Mental Health

Folks with depression who got therapy via text or voice messages fared just as well as those who got weekly video-based telemedicine sessions with a therapist, a new trial has found.

The findings "suggest that psychotherapy delivered via text messages may be a viable alternative to face-to-face or videoconferencing delivery and may allow for more immediate on-demand care," in a time when it's often tough for people to access mental health care, the study authors wrote.

spoiler

I think I hit the last straw today, I have been really trying to get a job, hunderds of attempts and nothing, I finallly get an interview and I thought I did well, I did'nt turns out, I have nothing. On top of that my friends are now asking for rent, this was the one city I finally had some form of a support system now I have to move back home and leave it behind and return to a place I did not have any support system once so ever. I will likely need to quit hrt due to lack of funds. I am now thinking instead of suffering like I did alone for years, why not just commit. My plan is to create a massive scene to make everyone hate me, I will than disappear and commit in a random town far away from here cause I don't fucking care anymore. I am 2.5k in debt, nothing fucking matters. I have been holding out my entire life and shit never seems to get better. People just tell me well theres gotta be something postive in your home town :), but that comes across as a massive fuck you from someone who just was alone and cried in her bed constantly for years. and legit had nothing better to do than doom scroll twitter. I am humbling convienced that's as good as I am allowed to have based on karma from actions I did when I was 12-14. I know I am gonna get banned for this post but everything feels so loud. I chugged a monster and I started to have chest pain I legit didnt care anymore I just needed to feel something other than the numbness. I legit don't even know if I am real anymore and i LEGIT have no options anymore. I really doubt my friends would support me if I told them hey I'm sucidal they would likely just say we don;t know you like that and talk about how inappropriate it was to just drop that on them like that. I suck as a person I humbly believe that I deserve to be an unidentified jane doe somewhere. I also know I am very likely to be banned for this post but I really don't care nothing fuccking matters anymore I cwed this post as best I can I just can't fucking take it everything feels so loud ever since I read that fucking email, this is the millionth email I gotten like that

Everyone struggles to manage their emotions at times. It’s normal to have negative feelings and we can’t expect ourselves – or others – to leave those behind just because we’re at work. But those negative emotions can be detrimental to our relationships, performance, focus, and overall well-being. So it’s worthwhile to hone our emotional intelligence skills that help us handle negative feelings. The author shares three simple approaches to enhance three specific aspects of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, and positive connections. These exercises include: assessment of bodily sensations, cognitive load, and emotional states; strategic breathing exercises; and authentic, intentional acts of kindness and understanding.

A study published in JAMA Network Open by Included Health and Harvard Medical School found that patients in high deductible health plans are less likely to seek virtual behavioral healthcare when costs are reintroduced. The study analyzed 15,000 patients and revealed that those required to pay out-of-pocket attended 1.5 fewer telemental health visits per month, with 11.7% stopping visits altogether.

A number of large employers across the United States, including Microsoft, Dell and Ford, are taking steps to make workplaces more accessible and welcoming for neurodivergent employees as the number of autism diagnoses rises. The shift comes as an increasing number of autistic people are also identifying themselves publicly.

Large nonprofit health systems like Geisinger, Ascension, and Henry Ford are forming joint ventures with investor-owned psychiatric hospital operators such as Acadia and Universal Health Services. While these hospitals often carry the names of the nonprofits, for-profit companies with questionable track records manage day-to-day operations.

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/14297883

Between the ages of 8 and 12, MRI scans of children with ADHD show significantly lower cerebral blood flow in regions of the brain known to be related to attention, motor skills, executive function and impulsivity.

(Conclusively demonstrating that it's not just "in someone's head")

I'm not sure if I'm using the right terminology, but how can I detach without losing any love? I find myself needing people so much that it deeply affects my mental state, which is closer to BPD.

I've made significant progress since last year. I'm pleased to say that I've learned to control my thoughts and actions. I'm still working on it, but I'm getting there. For instance, I have experienced instances where I have felt a rage episode or lost in a trance-like state. I have experienced some intense self-destructive thoughts and behaviors in the past, but I have always been able to recognize them as such and choose not to act on them.

I would like to learn how to be less dependent on others, or at least to be less affected by it, so that it doesn't have a negative impact on my mental health or those close to me.

