An article I found interesting on the potential evolutionary roots of depression:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=depressions...
Depression lies
201–210 of 242 posts
Re: Depression lies
#202I wonder how depressed people in the 3rd world manage to survive.
I really don't want to imply I'm jealous of these people's life conditions, but I've noticed that the more not-intellectually taxing tasks I have to do, the less I notice I'm depressed. If I would be fighting for my life everyday, I might not ever notice I'm not OK. I think a simpler life might do me well too.
Re: Depression lies
#203If you are experiencing slowness while loading the site also, perhaps this link will help:
Re: Depression lies
#204Earlier quoted context omitted.
Scumbag HN user Talks about evidence and/or the lack thereof Cites zero evidence (via links) towards his assertion that there is no evidence
You're right, but Hacker News is not the place for memespeak.
I disagree. The post got its point across very concisely. If you set aside your snobbery you might perceive that this "meme" is very similar in form to senryu.
Re: Depression lies
#205Re: Depression lies
#206I am rather disappointed by much of the discussion in these comments. The HN community has always taken pride in being careful, analytical and data-led. If someone were to advocate an unproven cancer therapy based on anecdote, they would rightly be harshly criticised. The evidence base for SSRIs is extremely poor. The most favourable metastudies indicate only a very mild benefit, similar to that of many non-drug inte…
>entirely possible that the idea of depression is itself a cause of depression
This comes across as "it's all in your head". I hope you didn't mean that.
Re: Depression lies
#207Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The idea of cancer might be a cause of cancer? Ridiculous. Not ridiculous at all. There are all kinds of plausible mechanisms for the idea of cancer to cause cancer. Here's just one example off the top of my head: stressing out over the possibility of getting cancer can stimulate the production of excess stomach acid, which can lead to acid reflux, which is known to increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
Stress is not a meaningful cause of stomach ulcers.
Did not know that. Why is that such a commonly held belief?
Re: Depression lies
#208I am rather disappointed by much of the discussion in these comments. The HN community has always taken pride in being careful, analytical and data-led. If someone were to advocate an unproven cancer therapy based on anecdote, they would rightly be harshly criticised. The evidence base for SSRIs is extremely poor. The most favourable metastudies indicate only a very mild benefit, similar to that of many non-drug inte…
You sound OCD to me.
Re: Depression lies
#209Earlier quoted context omitted.
You seem to be refuting an argument that I haven't made. Firstly, how very presumptuous of you to assume that I haven't suffered from depression. Anecdote is not the singular of data. Whether I have or have not suffered from depression has no bearing whatsoever on my ability to analyse the available data. Having had cancer gives you no insight whatsoever into the biology of cell division. Depression is known to spont…
Have you, personally suffered from depression or are you just making more logical arguments?
FWIW I get your point totally and agree. Never having suffered depression, I had a completely new view of it after having a relationship with someone who was on at least three meds. Spending time like that completely changed my view on what it mean to suffer from depression.
Re: Depression lies
#210What I'm not able to reconcile is if the despair and anxiety resulting from nihilism is something that should be treated . I'm a staunch believer in existential nihilism (and hence believe life is inherently purposeless and pointless), so time to time it gives a sharp tinge of sadness on the lines of _why am I existing at all_. It's not a suicidal feeling, but very close to it. I have (rightly, so) convinced myself o…
What if the universe is suffused with meaning and purpose by a just and benevolent god, and you have just accidentally fallen through the cracks? How would you know?
In other words, what is the falsifiable hypothesis of nihilism? If you cannot answer that, your nihilism is just so much mystical gobbledygook.