Guest guest Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 Hang in there . You're in much the same position I was in, and I've recovered. The SSRIs left me with little sexual interest, almost no sensitivity, I could barely get it up, I couldn't keep it up and I was hardly attracted to anybody. Also, it seemed like every girl I met wanted to mess around. Now I: -Often have sex 3, 4 or 5x per day (I have a girlfriend) -Feel like I NEED sex again -Erections are back 100%. -last almost as long as I want, but can cum when I need to -am easily aroused visually -can have sex again after only about 5 minutes (although I don't get 100% hard, only maybe 80%) -think about sex all the time It's not quite perfect yet. When having sex, I'm still a little insensitive to begin with, but it always gets really good after a few minutes. I believe there are others here who have also recovered to a large extent. I expect to recover fully, as I just keep getting better and every month. Did you read my thread about my theory for why I recovered? I don't know if the biological theory for my recovery have much merit, but my technique worked for me. In short, you need to try and make yourself the 'Alpha Male' of your group. It sounds like you have a lot of talent. If you can stop thinking about how horrible your life is and focus on your rapping and friends, then I'm sure you can beat this thing too. Good luck. > > I've had no sexual functioning for like 3 years now and I know that I > can not live like this for the rest of my life. It's simply > impossible for me. Girls seem to really be attracted to me, which > most guys would die for, but this just makes things worse. I have to > literally duck and hide from girls so I don't get to know them too > well. If I get to know them too well, it will lead to sexual > interaction, which used to be everything that I lived for. > > Along with that, I can't live with this emotional bluntness anymore. > My passion, creativity, and my love for others used to be my strongest > attributes, but were taken away. I still have a little left, but > nothing like how I used to be. > > HAS ANYONE RECOVERED FROM THIS FULLY???????????????????????? > > Anyway, this may sound real negative, but I'm accepting that I have to > die soon. I realize that no one really gets better from this and I'd > rather be dead than to live like this. I really don't want to live > anymore, with all of this loneliness, lack of emotions, and whatnot. > The only time I'm at peace is when I accept that my death will be > soon. I'm somewhat concerned about the afterlife. Will I go to hell > if I kill myself? I hope not, but I feel like I'm living in hell already. > > Atleast I got to taste the good life before I came down with PSSD. > Riding in the car with four of my boys and smoking weed, playing jokes > on each other. Chasing girls and having sex with a new one every week > or two. Recording rap songs and freestyling with my friends. Playing > basketball and knowing that I was going to get some pussy afterwards. > Atleast I will be remembered for being that , the one God made. > If I keep living like this, people will remember me as someone that I > definitely am not naturally. I can't believe those damn little pills > did this to me. > > Normal people don't seem to understand how hard it is to function like > this. I think they'll know about my pain when they lay me to rest. > Peace. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 29, 2007 Report Share Posted April 29, 2007 Hey man, I'm not gonna patronize you by telling you that your problem is mental and not physical, because come on, someone has likely told all of us that and we all know that its a bullsh*t excuse used by doctors and drug companies to cover their own asses. But seriously, you sound so depressed that even if you did start to get better, you're not going to notice it. Depression can be just as destructive to your sex drive as these pills. If you are sure that there is no way things will ever improve, then they certainly never will. Once again, I'm not trying to say the source of your problem is your depression, but I AM saying I don't see any possible way you can get better if youre this sure that life is worthless. We all know the pain you feel everyday, we're all going through it. But there IS hope. Some people say they get better with time. Others say they don't completely recover, but are capible (sometimes albiet with the help of medication) of having sex and living in happy, healthy relationships. I know that sometimes it seems like this is the worst possible way to live, but come on man, thats not true at all. I don't know about you, but I've never had to awaken to bombs blowing my family into bits, nor have I had to watch plauge, famine, or pestilance eat away whole cities of people. I think the reason this whole thing is so hard on us is that it is so unnatural, people where never meant to live like this. But we do have to keep living like this. Because, believe me, I understand how three years of this can wear you down, but against the span of your whole life, that three years isn't everything. Five, ten, fifteen years from now, you may be married with kids and the exact same sex drive as before the SSRIs. Who knows what leaps medicine might take? And even if things do not get fully better, I guarentee, they will not stay as bad as they seem now. You gotta keep on living man, L I V I N G. Nothing, not even these terrible pills, can