5 ms·

I built an app to fix my depression

64 points by zoozla 6y ago

donw 6y ago
If you're struggling with mental health issues, I highly recommend speaking with a qualified professional. This does not necessarily mean you will end up on medication. There are tons of things that you may not know how to leverage that can improve your mental health and overall happiness. Know that it will take some shopping around. As with any doctor, do your homework, ask friends, and don't stick with one until they "feel right". The modern world is hell on brains that evolved to fit a very different environment than the one in which we live today, and it can take a lot of work to structure your life to deal with that. Also, remember be both kind to and honest with yourself. It can be so easy to beat yourself up when you fail or fall down, or to try and shift the blame to other people, but these are both anti-patterns. Nobody makes every shot they take. Especially when you are learning. Pick yourself up, take a breather, think on what your next step is, and get back in the game.
- zoozla 6y ago
  I absolutely agree with this, especially with being kind with ourselves and with shopping around. And don't limit the shopping around to only people with important sounding diplomas on their walls. Some are awesome, some aren't. The person who helped me the most on my path had no formal qualifications, just deep innate wisdom and compassion.
  - cpard 6y ago
    Based on my experience, about 12 years of psychotherapy for depression, the relationship with the therapist is the medium where the therapy is actually performed. Relationships take at least two to build. Even Stuff like the life experience and the personality of the therapist are important. Without the right relationship, you can get support but true therapy requires the establishment of an honest relationship between the therapist and the "patient".
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
Gelob 6y ago
I wish I could navigate through the introduction audio Also there is some audio instruction not written down. This is great though. Thank you for building this.
- zoozla 6y ago
  Thanks! Writing this down, will see what I can do about adding some controls for the audio. The non-written instructions are for times when your eyes are supposed to be closed :)
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
kuharich 6y ago
Past comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24439612 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24439612
- selestify 6y ago
  To comment on the top comment: how do you know if it’s self-acceptance or learned helplessness?
  - IggleSniggle 6y ago
    The self-acceptance talked about there is about recognizing where you are and forgiving yourself for mistakes. You could have learned helplessness, but that’s not a reason to attack yourself; it’s counter productive to the remedy.
  - sonofhans 6y ago
    I’ve found myself asking the same question, particularly from the perspective of learned helplessness. Having experienced now some modest amount of self-acceptance, I’ve found that one good marker of it is empowerment. Do you feel like you’re standing on a reliable foundation, and able to exert some leverage to achieve your goals? Or do you feel that you’re best off not striving? Those look like two opposite ends of a spectrum to me. For me, self-acceptance leads directly to empowerment. I feel like my goals are legitimate and worthy of effort. It feels like the energy I might otherwise direct at inward discontent is free instead for other things. Helplessness feels inert. I feel ok not striving for my [unachievable] goals. Consider reading Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach. It’s written exactly for this.
graeme 6y ago
Don’t have depression but have some stress and tension. Tried this and it was very helpful! Did feel like it released some areas physically, while dwelling on and letting go past stresses.
aaronbasssett 6y ago
I can't find anything on your website or the app's website listing your qualifications. How are you qualified to advise people on how to fix their depression? What medical studies and approval has your app been through? If this article persuades even a single person to ditch their prescribed medication in favour of your app—after all who would want to end up in a straight-jacket—and that person then harms themselves, how are you going to deal with that?
- orange8 6y ago
  Qualifications schwamifications... Where in the website did the app claim to "fix depression"? From what I can see, it helps you identify and release negative emotions.
  - aaronbasssett 6y ago
    It's literally the title of this post.
    - orange8 6y ago
      He built an app to fix HIS depression. The apps website does not make any such claims.
      - aaronbasssett 6y ago
        > It’s an online app that can help you tap into your hidden emotions and release them so they no longer influence your behaviour or cause depressive symptoms. Did you read the article at all? Here is a quote where they state the app can stop the cause of your depressive symptoms. That clear cut enough for you? Or do you still want to be wilfully obtuse?
        tway214 6y ago
        Do you also ask anyone who writes a dieting cookbook for their medical degree? The author does not state anywhere that the user should stop taking their medication or stop getting treated by professionals.
hackerfromthefu 6y ago
I tried this and really liked it, and found it helpful in the one session I did. Then, I've not gotten around to doing another in the last month .. and I'm not sure why .. feels like I'm struggling against doing the things that would help me, maybe because they would also change me or something, I'm not sure I think this app and technique could be very powerful
aszantu 6y ago
things that helped me with depression - cut out sugar and carbs (yes even fruit) - Therapy - cutting out ppl that trigger me for a while - legal psychedelics - training with my dog After I got better, there is still the maintenance for low self esteem and social skills - Therapy - Meditation - meetups - nonviolent communication
- sosodev 6y ago
  What psychedelics are legal?
  - zoozla 6y ago
    Depends on the country, but we're still a long way off a wide legalization. Some cities in the US (IIRC Denver?) have decriminalized psychedelics, but it's not the same thing as legalizing them. There's a lot of research going on and a lot of good results coming in, so hopefully we'll be in a different place in a few years.
greenbay20 6y ago
Clickbait title
doodlebugging 6y ago
I zipped through this to see what it was. Had to wait a bit since the server seems to be busy. No worries though:) I like this concept. It was very relaxing. I did a far too rapid run through a bunch of feelings testing various inputs and responses. I like the way it cycles back through to help you focus on solving the problem that you have identified yourself as having. Very nice. I did find one of your response options has an error. There are a couple of options presented for answers - OK, NO, YES, ?, NOT YET. Maybe a couple of others. One of the dialogs where you are offering a question box [?] shows up as "Question_square" or something very similar to that. I apologize for not taking notes. I believe that it was in the first group of negative Feelings that started with a "D". I also found one sentence in the written dialog that makes no sense as it looks like a word was left out. This was probably in the positive feelings list. It was in the descriptive part with dialog that had a comma followed by a couple of words that looked out of place as they didn't fit in the sentence like some other thought was edited out and they are now an orphaned phrase. I am starting to feel sad for those poor words thinking about it. Might have to dip back into it if I can get back on the server! :) I tried to get back to it but your server is evidently getting slammed by all the people curious for a solution to their problems. Good luck with this. Nicely done.
- zoozla 6y ago
  Thanks so much for taking a deep look at it. I'll do another round of testing and editing on the dialogs, I might have missed a few spots there. The orphaned words are eternally greatful for your gentle care!
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
santa_boy 6y ago
> I went to the doctor, told him I was feeling mild flu symptoms for a couple of months, he asked me a few questions, determined that I had depression, gave my some SSRIs, and sent me home. That seems like a pretty normal experience to me. Slightly confused and have a hard time with the definitions keeping the social stigma aside!. Would be great to gather some perspective from HN. What is depression? How does it compare to stress, or anxiety in itself due to unfulfilled needs of hardwork, rewards, ambition, wants and desires? And ... How is diagnosed? And how medical help is useful? :-) (I know I perhaps need to RTFM)

