I thought I would write out some more Jungian Psychology. This one is about depression. I have to go carefully for “depression’ is a loose word used to describe many different things. The treatment of depression depends on the used definition and what model you use. For example, I work primarily in the ‘medical model’ of depression, based on the disease and physiological models. I am not going to write about that model. I am going to write about a psychological theory of depression.
Spiritual depression is not the same as clinical depression although they can look a lot alike and have very different treatment plans.
Several schools of psychology see depression not necessarily as a bad thing to eradicate ASAP. In the object relations theory ‘depression’ is a GOOD sign, portending healing when split off parts of the psyche are melded back into the whole. In the Jungian theory, depression is a symptom of a wrong direction, or a necessary step of discarding false matters to make room for real psychological growth. So, in Jungian psychology, depression is not an ‘illness’ per se but a signal, sort of like a ‘red warning light’ that comes on when the engine has a problem.
Depression is a state of being where libido (psychic energy) is sucked down from the conscious state into the unconscious. ‘The well is dry’; the waters have retreated into the depths. According to Jung, the Unconscious or the Self does this as a protective measure – your psyche wants to you sit up and pay attention to something awry in your life. Psyche doesn’t want you to squander libido foolishly – so it is withdrawn for your protection and for your attention.
‘Being depressed’ is considered a good thing as it is seen not as disease but as a blown fuse – something the body does to avoid further meltdown. When depressive symptoms occur in Jungian analysis, the patient isn’t quickly rushed into trying to cure it. He or she is made to ‘be’ with it and look at ‘what is going wrong in your life’. ”Getting you less depressed as soon as possible’ is not high on the agenda.
When you are in a desert, you should not too run fast to get out of it.
Going through depression, or the Dark Night of the Soul, is no fun but it is the start of real growth.
A very different approach – indeed.
16 comments
January 6, 2008 at 9:25 PM
laurie
I read something somewhat similar recently, Spo, but you put it much more clearly. Thank you for your insights, they are so very helpful.
Hugs,
Laurie
January 7, 2008 at 2:46 AM
sortedlives
Very interesting way of looking at depression. Thanks for putting it in Depression for Dummies (simple terms to easily understand)
January 7, 2008 at 3:53 AM
foxystone
I like the idea as depression as a signal, not a sickness. We push happiness so fervently in our society that we forget that sadness/depression is as viable an emotion as any of the others.
January 7, 2008 at 4:54 AM
BentonQuest
I have often what music and art we would not have if Prozac had been present in the past.
But also, as one who has been through a major depression, it is not something I would wish on anyone. (There are a few who come close, though!)
January 7, 2008 at 5:02 AM
Lemuel
This post was quite informative… and helpful. Had you been my professor for Psych 101 I might have actually learned something and liked the course. 🙂
January 7, 2008 at 6:26 AM
Doug
I suppose it’s difficult to tell a patient that you’re not going to try to cure their depression immediately.
It seems as though my depression can get worse as I become depressed about being depressed (i.e., downward spiral). Although I have worked to accept my emotional states rather than having an additional emotional reaction to them, I’d never heard of Jung’s ideas on this. Something to read about and add to my arsenal.
I must say, though, if depression is the start of real growth, I should be about 10 feet tall right about now.
January 7, 2008 at 2:16 PM
citywoof
Interesting. I’d like to come lay on your couch for awhile. Perhaps you know enough about me from reading my blog, though!
January 7, 2008 at 3:13 PM
Pink
I am definately a devout Jungian. Oh yes, sir. Not a pill popper, I. Life saving in some cases, but I have had the luxury to see it as a spiritual opportunity and my life is much richer for it.
Jung rocks. And, so do you 🙂
xx
pinks
January 7, 2008 at 4:35 PM
DougT
I had a serious bout with depression back in the early 90s. I did not go the chemical route, and am now glad of that (though the experience was quite awful at the time). The Jungian view definitely resonates with me on this one.
January 7, 2008 at 5:22 PM
Beartoast
Thomas Moore, in “Care of the Soul” says something similar, the medieval view seeing depression as gift: our souls trying to slow us down that the Divine might speak.
I’ve taken pills and I’ve done other things. Though my preference is not medicating, I was glad to have it to get through and get done some stuff that had to be journeyed through. “Better living through chemistry.”
Year ago a pyschiatrist friend always went by the guide, “If you can’t feel it, you can’t heal it.”
Not a rule, but an interesting place to start.
January 9, 2008 at 7:09 AM
Java
Hmm. Interesting. I like my pills. Not that they “cure” anything, but they help me cope. I wonder though if by coping with the status quo I’m not moving on to the better things.
However, when I am depressed and unmedicated, I can’t do anything. I haven’t got the libido to begin a healing journey.
December 19, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Graham
I have been depressed lately and it seems from within the experience that I have actually been depressed a long time, but tried to ward it off for several years through various coping mechanisms that ultimately fall short. I remembered that Jung may have cast depression as a refinement process of some kind and I checked out this website to reacquaint with that possibility. It’s the most hopeful thing I can do at this moment. Meanwhile, I get very self-destructive at these times, and I am always wondering if everything in my life is wrong for me. I never know how to separate the urge to trash everything from the quest for insight.
April 10, 2010 at 7:29 AM
Spring Blizzards « Through a Jungian Lens
[…] of needed nourishment. Here is what one of the blog authors on my blogroll has to say about depression: Depression is a state of being where libido (psychic energy) is sucked down from the conscious […]
April 12, 2010 at 4:27 AM
Alone and Out in the Cold « Through a Jungian Lens
[…] a ‘red warning light’ that comes on when your engine has a problem. (Ur-Spo, Spo-Reflections, Depression From a Jungian Point of View, January 6, […]
May 11, 2015 at 4:58 AM
Eddie
Thank you, for this article. This was the focus of my dissertation. I used both Melanie Klein and Carl Jung theories to uncover the truth behind some issues confronting Black America (African American community). I looked at the Civil Rights Movement and the decline of progress within the Black community post-Civil Rights era. The issue of violence and riots are a type of mania or manic response to the unconscious pain. I found that mania and manic responses are defense mechanisms which prevent the depressive position from occurring. Also, drugs, work, and avoiding Blackness are defense mechanisms which prevent the depressive position. It is this position that will develop and ameliorate the Black/African America community. However, it is difficult to truly mourn the loss of the movement and its leaders. The book was printed and due to the psychological nature of the book, I wrote a follow-up book that was more practical to address the issues of Black America. The follow up book is “The Day the Crabs Got Out: The Revival of Black America.”
Again, thank you, for this article. http://www.eddietaylorphd.com
May 11, 2015 at 7:17 AM
Urspo
I am always delighted to hear from folks such as yourself. I miss dialoging with Jungians. I am glad the entry was considered ‘readable’ and apt’. Thank you for commenting. PS. I have often said if I were to buy a boat I would call it “The Manic Defense”. Michael From: Spo-Reflections To: UrSpo@yahoo.com Sent: Monday, May 11, 2015 4:58 AM Subject: [Spo-Reflections] Comment: “Depression from a Jungian point of view” #yiv7662151496 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv7662151496 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv7662151496 a.yiv7662151496primaryactionlink:link, #yiv7662151496 a.yiv7662151496primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv7662151496 a.yiv7662151496primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv7662151496 a.yiv7662151496primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv7662151496 WordPress.com | | |