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[GlyphGryph]

The major cause for my own depression is, in part, my consistently inconstant desires.

When you wake up every morning knowing exactly what you want, that all your effort up until then has been wasted, and that you'll never achieve your goals by the time your goals shift... it's difficult. It's difficult for anything you can do to yourself, anything you can change in your life, to help. Am I supposed to just... not change what I want? How? I, for one, don't know how to do that. And then, when I'm not depressed, that can happen every single day and it doesn't matter a bit! I'll just keep chugging on, happy as a clam, even knowing I'll probably be chugging along in a different direction soon enough.

But even in normal depressive episodes behavioral modification is hard, though it can help, but the first part is always figuring out what will work - or, even better, having someone who will force it on you, because you probably won't think there's much of a point or even care if it will help.

And all of this is irrelevant to the greater point

This is a thread for expression, sympathies and condolences, not solutions. A pretty good rule of thumb: Unless someone is looking for solutions, don't give them.

[kaijyuu]

Nobody is helpless except those who think they are.

People definitely can be completely helpless, at least in certain ways. A cripple is helpless to walk. A depressive is helpless to be happy. They are not necessarily helpless in other ways, though.

Both Soli and Pisskop offered what they believed would help, so it's not like they wasn't caring.

I know their intent. It's not what they project when they give out self help advice, though.

I mean no ire to them, just saying what they're advocating isn't helping the root of the problem. At best, it's treating symptoms, and at worst, it's tossing additional guilt and shame on the person who's depressed by giving them the impression that it's their fault and responsibility.

We need to enpower people as well as comfort them.

Empowerment will come after their mood improves. What you're asking is sort of a "run before you can walk" thing.

Depression is a complex condition that tends to amplify its self over time. Symptoms become contributing factors to increased depression. It is a case where fighting some of the symtoms can help alleviate the cause.

This I'll accept as a decent argument. Yes, there's definitely a snowball effect going on, and yes the additional problems will have to be dealt with eventually. I'd argue the root of the problem needs to be discovered and fixed before the additional ones on top, though.

[Solifuge]

Sorry if my post came across as harsh or cruel. It was sympathetic in its nature, and I was sure to add that expressing sadness is an important thing to do here. My natural reaction to someone having trouble is to want to help... and here, about all I can do is advise. Also, my advice is colored by my personal experience, and depression is something I'm very experienced with.

I can't speak as a therapist or psychologist, but I can say what tools I've developed to help myself get through bouts of depression. I first have to recognize my depression for what it is. Once I've identified it, I can understand that I'm not currently in the state of mind I'm always going to be in, and that I should try to act as I would act at any other time. Also, I tend to be tough on myself when dealing with these issues, because of how far I've let myself go in the past, and because I've known people who were very close to me who have taken it farther... and how rare and important each of our lives is. I don't tolerate sustained listlessness or feelings of worthlessness in myself, and tend to confront it head-on, as a false emotional construct created by my psychology or biochemistry, and direct my energy toward overcoming it rather than letting it limit or influence me. I treat it as my own challenge, and one I can work around with the right self-knowledge and mental tools... I won't be running at my best, but I don't like considering myself a victim of the disorder, and try to incorporate it as just another aspect of my life and personality.

All this said, I recognize that I should be checking myself before giving out unsolicited advice, and it should be said that what works for one doesn't always work for another... we've all got our unique troubles and ways of addressing them. I'm just hoping that sharing what works for me might inspire others to find ways to mitigate or deal with similar issues they're experiencing.

[Nadaka]

kaijyuu: there is some weirdness in your quote attributions.

[pisskop]

kaijyuu, I think you misunderstand me... but I nevertheless admire your stubborn passion.   I read your responses and we are not talking about the same thing.

[scriver]

kaijyuu: there is some weirdness in your quote attributions.

KITTHULHU AM ALL ARE WE.

[kaijyuu]

kaijyuu: there is some weirdness in your quote attributions.

Oops, sorry xD

kaijyuu, I think you misunderstand me... but I nevertheless admire your stubborn passion.   I read your responses and we are not talking about the same thing.

Ah, okay. Apologies on my end if we're having a circular argument or I'm strawmaning you

[Dsarker]

Had some fantasies of how to kill myself yesterday. Even how to tell everyone so I wouldn't make anyone annoyed with me disappearing.

[pisskop]

Was it musing or 'random', or is it reoccuring?  I've had such fantascies before...

[Telgin]

Had some fantasies of how to kill myself yesterday. Even how to tell everyone so I wouldn't make anyone annoyed with me disappearing.

Reading this makes me sad today. 

[kaijyuu]

I wouldn't be annoyed; I'd be very saddened. No matter what you said. You can portray yourself as much of a monster as you want and I'd know it was a lie.

[Skyrunner]

Math test. I knew how to solve all the problems, but ran out of time due to slow solving.
Since the test is relatively graded, and it was easy, my math grade is officially in the gutter.

[Hanslanda]

Texted my lesbian friend, asking if I wierded her out or she just fell asleep. No response. Must. Resist. Urge. To reinforce. Mental armor.

[kaijyuu]

Texted my lesbian friend, asking if I wierded her out or she just fell asleep. No response. Must. Resist. Urge. To reinforce. Mental armor.

Dude. You're fine. And if she did get offended it sure as hell isn't your fault.

Breathe

[Hanslanda]

I know. But I'm tired of losing friends! So now I only accept one meatspace applicant at a time! And that makes them extra important! Admittedly, there are flaws in my planning logic!

I think I may be in a manic mood today. This may or may not be a good thing.