Posted by CarolAnn on June 12, 2000, at 19:05:52
In reply to Re: question about dopamine, posted by Johnturner77 on June 12, 2000, at 14:24:53
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>> I suspect what CarolAnn really was asking was; is there a natural substance, that when taken over time, awakens the ability of the brain to experience pleasure and enhances the drive for reward?>>BINGO! Johnturner77!
The whole question begins with the cliche, which many depressives are told,"when you are depressed, do something that makes you feel good". As most of us know, when we are depressed, there just ain't anything that we can physically do that feels good. First of all the fatigue and or anhedonia make it impossible to do anything at all, even if our common sense knows that it would improve our mood. Second, when a person is depressed, nothing that anyone suggests is going to seem worth the trouble!
I get so angry when people say things to me like,"Take a long leisurely bubble bath, go for a walk in the woods, buy yourself a beautiful bouquet of flowers, do something that gives you pleasure, ect., ect.," HELLLOOOO!! I'm depressed, nothing gives me pleasure, in fact, I don't even think that I have the capability to feel pleasure. And I certainly don't have the energy to try and figure out what would give me pleasure, much less, actually go out and do it!
Sorry to rant, but I know that most of you know exactly what I am talking about. CarolAnn
poster:CarolAnn
thread:36828
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000610/msgs/37082.html