I built an app to fix my depression • Hacker News Board

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#151

Post by zoozla » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 6:45 PM UTC

Ardren wrote: post #23

I don't want to disparage anyone, and I will take a look at the app when it's back up, but I'm not even sure what depression is anymore. Mild flu symptoms is not a phrase I'd used. It's great that more people are talking about their mental health, and that it's becoming more acceptable to seek help. But the word "depression" has become so murky to me, I rarely know what people mean when they use it. Maybe I just don'…

My take on depression is that it's an internal fight between an emotion (usually fear, anger or guilt) and a thought that says we shouldn't be feeling it (because there's no logical reason for it, etc.). The conflict gets so intense that the whole emotional system shuts down resulting in full on apathy, which is the cause of most of the symptoms of depression.

Apathy, in my case, felt like the flu. I didn't have energy, didn't want to do anything, felt weak and soulless.

This is not the official definition, but it's a workable description that also points to a solution - process the apathy and then the underlying emotions and the depression should lift. That's what the app I built helps with. But as usual, YMMV.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#152

Post by zoozla » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 6:47 PM UTC

newbie789 wrote: post #22

I'm kind of confused. As a highly empathetic person you're offering a "solution"? I'd assume others have experiences other than your own and that might not be particularly applicable in their individual situations? I apologize if I'm not getting this.

Yes, I do think what I've built is the beginning of a solution applicable to many other people. Not that the wave is over, the site is back up and you can see for yourself.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#153

Post by zoozla » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 6:52 PM UTC

dmos62 wrote: post #39

Hey! I've spent a half hour using your app and it's great! I was feeling a bit tense, confused and unmotivated this morning and going through the technique with your app really made a difference. Thanks! For those not in the know, this is based on what's sometimes called the Sedona Method. There's a popular book about it by Hale Dwoskin [0] and the questions (and phrasing) in this app are almost exactly the same (the…

You're right (and I say so in the About section), it is based on the Sedona Method. I found the method to be quite tedious to do on paper and I couldn't focus long enough to do it in my head, which was the original reason I built the app.

However, the app works for people who don't know the method, haven't read the book, didn't watch the full DVD from 1992 and didn't attend the weeklong seminar. I think it could bring this to a much wider audience.

Thanks for the bug report, yes, there's a lot more I need to fix in it before hitting the big leagues.

I haven't considered open sourcing it because I want to make a living off it. But I will think about it. There's a more limited version, without narration or the deeper content, that I use for myself and I think I might open source that.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#154

Post by zoozla » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 6:57 PM UTC

phre4k wrote: post #48

Your depression couldn't have been that bad if you could create an app against it. Regular therapy would probably have been more effective and less dangerous for others.

I'm not hurt at all by this comment and it's true. I didn't create the app in the depths of my most intense depression episode (two months in bed, couldn't even get myself to watch a TV show). Medication helped me out of that. I've also actively working on methods to improve myself for about a decade and by the time I started working on the app about two years ago I was mostly stable with occasional bouts of depression and rage that lasted for a few days to a week.

The first version of the app took a couple of weeks to build and I was flying on a good streak at that point, but it's prevented me from spiraling down ever since.

I don't know if the app could have helped me in my deepest depressive state. I don't know if it can help other people in even deeper states. I think it might.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#155

Post by zoozla » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 7:06 PM UTC

mynegation wrote: post #147

zoozla wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's part of it, but I only built the app after realizing the method (which is based on something called The Sedona Method) really worked for me. I just found it super tedious to do on paper and over time added more features that help to get into a mental state where emotional release is possible. I'm now building a business around the app and that path has multiple emotional pitfalls per day . I tried to do this a f…

Eli, you are probably the first in the long line of Show HN's, product hunts, and indie hackers that I read every day that I read and wanted to scream "Shut up and take my money!". Seriously, if you think you are not ready to introduce paid plans, start with donation link. Or kickstarter. The challenging part with apps like these is that people expect quick fixes ("I will read that book, do that exercise and everythi…

That is the best feedback I've gotten so far, thank you thank you thank you!

I definitely am planning to make a serious business out of it. I started out with a coaching + app mix when the app was a lot more bare and didn't really work without me walking people through it.

I'll get the email, marketing site and the rest of it in order, you're right, Twitter isn't everyone's cup of tea (although I am focused on buildign an audience there because my style of writing seems to work well in short bursts).

I'm not going to hire a female actress to do the narration because I want my soul to be in the app. I might hire a speach coach though to get this to a higher level, so thanks for for pointing it out. I've actually gotten way better feedback on the narration given that I'm not a native English speaker and this is my first time recording my voice for anything.

Again, thanks so much. I'm now going to use this motivation that you granted me to go get this thing in front of many more people!

