How Depression Facilitates Self-Transformation 

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I am a 19 yo guy from a third world country, I have to tell your channel is a blessing man. I have learnt alot and became a better person ever since stumbling upon your channel. Never stop posting videos and thanks alot!

I remember Jim Carrey quoting another person that the word "depressed" can mean "deep rest" - deep rest from the persona that we present to the world but is not our true authentic self. Sometimes depression is a signal that we are out of alignment with our inner self.

The greatest moment in your life is when you realise that if you can endure hell, then you can endure anything else, including the way out.

Suffering is fire, a phoenix cannot rise from his own ash without being burned in the first place. Depression is like gas enhancing the fire.

"Most people shoot for happiness but feel formed through suffering." So true.

This video came at the right time lol . Im currently in a mental battle trying to fight off my old self. Its been a VERY tough battle these past days but I wont give up .

There is always two sides to every coin. Not letting depression or any mental illness consume you is where the victory lies.

My father passed away at the age of 75 last month. He had been bedridden for a few years leading up to his death. I thought that once he passed, the pain of letting him go would be easier than losing him all together. It wasn't. My father was my hero, my protector, and the one man who loved me unconditionally. He is a man who will be truly and forever missed by me. I am in a depressed state of mind. I have been here before but tried to drink and smoke (p@t) my way out of it. Today, I let myself feel the hurt that needs to be felt. It ebbs and flows, but, regardless, I FEEL it! I cry, I sit with myself, and I let myself understand that I have experienced one of the greatest losses I will ever feel in my life. It is huge to me, and I should respect it.

No one will know the cost of this battle but yourself, I can only wish you good luck and know that there is someone who wishes you strength, take care of yourself.

Depression makes you realise what you don’t want in life (negativity). And after recovering, one’s mental health will be better than a person who hasn’t experienced depression because it’s a universal law that blessing is doubled after being tested

My worry with depression is when it gets so bad it truly is the call of the void.

There is an aspect of depression not addressed....some of it can be physiological. I had an underlying gum disease that led to low grade fevers, lethargy and impotence. Curing that, my outlook improved. Sugar, junk food, being out of shape can also cause a physical depression that no amount of therepy and or antidepressants can affect. If you had severe trauma, or family history is one thing, but also look for physical reason, which can be ameliorated physically.

Ever heard the 80s hit “Saved By Zero” by The Fixx? This is what they were singing about. Being saved by hitting rock bottom and having nothing left to lose and lifting up from there.

Whoever is reading this, I pray for you: a heart free of sorrow, a mind free of worries, a life filled with joy, an abundant source of financial wealth, a body free of disease disability and a day filled with God's blessings

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

Iosif Andriasov Quote: “A person’s will is worked on for many years and is expressed in overcoming harmful attachments.”

Depends on the level of depression, some times it’s so extreme with anxiety and insomnia and ocd rumination that it seems very hard to see anything positive in it when you feel agitated and sui cidal

This aligns perfectly with my experience. Lifelong suicidal depression that culminated in personal and spiritual growth that I never expected. Never imagined possible. I had to face the darkness with no deceit or distraction. A lonely and painful process, the truth as merciless as it is necessary. It very nearly killed me. Yet now I feel so grateful to have suffered all of this that I laugh and cry in joy about it all. Academy of Ideas, your team is brilliant. Truly exceptional. You all have my gratitude and love. ❤

Brilliant, I went through a 3+ year MDD. Imagine your worst FLU: no energy, no light, and it does not go away. On the other side, life is full of joy. I would not trade this for anything.

I think this explains the all to common scenario where a man breaks up with his significant other, and through the depression caused by that relationship he comes out a better person over the coming years. You are put into a position where you have to dig down into your subconscious for gold.

