In the News (from Notre Dame News): “According to a new study from the University of Notre Dame, a particular style of thinking that makes people vulnerable to depression actually can be ‘contagious’ to others and increase their symptoms of depression six months later. …

“’Our findings suggest that it may be possible to use an individual’s social environment as part of the intervention process, either as a supplement to existing cognitive interventions or possibly as a stand-alone intervention,’ according to Notre Dame Psychology Professor Gerald Haeffel.

“’Our study demonstrates that cognitive vulnerability has the potential to wax and wane over time depending on the social context, which means that cognitive vulnerability should be thought of as plastic rather than immutable.’”

My Comment: Moreover, it is transmitted like all our other impacts to the environment and then back, from the environment to us, in the form of “viral” waves, influences, that we do not feel. Since we are all connected to the network of universal connection between ourselves as well as to the entire still, vegetative, and animate world, we catch this “virus” and, conversely it catches our emotional state.

This is seen most clearly in the relationship between pets and their owners: Animals are at risk of getting the same illnesses, especially depression. The study confirms again that a person can feel happiness only in a “healthy” society, which means that it depends only on our relationship and mutual desire for happiness.
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Related Material:
Depression: The Disease Of The Century
The Depression Cure
Depression Is Sweeping The World

Filed under: Depression, Education, Health, Integral Upbringing, Q&A | 1 Comment →