ARGUING With Terminally Online Leftists Who Don't Understand Self-Improvement (INFURIATING)

Originally streamed on February 25th 2021.
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#Depression #SelfImprovement #Drugs

[@testoftempest]

Vaush hasn't had a real stream with segments since the 14th. Help. 😰

[@dee-wreck]

Step 1. Review all streams. Step 2. Chapter them. Step 3. Turn each Chapter into a video to be uploaded 1 month, 2 month, 3 months, etc. after the original stream. Step 4. Turn the spiciest parts into shorts. Step 5. Feed Vaush chicken nuggies.

[@JiraDiraDoo]

Tbh he should just wear one of those logger hats that go over your ears for streams until his earlobes have had enough time to heal.

[@Juhz0r]

Solidarity.

[@sauron1427]

I'm glad you brought this one back though, I had forgotten

[@Bizcachi]

I hope u get to eat today😥

[@eman22017]

Hot take, you can believe the system must change while also believing you can better yourself in that same system.

[@mariomurcia7509]

i feel like this is the not retarded take. like this must logically follow

[@dannydevito7000]

Yup make the best of your current situation while also advocating and working towards a better system.

[@Lerasium]

that is very bold and controversial take. always on line leftist will get mad.

[@SA-mo3hq]

The most Grassful take

[@JaniceHope]

Imagine how much that would actually help to change the system. You know people who are committed and _able_ to work for those changes. Like those right wingers who bang on every door and phone every politician and write letters. I hate them, but they get shit done.

[@CrashMetaReligion1996]

It’s sad that many people assume I’m a conservative because I’m extremely dedicated to lifting weights, working out, and not into drugs besides the occasionally having a few drinks. I’ve literally had people say that they just assumed I was a conservative because of that behavior.

[@SweatyHatMan]

I feel like many people feel inherently judged when others do that kinda thing. Like they think you're an ableist fascist silently going "yeah my body is better than yours because I'm leaner and more fit". What they don't realize is there's a difference between discrimination based on weight/fitness levels and encouraging healthier behavior.

[@tibiademon9157]

That’s pretty sad. We have such a destructive view of self-care on the left. We need to own up to being gigachads, become the shining city on the hill.

[@OneEyeShadow]

I don't get the connection.

[@SoWhosGae]

I was legit bullied online because I said in a comment that actually going outside and getting some sun is better for everything, including depression than taking supplements. Imagine being both depressed and an absolute degenerate ignoramus thinking they're being smart by saying to me "Thanks I'm CuReD" like a literal spoiled brat. smh

[@aidan537]

I’ve had people assume the exact same thing from me. This one guy I liked told me he totally thought I was a republican before I made any explicitly political comments to him lol

[@user-up1op3kz9q]

I always love when people play “main character of the internet who’s mad that you didn’t know about their one-in-seven-billion circumstances that make them an outlier to the thing being said”

[@NIHIL_EGO]

They annoy me so much, even-more so when you consider that _I'm_ the main character, smh

[@thatlilvoice]

That's an amazing way to miss the point

[@exhend5290]

WHAT ABOUT CHRONIC PAIN?!?! When he said he smokes to sleep 30 secs ago

[@Sandybowls_9001]

Then don't make dumbass generalizing statements and get mad when ppl give you dozens of examples of why you're wrong.

[@veagle1379]

outliers should be left to rot, i guess

[@kjk607]

"idk what it is about Lefties and discipline." OH MY GOD! I'm glad someone finally said it.

[@olivierpeartnoy]

Discipline is just giving into the system bro. -Chat

[@JauntyCrepe]

Fucking true though. Any short coming is obviously because of exterior forces and couldn't be because of MY bad habits! /s

[@angelantayhua3096]

Much like how conservatives don’t know anything about sociology, so many leftists do not understand psychology

[@PaninaroAurora]

I think what lefties hate about discipline is (based on my own experience): 1. The fear you'll be spending so much time disciplining yourself there will be no time or energy for social action; 2. The fear of not being able to tell whether you're disciplined enough to have some fun or take some social action. Gut feelings can be faulty, and no one likes being in a position where someone with authority over you keeps saying "when you're ready" but then readiness becomes.a moving goalpost; 3. The fear that the process of being disciplined, adhering to a routine, delaying gratification *in itself* will make you conservative.

[@RatPfink66]

​@@PaninaroAurora May I add: You fear you may become obsessed with laziness and weakness - your own or others'. You may lose compassion for those who lack your grit and regimentation. We lefties tend not to believe in laziness as an inherent trait. We look for _causes_ to explain it. That is unhelpful in the moment, when discipline needs triggering. Hopefully not the traumatic kind of triggering, but if it's all that works, maybe its worth the risks. Now to delayed gratification. In my experience as a cynic and depressive, something more radical is required: We must act in a disciplined way _without the need to believe in any results._ Call it _delayed motivation._ It's crucial for mass social activism. The trick is adapting it to work for you _alone,_ without the reinforcement common effort gives.

[@pleasesendhelp1954]

Vaush: "Running is good for your health" Chat member: "Some people do not have legs, you know"

[@giovannifoulmouth7205]

There's always that person

[@fablelost2642]

That's the kind of person you run from regardless if yoy have legs or not

[@ollieoxenfree6317]

If you dont have legs then do it with your arms, if you have neither then roll

[@samuelbekele3601]

@@ollieoxenfree6317 There are hand powered exercise machines for that. I've even seen someone ride a hand powered tricycle around a lake/park.

[@lolusuck386]

What's funny is that I've seen people with no legs run marathons, and their time was far faster than mine on top of that.

[@questioneverything8572]

As a Leftist myself, this is a frustration i've felt for a long time. Other Leftists having defense mechanisms about their personal inadequacies by politicizing them. Lifting weights is not toxic masculinity, promoting good diet is not ableism, personal responsibility and willpower ARE NOT right wing concepts, etc etc etc. I have empathy for anybody who struggles but can we stop dealing with our insecurities by projecting onto others?? Stop using political identity to defend your terrible outlook of life, you are making the rest of us look bad...

[@Spriteanimator1]

I sometimes get the feeling that Jordan Peterson's existence spawned some kind of "self-improvement derangement syndrome" on the left.

[@themightymcb7310]

It's not JP, it's the entire conservative argument of "self-improvement" that has caused a reactionary rejection of the concept wholesale. It seems that some of us on the left can't realize that the right is abusing, twisting, and warping these concepts to fit their narratives, but that doesn't mean we have to abandon them altogether.

[@scottvelez3154]

Being reactionary isn't just a right wing thing.

[@shis1988]

@@scottvelez3154 hey, could be worse, could be essayists 🙃😏

[@SCh1m3ra]

Aka SiDS. I vote the official mascot be sid the sloth.

[@BobbyJ529]

that and the whole "stick it to the capitalist, anti anything marketable".

[@clairebear9236]

it’s actually so annoying how normalized mental illness is now. there’s a difference btwn de stigmatizing something and normalizing it. i’m so sick of telling people i’m depressed and them responding with basically just “me too”

[@reesf743]

I see a lot of people claim they got it then turn around and shame other people for having/showing symptoms

[@dimasakbar7668]

If anything, i think glorifying it is the norm now. See those cases of fakers on tiktok or instagram outed for example

[@tommybruneel9573]

Destigmatizing and normalizing are literally the same thing, because the point of stigmatizing is to paint off the other as an abnormal occurrence.

[@oklmao8300]

This I generally agree with. Society now hasn’t done much to properly de-stigmatize depression and mental illness and more so panders to the idea of suffering from mental illness rather than trying to improve it. It’s reached a point where it kinda becomes normalized to just suffer mentally and emotionally rather than try to improve and trying to find a better outlook on life. Like yeah the world can be a blatantly horrible and evil world, but their’s so much good as well that Pessimism and making black and white of the world is pointless

[@BlisaBLisa]

i dont think "normalizing" mental illness is the reason more people have it these days. normalizing is the same as destigmatizing and is a good thing. I think besides whatever societal circumstances there are to make depression more common rn there is also just the fact that depression is much more recognized today than it used to be, there will be more people getting diagnosed with it even if the amount of people who have it hasnt changed.

[@thousandislandstare6924]

As a person with an unhealthy relationship with weed, vaush is objectively correct here

[@jackpowell6666]

Seriously, I have no idea why people are freaking out. I smoke every night, and everything he said was completely reasonable to me.

