Determined to be Depressed?
By ‘determined’ I don’t mean single-minded in your resolution to paint it black. I mean genetically determined. That’s the news anyway. Scientists have found a link between your genes and your ability to produce a brain molecule called neuropeptide Y (NPY) whose function it is to
restore calm after stressful events. Can I have a shot, please?
The link between a heightened level of NPY and resilience to depression has been studied before, at least as it applies to combat exposed veterans. Word has been out for a while describing how this brain chemical makes some soldiers stress free under fire. And if them, why not the rest of us mortals too?
Anyway, this news is based on research done by a team at the University of Michigan. Which mightn’t interest you too much. Until you learn that they have a Depression Centre which is doing some really great work. While flicking around their website I came across some goodies I’d like to share with you.
There is a good, short article on managing depression by positive self-talk. Other aspects of the ‘depression tool-kit’ provided include advice on diet, exercise and goal-setting.
Another point that struck me was the link between junk food and depression. This in a week where the news was that junk food lowers IQ in children. If you are what you eat, and you eat junk food, then…
For those who would rather watch a vid than read an article, there is an excellent short series of videos on managing depression.
For primary care workers, there is a selection of treatment guidelines designed to increase your knowledge.
And for those, like me, with a special interest in the mental health of men, there’s a good article on men and depression, as well as a link to a relevant section in the site of the National Institute of Mental Health.
So maybe depression is in your genes. But it doesn’t always have to be in your life!
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Its great to see someone talking about this Allen.
There is a direct link between mind and body. Sometimes making a small physiological shift can make a huge psychological shift.
The moral of the story: Exercise!!
Ryan Renfrew @LifestyleDesign recently posted..The Lessons Of Being Human
Totally agree Ryan. Although for many years I didn’t. I thought that ‘body’ was in one circle and ‘mind’ was in another and never the twain did meet. Now I think of them as different ways of looking at the same thing, or complementing aspects of the one system.
Moral: if you want to fight depression, go for walks, cut the junk food, and ditch the TV. These are the big three for me.
I am almost always the contrarian. There is no way for anyone to determine whether physical changes are created by depression or depression causes the changes. It is similar to the nature vs. nurture debate that will go on indefinitely because what APPEARS to be genetic is highly likely to be “inherited” toxic loads which are high because of where we live and passed on to our children. There is excellent information on that on the ewg.org site.
Being self-focused leads to depression. Change your focus to serving others and depression lifts. When you are focused on important issues like making sure someone is not out in the cold without shelter or going hungry, there is less inclination to focus on negative but minor things like what you own or how imperfect we all are. As someone once said, we “stop majoring in the minors” when confronted with life-changing events.
Anyone wise enough to understand the big picture should be depressed in this insane world – until they know the inner peace that comes from only one source.
Gail Gardner recently posted..Why the Economy is In Decline and What We Can Do to Improve It
Hi Gail, good to meet another contrarian. I agree that the research is inconclusive and partial, hence the question mark of the title. I do believe however that: (1) genes play some element in forming a propensity towards depressive behaviour; and (2) there is non-spectacular but powerful stuff we can do to combat depressive tendencies in ourselves. I tried to highlight some of these in the second part of the article.
Does self-focus necessarily lead to depression? Hey, extrovert types can become depressed too. Sometimes it’s good to focus on yourself in the sense of investigating your own attitudes, goals, lifestyle and habits. No doubt excessive self-absorption is unhealthy…unless you are a philosopher.
Purely MHO here Gail – social action can lead to depression just as much as making bucks if you have the propensity for it. “All that hunger, all that pain, is there no end to it?” And speaking of ‘propensity’ takes us right back to the start. Those pesky genes!
Having and working on personal goals is one of the best ways to conquer depression.
Defintely Harry. Goals give your life a forward-looking focus, take you out of your own head, give you something to actually do, and provide a sense of control. All these factors fight powerfully against depression. Thanks