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There seems to still be this notion that mental health is froofroo stuff and if it’s all in your head you need to just toughen up. So either it’s chemically bas

• hutzlibu 4y ago
  "and if it’s all in your head " Erm yeah, mental problems are literally all in your head. That doesn't make them less real, though. And of course, toughen up is a stupid thing to say from someone not having those problems. (on the other hamd, you can take I am sick as a excuse to not make an effort anymore) And if the chemicals are not in order still leaves the question whether that is just the symptom or the root cause. What I mean is, that when someone has a shitty life and is therefore depressed, then his brain chemicals are probably not look good. Pills still might help this person to transition back, but this won't be sustainable, when the root cause does not get fixed.
  • api 4y ago
    Agreed. Sometimes though the unofficial diagnostic for possible chemical issues is that there is no obvious cause in one’s life for depression. If your life is great and you don’t feel it there might be something wrong.
  • TeMPOraL 4y ago
    > Erm yeah, mental problems are literally all in your head. Well, everything you experience is literally in your head, so it's a bit useless observation. What matters is whether or not you can think the problem away, which for being depressed is about as possible as for a broken arm. > What I mean is, that when someone has a shitty life and is therefore depressed, then his brain chemicals are probably not look good. Yes. But in many other cases, brain chemicals are not looking good because of some other, more permanent issues, like genetics, or environment in which one grew up. > Pills still might help this person to transition back, but this won't be sustainable, when the root cause does not get fixed. There may not be a root cause. If one's stuck in a feedback loop of "bad mental state -> shitty life -> bad mental state -> ...", it doesn't even matter much what initially caused it all those years or decades ago. And again, in some cases the root cause is just permanent. A wheelchair is a good analogy to mental health medication. A wheelchair will help people move around regardless of whether they were born without a leg, lost their leg in an accident, became paralyzed from waist down, or had a rough fall and need to give couple weeks or months for their legs to recover. You don't tell the person without a leg that they should think about transitioning off the wheelchair. You don't deny a wheelchair to a person with temporary loss of mobility from a bad accident. Some people will need it permanently, some only for a moment - but if they all have specific mobility problems, the wheelchair is there to reduce them.
    • hutzlibu 4y ago
      "if they all have specific mobility problems, the wheelchair is there to reduce them. " Yes, but if a person with 2 normal legs insists on continuing to use the wheelchair after an accident - he or she will allways remain dependant on it (muscles go away very fast and it is hard work to regain them) and not be able to walk again on their own feet. Same with antidepressants I figure. It will be hard, to not use them anymore.