Forum - View topicPost-anime depression.
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gobba
Posts: 2 |
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About a week ago I was talking to my friend and he briefly brought up The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, I hadn’t seen that anime since the first season three years ago and had forgot about it since then, so I decided to pick up the second season. I didn’t think it was too great, at least not as good as the first season, though I still enjoyed it. I then proceeded to watch the whole first season again, and I’m now feeling a bit empty, apparently this is called post-anime depression. One of the things that I think causes me to feel this way is the vibrant nature of the anime world, where everything is so surreal and magical, though seemingly unattainable in the real world. The lovable personalities all the characters have, namely Haruhi, also drawn me in; it’s almost as if I would want to live in that fantasy land forever. In addition, the theme of the anime leaves me reminiscing on how I have been living my life as a high school student, and thinking about all the fun adventures they go on / things that happen to them makes me slightly jealous, wishing I could live my life more like them. Additionally, since I’ve already seen this anime awhile back, it creates a powerful sense of nostalgia (from the opening and ending songs in every episode to the actual events in the anime) that magnifies all the emotions I mentioned earlier. And finally, since the time when I first saw the show three years ago, I have been growing more apathetic to things in general for independent reasons (other than anime), but when I watched The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya it’s as if all these emotions are rushing back to me.
I think it should also be noted that I barely watch any anime, and that I didn’t do anything yesterday besides finish season one in one day, (so “getting out of the house” could be a perfectly viable remedy). I also don’t mean to sound whiney or emo in writing this, I just figured I’d ask here as most of my friends IRL don’t watch anime and the ones that do don’t watch much. In short, I would like to know if anyone here has already dealt with or is dealing with the same or similar feelings as the feelings I’m experiencing now. If so, please feel to share your personal experiences or give tips on how to overcome this. Thanks 
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PetrifiedJello
Posts: 3782 |
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It's important to realize most entertainment isn't based on "real life" events and much of it is made up. Does anyone here really think people speak as they do in TV, movies, and anime? If you do, you should be ashamed. Entertainment is formed to take us away from reality, not try and compare it. You mentioned after school activities in anime being more fun and caused you jealous feelings. But did you forget these idiots were looking for paranormal beings which do not exist? Of course, there's nothing stopping you from forming a club like that, if you're not laughed out of school first. Life is boring. Sorry, but that's the harsh reality. The only thing we pathetic "intelligent" beings can do is try to experience everything we can. Money's always an issue for really fun stuff to do, so what's left are trips to the park, local fast food joint, or some party held at the residence of parents who are away for a few days. It's your life. You need to find something you're interested in, and get together with others who feel the same thing. Go out and make boring exciting. The reason we remember days like this is because they happen less often than the boring rut of day-to-day activities. I do suggest you jump out of a perfectly good airplane one day. Trust me when I tell you there's nothing like experiencing exciting feelings of both death and life rushing your brain. I miss doing it, but like everything else, cost became an issue. Good luck with trying to find exciting things to do. Just stop trying to compare the real world with fantasy. You'll be better off. |
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dirkusbirkus
 Posts: 699 Location: Manchester, UK |
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This isn't restricted to just anime; Losing yourself in fiction iis easily achieved through other mediums also.
