Internet causes depression?

[Jacklinger]

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They're saying using the internet too much causes depression. This article made me face palm myself. It's pretty obvious that depressed people like the internet because it's an escape from depression, partially.

Ever notice how everything depressed people like is blamed for depression? First it was excessive reading back in the 1940s. Then movies, food, video games, drugs-- the only things that haven't been blamed for causing depression yet is religion, sports, and sex.

[snarko]

I know a lot of people with depressing sex lives, actually. LOL!

Of course the internet does not cause depression. That's silly. Though I read an interesting related article here:

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It explains how a constant bombardment of "information"--most of it useless--can cause depression, OCD, and more.

Basically it explains that our bodies are only built to "multi-task" for limited periods of time, not constantly. Push it, and it physically starts depleting things from your brain, because it wants to rest.

[mychemicalromance]

i think the internet in a way helps me deal with depression. I can talk about it online, whereas i cant seem to be vocal about it to people around me. People can get support i suppose

[Heather514]

i think that the internet has made my depression worse. especially with facebook and stuff, i get too anxious about seeing everyones status updates, what theyre up to, checking up on my boyfriends page to make sure that he's not cheating on me or other girls are commenting on his page... all that shit makes me so much more paranoid. sometimes i wish that the internet would just dissapear. out of sight, out of mind.

[dragonfly]

Isn't it more likely that depression causes increased internet use?

Like if people are avoiding real-life contact with people then they are gonna use the internet more to contact people. And can be a support like mychemicalromance said.

[prettyfat]

Oh my god. seriously? I use the internet to AVOID depression! If I didn't go on the internet for most of my time, I'd spend all that time curled up in a ball crying in my bedroom and getting screamed at by my mother. I don't get depressed. But I know if I dwell on something, I can. So the internet takes me away. Its really sad. But yeah. I'm pretty sure I'd have commited suicide by now if the internet wasn't here.

[mychemicalromance]

Oh my god. seriously? I use the internet to AVOID depression! If I didn't go on the internet for most of my time, I'd spend all that time curled up in a ball crying in my bedroom and getting screamed at by my mother. I don't get depressed. But I know if I dwell on something, I can. So the internet takes me away. Its really sad. But yeah. I'm pretty sure I'd have commited suicide by now if the internet wasn't here.

thank god for the internet:)

[Sparkling_Diamonds]

Haha, that's true that depressed people would gravitate towards the things mentioned in the article. However, I've read a studying that says religion causes depression in teens. I believe it because religion does depress me and I find it boring.

I think certain people cause depression. I get depressed by religious people, fat people, stupid people, boring people that repeat themselves too often, people that disagree with me, immature people and people that wish I would feel ugly feelings such as jealousy, hate, malice, and evil. *shudders* The worst feeling I ever felt was despair and I am terrified of feeling it. I never want to feel despair.

I hate how when things are going good in my life people will tell me I'm depressed when I'm really happy and when I'm miserable no one cares.

Edit: What do you do when people WANT you to be depressed and miserable because they hate you? They'll say ohhh I don't hate you, but I really wish you would get a new personality that loves me and lets me abuse you!

[unendurablepleasure]

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They're saying using the internet too much causes depression. This article made me face palm myself. It's pretty obvious that depressed people like the internet because it's an escape from depression, partially.

Ever notice how everything depressed people like is blamed for depression? First it was excessive reading back in the 1940s. Then movies, food, video games, drugs-- the only things that haven't been blamed for causing depression yet is religion, sports, and sex.

I concure. Happy people use the internet too.

[unendurablepleasure]

I know a lot of people with depressing sex lives, actually. LOL!

Of course the internet does not cause depression. That's silly. Though I read an interesting related article here:

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 1 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

It explains how a constant bombardment of "information"--most of it useless--can cause depression, OCD, and more.

Basically it explains that our bodies are only built to "multi-task" for limited periods of time, not constantly. Push it, and it physically starts depleting things from your brain, because it wants to rest.

if they have depressing sex lives, it only means someone isn't doing it right lol

[silver_elf]

There is no evidence that internet use actually causes depression.
correlation vs causation (ergo hoc ergo procter hoc fallacy)
it may be coincidental, who knows. Have they actually done controlled studies for this?

I think people are just looking for things to blame.

EDIT: I don't think religion would cause depression either- we are less religious now than ever, but more depressed now than ever. umm... hello? Either it's the opposite relation or they are unrelated.

Some people have the strangest arguments based on the most questionable data. *sigh of frustration*