Psychology: Is it all just fluff?

Angela Morris said:I have just come to the realization that things may never truly improve. I spent years hoping to find some semblance of peace or happiness, but it remains elusive. I have read countless psychology books, attempted to adopt positive thinking, and worked extensively on myself... there are brief windows of progress, only for me to slide back into those same dark thoughts—the desire to simply not exist, the urge to end it all. (Though, perhaps I lack the courage for such an act, as the physical pain terrifies me; still, in those moments, I wouldn't mind if a car struck me in a crossing. My recklessness in traffic tends to increase during these periods...)
After so many attempts to force myself into being happy, satisfied, or free from fear... everything reverts to its original state. I am losing my faith that any change is possible. I have even watched documentaries on the subject. I saw a segment about someone with symptoms similar to mine undergoing electroconvulsive therapy—you know, the kind where they use 😛 electrical impulses. In movies, people with traumatic childhoods almost always end up as serial killers, seemingly beyond any help.
Is this actually how life works? Do the wounds we receive once never truly heal? Or is modern psychology merely suggesting that everything can be fixed...

You really have to face yourself and your own worldview. You need to accept your struggles and try to work through them while searching for some sort of purpose in life...
God could be your only real answer. Pick up The Bible and quotes in the New Testament, and just sit with those words and reflect on your life.

There is one Name that can solve all your problems. He suffered for you, and since you are suffering too, you already have something in common... you just need to reach out and make contact.
God, Jesus Christ, is the only hope in situations like this. He loves you, and His love is the way for you to finally feel loved too.

However, you shouldn't walk this path alone; you'll need professional guidance. On one hand, you need a solid psychotherapist who is also a believer, and if possible, a compassionate priest who actually understands what you're going through.
Don't lose heart, help is available!
Best,
AT&T

amberviper said:You really have to face yourself and your own worldview. You need to accept your struggles and try to work through them while searching for some sort of purpose in life...
God could be your only real answer. Pick up The Bible and quotes in the New Testament, and just sit with those words and reflect on your life.

There is one Name that can solve all your problems. He suffered for you, and since you are suffering too, you already have something in common... you just need to reach out and make contact.
God, Jesus Christ, is the only hope in situations like this. He loves you, and His love is the way for you to finally feel loved too.

However, you shouldn't walk this path alone; you'll need professional guidance. On one hand, you need a solid psychotherapist who is also a believer, and if possible, a compassionate priest who actually understands what you're going through.
Don't lose heart, help is available!
Best,
AT&T

I’m asking the moderators to please remove this individual from the psychology forum. This kind of rambling is dangerous and harmful to people here dealing with serious depression and anxiety (and there are plenty of us). Thank you.

Nicole Davis7 said:I’m asking the moderators to please remove this individual from the psychology forum. This kind of rambling is dangerous and harmful to people here dealing with serious depression and anxiety (and there are plenty of us). Thank you.

You sick idiot, what do you even know about depression? Get out of my sight! AT&T

I hear patients say this all the time when they’re describing how they feel right now: "I'm depressed again."
The thing is, nobody can actually pin down what they mean by that word "depression"...
We all have our own personal experiences with feeling low, but that’s not quite the same thing as someone labeling themselves as "depressed again." They’re using that single term to define an entire state of being that we can't even begin to fully grasp...
That’s exactly why there are endless theories floating around about what causes depression, how to classify it, and how to treat it—all of which really needs to be tailored to the individual.

You’ve got biological factors, psychological ones, physiological, neurological, genetic, sociological, and so on... they all play a massive role in this cycle of illnesses, which covers a huge spectrum, and the range of potential therapies is even wider.

Which is why you have to be incredibly careful with psychological therapy.
The more a depressed person hears talk about their "depressive" state, the more they tend to isolate themselves. In terms of a Self-fulfilling prophecy, following this pattern can actually achieve the exact opposite of healing—it can basically cement the depression in place...

The more you dwell on a patient's specific problem, the more real that problem becomes, even if it wasn't actually that significant at the start.

So, every single case requires its own unique approach.
It follows that if we can't identify the true underlying causes, we aren't actually capable of providing the right therapy either. Systemic therapy isn't about making grand claims; its sole purpose is to help the patient work through the issues that are actually bothering them.
Acute suicidal cases require clinical treatment.

Benjamin Long said:What exactly was she rambling about if you don't mind me asking? What kind of comments were they, and how specifically were they "rude"? I once had a friend who constantly made his life situation an issue in that exact way; no matter what you said to him—whether it was constructive advice or anything else—he would twist it into something else entirely. It felt like he was just fishing for attention, and whenever he didn't get enough, he'd spiral into depression. I truly believe the root of it was being an only child of divorced parents and all those other factors...

For instance... I can't recall the exact question, but I mentioned that I was still seeing this guy even though he was abusive. She just rolled her eyes, gave me this condescending look, and remarked, "You're sleeping with him despite the threats of blah blah blah?" Honestly, I didn't go to her to have my morality judged by a priest; I went to her for advice. There were other instances as well, but I don't recall them clearly. I simply concluded that she isn't any wiser than I am, and that it would be easier to handle things on my own...🙄

Kyle Nelson2 said:You'll actually start getting better the moment you learn how to love yourself...

