Do You Feel Like The Grinch?
Then you may be suffering from Depression.
Anna Wagoner
The Myth
It is often believed that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance. It is also often believed that if a person has depression, it means that they are constantly sad all the time. There is a myth surrounding depression that people believe that victims of depression are just sad all the time and distance themselves from others.
The Truth
However, research has shown that depression does not just spring up from having too much or too little of a certain brain chemical. Instead it is believed that depression can occur because of stressful life events, genetic vulnerability, medications, medical problems, or faulty mood regulation. The symptoms of depression are also not only feelings of sadness and dis content. These symptoms include :
- Irritability
- Failure to conform to social norms
- Aggressiveness
- Decietfulness
The Grinch and Depression
The grinch shows many signs of aggressiveness and irritability.
- "They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do! Their mouths will hang open for a minute or two. Then the Whos down in Whoville will all cry BooHoo! That's a noise," grinned the Grinch "that I simply MUST hear!"
In the grinch, there is also a reference that gets to the idea that while everyone else in Whoville is happy, he is extremely sad.
- It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right. It could be perhaps that his shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all, may have been that his heart was two sizes too small.
The grinch finally showed signs of deceitfulness as well as his failure to conform to social norms.
- "Why for fifty-three years I've put up with it now! I MUST stop this Christmas from coming! But HOW?"
Help is Out There
If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, please contact the 24 hour Samaritan depression hotline at (212-673-3000)
Citations
What causes depression? (2009, June 9). Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression
University of Michigan Depression Center. (n.d.). Retrieved December 10, 2015, from http://www.depressioncenter.org/health-information/depression-toolkit/