I was embarrassed!

Patients who had just been released from the hospital’s psychiatric unit caught me red-handed.   I was leading a group therapy session about how important it is to focus on the positive – what you want instead of what you do not want. I went on and on explaining that when we think negatively the neo-cortex part of our brains triggers neuro-chemical emotions which correspond to those thoughts.

Not happy

I smoothly seque-wayed into explaining what the many symptoms of depression are. The patients had been listening,  and stopped me and not so diplomatically pointed out I was focusing on the negative. Lesson learned!  MY lesson learned.

The group decided that instead of learning symptoms of depression, they would create a list of  symptoms of happiness.  

 Here’s their list:

Symptoms of Happiness

1. Feeling good (or at least “decent”) most of the day, for two weeks or more.
2. Eating an appropriate amount of food with good appetite.
3. Sleeping well and awakening refreshed.
4. Taking pleasure in most everyday activities and enjoying fun activities.
5. Having a good energy level most of the day, every day, for two weeks or more.
6. Having thoughts of fun or of good times to come.
7. Being able to concentrate on the activity on hand.
8. Feeling that one’s life matters.
9. Able to exercise three times a week for half an hour, or more.
10. Socialize in person or on the phone with 5 to 7 people each week. ( texting counts too)
11. Laugh or at least smile every day.

12. 

    Happy is as Happy Thinks

How many happiness “symptoms” do you have?

(even one is a start).

PA

Linda commented (below): Feeling grateful, enjoying nature, feeling loved, able to say “life is wonderful”.

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