Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue

Party On

posted by Beyond Blue | 2:00pm Thursday February 22, 2007

Celebrations of all kinds–but preferably without druggie gunmen and nasty brides breaking up over chocolate tortes–have been known to fire up neurotransmitters in the brain and protect brain cells in the prefrontal cortex from shrinkage and death. When people sing, dance, and eat with their friends, they are generally happier than when they are at home alone worrying about global warming.

Beliefnet’s Wendy Schuman just interviewed author Barbara Ehrenreich about her newest book, “Dancing in the Streets,” which explores humanity’s desire for collective joy, historically shown in ecstatic revels of feasting, costuming, and dancing.

Ehrenreich believes festivities and ecstatic rituals are traditional cures for depression, and she cites some examples among different cultures throughout the world. For example, with certain Islamic groups in North Africa, a Zar (or healer) may be called, coming with musicians and lots of people, to visit a woman who is very depressed.

I’m not sure I’d take the Zar and his choir (or belly dancers?) over my Zoloft, but I do think everyone (and especially depressives) should take partying more seriously.



Previous Posts

Love Deeply ...
Valentine's Day is a good time to remember all the ways we can be loving, not just to the guy/gal sitting across from you at the kitchen table, but also your boss, your mother, your boss's mother, and her mother. One of my very favorite reflections from Henri Nouwen is "Love Deeply," found in hi

posted 6:00:28am Feb. 13, 2012 | read full post »

Therapy Thursday: Sweat
I have decided to dedicate a post on Thursday to therapy, and offer you the many tips I have learned on the couch. They will be a good reminder for me, as well, of something small I can concentrate on. Many of them are published in my book, "The Pocket Therapist: An Emotional Survival Kit." Work

posted 6:01:57am Feb. 09, 2012 | read full post »

Scrupulosity: What It Is and Why It's Dangerous
If you sprinkle a hefty dose of Catholic (or Jewish) guilt unto a fragile biochemistry headed toward a severe mood disorder, you usually arrive at some kind of a religious nut. Not that there’s anything wrong with that! For I am one. I have said many places that growing up Catholic, for me, was

posted 6:17:35am Feb. 07, 2012 | read full post »

The Treasures of Darkness
We often equate darkness with sorrow, misery, get-me-the-hell-out-of-here reaction. At least I do. That’s why I keep a mammoth Happy Lite on my smallish cubicle at work. But darkness can also be a treasure. Say what? J. R. Miller writes this in “From Streams in the Desert” by L. B. C

posted 6:06:40am Feb. 06, 2012 | read full post »

On Groundhog Day: 12 Winter Depression Busters
Last year on this day, I got fired. That was a real pleasant Groundhog Day. I was so confused by what had happened that I drove around the D.C. beltway twice. I missed my exit, and realized that halfway around the second time. I just thought on this day, you could probably use some winter depres

posted 6:30:47am Feb. 02, 2012 | read full post »

Advertisement
Comments Post the First Comment »
post a comment

Post a Comment

By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.

Share this story


About Beliefnet

Our mission is to help people like you find, and walk, a spiritual path that will bring comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness. More about Beliefnet.

Help

Media Kit

Subscribe

Legal

Copyright © Beliefnet, Inc. and/or its licensors. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. Constructed by Beliefnet.

Advertisement

Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.