Question: Is it helpful to discuss depression in the context of a disorder?

Almost everyone I know has suffered from depression at some point in their lives. It is not as uncommon a phenomenon as the term “disorder” suggests. I think the use of the word as a label divides people into those with and without, and makes those suffering feel isolated. Isolation is a common factor among a lot of cases of depression, and one of the most common symptoms is the feeling that no-one can understand you.

The truth though is that with patience, empathy and conversation people can understand you, you are not alone.

I think depression is not a disorder, it is a symptom of the human condition. It is a response of the human brain to isolation and trauma, and to dismiss it as an illness is to diminish its significance. Depression is not something that may be cured, it is something that must be survived.