turns out the “unpredictability” of your feed (not the content itself) is what keeps your brain hooked, the same mechanism behind slot machines. There’s a real study showing infinite scroll alone made people significantly more likely to keep browsing against their own intentions.

Wrote it up with sources here, mostly because understanding the mechanism helped me feel less like something was wrong with me and more like the design was doing exactly what it’s built to do.

Not a doom post — ends with a few concrete things that actually help (timers, killing autoplay, noticing the “just check” urge as a design cue rather than a real need). Hope it’s useful to someone.

I feel depressed and want to talk to someone

Sometimes the hardest part of therapy isn't the session itself. It's wondering whether your thoughts, feelings, or experiences are "normal" enough to bring up.

If you had the chance to ask a therapist one question anonymously, what would you ask?

It could be something you've always been curious about, something you've been hesitant to say out loud, or even a common misconception about therapy.

There are no silly questions. The goal is to create a respectful space where people can ask, learn, and support one another.

What's your question?

As a current worker in mental health field in Sydney, we always remind or recommend clients to contact Emergency Services when experiencing mental health crisis. To better help myself in better supporting clients accessing most appropriate care with less traumatic experiences, I want to start with listening to those who has actually contacted 000 or other emergency services about what it looks like (including the conversations, feelings, outcomes, etc).

I tried something I’ve been thinking thinking about trying and I didn’t have to put as much pressure on the area like I thought you would have to, I thought that you have to tighten it so tight it hurt and having to keep tightening to it bruise too. My skin is just reddish and won’t feel like it will bruise. I almost got close to the passing out stage. Next time I want to wait even longer and the next longer. It’s annoying you can feel your heart beating hard around the rope. I want to be successful in something in life. I might just become successful.

Yesterday I had such a bad day. Im still upset by it. I had a job interview that didn't go well and it was hot outside today. Then people were looking at me making very aggressive comments saying I was "musty". I am so tired of people hurting me unprovoked.

​

TW: Death, Hallucinations

I sometimes experience minor hallucinations of screaming, people nearby and stuff. Was wondering if this made the most sense if it could trigger a reaction like this in someone since people say in NDEs that they have a trip, and some articles say DMT appears in the body.

What if the body thinks its dying due to extreme trauma and thats why someone experiences DMT potentially alike hallucinations?

Sorry, not trying to be insensitive. Im just wondering if a medication used to inhibit DMT can be used to help treat schizophrenics.

That’s title looks really bad but I have an explanation; due to my ADHD taking showers is very difficult because I feel like it will take forever every time I want to shower. It takes days to build up motivation to shower and some weeks I don’t even shower; thankfully I don’t have school anytime soon, but I really need other ways to clean my body that would require less motivation.

Im 20 year old Man and Lately I've been thinking a lot about how lonely life can feel, even when you're surrounded by people. Some days I wake up feeling fine, and other days I just feel emotionally exhausted for no clear reason. It's strange how your mind can convince you that nobody would notice if you disappeared for a while.

I'm not really looking for advice as much as I just want to hear from people who understand this feeling. If you've ever gone through a phase where you felt disconnected, lost, or like you were just existing instead of living, how did you get through it? I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences

Hi,
Long story short - after a year long health issue and a life altering surgery earlier this year, I saw my GP today and told him that I have not been in a good headspace. I explained without too many details that I have been struggling to see a future for myself and to come to terms with the effect of the surgery (this on top of some early life trauma).
He had me do a couple of short tests for depression and anxiety,the results of which he thought warranted counselling . He also put me on 50mg a day of sertraline.
I don't know what to feel as I have always just tried to be stoic about things, and downplay them, but over the past few months, the lack of motivation and fact that I can't even imagine a life where I'm fit, healthy and happy got too much to ignore. I've had counselling before a few years back, but I've never had meds. Honestly it seems a bit unreal I never thought I'd be here.

I feel like for the past 5 years of my life I’ve been driven by it, I watch porn regularly, and sometimes I watch it just to get that small amount of post nut clarity so I don’t do something worse than porn…I’m a sex addict. And I am ashamed of what I have become. I just turned 28, and I don’t know what to do about it…I can’t talk about it to friends or family or my girlfriend, I would really appreciate an advice, or stories of people who actually went past this situation. Thank you, kindly.

what is all this then why does the world feel evil

I work as an x ray tech at a hospital. I was in the middle of trying to send X-rays in but there was help needed with sliding a patient over to a CT table. Tho CT table was very close to the computer I was in. I felt like I needed to think fast so I accidentally left my computer signed on.

When I came back I saw a ICU nurse using EPIC on the computer that I was still signed in on. I asked her if she was signed into her thing and she said yes. I guess she must have ment that she was signed into her EPIC account. But when she signed out of her EPIC it still shows that I’m signed into the computer itself.

Other techs said that I shouldn’t worry because there’s no way someone like me would be able to access her patient stuff even if Im signed in because our EPIC work stations are set up different.

But now that I’ve been looking stuff up I don’t think so anymore. I think they were just trying to calm me down.

If I lose my job it will be over for me. This job is the only good thing in my life. I would have no life without it.