Very true in my life. Some yrs ago I was battling depression and anxiety.. it became hard to laugh to eat, sleep.. i would stay awake and start my day and battle with depression with no rest. Those were some difficult days man.. it came to the point where I asked my self, either I move or stay here and die.I ended a relationship where I wasnt happy , I went back to my familys roots back home for the first time in my life it was beautiful.. I got to spend Soo much time with my grandparents I got to learn so much from them we were able to have a beautiful relationship together. I received love from family that only knew me from pictures. I traveled my home country. I got to know a new part of my self , it was amazing beautiful, I would go threw the hell just to relive that again,sad to say my grandparents have passed , but I'm grateful that I went thew that, I would have never done it by my own accord.

Depression gave me my greatest power, introspection.

Dabrowski has a similar theory called positive disintegration, they highlight, overexcited, tendencies, or sensitivities… In progressing ones growth, it’s shedding the old layers and merging into ones most authentic self. Anyway, I’m progressing along the path of positive disintegration, but not without the help of JUNG, of course.

this is the best channel on youtube

Reading through the comments, so many young people enduring hardships. For anyone reading this, the video presented here is very insightful and will be worth referring to for years to come. Save it or create a playlist specifically for this kind of viewing material.

I hope you all find the courage to be a light in the darkness. Never give up! Everything is going to be alright!

Take all your suffering- sorrows, pains, losses, fears, misery and the miseries of the world, and use them. They’re all vehicles for awakening. Each birth is precious and useful, a gift and a blessing. ~Ram Dass

Depression is stop finding meaning in life to the point that being alive or dead does not make any diference. Depression is living in hell.

It fees like a higher force showed me this video at the exact right moment. I have been struggling with a very dark depression ever since I moved countries but this gave me an understanding of the purpose behind it. Thank you so much for making this video!

I had my first-ever session with my new therapist today. She asked me this exact question: what is the meaning of your depression? I couldn’t answer, but I felt the question land. It felt like a knot of simultaneous truths. It might haven taken me weeks to put it to words, but as it happens I came across this. This explanation was the knot’s loose end for me. This is the way through. Thank you.

Thank you for making this. Some of us needed to hear this message today.

Ecclesiastes 7:3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

This resonates with me so much. My whole life I have fought major depression. Recently I decided to "give up" fighting and just be depressed, and paradoxically I found relief in that action.

Underrated channel, I have learned so much about my own life from this channel, and a lot about the world and how people think.

This channel gives much insight to help understand oneself and our human experiences. For me, life's difficulties has brought much pain. For a long time, I used to avoid processing the pain because that feels even more painful , causes tears to flow and my head to ache and often made me sleepless. But it is through walking thro that dark valley of acknowledging the things done to me, and my immature reactions, and letting go things as I understand them, that healing slowly begins. And the Scriptures have been my solace in that process. At first nothing I read made sense. I looked for spiritual fast food. A word to make me feel ok in the moment, but the next moment I'm reeling under a wave of fear. But as I persevered and the depression raged (many years now), I got quieter on the outside, and my heart started dwelling in the Scriptures, looking at it, turning them over and over, and I must say a certain stillness has come to the raging and striving. And it says in Galations, that if the inheritance(good things?) is of the Law (my understanding, my work and striving), then it is no longer of promise, but God gave it to Abraham by promise. So God does the work, we give Him our trust, and in that way we aid Him in the process.

This RU-vid channel is a blessing, I’ve been watching these videos from 18-21 years old and it’s been a great attribution for me to develop and grow.

depression --> Insomnia --> Survive that shit = reconstruct your DNA --> rebirth of a new corporeal body...

I just lost my grandma, and my mom just lost her only remaining parent. It has been so hard the last week, but I'm trying to let it make me better and stronger

This is one of the best videos on RU-vid I have seen in a while. You give such an in depth analysis from a psychoanalyst point of view and your explanations go far deeper than most ‘psychology’ RU-vid channels out there. I’m going through a dark night of the soul and your video has given me some peace to know that I can make it through and given me the courage to explore my own inner darkness to find my own treasures! Thank you!!! New sub!

This channel is a rare gem in the mud of RU-vid. Thank you for the many well thought out videos.

