Fuck Inspiration Porn

[crashhelmet]

Myth =/=unproven scientific theroy, you're being deliberately obtuse.

they cannot prove the theory at this time is because there is no ethical way to cut into a living breathing depressed person's brain to gather data on what neurotranmitters are present and in what amounts, and then do the same to a non depressed person and compare.

It's a working theory, and just because it's unknown how something works(and antidepressants do for many people, with no effect on nondepressed people-drug safety trials are on non depressed individuals) doesn't mean it's a myth.

and the National Institute of Mental Health division of the National institutes of health disagrees with you.

and the one link you provided was to a study abstract-which an abstract is like a thesis statement, it says what you're trying to prove by the study, the actual outcome of the study or trial can be vastly different from what you set out to prove.




scientific theory
systematic ideational structure of broad scope, conceived by the human imagination, that encompasses a family of empirical (experiential) laws regarding regularities existing in objects and events, both observed and posited. A scientific theory is a structure suggested by these laws and is devised to explain them in a scientifically rational manner.

Myth-a person or thing whose existence is fictional.

The NIMH also states:

Longstanding theories about depression suggest that important neurotransmitters—chemicals that brain cells use to communicate—are out of balance in depression. But it has been difficult to prove this.

Source

The new England Journal of Medicine states:

This review of major depressive disorder is a comprehensive account of the genetic, biochemical, and neurophysiological changes that have been implicated in the disorder. No single mechanism can account for all the clinical variations in this condition. The monoamine oxidase theory can explain many of the actions of antidepressants, but genetic factors, stress, and psychosocial factors also play a part in depression.

Source

From WebMD:

Although it is widely believed that a serotonin deficiency plays a role in depression, there is no way to measure its levels in the living brain. Therefore, there have not been any studies proving that brain levels of this or any neurotransmitter are in short supply when depression or any mental illness develops. Blood levels of serotonin are measurable -- and have been shown to be lower in people who suffer from depression – but researchers don't know if blood levels reflect the brain's level of serotonin.

Also, researchers don't know whether the dip in serotonin causes the depression, or the depression causes serotonin levels to drop.

Although it is widely believed that a serotonin deficiency plays a role in depression, there is no way to measure its levels in the living brain. The Antidepressant medications that work on serotonin levels -- SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) -- are believed to reduce symptoms of depression, but exactly how they work is not yet fully understood.

Source

All they have is a drug that makes you feel better. They don't know why it works, only that it does. I can write a paper stating that Depression is caused by a lack of Alcohol or other drugs in the Blood Stream and get the same results.

There is no scientific proof or empirical data that supports the Chemical Imbalance Myth. All you have is a promotion from Big Pharma, the media, shrinks, and anyone else that can make a buck off of it.

Don't want to call it a myth, that's fine. Just don't call it a fact.

[Andara Bledin]

He's getting hate because he's equating being sick with being weak.

This is exactly the sort of mindset that causes people who need medication to resist getting it and resist taking it.

His "advice" contains some good points, but it also contains some egregious and dangerous points, as well, and to allow those to stand unchallenged is not the way things work around here.

^-.-^

[ngc_7331]

Wow, I can't believe what I'm reading here. CH chose to improve his situation in a way that worked for him, and he's getting nothing but hate from this board?

No he's getting hate because he can' seem to accept the fact that not everyone is going to be able to improve their situation in the exact same way.

[Mr Hero]

Wow, I can't believe what I'm reading here. CH chose to improve his situation in a way that worked for him, and he's getting nothing but hate from this board?

[BlaqueKatt]

Again, there is no scientific or medical evidence to support this myth.

Myth =/=unproven scientific theroy, you're being deliberately obtuse.

they cannot prove the theory at this time is because there is no ethical way to cut into a living breathing depressed person's brain to gather data on what neurotranmitters are present and in what amounts, and then do the same to a non depressed person and compare.

It's a working theory, and just because it's unknown how something works(and antidepressants do for many people, with no effect on nondepressed people-drug safety trials are on non depressed individuals) doesn't mean it's a myth.

and the National Institute of Mental Health division of the National institutes of health disagrees with you.

and the one link you provided was to a study abstract-which an abstract is like a thesis statement, it says what you're trying to prove by the study, the actual outcome of the study or trial can be vastly different from what you set out to prove.

