Something I've wanted to post for a while as to who actually is an osu player that has this?

What is depression?
For the not so logical... depression, simply put, is when you start getting pangs of sadness for a reason or maybe no reason. You feel terrible etc. Now why am I posting this in an osu forum?

I'm wondering if anybody here does the same as me: Uses osu as a way to cope.

People use many ways to cope... some of them not so good. Me? I use osu and simple music. Does anybody here have depression and do the same? It's an interesting topic to discuss in my opinion, and I'd also love to hear the reason osu is a way to cope?

Reason: Well many people have reasons for using what they use to cope. I have a specific reason as to why osu is used to cope... so I started this game 2 years back and originally it gave me an interesting feel that no game ever has. Ever since then it's felt like a classic and I could go back and reminisce the old days as well as play some stuff. I could also say that it's one thing I'm good at (altho... not really) and stuff.

Personally I think this is an interesting topic... so what's your view on using osu as an anti-depressant... or what do you use? Do you even have depression? What color is a purple dinosaur- wait a minute.... why would you ask what color a dinosaur is? Okay I'm weird... but idk seemed like an interesting thing to post... what do you think?

I have sorta the same thing. osu is what helps me get over the frustration of school, and now that school is over, I'm not as good anymore.

So yeah, I can definitely agree with you, OP.

You forgot to add that depression is often (too often for my taste) getting mixed up with mere sadness. "I feel so depressed today!" - no, depression is a psychoneurotic disorder marked by a prolonged period of sadness, withdrawal, inactivity and many other symptoms. Put in simple words, it is a general illness that takes shape when you can't live your life in a healthy fashion (both physical and mental) anymore.

You've definitely chosen a nice topic for a discussion, and I hope it stays clean from all the children.

To begin:
Osu is like any other game (especially multiplayer-support ones where communities form) a good way to escape the harsh reality of life. It's nothing special in that regard, but you'll see many people here agreeing with you because a fair number of people who watch Anime do so to escape from their lives, and since this game is popular in that circle - you get where it's going.

For you, this game is a nice way to cope with it as it gives you that feeling of nostalgia, from what you've said, and you are good at it. The latter is a valuable source of information - depression is generally also marked by feelings of worthlessness, so playing a game or doing something you're good at gives you a false feeling of value and importance. In a way, you already said everything - it acts like medication against depression.

Aurani wrote:

You forgot to add that depression is often (too often for my taste) getting mixed up with mere sadness. "I feel so depressed today!" - no, depression is a psychoneurotic disorder marked by a prolonged period of sadness, withdrawal, inactivity and many other symptoms. Put in simple words, it is a general illness that takes shape when you can't live your life in a healthy fashion (both physical and mental) anymore.

You've definitely chosen a nice topic for a discussion, and I hope it stays clean from all the children.

To begin:
Osu is like any other game (especially multiplayer-support ones where communities form) a good way to escape the harsh reality of life. It's nothing special in that regard, but you'll see many people here agreeing with you because a fair number of people who watch Anime do so to escape from their lives, and since this game is popular in that circle - you get where it's going.

For you, this game is a nice way to cope with it as it gives you that feeling of nostalgia, from what you've said, and you are good at it. The latter is a valuable source of information - depression is generally also marked by feelings of worthlessness, so playing a game or doing something you're good at gives you a false feeling of value and importance. In a way, you already said everything - it acts like medication against depression.

^ This guy

You've pretty much said it exactly. And it's a remarkable thing, how depression works. But in a bad sense. I feel bad for the people that don't game or have a good way to cope so they use... bad ways to cope. I think you understand where I'm going with this. It's saddening, and I hope that if anybody here has depression, they can feel free to add my on osu or Skype or anything and we can talk as well as maybe get a couple of games in. I do enjoy Skype calling and playing osu it's always a good time.

Mahoganytooth wrote:

I have sorta the same thing. osu is what helps me get over the frustration of school, and now that school is over, I'm not as good anymore.

So yeah, I can definitely agree with you, OP.

Haha I know how you feel. Same for me. If you got anything to talk about tho, feel free to add me up... or add me anyway cuz I'm lonely... lol.