destroy the fact that life is actually pretty wonderful, sex or not. In my opinion, if victims of spinal cord injuries can lose bother their sexual functioning and their ability to walk, and yet still have the courage to wake up everyday and find joy in life, then I can do it. Those people KNOW they will never get better, as opposed to us, who have don't know what the future holds in regard to recovery. It may take years, but even if I never get better I fully recover, I believe that I can still achieve my dream of finding a partner who loves me AND having a family. Everyone has some burden to carry in life, and life's not fair. Some people get a worst hand then others, but believe me, no matter what you may feel like, you are NOT living the worst life possible. You really sound like you need help for your depression, there are a lot of ways to help, and I'm not talking about drugs. In fact in my opinion, drugs can't help you get better at all (they can just relieve some of the symptoms for a bit while you take them). In short, you life is not out of hope man. We're all in this together, and we all need and are there for each other in this.brianbeezly wrote: I've had no sexual functioning for like 3 years now and I know that Ican not live like this for the rest of my life. It's simplyimpossible for me. Girls seem to really be attracted to me, whichmost guys would die for, but this just makes things worse. I have toliterally duck and hide from girls so I don't get to know them toowell. If I get to know them too well, it will lead to sexualinteraction, which used to be everything that I lived for.Along with that, I can't live with this emotional bluntness anymore. My passion, creativity, and my love for others used to be my strongestattributes, but were taken away. I still have a little left, butnothing like how I used to be.HAS ANYONE RECOVERED FROM THIS FULLY????????????????????????Anyway, this may sound real negative, but I'm accepting that I have todie soon. I realize that no one really gets better from this and I'drather be dead than to live like this. I really don't want to liveanymore, with all of this loneliness, lack of emotions, and whatnot. The only time I'm at peace is when I accept that my death will besoon. I'm somewhat concerned about the afterlife. Will I go to hellif I kill myself? I hope not, but I feel like I'm living in hell already.Atleast I got to taste the good life before I came down with PSSD. Riding in the car with four of my boys and smoking weed, playing jokeson each other. Chasing girls and having sex with a new one every weekor two. Recording rap songs and freestyling with my friends. Playingbasketball and knowing that I was going to get some pussy afterwards.Atleast I will be remembered for being that , the one God made.If I keep living like this, people will remember me as someone that Idefinitely am not naturally. I can't believe those damn little pillsdid this to me.Normal people don't seem to understand how hard it is to function likethis. I think they'll know about my pain when they lay me to rest. Peace. Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell? Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 You've had it for 3 years but decided to give up a few weeks after finding this group? This group is proof that there is hope and that we are all combining our efforts to find a cure. We have to look for answers in places we don't expect to find them, look everywhere. There is always one more thing to try, one more method to experiment with. I can't be the only human guinea pig here, hell there are enough pills to try alone to last me 10 years. , there are tons of pills out there to try, even Survector, a banned pill that you can still obtain. Tons and tons of stuff to try, whether it be dozens of pills or other methods. That is why I am trying Bowen's, to look for that little something that the mass population is too stupid to consider. I am willing to spend the money to experiment, because what is money without happiness? It's a risk, but it's also just money, and it could turn out to be my best decision ever if it works. Won't know until I try. It really kills me that people don't think a little bit harder when solving a problem like depression (no one here specifically). I gather as much information as possible and take a wide look at what's worked and what hasn't, especially on me. Eating right? Sorry, but this doesn't even make sense. Sure, eating right will give you vitamins and minerals and stuff your bodies needs to function properly, but I seriously doubt that there is one food out there that is strong enough to cause depression. It's like when they all shout not to drink liquor... sorry, but it's out of the system in a matter of days, if not hours. My depression is around for months. Let's put it this way: if diet had anything to do with it, then fat people would all be depressed. Same thing with exercise. I agree that exercise does help alleviate symptoms for a while, so does stuff like yoga, but again it is like throwing a band-aid on after getting shot. Weightlifting will give you larger muscles, how is that even possibly related to your brain? I could say that it might raise your self-confidence and help a bit, but I know that when I am depressed that I really don't care about what I look like. I've heard that cell phones, microwaves, and Wi-Fi contribute to depression. Everything in the book is blamed, despite the fact that depression