Medicare is initiating an eight-year pilot project, GUIDE, to provide direct support to caregivers of dementia patients, aiming to alleviate the emotional and financial burdens they face. The program will provide care coordinators to assist families with managing symptoms, coordinating medical visits, and arranging short-term care, with the goal of keeping patients healthier and at home longer. This initiative is expected to reduce hospitalization rates and save Medicare money, although its long-term cost-effectiveness remains uncertain.

I've posted previously and appreciate everyone and all the advice. As an update, I'm still without a job. IT in the Midwest area seems to be horrendously bad. I have friends out of work too, its not just me, but I'm over a year at this point.

Changed my resume more times than I can count, using advice from here, friends, ChatGPT, etc. No difference really.

My car was always first on the list to be replaced. Well, a few fays ago I hit/ran over an animal that ran out and it destroyed my radiator and who knows what else. This is a big problem, I live 30-35 minutes from any sort of city with jobs.

All I can do when I try to sleep is lay in bed and go over it all, how bad it is, what did I do wrong, why do things just keep getting worse and worse, etc. I'm hoping someone has a technique that works for them to get those thoughts out. So I can sleep well, and have the energy to keep on

Of course I'll accept advice about anything, and appreciate the time and everyone reading!

Thank you

I've been having quite a stressful period of exams recently and at one point I started feeling a mixture of burnt out and depressed. I immediately stopped preparing for the exams, and to ease the thought that I would need to manage 2 more years of this (this is what triggered the depression), I started making plans to switch to an easier degree.

Usually when I feel depressed I know exactly why (my mind tunnel visions on the big picture problem and blocks out the present), and once I address the cause I begin to feel hopeful again. But this time, although doing these things eased the immediate feeling of burnout, I have carried on feeling depressed. I am usually a humorous person so I tried to watch my favourite comedy to rekindle my playfulness but I felt completely numb to the jokes and nuance in it that I usually appreciate. Same when I tried to socialize.

I've removed the cause so I don't understand why I'm still depressed and what else I need to do to make my mind operate normally again. Could it be from other unadressed things in my life that have been in the background? Does anyone have any ideas?

Hello, so I am someone who meets facet 2&3 of the psychopathic spectrum and my psychiatrist at least agreed I’m ether a psychopath or have heavy ASPD. Though we were never able to get far due to insurance issues though I have done extensive research with college professors and learning from specialized psychiatrist. Now please before you keep on reading understand this will get rather gruesome so if you wish to click away. I’d do so now.

So the first signs I remember as a child that should’ve thrown red flags across the board for my parents was I would step and kill birds to watch their life drain from their eyes. This includes the sound of death and blood would sexually arouse me at 4 years old. Moving onto 6th grade. My English teacher was afraid of me, as I would constantly talk about fire arms and killing. Moving up to recently, I seriously didn’t mean to kill the squirrel as I was just wondering what may happen. Though I microwaved a squirrel and it exploded. I told this story in my 12th grade English class.

See by that time I really stopped harming animals but I got a really psychotic moment and had that thought. I do deeply regret doing it but I still have random psychotic ideas. Like I recently found a roadkill beaver that was well preserved and decided to skin it. Then when walking back into my house with the skinning knife I had a very horrible idea to capture a bird and slit its throat just to watch its blood leak. I do have an understanding of laws and morals I taught myself/learned off a show character who honestly raised me a bit as my father was never around.

The thing is though I do feel emotion, normally I can’t at all feel happiness or very distant. Though I feel a void normally calm but when I get stressed or sad. It’s like an overwhelming sense of dread. Though the only true happiness I feel in this life is loving and caring for others or trying to protect the innocent.

Though I don’t know how to fit in, how to seem a bit more normal and I believe it’s affecting my life in general. Please any advice helps.

Addition to this: I have DID with 6 alternate personalities. One an aging younger version while the others are adults. I don’t have nearly any memory of my childhood besides psychotic things I did. I also have hallucinations when someone makes me mad of bad things happening to them which I’ve never had the intent of following them as normally they disturb me and I don’t want those things to happen. For example seeing my brother and mother’s face peal off. I also don’t feel empathy 60% of the time unless I’m romantically attracted or they’re really good people.

This information is purposefully condensed. It's my goal to get my ideas out in the most clear, concise way possible.

...I'm still working on it, lol. Think of it as a list of "Bullet Paragraphs."

That being said; Please try to take it at face value and let me know if it resonates with you.

Would love to hear from anyone who disagrees, too!

