Melancholy: the true name for Depression

Depression — what is now seen as a medical condition and a ‘brain disease’ that must be treated with medication — was once called melancholy before the twentieth century. Instead of embracing it as a natural part of our human experience —or, even more positively, as the seed of our creativity — we carry it as a heavy burden. The diagnosis (or, in other words, the label) of "depression," (while I am not romanticizing so-called depressive feelings) could be reframed in a more positive light.

By our very nature, we are Homo Melancholicus — beings who are aware of loss and transience and who strive to transform this awareness into hope and creativity. In essence, we are alchemists. However, due to the influence of the medical and pharmaceutical industries, we have forgotten this foundational truth and have instead become victims of a system that does not teach us how to manage our emotional energy. This is an awareness we should have cultivated from a young age — so that we wouldn’t feel "different," unable to keep up with the world around us, or, worse, like outsiders, which only deepens feelings of isolation and despair.

Instead, an internal battle exists between being a Homo Economicus — a cheerful, hardworking human (a neoliberal ideal) —and being a Homo Melancholicus, which is often viewed as less productive or even unproductive, deviating from societal norms.

One of the biggest reasons why "depression" — or rather, melancholy — is perceived as a life sentence is because we fear isolation from the tribe. We don’t want to be seen as outsiders in society. We want to be "normal" and to "function normally". In reality, escaping the pressures of the working culture is becoming increasingly difficult, especially given the rising cost of living and new laws and regulations affecting self-employed individuals. Yet, these very restrictions make us more aware of the value of self-employment/entrepreneurship and should fuel our motivation and resilience to align with our true purpose.

Self-employment/entrepreneurship can be one of the most liberating paths for those who struggle with melancholy or depression. Every time I hear someone say they are depressed or struggling with depression, I instinctively know they are living a compromised life rather than an authentic one. Let that truth sink in.

You are not doomed. You are not a victim. You are not even depressed.

You simply haven’t learned how to navigate melancholic feelings. In reality, you are highly attuned to your natural emotional energy — a beautiful ability and awareness to possess. And, most importantly, a powerful force to create from.

Let it fuel your inner fire. Turn your pain into purpose.

P.S. I will explore this topic in greater depth in future articles and, eventually, in a class. Not only is it necessary to shed more light on this subject, but it also requires deeper context because I do not take the struggles of depression lightly by any means.