Tag: depression

  • Question – Repeat after me:

    purplechansey:

    cynicallyjaded:

    dionthesocialist:

    • Mental disorders are medical conditions.
    • Mental disorders are not personality quirks.

    Repeat after me…

    • Labels will give you mental disorders
    • Labels will reinforce your submission to a condition 
    • Labels will destroy you
    • Labels will imprison you
    • Labels are just that…labels

    Now, let’s try again…

    • Stop labelling your state of mind, it’s the same as stereotyping someone and expecting them to act differently
    • The more we ‘recognise’ so-called mental disorders as valid medical conditions, the weaker society becomes in dealing holistically with social ills because every bad experience can suddenly be ‘fixed’ with a pill
    • Neuroplasticity is proof that mental ‘disorders’ are merely a state of mind that can be altered based on experience and introspection
    • Experience has confirmed that insecurity and fears of insignificance are the most common underlying causes of symptoms of a troubled mind (a.k.a. mental disorders) and not some chemical imbalance
    • Chemical reactions are triggered by thoughts and stimuli, not the other way around. Simple proof of this is a smile. It’s confirmed to release feel-good hormones regardless of your ‘mental disorder’

    Separate the symptoms from the root cause and never confuse the two. Far too often, especially in western medicine, symptoms are almost always the focus of treatment with a holistic view shunned as being a quack’s approach to good health. The mind and body work in tandem, and not independently. Abuse one, and you’ll automatically abuse the other. Treating a physical ailment without considering the psychological or emotional triggers that caused one to be predisposed to the ailment is like taking energy drinks when you know you’re not getting enough sleep. It really is that simple.

    Give yourself a chance. You deserve to believe in yourself, because people are strange like that. They rarely believe in you unless you believe in yourself first. Think about it, and give yourself a break.

    I definitely understand where you’re coming from, but there are a couple of points in which I take issue with.

    “Neuroplasticity is proof that mental ‘disorders’ are merely a state of mind that can be altered based on experience and introspection.”

    Not necessarily. Yes, neuroplasticity has shown that the brain changes through various stages of life (and through various personal experiences), but that does not necessarily imply that mental disorders are all of a sudden reduced to nothing but “bad thoughts that can altered.” There is no denying that some mental disorders (I will get to why I italicized mental disorders and some in a bit) are indeed a chemical imbalance in the brain. Hence, why some truly need medication, and why it works for them. Where I do agree with you (or at least agree with what I suppose you’re getting at) is that medications are far overused, over-perscribed, and that a lot of what we have going on as “mental disorders” aren’t really mental disorders.

    Yes, many of them should be treated by psychotherapy instead of just popping a pill. Unfortunately, that takes much longer in the doctor’s office, so they just write them off a prescription (or four) and call it a day. Also, I agree with what you have to say when it comes to labels. Some of what is labeled under mental disorders by the DSM IV I wouldn’t necessarily want to call a mental disorder. Labels do suck, and indeed, they hold you back. Thing is, chemical imbalances do exist. They are very much a possible cause in the cases of some mental disorders. Schizophrenia being a fine example of that. And while yes, some chemical reactions are triggered by certain thoughts, experiences, and stimuli, do not forget the many that are genetically predisposed or more prone to developing such disorders. 

    Thanks for sharing those views. I agree with you on most of what you say with just one qualifier. I mentioned in previous posts, under the link that I included previously, that medication is definitely warranted as an intervention strategy. I just get really concerned when I hear people saying that they’re predisposed to depression and have been told that they will have to take anti-depressants for the rest of their lives. 

    That’s the level of abuse that we’ve come to because of the labelling of life’s struggles by suggesting that they’re in fact illnesses. They’re not. Like everything in life, there are exceptions, but the current trend is that anything that goes against the utopian ideal of a balanced life is somehow not the individual’s faults because they probably have a chemical imbalance causing them to behave irrationally, aggressively, or otherwise. 

  • Question – Repeat after me:

    storyseldomtold replied to your post: Do you have a medical background or scientific references to prove that mental illnesses are just “a state of mind” with no effects in the brain?

    The biggest issue in your methodology of deriving conclusions is the use of first-hand experiences, which is by definition, subjective and biased. Alaos, babies and infants do have depression and deficits, in case you wanted to research that.

