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How I Beat Depression

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Re: How I Beat Depression

#131

Post by intended »

mrcdes wrote: post #88
ForrestN wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both in your reply and in the original article, I wish there had been more attention paid to the value of talk therapy in some cases. While it may be true that for some depression originates as a chemical imbalance in the brain, I think for many or even most, it originates from psychological pain. Therapy can and does routinely help provide lasting help with depression. I don't know what "beating it" means but some p…

I believe it is a chemical balance, which requires chemical intervention.

I've been stuck at that stage of thinking as well, and after many data points that got shunted aside. Currently the most interesting and fun counter point to it I am using is that its not just "mind", but a mind-body issue.

There are many ways in which your body function influences and alters mood and perception, and vice-versa.

Talk therapy goes the other way too, it has the potential to alter the equation, provided other things are done as well.

Re: How I Beat Depression

#132

Post by grego »

mrcdes wrote: post #88
ForrestN wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both in your reply and in the original article, I wish there had been more attention paid to the value of talk therapy in some cases. While it may be true that for some depression originates as a chemical imbalance in the brain, I think for many or even most, it originates from psychological pain. Therapy can and does routinely help provide lasting help with depression. I don't know what "beating it" means but some p…

I believe it is a chemical balance, which requires chemical intervention.

Exercise is a chemical intervention. It is not a panacea and it will take time, typically weeks before it has a significant effect, but it does have an effect. The body is the temple of the soul, you should not ignore either.

Re: How I Beat Depression

#133

Post by adfadf »

Just a couple of notes on the medication part:

Yes, you will probably feel worse during the first couple of weeks of the regimen. This is common enough that your prescribing doctor should warn you about it, and s/he should set up some way of monitoring your progress - appointments twice a week for the first month or something like that. It should also be clear from the documentation that comes with the pills.

Second, you should only change your medication after consulting with your doctor. In this case it looks like the course was "I took the meds for six months, and then I felt better so I stopped", which is not recommended. The relapse rate is significantly lowered if you take the meds until you have no symptoms + 6 months (or longer, if it isn't your first depression).

Third, it really is very recommended to slowly taper of the medication and not go cold turkey. The side effects will be much worse if you just stop. Also, the relapse rate. Once again, discuss any planned changes in your medication with your doctor.

Re: How I Beat Depression

#134

Post by WhaleBiologist »

DanBC wrote: post #64
bpatrianakos wrote: post #42

I don't think one can actually beat depression but instead only really cope with the symptoms. I know that sounds awful and kind of defeatist (and I could be wrong) but I think the idea that you can actually conquer this disease sets you up for failure. I first noticed my own depression when I was just a 13 year old kid and first sought help just before the end of high school. I've been through the entire range of em…

> I don't think one can actually beat depression but instead only really cope with the symptoms. I know that sounds awful and kind of defeatist (and I could be wrong) but I think the idea that you can actually conquer this disease sets you up for failure. Honestly, for some people depression is effectively cured after a short course of treatment. Once you've treated the depression you develop skills for "resilience"…

While I wasn't cured after a 'short course of treatment' I started to get better from near-suicidal point when I started getting treatment. I had anxiety problems after that, but kept on at it.

It took me a good 5 years to deal with all of my emotional baggage, and from that I now have the skills to deal with shit, and to better perceive and handle my emotional state. I am now 100% depression free for almost 4 years now, and I have been able to completely cope with much worse situations than initially caused me to get depressed.

This stuff just takes time.

Re: How I Beat Depression

#135

Post by singular »

mrcdes wrote: post #88
ForrestN wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Both in your reply and in the original article, I wish there had been more attention paid to the value of talk therapy in some cases. While it may be true that for some depression originates as a chemical imbalance in the brain, I think for many or even most, it originates from psychological pain. Therapy can and does routinely help provide lasting help with depression. I don't know what "beating it" means but some p…

I believe it is a chemical balance, which requires chemical intervention.

Going to back that up at all? I believe in unicorns, by the way.

Obviously brain chemistry is involved (reduced serotonin, etc.), but I'm sure I could adjust your brain chemistry by jumping out at you and saying boo too; so I don't it follows that chemical intervention is the only approach that will change your brain chemistry.

I think antidepressants are very important and a great tool if you are suffering from severe depression, but I don't think they are the only answer nor a long-term solution, alone.

As an e.g. a metastudy on CBT - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027273580... - indicates that it is both effective and superior to antidepressants alone.

Given the nature of depression, which really muddles your mind clear advice is vital - go see your doctor, get onto antidepressants (you don't have to be on them forever), get onto a form of therapy. The shit works.

Re: How I Beat Depression

#137

Post by ThinkADRIAN »

I think the key to dealing with mental conditions is to identify/diagnose/recognize it, accept it and work with professionals to learn to manage it. My own struggle was with acceptance. In my mind, my depression was due to the label placed on me via diagnosis. It took over a decade to find the right support system. My advice to those with mental conditions is to "Never give up!" May sound cliche... Yet although these conditions may not be curable, they can be manageable.

Re: How I Beat Depression

#138

Post by ThinkADRIAN »

ThinkADRIAN wrote: post #137

I think the key to dealing with mental conditions is to identify/diagnose/recognize it, accept it and work with professionals to learn to manage it. My own struggle was with acceptance. In my mind, my depression was due to the label placed on me via diagnosis. It took over a decade to find the right support system. My advice to those with mental conditions is to "Never give up!" May sound cliche... Yet although these…

here's an account of my own bout with a mental health condition:

http://adriancunanan.com/blog/2013/3/12/heres-to-the-crazy-o...

Re: How I Beat Depression

#139

Post by johncagula »

davidtanner wrote: post #75
drumdance wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious about the psychedelics, can you share more? What drugs? How often?

If you explore my previous comments and submissions you'll find some information about these matters. In summary, there are a great deal of published resources about psychedelics, but they tend to be inaccessible to those without a good deal of psychedelic experience coupled with a penchant for reading academic or esoteric literature. Thus, for largely sociological reasons, most 'typical' modern users of psychedelics…

Thanks for sharing.

Re: How I Beat Depression

#140

Post by gesman »

Evbn wrote: post #118
gesman wrote: post #50

It's impossible to "think yourself" out of depression or "do something good" out of depression, unless it's just a temporary down mood. The way I beat depression is by doing pure mental exercises on focusing on the actual physical areas of the body where depression is felt, without trying to change/fight/eliminate the feeling itself. I came up with this technique during lowest point of my life and was almost shocked…

Where in your body do you feel depression, besides your r brain? That's where mine is. Plus in my heart (anxiety), but that's not really depression.

Depression feels painful and unpleasant and it's not in the brain. Brain generates thoughts and in case of depression these are "beating yourself up" thoughts that are being felt as a subtle pain within the body. The trick is to try paying attention to exact physical sensations within the body. You'll start discovering that it actually hurts within the body, and often covering rather wide areas.
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