Jennie&Tim on 14/3/2008 at 05:12
I'm not currently depressed, don't worry. I just think about it because it's affected me in the past.
A few weeks ago I had about double my normal amount of tea with breakfast, and I noticed that not only was my energy level buzzed up, but that I felt much more cheerful and happy than I usually do. And I had a thought, a rather vague thought that I haven't really articulated well, so I'm sorting it out here. My thought was: everyone says that depression leads to low energy levels; but what if it's low energy levels that lead to depression? What would happen if research was focussed not on improving people's moods, but on allowing their bodies to work properly to use the energy available at a biochemical level? Maybeperhaps SSRI's and the other antidepressants also work on our energy metabolism, and ifso, how would we figure it out?
If good energy levels lead to feeling happy, then it makes sense that exercise would be effective as an anti-depressant, which it is.
If good energy levels lead to feeling happy, then perhaps drugs like caffiene which stimulate our systems make us feel happy, while drugs that slow us down (tranqs? narcotics? alcohol?) would make us feel sad. Yet adrenaline tends to make people shaky, not happy (at least when scary things have happened to me that's how I feel, and I, of course, am everywoman).
Perhaps someone else has had this thought, and knows more than I do. The only related thing I found quickly was this:
(
http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/oct2007/depression_energy.html)
How about you? Does caffiene make you cheery? When you feel energetic, are you happier, or if you feel happy do you feel energetic? I definitely find that if I have energy and use it wisely, then I'm happier; while if something happens which should make me feel happy, I'm not necessarily more energetic.
jtr7 on 14/3/2008 at 05:27
Sure! Low energy makes it harder to do nearly everything, which creates stress, both of which lead to looking for ways to elevate mood and eleviate stress. Ingesting caffeine creates a band-aid fix, but does nothing to help the underlying issues. And even though you may have no trouble falling asleep, you'll never sleep deep enough or long enough. Although it doesn't account for all the problems, it's often the case that our mood is depressed because our nervous system function is depressed. On top of that, when we aren't functioning at an optimum level, it can have a negative impact on many areas of our lives, especially those myriad things we may be ignoring. This leads to a backlash and we aren't happy for those things that aren't going well.
Usually, a major change is necessary. Permanent diet changes and an acceptance of those changes is critical. People like to say a bad attitude is the cause of the grief, but no one addresses the real problems that cause the bad attitude.
Scots Taffer on 14/3/2008 at 06:06
ಠ_ಠ
Thirith on 14/3/2008 at 08:38
Very much OT, but I love that emoticon, Scots. What are the two characters that make up the eyes?
And I'd second what jtr7 said. Energy levels and emotional wellbeing are interconnected and it goes both ways. If you're prone to depression, caffeine may help in the short term, but in the long run it's counterproductive and will make you more depressed.
Koki on 14/3/2008 at 09:02
You're not one of these feng-shui crazies are you?
Thirith on 14/3/2008 at 09:14
Me? Not really, or in fact, not at all.
:confused:
Spaztick on 14/3/2008 at 09:56
It doesn't hurt to have a clean house. If anything a messy house isn't helping you stay cheerful.
AR Master on 14/3/2008 at 12:17
Here's something you will never hear:
"I just went to the gym and had a good workout and helped someone and then had a hot bath. I'm so depressed"
Scots Taffer on 14/3/2008 at 12:47
Here's something you may hear:
"What did you do last night?"
"Worked out."
"Dude, you always work out. What else do you do?"
"...I sometimes masturbate... and cry. Oh God, I'm so depressed."
AR Master on 14/3/2008 at 13:08
"Well, dude, if it's that bad..."
"(sniff) What?"
"You know, you could always try... masturbating me"
"Oh, God I've been so patient."
"Aw fuck yeah. No no, keep crying."
