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Unread 07-10-2008, 02:28
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Re: Depression in High Achievers

I think this problem has been known and acknowledged for a long time, even in fiction. Sherlock Holmes was depicted as an addict when he wasn't working on a case (not a recommended way to deal with depression!!) I don't believe this behavior is mentioned in children's editions of the stories, so a lot of people may not realize that Holmes had his dark side. Artistically or creatively inclined people, in particular, are stereotypically high/low people. Every time such people finish a project, they tend to drop into an emotional slump until they get started on the next project. I don't believe that all high achievers or artists are necessarily this way, but knowing that there seems to be this tendency may help sufferers get a better perspective on their problem.

On the other hand, I don't want anyone to do what a T.A. did my first quarter in college. When the college issued a bulletin warning people to be on the lookout for depressed and suicidal people around test time, she laughed it off and treated it all as a big joke, right in front of our discussion section. I don't know if she was just a flippant, insensitive person, or if deep down she was hurting so much that she couldn't deal with this issue appropriately.
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