Superficiality paves the road to depression
One way of thinking about depression is as a lack of connection to something “real.” Think about what feels important and meaningful in your life, as opposed to the superficial fluff that you get distracted with. One of the byproducts of being constantly surrounded by technology (and the advertising that comes through it) is that we’re exposed to mostly fake stuff -- fake information, fake stories, and fake people (Photoshopped Instagram influencers, news anchors, etc.) The things that we think of as “real” are the antidote to suffering, because they make life feel as if it has a greater purpose, and that we’re not all just wandering around aimlessly in this world. Consequently, your mood depends quite a bit on this distinction between what feels real versus fake.
A clear trend in individuals with chronic depression is a lack of connection to something that they perceive as real, whether it is in their work, relationships, or some other area. People with a creative inclination, such as musicians, may feel depressed if they cannot express themselves artistically. Extroverted individuals may need to interact with people on a regular basis, and those interactions need to be deep, not just superficial chatter. Due to societal pressure and circumstance, at times it can be hard to find something that feels real to you, and this can lead to a feeling of pessimism. You might find yourself getting attached to “fake” activities, such as aimless social media use, junk food consumption, or illicit substance use. Indulging in fake things for too long will leave you feeling hollow, depleted, and bored -- you’ll feel cut off from your true self.
Another danger of being too fake is that you can delude yourself into thinking that you like things that you actually dislike. An example of this is having to work in a corporate environment, where you have to fake your interest and engagement in certain activities to avoid irritating authority figures or customers. Another one is in your relationships with other people, where you compromise a bit of who you are to maintain the connection, sometimes to excess; the degree to which this is appropriate varies, which is where the idea of boundary setting can become paramount. It makes sense that “faking it” for too long can disrupt your ability to tell what you connect with and what you don’t, because you start to mistake the show you’re putting on as the real you. You might find yourself feeling chronically bored or understimulated, and life can start to feel like it’s in black and white instead of color.
Ideally, you want to make sure that your instinct for what you connect with at a gut level remains intact. When you lose track of where your intuition naturally wants to lead you, the results of your decisions are usually less satisfying, and your mood can suffer. It makes sense, then, that you want to preserve your gut instinct instead of suppressing it. It’s not surprising that heartburn, cramping, constipation, and diarrhea are all associated with mood changes: if you refuse to acknowledge something consciously, your body will give you signals, whether you like it or not.
An easy way to maintain your connection to “real” experiences is to connect with high-quality art. This can take the form of music, movies, literature, and the visual arts. When you expose yourself to these sources, really immerse yourself in them -- don’t just pay attention at a superficial level. Great artists are highly skilled at expressing their unique version of reality, and tapping into this can help you to sharpen your instincts for what feels real in your own life. If you find yourself zoning out when trying to do this, think about why that is. Why is your mind’s incessant chatter capturing your attention more than a great work of art? Paying attention to these types of questions may help you to understand the nature of your mind, which then allows you to see why you might be feeling anxious or depressed. This awareness then bridges you back to reality, bringing a bit of color back into your life.
References:
Farrokhyar, F., Marshall, J.K., Easterbrook, B. and Irvine, J.E. (2006). Functional gastrointestinal disorders and mood disorders in patients with inactive inflammatory bowel disease: Prevalence and impact on health. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, [online] 12(1), pp.38–46. Available at: https://academic.oup.com/ibdjournal/article/12/1/38/4676626 [Accessed 9 Dec. 2019].
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