I didn't mean it that way. I will change it.

Yep. The homeless guy who believes he's Queen Elizabeth II's son, and that she deposited him in a foreign country when he was young so that all the money could go to Charles, and that my dad is Queen Elizabeth II, and who regularly has to be institutionalised and ends up in jails -- he's just fallen for the psych community's BS. Also all those people who go crazy because of drugs: total BS. Also PTSD sufferers: total BS.

Seeing as you're in America, you should visit a veterans' organisation and see how full of BS all of the PTSD sufferers are.

Edit: This is sarcasm.

If he was just depressed, then I can see how this might be useful advice. Even if you have clinical depression, taking a walk can be helpful, and sunlight (well, any bright light) can help your mood. Even taking care of a cat or a dog (and for some, even a houseplant) can be very theraqeutic. But based on his post, that getting out in the daytime is one of his primary difficulties, so it's not very useful for HIM.

What I suggested in my first post, that he seek assistance -- get on the phone with an actual medical doctor, or some local social service agency that can lend their help. I was lucky in that I actually had a close friend that had experienced a bout with depression, and got me out of my house when I wouldn't answer my phone, and helped me get started on the right path. But for someone who doesn't have a friend or close family to help him, it becomes increasingly difficult (and to him, based on my personal experience, it must feel impossible) to get the help he needs.

I DO know that most emergency rooms will also deal with mental as well as physical health crises. But if he can't get himself to an emergency room, then I have no idea what kinds of social services would be available (anyone know?). I mean I really feel bad for the OP, having been in a similar situation. I really do hope he gets the help he needs.

I'd suggest calling as many shrink's offices or social services as he can until he finds someone that's willing to make house visits.

why did you reply to my post to say that lol

I used to be pretty avoidant in social situations. I had a small group of acquaintances who I would occasionally speak to, but kept quiet otherwise. I certainly wasn't a very cheery person then, I felt quite worthless. It's entirely possible that I was going through depression, but I don't know for sure, since I never sought professional help.

Then, in my sophomore year of high school, I joined the drama club and all that sort of changed. It gave me all kinds of self-confidence, which helped immensely. I'm still quite introverted; that's just my nature, but I don't have too many problems socializing with people when I need/want to.

ive had house visits. all i ended up with was a rookie doctor (he was a good guy though) who told me to challenge my thoughts and go for a walk in the daytime.. the whole reason i saw him is because i cant! also stuck me on some crap meds which ive been taking for over a year and they have done absolutely nothing to help. paying to see a shrink didnt work either. they just stall to keep you coming back so they get more coin. ask you routine questions and i end up not trusting them so i couldnt really talk to them. been to mental health services and all they did was put me in hospital for a week and then say "ok you're not completely insane, you can go home now" so that was the end of that

it might be hard, but it's still not harder than you make it yourself. and i am also sure that everyone is able to do whatever they want if they just want it enough.

That's about as far from the truth as it's possible to get. It's very easy to underestimate just how much effort is expended by people in their endeavours to improve their lot, especially if one only judges them by results, but it's not really very helpful to do so: in fact it's rather counterproductive. Unfortunately, there are a lot of anecdotal stories along the lines of "I cured my social phobia/depression/whatever by just getting off my backside and putting in the effort" which sound terribly compelling until you consider that the person making that claim almost certainly wasn't suffering the same problems as the people who are supposedly not making the effort. It's very easy to sit in judgement but it doesn't really go anywhere useful.

i see what you mean, and i agree. i think you misunderstood what i meant, but it was badly put anyway.

Yes, it was very likely depression. I've been through it as well. For most, it's a pretty easy cure, and I'm quite surprised how often I find out the type of depression that creates social disorders like social anxiety and avoidance is self imposed, or in other words, preventable.

So you get a laugh from reading about other's pain? I think that is something worth seeking some assistance with. Those Clinical psychologist have a name for that one as well.

SAD does not stand for "social anxiety disorder" it stands for "seasonal affective disorder " and it is caused by chemical changes in the brain from lack of sunlight. It is very real as many who live in the far north in winter can tell you. And there are treatments such as full spectrum lighting and a Vit. D supplement. I can assure you that this illness has been around much longer than there has been a name for it. Depression has peaked in the winter time of not enough sunlight always. How fortunate we now not only have a name for it but a treatment.

Fortunately I've managed to avoid any confusion by having both. I'm building up quite a collection! I like collecting things, but perhaps this one could do with being whittled down a bit.

I was just commenting to explain to others who may not understand that what you described is real, because the reaction of some people is that it isn't. I wasn't talking about you, specifically, but that social anxiety like you described, and other disorders have an actual physical basis.

The main problem I have with this is that studies have not (yet) shown that full spectrum lighting is any better than normal lighting for treating the disorder. In fact, because full spectrum bulbs are not as bright as normal bulbs for the same exact wattage, they may, in fact, not be as good as normal bulbs for treating SAD. At least the science is not there for that yet.

Furthermore, any kind of light seems to have a positive affect, and since full-spectrum lights cost about 3 to 4 times as much as normal light bulbs, you are probably better off either spending time outdoors, or in a well-lit room with normal lighting.

That's me summed up.