Restoring Happiness in People with Depression

[Phil]

http://newsroom.ucr.edu/2691

 

Came across this while searching antidepressants. It says basically how AD's don't help many and how people neglect obvious ways of increasing happiness.

 

Although the paper found that positive activity interventions are effective in teaching individuals ways to increase their positive thinking, positive affect and positive behaviors, only two studies specifically tested these activities in individuals with mild depression.

 

In one of these studies, lasting improvements were found for six months. Effective PAIs used in the study included writing letters of gratitude, counting one’s blessings, practicing optimism, performing acts of kindness, meditating on positive feelings toward others, and using one’s signature strengths, all of which can be easily implemented into a daily routine at low cost.

 

People often underestimate the long-term impact of practicing brief, positive activities, Lyubomirsky said. For example, if a person gets 15 minutes of positive emotions from counting her blessings, she may muster the energy to attend the art class she’d long considered attending, and, while in class, might meet a friend who becomes a companion and confidant for years to come. In this way, even momentary positive feelings can build long-term social, psychological, intellectual, and physical skills and reserves.

[compsports]

http://newsroom.ucr.edu/2691

 

Came across this while searching antidepressants. It says basically how AD's don't help many and how people neglect obvious ways of increasing happiness.

 

Although the paper found that positive activity interventions are effective in teaching individuals ways to increase their positive thinking, positive affect and positive behaviors, only two studies specifically tested these activities in individuals with mild depression.

 

In one of these studies, lasting improvements were found for six months. Effective PAIs used in the study included writing letters of gratitude, counting one’s blessings, practicing optimism, performing acts of kindness, meditating on positive feelings toward others, and using one’s signature strengths, all of which can be easily implemented into a daily routine at low cost.

 

People often underestimate the long-term impact of practicing brief, positive activities, Lyubomirsky said. For example, if a person gets 15 minutes of positive emotions from counting her blessings, she may muster the energy to attend the art class she’d long considered attending, and, while in class, might meet a friend who becomes a companion and confidant for years to come. In this way, even momentary positive feelings can build long-term social, psychological, intellectual, and physical skills and reserves.

What about letting people simply vent about their frustrations and say that life sucks?

 

For some reason, society seems to be threatened by negative thinking and I don't understand that. Interestingly, when I allowed myself to be negative as heck in my journal this morning, my problem solving ability increased.

 

Yeah, I know I am lucky in many ways but when I am feeling like depressed as heck for very good reasons, somehow that strategy falls short.

 

Sorry Phil, this isn't a rant against you. I am feeling cranky due to lack of sleep.

 

CS

[Phil]

No worries CS, I agree with you, acknowledging the negatives can be helpful. I don't believe in false positive thinking (which can become a pressure).

I think it's good to balance it with focusing on things we already enjoy though. Sometimes I ask myself, what do I really want to do, that would bring me a little happiness? It can be something as simple as going for coffee, or looking at a magazine.

[compsports]

No worries CS, I agree with you, acknowledging the negatives can be helpful. I don't believe in false positive thinking (which can become a pressure).

I think it's good to balance it with focusing on things we already enjoy though. Sometimes I ask myself, what do I really want to do, that would bring me a little happiness? It can be something as simple as going for coffee, or looking at a magazine.

 

Great point Phil and that is something I need to do more of.

 

For some reason, I find that very hard to do so I have to try to focus more on this.

 

Thanks for the reminder.

 

CS

[Baxter]

I did a three blessings exercise for about a year. I had a little notebook and wrote about three good things that happened during the night - why they were good. I did it right before I turned out the light.

I started right after I quit benzos and beta blocker which I took on top of ADs to keep my anxiety at bay.

 

I think it really changed something in my world view - permanently. Not a big change, but I think I look at my life and notice the nice things along the way more often. I am still a nervous, potentially sad person, but maybe I enjoy life a little more.

[Baxter]

I also rant at will! Don't even get me started on the US gov't and the debt ceiling.

[Altostrata]

"Practicing positive activities may serve as an effective, low-cost treatment for people suffering from depression, according to researchers at the University of California, Riverside and Duke University Medical Center."

 

This seems so obvious -- and something we forget to do, feeling pressured by our own expectations and the expectations of others.

 

Focus on small satisfactions and be as constructive as your condition allows -- this seems like real wisdom to me. Plus, it's being in the now instead of regretting the past or worrying about the future.