originates in the brain and is obviously a state of mind, something emotional. And I know that most of us agree after taking pills for our emotions that the idea is stupid. Take a pill to correct a chemical imbalance? What about the emotional imbalance that is causing the chemical imbalance? Treat the cause, not the symptom. I look at depression as just another symptom, not the thing causing everything. Find out what is causing the depression and treat the cause, not the symptom. Shay brianbeezly wrote: > > I've had no sexual functioning for like 3 years now and I know that I > can not live like this for the rest of my life. It's simply > impossible for me. Girls seem to really be attracted to me, which > most guys would die for, but this just makes things worse. I have to > literally duck and hide from girls so I don't get to know them too > well. If I get to know them too well, it will lead to sexual > interaction, which used to be everything that I lived for. > > Along with that, I can't live with this emotional bluntness anymore. > My passion, creativity, and my love for others used to be my strongest > attributes, but were taken away. I still have a little left, but > nothing like how I used to be. > > HAS ANYONE RECOVERED FROM THIS FULLY???????????????????????? > > Anyway, this may sound real negative, but I'm accepting that I have to > die soon. I realize that no one really gets better from this and I'd > rather be dead than to live like this. I really don't want to live > anymore, with all of this loneliness, lack of emotions, and whatnot. > The only time I'm at peace is when I accept that my death will be > soon. I'm somewhat concerned about the afterlife. Will I go to hell > if I kill myself? I hope not, but I feel like I'm living in hell already. > > Atleast I got to taste the good life before I came down with PSSD. > Riding in the car with four of my boys and smoking weed, playing jokes > on each other. Chasing girls and having sex with a new one every week > or two. Recording rap songs and freestyling with my friends. Playing > basketball and knowing that I was going to get some pussy afterwards. > Atleast I will be remembered for being that , the one God made. > If I keep living like this, people will remember me as someone that I > definitely am not naturally. I can't believe those damn little pills > did this to me. > > Normal people don't seem to understand how hard it is to function like > this. I think they'll know about my pain when they lay me to rest. > Peace. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 That really impresses me. In fact, I didn't know it was possible to have sex 3 times a day, as I never had a sex life prior to getting on antidepressants at age 16, so I really don't know what is normal or not. The part about doing it 5 minutes later also baffles me. My main problem at the moment is the lack of emotions and the lack of desire of being around people and finding girls attractive. How did you manage to get by this to actually acquire a girlfriend? Right now, I feel as though it would just be a chore to get one, since I have no motivation to do so. Maybe if I could figure out how to bring back that emotion of enjoying other people I would be more inclined to try and find a girlfriend. Shay biologic1981 wrote: > > Hang in there . You're in much the same position I was in, and > I've recovered. The > SSRIs left me with little sexual interest, almost no sensitivity, I > could barely get it up, I > couldn't keep it up and I was hardly attracted to anybody. Also, it > seemed like every girl I > met wanted to mess around. Now I: > > -Often have sex 3, 4 or 5x per day (I have a girlfriend) > -Feel like I NEED sex again > -Erections are back 100%. > -last almost as long as I want, but can cum when I need to > -am easily aroused visually > -can have sex again after only about 5 minutes (although I don't get > 100% hard, only > maybe 80%) > -think about sex all the time > > It's not quite perfect yet. When having sex, I'm still a little > insensitive to begin with, but it > always gets really good after a few minutes. I believe there are > others here who have also > recovered to a large extent. I expect to recover fully, as I just keep > getting better and every > month. > > Did you read my thread about my theory for why I recovered? I don't > know if the biological > theory for my recovery have much merit, but my technique worked for > me. In short, you > need to try and make yourself the 'Alpha Male' of your group. It > sounds like you have a lot > of talent. If you can stop thinking about how horrible your life is > and focus on your > rapping and friends, then I'm sure you can beat this thing too. Good luck. > > > > > > I've had no sexual functioning for like 3 years now and I know that I > > can not live like this for the rest of my life. It's simply > > impossible for me. Girls seem to really be attracted to me, which > > most guys would die for, but this just makes things worse. I have to > > literally duck and hide from girls so I don't get to know them too > > well. If I get to know them too well, it will lead to sexual > > interaction, which used to be everything that I lived for. > > > > Along with that, I can't live with this emotional bluntness anymore. > > My passion, creativity, and my love for others used to be my strongest > > attributes, but were taken away. I still have a little left, but > > nothing like how I used to be. > > > > HAS ANYONE