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                               From Pessimism to Optimism

We are in the in middle of an epidemic of depression, the ultimate expression of pessimism,one with consequences, through suicide, especially in young adults,takes as many lives as  the AID's epidemic and is more widespread.

Until recently the main approach to understanding depression in  young and old was by the medical approach treatment by anti depressent drugs, or psychoanalytic therapy. Freud's approach were highly unreliable and focussed on  anger turned inwards into the self. The depressive  disparages

themselves as worthless and want to kill themselves. The depressive hates him/herself at their mother's knee. If the mother has another child , the first feels abandoned In some children this produces rage, but the child does not wish to hurt the mother so turns the hate towards self. Self loathing, depression, self harm, suicide all follow neatly. Freud sees depression as the result of childhood conflicts never resolved beneath layers of defence. Only by listening to them and breaking through the barriers can lives be saved.

My view of depression which leads to suicide is based on more innovative ways and approaches to adolescence. It's based on the concept of learning theory and the theory of learned Helplessness  postulated by Seligman many years ago working in Harvard. This comes from the cognitive approach in psychology, and the focus is on personality types which are pessimistic as this is a learned behaviour.  We learn our pessimistic thinking patterns from members of a family or peer group which has several others who are depressed,  and our frequent social interaction with them  becomes anchored into their behaviours and everyday routine. My perspective on this argues that as we can learn to think in a pessimistic manner we can unlearn it and turn it around, so as we learn to think in an optimistic manner. Our psychological health can be improved radically and sustained by  learned optimism, by viewing things in a positive way. Its main emphasis is on helping young and old to deepen their self control.This is the new science of personal control. our behaviour is determined on how we think and on what cognitions we use. Lets look at some scientific facts:

• Optimists catch fewer viruses and spend more time in college, university and work.

• Optimists have better health habits than pessimists do.

• Our immune system may work better when we are optimistic.

• Evidence suggests that optimists have a far better quality life experience than pessimists.

Early animal experiments on helplessness was carried out by Solomon a research scholar in  the University of Pennsylvania. It demonstrated that when dogs  were in a situation in a laboratory study where they had a "problem"  of escaping from a high pitched tone, they tried several strategies to no avail. Everything turned out to be negative. The result was that they learnt to remain in the same environment and suffer the consequences, - in fact they showed helplessness.  Similarly we as humans when in the depth of despair, may try several strategies  to sort our problems but all of these fail to deliver. We become more depressed lethargic and feel hopeless and helpless.The young people you  work with as peer counsellors see your listening skills as the release valve, this is a very powerful mechanism for removing the stressor, and it saves many lives bring young adults back fro the brink of self harm and destruction. Keep doing this.Never underestimate your training or role as peer mentors. It' making a substantial significant and positive impact on students quality of life experiences. We have scientific evidence to substantiate the psychological effect of high intensity listening skills. People who can find no way out will become passive  and this is reinforced by simply doing nothing positive.

MISFORTUNE

Lets  look at how many individuals explain to themselves the  causes of their depression. Seligman discovered that  treating depression by changing the ways people explained to themselves the causes of bad events, then a scientific breakthrough was iminent.The emphasis was now on changing peoples thinking patterns  and changing their explanations. It's called "Learned Optimism."  Later it developed in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

My own research substantiates Seligman's work, as most young people I work with in research studies suffer chronic and acute depression. I am interested in habits of explanation. As you listen to students- listen  for evidence of habitual thinking. Ie

"I am never going to make it in Uni"

"I have no future as there are too many others out there better than me"

"I am not loved any more".  " Theres no way out of this situation".

How do you think about the causes of misfortunes- small and large? People who give up easily  habitually say of their misfortune"  It's me, its going to last for ever., its going to determine everything I do."  Others who resist  giving into misfortune say" It's just the circumstances its going away quickly "  These negative explanatory styles are learnt in childhood and adolescence as a habit of thought. Its your perspective on the world  how you see yourself in time and space.  There are THREE  crucial dimensions to your explanatory lifestyle: PERMANENCE, PERVASIVENESS  & PERSONALIZATION.

PERMANENCE:   people who give up easily believe the causes of bad events are permanent. The bad events will persist and will always affect their lives. People who resist helplessness( optimists)  believe the causes are only temporary.

 People including students,  who suffer depression think in terms of "Always" and " nevers".  If they begin to use  " Sometimes " and "latelys"    they become optimists, as they use qualifiers and blame bad events on transitory events.

Optimistic people explain good events to themselves in terms of permanent causes: Traits  abilities  always. Pessimists name transient causes : moods, effort  sometimes.

PERVASIVENESS:        Specific V Universal

Pervasiveness is about space and Permanence is about time. Many students may put all their problems neatly into a box and go on with their lives even when one major aspect - their relationships or love life is suffering. Others become emotionally flooded over everything, feeling helpless they  catastrophize.  In other words, people who make universal explanations for their failures   give up on everything when a failure happens in one area.Those  who make specific explanations may become helpless in one tiny part of their lives yet move on with their lives.

Remember that  students ( and others)  who use phrases and sentences to describe emotions and feelings which are permanent,  and have long lasting helplessness. They are at high risk of suicide /self harm/ self destruction.

Help those who catastrophize to refocus on specific events.

HOPE

Lets take a look at  another aspect of teenage an student thinking. Those who have low self esteem and low self worth always look for permanent and universal causes of misfortune as they continue to practise despair. Their negativity is full of emotional flatness. Contrast this to their mates who may be hopeful or full of hope for the future. Optimists usually have  the potential and social motivation to become achievers, focussed on problem solving.

 PERSONALIZATION:        Internal v External

Those with low self esteem  show an internal style of explanation for events. This means they blame themselves ie  I was useless in biology/ chemistry etc. However, others  like optimists learn to use external sources to explain their bad events ie " The examiners were not properly trained,…"- or  All the class did poorly as the questions were more demanding "

1. Help children / teenagers ( 8-15)  to see the ABC of optimistic thinking, seeing the connection between  adversity  belief  and consequences. Try to be patient with them. Use age related examples. Teaching optimism is something you can do. Your own skills will grow enormously in teaching others.

2. Explain the ABC model :   First    see the connection between adversity  belief and consequences.   Here is an example:

a. Someone takes your parking space you were waiting to enter

b  You think ………………………………………………………..

c. You become angry,  lower the window, and shout at the other driver.

a. Your best friend  has'nt returned your phone calls.

b. You think …………………………………………………………

c. Your depressed and anxious all day.

Let me explain these.  In the car parking scenario, your  thoughts of trespass sets off your anger. "he stole my place"  That was a selfish thing to do"

Also you can see your best friend didn't return your phone calls. Now if you were thinking in a permanent way you would be saying " I am always selfish and inconsiderate" - no wonder depression will follow.

 Try to separate thoughts from feelings. This is crucial. Look carefully at this example:

Adversity:  I decided to go to the gym and when I walked in I saw  all of these toned bodies around me

Belief: What am I doing here? I look like a beached whale compared to these people! I am getting out of here while I still have my dignity

Consequences:  I felt totally self -conscious and ended up  leaving after  fifteen minutes.

Now look at the  link between  beliefs and consequences. What you see is that pessimistic explanations set off passivity and dejection, while optimistic explanations energize. Try to dispute the pessimistic beliefs immediately. Disputing is more effective in the long run.