_I have tested you in the furnace of affliction_ Imagine living a life without any agonizing, oppressive sort of condition or experience. What stories would you have to share with the world? What resiliences and insights would you be able to wield? What inspiration would you arouse in those who look to your example? While you may skip through life like a well thrown, slick stone, you’ll fail to penetrate the surface of reality, venture down into the darkness, and leave a radiant, resounding ripple from whence you sank.

Great timing as always! Being 19 and experiencing the psychological hell for almost 4 years now. I am so glad dwelling on these type of videos and it really helps more than a lot! As I struggle to tell anyone, even my closest families and friends what I have been really feeling down there. Truly, one must delve deeper into their soul and find out what must rather be accepted than to be fixed. Really, no one wants to stay in the same place for the rest of their lives, the world out there is big and there is much to see. Thank you please keep making more videos!

This would only make sense to those who have hit bottom. When I went through harrowing depression I couldn't believe I made it through! I made it to the other side! I now see this as a process-and I am grateful 🙏

Thank you. Most relevant information one could run across as a depression takes hold of me after a traumatic loss. You’ve just gained a new member.

Throughout this discussion, I kept thinking about the question of whether free will exists. I may not have free will, but my depression has a purpose.

Society is in depression, just before civilization goes into one.

Today I was driving my bike on my way home from work and I realized that I don't feel sad or depressed as I used felt like 5 years ago. I know that I change a lot during that time, but if you ask me what changed and why I don't feel these kind of feelings anymore I can't tell you exactly. There is a lot of things that I want to improve I'm myself and in my life, I'm working for it, slowly but steady. I'm 26 yo.

Excellent content and excellent narrator. Among the best I've seen and heard on RU-vid.

Sometimes....a break down is a break through.

From childhood we all form a "self" to get through life, as the world is so overwhelming. That self is a supportive structure but temporary, because life changes. At some point the self will constrict us and no longer suffice. Think of the hermit crab, who borrows a shell that fits perfectly. Until one day it doesn't, because he has grown. So he must leave the shell and be fully vulnerable until he can find a new fit.

Beautiful video. It made see my depression in another light. Thank you.

Sobriety greets us with the cold reality that pain and suffering constitute life, most substances and distraction act as a warm numbing agent to the truth of being. To accomplish anything in life requires sacrifice and struggle, yet we innoculate ourselves to forget the hard truths we all must bear to achieve success in any long meaningful endeavour. If you wish to feel good find something worth struggling for, otherwise relinquish yourself to mediocrity, half-assery, inebriation, and self espoused illusion. Find joy, solace, and freedom in meaningful pain, and liberate your mind from perceived dependence on the myriad distractions. The struggle never ends until you draw your last breath. Sober up, suck it up, and move on to find your path of personal virtue, reiterate this mantra and believe you can overcome the obstacles ahead.

Thank you for the video. Each time I watch your videos it feels like I'm improving my understanding of being and this world. It's a therapy session of its own.

I wish I could have heard this message 10+ years ago when I was suicidal and felt like there was no hope for me. But even now I still struggle with depression. Not nearly as bad but more like down episodes and sometimes I feel fine too. This whole time I've struggled the most to just accept reality, that I will never get my old self back. But the message that I can transform into something better is something I never thought about. This whole time I felt like I was transforming into a worse version of myself, that depression has made me cynical and not able to trust. I felt like I was forever ruined. Yes I was a happy go lucky kid that turned into cynicism after depression. I'm basically the opposite now. But that's because I was severely naive and thus people took advantage of me for many years until I could not take it anymore. My ability to be more selective now with what people I give my trust to is something I did not have before the depression. So I guess it depends how you look at it. Good or bad? Both? I only could have stayed happy go lucky in a perfect world where people do not manipulate for selfish agendas. So my depression hit me at full force once my world view was shattered, I thought the world was good because I was good and I assumed people were like me. I did not know the concept of greed or manipulation back then. (struggles of being autistic with high morals)

Life changing this perspective. Thank you so much.

This vid comes just in time. Thank you 🙏

This is a good theory for a therapist to know. As for use as self help for a depressed person, I'm not so sure. When you are depressed, you don't see the light at the end. I'm glad I was never told this when I was depressed. My courage apparently came from refusing to see it as just a meaningless, unfortunate happenstance (chemical imbalance b.s. etc.). I didn't ask what it meant, but I refused to accept it as meaningless.

