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William Glasser, psychologist and founder of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy, says that we choose to be depressed and that we choose to be anxious. At first glance, his theory seems very insensitive and absolutely untrue for cases of biological mental illnesses. Glasser was from a generation that was limited in its understanding of the biological and physiological cause for mental illness.
However, after reading his book called Choice Theory, I was really inspired by it. Instead of viewing his theory as insensitive, I saw it as liberating.
It was somehow freeing to believe that I had a choice over my own mental well-being.
Consider this point of view. The argument in the psychology world often says that a person is depressed because they have a deficiency of available serotonin in their brain. Taking an SSRI, such as an antidepressant like Prozac, can alter the levels present in the brain and make a person happier.
Glasser’s theory however says that people make choices that cause them to have low levels of serotonin and ultimately cause them to be depressed. If someone chooses to sit in their house alone and withdraw from all of their close relationships, they will probably have lower levels of serotonin and become sad and lonely. They didn’t have to make this choice. They could have chosen to go for a run in the morning, and meet their friend for lunch. The main idea is personal choice and responsibility.
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So which comes first, the chicken or the egg? Finding one cause for depression is impossible, but what we do know is that there’s a relationship between depression and serotonin.
Glasser’s theory is bold because he gives people sole responsibility over their own mental condition. We can consider him insensitive in one respect, but sensitivity only goes so far when a person needs change in their life. Blaming someone, and giving them a choice are two different things. See the difference here?
The choices we make in our daily lives naturally affect the neurotransmitters in our brain, which in turn affect our mood. Whether we become happy or depressed.
I think that the diagnosis of mental illness is sometimes debilitating for people. A psychologist tells someone they have depression, they believe they have depression, and therefore live a lifestyle that is depressing.
Trust me, I understand that it is not easy, and that there are certain people that have depression so badly that its extremely pervasive in their life. I can’t understand what that’s like and I don’t blame those people. Those people absolutely need counseling and antidepressants to get by.
However, a large majority of the population does not have depression so badly that they can’t do something about it. They can change their lifestyle to somehow make things better. Even if someone has a biologically-caused depression, I think Glasser wants to challenge them. So what? Okay, yes, you have depression. What are you going to do about it?
I’m not saying that Choice Theory is my bible, or that I think it can apply to everyone. Honestly, it tends to be very reductionistic in it’s thinking, but I also tend to be pretty optimistic. I think it has a lot to bring to the table.
Glasser also gives advice on relationships, issues of control, and personal freedom. Interested? Check it out: Choice Theory.
