Depression - Could it Just Be an Inability to Remain Happy?
Depression is a medical condition and is not simply being unhappy.
Most people with depression never seek treatment, even though treatment helps most people.
Symptoms vary, but often include being irritably all the time for no reason, having no energy or desire to do anything, inability to concentrate, loss of appetite, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, and extreme despair.
Occasional sadness is part of ordinary life but depression can leave you feeling empty and hopeless and sometimes that life itself is not worth living.
Results of a recent study published in the "Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences" found that many people with major depression are able to be happy, but are unable to hold on to the feeling of happiness.
The study compared 27 depressed adults with 19 similar yet not depressed adults.
The adults were shown positive images while under brain imaging.
Both groups had a region of the brain associated with positive emotions active, however it quickly became inactive in the depressed adults.
The study was published in December or 2009 and is available online.
So as odd as it may sound, depressed people may experience happiness the same as others, yet simply be unable to hold on to that happy feeling.
They are able to feel good, but simply cannot hold onto that feeling.
Of course just one study doesn't necessarily prove anything, and sometimes newer studies conflict with older studies, but the results are certainly surprising and interesting, especially if you, friends, or loved ones sometimes suffer from depression.
Most people with depression never seek treatment, even though treatment helps most people.
Symptoms vary, but often include being irritably all the time for no reason, having no energy or desire to do anything, inability to concentrate, loss of appetite, inability to sleep or sleeping too much, and extreme despair.
Occasional sadness is part of ordinary life but depression can leave you feeling empty and hopeless and sometimes that life itself is not worth living.
Results of a recent study published in the "Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences" found that many people with major depression are able to be happy, but are unable to hold on to the feeling of happiness.
The study compared 27 depressed adults with 19 similar yet not depressed adults.
The adults were shown positive images while under brain imaging.
Both groups had a region of the brain associated with positive emotions active, however it quickly became inactive in the depressed adults.
The study was published in December or 2009 and is available online.
So as odd as it may sound, depressed people may experience happiness the same as others, yet simply be unable to hold on to that happy feeling.
They are able to feel good, but simply cannot hold onto that feeling.
Of course just one study doesn't necessarily prove anything, and sometimes newer studies conflict with older studies, but the results are certainly surprising and interesting, especially if you, friends, or loved ones sometimes suffer from depression.
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