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[Idiom]

That's like trying to make yourself warm while soaking wet in snow by the sheer power of will.

You know that actually works, right?

I was talking about behavioral sort of things. I was saying that you can't JUST tell yourself "I'm happy" when you aren't. This is lying to yourself. Provided you are a healthy individual, and you are depressed, there is a REASON you are depressed. If it is not environmental stress factors, then it is something you are doing YOURSELF such as it mainly was in my case. If you do not address that, and simply tell yourself "I'm going to be happy" when you aren't and then continue the bad habits, then how is anyone supposed to manage that because this looks like it really hurts:


Though I apologize for the bad example that was an external factor. I was talking about behavioral correction.

Better example:
That's like trying to make yourself thin by sheer force of will, telling yourself you are not fat. And then continuing to have a slice of pie every day and not exercise. If there's no external factors, then it is something YOU are doing wrong to make you unhappy (or fat in this case), and telling yourself there is no problem (that you're happy.... or not fat) is NOT a solution.

[zchris13]

No, the force of will part comes in when you make YOURSELF stop eating the pie.

[Nadaka]

That is exactly what I am talking about. Its not just deciding to not be depressed. Its about making making the concious decision to make your life better instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you, and then doing it. On some level, just asking for help is a step in that direction.

[Idiom]

Its not just deciding to not be depressed. Its about making making the conscious decision to make your life better instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you, and then doing it.

That's not what I'm talking about though. Making your life better in the manner you keep describing is addressing external factors.

No, the force of will part comes in when you make YOURSELF stop eating the pie.

OK, now my examples aren't working with me again. Yes, that is when 'sheer force of will comes in'. No, that was not Nadaka's original bit that I disagree with. As Nadaka's point I disagree with was summed up :"Fake it till you make it really work." Nadaka was saying to change your life in the manner of surrounding yourself with and do happy things. In the fat example specifically, this is putting yourself into a "fit" environment and expecting to get fit when your behavior still leads you to be unfit. "Eating pie" is the "habit" which leads you to be "fat". Not eating the pie is self-behavioral modification, which is what I'm talking about.

Granted, I am talking about my specific case. So let me clarify what I was originally talking about since it spun off into a tangent:
In the event that external factors-

"Get out and do stuff, change your scenery. Eat real food, not sugar and snacks but meat, vegetables and complex carbs. Exercise, feel real pain, gain real strength, it will help put your feelings in perspective. Talk to people, make some friends. Teach yourself something new." Addresses external factor sources of depression. Environment. Granted, these can make you feel happy, they do not always address the source of unhappiness.

-are NOT the root of the problem, and it is your habits and behavior, then addressing external factors to make yourself happy is just hanging a painting over a hole in a wall. You can not simply "Decide to not be depressed" in that case. Self-behavioral modification is required, which is the equivalent of kicking a drug addiction. IE the specific case I mentioned earlier, with an OCD-like impulse to overly criticize one's-self. Doesn't matter how happy of a happy place or happy things the person is in or does, or how much they change their lives in any way, as long as they have that habit, they will be unhappy. Another example would be someone who still won't let something tragic go, well after any other normal person would.

The finite details of what I'm trying to differentiate here are pretty much moot with how many times I've tried to lay it out. I'm bored of this now. Basically though, what you said doesn't always work.

[Helmaroc]

We are a rather depressed group, aren't we?

[Azkanan]

We are a rather depressed group, aren't we?

Only on Mondays. We drink tea and giggle at the poor on Fridays.

[Siquo]

We are a rather depressed group, aren't we?

"Ignorance is bliss" works the other way as well...

[Neonivek]

Naw I am actually quite happy right now at the moment. Quite Estatic!

[Siquo]

Back when my depression turned into a once-in-a-while thing (it's kinda gone now), I used to embrace it. Because after my week or so of sombre meditation, there would be ecstacy for a few days... Pure happiness and joy. I kinda miss my depressions for the "hangover" that I got afterwards. 

[Tradanbattlan]

Well, I have worked with someone on Monday. They asked me a bunch of questions, then said they're gonna schedule a day with the Therapist.

[Neonivek]

This whole section, speaking of life advice, is starting to seem more and more depressed everyday.

What do we have? 3 depression topics now? Maybe 4 if we count insomnia

[de5me7]

i have bouts of mild depression sparodically

i find there are two things that help break it

good friends and a target on the horizon

i get depressed when im either lonely or when i feel i dont have anything to look forward too.

Unfortuantly expanding your social life or creating future plans to get excited about isnt always easy. Currently im working loads in a new city so i dont know that many people and dont have time to go out and do stuff. Im going to try and get out more this year, and plan somehting interesting for the summer.

when i was younger i considered self harm but decided against it, in my case i think it was probably a help call. Therapy maybe worth while but i cant speak from experience.

[Azkanan]

How to fix depression!

1. Work out. (I'm starting swimming frequently, and just got some dumbbells to work out, whilst I;)
2. Do a huge project. (I've been making a game since January 09. Without it, I'd be in a very sorry state. The project and my;)
3. Pet! (Get a pet! After my cousin died in February 09, I got a cat. He has been my center of attention ever since. I've cried with him, and laughed with him). I'd also say get a plant if you can't afford an animal, where I hear the process of caring and watching it grow can be very uplifting.