The winter months are known to exaggerate depression in people. Possible reasons could include spending the holidays without loved ones, stress from the holidays or a low level of vitamin D. But some question if this ‘feeling’ is even depression. They ‘feel’ it, but is it really depression or a form of selfishness / narcissism?
Low vitamin D levels linked to depression, UT Southwestern psychiatrists report
A question was posted on the Mental Health page in Facebook: “Is depression a sign of selfishness or narcissism?” The comment responses were very insightful from sufferers, caretakers, professionals and individuals who have an interest in this disorder. (continued below)
One query equated the ‘chicken and the egg’ riddle. If the selfishness accompanies the depression, which one came first? Did the depression cause the selfishness, or did the selfishness cause the depression. In other words, did the emotional (psychological) feeling of being selfish or narcissistic result in a depressive (biological) condition?
The question basically becomes; which one is the root cause and which one is the symptom?
In recent years, researchers analyzed different studies and concluded the serotonin gene assumed solely responsible for a depressive state was of a weak linkage. The current findings suggest environmental factors are strongly associated with depression leading many professionals to understand depression is a probable biopsychosocial (biological, psychological and social) cause. Therefore, it is possible one cause initiates or feeds off another.
With this understanding, it is possible a chemical change in the brain could mimic selfish and narcissistic behaviors to cosset the disorder.
Conversely, being selfish or narcissistic may theoretically bring on a depressive episode as the emotions change the biological chemicals in the brain causing an imbalance (i.e. not getting preferential treatment from others brings on a sad emotive response, which may directly affect the chemicals in the brain).
So when a person becomes depressed during the long winter months, could this be just a form of selfishness or narcissism?
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