Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

psyche.co

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

381–390 of 396 posts

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#381

Post by hemantv »

ditonal wrote: post #212
twojacobtwo wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you looked into the possibility that you have ADD/ADHD? I ask because your description sounds spot on for how I have felt throughout life. The 'fog', lack of motivation, and sensitivity to even the slightest stimulus especially ring true. When I first took medication for ADD, I felt like I had been driving through a downpour my whole life and finally discovered the window-wipers - the storm didn't stop, but I co…

It's very common for people on HN to tout the benefits of their ADHD diagnosis and I feel compelled to point out that getting on ADHD meds was one of the worst mistakes of my life. They triggered a manic episode. The psychiatrist solutions to all my problems was always more meds, different meds, etc. I've mentioned this a few times and I'm always accused of abusing them but the truth is I took a small dose as prescri…

I had similar experience. Especially if you sleep deprived it fucks your whole mood regulation system.

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#382

Post by core-questions »

pdfernhout wrote: post #360
core-questions wrote: post #354

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for this post. I used to be a textbook example of "sedentary, indoor, sleep-deprived, socially-isolated, fast-food-laden" and somehow bumbled into improvement on all those fronts the hard way, one by one. Better eating, a more action-oriented outlook, exercise, and socializing with people changed my life massively and I am now very stable, and even optimistic despite the state of the world. Sleep has taken a b…

You're welcome. That's a tough situation (but a common one). The main things I can thing of right now are: * continue to be a good example * try to reduce stress in her life (without increasing yours significantly) * be a good listener * consider a physical hobby together like swing dancing -- or maybe walking or swimming or yoga or kayaking in the sunshine (ideally things your kids can be safely involved in too) * c…

Thank you for this, I will look into your suggestions. Much appreciated.

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#383

Post by voldacar »

danans wrote: post #149
seesawtron wrote: post #106

It reminds me of what Aldous Huxley wrote (about people in distress): “The real hopeless victims of mental illness are to be found among those who appear to be most normal. "Many of them are normal because they are so well adjusted to our mode of existence, because their human voice has been silenced so early in their lives, that they do not even struggle or suffer or develop symptoms as the neurotic does." They are…

> if they were fully human beings, they ought not to be adjusted The myth/ideal of being "fully human" is an example of essentialism, and is one the techniques that authors like Huxley and many from his era employed. It preys upon the inner authoritarian desire to normalize the world for oneself above all else, even though ironically Huxley opposed authoritarianism himself. A different take is that people's mental he…

Your comments in this thread make you sound really angry and kind of spiteful about Huxley and his "essentialism."

This seems kind of weird and unhealthy to me - did some "essentialist" person hurt you in some way or something?

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#384

Post by alt219 »

LeonB wrote: post #356
quotemstr wrote: post #341

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, yeah. We, uniquely among life on earth, shape our world rather than suffer it. That's a good thing.

A beaver with his blueprint for a new dam would like a word.

Perhaps quotemstr should’ve written “architect” instead of “shape”. A beaver for example could never conceptualize, engineer or build the Taj Mahal—indeed any structure whatsoever other than what the beaver’s biological imperative demands of it.

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#385

Post by twojacobtwo »

ditonal wrote: post #212
twojacobtwo wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you looked into the possibility that you have ADD/ADHD? I ask because your description sounds spot on for how I have felt throughout life. The 'fog', lack of motivation, and sensitivity to even the slightest stimulus especially ring true. When I first took medication for ADD, I felt like I had been driving through a downpour my whole life and finally discovered the window-wipers - the storm didn't stop, but I co…

It's very common for people on HN to tout the benefits of their ADHD diagnosis and I feel compelled to point out that getting on ADHD meds was one of the worst mistakes of my life. They triggered a manic episode. The psychiatrist solutions to all my problems was always more meds, different meds, etc. I've mentioned this a few times and I'm always accused of abusing them but the truth is I took a small dose as prescri…

I know it's late to respond to this, but I just want to say thank you for offering the opposite perspective. I can only say it was a life-changing improvement in my case and in most of the cases that I have read about. I do want to clarify that I wasn't advising anyone to get medicated immediately; I just offered my perspective and a link to more information.

