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I suffer from severe depression, yet my job is as a programmer. It can be a difficult disability in a trying profession. Anyone else struggle with this? Any tips?
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The Jiving Anchovie wrote: yet my job is as a programmer
I'm curious as to why you phrase it like that.
I love programming. It allows me to get away from the Real World, to create, to share my creations with others, to test myself, and to learn. That's all good stuff to me.
On a potentially unrelated note: do you exercise?
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: I'm curious as to why you phrase it like that.
Because he's depressed!
What do I win?
Jeremy Falcon
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Chris Maunder wrote: I'm curious as to why you phrase it like that.
Cause you still haven't bought me a beer. That's why.
Michael Martin
Australia
"I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible."
- Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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I'm in Sydney next week...
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: I'm in Sydney next week...
Give me a date, a time and a place and I will organise work to be there. Also let me know if it's alcohol or just coffee.
Michael Martin
Australia
"I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible."
- Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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It'll be skinny decaf soy gluten free lattes all the way. I know you Mick, and I know what you like.
cheers
Chris Maunder
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Yeah, while it's typical of people to assume that geeks are somehow one dimensional nerds, a lot of programmers I know are very emotive, empathetic folks.
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There is an interesting youtube video around the area of creativity and mental illness [^]from Professor Nancy Andreasen. She explains how sometimes the very traits that are present in creative people can also lead them to be more vulnerable to depression.
The general advice is always to seek professional help with regards to depression and as Chris mentions physical exercise can make a big difference.
I hope things improve for you.
“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”
― Christopher Hitchens
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I struggled too, well, nothing severe. Might be time to start looking. I find creativity helps with staying "in the zone." But you need freedom to do this.
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Yes. My problem was B12 deficiency, so get that checked if you hadn't already.
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Been there done that. Do some soul searching and found out what caused that and get some closure. It usually comes back to childhood crap, so talking to people about it or like a counselor is a good step.
Or maybe you're just not in the field you're meant to be in. Could be a simple as that. If there's something else you'd rather do, then do it man.
Jeremy Falcon
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If I understood "depression" as something you can suffer from, other than a short term emotional jag of a teenager, I might be able to sympathise with you. I'm afraid I'm one of those who are just going to tell you to suck it up and get on with your life.
As for creating an equivalence between depression and programming, that has to be a personal viewpoint, most of us enjoy the work! Change careers, find something you enjoy and work out how to do that. I did!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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Are you sure you are not promoting the old stereotypes?: What is depression[^]
Peter Wasser
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell
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I doubt my opinion is promoting anything, me and old stereotypes are well acquainted.
Even knowing someone, my DIL, who "suffers" from depression I don't understand it.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity
RAH
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There is lots on the net about depression. Seek out professional help and don't rely on gratuitous advice. What is depression[^]
Peter Wasser
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell
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No simple answer, but here are some tips:
- Realizing that I am just a tiny tiny speck (both in terms of space and time) in this great magnitude of creation, and not worrying about anything other than the immediate needs, (perhaps easier said than done).
- Finding out what you like the most, and pursuing it. There are two aspects - (i) My interest, and (ii) My profession. If there is a mismatch between the two, can be one of the causes of depression, which means: 'I am not loving and enjoying my job'. Seeking a profession of your interest (however low paying it is) may help; because over time, things will change for the better, simply because the interest lies there.
- Distracting yourself periodically, by visiting this site[^] every now and then.
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"Depression" has become a catch-all default term for so many emotional, and cognitive, states, syndromes, conditions, etc., that I find it in many ways a less than valuable term. fyi: I was once in this life a qualified, credentialed, psychiatric social-worker. And, yes, I have struggled with depression, myself.
Depression can be the result/reaction-to specific trauma, loss, injury, illness. Depression can be a biologically rooted syndrome with a genetic component. Deep endogenous depression is a frightening phenomenon whose manifestations can resemble a very serious disease, and can result in death (shock treatment of some form is still the treatment of choice for this ... although today's electro-convulsive therapy has no resemblance to the old stereotypes).
Neurotic depression, often related to negative patterns of cognition (self-talk), can be chronic, and can be effectively treated with cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT).
And, while, in our "brave new digital world," we no longer find it fashionable to think in terms of anomie (Durkheim), or angst (Kierkegaard, Freud), I believe those terms are valuable to describe a depression characterized by a sense of meaningless, and an often accompanying "numbness" in terms of our sensory experience of the world, and our body. Whether one describes that as an inherently "spiritual" condition (as Hermann Hesse did: morbio inferiore), or a kind of almost external force acting upon you (as Winston Churchill did with his "black dog" metaphor), for many people it is a very real phenomenon.
While I am disturbed to see vast numbers of people medicated wholesale with anti-depressants (the SSRI's, specifically), there is no doubt there is a significant group of people who can benefit from them, and benefit from them long-term.
Age, socio-economic status, health, work, stress-levels, significant life changes, relationships, intimacy, sexuality, family health history: these are all things any good therapist may wish to review with someone who says they are depressed.
If you are finding yourself chronically unhappy, having negative thoughts, if you see yourself tending towards isolation, and avoiding social contacts, please do think about consulting a qualified therapist, or counselor ... after a good general physical health check-up where you ask the physician about what they think.
cheers, Bill
«Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.» Benjamin Franklin
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Quote: vast numbers of people medicated wholesale with anti-depressants (the SSRI's, specifically),
Yes! Here in the USA they may just as well put Prozac into our drinking water!
How do we preserve the wisdom men will need,
when their violent passions are spent?
- The Lost Horizon
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Make the best use of phases where you're feeling a bit better. Try to establish routines of doing things which help you to stay in a good mood. Try to stick to these when it gets worse. Reward yourself when you succeed in achieving that or any other goals you've set yourself, even if they're small goals. Your goals should be small enough so that you succeed in achieving them much more often than failing to.
If you're not exercising, start doing it but start small. Like just going for a walk. When you're back, reward yourself for it.
If you don't have a pet consider getting one.
If you're not seeing a therapist, go looking for one and be sure to find one with whom you're comfortable with.
cheers, Sascha
If the brain were so simple we could understand it, we would be so simple we couldn't. — Lyall Watson
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So the battle to get my parents Wi-Fi seems to have been resolved via a BT Engineer who knew which way up (?!) and Wi-Fi range extender from PC World (I hate to buy stuff from there, always I get a guy or gal who is more of an expert to help, "Well this unit will", "No it won't" etc). but finally...
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Hi All,
In all the fun recently I forgot I had a linked-in profile, but I have just discovered it thanks to Pete O'Hanlon I have been reminded of it, Thanks Pete...
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You're welcome mate. Glad you found it.
This space for rent
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Hmmm, Daily Express, is she related to Diana or a migrant? 
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