Poll: What do you think of depression?

[Singularly Datarific]

Depression is an interesting thing.
Our brains consist of a smoothie consisting of two things: a mass of interacting neurons, and a cocktail of chemicals- signals, hormones, blood, etc.- that work together in a way we have not quite understood yet. As such, the diagnosis of neuralogical disorders is difficult. While we can measure and detect levels of activity or chemical concentration, we have no way of understanding what that implies on a larger level. We can try to link or correlate different measurements to conditions, but the reasons tend to be far more complicated than that- is it to do with a chemical imbalance or a scarring memory? Is it insensitivity to endorphins or some learned emotional dullness?
The problem is that, unlike other diseases or disorders, you cannot have a test for anything neurological- it has to do with inferring or interpreting a set of reactions, except it isn't even THAT simple! What if the interpretation of an image as frightening has not to do with having fear but a genuine interest in fear?
My point is that depression, although I believe it exists, cannot be identified properly, so applying it as a clinical condition is a loose term. Depression can be caused by many things, and can express itself in just as many, so we do not know.
Depression is a loose term for many disorders.

 

[Daniel Allsopp]

Depression is a state of mind, move on and do something about it.

Imagine there is a machine that can fix other machines... It is broken. But, it cannot fix itself, on account of being too badly broken. So, another machine must fix it enough so that it can fix itself.

See where I am going with this?

 

[Racecarlock]

At least depression is the most artistic of emotions, if the current "Arty game" market is anything to go by. I recommend buying a season pass or day pass to an amusement park of your choice and riding the day away. You'll feel like a million bucks.

 

[JMeganSnow]

Dear reader, what are your thoughts on this matter?

From my own experience with depression and anxiety, it's a self-reinforcing problem. It's not primarily a chemical illness (not like, say, schizophrenia), so medication alone won't help, or won't help much. It can make you feel a bit better, but it won't help turn around the decay of your life that led to and reinforced your depression in the first place. Therapy alone very well may not help, either, because you really truly are so freakin' stressed out that you cannot begin to address your problems without something that helps normalize your emotional response.

However, getting a good doctor/therapist who can help you get medication AND therapy AND support can be like trying to find a game that is cheap AND has good graphics AND awesome gameplay. And depressed people aren't exactly good at actively seeking out that perfect solution. Otherwise they wouldn't be depressed in the first place.

So getting out of the hole once you're in can be really, really tough.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

Right... so is the mind not a part of the physical structure of a body?
and no it is not the same as a psychopath being told to get over it. I was depressed, I did some stupid shit because of it, but to claim it has an unbreakable hold on people such as psycopothy is simply a lie. People can get over depression. Ask me... I did it.

When you have diagnosed clinical depression you tend to get it for life and can drop back into it at any moment, this is a proven fact. Well done for being able to manage yours though.

As for the state of mind thing I thought you mean it was like being 'sad' or 'happy' which it isn't it's an actual illness.

 

[OmniscientOstrich]

76.5% have had depression?
I cannot believe this.... I think some of you might be getting depression muddled up with feeling depressed.

I interpreted the 'I have encountered depression' to mean that you simply could have known or met someone who has suffered from depression rather than having suffered from it yourself. I have known people who have been clinically depressed and am not callous enough to suggest that they're 'faking it' or something. As for myself, I'm just a miserable bastard but I'm not going to delude myself into thinking that I have a genuine condition.

 

[Korolev]

Going by the best science available to me, depression is a real mental disease. That, of course, does not mean that everyone who says they have it, actually has it. A lot of people self-diagnose their depression, and it can be quite easy to fake depression if you know the symptoms. However, it is a real disease. I haven't had it myself but I have read case studies of people who really do have chemical imbalances (yes Tom Cruise, they do exist).

The problem, as I've stated, is that too many people confuse temporary sadness or angst with depression. Somewhere along the way, we all bought the Hollywood lie that we're supposed to be happy all the time. This isn't the case - no one is happy all the time. People can be frequently sad. We have ups and downs and that's NATURAL. Just because you feel sad one day for no particular reason does not mean you have a disease.

Real Depression is a condition in which you feel incredibly unsettled/upset/depressed, continuously for a long period of time for no discernible cause. Real depression can only be treated with medicine. Real Depression is a serious illness which can very easily lead to suicide. It is a disease and it does exist.

People can fake (with effort and training) schizophrenia. But you wouldn't use that as an excuse to dismiss the entire disease of schizophrenia! There are people who fake depression, either to gain attention, for benefits or because they just want to pretend. But that doesn't mean that depression, as a medical term, does not exist.

 

[diebane]

My stand is this: Depression is a disease, everybody can be affected and a cure is not guaranteed. Medicin can help, but I think the social environment of the person must work towards the cure.

I have not encountered depression, but I do accept it as the disease that it is.

mfG diebane

 

[BookBeast]

Depression is definitely a real thing. I think certain lifestyle factors (e.g., lack of sleep and exercise) may contribute to its prevalence and severity, though. Which is not to say that medication doesn't help. As with other psychological issues, medication is only part of the solution.

 

[Daniel Allsopp]

At least depression is the most artistic of emotions, if the current "Arty game" market is anything to go by. I recommend buying a season pass or day pass to an amusement park of your choice and riding the day away. You'll feel like a million bucks.

I hate amusement parks, the rides just make me feel uncomfortable and sick. But I get what you're trying to say . Sadly it's not as easy as that, but that is a good temporary boost.

From my own experience with depression and anxiety, it's a self-reinforcing problem. It's not primarily a chemical illness (not like, say, schizophrenia), so medication alone won't help, or won't help much. It can make you feel a bit better, but it won't help turn around the decay of your life that led to and reinforced your depression in the first place. Therapy alone very well may not help, either, because you really truly are so freakin' stressed out that you cannot begin to address your problems without something that helps normalize your emotional response.

