I like this alot.

Tl;dr

I know that feel. I haven't yet arrived at the exoskeleton bit. I wonder when that comes.

I think everyone has been there.

Pretty good, but not the best Hyperbole.

Depression is like shiating in your own private outhouse- the shiat keeps piling up and no one is going to shovel the pile away for you. But if you dump enough lye on the pile you can manage the stink and hope it decomposes faster than it rises.

Anyways, starting to do all the things that were avoided is a good step. Hopefully this comic update is up to her own standards so she doesn't push herself back into the the pile of inaction.

/nice to see her little erect ponytail back in action.
//really doubt she felt invincible enough to touch a fuzzy mutlieyed multilegged spider...with her bare fingers.

yay, new Hyperbole!


More poignant than funny. I suspect many many people can relate. Since my depression tends to be cyclical, the "Nothing can do anything to me" stage is darkened by the knowledge that I'll end up going through the whole process again in a few months (I tend to have 4-5 good months a year. The remaining time alternates between ennui and despair.)

Tried to read it but couldn't get through it. The art style is garbage, which would be no problem if the writing wasn't bad as well.

Been waiting forever for a new Hyperbole, and while this is not the funniest one she's done, to put herself out like that is a ballsy move.

The author dicusses it here (new window).

/off to read the party one
//parp!

She's been commissioned to write a book, so posts might be even sparser than they usually are.

Funniest chick on the web

Existential angst is counterproductive.

/Gujarat, ain't no dog, we are here to partay.
//Dance to the boogie get down.
///She's a brick. House.

It's been a long time since I've felt like that, thankfully.

What she described might not be depression, but instead manic-depression. That feeling of invincibility might not be "yay I've come through it!" but merely the other side of the same psychology, and one potentially just as damaging as it can make crazy risks seem sensible. Hopefully she learns how to manage it.

Heron: What she described might not be depression, but instead manic-depression. That feeling of invincibility might not be "yay I've come through it!" but merely the other side of the same psychology, and one potentially just as damaging as it can make crazy risks seem sensible. Hopefully she learns how to manage it.

That's what I was thinking. I've struggled with depression for years, and I don't recall having any "Yay I've come through it" moments. There are occasional bouts of happiness, business, productivity, but most of the time you feel pretty low. The best feeling you can have, and I've dubbed it Sweet Apathy, is that mindset that you just don't care. The problem there is that you tend to stop trying to push back against the world and things can get worse if you don't keep trying to make your environment better.

Jake Havechek:
Funniest chick on the web

That's like being the tallest midget. She's still never going to be able to dunk. That said I enjoyed the little girl wolfpack.

That must be -- well, the first part of it, anyway -- much like what my almost-ex-wife's life has been like since probably forever.

For a while, I could make her all better, which I enjoyed doing, and I felt really useful. Pretty soon nothing I tried would ever work and daily life turned into a grind of trying to stay out of her way.

Speaking of MS Paint...[S] Cascade (new window)

Hand to the Face: Jake Havechek:
Funniest chick on the web

That's like being the tallest midget. She's still never going to be able to dunk. That said I enjoyed the little girl wolfpack.

Good name you got for your blog, does it have a point at all?

If anyone that reads this, hasnt been to that site before; look up all the dog stories and prepare to laugh!

She needs a therapist.

Blockbuster and Skittles is not going to cure your depression.

jack21221: I like this alot.

But do you like it "a lot?"

Doc Daneeka: She needs a therapist.

Blockbuster and Skittles is not going to cure your depression.

Neither will popping pills but that doesn't stop people from prescribing them. Seriously, go for a run or something.

jack21221: I like this alot.

Thread over...

PonceAlyosha: Doc Daneeka: She needs a therapist.

Blockbuster and Skittles is not going to cure your depression.

Neither will popping pills but that doesn't stop people from prescribing them. Seriously, go for a run or something.

Go for a run? What the fark does that even mean? So instead of just being depressed you're sweaty and tired and depressed?

Jake Havechek: PonceAlyosha: Doc Daneeka: She needs a therapist.

