Is depression a disease, and how should we treat it?

[the wiggle baron]

In my opinion, it is a profiteering product of pharmaceutical companies. The drug based medical world is desperate to A) give a definite name to a group of symptoms, and B) create a drug tailored to that name.

The idea of something as inherently vague as emotion being something that can be clinical diagnosed is in my opinion a revolting charade. Drug companies have WAY too much invested in the products that tackle these problems to look at actually A) getting to the root cause of the problem, and B) actually helping people

The drug companies look at it like this.

Person has deficencies in certain neurochemicals.
Sell them drug that contains those chemicals.
Profit.

At no point do they address the issue in hand. Granted, in the clinically diagnosable population that are told they have depression (theres a great fucking start right there, give someone who is clearly somewhat weak psychologically a label for something that will instantly encourage their symptoms) there are chemical changes. That however is as far as the drug companies (who of course COMPLETELY control mainstream medicine) will ever look into it. There is an unexplainable change in chemistry, lets treat that...with something we can profit off.

At no point in that guise of "healthcare" is the question asked - Why is there chemical imbalances in the first place? Little research will be funded in this direction, and the question is left largely unanswered - It happens because it does. In my opinion, the root cause of these imbalances is relatively clear. Diet. The body is a complex machine, that has evolved to work within the constrains of the world it developed in. These days, the diet of some (in fact, the vast majority) has NO relationship to what the body evolved to adapt to, and if that is not looked at as a reason for chemical imbalances in the body, then whoever is making those decisions has (somewhat) blood on their hands.

Edit: And by the way, of cooourse theres social reasons why someone will end up depressed (not "depressed" , not suffering from depression...) but none of these reasons should be treated by medication. The only time I think it should be used is as a SHORT TERM solution to someone who is in that time in a very dark place and could be at risk of suicide or a similar situation. Even then, that is just to get them through the moment, before actually addressing the issue.

Medicine - Oh shit, the fire alarms going off! Quick, spray the extinguisher at the fire alarm...

[Riddles]

Girlfriend has depression. Her doctor took her off antidepressants because they were having no effect, if you dont have a chemical imbalance,they wont work apparently. She's in the process of getting therapy etc but it takes time, NHS being busy etc. On the plus side she's living in one of the best areas to get help, just needs to happen now.

[travis_baker]

get her on he lsd mate! they recon it does wonders for heroin addicts

[Mason]

I wouldn't class myself as having depression, (often feel down for no reason but would consider it insulting to people with more serious depression to say that i am depressed) but i do know what it feels like to feel terrible for no apparent reason for extended periods of time. Personally i think it's a combination of things: genetics, circumstance, brain chemistry, drugs, Isolation etc. I also think that we have a lot of power to change how we feel about/perceive things, 'There is no good or bad only thinking makes it so' is one of my favourite quotes and after i have felt bad for a while i'll often begin to 'think' my way out of the sadness. Although this may just be my brain chemistry changing and me tricking myself into thinking i have some control over the issue. It makes me think that things like CBT and other psychological techniques could be (and are) much more effective than traditional drug therapies. In my opinion one of the problems is working out to what extent brain chemistry dictates our thoughts and to what extent our thoughts dictate our brain chemistry.



This is one of the best descriptions of depression i've heard.

On the topic of treating it: I have had several lectures at uni on the topic of mental illness from neuroscientists/psychiatrists and basically what they have said is that we have so little understanding of the causes of depression and an even worse understanding of how to treat it that the drugs we give at the moment do nothing to treat the problem but just gloss over the symptoms and make life more bearable for the patients. I think the way forward is to treat the underlying issue through psychological techniques, my mum is a councellor at a school and in her experience CBT is the most effective, although in my opinion for this to work the patient has to believe that it will work and actively practice the techniques involved and for a person with serious depression this may be difficult.

Got to write an essay on a similar topic soon so it should be interesting to hear everyone else's opinions.

TL;DR : I dunno and not sure

[kay]

One of my mates is doing a PhD in cbt at the moment.