However, getting a good doctor/therapist who can help you get medication AND therapy AND support can be like trying to find a game that is cheap AND has good graphics AND awesome gameplay. And depressed people aren't exactly good at actively seeking out that perfect solution. Otherwise they wouldn't be depressed in the first place.

So getting out of the hole once you're in can be really, really tough.

Self-reinforcing is right. I get depressed because I am depressed. I cannot become un-depressed because I am depressed.

It's like I am poisoned, and the cure is on the other side of a room. I am getting worse all the time, and I cannot walk due to the poison's effects. If I do nothing, I die, but I can't get to the cure anyway. All I can really do is fight to stay alive and call for help.

I know, it's a terrible metaphor, but sometimes the aren't any words that mean what you want to say.

 

[C95J]

huh, by the looks of the poll it seems there is definitely a correlation between gamers and depression...

me, it may sound harsh but I would just say get over it, and always look on the bright side of life, that's what I always do.

 

[pearcinator]

I accept depression, I don't have it though. However, I don't see medication being helpful for it at all...it really is something that people need to fight to get passed it (can't cure it with meds), you're not alone, remember that others can and will help you.

 

[curintedery]

I don't entirely dismiss it, but I think it is HEAVILY overdiagnosed. I think there are people who do have clinical depression, but there are far more people who are on antidepressants when they really don't need to be.

Also, the fact that babies, children and pets get given antidepressants disgusts me so much that I have lost all faith in the world.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

I accept that it CAN be a clinical problem, but I think a lot of people just use it as an excuse to do and say stupid shit.

It can be real, but I think the actual cases are very rare.

ADDON: REALLY??? I have to watch a fucking Canon add to post?

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

However, getting a good doctor/therapist who can help you get medication AND therapy AND support can be like trying to find a game that is cheap AND has good graphics AND awesome gameplay. And depressed people aren't exactly good at actively seeking out that perfect solution.

I went to see 5 different therapists before I found one that was actually helping and he was amazing, medication never worked on me but then again my depression was mostly caused by trauma. My sister had to drag me to all of them.

Depressed people really do need outside help I think.

 

[Julianking93]

]What I've always wondered is whether it is an actual disease, or more like a predisposition to a personality type. In which case, do people call it a 'disorder' because they see it as a negative disposition, and would they call something a disorder if it made someone predisposed to confidence or happiness or something that people strive for?

Excellent point. If it were something like a general constant feeling of happiness, confidence or anything of that nature, yet still meant the same or a similar type of chemical imbalance was present, it wouldn't be seen as a "disorder." Hell, it isn't seen as a disorder. I know the types who are somehow immune to depression or any sort of sadness. Still, I guess that's better than being sad. That's seen as more hazardous to one's health and life so I guess that's where why the term "disorder" is coined.

 

[holy_secret]

I've only been depressed due to extreme trauma, which haunts me every now and then.

I don't understand how people can be depressed just 'cause.
That doesn't mean it's wrong though. I just can't relate.

 

[Racecarlock]

At least depression is the most artistic of emotions, if the current "Arty game" market is anything to go by. I recommend buying a season pass or day pass to an amusement park of your choice and riding the day away. You'll feel like a million bucks.

I hate amusement parks, the rides just make me feel uncomfortable and sick. But I get what you're trying to say . Sadly it's not as easy as that, but that is a good temporary boost.

From my own experience with depression and anxiety, it's a self-reinforcing problem. It's not primarily a chemical illness (not like, say, schizophrenia), so medication alone won't help, or won't help much. It can make you feel a bit better, but it won't help turn around the decay of your life that led to and reinforced your depression in the first place. Therapy alone very well may not help, either, because you really truly are so freakin' stressed out that you cannot begin to address your problems without something that helps normalize your emotional response.

However, getting a good doctor/therapist who can help you get medication AND therapy AND support can be like trying to find a game that is cheap AND has good graphics AND awesome gameplay. And depressed people aren't exactly good at actively seeking out that perfect solution. Otherwise they wouldn't be depressed in the first place.

So getting out of the hole once you're in can be really, really tough.

Self-reinforcing is right. I get depressed because I am depressed. I cannot become un-depressed because I am depressed.

It's like I am poisoned, and the cure is on the other side of a room. I am getting worse all the time, and I cannot walk due to the poison's effects. If I do nothing, I die, but I can't get to the cure anyway. All I can really do is fight to stay alive and call for help.

I know, it's a terrible metaphor, but sometimes the aren't any words that mean what you want to say.

I wish it WAS that easy though. I don't even have depression and I still fell for you. Just try doing the thing you enjoy most, except if that happens to be cutting yourself or something, then don't do that, although I may just be getting that from goth stereotyping or something (ramble ramble lol). Anyways, also try you laugh you lose youtube videos and I guess whatever else you can think of excluding suicide (Whoopsy, another stereotype). Also, could you please help me with these stereotypes? I don't want to look like an ignorant asshole. Already looked enough like that with my recent PC fanboyism rant.

 

[Cain_Zeros]

I definitely accept it. I know people who suffer from it, and might myself (never been diagnosed, and I've managed to generally keep myself functional). I can understand specific claims being dismissed because of the people who claim to be depressed when they're just a little upset (and the fact that actual sufferers can be triggered by things that'd normally be considered "whiny moping" when someone's really upset about them doesn't help), but I don't understand how people can dismiss the existence of the various depressive disorders altogether, or seriously believe that it's something people can just "get over".

 

[Ashcrexl]

jesus christ, nearly everyone here is depressed! i don't think i suffer from proper depression, just a lame wannabe existential sort of depression, but i can totally understand the more acute type. good luck with that guys!