[@orangetaho4u207]

...And my diet is shit, I avoid grass, and what's a sleep schedule? 🤣 🙋‍♀️We got this non smokers. We know we have problems, you solve yours and we'll solve ours. 😝

[@beezusHrist]

@@jackpowell6666 BUT VAUSH IS FAT!!! WHAT THE FUCK??? Me smoking weed is a character flaw now? No, that's bullshit.

[@hemantkarasala5767]

True. As a fellow enjoyer of mary jane, I urge other enjoyers to be self reflective about the propensity to fall into an unhealthy relationship with her.

[@schnoz2372]

Idk he said you can’t bootstrap your way but his recommendation basically amounts to “don’t have depression, or you’re an incel”

[@TasTheWatcher]

*Virgin Jordan Peterson:* _Improve yourself, but don't do anything to change the system_ *Chad Vaush:* _You can improve yourself, AND work to improve the system_

[@princesseuphemia1007]

He is actually right about this one. It isn't the default state of man to completely fall apart when you get older. To an extent it might be, but the reason we see ourselves becoming so unhealthy as early as our 30s isn't because it's just the natural process of aging running it's course. You can stay pretty healthy, energetic, and mentally sharp well into your 70s with by practicing lifelong healthy habits, but the society we live in makes it really difficult for most people to do that and so we just assume that our bodies are biologically wired to fall apart at a much younger age than they really are. I know a number of old people who are healthier than most 20 year olds just from putting in some basic exercise all their lives and sticking to a relatively healthy diet, without ever paying money to go to a gym or shopping at Whole Foods mind you. Just picking up some bundles of things like spinach, carrots, apples, and beans from Wal Mart each week was enough. And one of them also smoked exorbitant amounts of weed on the daily his whole life. He's still strong as an ox.

[@swagmund_freud6669]

Looking at videos of Amazonian tribes men living in hunter gatherer conditions, they are exceptionally healthy and physically fit.

[@maxpowers4436]

There are always those people who are like "my knees screamed at this video" meanwhile they haven't bent their legs past 30 degrees in the last 10 years lmao.

[@50733Blabla1337]

easily into 80s. My grandfather is 93 his year and just last year started having real problems with movement and is otherwise pretty sharp still. Obviously outlier thats why I said 80s :D

[@zen_tewmbs]

Exactly. And you can save yourself money too - I started feeling better and saved a shitton of money by chopping up vegetables (celery, cucumber, and carrots are super cheap at my local aldis) and making a homemade dip with sour cream and a packet of onion soup mix (16 oz of sour cream to each packet of soup). Even splurging for some bell peppers for additional nutrients and yum, at Aldis I spend like 6$ on the veggies and 5$ on 3x16 oz containers of sour cream and the onion soup mix, and that 11$ lasts me and my partner for a long while.

[@jessicawilson1751]

My boss's husband is 94 and still working. Granted he and my boss are research scientists, but a decent portion of my job as one of their lab techs is doing stuff that he asks me to do, like operating his mass spectrometer to process samples we collect. He physically isn't able to do much of the work he asks me to do but mentally he's pretty sharp besides needing to take naps in the middle of the day.

[@Juhz0r]

Hey, the throwback segment I suggested on Reddit! Love to see it. I like hearing Vaush talk about just basic self-improvement stuff. I think this type of content is lacking on the left, and some communities even enable the idea that the problems you are facing are completely out of your hands, so this easily leads to the conclusion that there is no reason to even try. Understanding that systemic problems influence individual's life negatively is not a justification to skip out on self-improvement. Work to improve flawed systems and fix broken ones, but never wait on them. Keep trying, failing, and succeeding to do better for yourself. Just the attempt goes a long way.

[@Juhz0r]

​@@RyanAleckHill Happy it was worth putting on the second channel. Not much content to go around while Vaush is coughing his lungs out as his keloid rots away. Truly trying times.

[@TayTayMakesBeats]

It's depressing how many lefties scoff at the idea of self care and *[personal responsibility.]* Like what if we fight to improve the world AND ourselves?! What if we strive to be the best versions of ourselves so that we can more effectively improve the world we live in? The point about the aesthetic of mental illness and general doomer zoomer mindset is on point too. Outside of the online leftie sphere it really messes with me how even in popular music (for example the wave of "emo-trap" artists or further back people like Lana Del Rey) these topics are covered in a really superficial way that romanticizes the shit that killed multiple friends of mine and almost took me out. I'm happy that we're at a point where we can talk openly about such serious issues but the fact that they're treated like something desireable is really harmful. Not even going to get into how some lefties fetishize the idea of being marginalized and gatekeep whose struggle is legitimate based on privilege, I could write a novel on that alone.

[@sluttyMapleSyrup]

@@Juhz0r Wait what the hell happened to his keloid?

[@Juhz0r]

@@sluttyMapleSyrup He got a procedure done to remove one of them. Keloids tend to grow back if you just cut them off, so he went with a cryotherapy treatment instead. This should cause the keloid to decay away over some weeks.

[@sluttyMapleSyrup]

@@Juhz0r I feel dumb, I suppose I should've asked what's a keloid 🤣

[@shis1988]

Hot take: you can believe the system must change while working to maintain the system in a way women and minorities don't get hurt while you work to lead that change.

[@Nameorsmth]

ye

[@ElHabsburgHechizado]

$100%

[@specialknees6798]

Literally Vaush’s official take

[@communist_kirby]

you def can, but if you benefit from the existence of the system in its current form you should always be aware of that. if you aren't you can become complacent or ultimately not want to change the system.

[@Goriaas]

women and minorities get hurt more on average by our system? Life is hard for everyone dude, what a dumb statement.

[@cheesepuff3329]

This is the segment that started my journey towards therapy and self help I cannot for the life of me explain how eye opening it was when he said that depression LIES to you because I had never heard that framing before and for the longest time I thought that my depressive thoughts were me being realistic and seeing the world objectively and that any optimism was coping and ignoring all the faults my life and myself had With that new mindset I’ve been able to have the will to fight my depression still a work in progress tho but no one said it would be easy Much love ❤️

[@runagaterampant]

That's really cool to hear! Take care buddy.

[@The1nvisibleJeevas]

I'm glad you're doing better, pal. I'm still in the doomer pill phase and have been told that my mind lies to me all the time and I can't reconcile that with the fact that a lot of my negative thoughts can't be proven wrong? Like, how can you prove that someone is a "good person," or that "to be born is a mistake"? How can those be lies if we can't know the truth for sure?

[@specialknees6798]

Considering how new this segment is, I just feel the need to warn you that the inspiration/motivation you feel WILL NOT LAST. That being said, the best thing a human being can possibly do on the road to self betterment is to learn how to do what is difficult even if you’re unmotivated, uninspired and miserable. Use this as a springboard towards creating a plan for your future and dedicating yourself to sticking to it, but do not be fooled into thinking your hope/excitement will stay. The definition of discipline is action independent of desire. Discipline weighs ounces. Regret and depression weighs tons.

[@The1nvisibleJeevas]

@@aaa__369 what is mgs2

[@federruchi6147]

@@specialknees6798 the segments is pretty old. Like 10 months at least i would say. Look at his newer vods

[@wolfernater]

I'm glad chat is dumb sometimes because it makes Vaush say even more good things.

[@fablelost2642]

Vaush relationship with his chat is the same one I have with my own mind.

[@NateMcBrady]

“Drugs can sometimes worsen problems, instead of improve them.” In other news, water is wet.

[@Goriaas]

Yeah some people don't like to hear that though. If you tell someone weed dependence can in some ways be just as bad as forms of alcoholism they lose their shit.

[@NateMcBrady]

@@Goriaas I feel you, but what you’re really saying there is “If you say this thing to some people, they react negatively” So the guy says the thing, some people freak out, other people have this same conversation we’re having now, and what actually changes as a consequence of it all? Just another clip to farm engagement, that’s it. It’s pretty funny how the more time goes on, the more and more he starts to sound like JBP. Like that middle segment of 10 minutes where he acts offended someone rightly points out how the rhetoric seems to match JBP. For someone who’s repeatedly raked others over the coals for imprecise or ‘dangerous’ rhetoric, it’s just funny to watch.

[@indiesongwriter5474]

I've been a mental health therapist for a decade and most of my clients feel significantly improved by the work that we do together. In my opinion, Vaush is completely correct here.

[@redfruit1993z]

I told my therapist I'm feeling better, but not because of therapy. Psychologist are useless scam.

[@trianglemoebius]

that's not "in your opinion", it's simply fact. You're just aware enough to DO SOMETHING with that fact instead of sitting on Twitter arguing about people with no legs.

