Happiness

[andrewducker]

I know there are a few people on my friends list who are depressed.

They should read this - an article on a set of scientific studies into happiness, and how it works.

amongst the many things they've looked into, they've studied what simple things people can do which increase happiness. It's on page 2 somewhere, but you should take a look at the whole thing.

Comments

[greengolux.livejournal.com]

Candy makes people work better! Fantastic!

[andrewducker]

Hardly shocking - the blood sugar boost will give your brain a kick. The problem is usually an hour or so later when it drops again. Which is why they're banning junk food from schools - blood sugar problems tend to really mess up pupil's concentration.

[dreema.livejournal.com]

so does the moon

[lilitufire.livejournal.com]

That's a very interesting article. I might propogate that on my own list - hope that's OK?

[andrewducker]

Course it is - I don't own The Times :->

[pisica.livejournal.com]

It would be VERY interesting if you did, though!

[aberbotimue.livejournal.com]

That wopuld make me happy.. owning the times, that is!

[channelpenguin.livejournal.com]

Encountered the Seigelmans guy's work AGES back. Agree it's a bit happy-clappy for UK tastes generally.

My personal happiness recipe is no drugs, no booze, decent food, exercise and keep doing stuff. Oh and remember that life isn't FOR anything, so you might as well enjoy it - it's the only one you have!

[aberbotimue.livejournal.com]

I'm no academic, and glaze after a page or so.. but re-read the last stuff.. I have been getting quite ill recently. Most of my time on this worlsd has been in fun spirits, and enjoying my self, and very well...

But there is so much more, there was somone who told me its hireditory (I knmow thats spelt worng) but therfore I inherited depression from mummsy and daddy??

when its events that are pushing me this way, surley they have to go away, before I get better?

I guess I missed the point of the artical.. what do I have to do, to stop feeling shit?

[channelpenguin.livejournal.com]

when its events that are pushing me this way, surley they have to go away, before I get better?

Life will always have events. Some of them will be shit. Yes, maybe there are practical things you need to sort out first, but life is like that you just have to cope with whatever it brings you. When you are cheerful, nothing seems much of an issue and when you are miserable the tiniest thing can seem insurmountably daunting and horrible. Try breaking tasks/problems down into smaller and smaller parts until one or more of them is/are small enough to be do-able. Then do that/those. Keep going.

My advice, from my own experience - just keep doing things, get physically active if you can, eat healthily and *don't dwell on it* - distract yourself. Eventually you will feel a bit better, then you can build on that.

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

I think the genetic thing may be a susceptibility to depression. A researching friend tells me that it's 50% genetic and 100% chemistry. Unfortunately, the conversation didn't get much more elaborate (and I haven't seen him since).

I like the guy's emphasis on the positive: stuff to do to feel better. Cognitive therapy can be very annoying in its tendency to focus on how badly you're carrying on.

[sttatus-quo.livejournal.com]

Wonderful article, thank you for sharing this article. I have a few friends that need to read it as well.

[cx650.livejournal.com]

I saved the article to read later. Does it mention chocolate? I have been reliably informed that chocolate is second only to (good) sex as a serotonin stimulant.
Is this good or bad? I have been told that some people suffer because they have too much serotonin whilst others are the opposite.
I find myself confused by the differing opinions of professionals. As if I'm not confused enough as a symptom of my malaise.

[andrewducker]

Chocolate contains tryptophan, a serotonin precursor. This is usually a good thing for depressed people.

Too much serotonin can lead to heart problems, but I haven't heard of it causing depression.

[darkoshi]

good god. i eat a lot of chocolate. i wonder what i'd be like if i didn't.

[channelpenguin.livejournal.com]

I heard cheese has 4 times as much! Not much one for chocolate, but I love cheese...

[octopoid-horror.livejournal.com]

"Seligman and his graduate students weep tears of joy when they do this exercise, but most Brits would probably rather be miserable than do it. So it's a relief to hear that it doesn't work particularly well. It has strong, but only brief, effects."

By George, some foreign blighter attempting to make the stiff upper lip all wobbly. That's not cricket, what! Poor chap must have been influenced by those d**m Continental bounders with their preposterous beards and outlandish theories (all soon to be exploding by right-thinking sorts, doubtless).

Consign the blackguards to the Fleet and d*v*l take the rest, I say. A real gent doesn't have these "emotion" whatchamacallums.

[kimberly-a.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely check it out!