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Depression cured

PaoloGotti

Hi folks

Just like to see if I am unique or are there similar experiences, and slightly hopeful my story may help others. Also conscious that my idea may be considered insensitive and esoteric but I think it is worth that risk.

For most all of my adult life I suffered from what was diagnosed as depression and anxiety. Constant suicide ideation but never pulled the trigger.

I was referred to talk therapists but wouldn’t go out of shame. Instead I self medicated and became an alcoholic.

One night in bed, recently, I recalled how I used to be into UFOs / abductions as a teenager. But following a scientific education and healthy scepticism for ideas lacking evidence, a switch flicked and I now laugh at my former obsession and lack of critical thinking.

Well the same idea entered my mind regarding my depression. What if it wasn’t real? It does, after all, only exist in my mind and not in the real world. What is the proof of depression? Because people experience it in their mind? Isn’t that as strong as the proof of alien abductions?! What if what we call depression is simply an evolutionary mechanism for us to not be complacent when life is unpredictable and dangerous.

….All of a sudden…overnight, my depression is cured. Gone. Disappeared. I now feel bored instead of depressed, and just do something remotely interesting with my time. I am drinking a fraction of what I used to, couple of pints instead of spirits. I don’t want to be drunk anymore. Now I smile at my former pain and anguish.

My message may help: stop believing in depression. Stop listening to the constant talk of mental health in the media. Stop believing in UFOs. They are probably not real and not worth worrying about.

If you choose to rubbish me and claim depression is real, then best of luck to you. Wish you well. But you could be wrong and better off becoming a non-believer like me.

Cheers

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Ten of Swords

Mod - I don't doubt your sincerity op but this thread is not appropriate.

Firstly it's definitely not for this forum and is clearly causing upset to some posters, and secondly the direction it's taking is crossing into medical advice territory which is against site rules

I'm closing it down. Thank you

Buster197456

Depression needs its own space as it has. Its not here. And thats from someone who was going to kill himself nine weeks ago. STOP

Buster197456

close this thread

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922835#Comment_119922835

I agree 100%.

I can only really speak to my personal experience, and posted to help others that could relate.

It may be obvious; but I fall guilty of maintaining my new “belief” structure by challenging the alternative belief that depression is real. At the same time, I also feel that I have scrutinised my theory sufficiently that it is not weak in its foundation or rationale.

[Deleted User]

I think it's brilliant that a sudden change in your thinking made you feel so much better, but you're just one person. An individual experience isn't sufficient to write off the validity of depression.

However, I do agree that changing negative thinking patterns and taking responsibility for our own behaviours and thought processes, is important in helping tackle depression. And just feeling down/being unhappy with life is not depression - we're not supposed to be happy all the time. Toxic positivity is very much in vogue at the moment, and that does not help.

But there are, and always have been (before mental health became destigmatised) people who are physically crippled by depression and need medication to function.

Perhaps there are people being wrongly diagnosed with depression, but that doesn't mean it isn't real.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922716#Comment_119922716

Thanks, would be interested in these studies if you can provide.

Some thoughts:

Would these be cases of mental illness eg bipolar, schizophrenia etc.

Chicken or egg? If they MRI’d me at my lowest of the low would my brain show up irregularities?

Another thought: why would such a trait be selected as advantageous? At least my theory of depression views it as a “get up and do something” nudge to utility.

[Deleted User]

Studies would suggest your theory that depression is all in the mind may be invalidated. There has been research that indicates, at least in major depressive cases, that brain abnormalities can be detected with MRI.

This would indicate that depression can be caused by physical brain wiring or something rather than being a thought process one which can be willed away by a change of attitude or thinking.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922563#Comment_119922563

I can’t prove a non-existence, proof of existence is your burden.

Thanks for the attempt though. Hope I answered all your arguments coherently.

Edit: re: conspiracy nonsense; maybe I haven’t been clear but just to clarify: I don’t necessarily have to be right. My ‘conspiracy’ can remain unproven and still be useful. Exactly like the religious analogy; praying brings many a comfort. I contend that a disbelief in depression can bring one a comfort. Just try it would be my challenge.

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922499#Comment_119922499

“It is real” is not an argument.

It's more of an argument than saying 'It isn't real'.

I'm out. I lost all tolerance for conspiracy nonsense with respect to medical matters over the last couple of years.

rustynutz

The OP is on to something and does have a point, depression that is bought on by a cycle of negative thought and critical self talk can actually be helped by a change of mindset, just like what the OP has done, basically tricking your mind into a new reality, that's how the likes of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) works, albeit it usually takes a lot longer that overnight.

And as the OP has already said, this is not the case for bipolar or depression bought on by chemical imbalance etc.

Well done for finding a way out and I wish you luck for the future

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922446#Comment_119922446

Thanks for your technical argument. I welcome it.

“It is real” is not an argument.

Millions of people could be wrong, similar to religious beliefs. The thousands of medical diagnoses is for depressive thoughts/mood/feelings. I had those. They can be explained as evolutionary mechanisms for “keeping us on our toes”. After all, every trait exists for a replicative reason (selfish gene theory).

A phobia is explainable as a mutation that is often useless. They are definitely accepted as irrational by definition, unlike depression for some reason.