Modern brain imaging technologies reveal that, in depression, neural circuits responsible for the regulation of moods, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior fail to function properly, and critical neurotransmitters*chemicals that brain cells use to communicate* are out of balance. Studies of brain chemistry, including the effects of antidepressant medications, continue to inform our understanding of the biochemical processes involved in depression.

scientific theory
systematic ideational structure of broad scope, conceived by the human imagination, that encompasses a family of empirical (experiential) laws regarding regularities existing in objects and events, both observed and posited. A scientific theory is a structure suggested by these laws and is devised to explain them in a scientifically rational manner.

Myth-a person or thing whose existence is fictional.

[siead_lietrathua]

Seriously? Are you fucking serious? You once again misquote me to take me out of context? Why don't you post everything I said about that? Here... I'll do it for you.

i am not attempting to misquote you. i am saying that is the impression you are giving. i specifically said "you come across as saying "
from the responses of others in the thread, i think am not the only one who is feeling that way.
and yes, i noticed how you said for people who milk their disability. but the problem is, if someone seems to be milking their disability, that's just your impression of them. just as it's my impression of the things you are posting that have lead me to believe that this has come to a sort of "arguing with the wall" situation. so, i'm gonna bow out of this thread out of sheer annoyance.

[Andara Bledin]

She was a living, breathing version of inspirational porn, if you will.

How insulting.

I'm honestly flabbergasted that anyone cannot tell the difference between a person making an effort to brighten the day of a specific individual and shitty image memes shotgunned at the world with no direction or consideration for the people they affect.

^-.-^

[JsterJ]

I've been a lurker for a while, but I joined just to post in this thread.

I think the big confusion between what Crashhelmet and everyone else is saying is that there are different kinds of depression.

I am not a doctor, but what Crashhelmet describes sounds a lot like situational depression. You had a situation, which made you depressed, which then cleared up after the issue was resolved or you got on with your life. Some people like to go on a medication to help with, but a lot of people can feel better just by time and/or therapy. "Inspirational porn" can really help these people because, for them, it helps show a light at the end of the tunnel.

There's also clinical depression, which I don't have a lot of experience with, and bipolar depression, which I have and I want to talk about here because I feel like it relates.

We don't really know what causes bipolar depression, but we know that genetics, brain chemistry, and environments play a role. We don't know enough about genetics and brain chemistry yet to determine what about them cause bipolar (or depression, or other mental illnesses) but we do know that stress and other environmental factors can initiate or make these conditions worse. Here's a link on webmd talking about it: http://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorde...isorder-causes

My bipolar depression isn't situational. I could have just won the lottery, be living in Disneyland having the best time in my life, but still not be able to get out of bed in the morning. It isn't because these things don't make me happy, but I physically don't have the energy to do anything. I can't just "think my way happier". I've tried, it doesn't work that way. Time doesn't make my depression any better. I need help from my doctor and pharmaceuticals to be able to live a normal life.

I'm probably not explaining myself in the best possible way, but I'm definitely willing to elaborate if you'll explain where I'm lacking.

[crashhelmet]

Very severe depression often is a physical disability as much as anything else is.

The fact is that it doesn't manifest physically. But it is an imbalance in chemicals in the brain, that lead to depression.

Again, there is no scientific or medical evidence to support this myth. A non-depressed person could take the same medication that supposedly proves this and feel the exact same way and have the exact same results.

Now, one thing that has helped ME is deciding that I'm one of the greatest people ever, and accepting no argument, particularly from myself.

But I still get depressed. I'm better able to tell myself I'm wrong when I say things about myself. But I'm still depressed sometimes.

And it's something that just everybody can do. It takes time and effort, and there's no magical cure for depression.

This is the power of conscious thought. Everyone goes through bouts of depression. Life is an emotional rollercoaster. How many of us can tag ourselves with the phrase "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all?" I know I can. I often joke that I must've been a mass murder in a past life to warrant the luck I have or I'll paraphrase a Richard Marx song and "I know I'm bound for Heaven, because I've done my time in Hell." it's one of the reasons I get so worked up and offended by people that whine, bitch, and moan about petty and trivial things.

