Defeatism

[SilentScepter]

I think that the reason we social rejects stay down is because we accept defeat. We don't utilize all the opportunities given to us to be content in life. So to overcome depression you would have to develope an opportunistic personality. For example, I know i'm depressed, I know anti-depressants would help me, they would also help with my anxiety, however I do nothing at all to attain them. I try and convince myself that I can only be happy if I achieve what I want through hardwork without any help of any kind. I never get anything done thinking this way. So the smart thing would be to change my approach at things, see that this doesn't work and something else will, however knowing that it won't work I repeat the same process in my head over and over again when I start feeling suicidal. I'm hoping to change that, I feel that it's imperative that I develope an opportunistic attitude to get out of this depression. If I can find any sort of crutch i'll use it, fuck pride, it's an unreal source of hapiness.

[zaab]

Guest-SilentScepter said:

If I can find any sort of crutch i'll use it, fuck pride, it's an unreal source of hapiness.

Yes but why approach seeking help with a sense of shame? Realize that a vast majority of shy people never seek any meaningful help and it takes courage to do so. Its not a crutch. In fact letting yourself mull in shyness, anxiety and depression is the real crutch and opening yourself to change is real strength.

[Tal]

It all depends on how bad your situation is. Personally I'd rather get myself out of depressive ruts through hard work and will-power than medication and self-help courses/books.

I think some people give up too easily, when they'd gain a lot more self esteem by lifting themselves up and accepting life or trying to improve it rather than being defeatist about everything.

Not that talking to people is bad though. It can be the catalyst for a change of attitude.

[Medici]

Yeah be opportunistic. If there is some pill out there that will help you then try it.

[zaab]

talisman said:

It all depends on how bad your situation is. Personally I'd rather get myself out of depressive ruts through hard work and will-power than medication and self-help courses/books.

Depression is a disease. You cannot use will power or hard work to cure yourself of depression any more than you can use it to cure a cold.

Here's more info from the NIMH: www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/depressionmenu.cfm

[Tal]

zaab70 said:

Depression is a disease. You cannot use will power or hard work to cure yourself of depression any more than you can use it to cure a cold.

Here's more info from the NIMH: www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/depressionmenu.cfm

I know, but not everyone who is depressed has medical condition called 'depression'.

[zaab]

talisman said:

I know, but not everyone who is depressed has medical condition called 'depression'.

I agree. But I thought it was important to clear that up.

[zaab]

On the topic of defeatism and negative thoughts, I came across and article in National Geographic that gives some interesting insight into transforming thought patterns:

"...people who are inclined to fall prey to negative emotions displayed a pattern of persistent activity in regions of their right prefrontal cortex. In those with more positive temperaments the activity occurred in the left prefrontal cortex instead...Davidson recently tested the prefrontal activity in some volunteers from a high-tech company in Wisconsin. One group of volunteers then received eight weeks of training in meditation, while a control group did not...By the end of the study, those who had meditated showed a pronounced shift in brain activity towards the left, 'happier,' frontal cortex."

The neuroscientist also ran the experiment on a Tibetan lama and determined that his baseline of activity was further to the left than anyone else they studied, making the monk, at least theoretically, the happiest person they have ever met.

[Derrick]

Thanks for the info, zaab. I can induce meditative states rather easily but don't really do it much because I never felt the need too.. from this information it sounds like 15 minutes of daily meditation may be worthwhile.

[daymon]

Depression and shyness are two different things though, I don't think there's some pill out there that's suddenly going to transform you into a talk show host and let you freely speak your mind. Sure if you're medically depressed drugs can solve it, but is shyness a medical condition?

[shypsychologyguy]

Zaab:

Yes but why approach seeking help with a sense of shame? Realize that a vast majority of shy people never seek any meaningful help and it takes courage to do so. end quote

seeking help for shyness is like saying there is something wrong with being introverted. I think shyness can be problematic for alot of people and counseling is important. not to change the topic but it seems the same way with homosexuals that come in for therapy to change their orientation . helping them with it is like saying there is something wrong with them being that way ( that would be considered imposing a belief in therapy). neither shyness nor homosexuality are considered disorders but they can be very disturbing to some individuals and not others.

[zaab]

shypsychologyguy said:

Zaab:

Yes but why approach seeking help with a sense of shame? Realize that a vast majority of shy people never seek any meaningful help and it takes courage to do so. end quote

seeking help for shyness is like saying there is something wrong with being introverted. I think shyness can be problematic for alot of people and counseling is important. not to change the topic but it seems the same way with homosexuals that come in for therapy to change their orientation . helping them with it is like saying there is something wrong with them being that way ( that would be considered imposing a belief in therapy). neither shyness nor homosexuality are considered disorders but they can be very disturbing to some individuals and not others.

Since this is a shy board, I don't want to get into another discussion about homosexuality. Its nothing I know a good deal about anyway. I have my opinions and just leave it at that. But I do want to say that shyness and introversion are completely different things. One can be an introvert and not be shy at all. Introverts are people who get their energy from being alone in solitary pursuits. Not all shy people are like this. A number of shy people want to be around people, but can't get past their anxiety. Introverts don't necessarily suffer anxiety around other people, its just in their temperament to prefer to be alone.

[Jarous]

SilentScepter said:

fuck pride, it's an unreal source of hapiness.

No no no, no way! Embrace pride, f$%^k shame! Shouldn't we be proud of things we cannot be free of?