In a group of ten people, two of them will be depressed. The ten people may be friends, acquaintances from work, school, etc. They get along together, but a minority of the group doesn't seem to fit in.
Not fitting in is not a function of depression, that would make for a silly generalization. Depressives can function well in the social environment thanks to their uniqueness and, what certain people describe as gravity, earthy (from down to earth). Depressives take many forms. One could be the hootagoonnar who wears the lamp shade at New Years Eve, another could be that person who avoids all social contact at the party, is satisfied with merely attending, knowing that it is good for him/her, and that he/she would feel good for it the following day.
So, back to our group of ten people. Two of the ten are depressives, one is an outgoing character, and the other a recalcitrant one.
Despite the personality differences, their depression is a unifying bond, and whether they know it or not, social interaction has proven to charge the lowest mood into a somewhat enthused attempt at having a good time.
Even though socializing is often the best thing for a glum person, they are often reluctant to venture out of the comfort of their homes to meet people or reacquaint themselves with old friends. This aversion to socializing has a number of reasons, but the major obstacle to getting out and enjoying oneself is fear. Fear of not fitting in, fear of depressing everyone else by glumming around, never smiling, mumbling, looking like a raccoon, fear of the 'high school reunion syndrome' (knowing, before even attempting, that everyone will say, 'look what happened to so and so,' and then your imagination will indulge: the piss-ants you care so much for venture to analogize, 'he looks like a zombie,' or, 'look at her hair!' Fear of being scared and wiry at a social event.
Fear limits the benefits, the healthy times that you can gather in a social atmosphere. It strangles the fun out of everything. Flow cannot stop you from scaring your self and becoming anxious, but it can help you to forget your fear, and enjoy yourself.