64 points by zoozla 6y ago

donw 6y ago

If you're struggling with mental health issues, I highly recommend speaking with a qualified professional. This does not necessarily mean you will end up on medication. There are tons of things that you may not know how to leverage that can improve your mental health and overall happiness. Know that it will take some shopping around. As with any doctor, do your homework, ask friends, and don't stick with one until they "feel right". The modern world is hell on brains that evolved to fit a very different environment than the one in which we live today, and it can take a lot of work to structure your life to deal with that. Also, remember be both kind to and honest with yourself. It can be so easy to beat yourself up when you fail or fall down, or to try and shift the blame to other people, but these are both anti-patterns. Nobody makes every shot they take. Especially when you are learning. Pick yourself up, take a breather, think on what your next step is, and get back in the game.

zoozla 6y ago
I absolutely agree with this, especially with being kind with ourselves and with shopping around. And don't limit the shopping around to only people with important sounding diplomas on their walls. Some are awesome, some aren't. The person who helped me the most on my path had no formal qualifications, just deep innate wisdom and compassion.
- cpard 6y ago
  Based on my experience, about 12 years of psychotherapy for depression, the relationship with the therapist is the medium where the therapy is actually performed. Relationships take at least two to build. Even Stuff like the life experience and the personality of the therapist are important. Without the right relationship, you can get support but true therapy requires the establishment of an honest relationship between the therapist and the "patient".

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

Gelob 6y ago

I wish I could navigate through the introduction audio Also there is some audio instruction not written down. This is great though. Thank you for building this.

zoozla 6y ago
Thanks! Writing this down, will see what I can do about adding some controls for the audio. The non-written instructions are for times when your eyes are supposed to be closed :)

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

kuharich 6y ago

Past comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24439612 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24439612

selestify 6y ago
To comment on the top comment: how do you know if it’s self-acceptance or learned helplessness?
- IggleSniggle 6y ago
  The self-acceptance talked about there is about recognizing where you are and forgiving yourself for mistakes. You could have learned helplessness, but that’s not a reason to attack yourself; it’s counter productive to the remedy.
- sonofhans 6y ago
  I’ve found myself asking the same question, particularly from the perspective of learned helplessness. Having experienced now some modest amount of self-acceptance, I’ve found that one good marker of it is empowerment. Do you feel like you’re standing on a reliable foundation, and able to exert some leverage to achieve your goals? Or do you feel that you’re best off not striving? Those look like two opposite ends of a spectrum to me. For me, self-acceptance leads directly to empowerment. I feel like my goals are legitimate and worthy of effort. It feels like the energy I might otherwise direct at inward discontent is free instead for other things. Helplessness feels inert. I feel ok not striving for my [unachievable] goals. Consider reading Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach. It’s written exactly for this.