I went through a phase of having very high expectations for prospective partners because of how much I liked anime characters. You then realise that what you see in fiction is often idealised versions of people, and you can't put actual people on such pedestals, that's completely unrealistic. It's the same for your high school life regret. The life they lead in TMoHS is an idealised (and heavily fantasised) version of high school life; It just doesn't exist. It's possible to take messages away from the themes, such as self improvement, or wanting to be a bit more adventurous, that's a good thing if that's what's been evoked within yourself. But don't be disappointed because your life isn't as colourful as an anime. A good way to deal with the frustration of one exceptional anime ending is to find another one, to be quite honest. |
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EireformContinent
 Posts: 977 Location: Łódź/Poland (The Promised Land) |
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It has nothing to do with anime itself. Since the day the first tale was told there were some people who lost themselves in fiction. It was described in "Don Quixote", mentioned by Dostoevsky but the first described psychologically escalation of this were suicides after publication of The Sorrows of Young Werther. Some people are just prone to that kind of behaviour - see "Avatar" forum for example. How to overcome it? Get real. Stand in a front of mirror and say it loudly. Then go and rethink your life. And then read PetrifiedJello advices and just do it! You can't just wait that something interesting happen- you must make it happen. |
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GloriousMaximus
 Posts: 138 Location: North America |
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One of my friends was incredibly depressed after watching NGE and Welcome to the NHK, particularly because of the endings. I guess in that case you just try not to watch too many episodes in a row, there are those series that drive you crazy because they're so intense. NHK definitely did that to me, I couldn't watch more then a few eps before having to switch to something lighter.
If you're feeling depressed after the end of a show, I guess the best way to get over it is talk to other people, remember, it's just a tv show. Maybe try explaining to people how the show made you feel, either IRL or on a message board where people are talking about the show. |
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Zin5ki
 Posts: 6680 Location: London, UK |
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I can propose the following morsel of advice for coping with such disheartening affects: consider the viewing of the entertainment medium in question to be an end in and of itself. That is to say, do not strive to somehow emulate the idyllic fabrications that charm you so, but instead aim within the limits of practicality and responsibility to discover more of what mundane life cannot itself provide.
In effect, one must treat the medium in question —or any mediums promising similar escapism— like a drug. Though I say this for want of a comparison less dissuading, I have in mind something of a healthy nature: cherish your favourites dearly, whilst seeking other works that may evoke a similar state of mind as those. However, you may still find yourself anxious to tell others of the sentiments this goal produces. For this reason, online communities (such as the one in which you have posted) are of much merit. A forum member can be safe in the knowledge that, should they be notably moved by a new title or a rewatch of an old favourite, they will always have a means to express this to those also familiar with it. I admit, it is not without a degree of naïveté to suggest that internet forums provide a means of supporting your personal fandom in the form of a platform for personal expression, though it is true in my case. When I first became a fan, I initially experienced some difficulty coping with the vivacity with which I would become attached to titles. Having somewhere to admit this kept these passions under control, so to speak, and allowed me to keep separate my fandom and my "official" pursuits. By this, I mean to suggest that an online community granted me a notion of place: somewhere notably separate from standard goings-on, to which I could direct my statements of delight. Your case bears some similarities to mine, and as such I would recommend taking part in discussions as and when time and personal obligations permit. By talking to others about the worlds and characters you can never visit, you may find you can come to terms with their distantness, all the while appreciating the very fact you came across them. In virtue of doing this, one finds oneself more able to re-watch a personal gem without fear of depression, simply because any residual emotions can be channelled through discussion. To summarise, I have two notions in mind. Firstly, consider the mere viewing of entertainment outlets such as this to be one's goal, and not the act of making one's life resemble the lives they depict. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, talk to those who are willing to listen, so as to put one's sentiments into words and to avoid feelings of isolation. Though it requires effort and time, I may suggest that being part of a wider group of fans is another pursuit to consider as an end unto itself. Last edited by Zin5ki on Mon May 31, 2010 6:06 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Hyperone
 Posts: 20 |
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Well, I am better at approaching this from a game standpoint than an anime standpoint (The number of video games I have played for outrageous amounts of time dwarfs anime).
Once lost in a virtual fiction universe so deep you feel a bit lost without it, I have found it's best to just step back and go "This is entertainment, it did it's job well. However, nothing escapes reality. Best to keep in touch." Then I pop in a different game of the month. |
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LordRedhand
 Posts: 1472 Location: Middle of Nowhere, Indiana |
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Well first is to step back and breath for a bit.
