Don't depressed people usually have a desire to not be depressed? I know I sure did.. in which case that desire to not be depressed is something I think that would make me better off if it were achieved
I guess I wouldn't understand that as depression; If someone was completely indifferent to their situation then they aren't suffering at all, based on how I use the terms anyway. If they have no desire to do anything or experience anything then what reason or motivation would we have to change their situation?
If a person lies in bed miserable all day--the fact that they make statements like "I don't want to be happy, I don't deserve happiness, I'm worthless," as we have records of occurring, doesn't mean they're not depressed.
I agree that doesn't mean they're not depressed, but if they are miserable or suffering then they are by definition in a state they desire to be out of. If by miserable/suffering you don't mean being in a state that is desired to be out of then what do you mean?
Don't depressed people usually have a desire to not be depressed? I know I sure did.. in which case that desire to not be depressed is something I think that would make me better off if it were achieved
They usually do. However, there are exceptions, which provide the counterexample in this case.
I guess I wouldn't understand that as depression; If someone was completely indifferent to their situation then they aren't suffering at all, based on how I use the terms anyway. If they have no desire to do anything or experience anything then what reason or motivation would we have to change their situation?
If a person lies in bed miserable all day--the fact that they make statements like "I don't want to be happy, I don't deserve happiness, I'm worthless," as we have records of occurring, doesn't mean they're not depressed.
In such a case you are just pushing the buck again. They don’t want to deserve to be unhappy, so their desire isn’t being fulfilled.
I agree that doesn't mean they're not depressed, but if they are miserable or suffering then they are by definition in a state they desire to be out of. If by miserable/suffering you don't mean being in a state that is desired to be out of then what do you mean?
If a person is sitting in bed crying all day but thinks they don't deserve to be happy, I wouldn't describe them as happy.
If by miserable/suffering you don't mean being in a state that is by definition desired to be out of, then what do you mean by miserable?