Background on depression:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/bas...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_depressive_disorder
Please don't guess at remembering something you read on buzzfeed.
How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
51–60 of 86 posts
Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
#52If you'd like to read yogic prospective on depression [0] is a good start. [1] is a book on the same by the article's author Om Swami.
However, let me warn you that this will venture you into concepts of human body you have likely not heard of and which has not been studied extensively by modern medical science. However, it's heavily researched and applied at least for thousands of years in India etc.
>>> Depression is a state of mind. It is not a physical ailment; it is not a neurological disorder and it is rarely a malfunctioning of the brain. It is strictly a condition of the mind. And mind pervades your whole body and beyond. It is for this reason that pacification of the mind calms the whole body just like its restlessness upsets the whole system. Severity of depression can be ascertained from the symptoms of the patient. While I am using the term patient, that truly is an oxymoron. There really cannot be a “patient” for depression because it is not a “disease” that one can suffer from. It is simply a mismatch of the colliding psychic imprints (vāsanā) also known tendencies of the mind. Mind cannot malfunction for the true nature of mind is pure bliss (ānanda) and beyond all subjective characterizations and dualities (dvanda).
....
A pertinent question: what causes depression? Depression is a state of mind. It originates in the causal body. The mind has become a victim of its own latent tendencies. It can happen from curbing your desires or an unfulfilling life, both of which are caused by ignorance of the conditioned mind. A lot of people lead an unfulfilling life; some choose to ignore the voice of the soul while many others drown it in material pursuits. But, one day it catches up.
....
If you are not taking anti-depressants currently, half the job is already done. Please do not start taking such pills. They are soporific substances designed to artificially pacify your brain creating the illusion of a calm mind. Gradually, their dosage needs increasing as your brain gets used to it.
To not only completely get rid of depression but feel fitter than you have ever been, you need to cover all three aspects: body, consciousness, and the soul. 0: http://omswami.com/2011/10/depression-definition-cause-and-c... 1: http://omswami.com/2015/08/when-all-is-not-well.html
Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
#53Hi Pete, I used same approach somewhat successfully for a couple months. One suggestion on that front: Might want to add a "Burns Depression Checklist" questionnaire to your daily polling, it's a single number that will reflect mood, easier for charting and trend analysis: http://healingheartscc.com/docs/first_steps/FS_DepressionQui... If, and a big if, in a couple months you start to lose faith that you will never b…
Hey your comment sounded lot like the ideas I got from OM Swami's article and book I refered in my comment https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10613241
You may wish to check that out. Extensive reading on Yogic prospective of depression, involving body, consciousness and soul.
Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
#54It sounds like what the author is looking for is accountability. It was difficult, but I eventually found a reliable person on Craigslist to call me daily to check-in on my progress towards my goals and habits.
I had a lot of success with this and eventually started a business to make it easier for other people to sign up for daily personal check-in calls:
http://www.personalcheckin.com/
(I later sold the company when I realized the difficulty of scaling up phone calls, though I still am a happy client!)
Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
#55It sounds like what the author is looking for is accountability. It was difficult, but I eventually found a reliable person on Craigslist to call me daily to check-in on my progress towards my goals and habits.
I had a lot of success with this and eventually started a business to make it easier for other people to sign up for daily personal check-in calls:
http://www.personalcheckin.com/
(I later sold the company when I realized the difficulty of scaling up phone calls, though I still am a happy client!)
Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
#56I just realized I cannot remember the last time I felt happy in any simple or robust way. I don't know what it would be like.
Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
I responded to > especially considering a classic symptom of depression is the inability to accomplish these tasks. You are perpetuating an incorrect and dangerous view of depression by implying it only exists if you cannot function entirely. > > > "No, depression does not mean you're a recluse who does nothing with your life." > i never implied anything of the sort. How so? "classic symptom of depression is the inab…
i simply posit that there exists a severity of depression at which waking up, getting dressed, and getting in the shower are out of question. do you disagree? furthermore, i suggest there exists a severity of depression that cannot be managed or mitigated by using an app to get things done . do you disagree? in no way did i "imply" getting dressed and depression are mutually exclusive. i didn't imply anything at all,…
One thing I would like to point out is that his app isn't for getting things done. It's for letting his support network know that he might need help, but is unable to directly ask for it.
Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
They might mean to say that it's worsened when they're not busy with something. Actively working on a task that one finds rewarding can definitely help with depression.
Sure, but from reading the article it seems that social isolation as a matter of lifestyle is the elephant in the room. If he has to be held accountable through an app, it would suggest that there's no people present throughout the day to hold him accountable. Perhaps I'm wrong, but it's less absurd than assuming we just need a whip when we're down. This isn't an unemployed person feeling like they're not contributin…
It's not about having people around to hold you accountable. I have dealt with severe depression for about 30 years. You get to be very good at 'hiding' your emotional state from people. What a lot of people here seem to be missing is that lack of productivity is a warning signal for him to share with his support network.
His app doesn't increase or help with his productivity, it tracks it.
I could use his app directly as is. I have a very supportive network, who really help me when I am in the bottom of a cycle. This app could really help me as I only reach out when it gets bad enough that I feel my life is in danger.
And I am surrounded by people all the time. At work (I teach) and at home (I have 2 small kids & a perfect partner). Now my partner is starting to learn the warning signs.
But I am very good at hiding them...
Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
#59Earlier quoted context omitted.
> you need to solve yourself, emerge victorious over > your inner demon I can't begin to describe how offensively stupid this idea is. To get over the dark days, you need to fix the chemical imbalance in your head. The solution is not "to solve yourself". The solution is to take appropriate medication. Or, ya know, your mileage may vary.
A component of the solution might be to take appropriate medication. I tried getting over the shit stew with drugs and no intentional internal change, first with prescribed drugs, then with, uh, other sources. It's so easy to believe that it's completely beyond your control, that it's a neurochemical problem that you cannot solve until the state of the system changes. Meditate on this one for a bit: youtube.com/watch…
I wonder if there's a chance that your personal illness isn't generally applicable to everyone's?
Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App
#60Jesus. I got over a clinical depression which lasted half a decade... I can't begin to describe how offensively stupid this idea is. To get over the dark days, you need to solve yourself, emerge victorious over your inner demon. The solution is not "to do stuff". The solution is to get a grip.
Wow. I would think that you'd be a little more understanding. His solution is not just to do stuff. It's to get a little help when the dark days hit and he's unable to reach out for help. I'm glad you were able to man up and get a grip.
Not everyone has your perfect will power.