Depression and Harry in OotP

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 110668


Psyche wrote :
"And the diagnostic list of symptoms:
 Low mood or marked loss of pleasure
 Significant change in appetite and marked weight loss
 Sleep disturbance
 Agitation or feelings of being slowed down
 Feeling fatigued
 Feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteen, tendency to feel guilty
 Inability to concentrate
 Thoughts of death and suicide.
 
Many psychologists would add feelings of hopelessness and being 
trapped to that list. However, this is the list by which people are
medically diagnosed with depression, and for that diagnosis you must
have the first of those and at least four of the others."

Del replies :
Well then I don't think Harry was depressed in OoP.

"Low mood or marked loss of pleasure" 
No. Harry had low times, granted, but he's not feeling low most of the
time. He's feeling angry and frustrated, but not low. And he most
definitely doesn't have a constant loss of pleasure, he still enjoys
what he's always liked : the company of his friends (except when they
start bickering or when they annoy him), Quidditch, Sirius's letters,
or just being at Hogwarts. In fact, he himself makes the remark that
Umbridge seems to be trying to take away everything that gives him
pleasure, which implies that he still does get pleasure from those
things. But then he gets his revenge by taking pleasure in teaching
the DA anyway.

"Significant change in appetite and marked weight loss"

We haven't seen that. Except when he does have a depressive episode
and starves himself for a day or two, but otherwise he's got as
healthy an appetite as ever.

"Sleep disturbance"

Well sure his sleep is disturbed, but not by depression.

"Agitation or feelings of being slowed down"

One could argue that Harry feels agitated, but it would be hard to prove.

"Feeling fatigued"

Apart from the times where he's overworked by his detentions and his
homework, Harry doesn't seem particularly tired.

"Feelings of worthlessness, low self-esteen, tendency to feel guilty"

Harry does have times when he feels guilty. But they are quite rare
and they never last. As for feeling worthless or having a low
self-esteem, I don't see that at all. Even in the middle of his
hellish summer, he's still aware of everything he's accomplished.

"Inability to concentrate"

No, I don't think so.

"Thoughts of death and suicide."

I can't remember. Maybe it happened a few times, but it's nowhere as
bad as it should get to be a symptom of depression. 

So no I don't think Harry is depressed. He has low mood episodes, when
things go particularly wrong, but that's normal. He's full of anger
and especially of frustration, but that's absolutely normal under the
circumstances.

Now of course, Harry could still become depressed, especially after
the death of Sirius. 

Del