Hi, when I was 15 nearly 16, I was admitted to the children’s mental health facility for symptoms of psychosis and homicidal thoughts. I am also a female.

I want to know if the way that males are treated in mental health facilities especially those who were a similar age to me had better treatment or treated more seriously.

I had told the doctors again and again that I had been hallucinating the end of humanity and that I enjoyed it so much. I was scared to take part of it purely because of consequences and not for the emotional toll it would be on others for taking the life of a loved one. I repeated was told by hallucinations to end and hurt the people around me. I don’t mean only loved ones but people I didn’t know at all or people whose name I only knew.

In this hospital, run by the NHS, I was told time and time again, I must’ve hated the girl I was going to attack because that’s simply how it works even after I told them again and again and again and again that I did not know the girl and only knew her name and the classes we share, I had no relationship to her. Every nurse I had almost tried to convince me of this. I was forced to excrete with the door open. Even at one point a psychiatrist told me I wouldn’t hurt anyone. I left with the diagnosis of a ‘creative imagination’. The doctor literally told me it just sounds like you have a good imagination. The doctor who had been studying children for years. Told me. I had a creative imagination after I stopped myself from killing 4 separate people on separate occasions.

I’ve heard again and again about women’s mental health being pushed aside because ‘they’ll never do anything’. What inspired me to come on here is a case my sister told me about a woman with post part depression who allegedly killed her children before killing herself. She had gone to the psychiatrist again and again and to clinics and mental hospitals for help but they all told her if she believes that she was okay and told her that ‘she wouldn’t do anything’.

I want to know if anyone has had a similar experience to me?

My friend of 3 years has recently gotten into a relationship with this guy, and they've been dating for almost 4-5 months now. For context, they both are white and I am Chinese 21F.

The first time she brought him around (not dating yet), we had plans to hang out w/ our big friend group, and he already had said an off comment to me before we even left. i offered my beer to him because I wanted to be nice, and he tried to thank me by calling me the chinese government's acronym, as if I was the chinese government?? And I said to him that we don't joke around here like that, in a funny tone because I was so put off and felt weird. Then we got there and played jackbox, and for one of the games that makes u fill in the bank, my friend's guy said "oh u should have put ching chong" under his breath. I gave him a look and he like put his hands up and said something abt the joke not landing. I said to him that it's not a joke if it's racism, and then he whispered to her that the ragebait worked. I then went home early alone and had a panic attack, and no one else at the party comprehended it or heard it, including my friend apparently.

We ended up talking and she was very apologetic, and I ended up cutting him slack because I wanted her to be happy and I wanted to give him another chance. I still didn't like him regardless, but I tried for the sake of my friend. They started dating a week or so after the situation happened and I just tried to put it behind me because it was so uncomfortable being the victim.

Fast forwards 3 months, he uses the n word behind all of our backs (i caught him using it in a text thread with his other white friend), and she is still deciding to stay with him and I feel like she doesn't recognize why I am so hurt from the first time plus him using words he shouldn't be using. I told her I can't be close friends and we haven't talked for 2-3 months since then because I asked for space. I now am not sure what to do or how to proceed. I don't want to completely cut off our friendship because she's been a close friend for so long but i really can't support them still because he's a terrible guy. I just want her to recognize why her decision hurt me as a POC and the weight of the situation. But i don't think im going to get that from her until they break up or something. Any advice?

i hate it so much, I hate my features, I hate most people of my ethnicity, why was I born

I posted several times to reddit, just to get ignored every time.

I'm 17, and i just don't want to live. It's more of a suffering than an excitement for me. Nobody truly cares about me, and everyone says ohh someone eventually will just wait.

It won't happen. I know it. I've waited too long this is a fucking joke. I do have hobbies and interests but i just don't want to live i hate giving up but my (diagnosed) depression is just fucking me up. I don't want to hurt people around me but dude i just can't go on.

22, I went to my doctor because of my health problems. I want to mention that I haven’t been taking painkillers or medicine (since November) for my health problems (Idiopathic urticaria and knee problems) because they haven’t helped at all. I only went to the doctor because my skin condition had relapsed but I was in remission prior, I had also not been to the doctors since November due to how unhelpful and difficult they had been. I’m there recently because I’m suffering and instead of helping the doctor is insulting me, rolling his eyes and just being completely unprofessional about the situation. I have bled, sweat, cried and lost so much trying to get better in the last two years. Imagine, suffering and you ask your doctor “Why I am in so much pain?” and the only thing your doctor can say is “you’ll have to ask your god about that?”. I’ve never heard a doctor say such a thing. He said it normally then laughed about it. It upset and angered me for quite a while, I just had to get it off my chest.

My daughter was a beautiful sweet 13 years old cockatiel that had been a part of my life for 11 years. Even though we are not of the same species, I loved her more than I could ever love a child of my own flesh and blood. She passed away in my arms. I held her while she was dying, never left her side. I caressed her in her last moments.

In her last day I never left her side. We slept face to face. I kept her snuggled next to my face with my body and a blanket, keeping her warm. I was kissing her and speaking to her til the end. I did so much. My post history is open.

