, it has worked out that none of my "SSRI" medications prescribed
for my depression have ever worked, or have ever led to any sort of positive
event. The first time I was prescribed Zoloft, I took it for a week and hated
myself more than ever. This is why, even to this day, I dislike SSRI's and their
usage. Unlike my battle with ADHD, which was quickly solved by the use of
prescription drugs, my battle with depression would drag much deeper.
When it came to self medication, I would 'try' differing doses of my
prescribed medications as a means of finding the right combination.
Unfortunately, I've never been on a prescription drug that seemed to work
efficiently, seemingly again leading me to search for a solution within the
field of self medication. As my Senior year of high school began winding
down, as did i; mentally. The last two months or so of my senior year of high
school were ruined; raped by the presence of depression. Luckily for me, I
was in a sort of daring mood, and almost ready and willing for anything.
Having smoked marijuana only a couple of times before, using marijuana
was a taboo of sorts that began running through my mind. I knew about
marijuana's medicinal properties, and have even heard that it could be used
as a means of battling anxiety disorders, and even depression; the two
disorders most prevalent in my world at this time. As June 1st, 2009 came,
only 18 short days would be left in our class' high school careers. I went to a
girls softball game this particular evening, and went home with a nice
dosage of marijuana buds. I was aware marijuana worked as an amazing
sleeping aid, and I began to only smoke a little bit right before bed, to ease
my mind and relax my body enough to allow it to enjoy a night of sleep. "I
unfortunately suffer from pretty intense depression, and have found that
smoking as little as half a bowl a day helps my general mood and outlook for
the rest of the day. " (John Doe, from www.marijuana.com) I found that use
of marijuana in small doses at appropriate times (before bed) not only
helped me sleep more efficiently, but actually helped ease the difficulties of
depression. Marijuana put my mind in a state where it could co-exist with
happiness, and that is why I went to the lengths of utilizing this illegal
narcotic.
Nowadays, I spend most of my time keeping busy, which, in a way has
kept me mentally strong, and far from the negativity of depression. For me,
it seemed that school getting out in June led to a breath of fresh air for not
only my lungs, but for my mind as well. To this day, depression seems to lurk
around, and come and go and visit as it pleases. Nowadays, I suffer from a
coming and going type of Dysthymia, which fades in and out in terms of
strength of depression, as well as Recurrent Brief Depression (RCB), where I
stumble into two to three day long 'wars' that take place throughout my
mind, and sometimes last as long as eight or so days. Dysthymia is very
similar to Major Depressive Disorder, however it's symptoms are not as
severe as MDD, and include a different kind of mood disturbance than MDD.
Simply put, Recurrent Brief Depression is the same disorder as MDD,
however the length of mood disturbance is periodic and generally lasts less
than two weeks. Yes, I still see this horrific mental disorder visiting my
thoughts from time-to-time, but for the most part, my demons were evicted,
and my mind changed its locks.
Depression is extremely widespread, and this holds true in regards to
the adolescent population. Besides having widespread diagnosis throughout
adolescents, depression also seems to receive similar attitudes and outlooks
upon it's difficulties from the adolescents themselves. Most teens view
depression as a daunting, difficult, and sometimes impossible disorder to
'conquer.' Shawn High, a teenager who suffers from depression, shares this
same viewpoint on the disorder. "People without mental illness don't
understand what it's like. Some people say 'Just smile and get over it,' [but]
It's not just a matter of smiling and getting over it," said High. ("Mental
illness not," 2009) The 'accepted' idea of depression amongst teens is that it
is a disorder that is confusing, mentally straining, difficult, and upsetting. In
her article, "My Teenage Depression Story," Merri Ellen Giesbrecht seems to
confirm this interpretation of depression, noting the specific difficulties of
this disorder. She described her high school years as "one of the darkest
times of my life," and says she once would find herself "seriously thinking
about suicide." ("My Teenage Depression," 2008) Her symptoms of
depression include being outgoing and sociable throughout the school day,
yet still afraid to go out on the weekends. Some days she got involved in
everything she could, while other days she only wanted to sleep all day. She
didn't feel comfortable sharing her issues with others, and therefore tended
to keep to her lonesome for the most part. For Merri, as well as Shawn,
depression was a disorder that was both mind-boggling and substantial. Each
of these teens experienced clear struggle due to depression, and it was not
until working out and solving these problems (at least in Merri's case) that a
solution was found. This 'solution' is a metaphor for completing the process
of Encountering Adulthood.
