[mauritzio]

Sorry but mental health issues like depression are related to chemical dysfunctions. Would you say when your eyes become bad just try harder and work on yourself, I suppose you probably just buy glasses. Just because you found something out about yourself in a limited area, it doesn't mean it applies to everybody and anything. Maybe you could start and try to work on beeing humble ;)

[RobertRoberts]

>Sorry but mental health issues like depression are related to chemical dysfunctions.

Yes, they are based on chemicals. Also, did you know that by smiling and being nice to people you can add chemicals into your body that make you happy?

And yes, chemicals affect everybody differently. But it's scientifically proven that you have control over your feelings. Unless you have some incredible toxin overload, or you have a glandular problem, you can do something about depression without a doctor.

Unless you think that people who have chemical addictions like smoking and drinking also don't have control over themselves in a similar way?

(edit: @baddox - https://www.quora.com/Can-anyone-really-quit-smoking )

Edit: > Would you say when your eyes become bad just try harder and work on yourself,

I learned from a Swiss airforce fighter jet pilot about eye exercises to help with vision loss. (maybe it's common knowledge, but that's where I heard it) So I guess it depends.

[gaius]

Also, did you know that by smiling and being nice to people you can add chemicals into your body that make you happy?

This is true, and why it's common to tell someone who looks miserable to smile - it really is a two way thing, emotions affect expressions and expressions affect emotions.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/study-for...

These days of course a person is likely to take offence, thereby making themselves more miserable than they already are, or maybe feeling righteously offended is as close to happiness as they ever get, in which case the desired outcome has been achieved anyway!

[aloner]

Might be true, but telling a depressed person to smile more or "it's just chemicals" won't help them. Helping a depressed is a very different fight and getting them to understand there is a life much happier to live has nothing to do with chemicals.

[RobertRoberts]

>Might be true, but telling a depressed person to smile more or "it's just chemicals" won't help them.

Sure it will: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248433.php

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/isnt-what-i-expected/20...

Google for more results...

Also, I agree that it's not simple, and that probably more than anything, these people need friends in their life that care about them, and let them know it.

[baddox]

> Unless you think that people who have chemical addictions like smoking and drinking also don't have control over themselves in a similar way?

I do that think, in fact.

[jcbrand]

Funny that you should bring up vision.

The common wisdom is that when your eyesight deteriorates, you should just accept it and buy glasses, or maybe have laser surgery done.

You can however improve your eyesight (of course within some natural/physical limits) by doing functional eye exercises.

In Germany it's called "Funktionale Optometrie", some googling tells me it's "Behavioral Optometry" in English.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vision_therapy

I know about it because my wife has been doing it for 2 years and no longer wears contact lenses at all.

It's another example where you are not just some helpless individual stuck with certain traits, but that you can actively change and improve yourself and your life if you're willing to put in the effort.

[mauritzio]

That is all nice and helps as long as you don't reverse the reasoning like: Oh you can't view/feel depressed, well then just work on it more. For many the gap is just to big... no matter how much effort they put in it.

[RobertRoberts]

This is what I found to be the worst part about depression, sadness or feeling bad in general. It actively prevents you from solving the problem. No other issue seems to do this. It's like depression affects the "take action" part of your brain.

For example, if you slipped and twisted your ankle, you wouldn't ignore and think there is no solution. You sit down and hold your ankle and then limp to bed, get rest and stay off of it until it was better. Even if you didn't want to.

But problems of the heart, our feelings and our minds, they seem to get in the way of doing things that would actually help you get better.

So, maybe you just have to believe other people and try something new. Because just maybe there's hope, and doing something different for awhile can make something better eventually.

[tomcooks]

This is akin to saying "Maybe you could start running".

Talking about chemistry in your brain, running does wonders about that

Semi /s

[RobertRoberts]

I can't agree more. I would never believe this if I hadn't started running myself. People who have never run think it's foolish until they do it, and are amazed by the results. Also, I didn't see this change for a long time, you don't get it right away.

But I think doing anything at all to change your place in life will make you feel better.