RECOVERED FROM THIS FULLY???????????????????????? > > > > Anyway, this may sound real negative, but I'm accepting that I have to > > die soon. I realize that no one really gets better from this and I'd > > rather be dead than to live like this. I really don't want to live > > anymore, with all of this loneliness, lack of emotions, and whatnot. > > The only time I'm at peace is when I accept that my death will be > > soon. I'm somewhat concerned about the afterlife. Will I go to hell > > if I kill myself? I hope not, but I feel like I'm living in hell > already. > > > > Atleast I got to taste the good life before I came down with PSSD. > > Riding in the car with four of my boys and smoking weed, playing jokes > > on each other. Chasing girls and having sex with a new one every week > > or two. Recording rap songs and freestyling with my friends. Playing > > basketball and knowing that I was going to get some pussy afterwards. > > Atleast I will be remembered for being that , the one God made. > > If I keep living like this, people will remember me as someone that I > > definitely am not naturally. I can't believe those damn little pills > > did this to me. > > > > Normal people don't seem to understand how hard it is to function like > > this. I think they'll know about my pain when they lay me to rest. > > Peace. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 , I've felt the exact same thing you're talking about. The complete sexual and emotional numbness is a living hell and death feels like a pleasant ending to that. I had a rope around my neck myself. I was standing on a chair, making a tight not and getting ready to hang myself as my wife woke up and stopped me from doing such a stupid thing. She held me close to her and just kept saying that a better day WILL come. Because of PSSD I could not really feel her love but that's what kept me alive anyways. And I'm glad I'm alive now that I've felt my libido and emotions coming back! So hang in there. PSSD can and will be cured. You just need to fight and try to find a thing that triggers the healing process. You WILL get better. Biker > > I've had no sexual functioning for like 3 years now and I know that I > can not live like this for the rest of my life. It's simply > impossible for me. Girls seem to really be attracted to me, which > most guys would die for, but this just makes things worse. I have to > literally duck and hide from girls so I don't get to know them too > well. If I get to know them too well, it will lead to sexual > interaction, which used to be everything that I lived for. > > Along with that, I can't live with this emotional bluntness anymore. > My passion, creativity, and my love for others used to be my strongest > attributes, but were taken away. I still have a little left, but > nothing like how I used to be. > > HAS ANYONE RECOVERED FROM THIS FULLY???????????????????????? > > Anyway, this may sound real negative, but I'm accepting that I have to > die soon. I realize that no one really gets better from this and I'd > rather be dead than to live like this. I really don't want to live > anymore, with all of this loneliness, lack of emotions, and whatnot. > The only time I'm at peace is when I accept that my death will be > soon. I'm somewhat concerned about the afterlife. Will I go to hell > if I kill myself? I hope not, but I feel like I'm living in hell already. > > Atleast I got to taste the good life before I came down with PSSD. > Riding in the car with four of my boys and smoking weed, playing jokes > on each other. Chasing girls and having sex with a new one every week > or two. Recording rap songs and freestyling with my friends. Playing > basketball and knowing that I was going to get some pussy afterwards. > Atleast I will be remembered for being that , the one God made. > If I keep living like this, people will remember me as someone that I > definitely am not naturally. I can't believe those damn little pills > did this to me. > > Normal people don't seem to understand how hard it is to function like > this. I think they'll know about my pain when they lay me to rest. > Peace. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 , hang in there buddy. Some weeks ago, i had finished writing a letter to my friends and family. Stood on top of a chair in an abandoned house out in the country with a rope around my neck just like Biker here. The fact that i am alive today and posting this message shows that i still have something to live for, and you do to. I think many of us are in a limbo of not wanting to live, but we don't want to die either. Just the fact that you posted this message shows that some part of you does want to live. I have a feeling things are about to turn our way very soon. Just take life one day at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 I'm sorry for the sarcasm, but.... Yes, let us encourage all of the depressed men in America to try to be Alpha Males and one up and dominate eachother. Oh, wait......isn't that already happenning? American society in a nutshell, no? Do you think that possibly the pressure that males feel to be an Alpha Male, to be dominant, to be the best is part of what causes depression in males in the first place? Do you think it's really a good idea to send men back into the same cycle that probably brought them down originally? Seems like G.W. and his administration are trying to do their part to combat a 200+ year stint of American depression by seeking