Social Anxiety Support

jer · 08-29-2009, 06:46 AM

Found this on scientific american

http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...s-evolutionary

seems like depression is an adaptation, not a malfunction

_AJ_ · 08-29-2009, 08:33 AM

yay, lets get depressed!

zookeeper · 08-29-2009, 12:26 PM

I've always found lying in bed for days at a time wanting to kill myself to be extremely useful and productive.

deeds14 · 08-29-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zookeeper

i've always found lying in bed for days at a time wanting to kill myself to be extremely useful and productive.

lol

bobthebuilder · 08-29-2009, 04:59 PM

Well this makes me sad. if i were to believe this, then i have been depressed for the last 9+ yrs, and this depression is the root of my intelligence. So im only smart when im sad? Fantastic.

marenubium87 · 08-29-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobthebuilder

Well this makes me sad. if i were to believe this, then i have been depressed for the last 9+ yrs, and this depression is the root of my intelligence. So im only smart when im sad? Fantastic.

I'm fairly convinced that the malfunction in my brain that is causing my depression and social anxiety is also the thing that is responsible for my intelligence. Doubled-edged sword, indeed.

mountain5 · 08-29-2009, 08:12 PM

The problem is I've never seen a good definition of what depression "is". When I was morbidly depressed during my teen years, I did a lot of analytical thinking about my life, but it didn't help much when I believed everyone hated me and was out to hurt to me. But I was still going to school and getting good grades, so no one was willing to diagnose me with anything at the time.

sanria22 · 08-29-2009, 10:41 PM

I think it's the other way around, depression leads to constant (if unproductive thinking) because of the 'stress' factor in the brain going off-kilter. That is, you can still get stressed (and analytical and whatnot) but depression comes from almost too much stress.

Freedom2010 · 09-03-2009, 12:42 PM

Depression is an awful feeling. The article is saying it helps you think through problems and solve them better, but can't people think through problems without being depressed? I can be in the happiest mood in the world, and still get a math problem correct. I don't see what depression has to do with how well you are able to think through problems.

08-29-2009, 06:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
jer Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Texas Gender: Male Posts: 221	Depression has advantages Found this on scientific american http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...s-evolutionary seems like depression is an adaptation, not a malfunction

08-29-2009, 08:33 AM	#2 (permalink)
_AJ_ Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 734	yay, lets get depressed! __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the decision to act in spite of it.

08-29-2009, 12:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
zookeeper Status: The floor is lava!! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Soap Fortress Gender: Male Age: 30 Posts: 1,068	I've always found lying in bed for days at a time wanting to kill myself to be extremely useful and productive. __________________ You leapt into the abyss, but find It only goes up to your knees, ~ Nick Cave

09-03-2009, 12:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
Freedom2010 Status: breaking free Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Here, there, and eveywhere Gender: Female Posts: 2,214	Depression is an awful feeling. The article is saying it helps you think through problems and solve them better, but can't people think through problems without being depressed? I can be in the happiest mood in the world, and still get a math problem correct. I don't see what depression has to do with how well you are able to think through problems. __________________ "Live right now- just be yourself. Doesn't matter if it's good enough for someone else." - Jimmy Eat World

08-29-2009, 04:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
bobthebuilder Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: NY Gender: Male Age: 21 Posts: 132	Well this makes me sad. if i were to believe this, then i have been depressed for the last 9+ yrs, and this depression is the root of my intelligence. So im only smart when im sad? Fantastic.

08-29-2009, 08:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
mountain5 Status: SAS Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Minnesota Gender: Male Age: 24 Posts: 655	The problem is I've never seen a good definition of what depression "is". When I was morbidly depressed during my teen years, I did a lot of analytical thinking about my life, but it didn't help much when I believed everyone hated me and was out to hurt to me. But I was still going to school and getting good grades, so no one was willing to diagnose me with anything at the time.

08-29-2009, 10:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
sanria22 Status: SAS Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: MN Gender: Female Age: 23 Posts: 907	I think it's the other way around, depression leads to constant (if unproductive thinking) because of the 'stress' factor in the brain going off-kilter. That is, you can still get stressed (and analytical and whatnot) but depression comes from almost too much stress.