Depressive personality, what does it consist of?

Pessimism, sadness, bad mood, need to be alone, tendency to self-criticism… The depressive personality does not constitute clinical depression as such; It actually defines a way of thinking, of interpreting things, of feeling and perceiving.. Now, this filter of constant negativity can reach more pathological extremes, to the point of developing major depression at some point.

Does this mean that our personality style is sometimes linked to depression? The answer is yes. In fact, many of us will have known someone with this tendency. They are men and women who only see problems in everyday life, who have a catastrophic vision of life and who, almost without meaning to, imbue us with their bad mood.

We say this for a very specific fact. Sometimes, we avoid certain family members, friends or co-workers because they always wear those glasses of negativity. There are those who do not even hesitate to call them “toxic”, because their victimhood bothers us and it is difficult to be with them for more than an hour.. However, it is necessary to be more sensitive and question whether, perhaps, we are facing a depressive personality.

Depressive personality: causes, characteristics and risk factors

There are people with a greater tendency to develop depressive disorders. It is evidence and being clear about it from the beginning can help us understand many phenomena.

It is clear that no one chooses to have depression or an anxiety disorder, it is not something that one chooses at will. Now, sometimes, our way of interpreting reality and, above all, of seeing ourselves, is decisive.

Constantly living with the seed of negativity in your mind does not help. Wandering through our daily lives doubting ourselves, feeding the germ of low self-esteem with destructive internal dialogue, is not a facilitator either.

What is the origin of depressive personality?

Depressive personality disorder is a mental condition. What the old DSM-IV told us (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is that there are people who, since adolescence, show a generalized pattern of depressive thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

In 2007, a study with twins was carried out at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. What could be discovered in this work is that yes there is a genetic basis, that is, it is possible that in the same family there are several members with a depressive personality. The second thing that became evident is that depressive personality disorder and depressive disorders are different entities, with overlapping etiologies, but not identical For his part, Theodore Millon, a pioneer psychologist in the study of personality, already said in his day that there are personalities who are incapable of experiencing pleasure. He himself defined this behavior as a “pattern of constant surrender.” Likewise, as explained by the Millon and Davis, 1998, model of personality disorders, The origin of this profile would be a deficient attachment style in childhood. Emotional deficiencies on the part of the parents would be a triggering factor.

What are the characteristics of depressive personality disorder?

Currently, depressive personality disorder no longer appears as a diagnostic entity in the DSM-5 or ICD-10. It is defined only as unspecified personality disorder. If this is so, it is because its diagnosis is always complicated.

Often, avoidant personality disorder (social anxiety, feelings of inferiority, etc.) is superimposed on depressive personality. Other times, it is difficult to differentiate it from dysthymia. Let’s see, however, what its most defining characteristics are.

Mood anchored in pessimism, sadness and despondency. Throughout his life, They have felt unable to enjoy something. In fact, they barely show a sense of humor. Low self-esteem. They are very critical of themselves.High perfectionismsomething that always causes them suffering. This way of feeling and acting already manifests itself in adolescence.Constant feelings of loneliness and helplessness.They are passive people, with little motivation and initiative.

If I have a depressive personality… what risk is there?

As it is often said, He who borders the abyss ends up falling into it in the end. The depressive personality manifests a way of being, feeling and acting in which everything is unfavorable and negative. When you don’t enjoy anything, you stop setting goals on the horizon because you have nothing to dream about.

That way of being also alienates people. No one likes to share time and life with someone who only sees the negative side of reality. With all this, it is not difficult to guess that sooner or later, one reaches the extreme, the emptiness of the abyss; that is, to clinical depression.

However, on average, the depressive personality ends up showing either major depression or dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder).

The most appropriate thing in all cases is not to reach this limit. If we identify with this profile or know someone who meets all the statements, let’s encourage them to ask for help. No one deserves to live with black glasses, those that put a filter of constant darkness on every nuance of our reality.

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