As far as I can remember, I had been a... non-excitable person. I don't get excited much. And I'm constantly bored. And restless. Based on my background, this can be due to decreased level of dopamine where reward based circuit is dysfunctional. Or do you guys think this is simply just another symptom of depression?
Do you suffer from chronic boredom syndrome, or do you think this is just a symptom of depression?
Question posted by Chocokat on 6 Nov 2012
Last updated on 13 November 2012
7 Answers
Inactive
9 Nov 2012
All good answers above, but also wanted to add that people with high IQ's have a tendancy to also suffer from boredom. I have 3 sons who experienced this while going to school. Since you have done so well scholastically, I wonder if this could be part of your problem too. They never suffered too much from depression, but plain boredom while in shcool because whatever they were being taught, they could pick up on it so much faster than the others, & soon became bored with what was going on til the others got caught up. They are still this way somewhat today. People with high IQ's seem to have trouble concentrating on small things or things that don't really interest them because their brains are wired to learn more & more. I'm not saying this is all your problem, but it could be part of it. If you don't 'feel' depressed, but just bored, it could factor in how you feel. Just my thoughts...
Inactive
9 Nov 2012
I also wanted to add that dopamine is released from the adrenal glands to the rain stem, & sometimes can be depleted. There has been some reach done on this , & they have found that drugs used for parkinsons such as Requip, & Mirapex have helped tremdously in these cases. Dopamine 3 not L. Dopa work best too... Mary
Inactive
9 Nov 2012
Sorry for the typos, that should have read brain not rain, & also reseach, not reach. (it's awful early for me this morning)... Mary
Inactive
12 Nov 2012
Oh yes Mary. L, SL etc is well and up to par playing with peoples minds.
Inactive
13 Nov 2012
Yes, my friend, I do see that too... Mary
endlessPred
9 Nov 2012
Hi chocokat. Thought you should know that lack of excitement is part of depression but is easily fixed if you are willing. A good therapist using current behavior modification will be able to pull those emotions out where they belong. They have been squashed down for a long time and with the right indirection the joy can be found. Changing behavior raises the neurotransmitters in the brain along with a medication. That is because we form new pathways to respond and these new connections are healthy. By reinforcing the new ones and letting go of the old, we improve our responses and our life.
I frequently tell people to stay away from scary, tension building movies and TV, etc., because one reinforces the wrong pathways of fear instead of the endorphin producing pathways of joy. Too much fear and anxiety makes us use the route of fear and anxiety because we know it so well. Instead we work on the pathway of joy and do much better. Simple test for you and it might seem very odd. Go stand in front of a mirror and smile. Yep, smile at yourself. A calm mind will feel the face smile,and you will be pleased with your image. An anxious mind will find this hard to do. It was shown over forty years ago by psychologists that moving the muscles into a smile will,actually make one happier. We are wired that way.
Wishing you increased happiness and the desire for some fun, karen
endlessPred
9 Nov 2012
I meant to say: the right direction the joy can be found. Sorry about that.
MacIntosh12
10 Nov 2012
Great answer, as usual, Karen.
I also want to add that people suffering from dopamine problems quite frequently have a "need for speed", or a need to cause excitement, fast cars, boats,motorcycles, anything that can raise the flight or fight response.
ChokoKat, does this sound like you, a need for speed?
Chocokat
13 Nov 2012
I have not smiled at myself for such a long time I can't even remember. That thought has never occurred to me. I know doing samething for 20 minutes everyday for two weeks becomes habit. I find so curious what excitement feels like. People get excited about trips, holidays, dates, and even having a beer. All these things are so mundane to me. I need to constantly work in order to stay away from myself. If that makes sense. I work long hours in the lab and on the weekends I am trying to find a tutoring job or volunteering. Main problem is that I have not accepted this part of myself. I'm thinking I can always do better. But maybe I am hard wired this way.
endlessPred
13 Nov 2012
We all need time to smile and laugh. I don't do mundane well. Shopping is not a kick. I don't buy fancy shoes or care if I don't eat in a high class restaurant. I do take the time to go after something that makes me happy. Like sitting down with a friend and laughing over some silly statement.
Here is something to ponder... Why don't ducks fly upside down? Because they would quack up. How do you get down off an elephant? You don't, you get down off a duck. You know when ducks fly, they are in a V and one side is longer than the other? why is that? more ducks. Got it?
Smart people are often bored by the things that excite others. TV has funny shows at times. I like The Big Bang. I studied psychology, ohysics and biology in depth. they handle it all so well. The best humor are puns. Most importantly a person needs to laugh at themselves. We stop seeing faults and start seeing how human we are. Within that is real joy. We can go around judging others and that leads to real pain and anxiety. Most people don't judge, but those who think they are being judged have a lot of fear and sadness. They think everyone judges. Nope, not true.
