Yes, an actual professional. That people with depression already struggle to see, because they struggle to care about anything. Going on a message board and giving the vague advice of "things get better, just push forward" doesn't help those I'm referring to and sounds obnoxiously similar to the type of person who goes "just be happy instead!"
I understand your frustration. I don't think TC was trying to trivialize the whole process. I think him posting that he used to be in a darker place and now isn't, and providing this idea of positive reframing can come off as disingenuous if we run with the assumption that Point A to Point B took barely any time and that it's a failure on anyone else's part if they don't just "turn off that switch" from preventing you to helping yourself.
I don't think that's his point at all.
Depression necessarily prevents you from seeking the help needed. I akin it to wearing a 100-lbs vest all the time. You just can't will yourself to do things, let alone get out of bed. The prospect of making appointments with professionals, working hard to consciously shoot down negative thoughts, taking meds, etc, for weeks to months at a time before seeing any improvement is like climbing Mt. Everest.
But I don't think TC is meaning to trivialize the process. I just think that in the range of depression, people with milder cases can overcome it with "positive thinking" because it's just an informal way to go about cognitive behavioral therapy, which is the most evidence-based therapy modality for treating depression, next to drugs like SSRIs. They might not recognize it as a formal treatment, but some people just can carry that type of cognitive style and self reflection that it works for them.
I can agree with that. Just the OP came off as flippant and overall the attitude and knowledge from the general populace towards mental health, like depression, is disgusting. So yeah, I'm just pretty quick to respond in this manner for things similar in the OP.
WafflehouseJK posted...
Leanaunfurled posted...
Soviet_Poland posted...
Leanaunfurled posted...
How do you go to CE and be this unaware of depression as a mental illness?
Lol, you keep ragging him on that thought process, but his post is literally how a psychologist would treat you.
Yes, an actual professional. That people with depression already struggle to see, because they struggle to care about anything. Going on a message board and giving the vague advice of "things get better, just push forward" doesn't help those I'm referring to and sounds obnoxiously similar to the type of person who goes "just be happy instead!"
This wasn't even meant as an advice topic, it was more of a check in for those who used to be concerned about me and all the depression topics I used to make.
But as actual advice, it really is useful, and you're being way to quick to shut it down. Yeah, the advice "just be happy" is stupid, because it assumes that there's just a light switch you can flip that makes everything ok. What I'm talking about is slowly, over years, changing your mindset to look at things more positively. And it's fucking difficult and tedious and hurts like hell, but it helped me in the long run.
Apologies, then. And to respond in a proper manner to your OP, I'm glad you're doing better for yourself. I'm slowly in the process as well. ---
