Discussion Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions

[TheFool]

Anyone read this book or know about it? I've been hearing a lot of good things about it but haven't really looked into it. I'm hearing about it so much though I think I might, considering it's pretty relevant to me.

 

[TheFool]

Ok, so I listened to a podcast interview with the author Johann Hari, and I've actually heard this guy talk about depression before but didn't remember his name. Basically he argues that much of depression is often a result of feeling disconnected socially, spiritually etc., as well as just generally having a poor quality of life, rather than it being due to a "chemical imbalance" as many people seem to believe. Therefore the way to treat it is by actually helping the depressed person improve their life in meaningful ways, rather than just giving them a bottle of pills and sending them on their merry way.

So basically he thinks what I thought originally when I was given a prescription for Wellbutrin. I was severely depressed to the point that I was getting psychosomatic pain in my hands all the time. And I knew why I was depressed on some level, but I felt like the meds just made me apathetic and didn't actually fix the root problems, and my therapist at the time sucked. I remember thinking it was weird that he never seemed to wonder why I felt so sad all the time. He never once asked. He just wanted to say how I should focus on improvement or whatnot and I was afraid of bringing up my issues with him myself because I never had done so with anyone before at age 18.

I think I was just opposed to the meds at the time because of that particular situation. I felt like it was the equivalent of being given pain meds for a badly infected wound, and then my doctor was just telling me to eat more apples and exercise rather than examining the wound and coming up with a sufficient treatment plan for me. So I just got pissed and decided to quit the meds and therapy altogehter. I'm actually thinking about going back on Wellbutrin now though, possibly Xanax as well. Ironically I feel like I'm too aware of my issues now, and it's causing a feedback loop of anxiety and depression, and I just need a way to stabilize.

 

[lost illusions]

I'm Mostly illiterate

 

[Redt2go]

Lost Connections is definitely keeping me depressed

 

[KiraLittleOwl]

I think this guy is on point, it's not a far fetched idea that depression can derive from low quality of life, poor connections with piers and lack of general meaning in modern society.
Of course that doesn't mean that there are no cases when it's chemical imbalance or misfiring of neurons like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Psychiatry can't solve problems with society, it's out of their reach, therapists can give tools to cope but in the end the root of the problem remains.
Elites have no interest in addressing this issue because they can't profit from that.
Meanwhile depression and suicides is on the rise.


I am in Wellbutrin too btw, doesn't help even a little bit.

 

[Redt2go]

I think this guy is on point, it's not a far fetched idea that depression can derive from low quality of life, poor connections with piers and lack of general meaning in modern society.
Of course that doesn't mean that there are no cases when it's chemical imbalance or misfiring of neurons like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Psychiatry can't solve problems with society, it's out of their reach, therapists can give tools to cope but in the end the root of the problem remains.
Elites have no interest in addressing this issue because they can't profit from that.
Meanwhile depression and suicides is on the rise.


I am in Wellbutrin too btw, doesn't help even a little bit.

Damn :(