While true I do tend to study my anime that I watch closely for metaphysical and some cases "data mining" purposes realize fully that there are idealized concepts and romanticized locals/archetypes, well yes we all could wish for a more "pleasant" high school experience that is something of the romanticized part better than for you and for what I do is the idealized parts which for me is subtly different rather than focus on the romanticized portion of high school that you see meditate one the ideas that it presents and whether they would be good or not (For most anime series and dramas and pretty much most other fictions fail at schooling, like where are the teachers in most of them? As they fail at the idea as a place of learning overemphasizing relationships in the process, while relationships are a stable part in any persons life, one doesn't go to school to socialize, you go to learn.) Partly though a healthy outlet does exist for you if you want to explore other realities beyond anime (think of it as making your own realities) Have you considered pencil and paper role playing games, wonderful learning and exploration tools they are (although getting a group to play a MoHS type game maybe tough.) As an often DM of those types of games being able to have the ability in a controlled environment to test and explore facets of yourself and humanity is a great mental exercise. |
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zrdb
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I can remember a feeling kind of like depression when I watched the credits roll in the final episode of Maison Ikkoku because it had such a profound effect on me. I always tell myself the reason I watch anime-to entertain myself and escape from the real world. That's why I refuse to watch a sad or depressing series-there's enough of those in real life-anime isn't real-but neither is science fiction and I used to be a huge sci fi book fan before anime came into my life.
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dpgc4life
Posts: 31 |
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go see a doctor, that's what you need.
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eyeresist
 Posts: 995 Location: a 320x240 resolution igloo (Sydney) |
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The title of this thread should be "I wish I lived inside an anime". Is someone going to lock this?
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RHachicho
 Posts: 897 Location: Essex, UK |
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@ Eyeresist .. hey the guy came in asking for advice and was quite polite and articulate about it I really don't think "wtf another freak omg close the topic" one liner is very constructive.
Anyway man having a healthy emotional and fulfilling capacity for fantasy is something to be proud of but being unable to accept reality because it isn't as perfect as Drama is a foolishness of the young I am afraid. And I had a problem with this particular monkey myself. Thing is though I didn't realise what it was for ages I thaught I was right and everyone esle was wrong because well .. I was 17. Simply put life is dirty in Drama we do not see the huge pile of poo the heroic knights left for the stable boys to clean. We do not see the grizzly bits of childbirth nor does a legendary general have to command his final battle with galloping dysentry. And more often than not if someone is beautiful on the inside they are beautiful on the outside too. Sorry to be blunt but you're main problem is you can't accept who you are so you are looking for something else to be. And it is so very dangerously easy to like fantasy more than reality. Here's a trick I learned go out at night and stare up after actually looking up the size of the universe. Really allow yourself to realise that you are IN space it isn't just up there. Imagine the ground under you as a ball and then try to scope out all the stuff that's out there with your mind. While also allowing yourself to realise that neither science nor religion can provide even the slightest glimmerings of an answer as to the purpose or nature or even size of the universe. There could literally be infinite structures outside of our perceptual bounds that we just can't see yet. Areas of the universe that resemble our beige universe only in ways that water is similar to a large pink zebra. To feel the size of that the sheer sodding SCALE fo it. Now heres the awesome bit imagine the smallest units the atoms in your body to you an unknowable spec but to the smallest known accretion of matter the size of the solar system and re examine the size of the universe from that scale? impressed yet? you should be. And it just goes on and on and on. A lot of people feel insignificant but to me it's just awesome and it's something that pretty much cured my depression. Basically find some way of making your real life worth coming back to because down the "I don't care about real life" line lies the depths of your parent's basement at 40 years old drinking mountain dew and having imaginary carnal relationships with your doll collection. Bear in mind though there is nothing to worry about being engrossed in a fantasy or even being sad when it's over even imagining yourself in it is fine. It only becomes a problem if it gets in the way of you enjoying your life. Even a hobby can make a buttload of difference especially a social one. Try stuff out. Wargaming worked for me. Painting is immensly theraputic. That being said though you also need to examine your feelings. Real depression is feeling the weight of 100 tonne bricks on you for days at a time getting sudden violent panick attacks that leave you gibbering in a corner of a room. As well issues with swallowing food and sexual performance. As I said before it is perfectly natural to feel down when a good story is over. And it could be that all this stuff is pretty much redundant to you and you just need to learn to man up and find something else to do. If you do though don't let the buggers give you pills those things are build under the precept that it dousn't matter if it tears your soul apart as long as you stop being a bother to other people. No one I know who has taken them has ever been quite the same and you can definately beat it sans chemicals. In case you are wondering personally I was diagnosed with bipolar syndrome. All in all it took be about 8 years to beat it. |
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astromaxis
Posts: 3 |
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I can understand that powerful emotions overtake us - regardless of reality, fantasy, gender, sex (yes, they don't always mean the same thing), circumstances, etcetera.
