I guess depression comes to certain people for a variety of reasons. I agree with the starting post that lots of people, especially as they get older, are lonely and bored. I'm sure it causes them to feel depressed and I'm not sure if any med would help that. I eat crappy, really don't exercise, avoid the sun, live alone and have never experienced a depressed day. I personally prefer online interaction. That way, when I'm done with people (LOL), I can just close my laptop and get back to the somewhat hermit life I love. I am an artist and can spend days without people. But I think, for lots of other folks, the loneliness and lack of face to face interaction is a very big depression factor.
Your profile says you live in Florida, so how on earth do you avoid the sun, @Bess Barber ? My daughter took me along with her to Orlando when she had to go there for work a year ago, and I really enjoyed the drive down there from Alabama, although I certainly would not want to have to live in Orlando........ just too big of a city for me ! We went through some beautiful little towns along the western coast and southern part of the Florida Panhandle on the way home again. What part of Florida to you live in, and do you like living there ?
Ah, what a wonderful world it is to meet another introvert! I lived in South East Florida on and off for a number of years and socializing wasn’t at the top of my list. Too many people around me doesn’’t depress me but does cause some anxiety. I can lecture or speak in front of thousands of people but put me in the middle of them and I get quite guarded. As @Yvonne Smith asked, what part of Florida do you hail from?
I don't need or want crowds but I believe it's healthy to have people in one's life..for a lot of reasons and one I'm hearing more and more about is memory issues...those who isolate too much are not working their brains. Bess, I painted for 3 yrs and loved loved it, threw myself into what I did and quit it all a few yrs ago...did enough. Have been giving my works away to people who come into my place and tell me how much they like my work. I get a lot of joy in doing that. I live alone and 81 soon and so many are gone in my life already and still have friends I talk to and go out with and have my NPR radio going all day for company. As I said early on in this thread I had 10 yrs of clinical depression and it was a sluggish thyroid that was NOT getting proper attention and work done by the many docs I saw in those 10 yrs....grrrrrrrrrrr
Jacksonville. Like you, I don't get nervous addressing a crowd, but do feel anxious if people are coming to my house in the afternoon. It's like the whole day is interrupted. LOL. It's odd because most assume I'm an extravert, I'm not shy at all, I just need lots of 'no people' space. @Yvonne Smith I avoid going outside any more than I have to. When I do, I wear really dark glasses. Yes, Orlando can feel like a terrarium.(Sorry, didn't mean to derail the OP.)