Title : The Tragic Hero: An unhealthy depression coping mechanism in adolescents
Abstract:
There are currently many internal barriers that adolescents face which hinder the treatment of depression. While stigmatization of depression is still the primary internal barrier, a new and opposite phenomenon has emerged in recent years. Some teenagers have begun to romanticize depression and even develop their sense of identity around it. On the surface, the romanticization of depression can be explained by poor coping skills and a harmful view of mental health. However, these explanations do not address the root issue. Understanding the philosophical reasons behind this romanticization can provide valuable insights.
In the field of psychology, adolescence marks the period when individuals begin to grasp the concept of morality. However, there is a tangential concept that is rarely discussed and may be the cause of the romanticization of depression. This concept is aesthetics, but not in the modern sense, but rather the Ancient Greek form of the word.
The tragic theater transformed the Greeks' perception of beauty. Beauty was no longer viewed through the lens of perfection, but rather through loss. The Greek heroes did everything right, but in the end, they suffered greatly and were subsequently isolated from the world around them. However, this loss was not in vain, as it gave them a profound understanding which can only be achieved through such a loss. This understanding, born from tragedy, was the Greek ideal of beauty, and it still exists in popular culture and movies today.
The romanticization of depression is comparable to the Greek concept of aesthetics, or tragic beauty. Depression gives adolescents a unique, but distorted perspective on the world, which they misconstrue as deep understanding. As depression is the source of this warped view, the teen romanticizes and feels that if they lose their sorrow, they will also lose their insight. This creates a paradoxical state in which individuals feel both exalted and depressed. This powerful, yet harmful coping mechanism forces them to cast themselves as tragic heroes in their own comic to cope with their intense emotions.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- How using philosophy can augment the field of psychiatry.
- To broaden our view on coping methods in adolescents.
- Deepen the connect with adolescent patients by seeing things from their view.
