"Melancholia (from Greek μελαγχολία melancholia "sadness", literally black bile), also lugubriousness, from the Latin lugere, to mourn; moroseness, from the Latin morosus, self-willed, fastidious habit; wistfulness, from old English wist: intent, or saturnine, was a concept in ancient and pre-modern medicine. Melancholy was one of the four temperaments matching the four humours. In the 19th century, "melancholia" could be physical as well as mental, and melancholic conditions were classified as such by their common cause rather than by their properties." - Wikipedia
There we have it. Our bilious self-induced mid-winter blues come from lack of will, habitual criticism, escapist daydreaming, being wistful, and indulging in perpetual mourning. This doesn't sound to humourous to me.
According to this definition, melancholia can also be physical. I wonder what that feels like. Could I call in sick with physical melancholia?
"Melancholia was described as a distinct disease with particular mental and physical symptoms in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. Hippocrates, in his Aphorisms, characterized all "fears and despondencies, if they last a long time" as being symptomatic of melancholia. When a patient could not be cured of the disease it was thought that the melancholia was a result of demonic possession." -Wikipedia
FYI: demonic possession is not an acceptable excuse to call in sick. Brazen satanic wannabes who try this end up exorcised out of employment. You'd be better off calling in with fears and despondencies.
"Melancholic depression, or depression with melancholic features, is a DSM-IV subtype of clinical depression requiring at least one of the following symptoms:
-Anhedonia (the inability to find pleasure in things)
-Lack of mood reactivity (i.e. mood does not improve in response to positive events)
And at least three of the following:
-Depression that is subjectively different from grief or loss
-Severe weight loss or loss of appetite
-Psychomotor agitation or retardation
-Early morning awakening
-Guilt that is excessive
-Worse mood in the morning" -Wikipedia
For some reason I have always loved the word anhedonia. It so aptly describes Monday morning, dieting, and staying too long in an unfulfilling relationship. These three alone or in combination always lead to mood reactivity. Is mood reactivity a way of being or a lifestyle choice? And why does hedonism get a bad rap as well as anhedonia?
I like it that one gets to choose from a menu of melancholia options. I'll take the guilt with a side of psychomotor retardation and depression. BTW: is there ever guilt that is not excessive? If one awakens at night can one avoid feeling worse in the morning?
The good news is melancholia may get you up earlier, help you shed a few unwanted pounds, and give you the energy via psychomotor agitation to get some of those tasks you've avoided done.
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