It is as debilitating as a belief in ghosts in a haunted house. Does that make ghosts real?!

Tell me how

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058273386/depression-cured

What if it wasn’t real? It does, after all, only exist in my mind and not in the real world. What is the proof of depression? Because people experience it in their mind? Isn’t that as strong as the proof of alien abductions?! What if what we call depression is simply an evolutionary mechanism for us to not be complacent when life is unpredictable and dangerous.

It is real.
Proof is millions of people experiencing consistent, diagnosable symptoms, across several decades. Thousands of medical professionals carrying out tests which shows consistent measurables across unconnected people.
You could use the same rational to discount all phobias. You could also discount memory and say it is just imagination.
Then it wouldn't be so debilitating.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922372#Comment_119922372

I thought it was obvious that I was intending to give a metaphorical slap in the face.

Sigyn

I am out, anyone who thinks this is real needs to see a shrink - pun intended.

What a slap in the face for those who suffer from depression.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922325#Comment_119922325

Ok. Point taken. I welcome your disagreement. Let’s discuss in more detail if you have a counter argument.

[Deleted User]

I'm not "rubbishing" you by saying depression is real, I'm just disagreeing with you.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922268#Comment_119922268

Thank you.

I am not surprised by some negative reactions and actually welcome them so I can attempt to justify my idea. Like I said in the OP: I know my post could come across as insensitive.

That is because I am challenging one’s core belief structure and how it defines them. Like telling a religious person there is no such thing as God. It is of course offensive, mostly because they know it could be true!

Cienciano

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119921919#Comment_119921919

OP is not a clown. They got over a mental problem themselves. Well done to them. OP did not claim all your friend had to do was to not believe it was real. They're just sharing what worked for them in the hope it may get some people thinking and maybe work for them too. Calling people names because they found a way to help themselves out of a bad mental state is not the way to go about things. In fairness, you might just have misinterpreted the post because I doubt anyone would do that.

Anyway, fair play to you OP, glad you got out of it and are feeling better mentally.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922179#Comment_119922179

Thanks for your information.

Honestly, I can’t think of any remotely traumatic experiences in my life. Amazing parents and upbringing. Still very close to them. All the money I could wish for. Wonderful wife who is my soul mate if such a thing exists!

Im just your regular bloke. But one that has fallen for the romantic idea that depression is normal and to accept I am depressed. That I should talk about my mental health and think it is ok.

It’s not ok, for me. It is a ridiculous, useless idea. I don’t need it. It doesn’t help me. I’m better off without it.

walterking

Op, my guess is that your issue may stemmed from a particular incident and once you could work that out, the recovery was easy.

Like the person who gets depressed after losing a partner or a child. That's relatively easy for professionals to manage.

Unfortunately it is extremely difficult to diagnose the cause of depression or even the "type" of depression.

For many it may have been a childhood trauma and only comes to the fore decades later, for others it's their body not creating enough of a particular chemical.

And as the medics are depending on the sufferer to provide information, it can take 2 or more years for a correct diagnosis.

But the acknowledgment that there is an issue is when you start fighting back.

Remember, there may be something wrong with you, but it's not your fault.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922073#Comment_119922073

Point taken. It ‘feels’ anecdotally that it is a contagious disease. I have been shocked by a number of suicides in my social circle recently. “Never saw it coming” type.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119922025#Comment_119922025

Absolutely.

Of course I am not doubting there is bi polar, Schizophrenia etc.

I am sharing my experience so others that are not severely mentally ill that are instead in a similar situation and may find a way out like I did, quite simply by altering their belief structure.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119921983#Comment_119921983

Find another word to describe it. Epidemic makes no sense. And look up the numbers, they are a tiny percentage of all deaths.

amdublin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119921919#Comment_119921919

Am genuinely sorry for your loss. However, I really, really think you are misinterpreting the intention of the op's post.

Mrs OBumble

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119921919#Comment_119921919

The OP us an example of what happen when Everyone has Mental Health Issues thinking dominates.

People get overdiagnosed.

And those who are genuinely mentally ill get trivialised.

OP I'm sorry, buy you were wrongly diagnosed in the first place. Glad you've now found a better way to handle the issue you do have.

StevenToast

UFOs are real.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119921977#Comment_119921977

Many thanks, your first line resonates well with me. I stopped listening / believing as I put it.

PaoloGotti

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119921919#Comment_119921919

Hi,

Sorry for your loss. I lost two friends to suicide also. It’s an epidemic in society. I was close to it many a time, very difficult moments in my life.

My idea obviously won’t help your friend now.

Write what you really think. That is all I am doing.

Cheers

Thelonious Monk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058273386/depression-cured

well it sounds like you stopped listening to the chattering in your skull which all of us have to some extent. This is the concept of meditation and mindfulness, beneath all your crazy thoughts there's inner peace and calm. You can practice distancing yourself from your thoughts and focusing on your breath and over time you'll become less attached to them and can just observe them.

Sigyn

I would laugh at this if it weren't for the fact that I lost my closest friend to depression. She killed herself.

Tell me again how she should have just stopped believing in the crippling condition she had since childhood. You are a clown and that's putting it mildly because I can't write here what I REALLY think.