[@scottvelez3154]

All the things Vaush said about exercising daily, regulating your sleep schedule, eating food that's not Hot Pockets and Chic Fil A, shit I was doing that 2 years ago. Damn pandemic messed me up. But it did make me have a great start to 2020. He's right here, doing all that will help you get over depression.

[@MeMe-nm7jr]

Yeah, it's all good advice. Small changes like these don't fix depression entirely but most therapists will try to convince you to do these small things anyway because they are useful prerequisites. You can't fix your depression without _some_ self- action, as hard as that may be sometimes.

[@dilaisy_loone2846]

Not for everyone. But again, I’m just always alone because people don’t like me

[@biggiesmalls3096]

Dont worry, shit happens. Ive felt terrible the past week or so as ive barely left the house because of school work. Just gotta look at the bigger picture and try to get a little bit better day by day. Life definitely is full of ups and downs

[@seangaines5863]

Blaming the pandemic for your eating habits is a lame excuse

[@Lectical]

@@seangaines5863 did they blame the pandemic? Or did they just identify that the pandemic was something which made things more difficult? Do you think those are the same thing? There were other ways to interpret what they said, and given that the comment was in agreement about the importance of taking action I don't think it makes sense to interpret it the way you did.

[@TheJake0fTrades]

A healthy society takes care of it's people, but a healthy person doesn't need to rely on resources that would be better used helping others who are worse off. As a leftist, you have an obligation to improve yourself not because it makes you better than everyone else, but because it better allows you to help others and not overwhelm the social safety net.

[@questioneverything8572]

I completely agree. When did self-sufficiency and improvement become right wing concepts? As a society we should definitely have a safety net and empathy for those that need help, but i'm getting sick and tired of this regressive attitude that ridicules resistance and strength. It's almost like the extreme polar opposite of eugenics (both bad) and 100% rooted in insecurity.

[@KennethLyVideography]

Flatten the curve!!!!

[@soccerruben1]

“I already said earlier that social change is needed to be made sociopolitically, but INDIVIDUALLY, you can’t just wait on social change”. SPOT ON, VAUSH!

[@RatPfink66]

yes, improving conditions for a population of one (you) is a goal nearly as elusive as doing it for a population of one million. the Vaush philosophy of going at it is marginally problematic - basically "trigger yourself on the reg and freedom will come." but at least it works better/faster with one than one million. it's a method that can also be tweeked rhetorically to get past our triggers. but as he said to that psych major, "i'm not gonna stoop to that level." sticking it to whiny-babies is a reason we love Vaush. it would be hypocrisy to only let him do it to those we disagree with.

[@gustavchambert7072]

Soooo, what I got out of all this: Chat doesn't understand the difference between the words "should" and "must". Sigh

[@doc_arsenic8595]

I've been exercising every day for about two months, and it's been one of the best decisions I've ever made. I started crying one day, about two weeks in, because I hadn't felt like a human being in YEARS. Exercise helps regulate your body and mind.

[@iz2333]

Keeping it up?

[@doc_arsenic8595]

@@iz2333 yep! I've also started only eating at home, cooking my own meals, cutting out sugars, and doing strength training

[@iz2333]

@@doc_arsenic8595 Nice job, congrats on the change! I also started working out again a couple months ago after doing nothing but work for a year and am already seeing results both mentally and physically. Remember not to be too hard on yourself if you ever slip up, all that matters is that you eventually get back on track. And since you mentioned strength training, I feel morally obligated to recommend this one yt channel: Sean Nalewanyj. I can't praise this guy enough, amazing fitness advice and one of the only fitness influencers with a realistic approach to building muscle and losing fat. (Promise I'm not getting paid to say this ;)).

[@gudboah4688]

Getting myself addicted to endorphins when I was a teenager was probably the best decision I ever made. Working out really does help body and mind :)

[@smallfry0241]

I've been in and out of mental hospitals, on meds, and in therapy since I was 11. I'm 17 now, and Vaush is 10000% correct here. Mental healthcare is a COMBINATION of many different things that are different for everyone. The most challenging part is finding out what helps YOU. It is a difficult journey of self-discovery, unironically. I am not anywhere near perfect in my self-care, but no one can be. But to just leave it to chance, and suffer everyday? I can't do that. That just sounds like bullshit. Why fall to your mental illness? Be badass and take that shit by the throat and strangle it, and become an awesome person. It will never ever be easy, but there are rescources to help.

[@TheBoxingCannabyte]

I appreciate what you're saying young buck but the reality is you are likely in a better position with a still-developing brain in some ways, and a far worse position in others (for the same reason) to fully understand how difficult it can be for people who've been in it for as long as you've been alive. You (likely) have FAR more constitution and ability to "grab it by the throat" as you say, than people stuck in a rut working constantly and barely staying afloat and getting by on meds they should likely have only been on for a limited time, but are on permanetly or facing severe withdrawal/detox if they stop, and not having the option to even IF they could physically or mentally (or both) handle it. But, that said, good on you. "Why fall to your mental illness?" is kinda an ignorant thing to say though, bro, it's not that easy. That's 100% contextual.

[@AeronPrince]

@@TheBoxingCannabyte stop gatekeeping being sad. It's about what works for you.

[@Quasita]

Having a backing of psychology education helps here too. You are demonstratively correct. Even in cases of incurable conditions or those with historically lackluster treatment protocols like fibromyalgia, research studies consistently demonstrate that establishing a 15m of exercise each day habit has a measurable effect on the patient's ability to emotionally cope with chronic conditions, particularly pain, anxiety, appetite issues and insomnia/hypersomnia. Whether it be through activity, engagement, circulation, whatever, or through the literally boost to dopamine and serotonin that comes from such activities... It's a fools errand to insist that nothing changes for such things. The first practice of psychological care is typically not medication but rather confirming things like nutrient deficiencies and other conditions. A good doctor doesn't give a lot of meds without either urgent need to regulate symptoms or a demonstrated history of working on self care. One of the things I hate the most about the negatives in these conversations is the idea that it's outside your control. Accountability is the biggest feature of my peer counseling work... Owning the fact that while you may not control the why of a situation, you certainly control how you react to it, and the sooner you take an honest eye to the behaviors and choices you make that perpetuate your own misery, the sooner you're able to navigate your way out of the darkness of it. However, so many people point to everything and everyone outside themselves... Claim therapy doesn't work, but admit they've gone to only 3 sessions and didn't do anything in between sessions, sometimes because they believe a therapist is who does the work for mental health care. The same thing happens with different medications... People will be prescribed a low dose of an SSRI or something and then advise to go and find a therapist and a psychiatrist, this being a response to their reporting to their doctor that they're experiencing extra anxiety or depression symptoms. Rather than going and finding the mental health care as advised, it's common for people in this stage to take that first medication, take it for 2 weeks and then stop because they don't see any change. Based on a non-exhaustive attempt to do medication treatment, those people go on to say that medication doesn't work and that there's no help for them, that they've tried therapy and they've tried medication and you know, they did install that meditation app on their phone, and they did buy a brand new journal last year and wrote in it a couple of times, so all of this effort is resulting in nothing and therefore none of the suggestions work... These same people get extremely defensive if you point out things like, medications typically take 4 to 6 weeks to reflect an actual effect and if you don't go back to the doctor and tell them that it's not working for you, there's no way for them to try and make a better choice for you. If you want therapy to help you, you have to commit for a good six sessions at minimum and accept the fact that the session is just the summary of the last chapter of your life that you lived so to speak, the session is where you take the issues you ran into that you didn't know how to work through and talk through them to gain better skills. The only way that works is if you have a conscious effort going on between sessions to recognize your failure points. Very similar things can be said for things like exercise and dietary regimens and stuff. People usually take on a new diet regimen for a few days but the minute they have their first donut and give permission to themselves to have a cheat day, that cheat day turns into a week turns into a month and then they'll tell you that that particular diet didn't work. They'll buy gym memberships that they never use, subscriptions to services they never log into, but when the doctor asks them if they've been making a concerted effort to exercise and moderate their diet, if they've been taking their medication and going to therapy, the person who does not want to take accountability for any aspect of the outcomes of their decisions when it comes to their mental health will tell that doctor yes to all four. They would rather lie to the doctor than take accountability or admit to the fact that they are so far into their struggle with symptoms that they are incapable of following basic schedules. It is much easier for an ego driven society to say that they're too busy, too tired, work too much, they deserve a treat for all of the things that they've been doing recently, covid-19 is here, etc etc etc. And don't get me wrong, I fall into these same traps. I got up to 535 lb and then I lost half of my body weight. The only thing that worked for me was admitting to myself that I was not being accountable and not actually doing the things I was telling my doctors I was doing. They were strongly pushing me to get weight loss surgery because all of the weight was really difficult for my hypermobile body. However, I had to come to Jesus moment when I sat in the seminar and listened to just how they performed those surgeries, and I said to myself that before I signed up for that, I better be damn sure I had made a real effort to lose weight by myself. I went on to lose 115 lb through being accountable to myself, and even though I did eventually have weight loss surgery anyway, when I went into that OR, I knew I was doing it for the right reasons and after the right amount of effort. I kept to my regimen for a years worth of stalled weight loss before I went and said I think I need some help. Now I'm almost at my high school weight and I'm in a much better place because of it. I hope people take you seriously here

