This reminds me of something Cheri Huber has said: "Depression is the greatest ally a person can have in the pursuit of ending suffering. Your best spiritual friend."

At first glance, it's one of those "you MUST be kidding" things.

But if you look deeper, it's true. Somebody who isn't depressed, who has just the normal level of discontent and dissatisfaction, can muddle along for years without it ever getting "bad enough" to compel them to do something. A person with depression doesn't have that luxury: either I figure out how to not suffer this way, or I kill myself.