Look, it isn't that I lack self-love. It would be more accurate to say I occasionally despise myself.😲 Usually, when things aren't going my way and the problems pile up, I lose my temper and take it all out on myself. 🙄

amberviper said:You really have to face yourself and your own worldview. You need to accept your struggles and try to work through them while searching for some sort of purpose in life...
God could be your only real answer. Pick up The Bible and quotes in the New Testament, and just sit with those words and reflect on your life.

There is one Name that can solve all your problems. He suffered for you, and since you are suffering too, you already have something in common... you just need to reach out and make contact.
God, Jesus Christ, is the only hope in situations like this. He loves you, and His love is the way for you to finally feel loved too.

However, you shouldn't walk this path alone; you'll need professional guidance. On one hand, you need a solid psychotherapist who is also a believer, and if possible, a compassionate priest who actually understands what you're going through.
Don't lose heart, help is available!
Best,
AT&T

I cannot rely on faith. These are merely things people invented to make their lives easier...

Angela Morris said:I have just come to the realization that things may never truly improve. I spent years hoping to find some semblance of peace or happiness, but it remains elusive. I have read countless psychology books, attempted to adopt positive thinking, and worked extensively on myself... there are brief windows of progress, only for me to slide back into those same dark thoughts—the desire to simply not exist, the urge to end it all. (Though, perhaps I lack the courage for such an act, as the physical pain terrifies me; still, in those moments, I wouldn't mind if a car struck me in a crossing. My recklessness in traffic tends to increase during these periods...)
After so many attempts to force myself into being happy, satisfied, or free from fear... everything reverts to its original state. I am losing my faith that any change is possible. I have even watched documentaries on the subject. I saw a segment about someone with symptoms similar to mine undergoing electroconvulsive therapy—you know, the kind where they use 😛 electrical impulses. In movies, people with traumatic childhoods almost always end up as serial killers, seemingly beyond any help.
Is this actually how life works? Do the wounds we receive once never truly heal? Or is modern psychology merely suggesting that everything can be fixed...

Man, you're a lost cause. Not even books helped? That's... that's unbelievable. To hear that books didn't work for someone. In my entire life, I haven't heard of a single person who wasn't helped by reading.

Things have felt a little easier lately. I've been reflecting on life and finally accepting that there might be no inherent meaning—just one vast, chaotic mess. Since our time here is so fleeting, I suppose I can try to make my brief stay somewhat comfortable...
As for self-love, I hope it yields results. I've begun implementing some positive changes across several areas of my life. I lack my old enthusiasm, but I suspect I'll be alright for a while. :-) Once the old feelings resurface, I'll be back here typing again. Though, I do hope they don't...
Thank you all for the advice! :-)

Angela Morris said:This is not an isolated occurrence. Ever since I began studying psychology as a young girl around age twelve or thirteen, consuming books in an attempt to improve myself... I find myself once again losing the will to live. Besides, life lacks inherent meaning...

doesn't?
that's actually good news. personally, I always find myself rooting for those people standing on the edge of skyscrapers—just wondering if they'll finally pull the trigger or hesitate. just make up your mind and jump already. there's something about that sound—that sickening thud when they hit the pavement😁😁

btw, if you decide you prefer cutting instead, just remember—go down the arm, not across the wrist. 😉
and watch out with the pills; you don't want a massive dose to just end in vomiting. that's a messy way to go.

Angela Morris said:Things have felt a little easier lately. I've been reflecting on life and finally accepting that there might be no inherent meaning—just one vast, chaotic mess. Since our time here is so fleeting, I suppose I can try to make my brief stay somewhat comfortable...
As for self-love, I hope it yields results. I've begun implementing some positive changes across several areas of my life. I lack my old enthusiasm, but I suspect I'll be alright for a while. :-) Once the old feelings resurface, I'll be back here typing again. Though, I do hope they don't...
Thank you all for the advice! :-)

Noooooo!!! 😲
Life is suffering! Life is an uphill battle! How can you even think about being "comfortable" when kids in starving nations don't even have a meal to eat?

placidranger said:doesn't?
that's actually good news. personally, I always find myself rooting for those people standing on the edge of skyscrapers—just wondering if they'll finally pull the trigger or hesitate. just make up your mind and jump already. there's something about that sound—that sickening thud when they hit the pavement😁😁

btw, if you decide you prefer cutting instead, just remember—go down the arm, not across the wrist. 😉
and watch out with the pills; you don't want a massive dose to just end in vomiting. that's a messy way to go.

Good grief. Seeing someone as pathetic as you makes me feel significantly better about my own situation. 🙄 Escaped from Brooklyn, did we?

Angela Morris said:Good grief. Seeing someone as pathetic as you makes me feel significantly better about my own situation. 🙄 Escaped from Brooklyn, did we?

Wait, you aren't a fan? 😕

So what happened to measuring the size of the stain on the concrete?
Or the group consensus on how high the jump was?
Or chanting "ONE FEWER!!" at the top of your lungs?
😁