dominance all over the world. I'm really glad that you found something that works for you, but I personally believe that any method that depends on outside circumstances for one's own sense of wellbeing is only going to be temporary and possibly very fragile. Only when you can find real self esteem from INSIDE- regardless of whether we are the 'Alpha Male'- will you be able to say you are healed. I personally see this 'Alpha Male' attitude as a regression of human consciousness. my $.02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 I talked about it in this thread: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SSRIsex/message/7769 > > > > > > I've had no sexual functioning for like 3 years now and I know that I > > > can not live like this for the rest of my life. It's simply > > > impossible for me. Girls seem to really be attracted to me, which > > > most guys would die for, but this just makes things worse. I have to > > > literally duck and hide from girls so I don't get to know them too > > > well. If I get to know them too well, it will lead to sexual > > > interaction, which used to be everything that I lived for. > > > > > > Along with that, I can't live with this emotional bluntness anymore. > > > My passion, creativity, and my love for others used to be my strongest > > > attributes, but were taken away. I still have a little left, but > > > nothing like how I used to be. > > > > > > HAS ANYONE RECOVERED FROM THIS FULLY???????????????????????? > > > > > > Anyway, this may sound real negative, but I'm accepting that I have to > > > die soon. I realize that no one really gets better from this and I'd > > > rather be dead than to live like this. I really don't want to live > > > anymore, with all of this loneliness, lack of emotions, and whatnot. > > > The only time I'm at peace is when I accept that my death will be > > > soon. I'm somewhat concerned about the afterlife. Will I go to hell > > > if I kill myself? I hope not, but I feel like I'm living in hell > > already. > > > > > > Atleast I got to taste the good life before I came down with PSSD. > > > Riding in the car with four of my boys and smoking weed, playing jokes > > > on each other. Chasing girls and having sex with a new one every week > > > or two. Recording rap songs and freestyling with my friends. Playing > > > basketball and knowing that I was going to get some pussy afterwards. > > > Atleast I will be remembered for being that , the one God made. > > > If I keep living like this, people will remember me as someone that I > > > definitely am not naturally. I can't believe those damn little pills > > > did this to me. > > > > > > Normal people don't seem to understand how hard it is to function like > > > this. I think they'll know about my pain when they lay me to rest. > > > Peace. > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 You have point, but I do not agree entirely. Yes, the pressure on males in particular to fofill a certain alpha male, dominant, and in some cases hyper masculine role is most certainly a problem in our society. There are many examples of how this becomes a problem in our culture, if you look at the businiess or political world you'll see how dominance and hyper masculinity has a negative effect on how we " bring people up " in these fields, the same is true for rap music. There is a shadow side to dominance, to control, to taking a higher position w/i a society that is already rife w/ problems and historically destructive. However, for people w/ PSSD, we are " out of balance. " Loosing much of the sexual drive is very closely related to loosing ones place in the whole scheme of existance. Our role w/i the family, among our friends, in the work place, in our society, and eventually our place in the world as an individual is all in jeoprody because our sexual drive, our creativity, is a major part of what connects us to our tribe and to the world. I think many of us feel that we are less valuable as human beings w/o our sexuality, and so seeking to compensate for our loss of sexuality by making achievements in other fields is a way to give our lives more meaning. Its not as much about some kind of primeval dominance where we put down others to build ourselves up, its about not letting depression and PSSD take us down to where our role w/i our communities becomes completely sabotaged, leading us into more depression and isolation and withdrawl. Self esteem does ultimately come from the inside but, psychologically speaking, outward actions as well as things like introspection are needed. visuddha, i agree with you, this " pressure " to become an alpha male is definately a contributing factor to why men get depressed, but now imagine adding PSSD to the depression, this is taking us even further away from community, we already are extremely fragile and I mean EXTREMELY FRAGILE, i mean this post is called " Accepting Death, " so i think this idea of becoming more dominant is more about toughening up while still keeping a soft spot in the heart. I think we need to re-think this dominance idea, because I don't know if this is the right word, but I do think some kind of an elevation in status w/i our community is needed. Its also important to look at what that community is, we need support networks that are kind to us. Aside from an elevation in status, what I picked up from this becoming more dominant kick, was a need to work twards greater mastery in order to bolster brain function, basically