    I think you’re being selective in what you read in my response. I said that my views are based on multiple things, including extensive research, views held by holistic healing alternatives, as well as personal experience. You can read more about my views and experiences on this subject by clicking here.

    The argument about whether or not a baby has depression is as flawed as the approach to looking at the chemical make up to determine the state of mind of an adult or teenager. The problem with that approach is that it assumes that the premise that chemicals influence moods and not the other way around is in fact accurate. That is where I disagree with the approach to mental health according to modern interpretations of the supposed cause and effect.

    The fact that I can actively influence my physical state proves that my thought patterns and resolve to act are primarily responsible for my physical condition. Ask a suicidal person why they’re suicidal (suicide relating to cultural practices excluded) and chances are you’ll find that they refuse to hope for something positive due to a massive disappointment or betrayal in their past. Our destructive behavioural patterns are almost always rooted in wanting to protect ourselves from a situation that gave rise to pain previously. However, we’re prone, as proven by this discussion, to focus on the symptoms, that’s why we tend to forget why we set down that path of self destruction to begin with. 

    What makes it all seem more confusing is the fact that such negative pre-emptive action on our part is usually seen as inherently destructive rather than being seen as a means to prevent something from occurring. That ‘something’ is usually a situation that will bring us happiness or joy, and the reason we prevent ourselves from achieving such a state is because of the risk of betrayal or disappointment that could potentially result from such a situation based on past experiences. So instead of learning how to deal with the betrayal or abandonment more effectively, which usually requires a healthy self esteem, we focus on controlling what we can control, which is our ability to sabotage such situations so that the position of joy and happiness is never achieved. 

    Only once we overcome the deep seated doubts relating to a poor self esteem are we able to see positivity where a negative outcome is always a possibility. Hence my view that the greatest gift any parent can give to their child is that of a healthy self esteem before anything else. Ever see someone with a healthy self esteem turn to drugs, or violence, or worse? Neither have I. 

  • Depression is a Symptom, Not A Root Cause

    imaan-daar:

    cynicallyjaded replied to your post: I have come to notice that depression remains…

    I disagree that it is an illness, but I agree that it is a very real mental state. The difference is huge, and the path towards healing is vastly different between the two perspectives. Therapy is only ever an intervention strategy, not a cure.

    I would beg to differ, I’m sorry. Depression is most definitely an illness of the mind. Certain events in life can impact a person in such a way that added stress eventually triggers a dysfunctional imbalance on the serotonin neurotransmitter that is used to promote positivity. Once serotonin levels decrease drastically, it is difficult for the brain to function well emotionally. This is thus called an illness because it then becomes something that cannot be controlled without means of medication or therapy.

    No, there is no definite cure for depression as it varies person to person and most will experience relapses regardless; however, it is confirmed that a combination of prescribed drugs and behavioral therapy can help ease the victim’s mind into a positive state of tranquility.

    Thank you for taking the time to respond. Unfortunately one of your followers made an incorrect assumption about the basis for my views, so in response, all I can say is that assuming that the symptom is in fact the root cause is what is truly blind about the approach to depression. Here’s a link to some previous posts where I shared my views on the subject, and I’d really appreciate your views on those posts as well.

    To avoid labouring the point, depression is a state of mind that is nurtured to the point of it becoming toxic. The chemical balances in our brains are influenced by our thought patterns and sometimes from the foods we eat, but not the other way around. Depression, at best, is a social illness but definitely not a physical one. I’ve shared my views in detail in the posts referred to above, so I won’t go into too much detail again in here.

    Two important points worth noting again. Firstly, neuroplasticity. Secondly, I speak from experience and not conjecture. I can absolutely guarantee you that anyone that is depressed experienced an intense betrayal at some point before the depression set in, often more than once. Depression always has a severe underlying influence of insecurity. Like I said in one of my posts before, show me a depressed baby and I’ll reconsider my views.

    When we invest our trust in those that do not wish to bear such a burden, we set ourselves up for betrayal. Once the betrayal occurs, and we continue to wish for that person to see us as significant and worthy of affection in the way in which we want it to be without those feelings being reciprocated, we slip into a depressive state because we start questioning our self-worth rather than questioning the merits of the one from whom we so desperately seek affirmation. I’m not making light of the condition in any way at all. But if we believe that it is an illness and not a damaged state of mind, we automatically become victims to the mentality rather than masters of our own thoughts.

