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Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

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Re: Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

#141

Post by tom_mellior »

holmberd wrote: post #101

- Go to bed early and develop a regular sleep pattern, and don't fool yourself with the myth about being a "night person", you are not a cat, you have just offset your sleep/wake cycle from lacking proper routine. - Exercise regularly. Aerobic exercise(whatever that means for you) that you can maintain without develop injury or over-training will be your baseline. Endorphin is what you are after, since it provides a…

If you can motivate yourself to do most of these things, then what you have is not depression. It's a bout of sadness. Yes, you'll get over it.

Depression is not just a sad spell. Depression is a medical condition. Seek medical help.

(But yes, all of the things above are good things to do in any case, for anybody.)

Re: Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

#142

Post by factorialboy »

Things that worked for me:

- Run. Blood circulation and fresh air can do wonders. These days I bike to work than run. But the idea is the same. Start your day with cardio and fresh oxygen.

- Watch your diet. Sleep a bit hungry. Eat foods that exit your system within 24 hours.

- Abstain from sex (including DIV) for 10 days, and see how you feel on the 11th. After which find your formula, similar to intermittent fasting but with sex.

- Meditation and Yoga. I practice Hatha Yoga as taught here (http://www.ishayoga.org/). This is ridiculously powerful if practiced with intensity.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

#143

Post by brepl »

factorialboy wrote: post #142

Things that worked for me: - Run. Blood circulation and fresh air can do wonders. These days I bike to work than run. But the idea is the same. Start your day with cardio and fresh oxygen. - Watch your diet. Sleep a bit hungry. Eat foods that exit your system within 24 hours. - Abstain from sex (including DIV) for 10 days, and see how you feel on the 11th. After which find your formula, similar to intermittent fastin…

What is DIV?

Re: Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

#144

Post by collyw »

dkns wrote: post #122
collyw wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As there are many causes of depression it's probably a bit much to say that there are no hacks. There are plenty of lifestyle changes that will possibly have a positive effect - exercise, diet and sleep being three obvious ones. Even if they don't lift depression they are going to be beneficial to health. I cut out refined sugar from my diet and started taking turmeric in the form of golden paste (as a natural cure f…

Do you/did you have clinically diagnosed depression?

Is the answer to that relevant in any way? The OP doesn't mention it being clinically diagnosed.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

#145

Post by wilsonnb2 »

NathanCH wrote: post #135
wilsonnb2 wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Get something to look after. A dog, or if you don't have time or space, a cat, or if you really don't have time or space a plant or two. As someone with two dogs and occasional bouts of mild depression, I would caution against getting a dog for this purpose. It's a lot of responsibility, and it helps some people with depression but hurts others. A plant is a much better idea. If it doesn't work out, just throw it a…

Perhaps you don't see the value in having a pet during depression because you already have one. Being responsible for someone or something is difficult, it's supposed to be.

I do see the value - I specifically said it helps some people but doesn't help others. The reason I don't suggest it is because getting rid of the dog once you've gotten it can be difficult.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

#146

Post by holmberd »

tom_mellior wrote: post #141
holmberd wrote: post #101

- Go to bed early and develop a regular sleep pattern, and don't fool yourself with the myth about being a "night person", you are not a cat, you have just offset your sleep/wake cycle from lacking proper routine. - Exercise regularly. Aerobic exercise(whatever that means for you) that you can maintain without develop injury or over-training will be your baseline. Endorphin is what you are after, since it provides a…

If you can motivate yourself to do most of these things, then what you have is not depression . It's a bout of sadness. Yes, you'll get over it. Depression is not just a sad spell. Depression is a medical condition. Seek medical help. (But yes, all of the things above are good things to do in any case, for anybody.)

I agree seek professional help if you can. There could also be physiological reasons that triggers an episode of depression, especially lack of B12, iron or D-vitamin.

Developing good routine is not an easy thing for people that are deep inside a negative spiral, but it will help limit the episodes. Good routine is like a spell, it reestablishes your commitment to each day and provides you with energy. This is the same whether you have depression or a bout of sadness.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

#147

Post by no_identd »

eljimmy wrote: post #117
judaro13 wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have depression you need a regular sleep cycle or the depression will be worst

People with DSPD can't have "regular" sleep cycles, it's thought to be a genetic disorder where their cycle is offset a few hours from a regular sleep cycle. Couple that with society's 9-5 work schedule, you're in for a rough time unless you can find an employer who will accommodate.

People with DSPD DO have a regular sleep cycle. Its off, however. You mixed up DSPD with Non-24.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

#148

Post by no_identd »

gain_sky wrote: post #118
systemtest wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a person with DSPS, I don't agree with your first statement. Some people are night persons and can't help it.

0.17% of the population have DSPS.

Prevalence 3.1% in middle aged adults, that's 31 in 1000. Data from 2005, Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine. International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Revised: Diagnostic and Coding Manual. 2nd ed. Westchester, IL: AASM; 2005.

Prevalence 7% to 16% in teenagers and young adults, that's 7 in 100 to 4 in 25. Data from 2002, Source: Ando K, Kripke DF, Ancoli-Israel S. Delayed and advanced sleep phase symptoms. Isr J Psychiatry Relat Sci. 2002; 39(1): 11–18.

Please always provide citations and indicate whether you refer to incidence or prevalence; and to which bin you refer to, even if you refer to some global bin.

I'd provide newer & more data, but I'm on mobile right now.

Re: Ask HN: What are the best hacks to fight depression?

#149

Post by manuelisimo »

acetoxy wrote: post #98
tranchms wrote: post #87

One option is to seek those who have safely used psychedelics, and have an experience. It literally washes away anxiety, leaving you feel renewed, and refreshed, like the cobwebs of the mind have been cleared, like the fog has been lifted. Of course I recommend being active (walking, working out, hiking), socializing, spending time in nature and the outdoors, eating healthy, eliminating addictions, detaching from soc…

Ayahuasca worked very well for me. I was in a pretty bad state when I started working with this plant... But after some time it really cured my depression and my anxiety. If anyone decides to do it I would recommend finding a center with good reviews in Peru, and booking before you go. Don't just buy a ticket to Iquitos and hope to find a retreat or a shaman. Do some proper research and be prepared. The amazon rainfo…

I second that, Ayahuasca is great, it gets out a lot of emotional baggage you didn't even know you had there. totally recommended!
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