Depression and Type

About Depression–Lyrics and Life

We can help you

We can help you

We're all your friends

If you come on down and talk to us.......

You must be joking....take a running jump.......... Peter Gabriel (1971)

Manic depression is a' searchin' my soul.

I know what I want

but I just don't know....

Manic Depression is a frustrating mess........ Jimi Hendrix (1967)

When I was growing up in the 50s and 60s in Melbourne's Western Suburbs, the term "Depression" almost solely referred to the economic event centred around the 1930s, as experienced by parents and older relatives.

Discussion and statements about this event varied widely, and in many cases the experience seemed to have fostered a somewhat negative cautious view of life, tense even. Positive or growth statements were quite rare. On the whole the event and the experience were expressed in were expressed in remarkably stoic terms; something to be worked through in order to get on with life.

A similar stoic approach was taken to personal depression, a term used somewhat generally, no specific description, and discussed rarely in public. Unlike the economic depression, this sort of thing was spoken about in whispers, with intimations of failure as well as sympathy for the persons concerned. Getting on with life was also advised. After all, depression is something you can't see, like back injuries. Suspicion of malingering and abrogation of duties were attached to the sufferer.

So it was less than exciting for me when in my early 20s my GP suggested, after a few visits for what was then described as "anxiety", I had endogenous depression. He also said to me "You don't like your job, do you", something I couldn't admit, but knew to be true. The regulation pills were prescribed and I went and found out what "endogenous" meant. Seemed to fit, really. When I eventually left my job at 26 to become a full–time student, I didn't seem to be depressed any more; life was a little better, to say the least, notwithstanding I had no real income to speak of. But I had a purpose that appealed.

Regrettably, depression of this type has come and gone throughout my life, and I hope it's in the process of going away at the moment, because it's been around for more than a couple of years now. It may not go away completely, but I'm getting to understand something about how I get this way, as type has a key part in that.

My sort of depression, however debilitating to me, and disconcerting to some who have been close to me, seems to be relatively mild compared to the experiences of others, in particular those suffering manic depression. The vast majority of the examples presented in the media these days seem to be of that type; I suspect because it's more visible in terms of observable activity.

I've written so far in a way that presumes that the reader has some sort of idea of what I mean by depression, mainly because of the media publicity regarding the growing numbers of Australians suffering the condition and its impact on the economy and society. In Victoria, the ex-premier, Jeff Kennett has associated himself with efforts to understand depression and help depressed people (to a sometimes bemused response from some who experienced his governing methods) and a recent column on the topic by the "Age" journalist Pamela Bone has also kept recent discussion to the fore.

But, what is depression, how do people claim it occurs and what advantages are there in using a type framework as an interpretation of depression and its origins, including the ideas about the condition itself.

A selection of the vast range of publications available on depression reveal a variety of overlapping views. Wilkinson and others, for example, in an English publication intended as a practical guide,say in a clear and general statement that: "depressive illness is a persistent exaggeration of the everyday feelings that accompany sadness. It is a disturbance of mood, of variable severity and duration, that is frequently recurrent and accompanied by a variety of physical and mental symptoms, involving thinking, drive and judgement" (1999,p.5)

On the other hand, the Mental Health Promotion Unit, focusing on clinical aspects of depression, make it clear that " 'feeling unhappy' or 'feeling sad' are not the same as ' being depressed'...a mental illness–a specific syndrome or medical disorder identified by medical science, over which those experiencing it have little or no control (und.p2)"

From another perspective, Jeffery Smith, in a compelling and fairly erudite personal account, points out that up until recently "clinical depression" was traditionally known as "melancholia" (1999, p34) . He provides a mixture of history, personal experience and research to put forward quite a different view to the pharmaceutically–oriented medical approach, amongst others. Smith's account is interesting in that he examines what seem to be the agreed aspects of depression in its various forms:

• There's a genetic component to depression i.e. some people are predisposed towards it;

• This predisposition is probably connected to levels of a chemical, serotonin, in the brain;

• Depression can be managed by drugs associated with serotonin.

• Use of cognitive behavioural therapy is the most effective method of helping depressed

people deal with their lives.

Not everybody, or all the data, is in agreement with this proposition, influential though it might be. From a theoretical perspective, the proponents of this view tend not to take account of any notion of a self, as is done in Jung's ideas. From the chemical point of view, Michael Gershon has pointed out that serotonin is produced around the gut in twice the amount that is produced in the brain (1998) and so nervous disorders (such as depression) may be associated with other areas than the brain.

