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How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

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Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

#61

Post by voynich61 »

voynich61 wrote: post #50
peteretep wrote: post #49

Earlier 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…

peteretep, of course it isn't generally applicable to everyone's. It is an illustrative point: you have a lot more control over your head than you'd like to admit.

Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

#62

Post by azinman2 »

hliyan wrote: post #11
azinman2 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look at ginger.io -- their cognitive behavior therapy has been shown to be statistically significant. It's what you're looking for either now or in a future version of their app.

That seems interesting. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to allow individual signups https://ginger.io/for-individuals/#getinvolved

For now... although I believe you can still download their app in the android store.

Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

#63

Post by DanBC »

peteretep wrote: post #49
voynich61 wrote: post #42

Jesus. 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.

> 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.

Most doctors, even those working with mental health, don't believe the chemical imbalance stuff. That's why recommended first line treatment for mild to moderate depression is a talking therapy.

Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

#64

Post by bcjordan »

azinman2 wrote: post #8

Guess he doesn't know about ginger.io -- it does all this and much more about intelligently using your phone's sensors to know when you're behavior patterns are off.

Distinction is alerts are sent to your healthcare providers versus friends and family for casual interventions as OP describes.

Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

#65

Post by peteretep »

DanBC wrote: post #63
peteretep wrote: post #49

Earlier 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.

Most doctors, even those working with mental health, don't believe the chemical imbalance stuff. That's why recommended first line treatment for mild to moderate depression is a talking therapy.

Extraordinary claims generally require excellent citations.

Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

#66

Post by rhizome »

hightechlowlife wrote: post #17
hliyan wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

With respect, I think we should take the patient point of view more seriously than our own (us not having examined the patient or more damningly, not having any training in psychiatry). Lack of productivity can on occasion lead to a feeling of worthlessness which can exacerbate depression.

It's true, I'm not a psychiatrist and don't know him. It's also obvious that achieving things helps us feel better. I'm trying to suggest that, instead of focusing on productivity as the final solution and trying to hack it into his life, perhaps look at the factors causing his difficulties. For example, the fact that he works alone, or does a sedentary job -- both of which are massive risk factors for depression.

We're stuck with his articulation, but I can see how that would seem to be the case. Personally, I see lack of productivity as a symptom of depression, but it's not for no reason that there's a saying, "the devil makes work for idle hands."

Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

#67

Post by DanBC »

c23gooey wrote: post #29
corndoge wrote: post #26

"I do know the solution. And many of you healthy thinkers will be way ahead of me on this. In its simplest form the solution is to do stuff. Do the basic stuff like getting up, cleaned and dressed promptly at a sensible time, keeping on top of my laundry etc... The flip side of feeling awful when I don’t do these things is that I feel incredible when I do." If the author feels incredible when he accomplishes a task -…

The word depression is just as over used as the word startup. It was only a matter of time before the two came together.

An american dies by suicide every 13 minutes. There's a lot if depression around.

Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

#68

Post by titzer »

voynich61 wrote: post #42

Jesus. 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.

I think you could have phrased this differently but there is something there. Depression is a complex and multi-faceted challenge that can have many underlying causes and is subject to a number of psychological forces. The author takes the approach of managing the superficial symptoms whereby depression makes people non-functional, but there are probably underlying causes that will reemerge in various ways down the line. Managing only the loss of productivity without addressing underlying concerns has a high likelihood of just masking the problem. They might find themselves a year or two down the line with some accomplishments but still nagging feelings of self doubt and failure.

I'd recommend "Feeling Good", a book by David M. Burns (site here: http://feelinggood.com/)

It's amazing how some very productive people lead inner lives of desperation and pain due to bad self-talk and reinforcement of negative feelings.

Re: How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App

#70

Post by MichaelGG »

hightechlowlife wrote: post #3

"For me, depression is caused by a lack of productivity". It is beyond me that such a statement can be expressed seriously. I strongly suggest the author look beyond "I'm not working hard enough" as the key reason for his mental illness.

I believe you misread or failed to read the rest of the paragraph. The author makes it clear this isn't just work.

I feel similar to the author's statement. Coding is my thing. In general, I really like most of my work. When I have writer's (coder's) block, it really, really, sucks. Right now, for instance, I'm sitting on some dynamite info and just need to polish up a proof of concept to show of some fun stuff. I even have clients 100% ready to pay for things if I can show POC. Yet several of these things have sitting around, somewhat planned or partially started, for months. That feeds back to itself and makes me feel worse.

And again, this doesn't mean just work.. Some of these things are things I'd do for no compensation at all, but purely for the fun of them. Being burned out and not wanting to do the stuff I want to do, thinking the one passion I'm competent at is slipping away - that's depressing and scary. And some of the stuff I want to do, like family related things, they suffer too, and those aren't even software-related, let alone work.

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