But one thing is that, at least in my experience, the inspiration porn things can have a negative effect.

What happened to you, Crash, was not only specific in the 'you had a friend' but it wasn't a mental problem.

Again... For the 3rd or 4th time... I'll have to go back and count...

This was not a friend that was my shoulder to cry on, ear to vent to, or my own personal cheerleader. All she did was say "Hi" as I passed by. She was a living, breathing version of inspirational porn, if you will.

You had a desire (join the marines)

Your ability to fulfill that desire was taken away (destroyed foot)

You were able to adapt to a destroyed foot, which is good. But people who are severely injured generally, over time, sort of return to their baseline mental state.

And for your case, 'inspiration porn' (which is already like 150% less sexy than normal porn) is something that can be very helpful. That being injured is not something that will keep you from fulfilling your goal.

But many people aren't depressed ABOUT something. They're not depressed because, like you, they had a goal in life that they can't fulfill, or they feel that they can't do one specific thing.

In my experience, one of the absolute least helpful things can be these inspiration porn messages, because they don't lead to "If they can do X, then I can do Y!" They lead to, "Great, a guy with no hands can paint beautifully, and I can't even make a damn cup of coffee!"

That's you making a negative interpretation of the picture. Your negative opinion focuses only on you. To be honest, it's selfish and self-centered. Instead of thinking about what kind of depression and struggles this guy must've gone through, and still goes through, you think only about yourself. Then you defeat yourself by saying "I can't" "Instead of "I can" or even "I'll try."

His goal was to paint with his feet. If your goal is simply making a cup of coffee, then that's your goal. If it's running a 5k, that's your goal. If your goal is losing weight, that's your goal.

Here's a little inspiration porn you probably loved as a kid

[Fire_on_High]

How many of those pictures of paintings would inspire someone without knowing they were painted by someone with a disability?

Art is subjective, but a fair bit of that is utter dreck and only the point it was from a protected class spares it its rightful fate.

Out of what remains, it ranges from clearly skilled even if not to someone's taste, to "If any normal person had done it, they would have been told not to quit their day job", one step above dreck.

I'd venture to ask in this context if certain mental differences are less disabilities than society wants to see them as...could it be that certain traits are popping up to offer society a different role now that every single person doesn't have to be fully capable of baseline subsistence and survival?

[crashhelmet]

Once again, you're overstating people's ability to voluntarily choose to be happy. AmbrosiaWriter said it very well a few pages back, but I'll summarize what she said: When you're clinically depressed, it is exceedingly common for you lack the awareness, energy, and willpower to make that conscious decision.

And just to be crystal clear, we're not talking about being a little mopey here.

I know. I know it all too well. The depression I was in caused me to be unaware of the things around me.

[crashhelmet]

the only thing i've seen you say over and over is "weak-minded people". not that people are diffrent, and it would help some and not others. not that it may not of helped you but it could help others. not any examples of someone that's been helped by inspiration porn.
only, and constantly, that "weak minded" people won't change.

edit:

see, from rereading the thread, we are both saying the same thing. but where i'm saying "inspiration porn won't help everyone, so we shouldnt shove it in people's faces", you come across as saying "inspiration porn won't help everyone, but...

Seriously? Are you fucking serious? You once again misquote me to take me out of context? Why don't you post everything I said about that? Here... I'll do it for you.

I can understand where the feelings of being insulted or shamed are coming from, but it's not the intention of these ads. There are too many people out there that think their lives are over because they're disabled or play the "I'm helpless so you have to give me special treatment" disabled card for everything they can get.

For these types of people, I will post these signs and slogans everywhere around them.

edit:

what's more likely to actually inspire someone? an image with "no excuse" slapped on it like
http://www.artmagz.info/wp-content/u.../no-excuse.jpg

or something showing the people behind the disability?
http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2010...abled-artists/

How many of those pictures of paintings would inspire someone without knowing they were painted by someone with a disability?

