What does 4chan say about depression?

This article will center on explaining what has been said in 4chan about depression, and how it relates to the definition of depression given by the World Health Organization. Aside from that, the article will explain what 4chan is.

What has been said on 4chan about depression?

As in many other sites that create forums of discussions, in 4chan many people have come forth talking about their depression. In one post, that has had 120 replies a person asks how you can cure depression. 

In it, they tell how they feel, and even though they have never been clinically diagnosed with depression, they feel empty and feel like they can’t focus, and it is getting worse.

By the end of the post, they ask others how they got better. And to it, people say the most different things. Some will say there is no way of getting better from depression, and that you will only feel worse with time. Others talk about the importance of professional help. And how having a good psychiatrist helps them through depression.

Others talk about how mindfulness books and meditation have helped them. And others talk about how distractions can help you cope with depression. In another post, a person says they are feeling anxious and depressed, and ask for people to suggest music to listen to when they feel like that.

The thread goes on with a lot of people recommending music to listen to when you are depressed. Some suggested they listen to Elliott Smith, other Nick Drake, and even velvet underground.

And in one more post a person writes down that even though now they have the perfect body, and a girlfriend, they still feel empty inside. This person is asking other participants how they can cope with depression.

In this thread, there were 126 replies. To the first question, some people said that they should focus on doing cardio exercise, which would likely make them feel better. Another user talked about therapy sessions that made a difference for them when struggling with depression. And one more talked about the benefits of meditation.

With all that, it is safe to say that there may be some positive aspects to having a site such as 4chan, in which you can talk about depression. These forums may be a way for people that suspect they are feeling depressed to get in touch with others going through the same thing and understand what is happening to them.

It can also be beneficial to people that have already been diagnosed with depression since it can help them feel less alone. In those forums, they can meet people that are struggling with the same thing they are, and learn new coping strategies, and this can be powerful.

People with depression will often isolate themselves. So having a way that they can be in touch with others, even if it is online, can be a way to cope. But you should also be careful about some matters when discussing your mental health in 4 chance. 

The first thing to keep in mind is that while you are writing about how you feel, the people that are answering you are not mental health professionals. They are talking based on their experience, which can be different from yours.

Know that even though there may be people that are willing to help you cope with depression, there are always people that can write things that will be even more detrimental to your mental health. For example, you can write about how depression makes you feel.

And some other people on the site can begin to question you on how you feel and say you are not depressed. This can make you feel invalidated in your suffering, and become more isolated. You should also be careful to not disclose any personal information as it can be dangerous.

What is depression? 

Depression is a mental health condition that will cause people to feel intense sadness. It will also cause you to lose interest in everything, even things you used to love. It can lead the person to feel empty, hopeless, and helpless. You can feel like you lost your purpose, and your energy levels, and ability to focus will go down.

It can lead you to have low self-esteem, and your sense of self-worth will always go down. Your eating and sleeping patterns will most likely change, and you can become more irritable, or isolated. Aside from that, depression can make you feel fatigued, guilty, and ashamed.

In some cases, people with depression can turn to self-harm, and even have thoughts of death, and suicidal thoughts. You should know that even though those are the most common symptoms of depression, not everyone will experience it the same way.

It is important to highlight that a person will be diagnosed as depressed if they intensely experience its symptoms for more than two weeks. 

What is 4chan?

4chan is an anonymous imageboard website written in English. The site doesn’t require people to register, and that is why people can post on it anonymously. 

The site was created in 2003 by Christophe “moot” Poole. On the site, you can find boards dedicated to many themes, such as anime, manga, cooking, television, and even depression. 

As of 2022, 4chan has more than 22 million unique monthly visitors, and most of them are from the United States. In each image board, the user can share images and create discussions on the matter at hand. Each of the imageboards has their own rules

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): What has been said on 4chan about depression? 

Does depression have a cure? 

No, depression doesn’t have a cure. Rather than that, mental health professionals will say that depression will go into remission. That is because there is a genetic factor to depression, and that will never be changed, even through treatment. Aside from that, it is known that a person that has a history of depression will have a higher chance of getting depressed.

But being in remission is also a positive thing. When you reach that point in your treatment it means you will be able to have a better hold on your emotions. You may also regain your interest in things, and feel like you can feel joy once again.

What is important for you to keep in mind is that, even though you are in remission, you still need to care for your mental health as a way to prevent, the best way possible, you from going through another depressive episode in the future.

What are the forms of depression?

Depression can happen in some manners. It can be mild, moderate, major, or even persistent. The first form of depression is one in which, as the name says, the symptoms are mild. They may also go on for a short period. Which may make it harder to diagnose. But fortunately, mild depression can be treated by some lifestyle changes.

In moderate depression, the person will begin to feel the effects of the condition in their everyday life. This means that the symptoms will be more intense, and will go on for longer. To treat moderate depression people will often go to therapy, but in some cases, people will also need to take medication.

Major depression is the most intense form of depression. It goes on for longer, and the symptoms of it are so intense that it can make it impossible for the person to do the most simple of things, such as getting out of bed. 

And aside from the common symptoms of depression, a person with a major depressive episode can also experience hallucinations, and even become delusional.

When a person is going through depression, they will need to go to therapy, and also take medication. In the same way as a person that has persistent depression. This means that they can experience a depressive episode for as long as 5 years, and during that time they can swing between major depression, and mild depression.

What are the forms of antidepressants?

Antidepressants are a medication people take when they are going through a depressive episode. But they may also be associated with other medications for other treatments.

The one that is prescribed more often is the Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) because they usually have fewer side effects, such as Citalopram.

Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are another form of antidepressant that is similar to SSRIs but were created to be more effective than SSRIs. An example of SNRIs is venlafaxine.

Noradrenaline and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NASSAs) are recommended for people that can’t take SSRIs. They may have stronger side effects have side effects. An example of it is mirtazapine.

There are older forms of antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), they can be recommended to people with major depression that are resistant to other medications. An example of it is amitriptyline. 

Serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs) are a form of antidepressants that is also prescribed when other forms haven’t worked. An example of it is trazodone. 

There are Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) that are an older type of antidepressant. It has a lot of serious side effects. The most known example of it is tranylcypromine.

What are the best ways to cope with depression?

Coping with depression can be different from one person to the next. But usually, the first thing you should do is look for professional help. Being cared for by a psychiatrist and a therapist may help you not only understand your emotions better but also deal with the intensity of your depressive symptoms.

Aside from that, there are some ways you can cope with your depression. You can do so by keeping a healthy lifestyle, meaning that you should try to eat and sleep well since they can help with your energy levels. 

Aside from that, you should try to exercise, and it doesn’t need to be a long workout, sometimes even a short walk can have a positive impact on your mood.

Having people around you that support you will also help you cope, in the same way as doing things that can bring you some sort of positive emotions such as volunteering, or starting a new hobby, which can also give you some sense of accomplishment.

Do antidepressants work the same in every person?

No antidepressants will work differently in each person. That is why it is so important for you to be cared for by a psychiatrist which will help you understand the side effects and the improvements you are experiencing from the medication.

Conclusion 

This article showed what has been said on 4chan about depression. It also explained how it related to the clinical definition of depression. Aside from that, the article explained what 4chan is.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, feel free to write them in the section below. 

References

https://4chanarchives.com/board/fit/thread/962824