Lincoln Letter to John Stuart

[wsanto]

(02-01-2013 03:02 PM)Liz Rosenthal Wrote:  I agree that, too often, Lincoln's contemporaries mistook introspection for sadness. (One wonders if introspection was a rarity out there on the plains in those days!)

But I must ask why introspection, intelligence and liking to get along with people are considered symptoms of melancholy. And is melancholy the same as non-clinical depression? Or are we really just describing clinical depression in a different way?

It is easy to confuse melancholy (sadness) with a melancholy personality type.

A personality type is not considered a disease that has signs and symptoms. It is basically just a collection of traits, coping skills, and defense mechanisms that a person develops (probably with some genetic predisposition) and uses through life in order to function in society. A Google search of "melancholic personality type" will generate lists of a lot of these traits ascribed to melancholics. It is interesting that they don't really mention melancholy or sadness as a trait. They seem to be labeled as melancholics because some of their more introverted traits make them appear to be sad.

Clinical Depression is a disorder that can develop in any personality type. It is a state of true melancholy and deep sadness. Different personality types will express Clinical Depression differently based on their coping skills and defense mechanisms. Major Depression is a chronic form of Clinical Depression that typically requires treatment with medications that can rebalance the different neurotransmitters in the brain that deal with mood. Like hypertension it can be difficult to control and may be a lifelong disease.

Reactive Depression is an acute form of Clinical Depression that stems from a traumatic life event. Again, any personality type can suffer Reactive Depression and their coping skills will define how they express this sadness. A melancholic personality type might become more introspective and withdrawn. Reactive Depression is self limiting as the grief caused by the event typically subsides over time and the person's coping skills are able to finally deal with it.