Positivity Is Contagious Too!

by therapyinsdcom | Jul 28, 2013 | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Depression

I previously discussed how the company you keep  can dictate your mood and can cause feelings of depression. Your next question might be: if this holds true when you are around positive people too?

The answer is yes!

Have you ever noticed how a movie with a smiling, joking comedian will bring about great laughter and happy thoughts, and an afternoon spent playing with a joyful child will make you want to laugh and play too? This concept, known in the scientific world as positive synchronicity, is related to wiring in your brain and mirror neurons inside your body that cause you to mimic other people’s behaviors. It is the reason why spending time with positive people can be so important. This holds equally true in the workplace, your home environment and any social settings.

In addition to seeking the company of positive people, it is vital that you remain positive, because your emotions are contagious too. Keep this in mind the next time you are trying to have a positive influence on someone who might be feeling a little down. While your words are powerful tools, your actions speak even louder, and just a smile can make a difference in how someone around you acts, responds and feels. There is always value in a hearty laugh, friendly smile or positive action.

Try living this way, and you just might cause a chain reaction of positivity that reaches further than you ever dreamed possible!

You Can ‘Catch’ Depression

by therapyinsdcom | May 8, 2013 | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Depression

Do you find the company you keep dictates your mood? Have you have spent time around an unhappy individual only to find yourself feeling down? What if I told you spending time with someone who is blue can affect more than just your mood? If that person is facing depression, you risk experiencing depression too.

A recent study involving freshmen, conducted by Notre Dame University, showed that roommates paired with individuals who had negative thinking styles, meaning they constantly focused on everything bad in their lives, often began to display these thinking styles themselves. So, while diagnosed depression did not appear contagious, negative thinking was, and it caused the healthier individual to later display more than double the number of depressive symptoms versus individuals paired with positive roommates.

So, how do you stop this problem before it begins?

First, spend time away from the depressed individual. Enjoy healthy company, participate in favorite activities, have some fun and always prioritize taking care of yourself.

Next, seek professional counseling. With the assistance of a therapist, explore your feelings and vent frustrations. This leads to healing.

Eventually, you might convince that important person in your life to seek counseling too, helping their healing to begin.