Педагогическая психология | Мир педагогики и психологии №6(11) Июнь, 2017

Творчество превращает депрессию в профессию или предупрежден – значит вооружен

Калижанова Анна Николаевна
Бакалавр образования, преподаватель, ЧУ «Академич «Болашак», Караганда, Казахстан, annaanna1802@gmail.com
Коновалов Алексей Андреевич
Бакалавр образования, ЧУ «Академич «Болашак», Караганда, Казахстан, aaron.frozenmist@gmail.com

Аннотация: Цель данной статьи рассмотреть депрессию как определенный компонент творческого мышления, а также как инструмент для профессионального и личностного роста. Статья объясняет необходимость осведомленности людей всех возрастов о всевозможных видах депрессии, их функции и причинно-следственных связей. Синтез точек зрения двух авторов лег в основу научного текста.
Ключевые слова: депрессия, творчество, стресс, депрессивные и не депрессивные состояния, провоцировать, причинять, ментальное состояние

Kalizhanova Anna Nikolaevna
Bachelor of Education, English teacher Bolashak Academy, Karaganda, Kazakhstan
Konovalov Alexey Andreevich
Bachelor of Education, English teacher Bolashak Academy, Karaganda, Kazakhstan

Abstract: This article aims to consider depression as a certain component of the creative thinking as well as an instrument of the professional and personal development. The article explains the necessity of the increasing of different age people’s awareness of the diversity of depression’s types, their functions, and the cause-effect bonds. The synthesis of the viewpoints of two authors based on their personal experience laid the foundation for the scientific text.
Keywords: depression, creativity, stress, depressed and non-depressed conditions, provoke, cause, mental condition

Nowadays, people develop at the highest speed. The focus on individual approach provides more opportunities for the fulfilling their potential and skills. At the same time, people are expected to demonstrate more top results when studying various educational disciplines due to the rise of requirements to them as potential employees. For this purpose, more and more special programs for gifted people have been running. However, programs for gifted humans suppose a lot of hard mental work and very often even the most brilliant ones do not manage to stay in tune with the rhythm, provided by either authorities or parents. That resulted in overwhelming by workload and, as a consequence, stress, which is recognized as a nasty thing and the primary reason for depression.

Although human’s mental condition is often believed to be entirely examined by scientists, new medical studies convince people otherwise. Bianca Nogrady, a freelance science journalist, broadcaster, and author, considers depression as a complex thing with various subtypes such as non-melancholic or melancholic depressions, antenatal, postnatal, bipolar, and atypical disorders, and cyclothymia or dysthymia [1]. Therefore, she insists on educating people of all ages regarding the forms of severity, causes, and symptoms of depression to formulate the best treatment [1, p.5]. At the same time, awareness of various types of depression, their causes and ways to deal with the consequences are students and teachers’ chance to reinvent the way of thinking, bring positive transformations to individuals, prevent from harsh illnesses, and prolong life.

Stress and personality are central reasons for non-melancholic depression. In fact, particular types of professional, such as those with the high level of anxiety, self-esteem, perfectionism, and shyness, are in danger to suffer from what is called “reactive depression” [2, p.10]. No doubt, the near–perfect execution of rules and policies is crucial; however, it is never as worth as well-being, taking into account all consequences of stressful time that people get while trying to do their best [3, p.20]. Therefore, it might be worth trying to delegate some tasks to the classmates or colleagues as well as giving up trying to reach the complete perfection – health is more precious than short–term appraisals.

Not only can depression provoke sadness, destruction, or harm, but also it can bring the profit to its owners. For example, creative people, suffering from depression, create rather more than staying in non–depressed condition that can be explained by switching the brain from multitasking to executing the only one task correctly.

It is crucial for creative people to turn into a solitary figure, possessing loneliness, and depression is what can provide such an opportunity when all attention of a thinker is focused on solving the issue. For instance, it is hard to argue that lots of great poetic works were written by their authors, who were in depression at that moment. Moreover, as a result of some non–standard and shocking events, any person can see the world differently and, consequently, think extraordinary. The greatest masterpieces have become famous because showed genuine feelings of their creators. At the same time, self–criticism, which is the part of depression, also helps to create a better variant of the work.

Depression can lead to a reevaluation of the whole life and form a habit to playing a new social role. Pregnancy or time after the birth of a baby provokes sadness or dark and gloomy thoughts [1, p.5]. However, all these symptoms are not just women’s whims as many men tend to think. In more global context, depression caused by reevaluation of life can become an initial point of learning some brand–new roles such as a parent or a spouse.

Caused by biological factors depression can signal about vascular tumors, malfunctions, initial symptoms of atherosclerosis, or dementia; therefore, the human body plays a role of an indicator, which makes people see doctors and take in prescribed medicines [2, p.9]. Timely measures undertaken by individuals with the symptoms of extreme tiredness, obsessions, or excessive weenies can prevent or stop more serious diseases and prolong life.

Depression often touches people who prefer to rely on themselves rather than ask for help due to their unwillingness to cause any discomfort to others or fear to be rejected. Such a stereotypical behavior is rooted from cultural aspects of various societies and is recognized as independence and a path of care. However, it is crucial to ask for support and talk to people about problems in case of inability to fix the problems alone [3, p.20]. Relatives and friends might be unaware of those fellows’ troubles; therefore, it is not ashamed to open up by violating the principles distracting from getting a frequent and qualified assistance. That is what people call humility and resignation.

Nevertheless, such qualities can play terrible tricks with those who want to help depressed people – engage into miserable condition. In particular, sensitive and attentive to others’ needs and troubles individuals can end up finding themselves in a terrible moral condition after listening to numerous problems and seeking for various ways of handling them. Moreover, willing to help people often do it expecting appreciation and recognition; thus, in the case of unsuccessful attempts of getting such a valuable reward, helping volunteers start accusing the objects of the assistance of ingratitude and hardness. So, ready to give a helping help people should not forget to look after themselves [3, p.20].

Although depression is critical regarding its effects on human body and mind, its role in self-development, setting new goals, and planning new activities is evident. If people know more about different aspects of depression and can identify the symptoms timely, they will prevent possible severe consequences such as suicide, obsession, and obesity. In contrast, improved lifestyles and healthier environment as well as getting rid of bad habits will become the most valuable prize for capable of analyzing their drawbacks people.

In conclusion, depression is not as bad as people may think. If possible, try to get profit from it, get real, authentic feelings and direct them towards creativity. Depression is not always the end of something but people’s new beginning.

1. Nogrady, B. Depression's Many Shades of Blue. ¬ 2014. ¬ Retrieved 2016, from http://www.abc.net.au/health/library/stories/2013/07/03/3794241.htm
2. Black Dog Institute. Causes of Depression. (Fact sheet). ¬ 2014. ¬ Retrieved 2016, from www.blackdoginstitute.org.au
3. ReachOut.com. Helping a Friend with Depression. (Fact Sheet). ¬ 2014. ¬ Retrieved 2016, from http://au.reachout.com