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RE: Overthinking: The Brain Plague.
I upvoted only because you are bringing attention to an affliction many creatives are plagued with. It's time to get depression out there and talked about. But I can tell you now that you do not sound like a depressed person by the way this was written. Maybe you are currently in an upswing. But I guarantee that real bonafide depression is debilitating and can't be written about so flippantly.
I can tell you now. I have depression. Been diagnosed since the age of 17.
I aspire to have a positive outlook on life, thus making it easier to speak about it with great ease.
It's simple. I'm driven to change my life and other peoples lives and it starts here. We have to raise awareness about mental health as it's becoming/is one of the biggest killers in the world.
My writing style is what it is (: I'm not in a upswing if anything the opposite!
Oh and I can guarantee that real bonafide depression can be spoken about and written about flippantly.
Stephen Fry is a great example of that (:
Hey fairytalelife,
We all use different coping mechanisms to get through life. Theres no such thing as 'real bonafide depression' its a spectrum like most other mental health concerns. Even if there was, reading someones post and making an armchair diagnosis is horrific.
You've just done exactly what you set out NOT to do.
'Its time to get depression out there and talked about'
But not like this, and not by you sherlock cupid.
I like what you do fairytalelife, and I follow you. But this was really thoughtless.
Actually, @schro, there is such a thing as pure bonafide depression. It manifests itself clearly to those who suffer. It's worse than having a bad day. It's an all consuming hell. sherlockcupid does not sound like he is completely debilitated by his affliction - thus my comment. I'm not saying anything about anyone's coping mechanisms . You are right. We all do our own thing. I'd be interested to know how sherlockcupid copes. Armchair diagnosis? Hardly. I happen to know a lot about depression - more than I would like to.
Im well acquainted with depression, academically and from personal experience. What you seem to be pointing to is chronic/severe depression. This is one type and it is no more bonafide than any other.
Clinically/therepeutically there is mild, moderate or severe, relapsing, remitting or chronic depressions. That is six types. Additionally there is treatment-resistant depression, or the depression subtypes noted in the DSM.
Minimising someones mental health concerns doesnt benefit the conversation.
Just because someone does not exhibit the most 'severe' of symptoms doesn'make their suffering any less 'real' to them.
Armchair diagnosis - are you a practicing psychologist or psychiatrist that has been treating sherlockcupid? If so, my apologies. Otherwise this term applies.
I assure you I meant no disrespect. Rereading it I understand how you perceived what I wrote as criticism. You are right about "disqualifying" sherlock cupid's experiences. That wasn't my intention. For me, depression IS debilitating and you reminded me that it takes on many forms in different people. I don't pretend to think I have any right minimizing someone else's suffering. And @sherlockcupid, if it came across like that, I apologize. I have no intention of "diagnosing" anyone. So to answer your question, @schro, no. I am not his therapist or psychiatrist. Nor am I "thoughtless". But I am interested in the discussion of depression overall and I am curious as to what has helped sherlockcupid when he is at his lowest points.
Thanks fairytalelife,
You're right, I did take it that way. As a result I let that define my tone. So my apologies for allowing what was a misunderstanding to get the better of me and reply quite harshly. Thank you for taking the time to understand my position as well.
I'd love to see more discussion around it too. Perhaps next time I will remember that and try not to be such an ass.