After reading about stories of depression, whether they be personal
stories of my own, or the stories of others, one idea remains clear;
depression causes a change in the thought process. This notion is
prominently displayed in Stephen L. Bernhardt's article "Understanding
Depression, Part II," where he blames the minds' mannerisms of thinking for
depression. "Depression results from the inability of the conscious mind to
provide solutions which relieve undue and unresolved stress. The
unconscious mind must resolve stress at the time of inception, otherwise the
chemistry of our emotions if left unabated would destroy us, or at least do us
irrepealable harm." ("Understanding Depression Part," 1996). After these
thoughts begin occurring, it seems there will be no stopping them.
"Depression becomes for us a set of habits, behaviors, thought processes,
assumptions, and feelings which seems very much like our core self."
("Undoing Depression," 1999) This quote from Richard O'Connor's article
"Understanding Depression" can help us to further understand the ways that
depression causes changes in thought process. Through this idea presented
by O'Connor, we can understand that the depressed mind causes an
unnecessary change in one's thought process. This new thought process is in
a ways, 'stuck' right where it is at. It is not until ideas of overcoming
depression come about that this mode of thought process is exchanged into
the thought process required for encountering adulthood.
In order to overcome the difficulties of depression, teenagers must
'find a new way of doing things' to cope with these struggles. This process of
finding a solution to depression can be directly connected to Rites of Passage
that exist all over the world. Similarities between the process of overcoming
depression and the definition of a 'Rite of Passage are for the most part,
simple to find. This is because they share many characteristics. They are
both structured processes that adolescents must go through, however a
battle with depression is not guided by an adult like a traditional Rite of
Passage. Through depression, teens can acquire knowledge and skills about
wisdom and oneself much like a rite of passage. It is clear that adolescents
suffering with depression will be exposed to a 'Rite of Passage' of sorts,
which may ultimately lead to the encountering of one's adult identity.
To fully understand how ideas about depression and ideas regarding
encountering adulthood merge together and are related, it is first necessary
to understand how depression can serve as a right of passage within
adolescents. The ongoing struggle with depression its sufferers face is very
much similar to a Rites of Passage ritual in many ways. In Rachael Kessler's
The Soul of Education, she is able to define the characteristics of rites of
passage by drawing from the essential elements of initiation rites. According
to her book,
"A rite of passage is a structured process guided by adults in which
young people are helped to become conscious about the irrevocable
transition they're in, given tools for making transitions and
separations, initiated into the new capacities required for their next
step, and acknowledged by the community of adults, as well as their
peers, for their courage and strength in taking that step." (Kessler,
140).
These are the characteristics, as defined by Kessler, that make up a proper
'rite of passage.'
The process of overcoming depression can most definitely be seen as a
structured process, in the sense that overcoming depression is a journey that
takes time to get through, much like a 'structured process' might. The only
difference between the notion of overcoming depression as a rite of passage,
and what Kessler recommends in a rite of passage is the absence of adult
presence throughout an adolescent's journey through overcoming
adventure. Despite lacking adult guidance, the notion that the journey to
overcoming depression is one in the same with other rites of passage can
still be realized. This is because the remainder of characteristics for rites of
passage as suggested by Kessler can be seen within the journey to
overcoming depression. For example, in the journey to overcoming
depression, adolescents are helped to become conscious of the transition
they are in. Whether it be through friends, parents, teachers, doctors, or
even a coach, someone is going to catch on that something is not quite right
about an adolescent beginning to suffer from depression. Once the
adolescent realizes, or becomes conscious to the idea they are suffering
from depression, they will then realize the irrevocable transition they have
started making. On their journey to overcoming depression, adolescents will
also be given the tools they need to make transitions and separations.
Although it will not be a physical 'tool,' adolescents with depression will
develop a new way of thinking about things that will allow for the making of
these transitions and separations. Teenagers dealing with depression will be
initiated into the new capacities required for their next step; which is into
adulthood. Again, the burden of depression will give its adolescent sufferer a
new perspective of looking at things, which is the change in perception
needed to no longer view things from a child's point of view, but instead that
of an adult with a newly established adult identity.
In order to be deemed a true rite of passage, the journey of
overcoming depression must be more than just acquiring knowledge, skills,
and recognition by elders. "The learning that takes places in a meaningful
rite of passage is not only cognitive growth but changes to the core."
(Kessler, 164). Cognitive growth is present throughout the journey of
overcoming depression, and it is not unaccompanied by changes made to
the core. Depression without a doubt makes enough changes to ones core
for a handful of different rites of passage. With it's debilitatingly low moods,
and symptoms that could make the devil himself miserable, depression
conducts plenty of changes to ones core, and therefore makes itself a
perfect example of a modern day 'Rite of Passage' into adulthood.
There is also a framework of meaning shown within Kessler's book.
