Comments on: Musicians and Depression: Triggers That Start The Downward Spiral https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that/ Vocal Coach • Singer • Speaker • Songwriter • Studio Producer • Podcaster Wed, 07 Feb 2024 22:18:10 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.1 By: Anonymous https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that/#comment-1005 Fri, 23 Aug 2013 19:32:13 +0000 https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that-start-the-downward-spiral/#comment-1005 Balance is key, listening to music constantly means constantly working those dopamine receptors, which can cause fatigue as those receptors deteriorate and thus then more and more dopamine is required, starting an insatiable spiral that can never be satisfied only momentarily pleased through through excessive dopamine stimuli. This excessiveness usually manifests through addiction to drugs, drink and rock and roll, or anything else that causes dopamine hit.. porn, losing oneself in music, social interaction, creative work, risk taking, etc. The cure would be to find a balance in life, in all things, this of course may require giving up on competitive music marketplace, fame, etc, allowing oneself to be below optimum, even slightly depressed, while receptors recover, which they will, but you also have to forge new neural pathways for pleasure by being committed to new balanced lifestyle.

]]> By: Judy https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that/#comment-1321 Sun, 31 Oct 2010 14:56:46 +0000 https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that-start-the-downward-spiral/#comment-1321 Hi Kristin… thank you so much for your addition here. You are not alone… we have all experienced similar disconnect between the love of our audiences and music contacts and the love we can count on to be NOT music related. I think it's a journey of discovery for us all… we have to know who we are as human beings, deeper than our talents or jobs. Then finding trustable relationships that can see us this way… that's a mark to shoot for.Check my posts here for some additional thoughts I hope you find helpful.http://blog.judyrodman.com/2010/10/balance-for-musicians-stepping-away.htmlhttp://blog.judyrodman.com/2009/10/will-you-still-love-me-tomorrow.htmlWarmest wishes for your happiness… and thanks so much for your honesty.

]]> By: kristen https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that/#comment-1322 Sun, 31 Oct 2010 14:49:28 +0000 https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that-start-the-downward-spiral/#comment-1322 Thanks, this was helpful. You asked if there were any other trigger… for me the big one is this sense of lonliness / emptiness after a performance. It's similar to the first one you describe, but less about the music (which at least I can take with me) and more about the people. When I perform it seems like everyone I've ever met wants to be my best friend talking to me before and after the set, buying drinks. But then I dread going home because then I'm alone. Peopel who said they wanted to marry me one minute don't even want to go get coffee the next. Getting out of bed the next day is almost impossible because if there's no performance scheduled, I'm positive that no one in the world would know if I wasn't there. I start realizing that most of my relationships are just as much a performance as anything else i do up there. I even start doubting my friendships with my friends and bandmates. The littlest things, like wanting to cancell the next practice after a good show (because we don't "need" it, makes me feel like even they don't really want to be around me.
I try to build real relationships that won't be impacted by this, but it seems like everyone I meet is either part of that same scene or I end up neglecting those relatoinships because I'm so busy with practicing, gigs, and the rest.

]]> By: Judy https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that/#comment-1405 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:32:31 +0000 https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that-start-the-downward-spiral/#comment-1405 Heidi- thanks for your comment, yes, it is quite common for what goes up to come down! And I think you've hit upon a great insight… Even if chronic depression is an abiding issue, it can stop a spiral to accept the "after-high lows" as a balance correction of the emotions, instead of a plunge into the chronic soup. The believing "this too shall pass" can help it to do so.Good luck to you; thanks for being a part of this community.

]]> By: Hilary Canto https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that/#comment-1435 Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:39:46 +0000 https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that-start-the-downward-spiral/#comment-1435 Hi…forgot to say also its normal to dip after peak creativity…..when creation is high…with brain wave activity..there has to be a balance to allow space again for new creative thought. Its how the singer/musician deals with the down that is important!

]]> By: Judy Rodman https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that/#comment-1436 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:13:32 +0000 https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that-start-the-downward-spiral/#comment-1436 Thank you, Leigh Ann! I really appreciate you helping to spread the word… this seems to be an important conversation and I hope this series does "trigger" some help.

Much obliged!!

]]> By: LA https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that/#comment-1437 Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:27:13 +0000 https://judyrodman.com/musicians-and-depression-triggers-that-start-the-downward-spiral/#comment-1437 I think this series is fantastic.Your examples strike me as true and honest. I hope many creative folks in all kinds of different fields–and those close to them–find this series. Just hearing that other people have felt similar things in similar situations will probably help, not to mention the advice itself.I look forward to the third installment and will be tweeting a link to this series.

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