Mildly Depressed People More Perceptive Than Others

Science Daily ^ | November 21, 2005

[phantomworker]

Fascinating! And these results result in...what? An understanding? Of what? And, how does it actually help anyone? Never mind - they've probably got a Part Two grant lined up to figure out how this will help anyone.

Exactly. It sounds intuitively true, but I'd be curious to know what variables they measured to make these predictions and generalizations. Also mild depression may cause feelings of helplessness, but once people start trying to regain control of their social world, are they still considered depressed? By definition, I would think not.

Remember the Myer's Briggs scales: some people are just not hard wired to be perceptive. I don't think you could use that to say anything about depression. Anyone who has taken Psych 101 should question this study. LOL!

[TheLion]

They had to pay people to figure this out? Obviously, if you are deeply depressed, you won't be paying attention to little details. The less depressed will....duh!

[IIntense]

"Certain mindsets, even disorders, can lead to great achievements..."

Right on! Let's hear it for those who are mildly kooky. They may actually be MORE normal than those who float through life seeing everything as WONDERFUL, or everyone as OH, SO SWEET, or themselves as the center of the universe entitled to brag and boast about their most ordinary accomplishments, while those with some sense and sensibility quietly endure their bravado.

Depression, mild or otherwise, is a foreign object to these types. They live on a different plane.

It might require a lobotomy to give me that mindset. I confess that at times I envy their almost care-free attitude...but I am who I am.

[MeekMom]

as someone who is clinically depressed, nonetheless, I appreciate this article being posted.

[IIntense]

"...this situation would be depressing..."

While Republicans and decent Americans agree with you, they're not all depressed about. Some pay no attention to the political scene. For others, they find some time to get more involved, more vocal, instead of taking a hopeless attitude. A grass-roots movement of like-minded neighbors, even starting in one block, can be a means of making voices be heard. Well done, and publicized locally, it could expand beyond that block. I believe there is power in numbers.

Firing off letters to state governors, senators and representatives beats getting depressed. Even more effective, I would think, is an agreement by members of a grass-roots coalition of neighbors to do this on a regular basis.

[IIntense]

"...as someone who is clinically depressed..."

I read your brief post and wanted to respond. I don't know how depression is affecting your life exactly...what you can handle and where you have no confidence at all. I hope you are getting some professional help. You don't have to live with this ever-present cloud over your head. Please believe me, God doesn't want this for you. You are one of his beloved children!

[IIntense]

Forgive me for wanting to know if you had discussed your clinical depression before your recent post. I could be wrong but you don't portray yourself as someone suffering from painful depression. Therefore, the sincere concern I expressed in my previous post may have been unwarranted.

I'm very sorry for interfering.

[Servant of the 9]

Seems obvious enough to me, it's a labeling problem.
People currently labeled 'mildly depressed' are actually balanced and in touch with reality.
People currently labeled 'normal' are in fact mildly euphoric and out of touch with reality.

For some reason pollyannaish thought processes have become misidentified as normal.

So9

[Katya]

Of course they are, they don't think...they emote....and they probably vote for lefties.