![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Rufus on March 12, 2000, at 23:40:04
I find that after I start screaming--sustained screaming--for about thirty to forty seconds, I feel my depression rapidly lift. Anyone ever tried it?
R-man
Posted by birdgirl on March 13, 2000, at 0:22:16
In reply to Screaming and Depression, posted by Rufus on March 12, 2000, at 23:40:04
> I find that after I start screaming--sustained screaming--for about thirty to forty seconds, I feel my depression rapidly lift. Anyone ever tried it?
>
> R-manwell, at my work we have an old converted bank vault. huge foot thick door and everything. i used to go in there to scream and it was very productive. only thing is you have got to close the door completely, or else you have eight policemen with guns drawn rush into the room because they think someone is being murdered! boy was that embarrassing.
its also fun to try in heavy traffic. maybe a cure for roadrage.
Posted by kazoo on March 13, 2000, at 1:15:32
In reply to Re: Screaming and Depression, posted by birdgirl on March 13, 2000, at 0:22:16
It's a kind of therapy called "The Primal Scream" which is a part of
"primal therapy" developed by A. Janov (1970), U.S. psychologist; it's
a treatment in which the patient, often in group sessions, is induced to
reenact their infancy and to express their emotions violently in screams,
shouts, etc. Its efficacy is specious, at best, but if it works for you,
then have a scream on me.kazoo
Posted by birdgirl on March 13, 2000, at 1:34:08
In reply to Re: Screaming and Depression, posted by birdgirl on March 13, 2000, at 0:22:16
> > I find that after I start screaming--sustained screaming--for about thirty to forty seconds, I feel my depression rapidly lift. Anyone ever tried it?
> >
> > R-man
>
> well, at my work we have an old converted bank vault. huge foot thick door and everything. i used to go in there to scream and it was very productive. only thing is you have got to close the door completely, or else you have eight policemen with guns drawn rush into the room because they think someone is being murdered! boy was that embarrassing.
> its also fun to try in heavy traffic. maybe a cure for roadrage.i should have mentioned before that i work at a police dept.
Posted by kazoo, part 2 on March 13, 2000, at 1:39:57
In reply to Re: Screaming and Depression, posted by birdgirl on March 13, 2000, at 1:34:08
Could it be that sustained, heavy-duty screaming releases
endorphins, the morphine within, which produces a natural euphoria;
hence, making you feel good?WARNING: may be habit forming.
kazoo
Posted by Noa on March 13, 2000, at 6:10:35
In reply to Re: Screaming and Depression, posted by kazoo, part 2 on March 13, 2000, at 1:39:57
My guess is that it is a way of mobilizing your frustration and anger, as opposed to feeling helpless about it, and shutting down, which is what depression is like, for me, anyway.
I also would think that it gets the adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, flowing. Can any of the scientists here speak to this?
Posted by Confused on March 13, 2000, at 7:02:31
In reply to Re: Screaming and Depression, posted by Noa on March 13, 2000, at 6:10:35
Maybe crying fits into the same category. I was so depressed for two days that tears seemed to be stuck in my whole face and I was immobilized. Then someone hurt me (verbally), I cried out loud for a long time, and then the depression started to lift. The hurt that caused crying was the switch that turned the tide. Is this the same thing you are talking about?
Posted by dove on March 13, 2000, at 9:49:39
In reply to Re: Screaming and Depression, posted by Confused on March 13, 2000, at 7:02:31
I kinda agree, but would caution utilization of screaming based on a few details. I've read a number of studies that show that releasing anger in a violent or loud manner actually increases bad stress hormones in the body, increases the tendency to feel angry, the tendency to become more quickly angered, and shortens the time it takes for anger to escalate into violence whether aimed at others or self.
Now, for someone who has been stuffing their emotions, their depression may stem from the inability to express themselves or feelings of emotional paralyzation, then I can clearly understand why screaming might release some of these negative feelings and improve their mood. Personally, screaming makes me so much worse that it's not even possible for me to express the depth in words.
In my opinion, at least for myself, crying is a whole different category. Crying feels like a release, a defense mechanism. Whereas, anger or screaming for that matter, feel like an attack, an offensive, whether centered on myself or others. Even if I'm only screaming at no one, just trying to release some frustration, it still feels like a deliberate offensive.
Maybe others view anger or screaming in a different light? Does anyone feel guilty, or really *bad* afterwards, even if it's not directed towards anyone, or you're all alone?
dove
Posted by Noa on March 13, 2000, at 13:22:18
In reply to Re: Screaming and Depression, posted by dove on March 13, 2000, at 9:49:39
I think exercise and competetive sports are good alternatives for releasing this kind of energy.I am not really into the sports thing, and have not been exercising regularly for a while. However, when I did walk vigorously 3 or 4 times a week, I used to notice how at some point, I would feel really emotional, and would feel like I was going to cry. It was completely physiological, not related to mood or what I was thinking about. It would pass after a while, and I would feel great.
Posted by Cass on March 13, 2000, at 15:05:33
In reply to Screaming and Depression, posted by Rufus on March 12, 2000, at 23:40:04
> I find that after I start screaming--sustained screaming--for about thirty to forty seconds, I feel my depression rapidly lift. Anyone ever tried it?
>
> R-manRufus,
How long does your elevated mood last? I haven't really screamed in ages. I don't even remember how I feel afterwards, but if it would lift my mood for a substantial period of time, I would do it. Why not? I'm glad it helps you.
Posted by darling on March 14, 2000, at 17:17:17
In reply to Question for Rufus, posted by Cass on March 13, 2000, at 15:05:33
hello all,
i must say that i too, rarely, if ever scream, and although there is a certain (transitory) euphoria associated with it, certainly i am, as dove i believe, afterwards haunted by guilt. really i am awfully timid & always wonder how people can even express their frustrations out on inanimate objects (whose feelings even i admit to be dubious at best) much less another person. (which is not to say i don't do just as much harm with tears & silences.)
anyway, for whatever reason, the only place i feel alright about being aggressive is at the bowling alley of all places. i haven't been to one in some months, but all my friends at the time would comment upon how it was almost frightening that this tame little bunny-rabbit soul could throw a 13lb ball so hard. of course, i'm sure it helps if you don't care about scoring.darling
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.