  • Question: Depression

    cynicallyjade:

    thefemaleedward:

    People who think depression is a choice, take a second to think. How would it feel to wake up and not having the emotional strength to face people? To think that time is just passing by with no real reason? To feel so alone even when you are sitting…

    Unfortunately you’ve missed the entire point of my post. Having been ‘diagnosed’ with depression before, I’m hardly what you could label as someone that is insensitive to people that are depressed. If I said that depression is all in your mind and that you’re simply missing the point of life, then by all means accuse me of insensitivity. But if you read carefully, you’ll note that I challenge the common perspective on what depression is rather than dismissing the fact that it exists. So to reiterate my point, depression is a symptom and not an illness. The root cause of depression lies in our choices based on our expectations of others and life in general. Change your choices and your expectations and the symptom of depression will dissipate without any direct effort required. Trying to deal with depression is like asking an exhausted person not to feel tired. That’s simply ridiculous. Instead, you would ask them to exercise more, eat healthier and most obviously get more rest. Exhaustion would therefore be the symptoms of poor lifestyle choices, wouldn’t it?

    White teethed teens: cynicallyjade: thefemaleedward: People who think depression is a…

  • I understand your viewpoint more clearly now, thanks to your detailed explanation. Thank you for being calm about the matter. I do agree with a lot of what you had said, and that yes smiling can make a difference in I would assume less serious cases. I would never condone the abuse of any medication with other illicit drugs or alcohol as well, but I do wonder what you would think about somebody taking medication because of a genetic illness? I myself do not wish to rely on medicine all my life.

    Sorry that it’s taken me so long to respond to this. Genetic illnesses (specifically within the context of mental states) is a complex one. I’ve been thinking of the best way to present my views on this so that it makes sense, but I’m not quite getting there, so here goes nothing. 🙂

    I believe that we have hereditary traits that we’re born with. Some are physically manifested whilst others are more subtle and only become fully evident later in life. From personal experiences, environment doesn’t always influence these, so I’m inclined to believe that it is in fact passed down through genes and not just something adopted because of being exposed to the ways of the adults that conceived us. In this context, my point about environment is relevant where the child is not necessarily raised in the same home by its biological parents, but still grows up to exhibit some common traits with its biological parents despite never having spent time with them.

    However, I believe that all things being equal, we all progress to a point in our lives where we are able to make conscious decisions about whether or not we choose to maintain or nurture specific habits and traits that we have. Those who succumb to their state usually never even attempt to break bad habits that may have been inherited because they are so accepting of it. If this works for them, then so be it. But it doesn’t necessarily prove that we’re unable to change the cycle that our genetics may have started.

    I’m obviously a big believer in the power of thought, but not in the corny cliched way that most like to generalise about everything being mind over matter. But more substantially in that through a concerted effort, we are able to resist bad habits to the point where it becomes second nature for us not to have those habits at all. The same, I believe, is true about mental states.

    If we inherit a genetic make-up that comprises a chemical imbalance (within the context of mental illnesses), and we are raised in an environment provided and maintained by the very same adults that we inherited it from, we would be in a perfect situation to ensure the preservation of such a mental state because it’s in fact a vicious cycle. What I mean is, given my assertion that our thoughts and emotions define our physical state, then by the same logic, the chemical make-up that the adults spawn that is passed on to the unborn child is actually a result of the circumstances that the adults were in. When the child is born, it is raised in the very same environment that gave rise to the state of the adults’ mind-set and therefore nurtures the very same traits in the child.

    Given that most of our behaviours are learned through observation rather than instruction, the impact of this learning process is easily under estimated. But to me, the saving grace for the child is when they reach an age of being self-aware, and they develop the faculties to observe, question and act independently, they become capable of choosing to change the pattern, or to nurture it. It is when this important decision is made at every point of pain or struggle that these changes are triggered within us. When we’re successful at breaking that cycle through conscious effort, our deeply ingrained defence mechanisms as well as memories of our previous state and what helped us to cope with stress can cause us to relapse. But it’s important to remember that such relapses are most probably from habit rather than an independently formed chemical imbalance.