Indeed, taking drugs or trying to cut yourself in retaliation is the worst path you could go down, BUT, gaming isn't also without its quirks. Remember that those people who confine themselves within their homes and ignore all social aspects of the "real world", tend to go over the top so much with their seclusion that it's often hard for people to help them with their problems until they've already entered the clinical depression stage, or worse - attempted to end their lives.

The crux is that while gaming is the "cleanest" form of coping with the problem, it has some major downsides, one of which I already mentioned above.

Also, I like your idea of talking to people via Skype or PMs. Most of it will definitely fail until they discover the CORE of their problem and root it out to end the depression, but a tiny portion of people IS going to be helped by talking to friendly people, so whoever needs me, I'm here on both Skype and Osu.

My osu friends are who help me indirectly when I am depressed, instead of the game itself. Nowadays I am very recovered thanks by a lot of support from osu and irl.

I understand you may be trying to be helpful, but I've seen this response to expressions of depression (ha, rhyme) all over the internet and in real life as well. I get that your sentiments are genuine, but if there's one thing depression isn't, it isn't simply getting bogged down in circumstances. Yes, this does happen frequently in depressed people, but fixing the situation isn't simply a problem of "getting motivated." If you'll allow me, I'd like to take some time to explain depression from the viewpoint of someone who has it.

remember that you have absolute power in your life and you can change it however you want.

False. False false false false. In my own mind as someone who's experienced depression, drawing the disabling mental illness wild card out of the genetics pool is analogous (but definitely NOT the same as) being born into a terrible socioeconomic situation. Yes, some people do "work their way out of it" and make great symptom-free lives for themselves, but a) this is definitely not the case for most people, and b) it is ridiculously, ridiculously hard to do so. Mental illness in its uglier forms can and does rob people of the capacity to lead healthy lives. A visit to any psychiatric hospital will confirm the existence of the absolutely insane amounts of sadness the human mind has the capacity to suffer under. Depression is real and not something that can be willed away by better diet and sunlight. Yes, these things may help, but realize that 1.) these things will not instantly cure what is a goddamn difficult to treat and very serious illness, and 2.) even the thought of taking these steps can be too much to ask for someone in the throes of depression. Living life as someone experiencing depression is like scuba diving with a bunch of friends, only to find out mid-dive that your equipment doesn't work-- sure, your friends are having the time of their lives exploring the reef and marveling at the pretty fishes, but in the meantime you're there, choking to death, frantically clawing at your oxygen tank and mask praying to any dear sweet deity that you don't pass out and die right there at the bottom of the ocean. Now, imagine those friends becoming frustrated and bored with your "antics" and insisting you "lighten up", enjoy the dive and the pretty coral and "stop being such a buzzkill." It's not very fun.

Some people (like my now-ex) think that depression is derived solely from a set of bad circumstances, and that once these circumstances the depression should by all rights go away. Again, false. The entirety of modern science recognizes that mental illness is a legitimate condition that doesn't ebb and flow according to how great your life is going on paper at any given moment. People may argue over whether money and fame can buy a person happiness, but at my most depressed I felt like nothing in the world I could have bought with money would make me feel any less suicidal.

Alright, you think, what the hell can people do about this? The good news is that people can and do get better. It happens all the time. The standard regimen of therapy and proper medicine regimens goes miles in helping depression, but honestly, for anyone who wants to help someone suffering from depression the best you can do is show that you care. I don't mean that you should offer advice like "hey, keep your chin up!" -- I mean show it. Offer what favors you can, like driving them to therapy or staying in with them and watching stupid cartoons. Anything. Sit with them, hold them, cry with them, listen (that's a big one - so many people have things to say, but not enough people stay long enough to hear them). Be a friend to someone in need.

I apologize for being long winded, just wanted to put some information out there that's not always readily understood. Thanks for bearing with me and I hope at least some of this was useful.


Taken from a beautiful post. Link here: http://www.reddit.com/tb/18qsuq

Hope this helps anybody who really doesn't understand how it is and hopefully clear some ignorance in the air.

