Psychiatry and Society

What is happiness?  Happiness is a state of subjective well-being which includes:  An affective component - A feeling of joy or pleasure A cognitive component - A sense of contentment and satisfaction of living a meaningful life The Ancient Greeks knew them by the terms hedonia and eudaimonia respectively, and though distinct, the two strongly correlate in people who report being happy. Happiness is, therefore, not about jumping from one joy to another, but also a deeper sense of fulfilment.  Each one of us is unique and is made happy by a different experience, yet some people tend to be happier than others even through hard times. Do happy people share some common traits? It does appear so. Those who report feeling happy are generally  Open to learning new things  Find joys in the small things in life.  Have healthy relationships.  Have fewer expectations and do not register small annoyances.  Tend to go with the flow.  Practice ...

Alcohol and happiness don't mix - definitely not when taken in excess, and definitely not in the long term. The relationship between adverse alcohol use and unhappiness is reciprocal - unhappy people tend to drink hazardously, and vice versa. This effect increases over time as demonstrated by a 15-year study that followed-up adult twins in 1975, 1981, and 1990. Passing out while drinking is significantly more likely in dissatisfied people Blackouts or passing out while consuming alcohol is an indication of unhappiness. Dissatisfied people are more likely to have a pattern of binge drinking. Binge drinkers are more likely to be dissatisfied with life. A pattern of binge drinking on weekends negates any beneficial effects of moderate alcohol use. Excessive alcohol use increases dissatisfaction and unhappiness. Alcohol, even in moderation does not reinforce feelings of well being, pleasure, happiness or joy. Moderate drinking does not reduce un...