There's something seductive about the idea that all our problems are caused by this one thing, and if we could figure out what it is and fix it, we'd be unstoppable at life. It's the same idea behind "doctors hate this one weird trick".

On occasion, it even turns out to be correct.

Meirl

Huh. My recurring biceps pains are the bane of my existence. And I was also refused for a blood donation due to insufficient hemoglobin. I need to try iron supplements.

I just have a lot of sleep inertia. Sleepy when I get up, not sleepy at bed time.

I did also have a vitamin D deficiency without knowing it though.

Did your regular bloodwork from your PC doc show a vitamin D deficiency?

i know you're joking but fuck, sometimes it do be like that.

Obviously nobody should infantalise people suffering from depression by telling them to "just be happy", "go outside" etc. but if you're malnourished, have vitamin deficiencies, don't go out to hang out with the human tribe, and sit in your home the entire day without moving - you're going to feel like shite. Fixing those problems won't cure clinical depression, but the other way round is true too - getting meds for depression won't cure you of feeling like shit if you don't use the chance they give you to try to improve your life yourself.

I know you're joking but I only figured out I have anemia because iron supplements suddenly gave me energy to live

Vitamin deficiencies are easy to detect and to treat, and there's no sense in spending months or years hoping to find the right anti-depressant before checking for them. Heck, I wish my issues were caused by vitamin deficiencies.

That literally happened to me. Turns out that my doctor’s resident who just finished a psych rotation learned that most people are deficient in magnesium.

Our communities are setup like that. We're separated from eachother, and we can't afford to spend enough time at local third places to feel community. Church also used to be central to community and most people aren't religious, but nothing has replaced the churches role in community building.

It's rough. If you can get out to places nearby where people congregate that will be nice. Getting a dog is nice too if you like dogs, they give you love and accept your love and they're a good ice breaker. They also force you out regularly. You can take the dog to dog parks and chat with locals.

It's not your fault. Humans are a social animal and we built cities and an economy that didn't consider that.

It is important that you love yourself. In fact, I think it's important that you feel loved by someone, even if that somebody is yourself.

Hugs from an internet stranger!

My sibling in science, I have consumed enough weed in my life to earn me an approving nod from Snoop himself, but on the off chance you’re not shitposting:

500mg is entirely too much for a nighttime dose. You are not getting any proper REM sleep at all if you’re actually doing this to yourself every night. Take a fuckin T-break man.

500+ mg THC? That's a lot.

Honestly I think it's most likely that you're simply overworked. (many/most people are)

I think that being overworked, together with emotional instability/lack of security, are the most prevalent causes of mental illnesses in our society today. It's no "chemical imbalance in your brain" story. Sure, there's chemical imbalance, but where does that imbalance come from? I guess it's mostly that our bodies aren't built for today's demands.

Kratom is not a health supplement.

Maybe cut out the THC? It's a depressant.

I think ashwaganda is not supposed to be taken daily long term