Smith, as a one–time dispenser of drugs to those diagnosed to depressive orders, suggests that specific lifestyles may be more helpful and relevant than a regime of pills for some sufferers, including himself. In order to do this, he constructs a view of himself and others as a personality, with a life to lead.

David Smail points out that the social component of life is absent from much of the ideas in psychology (1993). Remedies for those with various neuroses tend to be subjective and personal; the notion that some neuroses are related to issues such as poverty, unemployment, work stress etc. doesn't lead in general to calls for the changing of society, but the adaptation of the person in distress to the unacceptable (for them) situation. He would ask what it is about society that leads to depression as opposed to how can depressed people adapt to a society that is not expected to change.

The cognitive behavioural therapy approach has not suffered much criticism, perhaps due to the lack of alternatives presented as well as the almost universal approval given to it by its proponents. Indeed, both professional literature like Evans et al (und) and the self–help books from people like Yapko (1997), Rowe (2000), Aisbett (2000) and McGrath (1998) in various jaunty, organised and gentle ways, tend to emphasise correct and positive thinking, in the conventional sense.

So where does type come in? The role of type in depression, as in other areas, is not to challenge others' data, but to offer an interpretation of accepted data that may be more accurate and helpful than other interpretations of human beings. I'm going to suggest that a type approach can enhance understanding of depression in a realistic way that can be particularly helpful for specific individuals.

It seems that the majority of accounts of depression and its origins look at the brain in a mechanical sense, separate from the vicissitudes of life. In that way, the reuptake of serotonin can be described somewhat like an injection of oil to a sluggish motor without taking into account the notion of a human being as an individual, acting in society.

While this can be the natural way to go for researchers, (e.g. Jacobs et al (2000)), it's not necessarily helpful for sufferers of depression. Smith, for instance , accepts the genetic component of his melancholia, but suggests that there are ways of managing that without drug–related treatment. One of these ways involves self–acceptance, and acceptance by others, something I'll return to later.

Rather than the generalised and standardised views of human beings that are the mainstay of research and ideas on people, who they are and how they live, type suggests that individual difference plays a significant part in how people adapt to society and life in general. There are not only 16 types, but differences within the 16 types.

Furthermore, Jung considered we are born with an innate predisposition to type, as well as bringing with us an unconscious component that is part of our heritage as human beings. Much of this his component he described as archetypes, earlier more in terms of complexes–constellations, or groupings of archetypes. (Samuels et al 1997; Stevens, 1997).

The interaction of these unconscious components together with our type preferences combine not only our conscious responses to events in our lives, but also our unconscious responses, as generally described in contemporary scientific research on emotions (e.g. LeDoux, 1998)

From a type perspective this data suggests that disorders are

Type is more than the simple result of completing a form and reading a description of the result. The idea of psychological types involves both nature and nurture. Therefore the predisposition to type is particularly relevant in interpreting neurological activity. This doesn't mean you can directly relate a type construct to neurological activity, but it does mean that neurological activity is relevant to how type is expressed. To borrow Smith's terms, you can be a melancholic INFP, ENTJ etc. It also means that a general method of treating an illness associated with the mind such as depression is of limited use, sometimes dangerous.

When a person is depressed they are in distress. In type terms one might expect that they are unable to act out of their dominant function, for whatever reason, relationship difficulties, work requirements and so forth. Sometimes in these situations the message is given to people, sometimes by people who care about them, that who they are is not acceptable–be more robust, more open, more caring, more organised, more optimistic for instance, although the opposites of these are just as relevant,when you take into account a person's type.

The different response of the types to various situations can be shown in the readily–available Third Edition of the MBTI Manual in terms of approaches to different counselling styles and so on (1998). Something particularly relevant, however is Allen Hammer's research on Coping Resources (1998, pp236–238). Resources are different from skills in that they suggest an innate predisposition rather than something learned and a natural response to one person can be something quite different to another. Appendix A shows Hammer's work interpreted across the 16 types.

Jung also suggests that in counselling, a main aim must be to get a person back into their dominant function; that is a high proportion of their ego, where their positive energies come from. If change or adaptation is needed, then the person is able to assess the situation better. Isabel Myers also suggested that perhaps the best way to get a person to change (or at least hear a suggestion) is through their auxiliary function.

In this case, change does not mean losing yourself, but understanding who you are, what your needs are and how the situation came about that brought on the depression, how to deal with that, and perhaps what to do next time. Although this is expressed in thinking language, it's expected that processes and solutions for people of different types will be different.

