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Depression affects millions, but its seriousness can often be overlooked.

Current research shows that higher intelligence correlates with increased depression and anxiety.

Connection and creative expression are among the practices that can support depression recovery.

Depression is insidious. For people suffering from depression, joy is elusive. Depression is not only a general feeling of sadness or being down and out. It is a serious condition and needs attention. People suffering from depression cannot just get over it and move on. They need support, healing, and to discover the epicenter of their pain.

It is estimated that 6.7 percent of the US population has had an episode of depression. That’s 16.2 million Americans. Of that population, 63 percent describe their depression as a major hindrance in their life. Depression can be debilitating. It is a serious condition.

The hidden pain of social isolation

One of the most tragic aspects of depression is suffering in silence. Lack of connection and social isolation are major factors in depression. The pain areas in the brain for social isolation are triggered just as they are when people experience physical pain. Pain is activated and represented in the brain for both social and physical pain without any distinction. Pain is pain.

The difference is that when we see an individual with a physical ailment like a broken leg, we have a natural protective and generalized way to empathize. We imagine the pain with the help of our empathy circuit and mirror neurons in our brain. But when an individual suffers from depression, it is masked, manifests from the great abyss, and may be hidden from us. Thus, the person suffers alone.

Why depression appears in certain populations

A recent study in Nature found that 36 percent of graduate students reported having depression, approximately six times the national average. Why is this escalated in graduate students? It is not clear whether it is the deep study of human existence, continued failure, persistence of feeling like an imposter, or striving for the impossible.

In our recent study, conducted by Ruth Karpinski, we found that individuals with greater intelligence reported an increase in depression. People with higher verbal IQ tend to worry and ruminate, and have an association with more depression and anxiety. A more active and engaged mind may have the challenge of imagining more possibilities of the worst case, bad, and ugly, while that same mind can imagine the best outcome, good, and beauty. Both are essential for creative problem-solving and taking calculated risks. Importantly, being aware and tuning into the imagination of possibilities is the first step in knowing how to ground a highly intelligent and creative person.

More alarmingly, teen depression has been on the rise since 2005. It is hypothesized that our society is becoming more disconnected, and despite connections through technology, we are missing in-person, real-time social interactions. More studies are pointing to the fact that addiction to screens, social media, and video games is on the rise. Is this leading us to being increasingly disconnected? Encouraging face-to-face connection is essential for wellness in our developing minds and teaching healthy habits when engaging with social media.

Take our Depression Test

Find a therapist to overcome depression

Recognizing the signs of depression

The most common signs of depression are feelings of chronic sadness, depletion, or anxious mood, low energy, sleep disturbances, weight fluctuations, feelings of powerlessness, defeat, hopelessness, and unworthiness, suicidal thoughts, physical pain, and gastrointestinal disturbances. Importantly, an individual can have one or a combination of the symptoms. It is essential, if you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms, that you or they get help.

Treatment and support

Depression can be treated with a number of therapies for healing, including talk therapy, meditation, and medications.

Importantly, healing is found in all the arts. Writing about your pain, drawing, singing, and acting are all channels to help with the symptoms and suffering. Additionally, yoga, meditation, and mindfulness-based stress reduction have been shown to decrease symptoms of depression. Connecting with nature, friends, and just talking with a confidante about your struggles may ease your suffering.

If you are suffering from depression...

I wish you freedom from suffering,

I wish you equanimity,

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Schmälzle R, Brook O'Donnell M, Garcia JO, Cascio CN, Bayer J, Bassett DS, Vettel JM, Falk EB. Brain connectivity dynamics during social interaction reflect social network structure. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 May 16;114(20):5153-5158. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1616130114. Epub 2017 May 2. PMID: 28465434; PMCID: PMC5441802.

Lamm C, Majdandžić J. The role of shared neural activations, mirror neurons, and morality in empathy--a critical comment. Neurosci Res. 2015 Jan;90:15-24. doi: 10.1016/j.neures.2014.10.008. Epub 2014 Oct 20. PMID: 25455743.

Evans TM, Bira L, Gastelum JB, Weiss LT, Vanderford NL. Evidence for a mental health crisis in graduate education. Nat Biotechnol. 2018 Mar 6;36(3):282-284. doi: 10.1038/nbt.4089. PMID: 29509732.

Williams CM, Peyre H, Labouret G, Fassaya J, Guzmán García A, Gauvrit N, Ramus F. High intelligence is not associated with a greater propensity for mental health disorders. Eur Psychiatry. 2022 Nov 18;66(1):e3. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.2343. PMID: 36396607; PMCID: PMC9879926.

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