I am depressed. Let’s get that out of the way first.
It took a long time for me to acknowledge this fact.
Some days, I am ok. High functioning even. I am productive, I’ll work on my projects
and meet with friends. Some days, I can’t bother to get out of my bed.
Sometimes, I cry for no reason. There’s no rhyme or reason for this.
I am fascinated by depression.
Of course, now it is widely discussed, but would you believe if I told you that an ancient Roman
philosopher, not only discussed depression, but he was also surprisingly vulnerable?
Seneca, also known as Seneca the young, was an ancient Roman stoic philosopher and a satirist.
Seneca is known for his philosophical works, and for his plays, which are all tragedies
(of course!). His prose works include 12 essays and 124 letters dealing with moral issues. These
writings constitute one of the most important bodies of primary material for ancient Stoicism.
But here I want to add a disclaimer. At the time Seneca was writing, depression was widely known
(called melancholia) but nobody knew the cause. The concept of a chemical imbalance
causing depression was not yet understood. Therefore, his understanding and explanation
of the cause of depression was based on the knowledge and understanding available to him.
He attributed depression mostly to something that arises out of our own thought patterns and
believed that it was caused by excessive focus on negative thoughts and emotions.
Seneca's approach to addressing depression was to focus on changing one's mindset and behavior.
He believed that by taking action, changing perspective, and focusing on the present moment,
individuals could break out of the downward spiral of negative thoughts and emotions.
He also emphasized the importance of accepting negative emotions as a part of human experience
and the importance of talking to others about it. He believed that by sharing one's
struggles and gaining a new perspective, one can find peace and fulfillment.
It's worth noting that while Seneca's understanding of the causes of depression
was different from the modern understanding, his approach to addressing it can still be valuable.
His emphasis on taking action for example, resonates with me deeply.
Somedays when I don’t want to get out of the bed, I tell myself, that I don’t have to do
anything. All I need to do is put one foot on the floor, not even think about putting
the next foot on the floor or standing, or I tell myself, I only need to brush my teeth,
I don’t have to do anything else., I don’t have to think about making coffee or going out.
This is in-line with what Seneca wrote. One of the most striking things about Seneca's
approach to depression is his emphasis on the importance of taking action. He
urged people to get up and do something, even if it was just a small task like
writing a letter or going for a walk. He believed that taking action was
the best way to break out of the downward spiral of negative thoughts and feelings.
I understand that depression and anxiety manifests in different ways for different people,
and this is something that seems to work for me. Taking small actions,
working on small changes, helps me immensely.
In his 13th letter to Lucilius, titled, “On groundless fears,” Seneca writes:
There are more things … likely to frighten us than
there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.
He then offers this piece of advice:
What I advise you to do is, not to be unhappy before the crisis comes;
since it may be that the dangers before which you paled as if they were threatening you,
will never come upon you; they certainly have not yet come.
Accordingly, some things torment us more than they ought; some torment us before they ought;
and some torment us when they ought not to torment us at all.
We are in the habit of exaggerating, or imagining, or anticipating, sorrow.
16 centuries before Rene Descartes explored the connection between fear and hope, Seneca
had already delved into its significance in reducing our anxieties. He writes:
The mind at times fashions for itself false shapes of evil when there are no signs that
point to any evil; it twists into the worst construction some word of doubtful meaning;
or it fancies some personal grudge to be more serious than it really is,
considering not how angry the enemy is, but to what lengths he may go if he is angry.
But life is not worth living, and there is no limit to our sorrows,
if we indulge our fears to the greatest possible extent; in this matter, let prudence help you,
and contemn with a resolute spirit even when it is in plain sight.
If you cannot do this, counter one weakness with another,
and temper your fear with hope. There is nothing so certain among these objects of
fear that it is not more certain still that things we dread sink into nothing and that
things we hope for mock us. Accordingly, weigh carefully your hopes as well as your fears,
and whenever all the elements are in doubt, decide in your own favour; believe what you prefer.
And if fear wins a majority of the votes, incline in the other direction anyhow, and cease to harass
your soul, reflecting continually that most mortals, even when no troubles are actually
at hand or are certainly to be expected in the future, become excited and disquieted.
Seneca also emphasizes accepting and talking about one's struggles.
This can also be beneficial in addressing depression caused by chemical imbalances,
as it can lead to seeking help and finding the appropriate treatment.
It is well-known that the Stoics believed that depression, and negative emotions in general,
are partly within our control and can be exacerbated by our thought patterns. Today,
we have a better understanding of the causes of depression, which includes chemical imbalances.
However, the Stoic teachings, as well as modern therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,
stress the importance of changing our thoughts and perspective in order to manage our emotions.
Therefore, it can be argued that if the Stoics were alive today,
they would likely encourage individuals to seek help and guidance not only through
philosophy and self-reflection, but also through therapy and medication if needed.
It is important to note that seeking medication such as antidepressants is
a valid and helpful option for those dealing with depression.
… and I am sure that some of you who’s watching this, might be dealing with depression and
anxiety, and sure, it is a lonely journey. But I want to stress that you’re not alone,
even though it feels like it. And of course help is never consistent and there’s no clear
path to getting help. Medications didn’t help me, but it helped many of my friends.
Talk therapy didn’t help some of my friends, but it is helping me. So, it is important to
be vocal about what you are going through. Don’t be afraid to talk about this to your friends and
people who you trust. There are various ways through which you can find help. Of course,
it might get exhausting at times, but you are not alone. Talk about what you’re going through,
write about what you’re going through, read about what you’re going through, bring
it to the open. It helped me and I hope it helps you as well.