Cthulhu is actually pretty insightful.

Nice read. Could do with a little more paragraphing and spacing though.

L0rdCthulhu wrote:

I understand you may be trying to be helpful, but I've seen this response to expressions of depression (ha, rhyme) all over the internet and in real life as well. I get that your sentiments are genuine, but if there's one thing depression isn't, it isn't simply getting bogged down in circumstances. Yes, this does happen frequently in depressed people, but fixing the situation isn't simply a problem of "getting motivated." If you'll allow me, I'd like to take some time to explain depression from the viewpoint of someone who has it.

remember that you have absolute power in your life and you can change it however you want.

False. False false false false. In my own mind as someone who's experienced depression, drawing the disabling mental illness wild card out of the genetics pool is analogous (but definitely NOT the same as) being born into a terrible socioeconomic situation. Yes, some people do "work their way out of it" and make great symptom-free lives for themselves, but a) this is definitely not the case for most people, and b) it is ridiculously, ridiculously hard to do so. Mental illness in its uglier forms can and does rob people of the capacity to lead healthy lives. A visit to any psychiatric hospital will confirm the existence of the absolutely insane amounts of sadness the human mind has the capacity to suffer under. Depression is real and not something that can be willed away by better diet and sunlight. Yes, these things may help, but realize that 1.) these things will not instantly cure what is a goddamn difficult to treat and very serious illness, and 2.) even the thought of taking these steps can be too much to ask for someone in the throes of depression. Living life as someone experiencing depression is like scuba diving with a bunch of friends, only to find out mid-dive that your equipment doesn't work-- sure, your friends are having the time of their lives exploring the reef and marveling at the pretty fishes, but in the meantime you're there, choking to death, frantically clawing at your oxygen tank and mask praying to any dear sweet deity that you don't pass out and die right there at the bottom of the ocean. Now, imagine those friends becoming frustrated and bored with your "antics" and insisting you "lighten up", enjoy the dive and the pretty coral and "stop being such a buzzkill." It's not very fun.

Some people (like my now-ex) think that depression is derived solely from a set of bad circumstances, and that once these circumstances the depression should by all rights go away. Again, false. The entirety of modern science recognizes that mental illness is a legitimate condition that doesn't ebb and flow according to how great your life is going on paper at any given moment. People may argue over whether money and fame can buy a person happiness, but at my most depressed I felt like nothing in the world I could have bought with money would make me feel any less suicidal.

Alright, you think, what the hell can people do about this? The good news is that people can and do get better. It happens all the time. The standard regimen of therapy and proper medicine regimens goes miles in helping depression, but honestly, for anyone who wants to help someone suffering from depression the best you can do is show that you care. I don't mean that you should offer advice like "hey, keep your chin up!" -- I mean show it. Offer what favors you can, like driving them to therapy or staying in with them and watching stupid cartoons. Anything. Sit with them, hold them, cry with them, listen (that's a big one - so many people have things to say, but not enough people stay long enough to hear them). Be a friend to someone in need.

I apologize for being long winded, just wanted to put some information out there that's not always readily understood. Thanks for bearing with me and I hope at least some of this was useful.


Taken from a beautiful post. Link here: http://www.reddit.com/tb/18qsuq

Hope this helps anybody who really doesn't understand how it is and hopefully clear some ignorance in the air.

*Applauds fiercely* Very very good post and I can see where you were going with this. I personally do have depression and if I could give my viewpoint on my specific depression: I get sad easily... and I mean EASILY. So it's no surprise that I get depressed often... I have social anxiety as well so that doesn't help. It's troubling for me to actually go to the store without almost having a heart attack but I manage it. I also have trouble going over people's houses thinking I'm not welcome even though I was invited. It's a tough life to live, social anxiety and stuff. It's also a tough life when you put yourself down... at least I do that. All day I can't exactly say I'm good at anything even though people say I'm good at something. I just can't bring myself to say I'm good, the only thing I've managed to say I was good at was osu. Which I'm happy for. It kinda pushes away my depression for some moments as I play and enjoy the game.