[Figment]

I honestly don't know, i think it's a case by case thing for every individual.
i think things like facebook etc have also stretched the meaning of said word, not too offend anyone, but most people who say they are depressed, would actually buckle under real depression.

i say it's a case by case thing, because it's all about how an individual deals with their issues, how they go about their issues, how their tolerance to 'bullshit' and the likes is.

i also think it's a case by case thing, because a lot of people here are saying they believe it's strongly involved with socialism. (re-read the first part of this paragraph, i'm not disagreeing with anyone)
i would say myself, for the best part of my childhood (age 10-late teen) was miserable, depressed? i don't know, a whole spiral of things happened, and it literally just seemed the world was shitting on me, but i'm still here etc etc.

i remember i saw a psychologist for this, big up him, i said he helped, but i've never wasted so much time in my life. (if you believe you are depressed, and you think seeing a psychologist can help you, i do recommend it, it just wasn't the way for me.)
more on this, search the thread i created in the SNH called 'ninja's what do you do to clear your head'
i think exactly that^ is the money shot in all of this, knowing what you find peace in, find happiness in, even if momentarily, any positivity is good, when everything seems so bad.

i mentioned socialism before.. all through my childhood despite issues, i always had friends, always hung out in the biggest group of people at school etc, although i was the quietest by far, i was still an active part of these groups.. about 2-3 years ago, i just purposefully stopped talking to people, cared a little bit less full time, invested more time in myself, aswell as by myself, became 'anti-social' as such... (you could say i have bordeline social anxiety symptoms, but i more think it's a choice rather than an issue of me being social) and although i really only make contact with few people, might not receive a message on my phone for weeks, i'm actually the happiest i've ever been, it's almost like this euphoric feeling, like i can do no wrong atm, it's sick, yeah i miss what i used to have in all my friends, but the respect i have for them, and they have for me.. they're always there.

i think it's all to do with the person, and how they live their live, if they let the stuff pile on top of them, it's bound to be a downward spiral, if they find small ways to get through things, or to find positivity, then they're making an effort for themselves.

whether it matters or not, i've never had a girlfriend, and i see weed almost every day, and almost every day, i turn it down.


i don't think this thread is a shitstorm waiting to happen, a lot of the maturer members of this forum, or the hideout in particular, are very respectful, and as it's a different kind of subject, anyone who really doesn't know how to contribute, probably won't.

good topic wub.

[E-F]

the reason there's so many supposed 'depressives' on dsf is that it is populated by narcissistic, self-pitying, unloved, overly sensitive underachievers who use a mix of false modesty, sentimental tales of their 'struggles' and ostentatious, glib liberalism to forge online friendships. when other people post that little 'hug' symbol they feel valued for once.

imo.

[E-F]

a decade or so ago it was being 'a bit OCD' that was fashionable

[the wiggle baron]

Well someone just nailed it lol

Just wanted to add something to my first post in retrospect. Theres more than just our diets that have changed dramatically recently out of line with evolution, theres the huge change in social dynamic aswell, obviously especially prevelant with psychological afflictions. So yeah, thats not quite as treatable (we cant all go back to tribes of 30 people living off the land and shagging everything in sight now alas) but it still leaves an underlying point that chemical changes are a symptom of something else, and any medication is purely treating the symptom. Analogous to pain medication for a broken leg.

[kay]

7.5 hours before the first troll?!??? The response rate is poor these days. How depressing.

[E-F]

it's not trolling if it's true

[magma]

the reason there's so many supposed 'depressives' on dsf is that it is populated by narcissistic, self-pitying, unloved, overly sensitive underachievers who use a mix of false modesty, sentimental tales of their 'struggles' and ostentatious, glib liberalism to forge online friendships. when other people post that little 'hug' symbol they feel valued for once.

imo.

As apposed to people who use the Internet in order to boost their own faltering egos by insulting those they consider to be weaker from the anonymous safety of their parents' Packard Bell? It must be great existence you lead in the real world E-F, what happens when you socialise with living, breathing humans that can actually punch you in the face?

Can we ban this piece of shit yet? Please? Mods? Can someone explain why hasn't it been done yet?

[sixs]

it's not trolling if it's true

nothing fashionable about getting a phonecall at 5am about your close friend taking his own life

[Figment]

the reason there's so many supposed 'depressives' on dsf is that it is populated by narcissistic, self-pitying, unloved, overly sensitive underachievers who use a mix of false modesty, sentimental tales of their 'struggles' and ostentatious, glib liberalism to forge online friendships. when other people post that little 'hug' symbol they feel valued for once.

imo.

