Post: #26

"Depression is the inability to construct a future." - Rollo May

Post: #27

Depression is strange.

I think it would be impossible for me to ever be depressed. In the same way it would be impossible for me to become gay.

My outlook is always one of looking for interesting things to do.

A bit like the old saying "Only boring people get bored."

But then people say that depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. So - in theory I could get depression?

Just seems weird that I could ever wake up and be depressed.

Post: #28

(03-07-2014 07:22 AM)astronut Wrote:  I've struggled with depression for a few years. I've found it difficult to work, sometimes difficult to get out of bed in the morning. There are times I've motivated myself by scolding myself to stop being such a chick and man up. Lifting definitely helps. I was curious though, what does this forum think abt taking medication?

There is another thread on point. I cited a study showing that simply taking fish oil capsules for three months alleviated depression for many people.

Do yourself a favor and eliminate all other reasonable options before taking the medication route.

Post: #29

Quote:Honestly, I have my own opinions, but I know a few people who are on meds and the difference is night and day for them.

I wouldn't let meds get in the way of self improvement. You may end up finding yourself not needing the meds after a certain amount of time if you go down this path.

Maybe it's something I should look into. Could it be Low-T?

Post: #30

what happened to CA_Supreme?

Post: #31

/thread-27244-...#pid672867

Take care, Cali!

Post: #32

(03-08-2014 12:12 AM)cardguy Wrote:  /thread-27244-...#pid672867

Take care, Cali!

"Big baller trollism, STD trollism."

That's the first time I've ever heard of trollism!

Post: #33

(03-07-2014 04:57 PM)astronut Wrote:  

Quote:Honestly, I have my own opinions, but I know a few people who are on meds and the difference is night and day for them.

I wouldn't let meds get in the way of self improvement. You may end up finding yourself not needing the meds after a certain amount of time if you go down this path.

Maybe it's something I should look into. Could it be Low-T?

Low-T could be a significant factor and often is in men. Even if it isn't the whole puzzle, it could be a pretty big piece. If you suspect it's a factor for you, get it checked.

Post: #34

Depression is quite complex. Causes can be mental, physical and even predispositioned. I have been able to overcome depression without meds, by self education on the subject and a clear action plan. I must add though that my depression was light to moderate. If you're going through severe depression you need help. I do not think you should just go along and live with it, I am convinced it's a curable illness even though it's a battle. All it takes is a lifestyle change and some stubbordness.

I am glad it happened though. And glad it happened this early in my life. I became red pill, and started living to the max. I was liberated in a sense, it changed me.

Feel free to p/m me.

Post: #35

I thought Cali was alright. Sad to see him banned

Post: #36

Forget what those thousands of people researching say, plus the recent years of emerging hard neuroimaging data, big poppa has figured it out. We can safely relax now.

Post: #37

(03-07-2014 01:11 PM)BDawg Wrote:  

"Depression is the inability to construct a future." - Rollo May

extremely interesting how contempt is shown materializing in the head, upper chest and fists

Post: #38

Depression is a lot like addiction.

Someone who has never been depressed (or is predisposed to depression) cannot understand how someone can be depressed/suicidal/etc. Same as how a nonaddict can never understand how someone could possible be addicted to alcohol, drugs, etc.

The inverse is also true. Someone who is not predisposed to depression cannot understand how someone can NOT be depressed just as an addictive personality cannot understand how someone could just have ONE drink and that's it.

Post: #39

In the desert
I saw a creature, naked, bestial,
Who, squatting upon the ground,
Held his heart in his hands,
And ate of it.
I said, "Is it good, friend?"
"It is bitter - bitter," he answered;
"But I like it
Because it is bitter,
And because it is my heart."

- Stephen Crane

The question the poem brings about is what is it about the bitter heart that tastes so sweet?

Post: #40

"Man up" and ignore diabetes! This is the level of discourse that occurs with mental illness among some overconfident amateurs who have no actual personal experience of. Dealing with hundreds of real life people with serious problems.

Listening to total amateurs about important issues like health can be dangerous.

Post: #41

Does addiction actually exist though?

Because if it does - that would suggest that nobody has ever overcome it through simple will power.

When in fact - just about everyone who has ever been an 'addict' and gone clean has done it that way. By simply making a choice and sticking with it.

I think 'addiction' is one of those words which will disappear one day. As happened with the four bodily humours and phrenology.

