2034: The Great Depression

[Eric M]

People literally proved your theory by mostly answering no they don't even want to be saved from their depression. I so agree that a certain controlling part of them feels comfortable being depressed because it gives them their justification for hiding from the world. I know certain people's brain chemistry just leads them to be that way. But I'd suspect at least half of yesterdays poll doesn't really have a chemical imbalance it's more a case of the blues. I don't want to sound dismissive of a real thing. But I think comparing it to cancer and diabetes, like some did on the show, is a silly comparison since not every one who is sad actually has clinical depression.

[lizzy1e]

Still on an iPhone 3GS here... it was given to me as a gift 4 years ago and I can't afford a new one so that sucker better last. I treat it like a baby bird. The battery life sucks, but I've heard some new iPhone users say they get a similar amount of hours so I guess the battery life just sucks in general.

I also have bouts of depression when anything threatens my comfort at home or I get into an argument.... stupid little things that can send all common sense out the window and leave me a ball of misery. I usually keep very busy with all sorts of tasks, art projects and hobbies, but when one of these dark moods hits, I won't have the energy or motivation to do a single thing. Hate it. I guess you need the low-lows for the high-highs.

[robotparker]

This is probably going to make a lot of people angry, but I can't help but look at people who claim to have depression with a little bit of incredulity. We all have people in our life that love to self-diagnose themselves with mental illness (I like it when my living space is tidy = OMG, I'M SO OCD) and I think no actual disorder is more self-diagnosed than depression. It's one thing to say you are depressed, but saying you have depression is an entirely new ball game. Is it a coincidence that the vast majority of people I've known who've claimed that they have depression also happened to lack adult social and decision making skills?

To be clear, I'm not calling all depressed people phonies. I have known people who took the time to get diagnosed and treated by a specialist but they're never the ones shouting their malady from the roof tops. Moreover, saying you're afflicted with something when you're really not harms the "real" sufferers that are taking the time to get help. It also creates a bunch of robotparkers in the world that might make real sufferers hesitant to speak out.

And now for a mental illness related anecdote!

Shortly after I graduated from high school, I was told by a college psychology professor that, "If you were my patient, I would diagnose you with Asperger's Syndrome." That was all my awkward virgin (literally) ears needed to hear. It was great to know that there was in fact a name for the shit I was allegedly going through, and to know that I wasn't alone in my struggle, but it also became a crutch as everything I did from that point on was colored by the filter of Asperger's Syndrome. Listen to episode 670 - The Helpies for more info. Shortly after I sought KATG's advice, I made a mental decision not to have Asperger's anymore. I literally told myself that I didn't have it, and my behavior changed almost right away. I started recognizing when I was slipping back into my old ways and made a conscious decision not to do it. Eventually, all the strategies and coping mechanisms I had devised for myself became second nature, and if you were to ask me today if I had Asperger's Syndrome, I would say: "shit no, dawg."

I'm not saying that all mental illness can be cured with a little proactive thinking, but I am saying that it doesn't have to be a prison. Take the pills, read the book, get fixed! And if you're a faker, get fucked!

[astrokahn]

This blog post is a fun animated description of depression 101. It opened my eyes a little about depression.

[astrokahn]

And here is part 2, explaining what its like for depressed people to try and get help from not depressed people.

[Dean from Australia]

Those blog posts are gold.

After Keith's suggestion on the show the other day, I've started this thread over in Talk Shite:

http://www.keithandthegirl.com/forum...-myself-18767/

Consider it your safe place. Come over and unload.