You aren't hard wired from birth to not feel. You become used to that condition and think it is what life is about. You can change this. Nothing is hard wired. The brain is very plastic. New routes, new moods. Body doesn't produce right neurotransmitters. Meds can help with that. The only real trap we have is our mind. Even the very real and difficult psychotic diseases get relief if the person follows the current levels of help available. There may not be cures for all, but there is help. If one chooses.
Sorry my friend, but I'd not accept the "oh well, nothing I can do about it" statement. It will keep you in a gloom. Your choice. Will you dare to fix it? Karen :-)
RonMan
7 Nov 2012
You just might not be getting enough intellectual stimulation. In K-12 I was accused of depression, but was actually bored out of my mind. Lucky for me I did some sports, but classwork was a dead zone. A friend even commented on my dislike of mathematics in my yearbook. I love math, we just were not doing anything interesting.
As I suspect you are not physically active your boredom my look like depression (you may also be depressed). I suggest you revisit you psychiatrist for a different set of meds and find a way to get either some intellectual stimulation that is not in your normal field of study or get some exercise.
RonMan
Chocokat
7 Nov 2012
Hello. I am on combination of wellbutrin and Pristiq. Wellbutrin should help increase available dopamine in synaptic cleft. However, it does have a weak affinity for transporter. But I do not want to be on amphetamine. I don't do well on stimulants. My work is fascinating. I study neuroscience and electrophysiology. When I do work, I don't notice the "malaise". But everything else, I have no interest in. I exercise. I wanted to take piano lessons but I can't afford the time. Outside of work, I honestly do not have any source of pleasure. Probably due to depression. At least partially. Pristiq hasn't kicked in yet. For once in my life, I would like to get excited about something. I think all these years of suppressing my depression to be functional at least on outside probably have done a lot of damage. But thanks for the advice.
RonMan
7 Nov 2012
Love your comment, but it does reenforce something I said; you may not be getting enough intellectual stimulation outside our your field of study. I am guessing you have a very high IQ (based on some similarities between us). Your ability to connect with other may be limited. Just in case this is true, you should start seeing a therapist AND consider an SSRI. Your field of study should allow you to understand that recommendation.
Also, find a way to get some exercise. Consider riding a bike to work, if that is possible. Your dopamine levels are clearly low. I suspect you know how to test them (not sure of the ethics in doing that).
Your ability to make connections is very limited (based on your comments and my deductions). A therapist will help you with that. Without them you will not get better, regardless of the drugs. Connecting here is a great first step, but you also need real, physical, connections.
If I have overstated anything, please either comment openly or send me a private message and we can talk.
I find you to be fascinating and would like to extend our conversation in a way that works for you.
RonMan
Chocokat
7 Nov 2012
Hi. I would like to extend this conversation. How do I send you a private message? I have not had time to explore the features on this forum.
RonMan
7 Nov 2012
Click on my name and 'Friend' me. You can then send me a private message. I already 'Friended' you.
RonMan
Delila
7 Nov 2012
Hi, i agree that this is a symptom of Depression. But it could also be ADHD. I know it might sound strange as you are not bouncing off the walls, but i have been diagnosed as having ADHD, and some of the symptoms are restlessness, boredom, difficult to focus your attention on just one thing, etc... I am not a hyper person, but am constantly tapping my feet and i have to be doing something with my hands. Just a thought?
MacIntosh12
7 Nov 2012
Hi Chocokat,
Laurie is right, pristiq will do jack-squat to dopamine.
This may just be your personality, a laid back and "bored" feeling, yet that sounds like an unpleasant way to exist. It does sound like a bit of a funk, or depression to this girl, but I'm quite animated and enthusiastic.
You certainly have done your homework regarding brain chemistry, quite keen of you, really.
IF you've been diagnosed with clinical depression, the suggested medication by Laurie, is a good one. She knows of what she speaks.
Best of wishes to you, and do let us know how you are going?
Mac
Chocokat
12 Nov 2012
I thought about taking a small dose of stimulant. However, too much dopamine available in the synaptic cleft would lead to decreased production of dopamine by your brain. So next safe thing to do would be taking Wellbutrin even though it has a very low affinity for dopamine transporter. It is also used for ADD. Or perhaps I have a defective potassium channels in my brain. Always hyperpolarizing blocking the excitation. I really want to take a look at my brain. One thing to do is keep busy.
MacIntosh12
13 Nov 2012
Perhaps Wellbutrin, a small dose of course, is just the thing for you, Chocokat?
Inactive
7 Nov 2012
I tend to agree with laurie's opinion. A bit of either might be the order of the day.
LaurieShay
7 Nov 2012
I think the two go hand in hand. Pristiq will not address the reuptake of dopamine. I recommend an antidepressant such as Wellbutrin which targets dopamine and norepinephrine.
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pristiq, depression, dopamine, chronic
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