This framework of meaning are more aspects that can be assumed of a Rite
of Passage, and consists of periods of Severance, Threshold, and
Reincorporation. These are the three sections that a rite of passage is made
up of. Proving it makes an entirely appropriate example of a rite of passage,
all three of these sections are present throughout the journey of overcoming
depression. Severance occurs when the adolescent is first displaying signs of
depression, and separates from what they have known, and lets go of the
aspects of themselves that no longer fit them. This continues to occur until
the Threshold phase, where the adolescent begins searching for new
perspectives on life, through topics such as religion, political beliefs,
literature, etc. This process will continue to occur until the adolescent has
found themselves despite their depression. As soon as the adolescent
applies the things they have learned about themselves into ordinary life, the
period of Reentry occurs, and adult identity has been found. Due to the ways
depression changes one's thought process, these types of changes are
possible.
The purpose of a rite of passage is to go on a personal journey where
wisdom is found. This notion could not be more true, and in fact, it is
prevalent within Joseph Campbell's ideas on the 'Hero's Journey.' This is the
notion that everyone has a 'Personal Journey' to embark upon, and once it is
sought out and completed, a person will return home with the knowledge
and powers they acquired on their journey. In Campbell's 1949 book, The
Hero with a Thousand Faces, his belief that challenging experiences can be
seen as initiatory adventures is put on display. Campbell believed that a
person always goes out on adventure and comes back wiser and able to
contribute to society more effectively. The journey of overcoming depression
is directly relatable to Joseph Campbell's ideas on the 'Hero's Journey,' and
for multiple reasons. First, as with overcoming depression, a person must go
seek out their quest (or seek out 'beating' depression). On the way to
overcoming depression, many concepts and ideas are to be learned, as with
Joseph Campbell's story. And just like his story, overcoming depression leads
to the creation of a person with newfound knowledge, powers, and better
suited to contribute to society effectively; or in other terms, the creation of
an adult identity.
Another common result of a rite of passage is the finding of the adult
identity you're comfortable with. The best way for one to encounter
adulthood, or find their adult identity, is to complete a rite of passage, and
upon completion, one's adult identity can be found. As seen through
similarities made to Joseph Campbell's ideas on the 'Hero's Journey,'
Severance & Threshold & Reincorporation, Change made to one's 'Core,' and
through similarities made to Rachael Kessler's characteristics for defining a
rite of passage, the creation of one's adult identity is indeed what occurs
directly following a Rite of Passage. The journey of overcoming depression
can be seen as a 'rite of passage,' where upon overcoming depression
totally, a new adult identity is found.
One article I've come across through my research is "Good Things That
Come With Depression." This article discusses the positive attributes of once
having depression, and directly talks about depression being a source of
knowledge. "Serious depression comes with a certain wisdom about the
human condition and human beings' limitless capacity for suffering. It is a
form of transcendence." ("Good Things That," 2009). The author goes on to
say that melancholia (an older term for depression) "is a definite source of
philosophy," and that "Fighting depression as I do has made me wise beyond
my years in that I can detect those thoughts which bring over a precipice."
("Good Things That," 2009). This article alone can act as direct support for
my argument, that is; through overcoming the difficulties of depression, a
new person can be discovered, and knowledge can be had.
A second article of interest I have found is based around the idea of
depression as unpleasant experience that leads to a greater good. This
article also directly supports my thesis that depression can and will lead to
the encountering of adulthood. Craig Jarman's article, "Going Down" even
goes on to state, "Most of the creative, wise and soulful people I have met in
my life have, at some stage, passed through a period of depression. And it
was often in this depressive state that they found either themselves, a new
direction, a solidity and integrity or a previously untapped creative capacity."
("Going Down," 2009). This directly states that the author knew people in his
own life that faced bouts with depression, and that in their periods of
depression, they either managed to find themselves or a new way. As the
article goes on, it leads into stories about the initiation of the shaman or
spirit-doctor. Their initiation consists of a descent into the underworld of dark
spirits, where they experience a dismemberment to their bodies. After their
body is patched back together with help from helpful spirits, they return to
the upper world where they receive a vision before returning to ordinary
responsibilities. "This shamanic rite of passage mirrors the process of
depression. As we go down into a depression we are torn apart,
slowly we regather ourselves before we rise from out of the
depression with a whole new perspective on life. After depression
we are often elevated into a state of realisation, of vision and
inspiration." ("Going Down," 2009).
Whether or not it is possible to to totally overcome depression is now
seemingly irrelevant. This is because depression is, and will continue to be, a
life long struggle. Although this disorder can last a lifetime, there is
something we can learn from the deep mental anguish and suffering caused
due to the presence of this disorder. What we learn, however, isn't factual
information, or information at all; instead, it is something more explicitly
spiritual. It is a provoking change in the way one perceives the world, and
this particular change is the "Encountering of Adulthood."