Start-Up Founders On Dealing With Depression 257
v3rgEz (125380) writes "Founders at a number of Boston startups shared their stories of building and growing a company while battling depression. One founder didn't even realize he was depressed until glucose and blood tests came back normal, while another said it was worse than her life struggles growing up in the projects. All shared different coping mechanisms. Any advice for dealing with the same?"
Huh? (Score:5, Insightful)
One founder didn't even realize he was depressed until glucose and blood tests came back normal
If his results were normal why would that indicate he had depression?
Re:Depression is weird (Score:5, Insightful)
Depression is weird
No, its really, really simple actually, even depressingly so. When you're smarter than everyone else, they all team up to try to destroy you. This is very stressful and the effect of the stress is quite distracting in a way that is nearly constant, even when not being actively bullied at that moment. Imagine how much smarter our most brilliant minds would be if they weren't tormented by mainstream society and their "peers" practically from the cradle to the grave.
Go out and smell the flowers once in a while (Score:5, Insightful)
People who spend dark to dark in their offices often lose sight of life, while scrambling to the top. Give your endorphins a chance to work out, too. We're all headed to the grave, make sure your journey there isn't all work and no play.
Re:Um.... (Score:2, Insightful)
"Professional help" does not have a high success rate for treating depression.
Group Depression (Score:4, Insightful)
When I worked as an engineer at McDonnell Douglas and things were spiraling down... I watched as the energy required to do a small task seemed to require a herculean effort to complete... Seemed that each day there was less employees to do the work... and each of them had less energy to "make it happen"... I have been fortunate not to have to experience this over and over like some individuals have. My heart goes out to those who suffer with depression and with those who struggle maintaining ... whether it is maintaining a job or trying to maintain consciousness to man up and get by.
Re:There's only one thing; (Score:5, Insightful)
So my advise is seek professional help from a qualified psychiatrist who will probably recommend a good counsellor. Do not accept a script from an ordinary GP, ask for a referral to a physiatrist for a second opinion. Above all educate yourself enough about any drugs you are given, especially the unwanted side-effects that can be far worse than the anxiety attacks. Used properly the drugs are effective, I have more friends that have benefited from their correct use than have suffered from incorrect use.
Re:How I deal (Score:4, Insightful)
I didn't want to medicate unless it was a medicine which could cure me, which doesn't exist (yet)
Got a medical marijuana certificate. Best when used judiciously.
I am not sure how to reconcile these two. Selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors count as medicine, but partial CB1 agonists do not?
Re:There's only one thing; (Score:4, Insightful)
Experiences like that tend to happen if you have dealt with a bad professional or ignored professional advice (or in a rare case, have a lifelong imbalance of some sorts, in which case alternatives might not work anyway). You should be using the antidepressants to help with sources of problems, to help you get back on your feet so you don't need them anymore. Unfortunately, too many people go to a GP and demand something, get a prescription, then never follow through with actually fixing or dealing with things.
The antidepressants are supposed to be like a bandage that stops a wound from getting infected, poked at, and gives it a chance to heal. Except in this case the healing is not a passive thing usually, and you need to be working on making things better once you have motivation to get things done, with or without the help of counseling. The only reason most people should see an increase in dosage is because the original dosage didn't work from the start, not because of tolerance build up, and then as things progress they should be lowering dosage with time. At the very least, any reasonable professional should be quite aware of withdrawal issues and not mistake it for just needing to go back on the drugs.
Re:Depression is weird (Score:0, Insightful)
Dude, you sound like an asshole.
Been there.. (Score:4, Insightful)
I think the most important medicine is to surround yourself with people who care and are able to support. Me and my colleagues started a business. Things are going well now but I had those bout of depression before (including thoughts of suicide.) Before, I felt alone in an island. The image of me being perfect was so high that I didn't open up to other people.
Now, it is different, I've learned to share and ask for support from my family and close friends. I have learned that I am not superman and I do make mistakes. I have learned to take care of myself and love myself more. :) Life is so much better now. :)
P.S. May be one bonus for me is that I am generally a happy person living a simple life. Though one disadvantage is that if bad things happen, it does probably hit me harder than other people. I also didn't take any prescription medicine.