[spacephysics]

Fully agree, to me depression is a common symptom that the system of biological processes “outputs”, if you will, when some process isn’t running optimally.

Stopped sugar suddenly? Inflammation from food you’re eating? IBS in general? Traumatic upbringing leading to entrenched “thought loops”? Undiagnosed disease?

These all and more can have depression as a symptom.

My armchair psychologist opinion is the DSM 5 category process isn’t fitting correctly to how humans operate. I believe there’s a completely different modality that has yet to be discovered (or known in mainstream science) that gives us a better way to diagnose people.

I find it nuts that you subjectively, in most cases, ask the patient if they fit in usually 3 of 5 categories, or what not, and that determines the diagnoses. Countless times it’s like “okay, what does hyper mean?” “What does intense rumination mean?”

We need a more objective way to measure these criteria.

I was diagnosed with depression for a while, tried a bunch of drugs, none really worked. Then for shits I do a neurological adhd battery and lo and behold, seems like that’s it.

Now using the correct behavioral changes leads to the depression going away, and far higher quality of life.

I know the system, DSM 5, is best we have now, but we need more innovation in this space

[franl]

Which behavioral changes got you there?

[simonswords82]

Not OP and I can’t speak for the entire human population but for me it was changing the relationship I have with myself.

Make a mistake? No big deal it’ll be better next time. Learn from it rather than beat myself up for it.

Hit that red traffic light? Time for self contemplation and putting the heated seats on rather than being pissed off I’m delayed 30 seconds.

Get an email that triggers my threat response? Take a breath and think about who I have around me who can help rather than take it all on myself.

Have a read of learned optimism. Great book.

Get therapy. Hit the gym. Go for walks. Brush your teeth for 2 mins. Moisturise. Show yourself as much self care as you can.

[spacephysics]

This 100%. Self compassion, and learning that, for me, my irritability was coming from a place of anxiety, which then could escalate into anger.

Also, on the ADHD side, implementing schedules and routines to make sure I get things done appropriately and not get as easily distracted by things like video games or social media.

At first it felt like I was in grade school again, with an agenda book and blocking out time, but lo and behold it works out well. Not fully able to follow schedule to a T, but a vast improvement over before.