This concept is broad and varied, depending of the person which defines it, maybe for a soccer fan is to see how his/her team scores a goal, a buddhist monk is meditates for hours, months or maybe years till reach the Nirvana state, for a writer is publish, for a book fan is read; Kids are happy with their family, playing with their toys and the dog; for me happiness is have a cup of coffee in a rainy afternoon and talk with my friends for hours.
In a way, everyone can identify themselves with "Happiness", or so when the feel good; or "Sadness" when they feel with blues. The polarity of this two states of mind are of the most vital importance for the society in general.
Depression ( the opposite of happiness, or when you feel sad for more than two weeks) strikes 27 million of americans each year, the economy looses 83 billion dollars in depression job-related issues. The anti-depressant market has a revenue of 19 billion dollars to the pharmaceutical companies in the same period of time.
Now, research shows that anti-depressants medications might not work as good as thought in the beginning when they were first used, and maybe "The Placebo Effect" ( When the feeling of Hope is induced ) is the main ingredient when treating depress people to get cure, and looks like this effect works.
Happiness.
Look for a definition of happiness in the internet and at least on dozen of different definitions will show, slightly different, but all of this have a common ground " a state of well being" . I will add to this definition of happiness as the result of any activity that brings that state of mind without the involvement of any possible negative feedback, mentally or physically for you or any one else.
But wait, Why does Happiness is really important ?
If you are happy, less stress !!
Stress is the number one factor in heart diseases and strokes ( not the only one, other risks are High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, High Cholesterol), just in 2006; 831,272 lives where claimed in heart disease, the cost related with patient care was 475.3 billion dollars and 68.9 billion dollars in stroke-related cases. The patient care (stroke) cost is 140, 048 dollars per year. ( American Heart Association)
So be happy, it's for you own good.
Happiness = longer life.
Happy people increase 75% the chances to reach the age of 65 ( Seligman ME et al Mayo Clinic Proc. 2000; 75:133-4) as well has a cardio-protective effect ( Kubzansy LD et al, Psychosomatic Medicine: 2004; 61; 1126-1135)
Happiness is contagious.
The brain scans memories when you around people, happy friends bring happy memories, so if you are around happy people most likely you are gonna feel overall better.
Happy people.
- are less likely to suffer a stroke (26% less) than sad people ( Oster GV et al, Psychosomatic Medicine 2001; 63: 210-215)
-will live 7.5 years more than sad people ( Levy B, et al. Journal of Personality and social psychology, 2002; 83: 261-270)
-Have fewer limitation due physical pain.
-Have less pain.
-Feeling more energetic most of the time.
-Feeling more peaceful most of the time.
-Have less problems with work or other daily activities as a result of their emotional state of mind. (Maruta T. et al, Mayo clin Proc 2002; 77: 748-53)
Is happiness mostly genetic?
That is what Forbes magazine suggested in September of 2004, evidence came from from a study conducted by David Lynken in The University of Minnesota, Basically that biology played an important role in happiness, as in obesity and diabetes. Genes control our life and - in that moment- where not able to change direction in the ship of life.
But now, more and more research shows that maybe is not that all written in our future.
Genes, Bacteria, Human Beings and Happiness.
Genes are really important, and looks like in a way they are relates in you happiness. Genes are a part of the DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic Acid) which is gonna express a protein ( Amino-acid polymer ) that has a biological function. Some times critical like Insulin, which is a hormone need it for use sugar as the main energy source for the body, the lack of this protein ( that is no expression of the gene) causes the disease Diabetes. In this case, the patient got to get insulin shots ( depending the severity of the diabetes case) or a change on diet as well helps to balance the body again or cure it ( Type 1 Diabetes is a Immune disease, Diabetes Type 2 has a genetic origin as well, but is easier to treat).
Endocrine system and hormones, is there a stress hormone?
There are many areas of research to understand depression, one of these is the study of the Endocrine System (ES), this works with the brain to control numerous activities within the body, create hormones and release them. Hormones regulate important biological activities that go from feel sexually aroused to fear and excitement.
Depressed people have abnormal levels of hormones but have healthy glands ( hormone factories) one is seem on this studies which is cortisol, people under stress produce way more than those that are relax, as well this hormone is related with weight gain.
Bacteria and fungus show how us how to be happy.