Again very nice read and it's pretty damn accurate, and like your scuba diving analogy, I like a quote that goes with that: "Depression is like drowning, except you can see everyone around you breathing." ... at least that's how I like to look at it.

Aurani wrote:

Indeed, taking drugs or trying to cut yourself in retaliation is the worst path you could go down, BUT, gaming isn't also without its quirks. Remember that those people who confine themselves within their homes and ignore all social aspects of the "real world", tend to go over the top so much with their seclusion that it's often hard for people to help them with their problems until they've already entered the clinical depression stage, or worse - attempted to end their lives.

The crux is that while gaming is the "cleanest" form of coping with the problem, it has some major downsides, one of which I already mentioned above.

Also, I like your idea of talking to people via Skype or PMs. Most of it will definitely fail until they discover the CORE of their problem and root it out to end the depression, but a tiny portion of people IS going to be helped by talking to friendly people, so whoever needs me, I'm here on both Skype and Osu.

Yeah I have actually... done things. I hate mentioning it so forgive me xD, I think you know what I mean. But yes I understand there are people who won't be helped by Skype but I feel it'll make them forget about issues for certain periods of time.. ya know? If you're in a Skype call joking and laughing I think you forget about certain issues. I was playing league of legends with my group of friends and we were screaming I forgot I was ever sad. Ofc after that I got sad again but I was grateful I forgot about it.

Also about gaming yeah it does have issues... but if you can maintain it with being socially active it's a very good form of escape


Also you should add me on Skype n osu :p

Depression is a really touchy topic and I only know it from my point of view so correct me however you want. That would be great.

Now I do well agree with the fact that meeting positive people online through games or anime does help people cope with depression, it's still just an 'if'. If, perhaps, you didn't meet those people? If no one bothered to reach out to you, what then? You'd keep playing the games and watching anime alone, slowly getting sucked into an even deeper depression and not being able to climb out of the hole you dug yourself.

Now some people are likely thinking 'If you just open up to people they'll help you out.' right? Oh wait. Lmao. I totally forgot that no one talks to me positively in the first place. 'This is why I got depressed and started using these things I call hobbies as escapism!' See? What helps that person then? Really it all comes down to your ability to become close to people when you put other things aside. I was born into a well off family and even graduated highschool without being bullied for 10 years with all the same classmates, not a single one of those people talked to me enough for those things. Not even close. I have tried multiple times but I'm like a fucking repellant to human contact. By now I pretty much figured why it happens so I'm as emotionally unstable as before, I mean, what else do depressed people think about other that 'why?' ? Some things like that just repeat because the solution you want so much also had something to do with the cause.

A simple execution of the process consisting of 'find cause' > 'look for solution' > 'apply solution' > 'BAM FIXED' will always hit a snag somewhere with these things. People who actually get to the last step are simply people who have lucked out and were able to find people who were able to be sincere.

i have depression and avoident personality disorder. i'm currently taking lexapro, which has been helping me with my depression a lot, though sometimes i still have my down days... osu is great way to take my mind off of things during those times i've found. so yeah, i guess i use osu as a way of coping too. before osu i would just lay in bed and try to sleep, but it never helped because i wasn't being productive; i just ended up feeling worse. osu makes me feel like i'm being a little productive at least.
i think it helps me with my avpd too, because i'm not avoiding talking to people or doing things like i normally do. i mean i'm actually posting in a forum for once.

pretty good way to cope imo

Mafuuu wrote:

Depression is a really touchy topic and I only know it from my point of view so correct me however you want. That would be great.

Now I do well agree with the fact that meeting positive people online through games or anime does help people cope with depression, it's still just an 'if'. If, perhaps, you didn't meet those people? If no one bothered to reach out to you, what then? You'd keep playing the games and watching anime alone, slowly getting sucked into an even deeper depression and not being able to climb out of the hole you dug yourself.

