Depression: I Keep Crying for No Reason | Incheon Depression

Hello, this is Baekrokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.

Trapped in a colorless, black-and-white world

All the colors of the world have disappeared.

Though I'm clearly smiling, my heart isn't.

Even delicious food holds no flavor.

Everything that once brought joy now brings no excitement.

“I don’t want to do anything. Everything just feels meaningless. Simply getting out of bed feels like climbing a giant mountain.”

Depression Is

more than just feeling sad. It's a state where all the emotions, vitality, and joy that made you 'you' are stolen away, leaving your mind's energy completely depleted. It traps you in a transparent glass box of helplessness and emptiness, isolating you from the world.

Depletion of 'Happiness Hormones' and the 'Negative Thought' Filter

Depression is not a matter of willpower, but a clear functional problem in the brain. It's a state where brain neurotransmitters (such as serotonin, dopamine), which are like a car's 'engine oil,' become deficient or their function is impaired.

With this 'engine oil' of happiness hormones running low, the mind's engine sputters and fails to operate properly. The very ability to feel motivation, interest, and joy becomes paralyzed.

On top of this, a special filter of 'negative thoughts' is installed. This filter makes you interpret all information in the world only through a negative lens, thinking 'I can't do it,' 'It's all my fault,' or 'There's no hope for the future.'

These two problems combine, dragging you into a deep swamp of helplessness and negative thinking.

When the 'King of the Heart' Loses Strength, and 'Qi' Becomes Trapped

In Korean Medicine, our mind and emotions are understood holistically, connected to the Five Zang-Organs and Six Fu-Organs. Depression is deeply related to the dysfunction of the 'Heart (心)' and 'Liver (肝).'

The 'Heart' is the 'king' that governs our spirit (神, Shen). When the qi of this king (心氣, sim-gi) weakens, the mind loses its direction and easily falls into sadness and sorrow. There is a lack of motivation for everything, and the power of thought diminishes.

The 'Liver (肝)' is the 'general' that ensures the smooth flow of our body's qi (氣). If excessive stress or pent-up emotions obstruct the role of this general (肝氣鬱結, Gan-qi-ul-gyeon, or Liver Qi Stagnation), qi loses its proper path and clumps together in one place. Symptoms like chest tightness, frequent sighing, and severe emotional fluctuations appear.

Therefore, Korean medical treatment focuses on a fundamental approach: 'strengthening the qi of the weakened king (Heart)' (養心安神, yang-sim-an-sin, or Nourishing the Heart and Calming the Spirit) and 'clearing the blocked channels of qi (Liver)' (疏肝解鬱, so-gan-hae-ul, or Soothing the Liver and Resolving Stagnation), helping the mind regain its vitality and tranquility.

3 Small Attempts to Escape the Swamp of Helplessness

Change begins not with grand goals, but with small actions you can try today.

Attempt 1: Sunlight & Walking

Spend 15 minutes a day walking in your neighborhood, basking in the sunlight without overthinking. Sunlight is the best natural remedy for promoting the secretion of the 'happiness hormone' serotonin, and regular movement infuses healthy vitality into the brain.

Attempt 2: Small Accomplishments

Instead of a grand goal like 'tidying your room,' set a very small and specific goal, such as 'getting up and folding your blanket.' The experience of a small success can create a tiny crack in the helpless thought, 'I can't do anything.'

Attempt 3: Safe Connection

When all relationships feel like a burden, take some time to communicate, even briefly, with just one family member or friend who won't judge you and can simply listen to your story. It's crucial to break free from isolation.

When 'A Cold of the Mind' Turns into 'Pneumonia of the Mind'

Often, depression is misunderstood as a 'disease caused by a weak will' and left untreated. People isolate themselves, thinking 'it will get better with time.' However, this path not only goes beyond simple sadness but also destroys your social functioning and physical health. You might lose your job, relationships might sever, and your body's immunity can weaken, making you vulnerable to other illnesses. 'A cold of the mind' turns into 'pneumonia of the mind.'

However, recognizing that this is not a fault of your willpower but a functional problem of the brain, and seeking professional help, is the path to discovering hope – that there is an exit at the end of a dark tunnel. It is the most courageous choice, not merely to regain your mood, but to rebuild your entire life.

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