this post was submitted on 15 Jul 2025
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[–] Apytele@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 days ago

As an inpatient Psych nurse yeah the previous generations are, as a whole, wildly mentally ill, you just either made do or got locked up somewhere or other, and possibly also got beat, asphyxiated, or otherwise abused / neglected to death. This whole thing where we care about whether or not people with profound mental illness die is fairly new and yet somehow also rapidly fading. Not looking forward to what the Medicaid cuts are about to do to the modern mental health system. I'm just praying that it damages the insurance companies (in my state they get a cut of the funds for each Medicaid recipient by "being responsible" for "managing care") but I'm not optimistic.

[–] wowwoweowza@lemmy.world 69 points 6 days ago (3 children)

I hate to be the old dude in these conversations — but yeah… sometimes you just fucking deal. 90% of my life is depression, suicidal ideation, and intrusive thoughts. Ten percent is that I’m the life of the party, the fun guy at work. Honestly, in meetings, when it’s been dark, execs turn to me and say, “Wow, silver lining?”

And I deliver.

So… I don’t complain. I raise a family. I exercise. I see depression as the norm. Why would I think anything else if it is all I have ever known?

And yet of course there are the brief moments of satisfaction when I am doing service for others — which is how I see my work, which makes my life meaningful.

Cure for depression? Ain’t one. But there is service, which is the cure for meaninglessness.

[–] doingthestuff@lemy.lol 21 points 6 days ago

People are generally missing service in their lives. Thanks for the comment, from another old guy.

[–] distinctivecoffee@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 6 days ago (2 children)

You can get meds for this. If you're on them and this is where you're at, I'm sorry. But I was like you. I could function.

Then I needed meds for something else, and they stuck me on Wellbutrin, which can be perscribed to address depression or my other issue.

I came back to the doc and she asked if it had helped with my other problem. "Nope, but can I stay on?"

"Why?"

"Uh, turns out wanting to be hit by a bus isn't normal, and I had just assumed it was, and had no idea I was dealing with that constant mental hellhole until it went away."

She let me stay on the Wellbutrin.

Second the recommendation for Wellbutrin. I didn't trust chemical solutions either but it actually is great.

[–] wowwoweowza@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

Hmm… yeah, you can tell I’m skeptical of the chemical solutions.

I’m of an age where tracking my own hormonal changes is hard enough without adding any variables. But I appreciate your thoughtful recommendation. And I’m absolutely delighted you know longer deal with the whole sudden impulse to fall in front of a bus. I’ve never jumped but the thought comes… it’s comfortable now I guess. I don’t know who I’d be without it.

[–] malware@lemmy.zip 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I wish I had a family, maybe life would be worth living.

[–] wowwoweowza@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Where are you doing service?

[–] malware@lemmy.zip 3 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I'm sorry, I couldn't understand what you mean by "service", English is not my native language. I'm not in the army or religiously celibate, I was just given a pretty bad hand of card by life. Too dumb to find a good job, too ugly to find a wife.

[–] smoker@lemmy.zip 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

By “service” they probably mean something closer to “community service”: volunteering to help out your community and the people in need around you. Many people find it quite fulfilling.

[–] malware@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 days ago

Oh, I see. Thank you for explaining

[–] Sculptor9157@sh.itjust.works 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

You can make a family with friends and neighbors and helping out some organizations/volunteers doing things you care about. As you surround yourself with folks who share your interests, the family aspect takes shape.

[–] malware@lemmy.zip 4 points 6 days ago

Yea maybe I should try that

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 26 points 6 days ago (2 children)

During the pandemic quarantine, I took up the guitar, but unlike most Covid hobbies, I've stuck with it, and gotten pretty good.

Getting good at something difficult results in great feelings, as you can imagine, but I wasn't prepared for how much better it made me feel. My self-esteem and confidence went through the roof, and made me realize that I've probably been operating under a low-grade depression for my entire life.

Sometimes we're depressed and don't even know it. You come to accept that it's just how you feel, and that's your life. You don't even know it can be better, until it is.

[–] TwoBeeSan@lemmy.world 9 points 6 days ago

Congrats on sticking to it. Getting out of that rut.

Ive been a horrific introvert through most of my 20s. Met someone with similar interests, for once, and now it doesn't feel like such a chore. Gone to do more in 6 months than in 20 years.

Humans can get use to anything and call it normal.

[–] avg@lemmy.zip 6 points 6 days ago

I took my adhd assessment and was diagnosed with the trifecta, adhd, anxiety and depression. I knew I was a bit below neutral but I didn't think it was a problem because I was still able to be happy given the right situation. I'm now medicated for adhd and I wish I had looked into it earlier in life, I felt the warm and fuzzies when hugging my son the other day... that's when I realized it had been years since I had felt it, not every day is great but I have more good days than I used to.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 27 points 6 days ago (1 children)

This is the drawer where I keep my various lengths of wire, and this is the compartment where I keep my crippling depression, fears, and anxiety. For the fucking love of satan don't open that up, I try to forget it exists. The last time I opened it up, it nearly ate me.

No, I'm fine, why do you ask?

[–] AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

At least the crippling depression isn't mixed up with the wire. A functional organisation system isn't a substitute for a will to live, but an inability to find the right tools would certainly not help

Edit: I am also extremely fine, and I am wishing us both all the best on that front; I hope that some day, you are able to be better than fine.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 2 points 6 days ago

Shut the drawer and carry on, it's a super power.

How do you operate so well in a crisis? I've been in crisis mode for 37 years, take the best path and move forward.

[–] lukaro@lemmy.zip 18 points 6 days ago (2 children)
[–] vivalapivo@lemmy.today 5 points 6 days ago

It's okay. Everything will be ok. I love you, man 💞

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Some forms of depression are genetic, so this is "common" but constant suicide ideation is not "normal, functioning, or healthy."

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[–] rekabis@lemmy.ca 14 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Just like the opposite of addiction is not sobriety but connection, so the opposite of depression is not happiness but vitality.

Because that is what most depression saps out of people - the vitality to do things, to live life, and to give your own life meaning and the strength to forge ahead.

Sometimes people can handle depression on their own. Most of the time, however, help of some sort of help or assistance is needed. Never be afraid or let yourself be shamed for reaching out or accepting help, because we all need help once in a while. As the Good Captain once said, “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life.”

And while uncultivated ignorance can still be educated away, beware cultivated ignorance -- these people are maliciously ignorant, and are intentionally trying to hurt you.

[–] leftzero@lemmynsfw.com 10 points 6 days ago

Yeah, that's not depression, that's just normal. 🤷‍♂️

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