Now some people are likely thinking 'If you just open up to people they'll help you out.' right? Oh wait. Lmao. I totally forgot that no one talks to me positively in the first place. 'This is why I got depressed and started using these things I call hobbies as escapism!' See? What helps that person then? Really it all comes down to your ability to become close to people when you put other things aside. I was born into a well off family and even graduated highschool without being bullied for 10 years with all the same classmates, not a single one of those people talked to me enough for those things. Not even close. I have tried multiple times but I'm like a fucking repellant to human contact. By now I pretty much figured why it happens so I'm as emotionally unstable as before, I mean, what else do depressed people think about other that 'why?' ? Some things like that just repeat because the solution you want so much also had something to do with the cause.

A simple execution of the process consisting of 'find cause' > 'look for solution' > 'apply solution' > 'BAM FIXED' will always hit a snag somewhere with these things. People who actually get to the last step are simply people who have lucked out and were able to find people who were able to be sincere.

In my opinion you could live a perfect life, but still be a sad sad soul due to the monster that is depression. Oh and yeah I know the feeling, when you try to suddenly talk to people but feel youre just bein stupid (note that when I say 'you' I mean in general) it's really annoying and I feel making friends is a big challenge... but nothing we can't overcome. I appreciate your viewpoint and respect it 100%, and if you ever need a friend I'm here on osu and skype just message me or something

Astrofiziks wrote:

i have depression and avoident personality disorder. i'm currently taking lexapro, which has been helping me with my depression a lot, though sometimes i still have my down days... osu is great way to take my mind off of things during those times i've found. so yeah, i guess i use osu as a way of coping too. before osu i would just lay in bed and try to sleep, but it never helped because i wasn't being productive; i just ended up feeling worse. osu makes me feel like i'm being a little productive at least.
i think it helps me with my avpd too, because i'm not avoiding talking to people or doing things like i normally do. i mean i'm actually posting in a forum for once.

pretty good way to cope imo

Osu is my favorite way to cope right now... and yeah I'm glad I have osu. Before that it was minecraft but everyone built better than me and through certain people that's how I started putting myself down.... osu is a game that barely anyone of those friends know so they can't be better than me and I'm pretty happy. Other friends have gotten better than me but now I've learned to respect that. Depression puts an awful twist on things and it makes you seem like a bad person... at least that's how I view it

I'm really sorry for posting this and not contributing to the discussion but I just really had to tell that this thread is genuinely mood uplifting and also I almost shed a tear at chtulu's post as it was so amazingly beautiful for some strange reason

Ayu wrote:

I'm really sorry for posting this and not contributing to the discussion but I just really had to tell that this thread is genuinely mood uplifting and also I almost shed a tear at chtulu's post as it was so amazingly beautiful for some strange reason

Yeah, I didn't know if this was going to be a really depressing thread... or not. I'm glad that people are actually liking it

I play games as escape, i often dont feel like i actually enjoy them but they keep my mind busy and away from sad toughts. Mindnumbingly repetive things like MMO's or Minecraft (mining) seem to work best for this... after a while it just becomes click click click enemy dead next enemy click click click ammo empty refill click click click... dont think, thinking is bad.

That's what I dislike the most about such people, as I was one of them. Trying to escape from that isn't going to work in the long run. It's like having a horrific stomach ulcer that broke through the lining and keeping it in check with pills. Sooner or later, those pills won't be able to help you anymore, and you'll be at risk from more than just a mere ulcer, facing even potential death.

If there is one thing you could learn from my experience, it's that the more you escape, the worse it becomes. Don't do it - don't be a lazy bum and seek help from wherever you can. The more you retreat into your own shell, the lower the chances of recovery are.

This actually worries me a bit, I've been escaping on a daily basis like most do and I haven't really reached out to any help. Mostly because (maybe I'm too stubborn?) I always think that stuff like therapy or something similar isn't really going to help me at all and I can't seem to put myself over that thought. The most I feel like I can do is sometimes put hints out there to closer friends and hope that they jump in and let me vent for a bit, but I can't imagine them picking up the hints and so it also barely happens. When it does all I hope for is that they let me vent a bit and they will/would, but after doing so I fall back in to my ordinary situation.

Actually, I'm even very bad at dealing with people that do pick up the hints, as it requires me to speak which for me feels like the same as making a very important life choice, there's also usually some kind of regret if I do talk with them about this stuff.