    This post is getting too long and probably tedious, so I’ll leave it at that. I’m not even sure if I managed to convey my thoughts in a lucid manner. Happy to hear alternate views or comments on this. So long as it’s presented rationally and not scornfully.

  • I am curious to know if you understand the importance of medicinal compliance with a mental disorder? I mean, your previous post would make sense if you were against pills and chemical changing drugs prescribed to those who have imbalances but otherwise, I find it's very insensitive.

    I not only understand it, but I’ve lived it as well. I have been on anti-depressants before, I’ve flirted with suicide recklessly, and I’ve been exposed to the harsh realities of living with an extremely traumatised woman that was diagnosed with almost every mental disorder I’ve heard of. So this is not a subject I take lightly or treat flippantly.

    But I disagree that medication should be used as anything more than an intervention strategy, and I fully believe that understanding the life experiences that gave rise to the anxiety or traumatised state must be unraveled in order to reverse the psychological damage that was caused by it. If left unresolved, these same experiences will continue to spiral out of control with the focus always being on the symptoms due to being distracted from the root cause. 

    This may seem like an over simplification of this serious and sensitive issue, but it’s not intended that way at all. I’ve had significant life experiences, and witnessed many others, that support my views about the chemical imbalances being a symptom of the emotional state, and not the emotional state being a symptom of the chemical imbalances. 

    Smiling is a simple act that is proven to release hormones that make us happy. If the current mainstream approach to mental health is to be believed, then it would imply that (for example) someone who does not have any level of those happy hormones in their body would be physically unable to smile. This is absurd.

    I have personally experienced, and observed in others, that such troubled mental states are always present in individuals that have a history of either being betrayed, ill treated, bullied, molested, abused, or subjected to other unspeakable traumas earlier in life. In some cases, it’s a matter of someone growing up in a sheltered environment and are therefore unable to cope with the harsh realities of life and failure when faced with these in the absence of the support structures and comfort zones that they’ve grown accustomed to.

    The mainstream approach to dealing with the emotional turmoil that results from these when they manifest themselves in our teenage or adult phases of our lives is to teach the patient (i.e. victim) coping mechanisms to deal with the current state, assisted with medication, thereby negating any need for the individual to understand, unravel and resolve the underlying life experience/s that gave rise to the demons in the first place. 

    To answer your question more directly, having been on anti-depressants, I can assure you that I do not condone the reckless use/abuse of such medication, and that the compliance regimen must be maintained fully without ever attempting to suddenly disrupt the intake of such medication because of the disastrous effects that that has, which is why weaning oneself off the medication when needed is of critical importance. 

    But this also means that those that knowingly take drugs and alcohol and other intoxicants to be blatantly but consciously reckless are simply seeking attention because it wins them the sympathy and affection they crave because the reality of dealing with the thoughts that they actively suppress is far too daunting. In choosing to deal with our demons, we sometimes consciously, and other times sub-consciously know that it implies that we are opening ourselves up for the potential of being exposed to such betrayal or hurt again. This, I believe, is the biggest driver behind people ‘needing’ the medication to justify their mental state, rather than facing their fears and dealing with the heartlessness of others. 

  • I pray that I live to see the day when psychiatrists will be out of business, and psychologists will realise that their accumulated knowledge was intended to result in a greater contribution than just “How does that make you feel?”

  • the train stopped on the way home today

    howfreeitis:

    The train has suddenly stopped. Stopped in its tracks on the way home. I sit calmly amidst the tense frenzied air. I am always the peace in the middle of others’ chaos. I press my face against the cold glass, breath of fury condensing on the windowpane. Quiet fury. Euphoric fury. Wild contemplation. What if the train falls off its rails and I slowly watch as the ground reaches closer to the train window and I see as the cement road reaches out and shatters the glass and throws a fist into my nose so that the bones in my face break and the glass punctures my eyes out and my body crushes into a bloody mess in between the train and the road? I smile. I would fall out through this machine vessel, a bluejay soaring through the blue sky, and fall asleep as I touch the ground. Oh, pure emancipation. Sanguine liberation. Bloody fucking freedom. Bloody. Fucking. The fucking from behind as the train thrusts into death. And at the height of its fall, at the climax of its fall, at the highest note of the fat opera singer’s verse, I would reach orgasm. And that would truly be the purest end of all.

    The fact that I can relate so clearly to this thought pattern is scary…