12 Things Happy People Do Differently

[indysteel]

I was nodding my head at everything until the last one, #12. I think it's very dangerous to suggest that people who are clinically depressed can just exercise and *poof* they're cured! The people I've known who are clinically depressed could barely function, much less find it in themselves to exercise. I think exercise is AWESOME to pull most of us out of minor, temporary funks and to keep them at bay...but for people who are suffering with serious chemical imbalances in their brains it's pretty insulting to go all Pollyanna on them and suggest that all they need to do is run a few miles or take a bike ride to be cured and feel right with the world and themselves. I get pretty irritated with those who perpetuate myths and misunderstanding about mental disfunction like that. I've had close friends and family really destroyed by clinical depression. I've seen friends deal with suicide of a child or other loved-one when that individual battled severe depression.

I agree. Exercise has helped me, but only after I laid some serious groundwork in therapy. But, at worst, I had mild to moderate depression.

I do wish docs would do a better job of urging their clients on drug therapies to also get conventional talk therapy, too. It's not that I have anything against the anti-depressants per se, but the success rate of talk therapy can be just as high and with far fewer side effects.

[zoom-zoom]

Yup...I think every human disorder is treated better with multiple therapies, rather than just one. I have asthma. I am on 2x/daily inhaled steroids, but I also am careful to keep my allergies under control and exercise, as these all work together to keep my lungs strong and minimize my asthmatic flare-ups (my mom doesn't exercise at all and her asthma issues are relatively worse, even on higher doses of the same med that I'm on). People with certain types of arthritis usually do far better at controlling their symptoms with medication and appropriate exercise than with medication or exercise alone.

[GLC1968]

I'm super lucky in that I don't have depression myself or any history of it in my family. I consider myself a happy person and I do agree with that list for the most part. I find that I do most of it pretty regularly as part of who I am, actually.

I do have problems with comparing myself to others (mostly because I'm highly competitive), so that is something I've struggled with quite a bit over the years.

The funny thing is, I would say that I compare myself to others a lot less now precisely because I AM happy. I have a life that I have chosen for all it's craziness and even if it's not as prestigious, or travel-filled, or designer-label-covered, as some of my friends from college and high school, it's MY life and I'm glad that I have it. It's kind of self-fulfilling. Compare less so you can be happy or be happy and therefore compare less?

I think the same thing is true for exercise. Exercise more to feel better or feel better and therefore exercise more?

[zoom-zoom]

The funny thing is, I would say that I compare myself to others a lot less now precisely because I AM happy. I have a life that I have chosen for all it's craziness and even if it's not as prestigious, or travel-filled, or designer-label-covered, as some of my friends from college and high school, it's MY life and I'm glad that I have it. It's kind of self-fulfilling. Compare less so you can be happy or be happy and therefore compare less?

I think the same thing is true for exercise. Exercise more to feel better or feel better and therefore exercise more?

This.

[indysteel]

The funny thing is, I would say that I compare myself to others a lot less now precisely because I AM happy. I have a life that I have chosen for all it's craziness and even if it's not as prestigious, or travel-filled, or designer-label-covered, as some of my friends from college and high school, it's MY life and I'm glad that I have it.

I'm glad you have your life, too. It sure makes for a far more interesting blog than one about shoppin' in the 'burb!

[Crankin]

I hope no one thought I was implying that the list was a "cure" for depression. Frankly, everyone is different, so while one thing may help one person, it won't do anything for another. The 12 things are guides for good living, no matter what. Some of my clients absolutely love the holistic coping strategies I use, like controlled breathing and meditation, and others only want to talk and try medication. It is a very personal thing.
As far as the exercise goes, for people with mild levels of depression, it can work as well medication; this is well documented. However, when you get to a moderate depressive episode, other things need to be addressed first, and exercise can be used as an adjunctive treatment.
I chuckled at your comments, Zoom-Zoom. A big part of my current job entails convincing parents that ADHD is real. While it seems like common sense to us, to others, not so much.
When I was struggling with anxiety, I found that mild exercise helped me a lot. I did a lot of walking and yoga for about 3 months. My anxiety was worse when I was cycling, because I was upset that I couldn't ride at the level I was used to, because of illness. If I hadn't been able to go out and walk, I would have been a lot worse. It was very hard for me to let go of the need to continually get faster during that time; thankfully, it was fall, so I just let it go, and let my mind and body rest.

[indysteel]

I didn't interpret your post in that way, Crankin. I read Zoom's criticism as being directed at number 12 of the blog post and its suggestion that exercise cures depression.

[zoom-zoom]

Yeah, I certainly didn't think you were insinuating that the list was a cure, either. I think at least 90% of that list is spot on, too.

[OakLeaf]

Yeah, no, I didn't read your post that way either, Crankin. Although I would tend to classify "pessimism" as a symptom (aka hopelessness, in DSM terms), not a cause.

[Susan]

I'm glad you have your life, too. It sure makes for a far more interesting blog than one about shoppin' in the 'burb!

Now, I would like to have a link to GLC's blog

[GLC1968]

Now, I would like to have a link to GLC's blog

I'll put it back in my signature. I haven't updated the blog since the summer, but I hope to eventually have time to do more. There is still quite a bit of history to read on there though!

[indysteel]

I'll put it back in my signature. I haven't updated the blog since the summer, but I hope to eventually have time to do more. There is still quite a bit of history to read on there though!

Plus, there are cute baby goats!!!!

[Selkie]

GLC's blog is one of my favorites (although I haven't read it in awhile since I no longer have internet access at work. LOL). Her post about delivering Oreo and his brother was memorable. Impressive, too. GLC is one of my TE heroines.

I don't see the point of having regrets, but I try to learn from experiences. You can't go back and change things, so why bother torturing yourself with what might have been? It's better to focus on being a more tolerant, understanding, and kinder person, and not repeating unfortunate or ill-chosen actions/decisions.

[GLC1968]

Now, I would like to have a link to GLC's blog

Hmmm, it doesn't seem to be working! OK, here is just a link for now:
http://simplemetamorphosis.blogspot.com/

[Irulan]

I agree. Exercise has helped me, but only after I laid some serious groundwork in therapy. But, at worst, I had mild to moderate depression.

I do wish docs would do a better job of urging their clients on drug therapies to also get conventional talk therapy, too. It's not that I have anything against the anti-depressants per se, but the success rate of talk therapy can be just as high and with far fewer side effects.

The flip side of this is that some folks just have biochemical imbalances... and when you have gone as far as you can in terms of healing through therapy, used self management strategies such as mindfulness and exercise, that there are things that only medication will fix. This is my situation and it took me a long time to accept it.