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Is it possible to "give yourself" depression? Like, can adopting a certain mindset actually cause a chemical imbalance in the brain? Or can you only make yourself "think" that you have a chemical imbalance unless you were born with one or something? Just wondering out of interest.
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Originally Posted by Help Wanted Is it possible to "give yourself" depression? Like, can adopting a certain mindset actually cause a chemical imbalance in the brain? Or can you only make yourself "think" that you have a chemical imbalance unless you were born with one or something? Just wondering out of interest.
I don't want to say either way. I don't think you can cause a chemical imbalance perse, but the mind is a powerful thing, and to assume that you could not cause the symptoms of one, if desired seems unwise.
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Is it possible to give yourself depression? Yes. You don't have to have a chemical imbalance to have depression.
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like Bob said, you don't need the chemical imbalance. It could be a placebic effect you're experiencing, assuming you're asking for yourself. It works the other way as well. A doctor can give a patient pills made out of sugar and talk about how this new medication works wonders and people will actually feel better. It's possible that just like the effect from the sugar pills, this depression is all in your mind.
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I wish I could remember where I read a study about this. From what I remember, those who have situation depression, if it continues long-term untreated can result in a chemical imbalance.
I wish I could find the study.
Originally Posted by Bobthecockroach Is it possible to give yourself depression? Yes. I'm confused. How on earth do you give yourself depression?
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Yes, it is possible to give yourself depression. It is also possible to get yourself out of the depression (if it isn't a chemical thing but a mind set) by acting happy.
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Yup. I do it to myself regularly. Not that I mean to, but I tend to over-react to things and all that emotion takes a toll. There is certainly a type of personality that is more prone to this - many artistic people and musicians.
PET-scans that show brain activity show that thought patterns have as much effect on brain activity as medication. In fact the odds are as good or better that people suffering from depression can be helped by cognitive and behavioral therapy as by antidepressants. If you want to call that a chemical imbalance you're probably not too wrong.
There's a ton of information about this on the web for all the depressed web-surfers out there.
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I guess I was just wondering if it's possible for someone with a previously "chemically healthy" brain could, by experiancing certain circumstances or whatever, develop an imbalance.
I guess I just wondered if the reason I felt this way at times was me being stupid or an actual chemical thing. Sorry for the sort of confusing question though.
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Stupid people are not likely to be depressed. People who over-think are. God is good, so don't worry - be happy.
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Originally Posted by passinthru I'm confused. How on earth do you give yourself depression? Easy. Make up fake situations about your relationships that end up not so happy, and then start to worry that they will happen, or that they're true.
Trust me, I do this all the time.
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sorry, my only frame of reference for depression is chemical and situational. Not oh I want to feel depressed, it looks like fun?!?!
I'm still very confused about why anyone would WANT to be depressed and would then manufacture something so that they are depressed.
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No would WANT to feel depressed. If all you ever do though is sit around and mope about how much your life sucks, though, you're going to start to believe it. I exaggerate, but depression is certainly more than simply chemical. The way you act and think greatly influences the way you feel.
I think I should clarify a few things I'm NOT saying:
I'm NOT saying that depression is never chemical.
I'm NOT saying that depression can always be cured by positive thinking.
I'm NOT saying that someone would choose to make themselves depressed.
I am simply saying that people can cause themselves to become depressed.
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I too think that you can make yourself feel depressed. If you tell yourself you feel like ****, you most likely will start to feel like that.
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Originally Posted by passinthru sorry, my only frame of reference for depression is chemical and situational. Not oh I want to feel depressed, it looks like fun?!?!
I'm still very confused about why anyone would WANT to be depressed and would then manufacture something so that they are depressed. It's not that I ever wanted to do things like that to myself. I used to have a big problem with such behavior, and it led to a lot of problems. It's like cutting, no one really wants to cut, but it's just a way to escape pain, except it's mental anguish as opposed to physical.
I hope that clarifies it a little.
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I think I"m being dense. I don't understand at all. but this thread wasn't about my understanding what you are saying, because it appears that others get it.