I agree that we should be focusing more in individualized treatment and not attempting to adjust everyone to some averaged version of 'normal'. Tbh, if I could find a way to live comfortably in a profession that I enjoyed, which didn't also require 'neurotypical' focus, I would drop the medication as well. I do enjoy being able to focus on things which would normally be near impossible for me otherwise, but I certainly feel less creative and mentally adroit when medicated. It's a difficult trade-off at times, but in my current circumstances, it's one I simply have to make, as nothing else works(including meditation, pomodoro, etc.).

In any case, it makes me happy to hear that you have found a solution that works for you.

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#386

Post by twojacobtwo »

viburnum wrote: post #201
twojacobtwo wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you looked into the possibility that you have ADD/ADHD? I ask because your description sounds spot on for how I have felt throughout life. The 'fog', lack of motivation, and sensitivity to even the slightest stimulus especially ring true. When I first took medication for ADD, I felt like I had been driving through a downpour my whole life and finally discovered the window-wipers - the storm didn't stop, but I co…

There’s a view that ADHD is badly named, because many ADHD people have incredible focus (at times), and many are not hyperactive in the least. It’s more of an issue about emotional dysregulation, which can be exceptionally painful for those who suffer.

I completely agree that it is poorly named. One of the reasons I never even considered that I had ADD/ADHD was that I was never really exhibited hyperactivity and during certain activities -reading an amazing book or playing my favourite games- I can focus for hours on end. I think it would be great for the scientific/psychiatric community to seriously consider a new name.

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#387

Post by rrrrrrrrrrrryan »

taneq wrote: post #351
jkhdigital wrote: post #340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a gross oversimplification, but crude measures of self-reported well being can be correlated to three factors: genetics 50%, controllable life circumstances (e.g. habits, hobbies, voluntary social engagement) 40%, uncontrollable life circumstances 10% [source: The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky]. In other words... a “shit life” for someone who hit the genetic lottery for happiness could look quite simi…

I guarantee you that if you're trapped working 50+ hours a week in a minimum wage job without the necessary talents, connections or life skills to ever better your lot in life, your 'controllable life circumstances' control a lot less than 40% of your wellbeing.

There are people who live happily with minimum wage jobs though. I have to assume that this is at least partially due to genetics.

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#388

Post by kzrdude »

6nf wrote: post #314
ip26 wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's hard to know if you are clinically depressed. I've asked myself the question many times, and can never really say for sure.

Clinical depression is diagnosed when 1) its ongoing over 6 months or more and 2) it's having a detrimental effect on your life or the lives of those around you Roughly speaking of course

Cool. I had some annoying friends ask me if when I was referring to a depressed period, I was clinically depressed. (It sounded so dismissive to me, to ask if it was clinically or not.) Never really knew what it would mean (to be open about it, it affected me for years.. and I consider it over nowadays :).

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#389

Post by [deleted] »

taneq wrote: post #351
jkhdigital wrote: post #340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is a gross oversimplification, but crude measures of self-reported well being can be correlated to three factors: genetics 50%, controllable life circumstances (e.g. habits, hobbies, voluntary social engagement) 40%, uncontrollable life circumstances 10% [source: The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky]. In other words... a “shit life” for someone who hit the genetic lottery for happiness could look quite simi…

I guarantee you that if you're trapped working 50+ hours a week in a minimum wage job without the necessary talents, connections or life skills to ever better your lot in life, your 'controllable life circumstances' control a lot less than 40% of your wellbeing.

[deleted]

Re: Let’s avoid talk of ‘chemical imbalance’: it’s people in distress

#390

Post by kirsebaer »

ghostbrainalpha wrote: post #319
ip26 wrote: post #283

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's hard to know if you are clinically depressed. I've asked myself the question many times, and can never really say for sure.

I never thought of myself as depressed. Then I tried to sign up to be part of a Stanford Study, and the person reviewing my answers to a questionnaire rejected me for depression and said I should get help. It was absolutely shocked at the time. But in hindsight the frequency with which I considered ending my life should have been a clue.

Most people never ever think about suicide.

You might consider if you fit with "complex PTSD" or "childhood emotional neglect". This seems common among high-achieving tech people.

Post reply on HN