Posted by IsoM on January 22, 2002, at 13:05:19
In reply to What is endoreactive depression?, posted by Anna Laura on January 22, 2002, at 3:25:30
I agree about a weird definition - I've never heard of it either. Perhaps it's referring to some physical or chemical changes within you that causes the depression? I don't think all the labels in the world are really helpful as to catagorise a person. If it's an obvious difference - schizophrenia vs bipolar vs unipolar, yes. But the label slapped on you sounds very strange. I happen to agree with the opinion quoted below:
---Reactive vs Endogenous Depression---
The theory that depression is either 'reactive' or 'endogenous' in origin is losing support. It is now more commonly believed that both environment and genetic history play a part.'Reactive' depression is the term used for depression thought to be caused by a specific event or circumstance, such as relationship problems or loss of someone you love either through death or the end of a relationship, losing or changing jobs, or anything else that you find traumatic. This doesn't refer to grief, which is normal and healthy and temporary, but to depression which lasts well past the time that you would expect to start recovering from grief, and is very unhealthy.
'Endogenous' is the term given to depression that has no obvious cause - that is, was not brought on by a specific life event or circumstance, but rather appears to come from nowhere.Both are related to chemical changes in the brain, however differ in terms of 'which came first - ie did the depression come first, making life's problems seem far greater than they are, or did life's problems bring on the depression?
If you're interested, Anna Laura, you might want to read what this one person thought about the origin of his depression.
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE SOURCES OF MY DEPRESSION
by Nigel H. Sinnott
http://www.depressionet.com.au/yourcont/yc_articles/sinnott3.html
> I've been diagnosed with endoreactive depression.
> I've been searching on the net for hours and didn't find any article or essay describing this weird diagnosis.
> I'm afraid is a psychodinamic diagnosis (psychoanalytically oriented). Psychoanliyitical theories usually pi** me off since they blame the patient believing his/she at fault, labelling him/her as immature and unaware. They think you have some secret advantages for being depressed, such as defending/withdrawing yourself from pain etc...
> Besides that these theories don't have any scientific evidence: nonetheless, i'm curious about it :this weird, mysterious diagnosis it's been inside my head since yesterday, so i wanna know now.
> I'm curious about which kind of immaturity i've been charged of.
> Go ahead, your honour, Dr. Freud, condamn me to life long immaturity!
>
>
> P.S.
>
> This diagnosis belongs to Dr. Weitbrecht's theories: he's a german psichiatrist : all the info i've found are written in german. Does anybody of you know german?
>
>
> thanks for listening
>
> Anna Laura
poster:IsoM
thread:17059
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020112/msgs/17077.html