[@Juhz0r]

Major props on the weight loss, that's incredible. I could stand to lose 20 kilograms myself, and that thing about cheat days turning into weeks and months is very relatable. "Well, I'll start the diet for real next week" is also something I've said to myself about a dozen times, but often there wasn't even an attempt. I'm really good at putting effort in when I'm doing something, but getting to the rhythm of doing stuff that's just involves me (there is no responsibility I have for someone else) is often where I fail. I would go on jogs for a good few months, and most times I would do something unplanned like an extra kilometer of jogging or a sprint towards the end, but then I skip one week and suddenly returning to what I had done for a good while was harder.

[@zoewheelwright2325]

I have fibromyalgia and ADHD (an unfortunate mix), but have got to the point where I’ve realised my life will only get better if I let it be. And unironically, therapy has done the most. Don’t get me wrong, get your medical stuff checked out because without my thyroid and ADHD medication this would be a lot harder and arguably unmanageable. But therapy has started to untangle my coping mechanisms and the root causes that put me in situations where I need to use them. And the general awareness that therapy brings means I have more control over my life and my well-being and happiness. Part of that control has been getting the help I need and deserve. A big positive is having more control over my communication, which can have a positive impact on political conversation as well as emotional and everything else.

[@johnthomason9980]

It's weird when people pretend that weed has no downsides. I got into weed edibles in 2021 and was a big fan, up until halfway through the year I accidentally overestimated my tolerance after a few months of not using and got waaaay too high. It was so intense that I was shaking and having uncontrollable spasms in my back and legs, and that was so bad I had an anxiety attack while high. The anxiety got so bad that it persisted into the next day, at such a level that I was feeling chest pains, and I thought I'd fucked up my heart. That of course made my anxiety worse, and it took months of doctor's visits telling me nothing was actually wrong with my heart and some mild anxiety meds before it went away. That shit ruined my year and I'm so glad it's behind me.

[@PropheticShadeZ]

Yea it's not harmless, it's a external mind alerting substance, being careful especially with large doses is essential

[@zant2146]

To be fair, that's on you. Yeah ofc if you take too much you're not gonna feel good 😭

[@HOVNA]

​​@@zant2146The thing is.. that that just happens when you keep chasing a high. My weed story ended basically the same way . I think you can take even something like MDMA responsibly, but I wouldn't say it's harmless. It's all drugs. Even weak ones. You just take more to F yourself up. And most people take drugs as an escape, not a treatment.

[@stevenguitink5947]

Gotta love that so many online Leftists ascribe anything that even remotely sounds like a conservative talking point is on par with falling down the Alt-Right rabbit hole. Seriously people, just because Jordan Peterson talks about taking personal responsibility doesn't mean you're ceding ground to conservatives. It's legitimately frustrating to hear so many people have this kind of childish us/them narrative. And that's coming from someone who himself deals with mental health issues with no shame.

[@maxmusterman9262]

Taking Care of yourself is rightwing

[@FearfulSludgeBoy]

"Fellas, is it fascist to work out and eat healthy?"

[@sabrewolf6592]

I 100% agree with Vaush. I've been working on myself for five years now. Introspection and self reflection have done a lot for my mental health. Despite my years of abuse and trauma, I don't do drugs or abuse alcohol like many do. I'm even forty pounds down from my heaviest and I've kept that weight off for months now. What's hopeful is that I have so much more to aspire to!! I'm proud of the path I walk and I encourage others to work on themselves too. Edit: self-care is hard as fuck. Someday I can't even get out of bed, crying all day long. If I get up, work out, draw, listen to music, journal, and get some water in me, I feel so much better. I need to be more disciplined, but I never give up. I'm hard on myself, but I will never stop striving for improvement. Thank you for addressing this, Vaush.

[@beezusHrist]

.... but VAUSH IS FAT!!!!!

[@RatPfink66]

Are you like me: do you find that active discipline requires triggering associations (self worth, negativity, even self-cruelty) to get it started? Triggers you then must turn off to complete the routine and build the habit?

[@Pretermit_Sound]

Hang in there buddy. Keep trying. As many times as it takes. You’ll get there. Good luck ✌🏻🇺🇸💙

[@danielamon6978]

“Believe in science…except any science about the benefits of exercise, diet, or any other difficult lifestyle change.” -the online left

[@appleorchardkai5428]

Oh yeah I remember this segment/stream. This is part of what helped me kick my own ass into going to the gym and being more active in my weight loss

[@mrl2h2]

going through that process myself, hope your journey is going well 👊

[@appleorchardkai5428]

@@mrl2h2 hell yeah my friend!

[@ATMProductionZ1]

Vaush: this stance is everything to me. As someone in recovery specifically for cannabis addiction, it's so endlessly infuriating to see so many lefties bristle at the concept of weed not being a harmless option for everyone, for everything. I'd really love to pick your brain more about this, IF you felt so inclined. Love what you do, man. ✊️❤️

[@captain-chair]

It’s strange that people would fetishise it, the argument for legalising weed is that is it not AS bad as cigarettes or alcohol and it being illegal is completely illogical when the aforementioned drugs ARE legal. Would I smoke weed if it was legal in my country? Yes, but the same amount as I would do for alcohol, not very often, when you invite friends over after a while of being busy. I have a friend who basically fetishised alcohol and actually made his entire personality around it, and also picked up working at a bottle shop as his first job, I haven’t talked to him in two months because he progressively became more of an arsehole and demanding of my attention, it doesn’t help he was already the most doomer person who seems like they misread Nietzsche and adopted that form of cringy nihilism. I tried to do my best to try and keep the friendship alive but I am dealing with my own shit and don’t think I should sacrifice my mental health for someone who refuses to accept his wrongs. That is a bit of a rant, sorry, but it’s just an odd thing, like I am only 20 and so is he, but shit man, drugs are kinda fun if you don’t overdo it, and way too many overdo it, sucking the fun and charm out of it completely.

[@thatoneguy3840]

Vaush. I never wanted to write a comment cuz I didn't want to seem like I was begging for sympathy or anything like that, but I think you're a wonderful person and you've turned my life around. I'm 16 and I've been living with my dad since my mum died in 2019. They always fought and disagreed but he was always the "cool weekend dad" so I always listened to him more. By living with him my life has gone so far downhill. I suffer with ADHD and ASD so I'm horrible at organising things or specifically articulating myself in a discussion (probably why this comment is so rambly) but to make things worse, my dad is one of the deep conspiracy theorists and he talks about the Atlanteans being the Aryan race and how the Nazi regime were actually communist Jews who now rule over society and are ready to take over any minute. If nothing else it's given me severe anxiety and paranoia over the past year or two, thinking that one day I might wake up having my throat slit by an assassin or a bomb had been planted on our boat (a whole different can of worms - he bought it in 2020 so we could "escape the country if they take over"). Thanks to your content I was finally able to see past it all and contact my mum's side of the family to get out of this horrible situation, as well as put to rest the fears that have ruined my life for years. I couldn't be more thankful. Please, keep doing what you're doing.

[@NIHIL_EGO]

Good heavens that's bad. Hope you'll be able to get out of here.

[@mrl2h2]

jesus christ man im sorry 🫂

[@ThePhantomOtaku]

Is your dad bipolar? I grew up with someone who was taken in by conspiracy theories (I had a parent who truly believed that society would collapse with Y2K) and that ended up being the issue. Once they started medication, life wasn't nearly as bad. I hope both you and he can find some help sooner rather than later.

[@thatoneguy3840]

@@NIHIL_EGO All good, it's all been arranged now for me to move up with my aunt during the summer. I'm putting this behind me hopefully.

[@gillesdupouy8357]

stay strong buddy, I hope it gets better when you manage to move out

[@mgtkvlogs]

I once tweeted that self care is more than eating chocolate for a week and people got SO MAD but I AM NOT WRONG. Self care is discipline. Literally quite the opposite of just feeling good, it's making good.