One of your best episodes ever. I almost teared up at so many moments. This will be a great reminded next time i find myself in a depressive state. I love and appreciate depth and now i will look at suffering and depression through a new lens instead of resisting

This was timely and profound. Perfect quotes. Thank you. Much food for thought.

This was an excellent video. Couldn't come at a more appropriate time in my life. Thank you for sharing!

Great topics covered in your videos. Love your delivery too, so calm and soothing.

I think this is the best video I've seen on this channel, and given it's good content, that is saying a lot. Glad a buddy of mine recommended this channel and thought I'd find it interesting.

I really needed this man

There are no 'chosen ones.' Just those who want to change themselves bad enough and put in the work.

Been listening for years. This is your best work. Perfect timing. Many thanks

Post traumatic growth finds its trigger from the depths of post traumatic stress 💪

So true! If hit rock bottom several times. I'm greatful for those dark days because now the success, happiness and living a great life tastes even better. Stay Uncommon!

This is just brilliant stuff. Profound. Thank you for this. 😊

I really like certain aspects of stoicism but one thing that often stands out to me about it is that it kind of tells you to bury your head in the sand and deny the validity of a lot of human experiences that really help to fuel our success. Sure it’s not good to be overcome by self indulgent feelings like anger, jealousy, depression, etc., but I like the ideas in this video that while you don’t want to overdo something like depression, it exists for a reason and we should embrace it for the value it provides.

Suffering is a terrible thing to waste.

I remember when i was much younger, i used to understand the utility of pain and its perception as it is the single factor that unites every phenomenon in life under the most significant relevance of all, since there is no more important question than of pain, whether somethings brings me pain or lessens it. Specifically, i noticed the same lesson that fellow who ran a business 8 months after his depression in this video mentioned, that once you've experienced the worst of the worst, everything seems easier in comparison and thus works in your favor as fear no longer blinds and restricts you. Aside from mere benefits of comparative perspectives, i also derived more technical benefits: perspective comes from contrast. As the saying goes, you don't know what you have until you lose it. That's because when perceiving a situation antithetical to the one before, i.e. having something then not having something, usually of high implicit value, you're now able to imagine both scenario X and anti-X, and see where the differences lie, thus seeing both individually. Without anti-X, you wouldn't be able to see X, just as how without a left, you wouldn't have a right. It's a bit abstract, but if i had to use an analogous concept, it's probably similar to triangulation in a sense, deducing the precise and valid location of a concept from two independent sources of data. And often times, i would notice that finding out this anti- perspective would be accompanied with pain. I lost my girlfriend because she cheated on me, but sifting through my past, i could see now my precise traits that rationally link to this break up: i had been boring and neglectful as a partner. Knowing this, i can change and move forward. Pain teaches. That is what i learned, just as what this video is getting at but deeper. So the natural optimal utilization of this is to seek pain everywhere every second. However, along the way, i'd gotten lost and forgotten or neglected this lesson of mine, and started allowing myself to indulge in expedient pleasures which shifted my perspectives and values to more local, fleeting ones. I started playing games, binging youtube, spending frivolously on drinks and snacks more often. I'd even forgotten my entire meaning for life: the deep satisfaction and excitement from learning the most important things in life, i.e. those pertaining to pain. I'd cushioned my routine so much that i nigh completely forgotten what pain felt like and how to derive from it an X and anti-X deduction again. Having about to graduate high school, hopefully i can pick up this lesson again and return myself on the right track. Maybe that should start by closing my phone and going to sleep as it is 1 am right now...

I love how you quote the ogs may they never fade out!!

Depression is the feeling, but the goal is growth and learning. You can be depressed and not learn, just as you dont have to be depressed to learn, but the depression may be the effect of deep learning where much of a person must be burned off. This does not make the thing go away, but it does call attention to it, and the depression may come back if its not rectified. The goal has and always will be to know what part of you is good and keepable, and what must be discarded.