I think it took great guts to post something of such a manner. Yes, the stereotypical response would be to comment that this person is crazy and that they should be ashamed of themselves for posting a material like this or having such emotions - - I hate to be rude but I think you guys who are responding to this comment in such a manner should be the ones ashamed for being cruel to a person who has honestly posted something like this. No one is perfect. And we all get carried away and maybe this person is experiencing these things because his/her life has taken a boring turn. Yes - I do not disagree with you all who said that it is wrong to emulate entertainment as reality but not all anime, novel, TV series are constructed solely for the basis of entertainment. They do many a times probe into realistic issues. Couldn't TMOH be an allegorical tale showing how people who are melancholic find some value in doing the eccentric? I think life does catalyze entertainment and as a reviewer on this site posted for "Romeo x Juliet"
Listen to Bjork's song "Immature" which also has a glorious remix by a person called Ridu which can easily help substantiate both arguments It is silly to always assume that missing elements can be replaced by a love (As Bjork states) But the song - a medium of entertainment - teaches something so deep. Thus life is paradoxical. Do not worry gobba you'll come through 
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Wooga
 Posts: 916 Location: Tucson |
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Hey man what did Chris chan ever do to you 
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EireformContinent
Posts: 977 Location: Łódź/Poland (The Promised Land) |
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As far all responses were predictable, but polite, no one was cruel to the person who started this topic. Even I edited long and mischievous post containing my private opinion about such a behaviour.
Firstly: as it was said the term "depression" is really abused here (and in life at all). Now people tend to call every bad mood depression, or use it as a cover for their laziness and immaturity. Depression is a serious mental disease, diagnosed by psychiatrist, and treated psychologically and pharmacologically without granulation of being cured. After practises on psychiatric ward I'm really allergic to that kind of "depression". I don't wish even my worst enemy to contact with it in any way. I'm sorry I'm not keen on stroking poor heads and saying that everything will be all right. It will be if you pull yourself together. It's natural and healthy that we like and need a bit of fantasy, but there's a boundary that shouldn't be crossed. I don't want to go too far from the topic so I will just analyse what was described in first topic.
I'm really not the most nostalgic person all over tha world and I really don't watch old DBZ episodes every week, crying as a hungry baby so I really can't say that feelings can be taken as nice ones. 
Man, you are in hight school or a bit older- it's the best time in your life to have such an adventures. maybe not as it was described, but it's your life, not a cartoon. My whole life I've been living in small, boring town, and now- big but boring city- it is described like that by most of the people- but my friends tend to think they are interesting ones. That's the point that Haruchi learns us- even the most boring place can be exciting, if we make it so. Of course it needs effort, but in fact the opportunities lay on the ground- you just have to pick them up. For example In 2nd class of high school I send my application for a meeting of school clubs form all Europe. Of course there were lots of schools better and bigger, but I tried- it was the time of my life and I didn't pay a dime (except 10 kg of sweets)- towns council bought us tickets. Mission impossible? Completed! Competitions, conventions, festivals, clubs, dance classes, cheap tickets- just waiting to take them!
And it's just my idea- maybe it's not anime but something else happened that you felt like this? Try to remember it-maybe you don't want to, but really the problem can be somewhere else. |
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