[@RatPfink66]

better yet: *self-discipline is self-care.* and have a little dark chocolate each day. it's good for the cardiovastubular, uh, the heart.

[@Keykatriz]

People really lack any sort of introspection which shocks me because I spend all day in my head analyzing myself. I have diagnosed PTSD, Depression and Anxiety and that's from the 1 psych visit I had...I am certain there's more there but I just haven't gotten to a regular therapist/psych yet to dig in. I had a bad childhood so I was in therapy when I was around 8-10 but I don't recall much of it at all, just that I got to eat a lot of candy which was probably a problem, and it left a bad taste for therapy for me. Last year I took 2 two week partial hospitalization course that was essentially therapy school, and a LOT of that was about the schedule and structuring your thinking. We'd set goals daily and weekly, measurable goals whenever possible. Stuff like go to bed at 11, drink 8 glasses of water, etc. OBVIOUSLY that is not going to solve any of my outside problems, like I can be so hydrated and capitalism will still be crushing me, but it sure will give me more energy and from personal experience it's easy to go crazy very quickly when your sleep schedule gets really messed up. I'm saying this all as someone still going through a major depressive episode (I think I'm on the up swing but it's been a long one) and I know there's some days I say to myself "Get up, take a shower, answer those emails" but I can't get myself to do it. And I'd hope people around me will be patient and recognize I'm trying, and many do. And I don't really care about those who don't. I really need to get into therapy asap but it's one of those things that's tough for me because I know I'm a very particular person and finding a therapist who I can connect with is going to be hard. Plus Insurance stuff...nightmares. But still, nothing bugs me more than people who absolutely wallow in their misery and don't recognize it. You can be sad, you can have bad mental health days and weeks and even months but that's something you need to recognize if you want to get better.

[@Keykatriz]

@@lastburning I honestly don't feel like typing that many words about it in a KZbin comment but I also didn't want to ignore the question. I believe capitalism has been a major contributor to the wealth inequality in America and other countries. There are a million little laws that could be changed to counteract each issue I bring up, but the underlying cause of them all is Capitalism. I think in a socialist society we could encourage a lot more collaboration rather than competition. Competition does drive change and innovation but so can collaboration or competition that doesn't result in one person being a billionaire and the other being homeless. "Capitalism is crushing me" is a catch all, it's student debts and inheritance court and job searching and spending so much on rent that I can't save anything to put a down payment on a house. But at the end of the day, it comes down to a large economic issue I can't solve personally.

[@trentperiod]

I’m struggling through self care in real time. Have been a musician for 15 years…in the past I had some great success but I also got a bunch of my work stolen, the rug pulled from under me, trauma from the abuse in the music industry, and some massive failures. For awhile, I blamed a lot of the bad ppl in my life for my issues. Even though in many ways they were, my biggest issue was the lack of self care because I was so exhausted from failing so much. I went through a really hard few years. Now I’m starting over again, but I’m closer to my dream than ever before…because I am actively choosing to move past that stuff and to just go for it and never give up. A part of that is doing the work to stay on top of taking care of myself. I still have much to work on and long roads ahead, but even though I’m not where I used to be, my life is feeling so much better now than it was.

[@domm5715]

I feel you.. I literally worked as a slave on a farm for 3 years got nothing, not even 1 cent...i learned a gud lesson tho...dont trust inherently, ppl will try to fuk you even if your a gud person

[@TheRealNeonwarrior]

@@domm5715 just because your parents made you drive the tractor and milk the cows when you were a teenager doesn't make you a slave, my dude

[@PM-xu2nq]

@@domm5715 Jesus Christ, I understand if you don't wanna go into specifics or don't really wanna talk about it, but I gotta ask how you ended up in that situation? Working for family? Labour trafficking?

[@TheNewblade1]

That vaush aside cut deep. I have to smoke a blunt, meditate for an hour, and do a self actualization ritual ppl before I can call Comcast and ask for an extension.

[@VeProducctions]

Bojack horseman has the most accurate joke about therapy that I've ever heard. Q: How many therapists does it take to change a lightbulb? A: Just one but the lightbulb has to want to change

[@Vence.]

Lacan told that joke in the 60's. I still love Bojack anyways.

[@Sorenzo]

I was very depressed for 15 years and tbf it's EXTREMELY hard to admit that you might have any kind of power to improve your situation - because you FEAR having to live with the guilt of having responsibility for your own misery (and possibly any hardship you've put on others.) It's so tempting to just let it be a biological problem.

[@iz2333]

Self pity is also super addictive if you don't have any other sources of joy.

[@RatPfink66]

"Guilt is a useless emotion. It's vestigial." -V.

[@Pretermit_Sound]

@@RatPfink66that sounds cool in a comic book, but becomes increasingly alarming the more you think about what it would be like living in a world where people treat guilt as “useless” in the emotional sense. That would almost certainly lead very quickly to some pretty horrific things happening. Humans are capable of enough cruelty as it is. You limit the potential impact that guilt plays on an emotional level, and it’s influence on our behavior, that sounds to me like a whole new level of horrors we can’t even imagine.

[@danteghazizadeh1656]

Vaush stopping his rant to say "interesting" to the fact about lithium is so funny and I have no idea why

[@scotttolliver5847]

I have severe persistent depression and suicidal ideation. I used to wake up feeling horrible every single day. It was as if the worst 30 minutes of my life was every morning when I woke up (insert Office Space that's fucked up reaction). I definitely thought it was just the way things were for me, and other people probably struggled in a similar way. That actually made things worse because I saw other people able to do all the things I knew I should be doing, but just didn't have the energy/will to do. This was also while I was working 6-7 days a week in a physically demanding job. I was just exhausted all the time. The longest break I had was the hospital stay after my first suicide attempt. It was so easy to just accept that and self medicate to get through. My drugs were massive doses of caffeine and sugar. It "worked" in that it got me through the day. It worked until it didn't. Finding the right medication helps. Exercise helps. Proper nutrition helps. Proper sleep habits help. Therapy can help if you find the right therapist for you. All these things help a little bit. One thing in isolation won't usually get you that far. None of it is easy for me, and how well I do varies over time. That doesn't mean I shouldn't try. That's just fucked up.

[@davidbrobinson1995]

It's hard AF for self-care to happen but worth it. Vaush is right. I think Chat read too hard into it and got pretty cringe.

[@TheBasedGreeg]

I’m a suicidal leftist, and you’re not tricking me into loving myself today Vaush 😎

[@shis1988]

Then hate hating yourself

[@kylestark7409]

Same homie, same

[@TheBasedGreeg]

@@shis1988 I hate hating myself already 🥸

[@LiftedBlader]

@@shis1988 this is the way

[@bobby4268]

I have a long list of terrible people. And I’ll be damned if I die before them.

[@daveed2589]

We need to bring the straight edge movement back. If rightists have anything correct, it's that self-improvement is extremely important, even if they neglect some important habits like going to therapy.

[@4grammaton]

Journaling is right-wing therapy.

[@keyboardstalker4784]

The straight edge movement got laughed at for being a bunch of dork ass nerds.

[@daveed2589]

@@4grammaton Right wingers think Journaling is like writing in a diary and that's for girlie girls, and they can't write.

[@ninjacats1647]

@@4grammaton I don't know about journaling having anything to do with being right wing, but I have heard that journaling is very good for you.

[@swagmund_freud6669]

I gotta friend who's big into lefty stuff, canvassing for left wing candidates, has an immense knowledge of theory and is insanely well read. He's also a vicious smoker and binge drinker. He's on antidepressants and he says they don't really work as well as they used to. I told him that if he stopped smoking and drinking he'd be happier and a more effective revolutionary, but he laughed it off as me being childish cuz I'm edge and therefore don't know what I'm talking about.

[@August-p9g]

I don't know why it's so hard for people to admit they're addicts. I'm addicted to booze, there, it's easy

[@biggiesmalls3096]

Im addicted to caffeine and have no shame

[@August-p9g]

@@biggiesmalls3096 huzzah!

[@gamakujira64e23]

Stigma, it’s the same reason people don’t want to admit they have any other mental illness.

[@August-p9g]

@@gamakujira64e23 Ive never understood that either so, I guess it tracks

[@gamakujira64e23]

@@george-xcx Well yeah, that’s kind of how addictions work. The brain is literally altered to fester a dependence on the drug, it’s kind of obvious, then, that drugs addicts are dependent on drugs.

