How Many Symptoms of Happiness Do You Have?

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 they wanted instead of what they did 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.

I smoothly segwayed into explaining the many symptoms of depression. The patients had been listening, and stopped me by not so diplomatically pointing 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 good times to come.
7. Being able to concentrate on the activity on hand.
8. Thinking 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. (FaceTime and zoom count too)
11. Laugh or at least smile every day.
    

    Happy is as Happy Thinks

Tell us what your happiness “symptoms” are.

PA