> My own theory of how depression works is that it involves an inescapable realization that your model of reality is broken and can't be used to make prediction

> My own theory of how depression works is that it involves an inescapable realization that your model of reality is broken and can't be used to make predictions that allow you to effect the change you want to see in your life. You wanted to be happy, society gave you a bad model to work from, and the mind's reaction to discovering that this model doesn't work is depression. You should read the book Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions by Jonathan Hari. I read it this summer, and it completely overturned how I look at depression (and other mental health issues). I truly believe that a lot of them (not all, mind you; there's also a lot of over-diagnosis) stem from a breakdown of what made us human, particularly relevant in American culture. It's a very interesting read.