Nope not my experience with patients

Actually we were taught in Psych - that those with Paranoid Personality Disorder were more in touch with reality.

I try not to think about that.

And yes - I think most folks who have some amount of diagnosable mental illness wrestle with reality more than those who are not diagnosed and therefore - probably have a clearer perception of reality.
Questioning your own perceptions is a good starting point.

I would have thought the reverse was true. Maybe if depressed about the state of the world you should listen to Steven Pinker

I vote no. They may understand why they are depressed but as for their minds being more open to reality, unless you tell me what page in the bible it says so, I still vote no.

Everyone has a different idea what reality is, but generally speaking, anyone who really pays attention to the things that happen in this world comes to the realization that it is seriously FUBAR, but that does not necessarily have to translate into depression, it can also translate into defiance of it all . . . .
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Au milieu de l'hiver, j'ai découvert en moi un invincible été. Albert Camus
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In the middle of the winter, I have discovered in myself an invincible summer.

I'd say in one sense it's true. I found a few years ago that with my serious depression, I also got rid of a lot of the illusions about myself and my life. I quit believing that I was "special" somehow, and that "things turned out how they were meant to be". A lot of that crap went by the wayside.

There are so many subjective realities... and some of those realities and angles, when looked at clearly, can very much be depressing and lead to inaction/actual depression. As a person who is, in some ways, experiencing this phenomenon right now, I'd say it's real.

It doesn't, however, mean everyone else who sees the same stuff would have the same reaction or add it up in the same way.

What a load of crap! I have been poor, I have had "enough". I prefer the "enough". I have been depressed, I have been happy. I prefer the Happy. Why the Hell would anybody encourage people to embrace sadness???!?

When we are depressed we see things differently, we give value and care for fewer things than others, the things that really deserve to be appreciated. In that respect is perhaps more accurate. But we also turn extremely pessimistic and see everything darker, and that is wrong perception.

I agree. They/ we’re honest, thus often Atheists.. We look for truth, not escape. We’re willing to fight, and bear the scars of having done so.

Depressed over the condition of ..the world? Occasionally, but having fought the good fight - we may be disappointed, even depressed, but never guilty. We did the hard stuff, and still do ~

depression was what drove me to seek out viable alternatives to my personal operating system. I was fixated on buddhism which helped me see the balance between sides and live my life in the middle with no attachments. to me the down isn't bad because it will be gone soon and good is always around the corner and that helps me with objectivity.

Nope....depression is NOT REALISM....depression is an internal body and brain condition aggravated by a hostile environment OR resentment of happy individuals nearby

I suffer depression which is typical in many empathetic people, but it’s a chemical imbalance. I don’t think it has to do so much with seeing things realistically as it does with not being able to see the good in oneself.