gaining more skills and becoming more competant, self sufficiant and adult. This challenge to move twards adulthood is thrashed harcore by having PSSD and emotional numbness or problems. Devinn321 > > I'm sorry for the sarcasm, but.... > > Yes, let us encourage all of the depressed men in America to try to be > Alpha Males and one up and dominate eachother. > > Oh, wait......isn't that already happenning? > > American society in a nutshell, no? > > Do you think that possibly the pressure that males feel to be an Alpha > Male, to be dominant, to be the best is part of what causes depression > in males in the first place? Do you think it's really a good idea to > send men back into the same cycle that probably brought them down > originally? > > Seems like G.W. and his administration are trying to do their part to > combat a 200+ year stint of American depression by seeking dominance > all over the world. > > I'm really glad that you found something that works for you, but I > personally believe that any method that depends on outside > circumstances for one's own sense of wellbeing is only going to be > temporary and possibly very fragile. Only when you can find real self > esteem from INSIDE- regardless of whether we are the 'Alpha Male'- > will you be able to say you are healed. > > I personally see this 'Alpha Male' attitude as a regression of human > consciousness. > > my $.02. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 I think you will find that your criticism is largely misaimed. Nowhere will you find that I suggested that seeking social dominance is the cure-all for depression. In fact I don't think this was an important factor in my recovery from depression. What it really did seem to help was my PSSD. From the beginning I abstained from discussing the practical aspects of my method for recovery. To be realistic, my method probably isn't a path a lot of people can take. Optimistically, I'm hoping that I'm not a fluke and that there are at least a few others who can benefit from this method. I never claimed that it is easy, convenient, practical or even necessarily sustainable. American society isn't the only society in which competition for social status occurs. We are deeply social animals, and our mental state is deeply dependent upon our interaction with others. As an American, I too value individuality and self-reliance, but the fact is that humans cannot lead normal, happy lives without the same general sorts of social inputs that were present while we were evolving. We need a little love, a little friendship, and yes, a little competition, for our brains to function optimally. Our brains were designed for it. Depriving ourselves of these and other social interactions are likely to lead to malfunctions like depression. I do agree that obsessively stressing about social status, money, and the like are not steps in the right direction. Self esteem and social status can only come from a combination of internal and external sources. I worked hard to become the best possible person I could be. I worked hard to change my condition, my circumstance, my body and my mind. The rest followed. I hear too many people saying that what I'm doing is 'thinking positively'. This isn't it at all. Attitude is a small part of it. I've molding my environment and myself in such a way so that I CANNOT feel depressed and I CANNOT feel anxious because the precursors to these symptoms are gone. I wasn't nearly strong enough to fight the depression and anxiety head on, using only my thoughts. That's the wrong way to do it. That only wears down the spirit and covers up the pain from the casual observer. Mountains needed to be climbed, adventures needed to be had, diets needed to be changed, sleep needed to be regular, goals needed to be set and those goals needed to be met. Of course different people will have to change different things to make their lives better. I wasn't getting proper nutrition, sleep, success or exposure to nature. And there remains the possibility that I'm unique and none of these things will help anybody one bit. The anxiety slowly lifted, the depression dropped from my mind and eventually I couldn't help but feel free from social inhibition and self-doubt. It was only after I gave it some thought that I figured my recovery from PSSD may be connected to my brain's recognition of my newfound social status which I acquired after the depression had lifted. Of course I didn't consciously think about it, but I'm sure the behavioral input received from my peers was important for my brain's change, as we would expect it to be in any social animal. Also, it's worth noting what I said originally about what it means to have social dominance in humans. It's not a pecking order. Dominance is multidimensional; it's relative to domains of knowledge and ability. So being dominant is about being confident in who you are and what you do. It isn't always 'red in tooth and claw', as you seem to be supposing. Additionally, humans are coalition forming animals. If my 'theory' has any merit, perhaps merely being an intergral part of a successful coalition will be beneficial. Hope this clears some things up. > > I'm sorry for the sarcasm, but.... > > Yes, let us encourage all of the depressed men in America to try to be > Alpha Males and one up and dominate eachother. > > Oh, wait......isn't that already happenning? > > American society in a nutshell, no? > > Do you think that possibly the pressure