---

tl;dr

Ask Why. Often. If you need to, start with answers you know. Be willing to admit when you get it wrong, Be willing to learn from it. Work on staying rational when emotions rise, While also giving them the space they deserve.

Why is very helpful in relationships, too, Just be mindful of boundaries.

---

Why isn't a question, it's a path. It can be overgrown and hard to see sometimes, but as long as you remember to come back and check now and then, you'll always find it again. And whenever it feels like you've reached the end, there's probably a little more still ahead.

Sometimes, you'll come to an answer that feels right, and later find out you're wrong. If you're able to admit it, you'll still learn from it. Be willing to update your worldview, or maybe just your place in it.

If you don't know where where to start or what to ask, just start with going through the Why that you already know. Journaling is a huge help with this part, but just mentally working through it is great, too.

You might ask something like "Why do I get sad so quickly?" or "Why do I feel lonely?" Keep going until it feels like time to stop, or when you get stuck. Set it down for now, so you can come back later.

If you are able to rationalize and accept why things happened while accepting and feeling the emotional pain when it rises, you can work to heal wounds while staying more emotionally regulated.

The trick here is learning to give the pain the space it deserves, while leaving your rational mind in control to "sort the baggage." It may be difficult at first, but it comes with practice.

Why is amazing when aimed inward, but it can be just as helpful aimed outward: When those close to you are struggling, trying to really understand Why can be a great help to them and may strengthen the relationship as long as boundaries are respected.

This can be applied to many other mental health related situations, too, not just trauma.

[Disclaimer: I am not a licened anything, except a class D Driver, and definitelty not a mental health professional.

The information below involves a theory that could be considered "Brainhacking."

It's a very powerful tool and should be used with informed intent. If you're able, using this method with the advice of a licenced therapist is highly recommended.

If you are not able to do that, you can and should teach yourself about mental emotional health as you engage with this theory, and be willing to update your beliefs.

Self help is popular at the moment and there are a lot of free resources out there. Social media can actually be really helpful with this, but you have to vet your sources.

I can't tell you how to vet, because I don't know. I'm self taught. I can give some recommendations, though, if anyone asks.

The more you learn, the more BS you'll be able to smell.

Just dig.]

With that said... It's possible to build your sense of autonomy by building up your ability to make informed, intentional decisions.

Most people already do this, I know.

This is about how to build it from scratch if you need to, or strengthen what you already have.

If you share this information anywhere, I ask that you share it in it's entirety. Full context is very important.

And lastly; This is a first draft. Feedback and constructive criticism is encouraged.

---

This guide came out of a reply to a comment on my post about Doomer Nihilists.

The post: https://lemmy.world/post/14522935

Which I also posted here: https://lemmy.world/post/14522932

The comment:

I hope you're never able to understand. Depression changes not just how you feel but the ways you can feel. The people you're frustrated with literally can't be positive in the same way you can.

---

My reply:

I'm certain that I won't.

That being said... I've been suffering from Chronic Depression from the age of 12. I'm in my 40's now.

I'll spare you the life story, but after a particularly turbulent ~4 years between 2016 and 2020 (completely unrelated to politics, oddly enough given the range.), I "Woke up" and started to examine the world around me as if I was new here.

During the pandemic, I began to realize that I had to understand the division and rise of authoritarianism going on in the world right now to get over pretty severe cognitive dissonance. It led me to realizing how someone can live in their own reality bubble, and understanding how that bubble gets created.

When you can present someone a black and white fact, and they deny or evade, at a base level in their mind, it is a conscious choice. A choice between evade, deny, and accept. The part of your brain that makes that choice is essentially a root level decision maker.

By utilizing that same part of the mind purposefully and rationally, you can greatly increase your sense of autononomy.

In the context of depression...

Taking back your autonomy aside from but along with healing your depression is possible.

It seems impossible because the depression is taking so much of your mental energy, you haven't been able to really use this part of your mind, and it has likely atrophied.

As you build it back up it will help you take more purposeful steps toward healing.

And to your last statement... Yeah... you can. I promise. Not instantly, but incrementally. It literally starts with making one decision. One decision over and over until it sticks. After that you move on to the next, and the next, and so on.

If you still think it's impossible, ask yourself this question and be honest with the answer:

"Am I ready to heal -yet?-"

If the answer is no, nothing can help. You gotta flip that switch. -You- gotta figure that one out.

