I probably have some mild symptoms as I’ve been inclined to have most of my life, but some low hanging fruit for me is to stop using my phone to read the news or listen to political podcasts as much, get better sleep, eat better food and not eat as much or too much before bed, go for more walks or get some mild exercise, spend time outdoors, call my friends and family, and spend some time doing nothing or chill things, even things like laundry or cleaning, where my mind can wander just to internally recalibrate. I’ve been putting my phone down more and it makes a huge difference. If I’ve done all those things (or feel incapable of doing/changing any one of those of things) and I’m still feeling symptoms for two weeks then it’s probably time to talk to somebody. Working remote and not being able to get out as much has really messed with my normal routine of getting dressed, eating breakfast, going to sleep at a normal hour, so it’s something I’ve had to get better about and forgive myself for not being better about and remind myself that it is still different than normal and that is why I don’t necessarily feel normal.
Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
181–190 of 227 posts
Re: Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
#182I found this post a very interesting perspective. TL;DR: count your blessing if you're feeling "just fine".
http://slatestarcodex.com/2015/12/24/how-bad-are-things/
archived link with nicer design:
Re: Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
#183Earlier quoted context omitted.
Would you mind sharing the titles of the books?
Essentialism, influence, Putin: prisoner of power, no longer human, invisible cities, and how to lie with statistics. I am currently going through psychology of money (although it doesn't seem that interesting yet) but I can take up a few recommendations if you have any :) I have been using audible as my primary way to read (listen?) and supplement it with kindle. Reading is too much friction at first but once I get…
It might fit those books, there's a great one that is also highly entertaining called "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion".
Re: Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
#184As someone who has dealt with depression their entire life it's really something to start to see people who have never, ever dealt with it begin to try to compartmentalize their lives from their depression and look for every other option before declaring it depression. Like it's some horrible disease you'd never want to catch, like any of us have the option.
I really hate that it took this but I've had my feelings/depression talked down so much by people who don't understand depression, don't believe it's a real thing, etc.
I've had so many conversations with friends this year that go like this; "I've lost my entire personality, I can't motivate myself to get out of bed.. whats wrong with me, is this depression?"
Yes, yes it is. Maybe it's temporary, maybe it's acute or chronic, but that is depression. You never know how long it will last, what it will take from you or how quickly you can overcome it.
Be kind to people.
edit: Reading this again I can't shake that some of you are just so far removed from actually understanding your own feelings and emotions that you can't even recognize that you're depressed. It's absolutely fascinating. "What are depressive symptoms?"
I'll say that one positive of this struggle throughout my life is that I've learned which emotions and feelings I can trust or let guide me. I often don't get it right and focus on the negative but I'm very glad I'm cognizant and it's a bright burning fire of "Yeah I'm depressed this week oh boy let's work on this, I need to make some changes."
Re: Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
#185Earlier quoted context omitted.
This sounds more like depersonalization. It can be a symptom of cPTSD or schizoid personality disorder (which is sort of like cPTSD-as-personality).
Not a psych person, but depersonalization can also be a (mostly maladaptive) coping strategy for depression. GP's description sounds like simple depression to me though.
I lost years of my life to this stupid idea. GP: You are depersonalized. Get some real help outside of HN.
Re: Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
#186the last few days in the US were a rollercoaster but anxiety is not depression.
Re: Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
#187I don't felt the need to see a doctor about what I'm experiencing, so I'm not sure if what I have qualifies as depression. But over the past several months, it feels like my entire personality and being is a rug that has been pulled out from underneath me. I'm no longer the driven and interested person that I used to be. I struggle to sit down and work - my brain feels scattered and no matter how much I sleep and res…
>So is that depression? Yep, but the cause in your case is unknown. For example, it could be work burnout causing it. It could be not going outside that is causing it. It could be not socializing that is causing it. It could be your diet. It could be ... If you can identify the cause you can find a solution. Unfortunately, the best most people have is a shotgun approach where they try a combination of solutions attem…
doing the exact opposite of how you feel
Another tack is to approach the activity as an experiment or exploration. Not I must do this, or even if I do this it will help, but: I wonder if it will help, or even I bet it won't, let's see who's right!
Re: Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
#188Earlier quoted context omitted.
you're quite right about this. although i would say that we do actually store memories in our bodies. this is where extended abuse and trauma really take their toll on people. think about shell shock in veterans. they train and train for combat. then they see combat and the trauma then embeds itself in the 'muscle memory' of training. then something random happens but triggers the muscle memory and the memories come…
>I'm not sure how to get the depression out of the muscle memory, but i do know we need to do a better job of getting people away from their trauma. I know how, but it's a deep topic that a single comment on an online forum can barely begin to do justice. First, I worry of a potential negative side effect of believing in muscle memory, regardless if it is or is not true. The concern is it could lead to the belief of…
I would note that not everyone has visual memories or ability to manifest imagery or sound, in mind. If you find yourself wondering what Bunny is talking about here, they are discussing what are called "aggregates".
Aggregates are formations of thoughts, which typically manifest as visual elements, such as "seeing" things "in mind". Not necessarily "visualizing", but more like "visual historic recall" or "predictive recall of future events".
Unfortunately (perhaps), I don't do this thing with images or sound. But I am aware others do. I do it with thoughts and feelings.
Although imagery is typical, audio aggregates, feeling aggregates, smell aggregates and more are also possible. Thinking mind aggregates are the worst because they spawn other aggregates! :) Like other types of aggregates (gravel for example) there is usually a good mix of emotion, images, sounds and other sense bases manifesting, in mind.
What Buddha taught was that, in order to "see" these things for what they are, one must sit and focus on "noting" the events/aggregates as they pass our awareness filters. This would give a sense of "causality" to the mediator. By noting these aggregates, over time and with attention, they (the aggregates) will eventually liberate themselves from the mind.
Try sitting until you think of something and then ask yourself internally and very clearly and precisely "Who is it that cares about this?" This is a good technique for bringing thinking mind to a halt for a moment, at least in most.
Anything we do that is repetitive in nature, which does not improve us, is a type of "ill being". Following a recommended path of "well being" will allow us to escape the day to day suffering (assault by aggregates) most experience.
Re: Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
#189Earlier quoted context omitted.
Great advice. I would add that another strategy that has been useful to many is that when you are feeling negative emotions stirring up uncontrollably, it’s important to remember they aren’t real. They are just feelings. At the end of the day all you have is your body, mind, health and wealth. However you feel about those things will change quite a bit throughout the average persons lifetime. What matters today might…
> ... it’s important to remember they aren’t real. They are just feelings. what helps me get through the day is exactly this. we're just a sack of liquid chemical that constantly chances its structure. the feeling I experience within a time span of 30 minutes alone between waking up and having my first coffee, or in between forcing myself to put on my running gear and returning from a run, are changing everything. an…
> compartmentalize my work and private life as much as possible
Don't forget about "right livelihood"! :)
Re: Poll: Have you experienced depressive symptoms over the past two weeks?
#190I don't felt the need to see a doctor about what I'm experiencing, so I'm not sure if what I have qualifies as depression. But over the past several months, it feels like my entire personality and being is a rug that has been pulled out from underneath me. I'm no longer the driven and interested person that I used to be. I struggle to sit down and work - my brain feels scattered and no matter how much I sleep and res…
> I don't felt
The correct way to say this is "I didn't feel".
It might be irrelevant, but if I were in your shoes I would have liked to be shown the correct way to say it. Not trying to be pedantic.
Edit: unless you meant "I haven't felt", which has of course a different meaning.