By switching from "Life owes me..." to "Life is the gift".
Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
31–40 of 91 posts
Re: Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
#32i don't find joy in life. sometimes I get a feeling of purpose, but even this does not bring joy because in many cases it's a sad situation.
Re: Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
#33Re: Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
#34Cultivate your curiosity and find ways to help decent people in need. If you must have a benchmark, growing the quantity of those who will miss you when you’re gone seems like a reasonable default. YMMV. Worked for me.
Quoted post unavailable.
Cynicism is hard on the soul. I hope you find some joy!
Re: Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
#35No post body was provided.
Re: Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
#36By switching from "Life owes me..." to "Life is the gift".
My step-mom told me that she came out of a major depression in her 20s by ignoring herself and focusing on what she could do for others to ease their pains (volunteering, etc.).
It seems solid advice since part of the problem with depression in general and your description seems to be the inward focus on yourself...
Also, I'll add we like different things: "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!”
Re: Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
#37I've felt the same way for over 15 years, no solution in sight.
I've tried the meds for many years, I've tried therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy and many other things and nothing has worked.
I've also started to feel less interested in things I thought I was interested in.
The only thing really keeping me alive and fighting is my girlfriend and my family, which I have pretty poor contact with if I'm honest, but I still don't want to upset them.
Re: Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sleep deprivation
That’s a short term band aid and possibly damaging long term.
Do you have data/studies for either side? Genuinely interested in this, because intuitively it makes sense - sleep deprivation amplifies emotions - but I also have experienced first hand that long term sleep deprivation slowly deteriorates my emotional state.
Re: Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
#39By exercising every day and playing a music instrument.
If you can't exercise, just do a ~2 hour walk (in any weather). Go out and walk.
Same with music, if you don't know how to play, just make sounds with it. Any sounds, the way you can. I use my bass guitar as a stress ball. I can't play it in a conventional sense, but I can make sounds I like and it helps me.
Re: Ask HN: How did you find joy in life?
#40Just possibly, your low engagement and low interest are symptoms of depression or similar.
What cures are there for depression other than 1. anti-depressants 2. therapy / exercise / diet changes 3. a perspective change 4. ignoring it
Some things to take into consideration:
- Optimizing the microbiome. There’s tons of studies around various strains and methodologies etc. You could benefit from just eating no sugar and more fiber, or you could be in need of a fecal matter transplant. Unfortunately the microbiome and its effects on health is still not that well understood.
- Light therapy, or photobiomodulation with near-infrared light has some promising studies. I’ve personally used it to great effect.
- Magnesium supplementation has been shown to work in some treatment-resistant cases (obviously only works if you’re deficient). Mg is quickly eliminated via kidneys, so lower doses spread over the day might work better.
- Check Glycine levels (or just try a supplement, it’s cheap). Low levels are linked to depression. It also improves sleep usually, a nice side effect.
- Anything that lowers inflammation in the brain could work well in treatment resistant depression.