So most of the content used here is based on a post I did nearly 10 months ago; I’d recommend reading that first before this -- > https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/251137183?sort=0&page=0 Something I should also state is this; [quote]Trying to diagnose guardians with mental illness is hard due to the fact we can only look at social or possible psychological causes and is why everything I just said should be taken with a grain of salt.[/quote] All information I use about depression will be coming from the NHS website, as well as any background knowledge I have on the subject. I’m not a qualified psychologist and yes, I understand this is a video game. So, without further ado; lets dive in. Since last post we concluded that Eris struggles with depression showing various symptoms such as “continuous low sadness or mood” and “avoiding contact with friends and taking part in few social activities”. We also concluded that there are two causes that led to this; “Stressful Events” and “Loneliness”. These sections all came under Symptoms, Causes and Diagnosis. But today I wanted to look at the other half; Living With and treating the disorder. Once again, we have ignored biological sections of treatment like SSRIs and Antidepressants because A) video game and B) space magic (which is another subject). So, we shall only look at therapies or treatments that are purely social, and see if she has shown evidence of using them: Talking treatments are verbal therapies that are used to try get the sufferer to overcome the disorder. There are four main types on the NHS website (please note these are always suited to what the sufferer is going through and choice as to which type is used varies from person to person, and are usually never done alone, usually accompanied by a form of drug therapy or alternative treatment). [quote]-Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (aiming to help one understand their thoughts and behaviour and how they affect you) -Interpersonal Therapy (focuses on one’s relationships with others and problems they may be having in their relationships, such as difficulties with communication or coping with bereavement) -Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (encouraging one to say whatever is going through their mind) -Counselling (helps one to think about the problems they’re experiencing in their life so they can find new ways of dealing with them) [/quote] So, have some version of these therapies been utilised by Eris? Yes, elements of CBT can be seen in Shadowkeep’s post game story. The Memories of Eris’ Fireteam could be argued as someway of CBT. According to the NHS website [quote] CBT recognises that events in your past may have shaped you, but it concentrates mostly on how you can change the way you think, feel and behave in the present. It teaches you how to overcome negative thoughts – for example, being able to challenge hopeless feelings. [/quote] This, while not an actual therapy setting, does the same thing. The memories of the fireteam members reflect the past and then once the present is considered by Eris from you providing the memorabilia of them, she starts to show a kind of reconciliation about the individual. For context, you must remember she is literally facing the nightmares of them; even if not all of them are truly dead, she is still being reminded of their deaths. The reason we gave her for becoming depressed in the first post. Take the very first memory mission. Once Sai Mota’s necklace has been repaired; you find her scared and lonely. [quote] Please! Leave me alone… No, wait! Don't leave. I don't… I need you. [/quote] but then you provide the necklace [quote] Ghost: Eris, we found something that we believe should be yours. Eris Morn: It's Sai's necklace. I'd recognize her craftsmanship anywhere. She's the one that taught me how to use a knife to carve beads. Perhaps I will take up carving again… Thank you… [/quote] She begins to reconcile with Sai’s death. And again, with Vel, Omar, Toland and finally Eriana-3. [quote] I know this isn't really Eriana. She herself said she didn't want to be remembered this way. I want to remember her the way she was. Before the Disaster. Before the darkness. [/quote] [quote] Ghost: Eris, when your strike team headed to the moon – did Eriana-3 carry the letters Wei Ning sent her? Eris: Yes… to remind her of why we fought. Why we sought to bring about Crota's end. It was not simply vengeance. Eriana wanted no one to suffer like she and Wei had suffered. That is how she should be remembered. [sigh] [/quote] [quote] Ever since our descent into the Pit, when I thought upon my friends, I remembered only pain. These keepsakes have reminded me… there was joy, too. So long as these treasures are here to remind me of my friends, these phantoms cannot hurt me. [/quote] I want to also point out something from the NHS website regarding CBT: [quote] If CBT is recommended, you'll usually have a session with a therapist once a week or once every 2 weeks. The course of treatment usually lasts for between 5 and 20 sessions, with each session lasting 30 to 60 minutes.[/quote] there are 5 total memory missions, which I know is just because there is 5 fireteam members, but there is similarities in there. The reconciliation with Eriana-3’s nightmare disappearing is the turning point for Eris. Shadowkeep shows withdrawal in Eris. After the Sunless Cell strike back during the Taken War, she says how we have finally avenged her fireteam. She had come to terms with it, considering all those responsible for the death of everyone she cared about. Omingul, Crota, the embodiments of Crota, Alak-Hul, Ir Yut, Oryx. All dead. So, Eris goes out to look for the rest of the Hive hierarchy that could cause harm to other, that she doesn’t wish on her fellow brothers and sisters of humanity. She talks about a Throne World made for the Light. When she crops up in first person, she has a more positive attitude. And then we get to Shadowkeep. You can see the Eris start to withdraw. She goes from standing upright to becoming hunched over with each Nightmare that haunts her. She hears their taunts, but even then, that part of her that wants to beat this evil, break through. We get this scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgLfIM94Y_s The point of this scene shows she is still in there and can beat this. She did it before and can finally do it again. This is where we come in. The NHS website describes many ways of living with depression. There are two I want to focus on. Physical health/general welfare/healthy diet; so last time we looked at this, I mentioned how Eris gave us Raisins during the Festival of the Lost. I chalked this up to be a part of the symptoms she shows for not wanting to partake in social events. But with the recent Festival she did something similar; she may not have given us Raisins to leave with, but she gave us a toothbrush and asked us to perform a dance of our people. The cultural relevance is not what I want to look at, but instead the health promotion she goes about doing. Raisins are regarded as a health snack promoting a healthy diet, which if she had then on her, would assume she is also doing so. The dance would promote physical health, which she enjoys suggesting that maybe she likes to dance. The toothbrush she gives us also promotes that healthcare. The fact she is promoting these things would heavily suggest that she is partaking these practices in her own recovery. Talking about it; when it comes to depression, people are encouraged to talk about how they feel and what is bothering them. It is usually done through speaking with someone else. But sometimes the person may not feel comfortable with vocal expression; so other methods are used. Writing and art. Writing is the bit I want to focus on here; Eris has an entire lore book titled “letters from Eris”. If you read those letters you get to understand her feelings about the nightmares that have emerged from the Pyramid. And even in the final Unveiling Entry where Eris addresses us. The fact is, she uses the letters to express her feelings and try to move forward. The letters are addressed to those who have helped her/who she calls friends. Mara Sov, Ikora Rey and finally us. One thing I said in the last post was how Eris should serve as someone to look up to, and after this update, I stand by that point more than ever. Depression is a serious topic, and if you read this and relate to it because you suffer with depression, of know someone who does/has been affected by it; please, keep hope. Darkness is easily seen in everything; but shadows cannot be cast without light. Remember that people are there for you, and that we care about you, we truly do. Eyes up guardians.