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For those who didn't get the memo: Be warned, folks! Depression is not about sadness, but about not being able to do things. If you are feeling incapable of d

For those who didn't get the memo: Be warned, folks! Depression is not about sadness, but about not being able to do things. If you are feeling incapable of doing things, like physically siting in front of the computer and not being able to do any work, you are probably depressed. Sometimes you'll sit in front of the computer, try to start some task but somehow end opening hackeer news, digg, youtube. Seek help as soon as possible, do not wait until you are fired.

331c8c71 4y ago
> Sometimes you'll sit in front of the computer, try to start some task but somehow end opening hackeer news, digg, youtube. I have to strongly disagree. If that kind of behavior gets out of control it sounds like typical adhd. One still wants to do stuff but unable to get oneself into actually doing it. Depression IMO is when one starts losing motivation and ability to derive pleasure from activities that were normally pleasant.
- hypefi 4y ago
  What about "Depression" is a sign that something deep down is shifting or needs changing. After introspection, my loss of motivation is a lot of the times me knowing that I want to work on problems that I dare worthwhile for the future of humanity and earth like climate change, environmental work, planting trees and social work..., and being obliged to not work in that triggers the lack of motivation unless obliged by survival. I am very skeptical of medication to solve these kind of issues. 'Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.'
  - 331c8c71 4y ago
    I think that the issue of deriving meaning from one's work (and life) is as old as humanity. It looks to me also that there's a bit of idealization going on on your side. In any case you'll work with other people and I bet you won't feel too good if you'll be doing env. work with total assholes. So I would also look at that angle -- being among people you like/appreciate and who reciprocate also kind of eases that existential thing (IMO). Now I am working in the field and organization which definitely are worthwhile / good cause (imo). But it comes at a price, I wouldn't mind to work in a less meaningful place (subjectively) for a few years with a significantly higher comp. Also good cause is a motivator but the not the most immediate one. Used to work in a slightly dysfunctional company but my responsibilities were (mostly) so well defined and managed day-to-day that just getting stuff done was satisfying.
- chefandy 4y ago
  It's not that cut and dried. Comorbidity of ADHD and serious depression or anxiety is something like 80%. Depression also affects your ability to focus. Either way, you should get help if it's negatively impacting your life in ways serious enough that you've made concerted efforts to stop. That's especially true if you haven't been able to improve it yourself.
chefandy 4y ago
The opposite of depression isn't happiness— it's vitality.
bigDinosaur 4y ago
Also burnout. Burnout shares a lot with depression though (and may even basically be a type of depression), but with the difference that it can usually be fixed with sufficient rest and holidays and lifestyle changes.
BeFlatXIII 4y ago
Besides the obvious (pay a doctor to do real diagnostic tests), how can you differentiate between depression causing the inability to do work and ADD dragging you straight to Reddit?

331c8c71 4y ago

> Sometimes you'll sit in front of the computer, try to start some task but somehow end opening hackeer news, digg, youtube. I have to strongly disagree. If that kind of behavior gets out of control it sounds like typical adhd. One still wants to do stuff but unable to get oneself into actually doing it. Depression IMO is when one starts losing motivation and ability to derive pleasure from activities that were normally pleasant.

hypefi 4y ago
What about "Depression" is a sign that something deep down is shifting or needs changing. After introspection, my loss of motivation is a lot of the times me knowing that I want to work on problems that I dare worthwhile for the future of humanity and earth like climate change, environmental work, planting trees and social work..., and being obliged to not work in that triggers the lack of motivation unless obliged by survival. I am very skeptical of medication to solve these kind of issues. 'Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.'
- 331c8c71 4y ago
  I think that the issue of deriving meaning from one's work (and life) is as old as humanity. It looks to me also that there's a bit of idealization going on on your side. In any case you'll work with other people and I bet you won't feel too good if you'll be doing env. work with total assholes. So I would also look at that angle -- being among people you like/appreciate and who reciprocate also kind of eases that existential thing (IMO). Now I am working in the field and organization which definitely are worthwhile / good cause (imo). But it comes at a price, I wouldn't mind to work in a less meaningful place (subjectively) for a few years with a significantly higher comp. Also good cause is a motivator but the not the most immediate one. Used to work in a slightly dysfunctional company but my responsibilities were (mostly) so well defined and managed day-to-day that just getting stuff done was satisfying.
chefandy 4y ago
It's not that cut and dried. Comorbidity of ADHD and serious depression or anxiety is something like 80%. Depression also affects your ability to focus. Either way, you should get help if it's negatively impacting your life in ways serious enough that you've made concerted efforts to stop. That's especially true if you haven't been able to improve it yourself.

chefandy 4y ago

The opposite of depression isn't happiness— it's vitality.

bigDinosaur 4y ago

Also burnout. Burnout shares a lot with depression though (and may even basically be a type of depression), but with the difference that it can usually be fixed with sufficient rest and holidays and lifestyle changes.

BeFlatXIII 4y ago

Besides the obvious (pay a doctor to do real diagnostic tests), how can you differentiate between depression causing the inability to do work and ADD dragging you straight to Reddit?