[@TerminallyOnlineLeftist]

Hey buddy, I understand self-improvement just fine 😤

[@sharky2606]

I love it when Vaush loses his shit at chat. I only hope it doesn't give him a heart attack

[@laffy7204]

As someone with ADHD, it doesn't feel like Adderall helps that much. So I took some of Dr. K's advice to try to improve my life by increasing concentration. I tried meditation every day, then I did concentration grid every day. It really helped, I feel like I'm in more control now. I'm gonna start doing the grid thing again

[@restlessdream8745]

ADHDer as well, the Adderall (or any other drug prescribed for ADHD) is just a tool, not a magic pill. I could take my methylphenidate and spend all day scrolling through social media if it wasn't for my self-care and building healthy habits. Good luck with your meditation practice, it's wonderful.

[@laffy7204]

@@restlessdream8745 It's hard to admit this, but medical science hasn't plenty to evolve. It'll take decades maybe centuries to disect discover the nuances of ADHD and Autism, and how to treat them Until then, I gotta wing it with whatever works

[@bumblebeeatbreadloaf1286]

This shouldn't be a hot take at all.

[@rubytherookie]

Definitely can attest to the weed addiction. First started as a sleep aid, then smoking when I finished work, then blazing after lunch, then I'm a 24/7 stoner. Couldn't eat, sleep, or work without it, all the while my depression is the worst it's ever been. My friend circle kept telling me it helps with depression, keeps them artistic, blah blah blah. Then I came out as pansexual and trans to my conservative family, improved myself, went to therapy, quit the weed and got on medication. Things got better. Keep your substance intake in check, folks.

[@ThePFD518]

I can attest to the weed issue. It really exasperated my anxiety to the point where I stopped smoke completely.

[@AkiraIsMissing]

Weed can generally affect people differently but what's also really important is the type of weed your smoking, I know for alot of people smoking sativa can give them anxiety, while indica will allow them to relax. I'm not trying to encourage you to smoke or anything, but that maybe why you were experiencing anxiety

[@ThePFD518]

@@AkiraIsMissing I tried experimenting with different kinds and with lower levels of cbd and thc which helped a little but I still ran into the same issues. I may try again later but yeah.

[@AkiraIsMissing]

@@ThePFD518 That's understandable but, nonetheless I'm proud of you for taking steps in improving your mental health!

[@hi__im_zack4890]

Same for me, if I'm anxious in any way i just stay away from weed. I never used weed as a way to cope with anxiety, but the few times i took weed while actively having anxiety were very much not fun, quite the opposite.

[@jamesrussell5196]

@@AkiraIsMissing no not the strains guy!

[@diamondfox1178]

Wake up Samurai, we've got a fortress to build...

[@Juhz0r]

Here's some bricks for the wall: 🧱

[@zoewheelwright2325]

🧱

[@Observette]

You need to have more conversations like this Vawsh.

[@synthiandrakon]

with old people and their backs hurting one thing I've seen pretty consistently help with back pain is actually working out your back muscles, not like you have to make them giga strong but doing some basic strengthening exercises with your back can make you feel so much better

[@Julez60]

100% true. Your lower back muscles and core can help hold your upper body up by "sharing" the weight with the spine

[@Bnio]

Ab work too. I'm not talking about six packs, but 50 well-formed crunches, some leg lifts. Squats. Works like a charm and only takes 20 minutes every other day.

[@luizfelipehaertel8406]

There was a time in my life when my depression convinced me, when I was 20 at the time, that I was unable to learn anything anymore due to lack of neuroplasticity. I almost dropped out of college altogether. So I really relate to his point that "depression makes you dumber" although I wouldn't phrase it that way. 😅

[@julianmcmillan2867]

I think that is a perfectly adequate way of phrasing it. I've dealt with depression for most of my life, accompanied by debilitating anxiety. What I've come to realise is it does in fact make you dumber, literally. You make dumb decisions, you don't focus or pay attention, causing you to miss alot of things, you make compulsive and comfortable decisions as opposed to challenging and thoughtful decisions. I've measured my production and problem solving capabilities on days I was feeling good and on days I was feeling bad through coding. On a good day, I build a few web-based games, on a bad day, I can't figure out how to make a simple program work and lose faith in myself. In a chronic depressive state, the brain does lose that plasticity and becomes rigid, unable and unwilling to solve more complex problems. Depression is obesity for the brain: indulging on doom and gloom and it doesn't get the necessary exercise it needs to keep healthy. This reinforces indulging on doom and gloom and the cycle starts again. It does make you dumber

[@insightfulhistorian1861]

@@julianmcmillan2867 You are correct. I can also confirm it is a struggle to do anything productive when in the depressive state. I see nothing worthwhile in myself outside my academic achievement, and now I am receiving my master's degree soon, so I have no idea what is going to fill the void left by academics now that I completed that chapter of my life. I guess I'll have to dump myself into my work, because everything else outside of my career goals is temporary and pointless to me.

[@julianmcmillan2867]

@@insightfulhistorian1861 Start building things. Even if it doesn't relate to your field of study. Just start doing meaningful projects.

[@insightfulhistorian1861]

@@julianmcmillan2867 I am relatively content when I am working on projects, so that will help. However, projects are ultimately a distraction from thinking about my self-perception and what I truly want from life. So in essence, I gave up trying to understand what satisfaction means for me, and I don't believe happiness or love even exists anymore. I just make the best out of my life that I can, enduring the perpetual stress and frustration that is punctuated by brief bouts of happiness when building a project or achieving a goal. For me, that is the best life can ever be.

[@insightfulhistorian1861]

@Julian I'm 90% sure I am clinically depressed because I admitted to my parents multiple times that I struggle to show appreciation or gratitude toward them because I don't believe I am worthy of anything they do for me since I see no worthwhile value in myself. I am a worthless lost cause and I cannot see how they could ever waste their time loving me when I cannot find a single logical reason to care about myself.

[@NELLYB]

ive had to acknowledge my addiction to weed for many years now. it genuinely helps when entering what i would assume to be stressful situations. However it is not and has never been a fix, just a poor patch job thats probably done more damage to the problems at hand. i dont think id ever give it up completely but this every day shit has to stop

[@cowzooka9062]

Speaking as someone who inherited clinical depression, a veteran with PTSD, and someone who is currently failing at not being an alcoholic, Vaush's take is pretty basic. I struggle, but will never quit! I'm sorry to hear so many of chat has done so.

[@PM-xu2nq]

You've got the right attitude. No matter how many times I fuck up I keep pushing, and even in the times when I feel like I've got nothing else to take pride in, I can damn well take pride in that. I mean, things have been going pretty good for the past while, fortunately, but being mule-fuck stubborn about building good habits despite a *long* ass struggle and various hurdles is a *HUGE* point of pride for me.

[@iamdino0]

These are the kinds of people that become tankies on twitter and ramble about how capitalism will fall to a glorious worker's revolution within the next 10 years and pretend they're advancing that goal in any capacity by preaching about it online and being too incompetent to participate in politics irl

[@SatyreIkon]

I've been in treatment for depression since 2009. And what Vaush says is an objective fact: You don't feel better about your illness when you do things like cleaning your apartment, regular personal hygiene, daily exercise, regulating your sleep, having a schedule, writing a diary, drinking enough water, cutting back on recreational drugs / using them more safely and not regularly, meditating, going for a walk, meeting / talking to people, evaluating and changing your own unhealthy habits and thought patterns and eating more healthily. Your depression or whatever will still be there. But damn, will you feel loads more capable and better about yourself and your life! All that doomer bullshit just means you're too lazy to do something, which means it cannot be THAT bad if you're not feeling compelled to change anything, or you haven't tried yet which you probably should, for your own benefit. I'm absolutely sympathetic to your struggles and support you snd empathize with you; but not to your excuses.

[@darkphoenix2]

I think what triggered people here was the perception that Vaush was saying "just clean your room to be happier", when what he was really saying was "if you can find the motivation to clean your room, you'll be happier".

[@gamakujira64e23]

It doesn’t help that a lot of these bozos in the comments section are basically saying a watered-down version of the former.

[@marciamakesmusic]

@@gamakujira64e23 well yeah vaush chatters do be chatting

[@Bnio]

Nah, he called out addicts and the addicts reacted like all addicts in denial react.

[@DuelistKoi93]

This is just 20 minutes of chat being THAT GUY from the "we should improve society somewhat" meme but with Vaush as the peasant and replacing "society" with self care.

