Here's a thought coming to us courtesy of English researchers and the BBC -- depression may be good for you. In an article published this week -- a leading psychiatrist says "that depression is not a human defect at all, but a defence mechanism that in its mild and moderate forms can force a healthy reassessment of personal circumstances."

Once I started thinking about it, those words rang true for me. Not sure if I've experienced anything that would qualify as depression under a medical definition, but I can safely say I've certainly settled into a funk or two. These times (as miserable as they were) forced me to contemplate life in a new way and maybe take leaps I wouldn't have normally taken had I been feeling more upbeat. (Hey, sometimes you'll do just about anything to stop feeling down, right?)

Have you had a similar experience? Have you come out of a dark state feeling more enlightened? Or do you doubt that the after effects of depression are that profound? Finally, do you think depression is a survival mechanism?