[wolfie]

my apologies if it came across that i didn't belive you when you said you have depression.

however, i would like to point out that there are types of depression. consider it like a sliding scale, with numbers 1-3, but with infinite decimal points for the different degrees.

1 is the kind brought on by circumstance. becoming ill, losing a loved one, bullying, etc. that type tends to be more temporary, and can be overcome with time.
2 is the type brought on by abuse. not just someone telling a person the things you listed, but drilling it into their head from a young enough age that it forms as part of their personality. that type of depression is not easy to deal with, and typically required therapy, and maybe medication. years of recovery at best, if ever.
3 is the type of depression caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. it's how you were wired at birth. that type is impossible to fully recover from as it's physically part of you, but it can be aided with meds.

now, i'm not going to place you on the scale. that's not my point, and you can consider yourself on it wherever.


the problem is that when most people approach someone with depression, with inspiration porn or otherwise, it's with the assumption that it's type 1. people like type 1. type 1 is easily treated and can go back to "normal". so when they don't recover because they are type 3, berating them that they are quitters won't help. berating them with "what's your excuse?" won't help.

One thing you left out - there's a very tall hill between type 1 and type 2, with the peak somewhere between 1.01 and 1.99 (differs for each person). A nudge that would help someone on the "1" side of the hill will push someone on the "2" side further down, and (can't recall where I've seen them) being stuck at "2" for a significant period of time will cause chemical changes that result in someone regressing to type "3". "Inspiration porn" is based on the assumption that everyone is a type "1", and is actually harmful to those who aren't. Telling someone with clinical depression to "snap out of it and grow a pair (of metaphorical balls)" is just as useless as telling a double amputee to "snap out of it and grow a pair (of legs)".

[Eisa]

^Exactly.

I was born with clubfeet. There has never been a time in my life where I was not, at the least, physically disabled. I grew up knowing that there would be things I would never be able to do--and while my parents actually were fairly supportive when I was a child and got me out doing things (hiking, camping, etc.--the doctor told them get me doing that NOW because I wouldn't be able to when I was older), they never b.s.'ed me into thinking I could do just anything because there are actually some things I can't do. And add to that, too, my feet are degenerating. Even if I can have another surgery (which is unlikely at this point because of money and finding someone who knows what they're doing), I will still in all likelihood be in a wheelchair before I'm 30.

It fucking sucks. And yes, by the way, other things do help and have helped. Some of my friends who are also disabled and do understand how shitty it can be have helped. But inspiration porn (which is all I intended the OP to be about, anyway, by the way )...has never helped. For a lot of reasons.

I've also been depressed since I was 7. It occasionally gets better, but it never quite wants to go away.

[Hyena Dandy]

Very severe depression often is a physical disability as much as anything else is.

The fact is that it doesn't manifest physically. But it is an imbalance in chemicals in the brain, that lead to depression.

Now, one thing that has helped ME is deciding that I'm one of the greatest people ever, and accepting no argument, particularly from myself.

But I still get depressed. I'm better able to tell myself I'm wrong when I say things about myself. But I'm still depressed sometimes.

And it's something that just everybody can do. It takes time and effort, and there's no magical cure for depression.

But one thing is that, at least in my experience, the inspiration porn things can have a negative effect.

What happened to you, Crash, was not only specific in the 'you had a friend' but it wasn't a mental problem.

You had a desire (join the marines)

Your ability to fulfill that desire was taken away (destroyed foot)

You were able to adapt to a destroyed foot, which is good. But people who are severely injured generally, over time, sort of return to their baseline mental state.

And for your case, 'inspiration porn' (which is already like 150% less sexy than normal porn) is something that can be very helpful. That being injured is not something that will keep you from fulfilling your goal.

But many people aren't depressed ABOUT something. They're not depressed because, like you, they had a goal in life that they can't fulfill, or they feel that they can't do one specific thing.

In my experience, one of the absolute least helpful things can be these inspiration porn messages, because they don't lead to "If they can do X, then I can do Y!" They lead to, "Great, a guy with no hands can paint beautifully, and I can't even make a damn cup of coffee!"