Basement Dwellers

[Chris]

Please do not self-diagnose. These symptoms can be common with many different issues. When my best friend went to the doctor for what she thought was depression it turned out she had acute stress disorder. When I went to a doctor for what I thought was a return of previously diagnosed mental health issues it turned out that I have megaloblastic anaemia.

If you were to see a doctor and it were depression then what they would do is put in a referral for therapy and prescribe medication. Medication helps a little, but really the best way to combat mental health problems (and what therapy would be aimed at helping you do) is consciously try and fight it. Little things that can help include:

• trying to look at positive outcomes, rather than the negatives
• having things to look forward to at the end of a day, the week, the month
• become aware of when you are self-sabotaging and try to take control of your thoughts and feelings
• learn how to distract yourself - it's important that you can do this independently, because otherwise it can have a negative impact on your relationships with friends and family

Absolutely see a doctor to find out what is wrong - because there are a wide range of mood disorders out there, and many physical conditions (like the one I have) that can appear to take the form of a mental health issue when it's actually something more detrimental to your health. It is never a good thing to ignore a problem or try to self-diagnose.

 

[Seastar]

Ah, reading that brought up my anxiety.
I still have to get checked for diabetes eventually...

 

[Chris]

Ah, reading that brought up my anxiety.
I still have to get checked for diabetes eventually...

Absolutely see a doctor if you suspect that you are diabetic. Untreated diabetes can have fatal consequences.

 

[Seastar]

Absolutely see a doctor if you suspect that you are diabetic. Untreated diabetes can have fatal consequences.

Well now my anxiety is worse. But okay...

 

[MapleSilver]

• having things to look forward to at the end of a day, the week, the month

This one's such an important thing from my experience. It doesn't even have to be some huge life-changing thing. "I have to keep going, I can't miss the next Animal Crossing game" is something I genuinely told myself before NH released, which sounds kind of ridiculous, but it helped.

 

[frogslime]

"I have to keep going, I can't miss the next Animal Crossing game"

this is weirdly what I told myself, too, when I felt down.

 

[Seastar]

That reminds me of when I was telling myself I didn't want to miss Kirby's 25th anniversary.
...Except that wasn't really the same situation. I legitimately thought I might die.

 

[Chris]

Well now my anxiety is worse. But okay...

It's better to know these things and be able to get treatment than to not know.

This one's such an important thing from my experience. It doesn't even have to be some huge life-changing thing. "I have to keep going, I can't miss the next Animal Crossing game" is something I genuinely told myself before NH released, which sounds kind of ridiculous, but it helped.

It's not ridiculous at all! Even little things are worthwhile. I often bribe myself to get out of bed and get through bad days. e.g. "if I don't chicken out of this presentation today I can go to McDonalds on the way home."

 

[Seastar]

I see everything got really quiet here...

 

[Clock]

It really did

 

[Chris]

I wasn't feeling well so I went and sat in my bathtub for two hours playing video games.

Craving a quarter pounder with cheese after mentioning McDonalds in my post earlier.

 

[Ananas Dragon]

I wasn't feeling well so I went and sat in my bathtub for two hours playing video games.

Craving a quarter pounder with cheese after mentioning McDonalds in my post earlier.

what the

 

[Clock]

I think I'm feeling better
Thank goodness it wasn't like last time when I was sick, it was bad

 

[Ananas Dragon]

I think I'm feeling better
Thank goodness it wasn't like last time when I was sick, it was bad

ya like jazz?

 

[Chris]

what the

Which part of that confused you?

 

[Ananas Dragon]

Which part of that confused you?

sat in my bathtub for two hours playing videogames

assuming you weren't using it like a couch that's instant death if it falls into the water

 

[Clock]

ya like jazz?

Jazz is good

 

[Chris]

sat in my bathtub for two hours playing videogames

assuming you weren't using it like a couch that's instant death if it falls into the water

I always take devices in the tub. So far no accidents!

 

[Ananas Dragon]

Jazz is good

 

[Seastar]

I always take devices in the tub. So far no accidents!

That's a safety hazard.