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#156

Post by zoozla » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 7:07 PM UTC

amerkhalid wrote: post #141

zoozla wrote: post #100

Holy smokes guys, I went to sleep after posting this and woke up to the tiny server running my blog dead and about a 100 comments here. I'll get my kid to school and then sort everything out. Thanks!

Thanks, I am playing with the app, it looks great. I got one question what other books did you read on Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)? And if you recommend any? I have been told that I am "Empath" and lately reading up on it (mostly online). Empaths and HSP seems related, based on quick research.

Yes, I think these are related concepts. I read a whole host of books that are related and have been influential. Off the top of my head (on top of HSP):

The Big Leap The Sedona Method The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership Hold Me Tight The Four Tendencies

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#157

Post by zoozla » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 7:08 PM UTC

mynegation wrote: post #147

zoozla wrote: post #136

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's part of it, but I only built the app after realizing the method (which is based on something called The Sedona Method) really worked for me. I just found it super tedious to do on paper and over time added more features that help to get into a mental state where emotional release is possible. I'm now building a business around the app and that path has multiple emotional pitfalls per day . I tried to do this a f…

Eli, you are probably the first in the long line of Show HN's, product hunts, and indie hackers that I read every day that I read and wanted to scream "Shut up and take my money!". Seriously, if you think you are not ready to introduce paid plans, start with donation link. Or kickstarter. The challenging part with apps like these is that people expect quick fixes ("I will read that book, do that exercise and everythi…

Also, kickstarter? Haven't considered that, but I'll see if this makes sense.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#158

Post by chillwaves » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 7:29 PM UTC

smusamashah wrote: post #99

teekert wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think, as op also insinuates, it is all about acceptance. Accepting one's shortcomings, accepting that you can't do everything you want(ed), that you wont become what you always dreamed of. Love yourself despite of what you think of as shortcomings, think of the things you did achieve (and the things you have, like a stoic philosopher). You are a pretty incredible being with pretty incredible skills. If only you ac…

This is the same line of thought Mark Manson (Subtle art of not giving a Fuck). He says seeking happiness is a bad idea and the same that telling kids you can be whatever you want is damaging just as you said. He says things that I feel like we know most of the times but just don't want to admit. This[1][2] is what he has to say about depression. It's largely about acceptance. [1]: https://markmanson.net/youre-okay […

I'm going to save some people time and summarize link [2]

Mark Manson says The Uncomfortable Truth is that our lives are meaningless and when we die, nothing we did will have mattered. That the human condition requires hope so we invent narratives, as individuals and as society, to create a mental framework that makes life worth living.

That's all well and good, I was hoping to get some solution or suggestion but I got to the end of the essay and it was essentially "now buy my book to understand more".

I'm going to assume link [1] is of similar quality and conclusion.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#159

Post by chillwaves » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 7:34 PM UTC

johnward wrote: post #125

me_me_me wrote: post #63

It makes me sad when i read stories like that. I feel depressed. Doctor - Take these pills. I still feel sad. Doctor - Take more pills. Medication cures symptoms of depression but cannot fix the underlying problems causing it. Taking pill to feel happy again is a patchwork that will eventually burst catastrophically.

> Medication cures symptoms of depression but cannot fix the underlying problems causing it. Sometimes those underlying conditions are brain chemistry though. The pills work for a lot of people. My Bi Polar depression doesn't seem to stem from any trauma or anything. I've done therapy and it did nothing. I've tried exercise, it helps for a short period. I tried diet, seems to help a little. If also tried about 15 dif…

There's a difference between drugs "working" and drugs solving the problem.

One thing that I am cautious about is the biological guarantee that you will develop tolerance to the drug and will need ever more powerful drugs throughout your life to maintain the baseline of "ok".

I'm glad the medication helps, but it seems like exercise and diet (and other activities) are more sustainable in the long run even if they are not as dramatically effective.

Maybe it makes more sense to take medication on a short term basis to deal with crisis and focus on lifestyle changes for long term success.

Re: I built an app to fix my depression

#160

Post by chillwaves » Fri, Sep 11, 2020, 7:38 PM UTC

jedimastert wrote: post #96

me_me_me wrote: post #63

It makes me sad when i read stories like that. I feel depressed. Doctor - Take these pills. I still feel sad. Doctor - Take more pills. Medication cures symptoms of depression but cannot fix the underlying problems causing it. Taking pill to feel happy again is a patchwork that will eventually burst catastrophically.

> Medication cures symptoms of depression but cannot fix the underlying problems causing it This implies that there always is a root cause, which I don't think is the case. Very often there is, but sometimes there's just an imbalance.

> sometimes there's just an imbalance.

What does that mean? As far as I know, there has never been medical science to support this statement.

I understand drugs 'work' in the sense people's experience and emotions are altered -- that's beyond debate. But we don't know what it means in terms of "depression" or "happiness" or other promises they make.

I'll feel great if I spend my day high on cocaine but I am not going to claim I cured my depression while under the influence.