graeme 6y ago

Don’t have depression but have some stress and tension. Tried this and it was very helpful! Did feel like it released some areas physically, while dwelling on and letting go past stresses.

aaronbasssett 6y ago

I can't find anything on your website or the app's website listing your qualifications. How are you qualified to advise people on how to fix their depression? What medical studies and approval has your app been through? If this article persuades even a single person to ditch their prescribed medication in favour of your app—after all who would want to end up in a straight-jacket—and that person then harms themselves, how are you going to deal with that?

orange8 6y ago
Qualifications schwamifications... Where in the website did the app claim to "fix depression"? From what I can see, it helps you identify and release negative emotions.
- aaronbasssett 6y ago
  It's literally the title of this post.
  - orange8 6y ago
    He built an app to fix HIS depression. The apps website does not make any such claims.
    - aaronbasssett 6y ago
      > It’s an online app that can help you tap into your hidden emotions and release them so they no longer influence your behaviour or cause depressive symptoms. Did you read the article at all? Here is a quote where they state the app can stop the cause of your depressive symptoms. That clear cut enough for you? Or do you still want to be wilfully obtuse?
      - tway214 6y ago
        Do you also ask anyone who writes a dieting cookbook for their medical degree? The author does not state anywhere that the user should stop taking their medication or stop getting treated by professionals.

hackerfromthefu 6y ago

I tried this and really liked it, and found it helpful in the one session I did. Then, I've not gotten around to doing another in the last month .. and I'm not sure why .. feels like I'm struggling against doing the things that would help me, maybe because they would also change me or something, I'm not sure I think this app and technique could be very powerful

aszantu 6y ago

things that helped me with depression - cut out sugar and carbs (yes even fruit) - Therapy - cutting out ppl that trigger me for a while - legal psychedelics - training with my dog After I got better, there is still the maintenance for low self esteem and social skills - Therapy - Meditation - meetups - nonviolent communication

sosodev 6y ago
What psychedelics are legal?
- zoozla 6y ago
  Depends on the country, but we're still a long way off a wide legalization. Some cities in the US (IIRC Denver?) have decriminalized psychedelics, but it's not the same thing as legalizing them. There's a lot of research going on and a lot of good results coming in, so hopefully we'll be in a different place in a few years.

greenbay20 6y ago

Clickbait title

doodlebugging 6y ago

I zipped through this to see what it was. Had to wait a bit since the server seems to be busy. No worries though:) I like this concept. It was very relaxing. I did a far too rapid run through a bunch of feelings testing various inputs and responses. I like the way it cycles back through to help you focus on solving the problem that you have identified yourself as having. Very nice. I did find one of your response options has an error. There are a couple of options presented for answers - OK, NO, YES, ?, NOT YET. Maybe a couple of others. One of the dialogs where you are offering a question box [?] shows up as "Question_square" or something very similar to that. I apologize for not taking notes. I believe that it was in the first group of negative Feelings that started with a "D". I also found one sentence in the written dialog that makes no sense as it looks like a word was left out. This was probably in the positive feelings list. It was in the descriptive part with dialog that had a comma followed by a couple of words that looked out of place as they didn't fit in the sentence like some other thought was edited out and they are now an orphaned phrase. I am starting to feel sad for those poor words thinking about it. Might have to dip back into it if I can get back on the server! :) I tried to get back to it but your server is evidently getting slammed by all the people curious for a solution to their problems. Good luck with this. Nicely done.

zoozla 6y ago
Thanks so much for taking a deep look at it. I'll do another round of testing and editing on the dialogs, I might have missed a few spots there. The orphaned words are eternally greatful for your gentle care!

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

santa_boy 6y ago

> I went to the doctor, told him I was feeling mild flu symptoms for a couple of months, he asked me a few questions, determined that I had depression, gave my some SSRIs, and sent me home. That seems like a pretty normal experience to me. Slightly confused and have a hard time with the definitions keeping the social stigma aside!. Would be great to gather some perspective from HN. What is depression? How does it compare to stress, or anxiety in itself due to unfulfilled needs of hardwork, rewards, ambition, wants and desires? And ... How is diagnosed? And how medical help is useful? :-) (I know I perhaps need to RTFM)