Post: #42

(03-16-2014 06:01 PM)iknowexactly Wrote:  "Man up" and ignore diabetes! This is the level of discourse that occurs with mental illness among some overconfident amateurs who have no actual personal experience of. Dealing with hundreds of real life people with serious problems.

Listening to total amateurs about important issues like health can be dangerous.

But "manning up" is the most effective cure for depression and addiction there is.

Whereas "manning up" makes no difference with a proper medical condition like diabetes.

I don't mean to insult anyone. But it important to note that people free themselves every single day by simply adjusting their thought patterns and summoning up will power to stop repeating activities which are harmful to them.

Seems "manning up" (so to speak) is an effective cure in these cases.

Post: #43

(03-07-2014 01:18 PM)cardguy Wrote:  Depression is strange.


But then people say that depression is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. So - in theory I could get depression?

I heard about research showing that a certain gene can cause a preexisting susceptibility to depression , but i am not sure there is a proven chemical imbalance that causes it.
Actually,it sounds more like something people claim so they can compare depression to cancer

Post: #44

(03-16-2014 07:23 PM)Sailor Wrote:  I heard about research showing that a certain gene can cause a preexisting susceptibility to depression , but i am not sure there is a proven chemical imbalance that causes it.
Actually,it sounds more like something people claim so they can compare depression to cancer

Anything can cause it, and no one can point out a single cause, just like as with cancer. Genetics, general health, how you naturally respond to events (snowball effect), etc.

Post: #45

(03-16-2014 06:15 PM)cardguy Wrote:  But "manning up" is the most effective cure for depression and addiction there is.

Whereas "manning up" makes no difference with a proper medical condition like diabetes.

I don't mean to insult anyone. But it important to note that people free themselves every single day by simply adjusting their thought patterns and summoning up will power to stop repeating activities which are harmful to them.

Seems "manning up" (so to speak) is an effective cure in these cases.

No, "manning up" does not work in most cases. One cannot simply "manup" and summon the willpower to overcome, because one does not have the willpower in severe depression and one is blinded with a one-track will to essentially die.

As I said, someone who has never been clinically depressed cannot understand what it means to be clinically depressed. You actually see this a lot with moms who suffer postpartum depression. A lot of times before they were typical ADD free-of-consequence women who's only thought is me-me-me, and after postpartum depression it opens their eyes to the "struggle" of life and to a much increased sense of empathy toward others.

Post: #46

(03-16-2014 07:36 PM)monster Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 06:15 PM)cardguy Wrote:  But "manning up" is the most effective cure for depression and addiction there is.

Whereas "manning up" makes no difference with a proper medical condition like diabetes.

I don't mean to insult anyone. But it important to note that people free themselves every single day by simply adjusting their thought patterns and summoning up will power to stop repeating activities which are harmful to them.

Seems "manning up" (so to speak) is an effective cure in these cases.

No, "manning up" does not work in most cases. One cannot simply "manup" and summon the willpower to overcome, because one does not have the willpower in severe depression and one is blinded with a one-track will to essentially die.

As I said, someone who has never been clinically depressed cannot understand what it means to be clinically depressed. You actually see this a lot with moms who suffer postpartum depression. A lot of times before they were typical ADD free-of-consequence women who's only thought is me-me-me, and after postpartum depression it opens their eyes to the "struggle" of life and to a much increased sense of empathy toward others.

I think there may be some confusion over the term "manning up". These are more thoughts about it.

Overcoming depression, addiction, bad broads, etc often requires a working through of the underlying cause of it. This is done either through the fire of experience or the fire of insight. However, once that's been done it still takes "will power" aka "manning up" to not regress back into those past indulgences.

While it's true that a former addict or depressive will have strong knowledge of the subject. It's also possible for men of knowledge to as well. Stephen Crane wrote the Red Badge Courage in his mid 20s. It was hailed around the world by critics and soldiers as the most accurate depiction of war from a soldiers point of view ever written.

How can a man who's never stepped foot on a battle field write such a thing? When reading his poems one can start to see how.

Post: #47

(03-16-2014 08:07 PM)Onto Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 07:36 PM)monster Wrote:  

(03-16-2014 06:15 PM)cardguy Wrote:  But "manning up" is the most effective cure for depression and addiction there is.

Whereas "manning up" makes no difference with a proper medical condition like diabetes.

