A trap that
sensitive and
altruistic people can easily fall into. Usually it starts with
endogenous depression -- i.e. there doesn't appear to be a direct cause for the depression - you feel sad for no apparent reason.
But then you feel guilty: "Why am I depressed? I have no reason to be depressed ... not like my friend X who's just had a car accident, or my friend Y who just went through a divorce. What right do I have to be sad and upset? I have no right. But I still am ... but I shouldn't be."
So then this guilt makes you even sadder, and even more depressed, but then you feel guilty again; completing the loop and making you feel worse and worse ...