Blockbuster and Skittles is not going to cure your depression.

Neither will popping pills but that doesn't stop people from prescribing them. Seriously, go for a run or something.

Go for a run? What the fark does that even mean? So instead of just being depressed you're sweaty and tired and depressed?

No, really, exercise does helps; it's the release of endorphins I think.

Celerian: Heron: What she described might not be depression, but instead manic-depression. That feeling of invincibility might not be "yay I've come through it!" but merely the other side of the same psychology, and one potentially just as damaging as it can make crazy risks seem sensible. Hopefully she learns how to manage it.

That's what I was thinking. I've struggled with depression for years, and I don't recall having any "Yay I've come through it" moments. There are occasional bouts of happiness, business, productivity, but most of the time you feel pretty low. The best feeling you can have, and I've dubbed it Sweet Apathy, is that mindset that you just don't care. The problem there is that you tend to stop trying to push back against the world and things can get worse if you don't keep trying to make your environment better.

Indeed, it can be a tough slog, and if you aren't able, willing, or severe enough to justify medication, bearing down, consciously pushing that stuff aside, and focusing on doing what needs to get done is the only real solution. It sounds odd to say and seems contradictory, but for some the best strategy for dealing with depression and mania without meds is to "ignore" -with all your might and every fiber of your being- that you are depressed in the first place.

Everyone's cases are different of course, but I'd say a few months of talk therapy (if she can afford it) would probably be helpful for her, and at least give her an idea of what direction to go with it. The big problem I noticed in that comic is that she moralizes it, and that is absolutely what hurts you when dealing with these things. Depression and manic-depression are different psychologies; not failings. There's nothing moral or amoral about your brain functioning in a way different from those of the people around you. Unfortunately, we live in a society that raises people to think there's only one kind of brain out there, and that any deviation from that model is a moral, not a scientific, issue. As a result, people respond with judgement and ridicule to themselves when their response should be "alright, I'm in an episode; what do I need to do to either get out of it, or manage it?" That reinforces a focus on the cycle of the psychology instead of on the psychology itself -you're "failing" when you're on a down-side, and "succeeding" when you aren't- which only reinforces the negatives. In manic-depression -because it alternates a "downside" of lethargy, negativity and apathy with an "upside" of euphoria, confidence, and intense activity- that can lead to a laxity and belief that one is "cured", which only makes one's reaction to the "downside" worse when it comes back again. Depression and Mania are no more curable than lactose intolerance, blue eyes, or having slightly more efficient cellular respiration. However, their negatives can be managed and minimized with vigilance, pragmatism, a refusal to moralize it, outside help when it is available, and -in the rougher cases- medication.

Jake Havechek: PonceAlyosha: Doc Daneeka: She needs a therapist.

Blockbuster and Skittles is not going to cure your depression.

Neither will popping pills but that doesn't stop people from prescribing them. Seriously, go for a run or something.

Go for a run? What the fark does that even mean? So instead of just being depressed you're sweaty and tired and depressed?

A huge amount of depression is caused by having a persistent lifestyle of inactivity. Don't take the neuroleptics, they make things worse.

FerneJohn: jack21221: I like this alot.

But do you like it "a lot?"

Well, I know I like this alot a lot.

capitulating fromage masticating simian:
No, really, exercise does helps; it's the release of endorphins I think.

Wow, I love your movies, Tom Cruise!

This isn't the best Hyperbole & a 1/2 post ever, but it's good to see her posting again.

PonceAlyosha: A huge amount of depression is caused by having a persistent lifestyle of inactivity. Don't take the neuroleptics, they make things worse.

I don't know. When I started taking some meds a few years ago it compelled me to actually get out of bed and tolerate life. after a few months I found that I actually genuinely enjoyed life again. I've been off the meds for over a year and I've had some highs and lows, but I'm not in that swelling sneaky loathing rut I once was in.

Jake Havechek: capitulating fromage masticating simian:
No, really, exercise does helps; it's the release of endorphins I think.

Wow, I love your movies, Tom Cruise!

