Current Events > I think mental stagnation plays a big part in depression

(+) Yeah! (+)

Just looking at my own personal situation, I think a large part of what fuels my depression is the complete lack of mental stimulation. Mainly, being subjected to the same environment day in and day out. Every day is just work/home/work/home/work. And the only time in my life when I feel a genuine sense of joy is when I'm vacationing somewhere new. It's like the pores in my brain open up and the gears start turning and do what they're supposed to do...process new information. I think monotony is the main source of mental decay. You can live in the most fascinating environment, but if it's the only one you're ever subjected to, it becomes no different than living in a jail cell.

Just my thoughts.

This is probably a bit true for me. I'm ADHD so boredom is not good.

After moving out of my parents with how easy a transition it was with covid making everything simple AF for me I was doing pretty well. I was making good money betweeb stimulus and carryout only meaning big tips so I was making a full 40 hours worth with like...20 hours a week. At my parents and during covid I had few obligations or worries and plenty of free time.

However once things started returning to normal the stress of adulthood and a more broken service industry have started to catch up so its harder to bury myself in entertainment or find time for things. And then shit blew the fuck up in august starting with some of the worst storms and power outages in the 21st century in my area. Only Sandy and the 2003 blackout really compared far as I recall. That kinda started a chain reaction of shit.

And my life is set to upheave. Going to have to move next year among many other things

So now I'm stagnant, tired afraid.

I've been living the exact same way for 25 years (no job, just video games and tv nearly every waking moment of my day, hardly ever do anything else) and I don't feel like I'm depressed or anything. I don't feel like I am in lack of mental stimulation either. I am just used to doing the same thing over and over again forever and I feel fine.

Whenever I do try going outside my comfort zone to try to experience something new is when I feel like shit and want to go back to hiding in my room again.

I'm a special case I'm sure.

I hate persistent weather whereas a trip to a beach helps.

Definitely plays a huge role. I had a phase where I was pretty depressed and I rarely left the house. What pulled me out of that was going out, hanging with friends and family, and getting back to doing things Ive always enjoyed.

Happiness is a choice. Youve got to take actions to build towards it.

Definitely does NOT apply to me. Physical inactivity is a big one, however. As I get older this seems to apply less and less, but exercise used to have a manic-like effect on me. Or maybe I simply have more dopamine receptors from more frequent brisk activity, so it takes more than that to give me that natural high. Not getting out and doing stuff/socializing can do it as well for me.
Refraining from neuroplasticity-stimulating/maintaining behaviors doesn't affect my mood in the very slightest.

VideoboysaysCube posted...

Mainly, being subjected to the same environment day in and day out. Every day is just work/home/work/home/work.

This is definitely something that's been contributing to my depression. All I really do is work and then go home. Even on my free time, I just have no desire to do the things I used to enjoy. I hardly play video games anymore, I pretty much stopped watching movies and TV series, almost altogether stopped reading, etc. The things that I used to enjoy I either don't feel the incentive to do, or just straight-up don't have the time for them.

My job leaves me feeling exhausted mentally and emotionally, not just physically, and the knowledge that I can't just "free" myself of it because there's always another goddamn bill or some other expense to pay for means that unless I randomly win the fucking lottery I'll probably be trapped in this cycle until I die.

TuxedoCyan posted...

I've been living the exact same way for 25 years (no job, just video games and tv nearly every waking moment of my day, hardly ever do anything else) and I don't feel like I'm depressed or anything. I don't feel like I am in lack of mental stimulation either. I am just used to doing the same thing over and over again forever and I feel fine.

Whenever I do try going outside my comfort zone to try to experience something new is when I feel like shit and want to go back to hiding in my room again.

I'm a special case I'm sure.

not quite as special as youd think I imagine, but def an outlier. I know a few similar cases, they work but outside of that they are what youd call hermits and escape into gaming/media the second they clock out.

one thing that will never cease to amaze me is the incredible diversity in the human experience.

Depends on the person, I suppose. Personally, I'm happiest when I don't have to go anywhere new or unusual. I love my home, and my immediate area surrounding it. I constantly resist the notion of going somewhere else.