I don't mean to insult anyone. But it important to note that people free themselves every single day by simply adjusting their thought patterns and summoning up will power to stop repeating activities which are harmful to them.

Seems "manning up" (so to speak) is an effective cure in these cases.

No, "manning up" does not work in most cases. One cannot simply "manup" and summon the willpower to overcome, because one does not have the willpower in severe depression and one is blinded with a one-track will to essentially die.

As I said, someone who has never been clinically depressed cannot understand what it means to be clinically depressed. You actually see this a lot with moms who suffer postpartum depression. A lot of times before they were typical ADD free-of-consequence women who's only thought is me-me-me, and after postpartum depression it opens their eyes to the "struggle" of life and to a much increased sense of empathy toward others.

I think there may be some confusion over the term "manning up". These are more thoughts about it.

Overcoming depression, addiction, bad broads, etc often requires a working through of the underlying cause of it. This is done either through the fire of experience or the fire of insight. However, once that's been done it still takes "will power" aka "manning up" to not regress back into those past indulgences.

While it's true that a former addict or depressive will have strong knowledge of the subject. It's also possible for men of knowledge to as well. Stephen Crane wrote the Red Badge Courage in his mid 20s. It was hailed around the world by critics and soldiers as the most accurate depiction of war from a soldiers point of view ever written.

How can a man who's never stepped foot on a battle field write such a thing? When reading his poems one can start to see how.

Yes, but I think men like Stephen Crane are the exception not the rule, and there are very few exceptions.

The thing about severe depression though is that it saps all your willpower out of you, and even though you want to get out of it you don't see how you can or how you can convince yourself to.

As you alluded to, therapy does help, but its not a case of "manning up" its a case of years of small behavioral modifications (usually assisted) that slowly, very slowly, over time affect change.

Post: #48

"Set and Setting" - Timothy Leary

Depression is like the weather: If it's raining today, you can't just tell the clouds to 'snap out of it'.

I went through a BIG phase of depression. I did some really stupid things. Whilst my alcoholism was very noticeable, it was pretty tame in comparison to some guys' experiences on here. Still, me and my friend would get blind fucking drunk and joyride around the city in his car at night whilst manically laughing. One time I woke up in the fucking driving seat parked outside our student house.

The doctor proscribed me some pills. I took them for three days then drunkenly catapulted them over the fence one night with my buddy (I know, I'm a real drama queen haha)

Why? Well, it turns out you can change the damn weather after all! Just escape the clutches of inertia!

Anti-depressants are a real-life version of Brave-New-Worldian Soma. Neck them and convince yourself it's sunny, even though it's raining hard.

What did I hate in my life? The shit weather, my shitty engineering career path, the idea of rotting in an office cubicle, entitled English girls, blue-pill friends with no ambition, constant proletarian repetition of the line "it's time for us to finish uni and join the real world", the idea that my future was a basically 'shutting up and getting on with it'. (Oh wait, but that two-week rest I'm allowed in Spain!)

And what did I like? I liked that Uni bubble. The idea of "fuck it, let's just get drunk and have fun, the rest will come to haunt us in a few years. Do stuff for the NOW"

Then one day I was at a party. Long story short: my Dutch-Indian friend said "It's funny how you can teach English abroad without knowing the language"

Eureka moment!

Perfect answer? Nah. But it was SOMETHING. Whilst everyone else had begged for an internship in Swindon, I could try SOMETHING.

18 months on I can't remember any time of stress . I usually break out into manic laughter about three times a day because I enjoy my life a lot more now.

I just do pretty much what I want to do now. It's not perfect, but it's fucking fun as hell.

Can depression be cured? haha, of course. Just fucking change what you hate!

Post: #49

I did engineering at university - and stopped attending lectures after about three weeks.

Engineering is shit.

Post: #50

(03-18-2014 12:22 AM)cardguy Wrote:  I did engineering at university - and stopped attending lectures after about three weeks.

Engineering is shit.

Haha me too. Then two weeks before the exam you just cram everything in and get a 2.1

Weird to think how our teachers always tell us not to Cram-learn, even though it works fantastically well.

I genuinely think Engineering is a big con actually (I did Civil)

It's sold to kids as something it really isn't.

The vast majority of Civil Engineering graduates will be stuck in an office in Basingstoke designing roundabouts.

The pay is also crap for the amount of work put in

Two possible spin-off threads there