It never fully heals, and it may wax and wane, but better is possible.

---

[My reply ends there, but I will continue here with the hypothetical question...]

"Okaysohowthefuckamisupposedtodothis??"

---

You have two separate and distinct minds in your head.

[CGP Grey - You Are Two] ~5m

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfYbgdo8e-8

And you can learn to use them separately.

This is one place where it's different for everyone. I imagine it will be easier for some and harder for others, but I'll do my best to get it started:

If you've ever had a gut feeling or heard you conscious, that's your left brain. It's the logical voice on your shoulder when a devil's on the other.

Start using that side of your brain to make decisions. Maybe purposefully choose to do something outside your routine or comfort zone. Small things first, like choosing a different flavor, or making a different turn. Use those to identify and and "isolate" your left brain's decision maker and start practicing.

It is a mental muscle. Very useful in mental gymnastics. ;P

It takes time and effort, but as it grows so does your willpower. And once it gets going it slowly starts to feed itself, and you can work more on keeping momentem rather than building it.

A couple notes:

Sometimes your left brain can be a cynical asshole, so your right brain has to step in and say "Okay listen up motherfucker. You and I both know damn good and well that this cynical take is bullshit." Or vice versa. Pay attention to and foster that.

Also, if you wanted to, you could even let each half believe in opposing ideas, as long as the rational side gets at least 51%. This is how I hold all of my spiritual beliefs.

---

"Will doing this fully heal my depression?"

---

No. Nothing can do that. The depression will never be gone, but with the right understanding to make the right decisions, this will help you to process most of, if not all of what can be healed.

You will have to feel all of your pain before it's gone, and that part is probably gonna suck.

When you are able; sit with your pain. Understand it, hold it, and when you're ready or when you need to, set it down. It will come back later, where you'll go through this process again.

On that topic; Journaling is a great way to process, as well. Most people seem to get the the best results by physically journaling with pen and paper. I feel like typing on a physical, mechanical keyboard works best for me. (But my phone works in a pinch, too!)

Talking to someone is great, too, but talking about emotional issues too often can possibly do more harm then good. Pay attention to how you feel after to know if it's helpful. Ex.: "Do I feel more relieved or more anxious?" Identify the feelings.

There are tons: Creating Art, Exercise, Being Outdoors, and so on. You'll have to find what works for you. Just don't be afraid to feel understand the pain as you do it. Sometimes you might even try to feel it intentionally. But always remember; When you're done, set it down and let it come back later.

---

If all of -this- seems impossible to you: Did you evade or deny? What would change if you accepted it?

---

Uhm... That's it, in a nutshell. This was kinda spur of the moment, and I have plans to write more of the "How" out in greater detail, at some point. But for now... Thank you for coming to my TedTalk?

I feel like everyone eventually gets annoyed with me, and I just always end up alone. I loose all my friends, and Ive never really had a healthy loving partnership. I just feel hopeless

Title says it, apparently i've been "too much" for them to handle (and i recognize i was quite the bag of rocks in 2021).

But these last two years everything had been just fine (i apologized for my misbehavior, i finally got a job), everything was going great.

But now they suddenly felt they've "changed and matured" (their words, not mine) and that somehow does not allow us to be friends any longer.

Any advice?

I feel i'm losing my head over this.

Technological development can destroy our sense of ourselves as rational, coherent subjects, leading to widespread suffering and destruction. But tools can also provide us with a new sense of what it means to be human, leading to new modes of expression and cultural practices.

Technology, for better or worse, affects every aspect of our lives. Our very sense of who we are is shaped and reshaped by the tools we have at our disposal.

The problem, for Stiegler, is that when we pay too much attention to our tools, rather than how they are developed and deployed, we fail to understand our reality. We become trapped, merely describing the technological world on its own terms and making it even harder to untangle the effects of digital technologies and our everyday experiences.

By encouraging us to pay closer attention to this world-making capacity, with its potential to harm and heal, Stiegler is showing us what else is possible.

archive.org

ghostarchive.org

archive.today

Meridia 15mg capsules are a medication used to treat obesity. It works by suppressing appetite and causing increased feelings of fullness. It is important to only take Meridia as directed by a healthcare professional, as it can have serious side effects. Common side effects include dizziness, dry mouth, and increased heart rate. It is also important to discuss all medications with a healthcare provider before taking them, as they may interact with other medications.