How I understood and then escaped

This seems to be really working. The hospital staff have invited me back to present this to a new group of patients.

WOW!!!! I just skimmed thru the original article & This make so much sense! I'm not good at snapping my fingers so I will SLAP (gently) instead. A slap on the thigh, slap on the forehead for a brilliant idea, a slap on upper chest, even a slap on the kitchen counter, steering wheel, grocery cart, etc--whatever works at the moment.
I'm new here and finding this post was amazing! Thank you!

You're most welcome Chickhen! It DOES make sense, doesn't it?

I love your slap stuff too. I think it probably works even better for you if you really make this into your own system as you are doing. I think it helps to do your gesture BOLDLY and to be creative and have fun doing it. You're already doing all of that. Many amazing things can happen for you if you continue.

It seems like a superficial almost silly thing, but I really think it isn't. I chose snapping your fingers because it almost automatically gives you a dose of power, vitality and joy, whether you're male or female, a baby or an old man:

SNAP CLUB

- vital

Vital! I posted on this probably 2 years ago. I have not been actively using the snap technique and still have depression. But I found that when I DO use the snapping, I instantly remind myself that I am here. The reason why the snap technique works is because you're in the PRESENT. I know you've mentioned this before. I find that people with depression constantly have their mind wandering about other things- whether that be worrying about what others are thinking of you, worrying about consequences, thinking about existential questions, thinking about things that are bothering you, constantly finding solutions to fix your mood, etc. People who have depression aren't in the present like those who don't suffer through depression. The sadness is always lingering throughout and we're always thinking about it.
The snapping technique works. I am going to share this with others. Thank you for this again.

Another thing I'd like to add is that focusing so much on unanswered questions, depression, the pain of depression just makes your attention focused on that and only that. So it is best to be active, be productive, keep yourself busy doing things you love because that is also a way of staying in the PRESENT. It's all about staying in the moment and not having the depressive thoughts on your mind.

Great to hear from you Beachlover and thanks for sharing!!

I agree about it bringing present moment awareness and all the benefits that brings. I experience it like a wonderful combination of empowerment plus mindfulness plus a feeling of relief and gratitude all at the same time.

- vital

So I just wanted to say that I joined SNAP club two days ago and the drastic change in my mood for the better is astounding!

Over the past 10 months, I've been hospitalized twice (my first times in the hospital) and my mental illness (whatever it is) has literally taken over my life. I took off work for as much time as I possibly could before being forced to return or lose it. I was out of energy, dragging myself to work everyday knowing deep down that this was just not sustainable. It hurt to breathe - it really did. Trying to get out of bed, trying to take a shower....like being in cement or quicksand. Wondering how in the world did I end up this way where every little thing I do feels too much? I said to myself it's like I'm barely going through the motions. On autopilot. Everyday is the same cruel, painful fate that I have to suffer through. Each minute I have to push past. It's heavy.

And then I tried to google my feelings again. Maybe someone would relate. Or something.... And I found this thread. SNAP club. Hmmmmm.....I'm desperate. I will try ANYTHING at this point. So why not? What have I got to lose? It took a little effort at first, it did I will be honest. The first snap I made was when I decided to go into the coffee shop and buy a hot chocolate. I snapped. And I felt a bit lighter. I smiled. It didn't feel like going through the motions but more like a choice that I was not negative about at least. And I've kept on snapping. For little things like staying in bed, getting up, putting my shoes on, lighting some candles, turning on the radio, changing the channel, cloudwatching even lol walking in the leaves, picking up leaves as I go, etc. etc. And how quickly this has worked is amazing and almost frightening. Will it continue to work? Man, I hope so I've even noticed myself changing my thoughts. I have never been able to get CBT to work for me mainly because my anxiety gets in the way I think. But this snap game seems to work for my thoughts too. I literally snap them away if need be and the relief is immediate.

Only now I'm starting to get a little scared. I have been diagnosed with bipolar in the past (this diagnosis crap is ever changing for me) but if I do have bipolar could the snapping thing trigger me into mania? Is that even possible? I know that antidepressants can trigger mania.....ok, I hope I don't sound completely out there lol

But I can't really find much beyond this forum about the snapping thing and my depressive mind is trying desperately to prove it wrong while I'm in turn fighting the depression because I need hope. Please reassure me that this works long term and won't trigger mania, or if it does, that there's some other trick I can use at that point.

Thank you thank you thank you!

Hi Freewilled,

Wow, I'm so happy to hear how well you're doing!!

