# Entering a depression. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2016, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250 "2016-04-15T05:39:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/21 "2016-04-16T16:23:46Z")
And I’m going to my counseler today at 2:30. It’s hard…I always feel bad going. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/22 "2016-04-16T17:34:52Z")
I think you are on the right path. And there’s nothing wrong with the occasional external validation. We all need that from time to time, and it’s nice to hear just in general. But the important stuff comes from within… when you no longer believe your \< insert whatever here \> and you can face each demon head on, without turning your ant hill into Everest. Keep it up. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/23 "2016-04-16T17:48:00Z")
Best of luck to you, **Quasimodal**. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/24 "2016-04-16T18:59:34Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#): > > I also called the SPCA to inquire about volunteering. And I love dogs. I’ll also be going to my church (the unitarian centre) tomorrow. I seem to get there once a month. I’d like to go more. And I’m slugging it to Yoga this morning. It’s usually a good place to be. I love dogs also. It helped me keep me sane during my dark times. Keep on keeping on, life sucks sometimes. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Been there. PEACE and LOVE to you. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/25 "2016-04-16T21:34:31Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Depression is not some kind of rational process that you can reverse just by thinking positive thoughts or “powering through”. It isn’t failure to ask for help or acknowledge that you feel overwhelmed, and everyone who has ever suffered through depression knows the gaping angst or emptiness that comes on with no cause or warning and can leave with the same swiftness for no apparent reason. It has nothing to do with how loveable you may or may not be, and as upsetting as a failure in a relationship or success at dating may be, it is not a fundamental measure of your value as a person. This right here. I went through a bad patch a few years ago due to depession that went undiagnosed for years, because I kept thinking I should be able to power through it, and that I was a bad person for pretty much wanting to crawl in a hole and die when people whose problems seemed so much worse than mine kept plugging right along and were even able to be happy. I don’t have any advice to give since everyone’s situation is so different, so I’ll just say good luck and I wish you well. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/26 "2016-04-17T14:31:07Z")
I’m reading a book called Mindset…anyone read it? My counseler reccomended it. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/27 "2016-04-17T15:40:42Z")
You are making good progress. Things that help me. Small goals. Making time and forcing myself to see people. Identifying my triggers and reducing them. I don’t do good with “huge global issues that are going to end the world” - so I stay away from NPR when those sorts of stories happen and choose my news. Also - working in InfoSec on critical infrastructure systems was a BAD CHOICE. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/28 "2016-04-17T16:11:45Z")
> [@Cabin\_Fever](#): > > You will be OK. You don’t know that. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/29 "2016-04-17T16:26:41Z")
**Quasimodal** : I’ve had a rough week myself. Good thoughts going your way. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/30 "2016-04-17T16:29:51Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > You don’t know that. Dude, it wasn’t a citable fact, it was just a note of encouragement. You must chill! Stranger ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/31 "2016-04-17T16:40:07Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#): > > I also called the SPCA to inquire about volunteering. And I love dogs. I’ll also be going to my church (the unitarian centre) tomorrow. I seem to get there once a month. I’d like to go more. And I’m slugging it to Yoga this morning. It’s usually a good place to be. I was going to suggest getting some animal contact, so I’m glad you’ve already put this in your plans. Would getting a pet be an option for you? Having a creature to take care gets myself out of my own head and distracts from loneliness. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/32 "2016-04-17T18:06:38Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#): > > And I’m going to my counseler today at 2:30. It’s hard…I always feel bad going. Why? Your counselor wouldn’t be able to eat if people didn’t go see him! When people apologize after I’ve helped fix something for them I always say “hey, that was me earning today’s lunch!” ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/33 "2016-04-17T18:38:06Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Dude, it wasn’t a citable fact, it was just a note of encouragement. You must chill! > > Stranger Oh. In that case, “Don’t worry; be happy!” ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/34 "2016-04-17T18:42:10Z")
You might find Alice the Goon’s reflection helpful: [My Depression Story - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=790687) ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/35 "2016-04-17T22:50:37Z")
I really want to quit Facebook. Any advice? Going on there makes me feel bad sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/36 "2016-04-18T00:47:18Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#): > > I really want to quit Facebook. Any advice? Going on there makes me feel bad sometimes. [https://www.facebook.com/help/359046244166395/](https://www.facebook.com/help/359046244166395/) If you want to quit Facebook it’s pretty easy to do so technically. Do you think that leaving Facebook might make you more isolated? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/37 "2016-04-18T00:56:07Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#): > > I really want to quit Facebook. Any advice?. Yes, if you really want to quit facebook, my advice is to just…quit facebook. I dislike facebook immensely and I just stopped ever logging on. Easy peasy. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/57b2e6/32.png) [@Quasimodal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodal)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/38 "2016-04-18T02:59:00Z")
I’m worried about missing messages or events. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/39 "2016-04-18T03:17:12Z")
> [@Quasimodal](#): > > I’m worried about missing messages or events. Well if you quit facebook, it wouldn’t be very long until those people realize you’re no longer around and just stop. Do you rely on facebook for anything important in your life? Like truly important? ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250/40 "2016-04-18T04:51:15Z")
Hey Man, you’re sounding more up! Good to read:D I’m glad to see you’re going (have gone?) to see your councelor, and that you are inquiring about volunteering with the local branch of the SPCA. Thanks for the refresher on your recent personal history. As others have said, asking for help isn’t defeat. Brother, I see you repeating that, asking for help is defeat and it bothers me. I used to think the same way. Man it was HARD to ask for help that first time. It was HARD explaining to my chain of command from squad leader all the way to battalion commander why I had to have each and every Tuesday afternoon off so I could go to group therapy. It was HARD knowing the Post Commander and my Commanding General (my division was stationed forward in Germany, I was in the Rear “Home” Brigade) Knew My Name, because I was one of the Few who did ask for help instead of … It was especially difficult because I was in the Army at the time, and the news reports don’t lie about the stigma attached to mental health issues in the military. But what I learned was that its ok to ask for help and that none of us are supermen, that sometimes there are just things we need help with, period, full stop. I’m kinda ambivalent about the quitting facebook thing. I guess if going there makes you feel bad…I dunno, can you reduce the number of times you go there, the amount you spend on facebook each time you go there? Like Ambivalid said, what do you use facebook for? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/entering-a-depression/752250.md?page=3)