Sunday, June 10, 2012

Depression As Genetic and Evolutionary Beneficial

psychology studies

If someone were to ask me about depression, or why it even exists in our society, I would have to state that it is probably has to do with human nature, and in that regard there must be some sort of genetic component, or reason why it came into existence. After all, I highly doubt that people wish to be depressed, or that depressed folks would have had the advantage of survival of the fittest to produce offspring, if feeling bad about yourself was the only reason for it. Okay so, let's talk about this for a moment because apparently there is scientific evidence now which would confirm such thinking.

There was an interesting article on the subject of depression in "Medical News Today" entitled; " Depression: Evolutionary Byproduct Of The Ability To Fight Infection?" The piece describes research done by Emory University and others (a video is available on YouTube). Specifically, these researchers have semi-concluded that inflammation is a key component in depression. They have lots of evidence for this, and it is an interesting finding, although it isn't completely proven as of yet.

Even though, I am one with a perpetual happy attitude, I've always been intrigued by the challenges that folks who are depressed face each and every day. I've noted that people who live in climates without much sunshine have a tendency to be more depressed than others and the suicide rates are higher too.

In my studies, I noted that raising the brain temperature 1-degree seems to cure feelings of depression. This would also correlate to the findings here, elevated temperatures, slightly help in reducing inflammation in the human bio-system, is that correct?

Now that we know this information how can we use it to our vantage? Okay so, how do we induce simulated inflammation to create stress in athletes and war fighters to have them kick-butt on the enemy? And also shouldn't we also then be treating criminals with anti-imflammatories to change behavior? And if we give anti-inflammatories to depressed artists, will we lose the creative side of their manic episodes, thus, losing their creative talents, or can we rather cause a new change in the person, creating a hypomanic superstar of humanity, many thoughts, intriguing.

If you are someone who suffers from depression, and you have noted when you are depressed, and those periods which you were not, I'd sure like to have you send me an e-mail so we can talk about it, and see if your episodes of depression could be explained away by these researchers findings. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Self Help Concepts. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/


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