Why is legitimate Existential Crisis confused with depression ?

[Mike]

Serious question - what made you happy throughout your life. List everything that comes to mind, both big and little, no matter how trivial it might sound.

Honestly? Having a significant other, a job I don't completely despise, and having friends. Nothing too special. The way I am, getting and maintaining all of that is damn near impossible.

 

[Guestx]

Dude I just don't dig the smugness I get in conversations like this. Depressed people aren't depressed because we want to be, or haven't considered the things you mentioned, or we're just weak. We're sick. Literally sick, there's a reason EVERYONE doesn't have clinical depression, it's the result of a dysfunctional brain.

I agree with most of what you have said in this thread but one thing I would argue with is that depression is always some byproduct of brain dysfunction. Of course sometimes it's EXACTLY that. But I think in some cases depression is simply the appropriate reaction to a world gone wrong.

 

[Harmonica]

What if the only answer is drugs. And lots of them.

Escapism is not happiness. It's a negation of suffering.

 

[Mike]

I agree with most of what you have said in this thread but one thing I would argue with is that depression is always some byproduct of brain dysfunction. Of course sometimes it's EXACTLY that. But I think in some cases depression is simply the appropriate reaction to a world gone wrong.

People are varied and complicated. There's usually more than one factor in how we become what we are. I find modern life and culture pretty unsatisfying, and I think that a lot of other people do and that can be enough to cause depression. A lot of the times it's a combination of genetics and environment. It's possible to have underlying biology that can lead to serious mental or physical issues, and just never encounter the environmental factors that set it off.

That's what a lot of the cutting edge research on epigenetics is about. What causes certain gene sequences to be activated in some people but not others etc.

 

[Flemmy Stardust]

Dude I just don't dig the smugness I get in conversations like this. Depressed people aren't depressed because we want to be, or haven't considered the things you mentioned, or we're just weak. We're sick. Literally sick, there's a reason EVERYONE doesn't have clinical depression, it's the result of a dysfunctional brain.

I was dragged into this conversation from one about the meaning of life. Don't give me this shit. I tried to be positive for the guy and even saying "don't let it get the best of you" was met with objection.

Let it get the best of you then.

 

[Mike]

Escapism is not happiness. It's a negation of suffering.

I spent a looong time lost on that path. If I stay high or drunk all the time I don't have to think. If I can't think, then no despair.

 

[Mike]

I was dragged into this conversation from one about the meaning of life. Don't give me this shit. I tried to be positive for the guy and even saying "don't let it get the best of you" was met with objection.

Let it get the best of you then.

The whole thread is about depression. Talking about why depression exists isn't really talking out of turn.

Also your advice amounted to just get over it. If you think anyone that's depressed hasn't heard that 1000 times you're mistaken. It's meaningless, we don't get to just decide to stop being sad and focus on the positive. Doesn't mean we just give up, but it isn't anywhere near that simple.

 

[BigInJapan]

On the real though I think drugs could be potentially problem solving to depressed people. Not abusing but like tripping with the intention of confronting yourself.

 

[Harmonica]

Honestly? Having a significant other, a job I don't completely despise, and having friends. Nothing too special. The way I am, getting and maintaining all of that is damn near impossible.

You may have heard this already but change starts with yourself. It is only after you change yourself that the world around you will begin to change as well. People often like to believe that some external force will set internal things straight but it's actually the other way around.

For example - "Everything will be right when the right girl comes into my life". It's actually "The right girl will come into my life when everything is right with me."

 

[ocean size]

Because everyone thinks their depression is deep and due to a special insight into the void. GTFO of here Holden Caufield. If your brain chemistry was different that same outlook of pointless existential nihilism would be liberating.

 

[BigInJapan]

Because everyone thinks their depression is deep and due to a special insight into the void. GTFO of here Holden Caufield. If your brain chemistry was different that same outlook of pointless existential nihilism would be liberating.

ah how depressing this thought is!

 

[Mike]

You may have heard this already but change starts with yourself. It is only after you change yourself that the world around you will begin to change as well. People often like to believe that some external force will set internal things straight but it's actually the other way around.

For example - "Everything will be right when the right girl comes into my life". It's actually "The right girl will come into my life when everything is right with me."

Yeah I sort of already reached that conclusion as well. I'm working on getting an education and trying to improve my life. Maybe some day I'll put it all together and feel better. We'll see.

 

[Mike]

Because everyone thinks their depression is deep and due to a special insight into the void. GTFO of here Holden Caufield. If your brain chemistry was different that same outlook of pointless existential nihilism would be liberating.

"Everyone" certainly doesn't think that. Maybe when you're 17. Most depressed people I've ever known grasp it's an issue with their outlook and the way they think. It just isn't easy to fix any of that. Many people die trying.

 

[Guestx]

Because everyone thinks their depression is deep and due to a special insight into the void. GTFO of here Holden Caufield. If your brain chemistry was different that same outlook of pointless existential nihilism would be liberating.

. . . I enjoyed that book a lot.

 

[lsa]

Seriously guys..
You need to open up your heart and accept kitty into it.

Because you know god speaks through cats

Come! See the light and let kitty take care of you.
And Yes God do speak through me.

 

[Guestx]

I'd just like to leave this discussion for the evening with a quote that used to be in my sig but apparently fell victim to the forum change-over. . .

"I must find a truth which is true for me. A truth for which I can live and die."

-- Soren Kierkegaard

 

[Flemmy Stardust]

The whole thread is about depression. Talking about why depression exists isn't really talking out of turn.

No, we were talking specifically about how the meaninglessness of life causes depression, and now I'm being called smug for explaining how i deal with life not having purpose. But it's not that anymore. Now it's no matter what, you're going to be depressed because you have to be depressed.

Fine. Just don't drag me into a conversation where you're forcing me to be and then blaming me for being "smug".

 

[Mike]

I love cats. So adorable. I miss my old cat he was the best eva.

 

[lsa]

I love cats. So adorable. I miss my old cat he was the best eva.

Then join the CATholic church.
Will you accept kitty into your life?

(no charge.. for the first month)

 

[Guestx]

Then join the CATholic church.
Will you accept kitty into your life?

(no charge.. for the first month)

Man, would you shut the fuck up?