| Happiness is a chemical imbalance? Sounds crazy, | | | | Worry thoughts, for instance, may make you feel |
| huh? Well, it is; and it isn't. You see, the medical | | | | funny in your abdomen, while fear thoughts may |
| community has been telling us for years that | | | | make your body shake, your knees weak, and your |
| depression is caused by a chemical imbalance; yet, | | | | bladder release. Different kinds of thoughts produce |
| for all their chemicals, they haven't been able to | | | | different electrical and chemical signals in your brain, |
| balance the scales. The plain and simple truth is that, | | | | nervous system, endocrine system, and body; happy |
| if depression did start with chemistry, then chemistry | | | | thoughts release chemicals that are generally |
| would correct it in every case; and it doesn't. In fact, | | | | beneficial to you and make you feel good, while |
| placebos are as effective as any anti-depression drug | | | | negative thoughts produce feelings and functions we |
| on the market; which simply means that the medical | | | | associate with depression. Too many negative |
| community has NO CLUE about the true nature of | | | | thoughts amount to too many stress hormones, or |
| depression - but they're willing to experiment with | | | | an Imbalance of what Candace Pert calls, "The |
| drugs that are only lethal some of the time. So, | | | | Molecules of Emotion." |
| what's the difference between happiness and | | | | If being below the line of balance is considered an |
| depression? | | | | "imbalance," then being above that same standard is |
| You'd think that, if they found a cure for depression, | | | | an "imbalance," too - just in the other direction. We |
| it would be a recipe for happiness, as well. In fact, | | | | don't consider happiness to be an "imbalance" simply |
| anti-depressants are often called, "Happy Pills." But | | | | because it seems to be a desirable condition; but |
| that's not happiness; people on anti-depressants look, | | | | happiness is a much more uncommon condition these |
| act, sound, and feel like people on anti-depressants - | | | | days than unhappiness. What can you do to cause an |
| not like happy people. A person taking medicine for | | | | imbalance on the "up-hill" side of stability? Well, you |
| depression doesn't look like anything other than a | | | | can start by thinking more positive, happy thoughts |
| depressed person on drugs. We need to start | | | | than you do negative thoughts. If you are |
| thinking about depression with a little more basic logic | | | | depressed, this will take some conscious effort |
| and common sense - which, as it turns out, is not so | | | | because you have obviously developed a chronic |
| common. Remember, placebos work extremely well | | | | habit of thinking negatively and you probably don't |
| with depression; and it is the mind that makes a | | | | have a tremendous archive of happy memories, or |
| placebo work. The mind can cure depression; | | | | points of reference, from which to draw and create |
| because the mind causes it. | | | | new emotional states. |
| Let's start with basics. You've seen depressed people | | | | You can tell yourself you are the victim of chemistry; |
| (maybe in the mirror!); and, you've seen elated | | | | but that chemistry comes from somewhere - and it |
| people. But you've also seen people who seem very | | | | has a reason for being. When medicine came up with |
| calm and centered - taking everything in with as little | | | | the idea of "chemical imbalances," they were simply |
| judgment as possible - like a Buddhist monk, or a | | | | observing "what is," and stating the obvious; but they |
| peaceful baby, for example. There is a place that is | | | | didn't fully understand the link between your psyche |
| neither "happy," nor "sad;" this is a state of peace | | | | and body chemistry. Now they do. But, there is now |
| and contentment - which, though not excited elation, | | | | a huge market based on the "old way" of thinking; |
| it isn't sadness, either. A person with this degree of | | | | the pharmaceutical companies aren't going to simply |
| emotional self-management - able to maintain an | | | | fold-up a "lemonade stand" that makes them millions |
| emotional calm, centered state - sits comfortably on | | | | of dollars per day. You are going to have to think |
| the line between elation and depression. This person's | | | | about this one yourself. |
| head and heart are above that line; while their feet | | | | If you want to find freedom from chemical |
| remain firmly grounded in reality. These people know | | | | dependency, and unhappiness, you need to think |
| there are troubles in the world; but they choose | | | | happy thoughts until you "tip the scales" in your favor |
| other thoughts for themselves and don't worry | | | | by using your thoughts to create more of the good |
| about things they cannot positively influence. This is | | | | chemistry than the bad. Happiness is indeed a |
| completely a matter of emotional self-management | | | | chemical imbalance; and, it is easier to create a state |
| through the use of the mind. | | | | of "imbalance" than you might think - if you simply |
| Drugs don't work the same for everyone; but | | | | quit thinking, saying, and doing the things you always |
| everyone has equal access to the mind. The | | | | have. That might not sound so easy; but, if you are |
| uncomfortable feelings one gets when depressed are | | | | unhappy, simply start keeping a journal of your daily |
| indeed the result of chemicals in the body - chemicals | | | | thoughts and actions, and you will soon have a list of |
| released in response to certain kinds of thoughts. | | | | exactly what not to do. |