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I built an app to fix my depression

blog.elifiner.com

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Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#71

Post by bildung »

tuatoru wrote: post #14

If you managed to finish the app, you weren't very depressed. Depression acts primarily on willpower. The bad feelings come as a consequence of not being able to get anything done.

This isn't necessarily true, depression can have quite different faces. ICD-10 differentiates between

* major depressions with a single episode (F32 - this is probably what you had in mind)

* recurrent episodes of various degrees (F33 - this includes seasonal affective disorders, i.e. recurring winter blues)

* Persistant mood disorders like dysthymia, where your baseline mood is dysphoric (F34.1)

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#72

Post by GordonS »

danparsonson wrote: post #64
GordonS wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> determine if they have low levels of dopamine How would you actually do that? Is there some kind of home test available?

Talk to a doctor - self-medication is a risky endeavour, especially where mental health is concerned.

In an ideal world, sure. But not everyone is willing to talk to a doctor, or indeed anyone.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#73

Post by filleduchaos »

Ardren wrote: post #65
filleduchaos wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These days I pretty much skip over any "regular" voices talking about depression or anxiety, precisely because those words have become so murky in usage. It really doesn't help that they're the poster disorders (so to speak) of mental health.

I can relate. But doing so also means you tend to only pay attention to more extreme examples, and you can start to doubt the severity of your own situation (at least that was/is the case for me).

Unfortunately some of us are in fact the more extreme examples.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#74

Post by codeisawesome »

heinrichhartman wrote: post #69
teekert wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think, as op also insinuates, it is all about acceptance. Accepting one's shortcomings, accepting that you can't do everything you want(ed), that you wont become what you always dreamed of. Love yourself despite of what you think of as shortcomings, think of the things you did achieve (and the things you have, like a stoic philosopher). You are a pretty incredible being with pretty incredible skills. If only you ac…

> I think, as op also insinuates, it is all about acceptance. I second this. From my experience you have to START WITH ACCEPTING the status quo and honestly looking at it without judging or being ashamed. It helps me to tell myself: "This is not terrible. I am alive. I have a job. My body is still working OK." From there FOCUS ON THE DELTA: What can I do today that will bring me into a slightly better position tomorr…

I think the next level of peace and acceptance is unlocked when:

- you set the delta of “what can I do today to achieve” to be low enough that it’s actually realistic and not what you wish it was (while still being high enough to actually mean something), and,

- if you still fall short, you don’t kill yourself with shame & guilt, recognising that you actually lose more time in that process.

Not easy to learn, and not easy to stay in that space. Meditation helps (after a long long time of doing it).

(Oh and if you have ADHD - undiagnosed or otherwise - please forgive yourself for it, and forgive yourself each time you get thrown off the rails because of it - yes, even if that is multiple times per hour. Everything else flows from that forgiveness and self acceptance.)

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#75

Post by poisonborz »

teekert wrote: post #59
NalNezumi wrote: post #55

Read the blog post and also the other blog post in the page ( "Why discipline isn’t the answer to procrastination", "How to stick to good habits without being hard on yourself", "How fear of shame causes procrastination", "How fear of success causes procrastination"). I get the feeling that the author is in a situation a lot of people in HN could relate to: A situation where Performance Anxiety, Fear of missing out (…

I think, as op also insinuates, it is all about acceptance. Accepting one's shortcomings, accepting that you can't do everything you want(ed), that you wont become what you always dreamed of. Love yourself despite of what you think of as shortcomings, think of the things you did achieve (and the things you have, like a stoic philosopher). You are a pretty incredible being with pretty incredible skills. If only you ac…

I think rating expectations beforehand is a self-defeating stance. Anyone can have whatever big expectations. The point is to work towards it, and then not being disappointed if the goal is not reached, and to enjoy whatever gains were collected on the road.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#76

Post by teekert »

poisonborz wrote: post #75
teekert wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think, as op also insinuates, it is all about acceptance. Accepting one's shortcomings, accepting that you can't do everything you want(ed), that you wont become what you always dreamed of. Love yourself despite of what you think of as shortcomings, think of the things you did achieve (and the things you have, like a stoic philosopher). You are a pretty incredible being with pretty incredible skills. If only you ac…

I think rating expectations beforehand is a self-defeating stance. Anyone can have whatever big expectations. The point is to work towards it, and then not being disappointed if the goal is not reached, and to enjoy whatever gains were collected on the road.

I wonder if there are humans that are really immune to feeling bad when constantly not living up to their own expectations.

Nothing wrong with working hard of course, just make sure you like what you do and who you are while doing it.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#78

Post by Chris2048 »

Jaruzel wrote: post #61

To everyone berating this guy about 'not being very depressed': My depression is not your depression, and your depression is not theirs. Please stop judging.

Isn't telling people to stop judging at least as bossy?

People die of depression, there's good reason there would be emotion going against its perceived over-usage.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#79

Post by ryanwaggoner »

GordonS wrote: post #44
Ardren wrote: post #23

I don't want to disparage anyone, and I will take a look at the app when it's back up, but I'm not even sure what depression is anymore. Mild flu symptoms is not a phrase I'd used. It's great that more people are talking about their mental health, and that it's becoming more acceptable to seek help. But the word "depression" has become so murky to me, I rarely know what people mean when they use it. Maybe I just don'…

Mental health is very complex, but I think it's a spectrum, with low-grade symptoms at one end, and manic episodes at the extreme other end. I'm sure it varies a lot from person-to-person, but for me, I have a constant and profound feeling of sadness and futility, I often feel like crying, and occasionally consider ending my life (I almost fantacise about it, because I wouldn't have to feel this way any more). One of…

Have you ever worked with a therapist? I would recommend it. In particular, while there may be a genetic component, don’t underestimate the impact of growing up with a severely depressed parent. You may be carrying more burdens from your childhood than you realize.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#80

Post by GordonS »

ryanwaggoner wrote: post #79
GordonS wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mental health is very complex, but I think it's a spectrum, with low-grade symptoms at one end, and manic episodes at the extreme other end. I'm sure it varies a lot from person-to-person, but for me, I have a constant and profound feeling of sadness and futility, I often feel like crying, and occasionally consider ending my life (I almost fantacise about it, because I wouldn't have to feel this way any more). One of…

Have you ever worked with a therapist? I would recommend it. In particular, while there may be a genetic component, don’t underestimate the impact of growing up with a severely depressed parent. You may be carrying more burdens from your childhood than you realize.

No, I haven't ever even told anyone. I've kept it a secret my whole life.

This sound like good advice, but I've kept it hidden so long I'm genuinely afraid that I'll have some kind of breakdown if I let it out.

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