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Ask HN: Are you depressed?

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401–410 of 512 posts

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#401

Nowhere else to post this so here it goes. I lost my job in January. From January - March I started looking for a job and then COVID hits at the height of my search, now suddenly no one is hiring and all the businesses are slowing down. My girlfriend of 13 years left me the day after my birthday in June before I had a chance to propose to her, I had to return the ring, she had no idea and I never told her about it. I…

I find that Reddit sucks the joy out of my day. There's just something about that site.

I noticed the same a few years back. Now I only interact with Reddit through Apollo (iOS app) which allows me to add heavy filters, removing most subreddits and removing posts containing certain keywords. Anytime I see any FUD content on a subreddit I block it, which includes all political subreddits and almost all big subreddits. In addition I have a time limit set on my phone to avoid looking at it too frequently, and because of all the filters almost all FUD content is blocked and what remains is mostly hobbyist stuff and cute animal pictures. I have blocked it on my laptop using the hosts file to avoid even opening it there.

It's a sad state but I feel that heavy filters are essentially required for healthy social media/internet consumption nowadays. The amount of FUD is out of control, and directly responsible for a ton of social unrest and depression in many people.

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#402
If you fart with your nose while laughing...

That's generally because it joyful...

Mwell, don't be so sick about our situation...

There is minimum 95% of ppl on the planet being in the same position...

The ~ 5% doesn't live in the same world they are autonomous and rich...

Don't be egoïst :D

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#403

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a weird place to be. Nothing matters. I got past the pain into a peaceful place. The state of California kept sending me a tax bill for $4,000 that I threw away. Eventually they seized my bank account and with penalties took out $12,000. My reaction was that it was interesting that they did that. It felt like I was watching someone else's life, maybe someone on TV.

Im no Psychiatrist but your description sounds like derealization which amongst other things is a symptom of depression. I would recommend consulting your doctor about this.

Thanks I did and recovered nicely from it through therapy and medication

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#404

Yes. I started a new job (software engineering again) at the start of the pandemic. I feel like I burned a bridge with my manager prior to leaving so ... I won't be able to return to that company in the future. Haven't really spoken to anyone outside of work (tiny company, too) since March. Left to my own devices at work. Haven't seen anyone in person since April. Spend most of my days online and alone. Attempted sui…

I'm sorry, man. I know what that's like. I've been down the whole rapid weight loss suicidal thing before myself. I used to wake up and cry, because I had to live for the rest of the day. What kind of programming do you do?

Web/backend programming with Ruby and Ruby on Rails. I quite enjoy writing Ruby code.

I also dabble in Elixir as a hobby but not many places are using it. It's a cool language though.

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#405
post #227

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depression is an illness (well technically I think it’s called a disorder).

It's important to understand the meaning of live in this context: The meaning of live is to preserve itself (and re/pro-create). Depression is a reaction to that this goal might not be reachable: Depression is putting you into an alert-modus, so that you work hard on fixing these/whatever (very tough) things to get back on track.

This isn't true at all.

Depression stops you doing anything. It sucks all your energy and leaves you unable to get out of bed.

You seem to be arguing it is analogous to some kind of immune response. It's not and there is no evidence supporting that.

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#406

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Briffault's law, once girl doesn't have any benefits from relationship, she leaves, simple as that.

Could you not say the same thing about men? "Laws" like this are overly simplistic. There are some nasty people in the world, but not everyone is like that.

No, cause woman is not a gatekeeper of relationship, men is (at least should be).

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#407

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sorry, man. I know what that's like. I've been down the whole rapid weight loss suicidal thing before myself. I used to wake up and cry, because I had to live for the rest of the day. What kind of programming do you do?

Web/backend programming with Ruby and Ruby on Rails. I quite enjoy writing Ruby code. I also dabble in Elixir as a hobby but not many places are using it. It's a cool language though.

Ever play with Crystal? It's a very promising new language that's very much a copy of Ruby, down to the syntax.

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#408
It seems surprising that a lot of people from the developed world have so much to complain, not that I am insinuating their complains but I am looking at just how hard it is to live in a country like mine (Nigeria), despite the horrendous living conditions we are very much resilient in facing day to day life challenges and depression is uncommon among us especially the youths.

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#409
post #408

It seems surprising that a lot of people from the developed world have so much to complain, not that I am insinuating their complains but I am looking at just how hard it is to live in a country like mine (Nigeria), despite the horrendous living conditions we are very much resilient in facing day to day life challenges and depression is uncommon among us especially the youths.

I would _love_ to read more research about this, if anyone is aware of any. This aligns with my (unsubstantiated) intuition as well.

Re: Ask HN: Are you depressed?

#410
post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A million times this. Depression isn’t sadness, or being unhappy. It’s not even really on the same dimension as those things.

But it often has a connection with your current circumstances, no? I mean, I bet most inmates are kinda depressed right? And most people living in villas in Venice California aren't as depressed. I'm using extreme examples, I know.

Certainly not that directly.

There are things which can contribute to depression: stress, lack of agency etc.

But they won't cause depression in everyone, while someone who is susceptible to depression will fall into depression without those - but they make it more likely.

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