[@lepkember6913]

I really relate to that last statement. Back in 2017-18, I fell into depression due to homesickness, skandinavian winters, and a shitty doctor who prescribed me anti allergy pills that arent supposed to be taken in daily, yet insisted that I do. It didnt feel self rightous or tragic to be depressed. I wasnt some wise, sad person, who the "stupid happy people" just couldnt understand. I was a pathetic piece of shit who didnt study in school, wasnt able to keep up a daily routine for basic hygene (showering, combing my hair, brushing my teeth, etc.), didnt make friends, and was on the brink of alcoholism at the age of 18. I spent most of my day lying in my bed, in my clothes, with messy, greasy hair, and the stench of sweat, watching shitty youtube videos instead of doing anything useful. And my stupid ass didnt even realize how bad the situation was until I got better, while everyone was worried about me, I was like, "eh, im fine, just lazy". So to anyone struggling with this kinda shit rn: try to remember that the reason everything seems worse of because your mind is in disorder. Of course I wont say "just dont be sad" or "just be more positive", but try to remind yourself that your brain is playing tricks on you, and that depression isnt some "realism filter" that makes you see the world and people around you more clearly.

[@lepkember6913]

Also on a side tantrum, this is the reason why I fucking hate the series *13 Reasons Why*. I felt like it glorified depression and suicidality. Hannah, the character who killed herself, leaves behind casettes that technically are a suicide note justifying her decision. And all this had such a pretentious vibe of "I was right all along, and you all are stupid and ignorant". This isnt how it is. Suicidal thoughts dont turn you into a fucking prophet. I honestly believe that this series has done more damage to the discussion of mental health than good.

[@TheKarret]

I do a lot of that shit, but I suspect a big part of it is more an undiagnosed ADHD thing; I'm gonna look more into getting an eval/assessment on Monday; gotta check out this 2nd doc's place to compare their prices for the eval/assessment... :Va Anyways, I suspect that's made it way harder on me than it should be. > 3< Time just gets away from me so easily. @__@!

[@jacobbutler169]

You won't get out of your depression unless you want too, at the end of the day you're, your own worst enemy.

[@DarienSchillinger]

I honestly found this video to be really helpful. As a queer autistic man struggling with past trauma, I try to remind myself every now and again that no matter oppressed I may be in this capitalist system, there are always things that I can do to make my life better or at the very least a little bit less terrible. I hope to see more videos like this one from you and perhaps other online leftists as the right currently has way too much of a monopoly on the self-help industry.

[@montygator8873]

why bother?

[@giovannifoulmouth7205]

Jordan Peterson: clean up your room! Vaush: no, really do it

[@someperson8547]

oh we digging through the vaush vault

[@Schweigetherapie]

All the people I know who get good therapy for their depression know how important discipline is, and how much you can train yourself into that. And how actually GOOD it feels, to have some control over your life. it takes a lot of work and time, but it works. Obviously there can be other factors, I'm dealing with that myself rn, but I still try to keep a schedule, go outside, socialize and well, I'm working on the healthy eating, but we'll get there. It really does help. It's hard, but worth it. I'm currently working on getting into routines again. Every therapist I've talked to about my depression has mentioned the schedules and routines, the going outside and socializing regularly. And I've talked to a lot of therapists over the years. And before Corona and before some other issues wormed their way into my life, I had the best year and a half I've had for years now. I will always have depression, but when I get to go outside, and have schedules and routines and regularly see people and have stuff to look forward to... I felt so good, and I wanna get there again. It's harder now, but I still gotta do it, because what's the alternative?

[@frostbite3318]

So many junkies act like they’re enlightened. “Bro I have to take bong hits every morning and drop acid on the weekends mannnn”

[@rustytoyota]

IDK how people can argue this. Vaush is 99% correct.

[@Goriaas]

Because they are self and life loathing, terminally online, weed-addicted leftists with a major victim mentality

[@RedGeist]

Oh my god Vaush got fit. Idk if this is 2020 or 2021 vaush but in 2022 he's looking lean and sweet. Great job, and thanks for the content

[@BlisaBLisa]

"happy people are annoying and dumb" bro when I get into my depressive periods i can FEEL myself becoming insufferable lmao

[@nymade4130]

Smoldering take: you can believe the workers should own the means of production and also maintain a balanced diet.

[@FearfulSludgeBoy]

But what if we all democratically voted to have cinnabons for breakfast everyday? Hmm, what then you fascist?

[@andrewjohns1266]

I was in stream for this, people are STILL malding over this

[@LainThePayne]

Edited... One of my favorite podcasters, Marcus Parks, has a saying he likes to use that has helped me with my life a lot. "Mental health isn't your fault, but it IS your responsibility"

[@noobmaster71]

My God, that "happy people are often really annoying and stupid tho" comment at the end. What a fucking cope. Like they're acting like being depressed makes you a better person then people that are happier then you. It's the "I'm a 400000 IQ super genius thats why I'm sad all the time. I see the world as it truly is, that's why I wake up every day feeling like shit" thing people pull. Which isn't true. you just only get 4 hours sleep my friend. That's why you feel like shit; go take a nap. P.S my hot take to add is if you commonly find people happier then you annoying, It's because you can't stand seeing people doing better then you. Not that they're actually annoying.

[@patkohler9695]

Cynicism is the cancer of the 21st century, no one is allowed to have a genuine emotion anymore.

[@h8a1c3]

Doesn't research show that weed actually impairs sleep? Like, you fall asleep. But you don't sleep well? So it's actually worse for your rest to take it?

[@krlee93]

I’m a 28 year old woman. I started smoking p regularly about a year and a half ago. I was wary as a singer, because my mental health was rough, and addiction runs pretty strongly in my family. Mj has been a game changer for me. I was able to go off my anti depressants and mood stabilizers that I was prescribed for my anxiety. But…I’m so so so glad that I didn’t start until I was older and has done a lot of self improvement before I started using regularly. I know that mj absolutely could have become an unhealthy vice for me if I hadn’t gotten to the level of mental/physical health I was at when I started using regularly

[@byronneedle]

There are many people on the left who definitely get defensive when it comes to mental addictions with weed. It’s definitely not for everybody and for some people it’s too good for them to deal with. That being said, as a a person that uses weed every so often, I don’t let people who consume alcohol, cigarettes or prescription pills lecture me on my personal habits. People who consume legal drugs tend to have a snobby attitude towards those who consume illegal drugs. I think that some people believe if their drug addiction is blessed by the law or a doctor then it’s ok to abuse it. I run into this especially with heavy drinkers or pill heads.

[@Guitarmeister93]

I've just ground a long day of manual labour, so this is gonna be incoherent and off the dome. You absolutely should engage in self-care. If not engaging in self-care causes your life to fall into dysfunction, you aren't just hurting yourself, you are also impacting your community. That "live your life anyway as long as you don't hurt others" is a cucked liberal take, because that only benefits people who already have their shit together and don't have to rely on community to thrive. If you don't take responsibility for yourself, you have no power with which to improve the lives of others. Isn't that the whole reason we are on the left? To improve the lives of our communities? Yeah, the system sucks, yeah, some people are horrible, but are you gonna sit back and let those fucking fascists determine your value? You absolutely should fucking not. See a doctor, seek therapy and/or medication, put in the work, you're still gonna be sad, but at least you're gaining agency from your mental health. Disclaimer: I was undiagnosed with ADHD hyperactive for 26 years of my life, developed a lot of bad habits, developed depression as a result of untreated ADHD. My life is still a mess, and I get doomered sometimes, but I go to the gym, I'm trying to clean up my diet, and trying to move myself. You fucking should too.

[@PM-xu2nq]

Good man. Seriously. Good habits and consistent effort is the foundation of stability and happiness. Might sound trite, but it's true. Fuck knows I struggle but I have improved and I'm gonna keep improving, and no matter how good or bad it gets my mentality will be the same. Just be stubborn about improving. No matter how many times you fail get back up, ad infititum. Patience and discipline. Even when I feel like I've got fuck all else to take pride in, I take pride in that. You should be proud of yourself too.

[@mizushimma]

I was being a bum on my couch when I started watching this video, then Vaush told his chat to get off their asses and self care so I decided to do the laundry I’d put off for a week. But when I started my portable dryer (I live in a small apt) it tripped the circuit breaker and I had a power out lol I blame Vaush for this 😂😂 But I’m all seriousness, doing laundry did improve my night~

[@ff-qf1th]

I watched this a while back, I think it was on a clip channel, and I'm so glad I saw it. I'm still not doing perfectly and I struggle a lot in general but taking the more purposeful attitude towards my life that vaush prescribes here has really positively affected my mental health.