Your skillful art curating is an art in itself. Thanks you for these beautiful and edifying videos 💜

If you're depressed; know that there are billion-dollar forces out there knowadays that are really REALLY trying to make you as confused and depressed as possible. It's all going as planned for certain people. The fact that so many smart people out there don't achknowledge that, is just...

BACK WITH ANOTHER BANGER ⚔️

I agree with the thesis of this video and take it further into all sorts of negative incidents. I like to call it, Evil's Silver Lining. In my life, injuries, conflicts and depression have been very helpful in accelerating my personal growth. I've learned that taking time to ask the divine consciousness within my heart, "Why has this difficulty emerged?" "What is the lesson?" Surely we can follow our hearts to navigate life most perfectly, however, when we fail to follow the middle path of the heart a good kick in the ass can help us to find our way back to the straight and narrow. One of Jung's associates revealed that he believed in a divine inner consciousness, what I call the Superconscious-Soul. However, he rarely mentioned it and never wrote about it. During his life the inner divine soul was discarded from psychology. This was needed to allow psychology to sit at the table of materialistic science. In spite of that, more recently, materialism is being overturned to place consciousness at the foundation of reality. Even the pioneer of silicon microprocessors, Federico Faggin has become a supporter of a consciousness based reality. Videos featuring his personal transformation can be found on RU-vid.

Oh fun, something to apply to every moment of every day 😅

I’ll get lonely for like 30 minutes and then I’ll snap out of it and be like wow I’m so glad I’m alone. It’s like I’m bipolar or something

I always remember the director of the film Searching for Sugarman he won the Academy Award for best documentary. Just weeks after winning it he committed suicide. His brother said he just broke up with his girlfriend and a short battle with depression. After he left the world women were commenting how handsome he was. I believe if those women told him that when he was alive he would be here today.

That's only true for someone who doesn't like suffering. Constant exposure to suffering create apathy. Suffering completely useless for Apathetic people. What's worse is that Suffering is desirable for someone masochistic.

I think i have some depression right now, and this video might help me, thanks a lot, i love it!

The compost heap of death, decay and waste is the greatest of potentials asleep...

The best video I have ever watched about depression. Useful, really useful.

I'm eternally grateful for ALL of the videos on chis channel! The brothers behind it are true alchemists of truth, love & wisdom.

This entire channel!🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾.