that males feel to be an Alpha > Male, to be dominant, to be the best is part of what causes depression > in males in the first place? Do you think it's really a good idea to > send men back into the same cycle that probably brought them down > originally? > > Seems like G.W. and his administration are trying to do their part to > combat a 200+ year stint of American depression by seeking dominance > all over the world. > > I'm really glad that you found something that works for you, but I > personally believe that any method that depends on outside > circumstances for one's own sense of wellbeing is only going to be > temporary and possibly very fragile. Only when you can find real self > esteem from INSIDE- regardless of whether we are the 'Alpha Male'- > will you be able to say you are healed. > > I personally see this 'Alpha Male' attitude as a regression of human > consciousness. > > my $.02. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 30, 2007 Report Share Posted April 30, 2007 At least in my case, I seldom ate. I was too depressed. And when I did it was not very nutritious food. Being hungry is stressful, and this stress definitely did contribute to my depression. I could very easily have had a vitamin or mineral deficiency as well, which puts additional stress on the body and can even directly influence the health of the brain. A lot of fat people are depressed. I wouldn't rule out weight-related self-image issues as one of the major contributing factors to depression. > Eating right? Sorry, but this doesn't > even make sense. Sure, eating right will give you vitamins and minerals > and stuff your bodies needs to function properly, but I seriously doubt > that there is one food out there that is strong enough to cause > depression. It's like when they all shout not to drink liquor... sorry, > but it's out of the system in a matter of days, if not hours. My > depression is around for months. Let's put it this way: if diet had > anything to do with it, then fat people would all be depressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 Yea, I definitely should have been more careful about my word choice. I use the word 'dominance' because I believe that our current social instincts evolved from a pecking- order style dominance system. Now we're quite different. When I think of a 'dominant' human I think of someone who is confident in his abilities, who people look up to, who takes charge of situations and makes decisions. He's less likely to experience social anxiety and people are more likely to seek his advice, friendship and alliance. He's likely to be a pretty nice guy because the surest way of acquiring dominance is by possessing superior social skills (ie works well within a coalition (at least one particular one)). It has little to do with putting people down, except perhaps when they are members of a rival coalition. If the dominance is a result of exceptional intelligence, musical ability, sporting ability or psychopathy, then all bets are off, and the person could be a real creep. Of course dominance is largely relative to domains, so a person may exibit the leadership and anxiety-free traits of a dominant individual on the basketball court, laboratory or lecture hall, but be a quite submissive individual in most domains. It depends. These are all just my own wacky ideas. They shouldn't be taken too seriously. > i think this idea of becoming more dominant is more about toughening up while still > keeping a soft spot in the heart. I think we need to re-think this dominance idea, because > I don't know if this is the right word, but I do think some kind of an elevation in status w/i > our community is needed. Its also important to look at what that community is, we need > support networks that are kind to us. Aside from an elevation in status, what I picked up > from this becoming more dominant kick, was a need to work twards greater mastery in > order to bolster brain function, basically gaining more skills and becoming more > competant, self sufficiant and adult. This challenge to move twards adulthood is thrashed > harcore by having PSSD and emotional numbness or problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 1, 2007 Report Share Posted May 1, 2007 You are correct that you were referring to PSSD and not to depression. I had refrained from responding to your original post because I felt that as a woman I was particularly reactive to it. It seems that I somehow still managed to succumb to the trigger. I don't necessarily conceive of your idea of dominance seeking as being 'red in tooth and claw,' or cut-throat, callous and/or hostile, (but the word does often make me cringe and conjure images of opression, over-zealous competition, even bigotry), but just as seeking self-esteem from outside of ourselves. I believe that you are correct that Sexual/Creative energy is DIRECTLY linked to our sense of Empowerment (if I may suggest an alternative to the word 'dominant). However, I feel that Empowerment has nothing to do with feeling " Dominant " , or better than or worse than, but only with feeing internaly capable and worthy. It's possible that our concepts are really not all that different, and that I am only getting stuck on languaging. I just really feel strongly that we have to do whatever is in our power to find what we're looking for INSIDE of ourselves. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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