If you want to understand depression, I cannot recommend this book enough…

From “The Depths: Understanding the Evolutionary Origins of the Depression Epidemic” by Jonathan Rottenberg:

An important lesson is that the mood system typically has natural resilience. As Sophocles wrote, “Gentle time will heal our sorrows.” Healing in grief is likely sped up by culturally based rituals and rites that provide social and acceptable outlets for grief to take place. Sadly, these outlets are not as available to people laid low for other reasons. Bereavement-related sorrow leads people to deliver casseroles. This is less often than the case when a sufferer is laid low for other reasons. I wonder how many depressions might be arrested if there were a greater number of acceptable outlets for sharing it.