If you're not having fun, you're doing it wrong

I have another word for depression where it leads to self misery but in the end you rise above: Climbing down the ladder upwards Self preservation, survival and fear, they are all the same thing. We live with them. I live with them. They are an instinct that made me survive. That made my ancestors survive. Bu it didn't help us thrive. When i look at people that seems to thrive, some of them really are in strong positions, acting like they are powerful, they don't even know what their weaknesses. But they know they are weak in some way but they can't admit it to their selves. From this fact, they act like they are really good at their business. So that they seem confident, without that leak they can't admit. And when i look upon me, I see myself as someone weak, not really knowing what he is doing. not confident enough. When i look upon myself, I see my vulnerabilities, I share them openly. Like I don't want people to think me as someone in a strong position? Why? When i look upon that behavior of myself, i see fear. Fear of knowing that when i get into a powerful state, there will people to challenge me, fairly and unfairly. When i get into competition, I know there will be people to hurt me. Because I've been hurt this way. When you were a kid back then and when you know too much in the class, other children often despise you. Even though you get a well done. When you pass the exam exceptionally, when you won the race, when you made something beautiful, when you express yourself in such a way that attracts people; often, there will be people to hate you. Because I was a high achiever and because I was doing all that with so less effort, some people actually despised me, started rumors about me. I even got into physical fights with them (I won the most of my figths too). I won't get into details of why they do that. But that is their own way of survival: removing the competition by eliminating others. All those experiences taught me one bad lesson: Don't show yourself. I've told myself if you show yourself too much, you will get into trouble. I put a part of myself in captivity. Ignored him and acted dumb. I actually played the fool, won't let people see my strengths. To preserve myself, I actually ran away from the things i am best at. Ran away from any competition. And what changed know? Well, it is hard to shut off your ears when someone is screaming inside. That voice always stand up strong in me. Even when i get into a lot of trouble and when i don't know what to do, that voice is always there, staying strong, confident and with full of wisdom. When i listen to it, I am almost like in an autonomous mode. People actually call this mode Flow state. One exception here was that I wasn't in flow, I was usually resisting to it. After seeing how helpful it can be, I started growing some trust in that side of me. That side of me started to be an escape way from my problems. Because it was solving my problems automatically. When I let my power to shine, all of sudden, everything was easier, clearer. So that trust in me led me here, writing and observing myself right now. I started as strong, some things made me withdrawn from my power, I choose to look weak. And now, that abondened part of me is coming back stronger than ever. The withdrawal of my power almost made turned it into something rare. Now, I know all the weak and strong and rare parts of me. When i talk with a confident person, I see what is really deep down there. Most of the time, they act powerful, they look at you and say thing, but only from their side. Their only power is seeing things as they want to see it. They see themselves powerful. They often don't know what to do in competition, because they never been in one. Their self oriented viewpoint makes poor strategies with others, because they often don't feel what others feel and want. And they only see positives in their selves and the negative in others. Almost like trying to cover up their negatives. Wow, I described a confident Narcissist! How rare are they? They are everywhere! What is in me right know is something entirely different from a confident narcissist. I know who I am! I know how to be powerful and how to be weak. Back then, I've been in many competitions, then stayed away from that for so long and put that side of me in prison. Now that side is coming back and I actually start to understand what all this is. All this is a game. And it is about playing the right move. Well, those confident Narcissist only play one move. Their weakness is they can't sacrifice anything of their power. They have no ability to change because they don't know how to be vulnerable. And I know how to be vulnerable, I actually played moves that made me vulnerable, I actually made my thoughts vulnerable to myself, such that i am open to any knowledge that can oppose my existing ideas. Well, there is a term for that too: being open minded. I actually climbed down the ladder upwards. While everybody was obsessed with going only upwards, I actually went into a process of going down and weakening myself and now, I am coming back stronger than ever. I feel like I finally started to find my missing piece. I actually started to not feel any fear about showing that side of me.

Thank you, I needed this today.

came just in a right time, 2am after a two-month descent into darkness. sharing this with my family and friends. depression is actually good for me, you see!

Pure Gold.

Pharmacueticals and other drugs just put off dealing with the depression. I decided to quit taking the drugs and a horrible onslaught of side effects followed. I thought death was near, I thought I really am crazy and this is probably a mental breakdown. Turns out I just needed to face my issues -not be treated with dangerous chemicals. Going through that period of hell will make the rest of my life a cake walk. Every day even bad days are great days.

I agree that an episode of depression can lead to self transformation, but I disagree that those who experience it should aim to hit rock bottom. For some people, rock bottom means death (suicide). One should instead seek to interrupt it, which can be done in different ways. This is where an existential or cognitive behavioral approach can help. By monitoring our thoughts and preventing the negative thought spirals that prolong conditions such as depression, we can prevent it from getting worse/bouncing back from it faster.

I was severaly depressed for at least 2.5 years and this video describes what i went through. I had to become creative and i had to destroy the biggest concepts i have ever imagined. I now am grateful for having unlocking my brains potential

Often we have no say in what life throws at us externally or internally. Depression can be inevitable, but it is okay to make the best out of the situation. Maybe one can be the alchemist who transmutes the depression into gold

This is beautiful thank you!

a great topic for a future video would be how to break free from self sabotage. AOI did a video on it years ago but I think it would be worth revisiting or doing a follow up video. Like why we self sabotage, how to recognize we're doing it, and how anxiety and low self-esteem can be contributing factors. With social media influencers we see it on full display a lot, people enjoy watching it and even cheer it on and/or encourage it. I think it's a bigger problem than we'd like to acknowledge, and almost everyone does it whether they know they're doing it or not.

This was just beautiful. While watching I felt the dark angel approaching. It’s time talking to him.

Needed this one, boys. We are so back.