I think that sudden drastic improvements like yours sometimes happen because SNAP club really is getting at the true core of depression and if you can get at that directly, the rest of the symptoms sometimes just melt away.

As to whether it will last, I've been doing it for more than a year now myself and it really does keep working, at least for me. As for being worried about mania, remember, you just went from needing hospitalization to feeling great in two days! I think that anyone would feel giddy just from that huge contrast. I remember when I first realized that I didn't have to suffer any more and the incredible relief I felt at that moment. I felt a little giddy too. You may also find that you have lots of extra physical energy. That happened for me. I didn't realize it, but being depressed was a constant, constant physical drain on me, even if I wasn't actively being stressed.

If you're worried about mania, I would just watch out for racing thoughts or anything like that, notice them and just decide (SNAP) to calm down if you want to do that. I don't think that this can be bad for you, it's just re-connecting you with your own true inner power. You haven't felt that in a long time perhaps . SNAPs also bring present moment awareness and being calmly aware can help if you ever feel like you are getting uncomfortable.

As for not finding it elsewhere on the internet, lots of people are downloading the notes, but this is still very new. I'm not a medical professional, but the real professionals at Brigham and Women's hospital (a very prestigious hospital here in Boston) thought this was interesting enough to let me show it to about 15 of their depression patients a few months ago and they have invited me back to do the same for a new group of patients. Doing this with people in person has also given me more confidence that it really works. You can see it in people's reactions even as you explain it. People suddenly realize that this is really it.

- vital

Hi vital,

I just wanted to share that it has now been six days and I feel better than ever. I continue to use the snapping and have a respite, especially when alone. I didn't have that before because my depression had gotten so severe that even when I had the conditions for rest around me, I still felt the severe symptoms of the depression. I had no rest. That was one of the worst parts of it - not being able to escape it anywhere or at anytime. It was ever present . Now I still struggle in social situations but I can see more of the thoughts as they bombard me. These thoughts are almost like they are layered, there are so many at once. I'm hoping over time the snapping will help me overcome the social anxiety aspect of what I'm dealing with.

That's what makes this solution so amazing to me. The stark contrast between right now and six days ago is too much for coincidence.

Anyway, if I can keep checking in here I think that would be good.

Thank you,
Freewilled

Hi Freewilled,

I also found that my social anxiety only faded gradually even after I was essentially free of depression otherwise. I didn't even care much about that because it was such a HUGE relief just not to be constantly suffering. I still remember the moment when I realized that I could free myself from suffering any time I wanted to. What a moment. Like a spell being broken or like unchaining yourself after having noticed that you've been dragging around a boulder with you your whole life.

I'm looking forward to hearing from you anytime you want.

- vital

Wow! This sounds really good and so simple an explanation about what is happening. Even better there is a simple solution to implement! But there are some things I am wondering about. This thread has been here a long time is there are a reason why the depressed members here have not embraced this on mass? And why doesn't the American Psychological Association know about this and implement it? www dot apa dot org/about

Hi mrnobody. Thanks for the kind words. Even assuming that this is correct, these things take time to spread and be understood. I am in touch with several psychologists in the Boston area and we are going to present this to a second round of depression patients at a local hospital next week. From online and in person reactions, I am already pretty convinced that this really is how depression works, at least in many cases. We'll know more soon enough, but in the mean time, it's a safe, easy and fun thing for anyone to try.

SNAP! - vital

now, I don't completely agree with the snapping but I do believe in how changing your mindset is the first step. for me it really helped. yesterday I had my first date with a girl and I thought I would never ever have any connections with girls last year.

Hi vital,

It has now been 12 days since I started snapping and still doing very well This makes me want to tell everyone about it - how can I keep it to myself?? I just took the sanity quiz on this site and scored 62! I ranged from 125-148 a year+ ago. That's amazing to me. And I have no doubt that if I'd taken the quiz over 12 days ago I would've scored just as high. I know it's not necessarily a reliable test but it's interesting to me.

I told my therapist about SNAP club too and she is passing it on to some of her other clients. I also shared this with my mom who has had depression as long as I can remember...

I forgot to mention that I had childhood depression, with my first memory of suicidal ideation from when I was about 10 years old.

