Professionals in the medical field are continuously pursuing the various causes of depression. Losing a loved one, struggling in a relationship and feeling stress from work and school are some of the leading triggers for depressive feelings and behavior.
But is feeling down always a bad thing? Can a person benefit from feeling sad from time to time?
A recent Huffington Post article places the spotlight on today’s conventional views of depression. An analysis of negative feelings may suggest that the occasional sad spell is required to understand and appreciate the importance of a happy lifestyle.
Our “psychological immune system” is structured to cope with times of unhappiness, and there isn’t—or shouldn’t—always be a quick fix. Researchers suggest that “not feeling bad about feeling bad” is a crucial component for proper mood change. In a society that is focused on quick fixes and an extreme focus on being happy, accepting small bouts of sadness seems to be a more innate tool for lowering the risk of depression.
This is especially true for students and busy individuals in the workplace. The constant strive for perfection and happiness launches an individual into a mindset that could guarantee negative feelings if a situation does not end with a desired outcome. By becoming more adaptable to situations and their outcomes, happiness becomes more achievable, and the likelihood of undesired feelings decreases.
Although it is important to confront small doses of sad feelings, serious or reoccurring symptoms of depression and other psychological conditions should not be ignored.
Written by: Casey Smith
This story originally appeared in Facing Depression in Muncie, a publication of The Facing Project that was organized by the Ingelhart Scholars at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.