Don't be glib, Jake. "Research has shown that exercise is an effective but often underused treatment for mild to moderate depression."

nekom: Yeah, it doesn't beat the posts about her retarded dog.

And it doesn't involve sugar highs, childhood cruelty or being loaded up on medication either. There are just so many good posts to think back on.

KatjaMouse: PonceAlyosha: A huge amount of depression is caused by having a persistent lifestyle of inactivity. Don't take the neuroleptics, they make things worse.

I don't know. When I started taking some meds a few years ago it compelled me to actually get out of bed and tolerate life. after a few months I found that I actually genuinely enjoyed life again. I've been off the meds for over a year and I've had some highs and lows, but I'm not in that swelling sneaky loathing rut I once was in.

I'm not saying that anti-depressants can't be effective, but they have far too many downstream side effects from a neural perspective. In the next ten or so years we're going to see a lot of interventions against depression and other personality disorders that don't involve drugs but involve neurofeedback or transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Gruden: If anyone that reads this, hasnt been to that site before; look up all the dog stories and prepare to laugh!

By far my favorite has to be The Year Kenny Loggins Ruined Christmas (new window) & The God of Cake (new window).

But the dog stories are pretty funny, too.

PonceAlyosha: I'm not saying that anti-depressants can't be effective, but they have far too many downstream side effects from a neural perspective. In the next ten or so years we're going to see a lot of interventions against depression and other personality disorders that don't involve drugs but involve neurofeedback or transcranial magnetic stimulation.

I also don't deny that some medications are over prescribed and that some people see them as easy fixes when a few life style changes could be far more beneficial but there is a genuine need to fix a real and natural imbalances that medication, which is improving by the year, can easily manage. Also, I've read on the magnetic stimulation too and that sounds like a load of psuedoscientific hooey to me.

phoxxy: By far my favorite has to be The Year Kenny Loggins Ruined Christmas (new window) & The God of Cake (new window).

I had to shut my office door so that I could LMFAO in peace once while reading this one. The Party (new window)

I've heard that clitoral stimulation defeats depression.

KatjaMouse: PonceAlyosha: I'm not saying that anti-depressants can't be effective, but they have far too many downstream side effects from a neural perspective. In the next ten or so years we're going to see a lot of interventions against depression and other personality disorders that don't involve drugs but involve neurofeedback or transcranial magnetic stimulation.

I also don't deny that some medications are over prescribed and that some people see them as easy fixes when a few life style changes could be far more beneficial but there is a genuine need to fix a real and natural imbalances that medication, which is improving by the year, can easily manage. Also, I've read on the magnetic stimulation too and that sounds like a load of psuedoscientific hooey to me.

That's a very dumb thing to say. TMS locally depolarizes neuronal membranes, making the neurons enter a state of continual firing. It's the neural equivalent of going to the gym, except your muscles are your neurons. Seriously that's an incredibly dumb thing to say.

I'll say one thing for it - it came off a lot less sappy than most internet confessionals that end on an up note. That's worth a lot of credit in my eyes. Web comics that wallow in sentimental schlock and pander to saccharine simplicity really get under my sin.

likefunbutnot: People who are not themselves depressed have no farking business telling anyone who is what they should or shouldn't do, or how they should or shouldn't feel. The author captured some essential parts of emotional feedback loop that depression creates and while I'm glad she's apparently feeling better, those of you spouting off your moronic theories about how to feel better without ever having been there need to put the cocks back in your mouth and go suck someplace else.

Science doesn't care about your self righteous bull.

Also, was it just me, but did anyone else have Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls blasting in their heads when seeing the last frame?

Yay...another internet funny-person comes out to explain to us that funny people often don't like themselves. Meh.

Jake Havechek: capitulating fromage masticating simian:
No, really, exercise does helps; it's the release of endorphins I think.

Wow, I love your movies, Tom Cruise!

Actually going to second this. Running does actually release endorphins which help a lot. I have a friend who does marathon running because it takes care of her depression w/ out meds. My ex also used to exercise to help manage depression.

Personally, I'm not clinically depressed and this method does not work for me at all when I'm feeling shiatty.