My previous work, as a Biochemical Engineer, was enzymatic production (sorta bacteria and fungus hormones), most of these enzymes have a research value, like cleaning of oil spills, biodegradable cleaning substance, non-toxic bleach alternatives, bioremediation of toxic compounds, drug synthesis and many more). In order to get those enzymes, you got to take the bacteria or microorganism to work, you got to find which environment is the best to make them happy. Think like an office building, you can put all the necessary elements in order to make the employees to work, but if there is not air conditioned, people will get angry ( actually this is true) and the goal won't be reach. Well same thing happens with microorganisms, the researcher got to find the best parameters ( temperature, carbon source, best growth medium, oxygen consumption, and so on) to make them happy and work, so they can get the enzymes hey want for.
In other words: environmental factors do affect the genetic expression of a number of enzymes ( as well hormones), it every single life form ( all we share DNA) this is a very basic model to understand this principle.
Antidepressants.
Todays approach to heal depression is with antidepressant medication and psychotherapy. Drug companies claim that 80 % of depress patients are treated successfully with these antidepressants.
The clinical definition of depression is " a chemical brain imbalance" ( avoiding go into details) antidepressants tend to recover that balance, but there are some issues related with this clinical depression model.
-Antidepressant drugs are very different in their chemical nature, and way of acting. While one drug may balance one chemical component of the brain this action an inhibit another chemical need it for a balanced brain activity
- The current model to explain this brain chemistry imbalance that generates depression CANNOT BE DEMONSTRATED.
Some investigators and researchers like Irving Kirsch in the "The Emperors New Drugs: exploding the antidepressant myth" are showing that antidepressant has no therapeutic value in depression treatment and the possible explanation on why antidepressants work is the placebo effect.
The Placebo Effect.
Placebo is a latin word that means: I shall please, In order to any drug to be available in the market, there are conditions that must meet. One of those is, kinda obvious, but the active ingredient - the chemical compound that will cure you- must work. And the side effects of this not to be worst that the disease itself.
How do you define if the drug works?
There has to be the creation of a clinical trial, with a number of people that currently has been diagnosed with the disease that you are trying to treat. To evaluate the drug efficacy, the participants are gonna be divided in two, one of them will get the a pill with the active drug ( the medication that your are evaluating) and the other group will get only a "sugar pill" -pill with no active drug, none of none of both groups won't know what are the receiving.
Then after the treatment period, you got to evaluate the results, to know if the medication to treat the depression works. Some very interesting results are always show.
Understanding Placebo.
Analyzing the data of clinical trials, the result where all close to same conclusion: PEOPLE GET CURED EVEN IF THEY ONLY GET THE "SUGAR PILL".
How is this possible? This a baffling idea; why people get out of depression even if they don't get the right medicine. Some theories are pointing that just the feeling that somebody is taking care of you - doctors, nurses- and receiving "the real medicine" induce a Sense of Hope that helps to recover from the affection.
This "Sense of Hope" is a huge thing, because 25% to 51% of the people that receive "the sugar pill" are cured, in other words, The Place Effect works.
The recipe of Happiness.
Writing about Depression and Happiness are issues related with myself, I was diagnosed with Depression when I was 19 years old, having suicidal thoughts at such age was quite an scary scenery. In that moment, my physician prescribed me Sertraline -an antidepressant drug- and it worked great for me. I was kinda reclusive guy, but then I found friends, they were the best therapy for me, I stop taking the medication, I enjoy that stage in my life.
There is not substitute for life, and I remember well a episode in South Park TV show when Butters, a character in the show, was asked about how life is for him ( after having a very bad day) his answer was: "it's a Joyful Sadness".
Sadly, there is not recipe for happiness, there are gonna be sad moments, hard times and plenty of good times to enjoy, if you think you are depress, don't hesitate and ask for help, talk with your family, with your friends, talk with your health provider, and ( if need it) go to therapy; it does not mean that you are crazy, no yet.
Watch a funny movie, exercise, go out, hang out with your friends, smile a lot, Kat Williams and dave Chapelle are funny as heck and watch them most likely is gonna help.
Happy thoughts, Happy thoughts ...........
Disclaimer :
The information posted in this article is not a substitute for any professional advice of any Health Care Provider. The author disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from it's use, or misuse or other information here presented.
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