Sometimes these solutions are at variance with what an employer or spouse might want, and so are quite difficult to implement or to gain support. One of the things that astounds me is that while rising levels of depression are easily and freely related to the prevailing social situation, few voices are heard suggesting that perhaps both the way things are done in our society, in particular how we expect people to live and develop in society need to be reviewed, if not overhauled.

As a culture, we seem to be prepared to put up with others' distress at that level. Perhaps it's because they don't seem to be able to "get on with it" (whatever that means) or, in current parlance, they may be seen as losers. Such a view is not that of a freely democratic society.

Jeffery Smith quotes the Jungian James Hillman as saying that depression is "Hidden Knowledge" (1999), in that a person's depression is their psyche calling out for healing–a process to deal with, some recognition of past issues expressed in archetypal format, a change in the way life is lived e.g. Is it time to forgive your father, understand him better, recognise the symbolic significance of that and move on to accepting a male role for yourself, or males in general, whatever your gender, or sexuality? Easier to write than to do.

While that resonates with me as an individual, I'm aware that for many diagnosed sufferers this either is not, or does not seem to be, the case. However, I believe we owe it to our fellow human beings to listen to what they are saying, what they are experiencing, before settling on a pharmacological solution, or any other generalised method and type can help us do that if we understand it and use it wisely.

Selected References

Bev Aisbett: Taming the Black Dog: A guide to overcoming Depression (Harper Collins 2000)

Samuel Barondes: Mood Genes: Hunting for the origins of mania and depression (Penguin 1999)

Barry J. Evans et al: Understanding Depression (U. of Melbourne Mental Health Promotion Unit und.)

Genesis: Harold the Barrel from Nursery Cryme Virgin CASCDX1052 (1971/1994) Stratsong Music

Michael D. Gershon: The Second Brain (Harper Collins 1998)

Allen Hammer (ed) MBTI Applications (Consulting Psychologists Press 1996)

Jimi Hendrix: Manic Depression from Jimi Hendrix Experience CD Are You Experienced? Polydor 521 036–2 1967/1993 Bella Godiva Music

Jolan Jacobi:The Psychology of C.G.Jung (Kegan Paul 1942/1944)

Barry L. Jacobs et al Depression and the birth and death of Brain Cells in American Scientist, (Vol. 88 July August 2000)

C.G.Jung: Psychological Types (Pantheon Books 1923/1962)

Joseph LeDoux: The Emotional Brain: the mysterious underpinnings of emotional life (Weidenfeld & Nicholson 1998)

Ellen McGrath:The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beating the Blues (Alpha Books 1998)

Isabel Myers et al: MBTI Manual (Third Edition, 1998)

Helga Rowe: Help Yourself: Move out of depression and anxiety (ACER Press 2000)

Andrew Samuels et.al A Critical Dictionary of Jungian Analysis (Routledge 1993)

Daryl Sharp: The Survival Papers: Anatomy of a mid-life crisis (Inner City 1988)

David Smail: The Origins of Unhappiness: a new understanding of personal distress (Constable 1993)

Jeffery Smith: Where the Roots Reach for Water: A personal and natural history of Melancholia (North Point Press 1999)

Anthony Stevens: The Two Million–Year–Old Self (Fromm 1997)

Anthony Storr: Churchill's Black Dog, and other phenomena of the human mind (Fontana 1990)

Peter C. Whybrow A Mood Apart: a thinker's guide to emotion and its disorder (Picador 1998)

Greg Wilkinson et al Treating People with Depression: a practical guide for primary care (Radcliffe Medical Press 1999)

Michael D. Yapko Breaking the Patterns of Depression (Doubleday 1997)

Hand–me–down–Blues: How to stop depression from spreading in Families (Golden Books 1999)

APPENDIX

COGNITIVE – Self-esteem and Optimism

EMOTIONAL – Awareness of/an ability to express emotions

PHYSICAL – Adherence to health promoting behaviours

SOCIAL – Social Supports

SPIRITUAL/PHILOSOPHICAL – Existence of religious or philosophical system

Peter Geyer 1994. From work of Allen Hammer

Photograph courtesy of Jamie Johnston, CAPT Library. PETER GEYER (INTP) is a consultant, researcher and writer in the field of C G Jung's theory of psychological types. He conducts MBTI Accreditation programs and presents internationally on a regular basis. Peter is a life member of AusAPT and a professional affiliate of the Australian Psychological Society.