Slashdot Mirror
Burnout and Depression Among IT Workers?
Cultural Sublimation asks: "All of us working in IT seem to be
especially prone to problems like
burnout and depression. Could part
of the reason be directly related
to our professions? Recently, there
have been a number of interesting
features on Kuro5hin which have focused precisely on this issue. From people claiming that "
The Internet Is Driving Me Crazy",
to an in-depth two-part series trying to
demystify
depression, the message is that too
much information might be making us sick.
What are the experiences of fellow
Slashdot readers on this topic?"
That the linked articles aren't uncontested on k5. For example not this comment about psychotherapy or the lack of knowledge thereof the author seems to have.
Anyway, some resources. If you are taking/thinking about taking meds, I highly recommend http://www.crazymeds.org/ The site isn't run by a doctor, but having checked his information from a number of different sources, he definitely seems to get the information right. Plus, the site is irreverant, which I appreciate.
The first course of therapy for depression is cognitive behavioral therapy. There is a standard book that explains these techniques. Feeling Good, by David Burns. Amazon link here: http://tinyurl.com/7dxos
I've read a lot of books on depression over the past 18 months, and the best, the most informative, I found was The Noonday Demon, by Andrew Solomon. Amazon again: http://tinyurl.com/99neh
Finally, the links in the post were good, and a good start, but I definitely disagree with some of his advice. Everybody is different, so take the time to hear different viewpoints on diagnoses, symptoms, and cures.
If you're wondering, treatment has made me better than I was, but I still have room for improvement. This is important. Depression may never (or it may) be "cured" for you, but in nearly all cases, treatment will decrease its severity. But not necessarily right away. Treatment is a process, and it takes some time to get there. Be patient.
"My girlfriend's got sodium laureth sulfate hair."
I wish he'd post his real name so I could mark him an enemy.
"Depression, of course, is the failure of society to admit that with our 'up' moods must come 'down' stages. If we're never down how can we truly enjoy being upbeat and happy?"
Are you really that stupid? Depression is a known medical illness. I'm not talking about "man today sucks" depression, I'm talking about Clinical Depression. Again, slashdot readers, if you're not a doctor, perhaps you shouldn't be commenting on things you have no clue about.
As for your Brave New World reference, some would say its a complete sham. After all, you don't see anyone complaining about taking medication to defeat illness or aging - only when it comes to mental health do people start saying "suck it up"!
I thought this was a little well written to have been posted that quickly. This is originally from http://www.adequacy.org/public/stories/2001.7.8.10 5659.2501.html and written in 2001. I would hope that this posted does not repeat this stunt in the future, regardless of the topic or their opinions.
ADD is caused by a chemical imbalance. I don't believe you can "get it"; I believe you have to be born with it. What you're describing - if you don't have ADD - is probably something else.
It's a blast in the rain, as long as you don't mind getting muddy, and the people who maintain the field don't get upset about the occasional slide through the mud.
Wind is much worse-- it takes a lot more skill to throw a disc in the wind than in the rain. It was pretty tough sometimes playing in the plains.
Here's the UK Ultimate Federation page:
http://www.ukultimate.com/
they might have links to clubs.
There also tend to be a lot of invisible ultimate groups, because of the lack of formality to the whole sport.