Emotional Intelligence | Main Page on Depression

Depression and Pessimistic Thinking

In a review of Leslie Hazelton's book, "The Right to Feel Bad," someone made this comment:

...depressed people evaluate their chances of achieving goals and being happy more pessimistically than objectively. They are not looking at harsh reality but reality through very negative lenses.

We believe that depression does help people see the "harsh realities of life." We also agree with the reviewer's statement that when people are depressed they think pessimistically, not just realistically.

Since we believe that emotonal support both prevents and cures depression, then our suggestion is listen to the person who feels depressed and support them in identifying and addressing the specific causes of their depression.

A person who has felt depressed, who receives

While travelling with someone who was depressed to the point of attempting suicide, I have noticed that in the beginning she felt pessimistic about many things related to traveling..