I'm also having quite the trouble writing this for reasons I can't explain but at least I get a good feeling about posting it, kind of.

//i forgot to mention that i feel like i have some kind of hero complex or something oh well brightening up someone elses day also instantly brightens up mine so y'know if i can do anything for you lemme know?

Granger wrote:

I play games as escape, i often dont feel like i actually enjoy them but they keep my mind busy and away from sad toughts. Mindnumbingly repetive things like MMO's or Minecraft (mining) seem to work best for this... after a while it just becomes click click click enemy dead next enemy click click click ammo empty refill click click click... dont think, thinking is bad.

This is so true ^^^^^^^^ I play world of warcraft a bit, it's fun!

Ayu wrote:

This actually worries me a bit, I've been escaping on a daily basis like most do and I haven't really reached out to any help. Mostly because (maybe I'm too stubborn?) I always think that stuff like therapy or something similar isn't really going to help me at all and I can't seem to put myself over that thought. The most I feel like I can do is sometimes put hints out there to closer friends and hope that they jump in and let me vent for a bit, but I can't imagine them picking up the hints and so it also barely happens. When it does all I hope for is that they let me vent a bit and they will/would, but after doing so I fall back in to my ordinary situation.

Actually, I'm even very bad at dealing with people that do pick up the hints, as it requires me to speak which for me feels like the same as making a very important life choice, there's also usually some kind of regret if I do talk with them about this stuff.

I'm also having quite the trouble writing this for reasons I can't explain but at least I get a good feeling about posting it, kind of.

it's okay I'm glad you did, because it gives me something to talk about. When you need help, select a few people to always go to. Don't go to anyone random... and just... open up to them. Maybe experiment with some people to see if they're worthy to vent to... not all are. It's a pretty difficult thing to deal with... a feeling of nobody caring.

[ Scarlet Red ] wrote:

it's okay I'm glad you did, because it gives me something to talk about. When you need help, select a few people to always go to. Don't go to anyone random... and just... open up to them. Maybe experiment with some people to see if they're worthy to vent to... not all are. It's a pretty difficult thing to deal with... a feeling of nobody caring.

Actually really struggling lately with feeling as if someone cared. I don't want to just vent to someone, I feel like I just want to be with someone. Get the feeling they care, being there for me, the whole package. I don't know, I guess I also don't really care that much, or something. Not really looking for it and I don't really feel like trying, actually.

This looks like a really nice topic for actual beneficial discussion.

I can't use osu! to cope with depression currently and I actually don't recall doing so.
I do remember playing other games to do that, however, but it got to the point where 'running away' and becoming somewhat of a social recluse did a number on me up until the last year of high school. That running away started becoming a bigger deal because now, I can't exactly use games as a way to divert the fact that I am depressed, but rather, a reminder that I am depressed and can't seem to deal with the fact that I'm not helping myself as properly as I'd like.

Long story short, I was diagnosed with a few mental disorders and was deemed incompetent at the university I was going to and cannot be admitted back until I am "normal". What crushed me the most was that no matter how hard I tried, I ended up in the same place and the hole kept getting bigger whenever I decided to not be social and keep to myself. That was the worst decision I have ever made. Even with the friends I made before I got into university, none of them was willing nor worthy enough to listen to the venting that I had, and I had a lot of stuff piling time over time.

What I can say is that if you are depressed, you can't keep yourself around these things that will keep you away from beneficial people... The first step to clearing yourself of this issue is to help yourself as much as you can before taking help from others. You can't learn to love if you don't love yourself so I hope none of you all are using a third party to pretend like you don't have a problem. That never helps and never WILL help. So what you need to do is take the steps to appreciate everything you've been given.

I'm not like everyone else; I wasn't born with a higher social status like a lot of people around here but that is my motivation to get out of this so called depression so I can help everyone else around me. Just remember that depression doesn't just affect you but also the people around you.

P.S. - If anyone would like to talk I'm here to listen, but only if you're willing to take the first step and HELP yourself, otherwise, talking to me would be useless. I do not condone digging bigger holes. I prefer filling them in.