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Can you elaborate why "just power through" is pretty damaging? Anecdote: When I depressed or stressed, taking action and following a preset list of tasks (bru

by itake 6y ago

Can you elaborate why "just power through" is pretty damaging? Anecdote: When I depressed or stressed, taking action and following a preset list of tasks (brush teeth, hit the gym, make lunch) doesn't 'cure' my mood, but it does reduce my anxiety/stress/depression. By "powering through it" I stop stress driven by inaction (e.g. not brushing my teeth while result even more stress later). If I stick with my routine, it reduces my cognitive load, allowing my brain time to calm down. Its similar to how mediation helps you stay calm. Following the routine reduces the number of decisions I need to make. As much as I might want, taking a sick day to lay in bed all day doesn't help anything and would make me more depressed as I think about all of the stuff I should of done.

intrepidhero 6y ago
I totally get what you're saying with your anecdote and agree that taking action can often be helpful at reducing anxiety/stress/depression. Another anecdote is that sometimes "just power through" is a trigger phrase that leads down a path of shame and self-criticism which only serve to fuel deeper depression/anxiety/stress and so forth. There's a cultural myth that people who struggle are weak and less than people who are successful. Depression can really amplify that story. When I'm in that place I need to scale back expectations, find something (anything) I can do that's healthy, and cut myself some slack. The truth is we all struggle and success has many dimensions. The "just power through" line isn't wrong, in fact, it's exactly what I need to hear sometimes. But it can also be exactly the wrong thing. I think it needs a heavy dose of empathy and compassion along with it.
kaitai 6y ago
There are different kinds of powering through. I powered through writing my dissertation and got a PhD. I powered through a workout that felt wrong and got rhabdomyolysis. You win some, you lose some. Consider the risks and the rewards.
- sul_tasto 6y ago
  My coach used to say, “Know the difference between pain and strain.”
  - rramadass 6y ago
    Perfectly put!.

by itake 6y ago

intrepidhero 6y ago

I totally get what you're saying with your anecdote and agree that taking action can often be helpful at reducing anxiety/stress/depression. Another anecdote is that sometimes "just power through" is a trigger phrase that leads down a path of shame and self-criticism which only serve to fuel deeper depression/anxiety/stress and so forth. There's a cultural myth that people who struggle are weak and less than people who are successful. Depression can really amplify that story. When I'm in that place I need to scale back expectations, find something (anything) I can do that's healthy, and cut myself some slack. The truth is we all struggle and success has many dimensions. The "just power through" line isn't wrong, in fact, it's exactly what I need to hear sometimes. But it can also be exactly the wrong thing. I think it needs a heavy dose of empathy and compassion along with it.

kaitai 6y ago

There are different kinds of powering through. I powered through writing my dissertation and got a PhD. I powered through a workout that felt wrong and got rhabdomyolysis. You win some, you lose some. Consider the risks and the rewards.

sul_tasto 6y ago
My coach used to say, “Know the difference between pain and strain.”
- rramadass 6y ago
  Perfectly put!.