[@DwarfElvishDiplomacy]

People that spin out of control when you lightly criticise weed consume have the same energy that gamers have when you lightly criticise gaming culture

[@MeMe-nm7jr]

I am SO fed up with these defense mechanisms from people with perpetual victimhood mentality. Small actions don't fix depression but they sure af push you in the right direction. Many therapists dealing with a heavily depressed patient will OFTEN try to get their patient to start with regular small actions. For example, "make your bed and take a shower every morning"... that alone doesn't fix depression, much more work to be done, but I know somebody where that specific advice helped them move in the right direction. And Voosh is SO right that people who are perfectly fine will wear the depression hat (or autism or anxiety). That just hurts those of us with like REAL mental health struggles.

[@gamakujira64e23]

I think it’s even more harmful to hyper-fixate on people who may or may not “fake” depression. In general, we shouldn’t be very exclusionary with things like treating depression, because if we exclude someone who legitimately has depression from getting care because of some dumb narrative about “wearing the depression hat”, it will cost them their life AND their well-being.

[@MeMe-nm7jr]

@@gamakujira64e23 what in the hell? First off, making a comment about this isn't "over-fixation". Secondly, I'd love to hear how my comment is doing such "harmful damage". Your reply is just contrarian nonsense. My so-called "fake narrative" was about people like those who replied to vaush with _real_ comments, not fake ones. If you've never known anybody who overplays their victimhood mentality as a way to not change, then I suppose we just have different experiences. I've known people who do that AND done it myself. It's not a "fake narrative". It's a very real and negative head space that allows one to create a narrative that they're helpless when they're not. That thinking can be exaggerated and further cemented as okay behavior when it's done in online communities. Props to vaush for calling it out (but this simple dude in the comments who agrees with him is creating harm I guess). It's possible to be empathetic toward people who are legitimately struggling while also calling bullshit on the types of thinking that will keep them stuck there.

[@MeMe-nm7jr]

@@gamakujira64e23...and I'm talking about the exaggerated victimhood stuff. I don't just mean people talking about their struggles. I'm talking about people who _constantly_ respond that "depressed people can't do x or y thing that can help them"... that might be true depending on the circumstances, and when you're in severe clinical depression then sure, many things _are_ difficult to do. But these days online, there is _so much_ of this shit that I've seen people use this "perpetual victim" shit to avoid doing anything for themselves. Do you think it would be better for them if we keep perpetuating the idea that they're helpless victims or should we try to help them believe that they _can_ do small things?

[@gamakujira64e23]

@@MeMe-nm7jr You need better reading comprehension, I never called it a “fake narrative”, nor did I intend to say anything to that effect. All I said was that fixating on this narrative about people “putting on the depression hat” (aka. Faking depression) promotes an exclusionary outlook on giving care to people with depression and only really serves to try to delegitimise people’s struggles, which are harmful to people with depression.

[@aadamhughes]

For real! They only got 1 life to live and they're wasting it? Please! Hahaha!

[@opheliagrey2597]

Never suggest to terminally online depressed stoners that wallowing in their misery and making no efforts to improve their own situation isn't the optimal play worst mistake of vaush's life

[@juliem2021]

As someone who has been hardcore on the “I use weed to sleep (and sometimes for fun)” train and then moved to a country where weed was legally and socially condemned, it is so much better to have that crutch taken away from me. I’m not saying I’m not going to smoke when I get back, but goddamn was it nice to look back and know, in its absence, I’d had an addiction.

[@juliem2021]

Now that I’m farther into the video: therapy works, agree

[@GibusWearingMann]

I think chat is just like "having a responsible lifestyle is something conservatives like so therefore it MUST be bad"

[@tombombadil9622]

Remember you can always make tasks a bit more bearable, by listening to music/podcasts/w.e. or sitting down, or just doing goofy shit to break up the monotony.

[@o_kneepixel]

Currently experiencing this exact situation. I have smoked weed habitually, daily, hourly since I was a depressed outcast in high school at 15. I'm now 25, ten years later, and I find that cannabis has been a double edged sword in my life. Sure, it made some unbearable times bearable or even interesting, but it also killed my drive. Actually, the depression killed my drive but the weed made my depression so abstract. So difficult to put a finger on because I had masked it until my mind had found an equilibrium between sadness and numbness. Now I'm in that state consistently with only weed to lean on as a crutch. A crutch that keeps you injured by not forcing you to walk.

[@Acebell72]

As someone who just recently started therapy, it is absolutely difficult, but necessary work. Vaush is correct here in what he’s saying

[@1995amittai1]

T, 😅

[@MensHominis]

Holy fuck, chat was proving the concept of secondary (morbid) gain that day.

[@Onus6688]

We have a lack of this type of stuff on the left imo. More self help and improvement would be nice.

[@skylertaliesin3132]

You’re absolutely correct, and this video comes at a perfect time in my own journey cultivating self-discipline. Definitely going to give it another watch, because this really breaks it down well.

[@Liquid_Smoke]

Vaush spittin' for 22 minutes and I'm here for it!

[@chadhumbert1791]

I agree with Vaush and I admit it's difficult to live a healthier lifestyle both physically and mentally

[@FuDiggity]

On April 20th. Smh.

[@offgridRC]

All about balance ! I live in the mountains and spend most of my free time smoking weed and hiking. I think people got all upset because you generalized all folks who smoke all day. You did get specific in the end response so that is much appreciated! Have a good one!

[@godhimself1128]

Agreed! This response from him is far more rational and articulated than vaush's current weed drama. Unironically I wonder if its the addy

[@princesseuphemia1007]

Also I can't help but kind of know what he means when he mentions that bleak feeling of seeing people joke about hopeless feelings on social media and how it makes you think "Oh everyone's time comes eventually and now it's my time and I'll never have anything to look forward to again". Especially when it comes to the jokes people make about "adulthood" and how it's only downhill from age 18, which by the way statistical data does not support. But when you hear people say it all the time it makes you feel like there is no hope at all. Even in my own life adulthood has been a mixed bag, some times being really great and some times being really terrible, yet I still worry all the time that's only because I've somehow escaped the inevitable thus far and when "real" adulthood arrives (whatever that means) I'm going to be punished for all the time I've actually been happy as an adult somehow because every minute I spent being happy I was sucking joy out of the universe I was never meant to have because adults are supposed to just be miserable drones that only ever sacrifice their lives and if you aren't already doing that you'll eventually get "caught" and punished all the worse for it later, and that I'll be forced to learn my place as just another one of the miserable. This fear that I'm doomed to experience this fate eventually hangs over me like a sword of Damocles, less because of any logic but just because I hear people talk about it so often. At the same time many of the people I've seen who lecture me on adulthood have just made bad decisions with their adult life they easily could have avoided and I wonder if envy could be playing a role in how they view me. And it's okay to make mistakes. Everyone makes bad choices and still deserves sympathy and help even if they're suffering for a wrong call that they themselves made. I just wish they would stop acting like all those choices are just an inevitable intrinsic property of adulthood you can't possibly avoid unless you've "cheated" somehow and then take it out on anyone who refused to fall into the same lock-step as they did.

[@star3catcherSEQUEL]

There are people out there who think that anything and everything that prompts them to actually do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, about their issues instead of just spoon feeding them an endless barrage of cliche "It's not your fault, you're worthy and I support you

[@takoslvt]

I watched Bo Burnham's Netflix movie high, and I have legit never been more depressed in my life. Weed is mainly a fun thinking drug for me, it honestly helps me understand things.

[@boomboxapus]

If you're doing nothing for your depression.. You, you are the one who is bootstrapping it

[@FortuitousOwl]

I see a lot of myself in the people pushing back. It’s all defensiveness. Self-improvement is real hard work that doesn’t have immediate results. It’s very hard to give up these coping mechanisms we’ve become accustomed to because in the moment they feel nice. I’ve been trying my best to just get a decent amount of sleep every day and for a long time it was genuinely hard. Sounds silly but it was, but I feel better when I do. Eating as healthy as I can afford and make also makes me feel better. Not drinking until I’m drunk, even at parties. I don’t smoke weed anymore either. Just going on like a five minute walk is something small anyone can do today to feel a bit better. (Obviously not people that physically can’t walk, don’t do this lol). Depression doesn’t make you more interesting, it makes you worse.

[@awaitingaugust1681]

It's not *all* defensiveness, though I imagine most of it is. I highly recommend Dr. Carl Hart's book, 'Drug Use for Grown-ups'. It's pretty interesting and really makes you think. If you're ever interested in reading about the topic.