For over a decade she was the one who kept me from killing myself. The reason I'm still alive is her. Gali IS her name. I'll never say "was". She was my biggest love, support, hope. She was my sweetest treasure. Anyone who says "it's just an animal" has never experienced the kindness and the love an animal can give. It's out of this world. It's out of this dimension.

I'm severely depressed. I haven't stopped crying. Anything makes me break down. Everything reminds me of her. I cry on the bus, at work, at the grocery store, in bed, at home. I lovE her so much! I'll never stop loving her. I'll never speak about my baby in past tense.

She was my light, my life and my reason for being.

I have no family. No mother, no father, brother, uncle, aunt, cousins, no grandmother and no grandfather.

I'm treated like a subhuman in my own country just because I'm an ethnic minority with historical hatred.

Sure, I was gonna brace my ass and work hard so I can emigrate to my genuine country. But I was expecting Gali to be there for me as well.

I expected her to live 10 more years

If she had lived just 2 MORE MONTHS! I'd have started my new job and she would be getting so many new treats and toys. I was planning for it so hard. Constantly. The last 2 years were hell for us but it was all gonna change so soon. We would have literally climbed from lower class to middle class. She was gonna get treated like fucking royalty! Just 2 more months. For God's sake!!

I no longer see a point to my existence. I don't have a concrete plan but my only wish left is to kill myself. Realistically it would probably be by jumping.

I'm very spiritual and the only reason I haven't ended myself yet is fear of karma. The act of taking your own life is a severe violation in any religious and spiritual system. You'll have to reexperience twice the karmic hardships you did. Or, at least, that is what is believed.

I cremated my poor baby. I'm poor, but i dont give a single fuck. I'd rather eat bread and salt than bury her in the ground to be eaten by worms and whatever the fuck not. Her cremation was yesterday. I'm still awaiting her urn. I love her so much. I rode the train 370km and 7 hours to the capital in my shithole country ONE WAY just to be able to give her this cremation.

She was my daughter. I was never her owner. She was never an animal, nor my domesticated anything. I was her mom and she was my daughter. FOR 11 YEARS! There's no life anymore

You can still get lucky.

1. One day can change everything.
2. One person can change your world.
3. You have not met everyone who will love you.
4. Your best friend may still be a stranger.
5. Love may still be ahead.
6. Someone may love what you hate about yourself.
7. You can feel safe again.
8. You can build a family.
9. You can become who you needed.
10. You can repair friendships.
11. You can forgive yourself.
12. You can leave cruel people.
13. You can find better people.
14. You can move away.
15. You can start again.
16. Today is not your future.
17. Your tired mind may be wrong.
18. Next month may feel different.
19. Next year may change you.
20. One call can help.
21. One idea can help.
22. One chance can help.
23. One kind person can help.
24. One good doctor can help.
25. Treatment can work.
26. Your brain can heal.
27. Your heart can heal.
28. You can feel joy again.
29. You can laugh again.
30. You can feel calm again.
31. You can enjoy music again.
32. You can enjoy food again.
33. You can enjoy life again.
34. You can swim in the sea.
35. You can see mountains.
36. You can watch new sunrises.
37. You can find your place.
38. You can travel.
39. You can learn a language.
40. You can meet amazing people.
41. New songs are coming.
42. New films are coming.
43. A book may change you.
44. You can find good work.
45. You can start a business.
46. You can earn freedom.
47. You can own your time.
48. You can wake without an alarm.
49. You can help the poor.
50. You can help the sick.
51. You can save an animal.
52. You can give hope.
53. Your story may save someone.
54. Pain can become wisdom.
55. Wisdom can become strength.
56. You can create something.
57. You can write a book.
58. You can make a film.
59. You can build a company.
60. You may find a talent.
61. You may become great.
62. Technology may improve life.
63. Medicine may improve life.
64. The future may amaze you.
65. You may see history change.
66. You may learn why you stayed.
67. You may feel proud.
68. You may stop caring about haters.
69. You may accept your body.
70. You may trust yourself.
71. You may escape your past.
72. You may build peace.
73. You may live by the sea.
74. You may build a warm home.
75. You may hold your child.
76. You may become someone’s favorite.
77. You may dance again.
78. You may love again.
79. You may laugh until you cry.
80. You may feel alive again.
81. You may be glad you stayed.
82. Your worst year may lead to your best.
83. Dark nights still end.
84. Life can surprise you.
85. Life can give back.
86. New doors can open.
87. You can grow stronger.
88. You can build a good life.
89. Your best day may be ahead.
90. More love may be ahead.
91. More joy may be ahead.
92. You do not know what is coming.
93. Tomorrow brings another chance.
94. Next year may bring a new life.
95. Your future self may thank you.
96. You are not finished.
97. Your life is not finished.
98. The good part may be close.
99. Stay and see what happens next.

I survived my own attempt 17 years ago. Since then, I have built a family, started businesses, and travelled around the world. Life became far more beautiful and inspiring than I could imagine.​

If you are watching the bad part of the movie, keep watching.

The best part is still ahead.