On Depression And Anxiety: Specifying The Nature Of The Problem

The following is a transcript excerpt from Dr. Jordan Peterson’s “Depression & Anxiety.” In this segment, he defines depression, addresses the difference between being depressed and having a terrible life, acknowledges the proper treatment for depression, and outlines how meaningful life pursuits can stave off negative emotion and create a good life. Dr. Peterson’s extensive catalog is available on DailyWire+.

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Generally, when people come to see a psychotherapist, they do it for one of three reasons. They’re either depressed or they’re anxious or some combination of the two, or they don’t do a particularly good job of standing up for themselves, in which case they need what’s often called assertiveness training. We’ll walk through all of those, but we’ll start with depression.

So what is depression exactly? Well, it’s a preponderance of negative emotion, which seems self-evident. Depressed people are sad and frustrated and disappointed and grief-stricken….