I would guess that the most fundamental cause is stress, with perhaps a genetic predisposition that stress tiggers. — praxis

But, children would experience stress with or without Prozac, and be jolly fine. It's only later in life that depression or major depression occurs or its ill-effects on the mind.

I’ve said this before. I don’t think it is either healthy or productive to ask for opinions about something that concerns you on a forum that is full of ... well, people who likely have - at best - a passing knowledge of this area.

Seek out psychotherapy. Don’t stick with the first psychologist that you meet. Be patient.

That’s it. GL — I like sushi

I appreciate the thoughts of these forum-members perhaps a bit more than you, and hence the question...

But, I've been assailing philosophical pessimism for the past 10 years and now get a show of hands.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be able to talk about them, though. — Pfhorrest

Not in the least, at least in regards to what is destructive psychologically.

And, I honestly believe too much philosophy, which is preoccupied with death and living a good life instead of a mediocre one or too much pessimism, can actually lead to suicide. — Shawn

Anti-philosophers unite!

Another poster said deep belief in the concept is akin to cutting oneself off from the world and is like 'living in purgatory'. It could and has led others to a feeling of depersonalization and some are unable to escape this feeling at times of rest. — Outlander

I have said that. And, I honestly believe too much philosophy, which is preoccupied with death and living a good life instead of a mediocre one or too much pessimism, can actually lead to suicide.

Not that surprising in my opinion.

To exist in this dichotomy of, I am depressed, therefore I must be more happy.

Seems like torture, eh @unenlightened?

@schopenhauer1 what do you think?

@TheMadFool and you?

Something else man.

Shawn, I have one thing to stress and then a suggestion. Changing one's programming requires coming to acceptable terms with what was happened, is happening, and sometimes with what one thinks is going to happen. — creativesoul

I have attempted something of this sort through distinguishing between needs and wants. How has that come about for you?

So, it's like a delusion, plain and simple?

It is quite easy really. Once you know that your self exists, you can infer the existence of other things and people. — A Seagull

Brilliant!

Louis A. Sass's Madness and Modernism — ZzzoneiroCosm

I'll give it a read sometime. It seems like a hot pick nowadays.

It's helpful to come to terms with the fact that you aren't actually a solipsist. — ZzzoneiroCosm

I never want to become one, even though I always end up being one at night...

It seems to me these questions are either unanswerable or completely avoided. — NOS4A2

What makes you say that, Nosferatu?

I cannot for the life of me see how solipsism is even tenable. — NOS4A2

Isn't that a natural thing to say?

The solipsist must make the silly assumption that he, The Self, is the center of the universe, which is of his own mind’s creation. — NOS4A2

Yes, of course.

Meanwhile others, who are the features of his universe, can watch him grow old and die, bury him, while the universe remains unaffected. — NOS4A2

Technically, yes, but, to some point, no?

delete

The most horrifying in my life has been seen.

Oops, I meant to distinguish between "only the self exists" and "only the self can be known to exist". Which category do you fall under? And why, while we're at it. — QuixoticAgnostic

Both, haha. Dunno, why are you asking?

Anyone interested in the idea should watch "Twilight Zone - Shadow Play". It's a really good episode about a stubborn solipsist ... who just so happened to be right. :) — Outlander

I'm actually torrenting it right now.

Okay, so we're just talking about knowledge then. — QuixoticAgnostic

I think, so. What more is there to know apart from everything there is to know?

*Speaking as if God were a solipsist, which he/she/it is.

Why is there continued fascination with this topic? it gets beaten to death on this forum at least once a month. — ernestm

It is not implausible that a solipsist might arise.

What do you understand solipsism to mean? — QuixoticAgnostic

https://www.google.com/search?q=solipsism+definition

Stop thinking about it. — Nils Loc

Worst possible outcome?

Regarding the first paragraph, there's are subconscious and unconscious entailments here.

Regarding second, I don't think solipsism in some Solaristic sense excludes the potential for disagreement. Psychological issues, would be dealt with at such a fast rate that people would literally overnight become perfect.

Who said anything about essentialism? / What does that have to do with anything? — Pfhorrest

I did, and everything, in my mind.

What happened to essentialism?

To me, they're based on psychological need.

Sorry, did some research, and you're actually correct. My bad. What a crazy world.

THE Vai'ves!

Giftetedness is a burden.

It's a choice more than anything. I can choose to be a narcissistic sociopathic Stoic, but, I'm done with that.

Well, that's a relief! Thanks for the clarification. It's a good thing to help people who are struggling in that way. What made you want to do this specific job if I may ask? — Julia

I find extreme comfort in helping other people. I can't put any other way.

*As an operator* not, a *patient*.

Good, for you. I plan to join a suicide hotline sometime soon, sorry, as an operator.

We are stuck, we are fucked. Short of the revolution or Econo-eco-politico-socio-religio-etcio collapse, nothings going to change — Bitter Crank

Can you ease my pain?

Doesn't matter. Got to teach the DNC a lesson. — Xtrix

They don't care. It's psychopathy at this point in the DNC.

I don't believe that is true. Covid cases are decreasing not increasing. And those already infected are already watched over.

We still do not have what it takes to reopen without seriously increased numbers in unnecessary deaths. — creativesoul

Are you serious?

OK, so everyone got shut down. Including harmless children and preschoolers at school. What a crazy world.