Depression lies
wilwheaton.net
Depression lies
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Re: Depression lies
#2We have an incredible capacity for denial and self-deception. For years, I would periodically drop into severe depression; I would stop sleeping, stop eating, stop answering my phone or email. I wouldn't leave my room for weeks on end; on a few occasions I was so successfully reclusive that people worried that I disappeared or died called the police to investigate. A few times I almost did die; I think the biggest reason I never committed suicide was that I didn't have the willpower for even that.
Years. Call it 6, with bouts every 8 months. One semester of 'A's, one semester of 'F's.
Of course this caused me to fail classes and lost me friends, opportunities and respect. But every time I recovered I thought to myself "Wow, that was awful. Glad I'll never do that again!" I had to lose my fiancée and my funding in grad school before I finally accepted to the fact that this might be a problem. That there might be a cause other than being lazy. Because, you know, laziness makes people curl up in an empty bathtub and cry for 24 hours. That's normal, right?
Thanks to Wil for posting this. It's important to reach out to sufferers as well as their friends and family. It takes a lot to recognize when you or someone you know has a problem, even when in retrospect it's blindingly obvious.
Re: Depression lies
#3We have an incredible capacity for denial and self-deception. For years, I would periodically drop into severe depression; I would stop sleeping, stop eating, stop answering my phone or email. I wouldn't leave my room for weeks on end; on a few occasions I was so successfully reclusive that people worried that I disappeared or died called the police to investigate. A few times I almost did die; I think the biggest re…
Knowing you "have a problem" doesn't mean you or anyone understands the problem or what to do about it. And even if you know what to do, doesn't mean you can do it either, the psychological, social or just practical barriers can be impossible to climb.
Medication has a statistical significant effect, but is often marginal at best, and most of the effect is placebo.
And this assumes an accurate diagnosis, and don't count on that, I have had the head of psychiatric care of a major European capital say to me that the science of psychiatric diagnosis is basically worthless, I wouldn't go that far (the split between research and academia and practice is also a huge problem), but is nowhere as simple as some like to make it seem.
People and lives are often much more complex than that and much more significant factors.
Doctors can also do much more harm than good, locking people up in horribly depressing kafkian institutions because they are suicidal is one of the most insane things I have seen in my life.
Imagine what it feels like being locked up against your will, treated almost like an animal, when you have done nothing to harm anyone, and being told it is "for your own good".
Re: Depression lies
#4We have an incredible capacity for denial and self-deception. For years, I would periodically drop into severe depression; I would stop sleeping, stop eating, stop answering my phone or email. I wouldn't leave my room for weeks on end; on a few occasions I was so successfully reclusive that people worried that I disappeared or died called the police to investigate. A few times I almost did die; I think the biggest re…
Knowing you "have a problem" doesn't mean you or anyone understands the problem or what to do about it. And even if you know what to do, doesn't mean you can do it either, the psychological, social or just practical barriers can be impossible to climb. Medication has a statistical significant effect, but is often marginal at best, and most of the effect is placebo. And this assumes an accurate diagnosis, and don't co…
True. It took a few years between accepting that I had a problem and finding a solution to it. For many people, it takes a lot longer; some never "solve" their problem at all. But knowing is a necessary first step, and for me, it was the hardest and the one that would have benefited most from posts like this.
Re: Depression lies
#5We have an incredible capacity for denial and self-deception. For years, I would periodically drop into severe depression; I would stop sleeping, stop eating, stop answering my phone or email. I wouldn't leave my room for weeks on end; on a few occasions I was so successfully reclusive that people worried that I disappeared or died called the police to investigate. A few times I almost did die; I think the biggest re…
I think the biggest reason I never committed suicide was that I didn't have the willpower for even that.
One of the most dangerous periods for depressed people is shortly after they start treatment. They are still depressed, but suddenly have the energy to commit suicide, and a certain fraction of them do.
My wife lost a cousin that way. :-(
Re: Depression lies
#6wil wheaton sez, PoP PiLLz ErrY dAy
Re: Depression lies
#7I suffer from "mild" anxiety, which has lead to some depression. At times, it's hard to go to venues where there are huge amounts of strangers or even the office at big corporation X (it's not so great whenever you feel like you're choking); but I power through it somehow.
I can't get rid of it, but I've found that heavy exercise (ideally both weights and cardio) really helps to mitigate both the depression and anxiety.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression-and-exercise/MH0...
Re: Depression lies
#8We have an incredible capacity for denial and self-deception. For years, I would periodically drop into severe depression; I would stop sleeping, stop eating, stop answering my phone or email. I wouldn't leave my room for weeks on end; on a few occasions I was so successfully reclusive that people worried that I disappeared or died called the police to investigate. A few times I almost did die; I think the biggest re…
I think the biggest reason I never committed suicide was that I didn't have the willpower for even that. One of the most dangerous periods for depressed people is shortly after they start treatment. They are still depressed, but suddenly have the energy to commit suicide, and a certain fraction of them do. My wife lost a cousin that way. :-(
They're often on the tail of years of anxiety and depression, plus environmental stressors which aren't going to disappear through talking or medication.
Sometimes you take a pill and the problem is solved. But often, it's a matter of a struggle for better, not fixed. Or a decision between the illness and the side effects of continuous medication.
But ignoring it is a terrible option.
Re: Depression lies
#9One thing that helped me was additional vitamin D. I did some quick research and found out that one must be careful, as overdosing will bring back the same symptoms, but after adding an additional 1000 IUs a day, I am not getting as depressed as I used to.
Please note that my depression was minor, more of the "there is too much going on, I can't get started on anything, I don't feel like working, I think I will just browse something new on the net" day after day, sometimes for weeks at a time. Also, I am convinced everyone's system is different, so tread carefully and consult professional medical advice, where appropriate.
I also had recently (4 years ago) moved to way northern California, US, along the coast, so I get Oregon's type of weather (much more rain, overcast). Sun was no longer so prevalent, and very much may have had a bearing on this. YMMV.
Re: Depression lies
#10I'd also recommend reading psychologist Martin Seligman's book "What You Can Change and What You Can't", which covers a variety of mental health issues from sexual fetishes to fear of spiders to schizophrenia, and the treatment options available for each.
Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches people to recognize negative thoughts ("I failed the test because I'm stupid"), dispute the thought ("If I'm stupid, how did I get an A in math last week"), and propose alternative explanations that are transitory or shift the blame to an external source ("The teacher was in a bad mood when he graded the test/I didn't study hard enough").
It's been shown in studies to be as effective as drugs, and more lasting (if you stop taking the drugs, the sadness might come back).
It's an alternative - it might not work for everyone, the OP mentions he had trouble with therapy and I'm glad he is finally doing better.