Hey Freewilled,

I'm so glad you're doing so well. You have wonderful things to look forward to, I think . Thanks for telling your mom and your therapist. I want to help as many people as possible with this, and that could be a LOT of people. There are already lots of downloads of the notes from all over the world. I made a new set of notes for real-life patients that we are meeting tomorrow at a hospital here in Boston.

http://egg.bu.edu/~youssef/SNAP_CLUB/BA.pdf

I hope you don't mind that I used your original post in the notes.

I was also depressed from the time I was a very young boy.

Not anymore.

SNAP! - vital

Thank you for sharing that with me - I don't mind you using my post at all I hope it helps. I'll keep you updated as time goes on....there really are no words to express how I feel about all of this. But it's nice to check in here and talk to someone who understands. I'm cautiously optimistic that this will continue and so glad to hear it's been working for you for over a year now.

Take care,
Freewilled

Hi everybody,

If the theory behind SNAP CLUB is correct, then you would expect that the part of the brain that's used for decision making would be under-active for people who have depression. So I've been reading about this lately and the best candidate I see is a region of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex has been primarily associated with executive function, intention formation, goal-directed action, abstract reasoning and attentional control. It very much sounds like this area of the brain would be critical and activated when someone is making a decision as in SNAP CLUB.

So guess what? Brain fMRI scans, brain lesion studies and brain stimulation studies all agree: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity is suppressed in depressed people. In fact, when they do TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) or DBS (electric deep brain stimulation), the area that they are trying to stimulate to help depression or PTSD is exactly the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex! This is exactly what you'd expect if the theory behind SNAP CLUB is really right.

- vital

I'm curios if you are healed still holds true today? I don't buy into being able to be cured maybe mask it

It still holds true for me, Thisisme586. It is the most amazing relief. I wish the same for you.

- vital

It would be incredibly easy to test it. Has there been a single study? If not why not?

I don't know of a controlled study, but doing a study like that is a fine idea. What I know at this point comes from showing this to two groups of depression patients at a hospital here in Boston (about 20 patients in total) and from feedback from some people who tried it on PC (there have also been many thousands of downloads of the notes from all over the world).

Besides SNAP CLUB being an effective treatment for depression, the prediction would also be that the set of symptoms on page 15 of the notes is a sharper indicator of depression than the standard set of symptoms. I would also predict that when SNAPping, fMRIs should show that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is activated (the same region targeted by TMS for depression). Practicing SNAP CLUB consistently should show an increased resting activation of the dlPFC and those seeing this effect should get relief from depression. I'm not sure how to quantify it, but the theory also predicts that depression gets worse when things change in your life so that your habitual behaviors no longer work. This would be the explanation for why, for instance, so many people get into trouble when they leave home to go to college or change jobs or cities or careers or partners.

I'm planning on giving a talk to stir up interest here at Boston University, but I'd be happy for anyone to look into this. If you're interested (I notice that you're a medical student in New Zealand), send me a PM.

- vital

Thank you for this one. Simple and doable exercise

vital, your approach intrigues me, and I want to try out your method.

Question - do you verbalize the actions in your head when you snap? For example, do you say to yourself "stand up", "raise toilet seat", etc.? Or you just snap and do it?

Hi Red. I usually do verbalize silently, but sometimes it's just one word like "up" if I decide to stand up or "now" if I just decide to pay attention to what's happening at that moment. I try to really FEEL the moment when I make the decision and SNAP then. If you try this, I think you'll find that a little smile comes to you . I think it's good to actively experiment yourself, and make it your own and to be active and creative about making up tiny silly things to decide. It sounds like a silly game, but it is v e r y powerful.

- vital

Hi Vital,

I found SNAP club and I am very excited to see where it takes me...The thing is, I have only recently acknowledged that I even AM depressed. What has been taking over my life for the past six years (more and more as time went on) is my issues with binge eating. I so badly want to stop, and I was wondering if you believe that SNAP club could help me stop. I understand that you have said it helps you recognize how many decisions we make, but can it help me stop this destructive habit? I'm really hoping so. I'll admit that it feels as if the depression is behind some of the eating, and then that the rest is just habit. But from what you have posted, it sounds as if you think that the habit part of it is also driven by the depression.

I am desperate and ready to try this, but I just can't take another heartbreak when it comes to trying to stop binging. I have put so much effort into changing for good, but it's just so hard to say no to urges when they come up. I have said, "This is really it--I'm done binging" so many times I have lost count. My weight gain, along with the fact that I feel like no matter what I do I will still binge, has me feeling so low all the time. I feel close to freedom, and yet so far away. I feel very trapped in this.

Do you think SNAP club can help, or do you have any advice?

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.