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Thank you HN, sorry HN

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Thank you HN, sorry HN

#1

Post by far_far_away »

A couple of months ago I posted a request for help here on HN [1] which somehow ended up on the front page. At that time I fought with heavy depressions - it was really bad. I did not expect my request for help to land on the front page but it did and I got what I asked for. A ton of people sent me emails with very kind words and advice. Now I am in a position where I have to do two things:

1. Thanks to everyone who offered help of any kind. I do really appreciate it. 2. Sorry that I did not respond to everyone who wrote in. I found out that reading all those email made me even more depressed somehow. I will send everyone who wrote in a personal thank you note once I am better.

With some of you I had a longer chat and one person even sent a teddy bear from the USA to Germany (where I am from). I made a picture of the teddy bear [2].

As I mentioned I got a lot of advice - even though I was not able to respond to everyone who sent me an email (sorry again). In the meantime I saw another doctor, changed the medication, changed my lifestyle and now I am feeling a bit better. I would not say that my life is worth living right now but it became better and you guys certainly helped a lot.

I would love to give something back to you but I am not sure what that should be. During the last couple of weeks I thought long and hard about that and I really would love to do something: Found a help network for hackers, somehow improve the current situation for crisis/suicide chats or something like that. So what do you think would improve the current situation of (depressed/suicidal) hackers. Please let's discuss that. Not everyone will make it on the front page when help is needed - or am I wrong?

[1] My original request for help: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4928031 [2] My new friend: http://i.imgur.com/nQQAVuc.jpg

Re: Thank you HN, sorry HN

#2

Post by RKoutnik »

As another hacker who has suffered from depression, this is an excellent idea. I know that I'd much rather talk to someone who understands my peculiar mindset instead of yet another PhD charging too much an hour.

Re: Thank you HN, sorry HN

#4

Post by dandrews »

RKoutnik wrote: post #2

As another hacker who has suffered from depression, this is an excellent idea. I know that I'd much rather talk to someone who understands my peculiar mindset instead of yet another PhD charging too much an hour.

No no no, OP doesn't have the resources... yet. You're supposed to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others - there's a reason for that.

Re: Thank you HN, sorry HN

#5

Post by smoyer »

"I would love to give something back to you"

You might want to help depressed hackers, but in the mean-time I'd suggest you can give far more than you'd guess. Each day, find someone you can "help" ... hold the door for someone with full arms, smile at someone who's scowling or tutor someone who's having a hard time understanding something you know well.

You'll certainly brighten their day, but you'll also find the satisfaction in being helpful (with no expectation of any compensation) will improve your mood too. Don't believe me? Try it for 30 days ... and if at some point you believe your life isn't worth living right now, think of what the people you've helped would say about your life.

Re: Thank you HN, sorry HN

#6

Post by njloof »

Resources for depressed hackers are pretty poor. You hear of burnout, chronic fatigue, moving someplace isolated -- but rarely the "d-word" in hacker circles. Offering your story is a great start. There's a "Geeks and Depression" list you may be interested in.

Re: Thank you HN, sorry HN

#8

Post by j45 »

I'm not sure if you owe anyone anything. Ultimately the right kind of people lend their voice to supporting someone because someone did it for them. if you paid them back somehow, would it be the same as taking the time to support someone else in your future when you come across a situation.

Being given to or cared for unimaginably often makes us feel like sharing it, be it giving it back, or doing it for others. Whatever you do, know that there's probably more than a few people that would probably be happiest if you join them in being a giver and keeping kindness and goodness fashionable. In other words your gratitude is not a debt to repay, but maybe another chance to participate in our universal responsibility for our human family by helping others not feel alone, and maybe a little more understood.

Re: Thank you HN, sorry HN

#10

Post by joshuamcclure »

I went through the same thing. A support group works. What helps me the most is vitamins, water and exercise. I also stopped spiking caffeine (I take a time release capsule) and stopped drinking alcohol.

Vitamins (every morning with food): Vitamin C 1000mg (energy and health) B-12 3000mcg (happy energy) Magnesium 400mg (focus and mood moderation) Fish Oil - EPA 120mg + DHA 900mg (memory + mood moderation) L-Carnitine 200mg (precursor for acetylcholine neurotransmitter) Time release caffeine (8 hours of stable energy with no spikes)

This has helped me completely conquer my mood swings (depression as well as ADD) and has made a huge impact on my enjoyment of life.

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