How I’m Handling My Depression Using an App • Hacker News Board

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

#81

Post by cromulent » Mon, Nov 23, 2015, 1:38 PM UTC

kr4 wrote: post #52

If 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…

In the first link, the author says:

>> I even suggest that depression is probably a trick condition, a highly profitable one, created by the pharmaceutical companies.

In the second, when he is selling his book, he says:

>> I’m not suggesting that depression is merely a mood disorder. Instead, it’s a very real condition and, like any other ailment, it can require medical attention and treatment.

Doesn't check out. "Trick condition" or "real condition"? He is confused.

Edit: He also says in the second: "Anti-depressants work for a large number of patients whereas they make not an iota of difference to many others." More confusion.

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

#82

Post by chei0aiV » Mon, Nov 23, 2015, 1:56 PM UTC

jimktrains2 wrote: post #33

catshirt wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

especially considering a classic symptom of depression is the inability to accomplish these tasks.

In addition, according to the DSM-5 -- a manual used to diagnose mental health conditions -- you may have other symptoms with major depression. Those symptoms might include: * Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day * Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day * Impaired concentration, indecisiveness * Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day * Markedly diminished interest or pleasure…

ACK. Stop believing technology just like an app solves serious diseases. LOOK FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP! SEE A DOCTOR!

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

#83

Post by rosspanda » Mon, Nov 23, 2015, 2:47 PM UTC

I run a side project called http://moodpanda.com , people rate their mood an a simple scale and other members give feedback, I think the feeback is what keeps people coming back to our app, not the rating part but the feedback they get from others.

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

#84

Post by DanBC » Mon, Nov 23, 2015, 6:45 PM UTC

MichaelGG wrote: post #72

DanBC wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Really? That's not what any of the doctors I've or people I've dealt with have said or act like. Even my psychologist (who can't rx) was fairly insistent that without medication there was only so far she could go and refusal to take it was a problem. Then there's the fact that a lot of people end up on anti-depressants and feel much better and are happy with the result.) (Though I agree that mental meds are fairly sh…

There's a difference between saying "medication works" and saying "medication works by correcting a chemical imbalance".

> Docs seem sorta-OK prescribing amphetamines in combination, but vastly more hesitant to even consider opiate treatment for depression.)

Ketamine is currently experimental for major depression and anhedonia.

Opiates are currently the med most used in death by suicide in the UK, (#1 opiates, #4 opiate and paracetamol combination) so it seems reasonable to be cautious about prescribing opiates to a group at increased risk of suicide.

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

#85

Post by anthonye » Tue, Nov 24, 2015, 3:15 PM UTC

Anyone know of similar services for people recovering from addictions? Has a lot of similarity with accountability - wanting other people to be notified when certain indicators are present.

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

#86

Post by neverknowsbest » Thu, Nov 26, 2015, 9:28 PM UTC

p4wnc6 wrote: post #22

I used to use Moodscope to record daily subjective ratings in some key areas, like whether I felt "strong" or "productive" or "powerless" or "scared". The process of entering the data about myself each day actually made me significantly more depressed, because it was like a constant reminder of how depressed I was, and how the external circumstances that caused my depression weren't changing (even when I was doing al…

Same experience here; while attempting to isolate the factors that made for low days in order to avoid them, I instead experienced a significant increase in low days-- probably because I had to actually assess my mood.

A neutral mood, open to becoming either "good" or "bad" if not closely inspected, would invariably be categorized as "bad", and once labelled, remain that way for the rest of the day (or into the next day/sleep if recorded at night).

I've found stepping back every month or so to reflect on positive things is helpful, but doing anything with too much granularity has only encouraged self depreciating and neurotic thoughts.