Depression is a difficult concept to understand. We use the term loosely every day: “that movie was so depressing,” or, “I feel so depressed when I think of Cape Town’s water situation”. In this context depression is a normal, healthy part of the human experience. From an evolutionary perspective, depression could even be normal and necessary. Consider the baby bear who lost his mother. First, there is crying and wailing (separation anxiety), in the hope of calling the mother to him. Then there is silent resignation and withdrawal (depression). The cub curls into a ball and barely moves, so as…
