I have and am experiencing some vacantness in my own self, luckily, I am a man, a black man, a father, a veteran, but also a scientist to understand the how. My relationships have been damaged because I could not find the waldo of my own trauma until I did the work.
“inCity Magazine celebrates the kaleidoscope of perspectives in each article. The views expressed herein are the unique brushstrokes of our guest writers, painting the canvas of their thoughts. These ideas, like stars in a constellation, shine independently and do not necessarily align with the orbit of inCity Magazine or its advertisers. This is to explores…
How come people feel alone in a room full of people. How does someone forget to feel extreme joy or sadness. There are many questions to be answered when it comes to the science of living and emotional understanding. I must say there is no such thing as one size fits all. I want you to know information to help you heal.
Have you heard of Anhedonia? Many of us know that the environment can shape our present being, we can get to the beginning, but now we must work on the chemistry the brain has produce to keep us feeling the way we do. These beginning trauma and bad education has taught us one thing. That it is not healthy to feel the extreme of anything for protection. If we do feel we may need to hide as a safety issue. Anhedonia, a symptom characterized by the inability to experience pleasure from activities usually found enjoyable, can have profound effects on an individual’s quality of life.
Sadness and depression are complex emotional states that can profoundly impact an individual’s mental and physical well-being. When these feelings persist over an extended period, they can create a barrier that prevents the individual from experiencing joy and happiness. I will talk about the neurological mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon, exploring how the brain’s functioning is altered in a state of prolonged sadness or depression, leading to an inability to feel joy. To understand this will help you start to recognize the how.
The Neurobiology of Sadness and depression are associated with dysregulation in various neurotransmitter systems in the brain, particularly the monoamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
Things like anhedonia is often associated with various mental health conditions such as depression and schizophrenia, recent research suggests that this condition can also be influenced by early-life experiences and environmental factors.
If you know your beginnings or have worked with people to live a more fulfilling life, you know these factors and experience really shapes people actions, because their brain has been trained or damage by unhealth actions. Anhedonia can be trained in the brain at an early age through the interaction of genetics, neurobiology, and environmental influences. Genetics play a significant role in an individual’s susceptibility to developing anhedonia. Studies have shown that certain genetic variations can predispose individuals to mental health conditions that are characterized by anhedonia, such as depression and schizophrenia. These genetic factors can influence the functioning of neurotransmitter systems in the brain, such as dopamine and serotonin, which are crucial for experiencing pleasure and reward.
I do not think I have to give you some examples of conditions, besides there are so many. Please understand that the brain can be healed from trauma and horrific conditioning. It takes training, education, and practices. The prolonged state of sadness and depression can create a barrier in the brain that impedes the ability to feel joy.
Individuals have destroyed relationships and stayed away from love because of the alterations of our brains due to conditions. How can we have a loving peaceful world if we don’t have mental peace. The triggers we have that disrupt our peace comes from the reward system that has been altered by the experiences we had.
Dysregulation in neurotransmitter systems, alterations in brain structure, and dysfunction in the reward system all contribute to this phenomenon. Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying depression is crucial for developing effective treatments that can help individuals recover their capacity for joy and emotional well-being. By harnessing the brain’s inherent plasticity, individuals can embark on a journey towards healing and rediscovery of joy in their lives. Early-life experiences of social isolation and the lack of positive social interactions can also contribute to the development of anhedonia or any other mental disturbance. Social connections and relationships play a crucial role in shaping brain development and emotional well-being, and deficits in social experiencing critical periods of development can have lasting effects on the brain’s ability to experience pleasure and reward. Chronic stress, for example, can lead to alterations in the stress response system, including changes in the release of stress hormones like cortisol. These changes can impact the functioning of brain regions involved in reward processing, making individuals more susceptible to developing anhedonia later in life.
I hope this information helps you understand some things that have or are creating changes in your actions, this is caused not by you, but by external conditions. The reward system we have is easily altered, this is why addictions are so prevalent among us, and the dysfunction of ADHD. Our brain is always seeking a response. These responses without the sigma of social norms called good or bad, the brain creates its receptors and takes in what is giving without judgment, but the more you give the reward system anything it will turn it into a needed response. This is why many have a hard time leaving a horrible situation.
We deserve a promise to be happy and to feel joy and sadness, this does not include depression. The efforts we try to hide our emotions from ourselves and not understanding or how we don’t enjoy or feel certain things. We will keep missing the joys of life.
“I believe In the Process of Change”.
Written by: Dr. Paul W Dyer
