Acedia & Depression
While depression is a common problem with which millions of people struggle, many have not heard of acedia. This spiritual condition has many similarities to depression. Acedia is a feeling of lethargy around good intentions, a failing of the ability to care enough about oneself and the world. The word "acedia" derives from Greek for lack of care. The root of "care" means to lament or cry out. "Acedia" is a word of sadness and loneliness.
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Desert Fathers
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The Desert Fathers were fourth and fifth century Christian monks who fled the cities of the Middle East to live simple, solitary lives in the desert. They were the first to describe the condition of acedia. Novice monks found themselves overwhelmed by the tedium of everyday life and doubting their lives had any meaning. Worst of all, they lost their gratitude for simply being alive.
Merger with Sloth
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During medieval times, the view of acedia transformed from an occupational hazard of hermits to a willful sin. The spiritual condition was so identified with monastics that laypeople weren't expected to be susceptible. Acedia was absorbed into more commonplace sloth. Thus, the more subtle and nuanced spiritual condition of acedia merged with physical laziness.
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Depression
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Many of acedia's symptoms characterize the modern condition of depression. Chronic sadness, hopelessness and helplessness all suggest acedia. But the medical world sees depression as resulting from stressful events, a pessimistic personality, genetics, drug use or a chemical imbalance in the brain. The spiritual often goes unaddressed in medicine.
Acedia or Depression?
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Kathleen Norris spent 20 years writing her book "Acedia & Me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life." She acknowledges that depression and acedia may be hard to tell apart. According to Norris, depression can be treated medically, but "acedia is a temptation that may be resisted." She says the causes of depression are usually easier to discern than those which result in acedia.
Antidotes
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The Desert Fathers treated acedia with manual labor and serving other people. Jiko Linda Cutts, a Zen Buddhist priest and writer, recommends practicing friendliness to oneself and others and cultivating contentment, patience and tranquility. Norris acknowledges that medication for depression has helped many people. But if the problem is spiritual, she urges seekers to slow down. Those looking for instant gratification in religion, she says, will be disappointed.
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