8 ms·

"If depression didn’t exist — if we didn’t react to stress and trauma with endless ruminations — then we would be less likely to solve our predicaments." Sure,

by drtse4 15y ago

"If depression didn’t exist — if we didn’t react to stress and trauma with endless ruminations — then we would be less likely to solve our predicaments." Sure, endless ruminations about what could be non-problems help us solve them... This article underestimate what being clinically depressed really means, putting it alongside common temporary sadness or a melancholic character/state. AFAIK, people suffering from depressive disease are barely able to function (and need medications) and rarely come out of this state by their own. So, while sadness could be an incentive to focus, eliminate distractions and solve our problems more effectively, i really doubt that cognitive skills and problem solving abilities are improved by a clinically depressive state (not convinced by the experiment in the paper). Maybe we should all start looking at problems in a more "healthy" way, focusing on finding a solution (maybe following uncommon approaches) instead of "endlessly ruminating".

Alex3917 15y ago
"people suffering from depressive disease are barely able to function (and need medications) and rarely come out of this state by their own." Depression tends to resolve spontaneously after a year or two as long as the person doesn't take anti-depressants. (In which case the symptoms will get better immediately, but the problem may last many years or even a lifetime.) Basically think of it like a drug with a half life of 6 months or so.
- drtse4 15y ago
  I really doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months. Anti-depressants are likely not the best solution (not a solution at all?) but some introspection practices (orthodox practices but also meditation) could be and they could provide a definitive solution. See flipside post http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2575551 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2575551 , kudos to him for being able to solve his issue alone (as anyone would expect it wasn't easy).
  - Alex3917 15y ago
    "I really doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months." Around 46% of Americans have either depression or an anxiety disorder at some point during their lives, but only around 7% have the problem currently. Seeing as only around 1 / 3 of those affected get treatment, and the treatments most people get aren't super effective, this seems to support my point. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1MDD_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1MDD_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1ANYANX_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1ANYANX_ADULT.shtml I mean think about it, if we agree that most people aren't getting treatment, and that most of them don't stay depressed forever, then we agree that depression will eventually resolve on its own. From there it's just a matter of nailing down the exact timeline. How long it takes obviously varies a lot from person to person, but a half life of around six months seems like the typical case.
    - bermanoid 15y ago
      ...and the people for whom it doesn't resolve on its own really need to be treated. I live with someone in that situation, and knew her before she was ever medicated, and I can say with near certainty that she would not be alive today were it not for the medications she takes. You're making the same mistake the article makes: serious depression and the type of depression that 46% of Americans report experiencing are two completely different beasts, and it's devastatingly dangerous to leave the former untreated.
      - Alex3917 15y ago
        "serious depression and the type of depression that 46% of Americans report experiencing are two completely different beasts, and it's devastatingly dangerous to leave the former untreated." I'm not saying people shouldn't seek treatment.
      - niels_olson 15y ago
        We generally grade deoression as mild, moderate, or severe. Some evidence suggests mild-to-moderate depression doesn't respond to anti-depressants. Anti-depressants were originally tested in those with severe depression, which, like other mental illnesses, is much less common.

by drtse4 15y ago

Alex3917 15y ago

"people suffering from depressive disease are barely able to function (and need medications) and rarely come out of this state by their own." Depression tends to resolve spontaneously after a year or two as long as the person doesn't take anti-depressants. (In which case the symptoms will get better immediately, but the problem may last many years or even a lifetime.) Basically think of it like a drug with a half life of 6 months or so.

drtse4 15y ago
I really doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months. Anti-depressants are likely not the best solution (not a solution at all?) but some introspection practices (orthodox practices but also meditation) could be and they could provide a definitive solution. See flipside post http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2575551 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2575551 , kudos to him for being able to solve his issue alone (as anyone would expect it wasn't easy).
- Alex3917 15y ago
  "I really doubt that clinically diagnosed depression is something that solves itself naturally after x months." Around 46% of Americans have either depression or an anxiety disorder at some point during their lives, but only around 7% have the problem currently. Seeing as only around 1 / 3 of those affected get treatment, and the treatments most people get aren't super effective, this seems to support my point. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1MDD_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1MDD_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1ANYANX_ADULT.shtml http://www.nimh.nih.gov/statistics/1ANYANX_ADULT.shtml I mean think about it, if we agree that most people aren't getting treatment, and that most of them don't stay depressed forever, then we agree that depression will eventually resolve on its own. From there it's just a matter of nailing down the exact timeline. How long it takes obviously varies a lot from person to person, but a half life of around six months seems like the typical case.
  - bermanoid 15y ago
    ...and the people for whom it doesn't resolve on its own really need to be treated. I live with someone in that situation, and knew her before she was ever medicated, and I can say with near certainty that she would not be alive today were it not for the medications she takes. You're making the same mistake the article makes: serious depression and the type of depression that 46% of Americans report experiencing are two completely different beasts, and it's devastatingly dangerous to leave the former untreated.
    - Alex3917 15y ago
      "serious depression and the type of depression that 46% of Americans report experiencing are two completely different beasts, and it's devastatingly dangerous to leave the former untreated." I'm not saying people shouldn't seek treatment.
    - niels_olson 15y ago
      We generally grade deoression as mild, moderate, or severe. Some evidence suggests mild-to-moderate depression doesn't respond to anti-depressants. Anti-depressants were originally tested in those with severe depression, which, like other mental illnesses, is much less common.