As apposed to people who use the Internet in order to boost their own egos by insulting those they consider to be weaker from the anonymous safety of their parents' Packard Bell? It must be great existence you lead in the real world E-F, what happens when you socialise with living, breathing humans that can actually punch you in the face?

Can we ban this piece of shit yet? Please? Mods? Can someone explain why hasn't it been done yet?

if i could make that <- bold i would.

someone who comes on this forum and disrupts the vibe and culture of the forum in a negative way on purpose is worthy of such action.

imo.

[magma]

Mods; well, wub... I apologise for the strong wording of the complaint I just sent you. Please ban this cunt.

[E-F]

the reason there's so many supposed 'depressives' on dsf is that it is populated by narcissistic, self-pitying, unloved, overly sensitive underachievers who use a mix of false modesty, sentimental tales of their 'struggles' and ostentatious, glib liberalism to forge online friendships. when other people post that little 'hug' symbol they feel valued for once.

imo.

As apposed to people who use the Internet in order to boost their own faltering egos by insulting those they consider to be weaker from the anonymous safety of their parents' Packard Bell? It must be great existence you lead in the real world E-F, what happens when you socialise with living, breathing humans that can actually punch you in the face?

Can we ban this piece of shit yet? Please? Mods? Can someone explain why hasn't it been done yet?

your sense of superiority is touching. i dont live with my parents though, sorry.

sometimes people punch me in the face and I punch them back.


I just don't see why I should be required to be sympathetic toward people who clearly suffer from over sympathising with themselves.

[E-F]

someone who comes on this forum and disrupts the vibe and culture of the forum in a negative way on purpose is worthy of such action.

imo.

im not abu hamza

Mods; well, wub... I apologise for the strong wording of the complaint I just sent you. Please ban this cunt.

lol this glib apology intended as some sort of perverse social signifier to highlight your grasp of middle class etiquette (you'll dare to be rude but only when you're really really angry) is a perfect example of the 'culture' I criticised above.

[cryptical]

^ dont ban

[Figment]

the reason there's so many supposed 'depressives' on dsf is that it is populated by narcissistic, self-pitying, unloved, overly sensitive underachievers who use a mix of false modesty, sentimental tales of their 'struggles' and ostentatious, glib liberalism to forge online friendships. when other people post that little 'hug' symbol they feel valued for once.

imo.

As apposed to people who use the Internet in order to boost their own faltering egos by insulting those they consider to be weaker from the anonymous safety of their parents' Packard Bell? It must be great existence you lead in the real world E-F, what happens when you socialise with living, breathing humans that can actually punch you in the face?

Can we ban this piece of shit yet? Please? Mods? Can someone explain why hasn't it been done yet?

your sense of superiority is touching. i dont live with my parents though, sorry.

sometimes people punch me in the face and I punch them back.


I just don't see why I should be required to be sympathetic toward people who clearly suffer from over sympathising with themselves.

there is no requirement for you to be this way, do what you please, and if this pleases you, then i'm sorry for you.

i'm assuming when you understand depression, you'll be feeling the raw end of the stick, if you don't get banned from here, there might be people who will sympathise for you

[magma]

Tbh, I'm a bit done with being patient with you. Especially after you laid into a close friend of mine the other week that was going through shit for no reason other than to make yourself feel "funny" or whatever your pathetic impulse is. It's not just this thread that you've come in looking for trouble, it's almost every time you visit the site. You appear to use the Internet as some sort of sparring tool, where you can insult people without having to face the consequences. If the "depressed" are pathetic, those that feed off them like emotional vultures must be less than worthless.

You wouldn't walk into a pub and start calling everyone a bunch of alcoholic pricks, would you? Why do you think it's ok to do it on the Internet? If you don't want to socialise, don't come into the Off Topic section. Stick to General and discuss nothing but music. But I have a feeling, the music isn't what you visit this community for much like a vulture doesn't visit the Serengeti to admire the views. You come here to feast on the exposed underbelly of the weak and vulnerable... it's one of the most ugly and cowardly behaviour patterns available to the modern human; good job!