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Jim Carrey & depression: Healing through 5-HTP, art, and humour
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1 in 4 people experience a depressed state at least once in their lifetime. The famous How the Grinch stole Christmas and The Truman Show actor Jim Carrey, one of the world's most loved comics, is one of them. In an interview with Larry King, he shared his views and coping strategies for dealing with depression.
Was Jim Carrey on antidepressants?
In the interview on the Larry King Live chat show with Jim Carrey, mental health, supplements and the actor’s short-lived experience with antidepressants were addressed.
When asked how he got through his depression: “At the risk of opening up the whole Tom Cruise-Prozac argument… Prozac and things like that are very valuable to people for short periods of time, but I believe if you’re on them for an extended period of time you never get to the problem. You never get to see what the problem is because everything's just kind of okay and so you don't deal with it.”
Jim Carrey & depression: how he copes with it?
There’s a myriad of different coping strategies to deal with depression. While some stay true to therapy, others also opt for alternative options.
Jim Carrey says: “I take supplements. Vitamins, but it's also certain elements in the brain play, like tyrosine & 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-htp) that they're treating depression with now and it is a natural substance that's in your brain, but instead of being a serotonin inhibitor, which just uses the serotonin you have such as Prozac, which doesn't allow it to go back into the receptor and after a while you have to keep taking more and more to feel good. This actually creates dopamine and serotonin, it's a wonderful thing. It's amazing.”
Watch the full Jim Carrey & Larry King interview here:
Does 5-htp help depression?
5-htp is the building block of your feel-good chemical serotonin which helps regulate your mood and has been shown to reduce depression symptoms. A review of 13 studies found that 5-htp improved mood and lowered depression scores during studies[1 Trusted Source 2020 - Nutrition Reviews Systematic and meta-analysis Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on distinct types of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis ] . Compared to an antidepressant, 2 weeks of supplementation with 5-htp demonstrated equivalent benefits in managing depression[2 Trusted Source 2013 - Asian Journal of Psychiatry Human study Comparative study of efficacy of l-5-hydroxytryptophan and fluoxetine in patients presenting with first depressive episode ] . brain feed’s 100 mg 5-htp is extracted and isolated from Ghanian Griffonia simplicifolia seeds. 98% of the tablet is comprised of 5-htp making it the smallest, nutrient-dense tablet available and no unnecessary bulking agents.
5-htp is yet to be recognized as an official treatment for depression by the NHS. Before opting for this supplement, speak to your GP. You can also read more about alternative remedies for depression.
Jim Carrey’s holistic approach to coping with depression
Additionally, Carrey's focus is on spirituality and mindfulness. He has explored various spiritual traditions, including Buddhism and Transcendental Meditation, which emphasize the importance of present-moment awareness and compassion, making them go hand-in-hand with mindfulness. A study on mindfulness-based intervention showed that it can significantly reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety[3 Trusted Source 2016 - JAMA Psychiatry Systematic and meta-analysis Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse: An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis From Randomized Trials ] ,[4 Trusted Source 2010 - Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Systematic and meta-analysis The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Review ] . You can try it out for yourself with the help of brain feed’s guide on mindfulness for mental health.
Another crucial element of Carrey's recovery is his sense of purpose and meaning. He has used his platform as an actor and comedian to raise awareness about mental health issues and to promote understanding and acceptance. By dedicating himself to a cause greater than himself, Carrey has found a renewed sense of direction and fulfilment. Research suggests that having a strong sense of purpose is associated with better mental health outcomes and increased resilience[5 Trusted Source 2018 - Population Health Management Human study Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults ] .
Carrey has also made significant lifestyle changes, including avoiding drugs and alcohol. Substance abuse can exacerbate mental health problems, so maintaining sobriety is an important step in recovery[6 Trusted Source 2020 - Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy Human study Mental health problems among young people in substance abuse treatment in Sweden ] . Carrey has engaged in creative pursuits, such as writing a book, which can serve as a therapeutic outlet for processing emotions and experiences. Multiple studies have suggested that different types of journaling, such as reflective writing and visual journaling, improve mental health-related problems[7 Trusted Source 2021 - Advances in Linguistics and Communication Studies Research evaluation Journaling for Mental Health ] . Here are the top 4 tips for reflective writing:
- Be analytical rather than just descriptive. Always ask "why" rather than just describing what happened during an experience.
- Be honest and acknowledge both the positive and negative aspects of the experience.
- When writing down an experience include the description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan.
- Write in the first person ("I") to describe your experience and feelings.
Since serotonin regulates mood and sleep, 5-htp is great for those wishing to maintain health and enhance their energy levels.
References
[1] Javelle, F., Lampit, A., Bloch, W., Häussermann, P., Johnson, S. L., & Zimmer, P. (2020). Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on distinct types of depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 78(1), 77–88. https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article-abstract/78/1/77/5555860?redirectedFrom=fulltext
[2] Jangid, P., Malik, P., Singh, P., Sharma, M., & Gulia, A. kumar D. (2013). Comparative study of efficacy of l-5-hydroxytryptophan and fluoxetine in patients presenting with first depressive episode. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 6(1), 29–34. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876201812001177?via%3Dihub
[3] Kuyken, W., Warren, F. C., Taylor, R. S., Whalley, B., Crane, C., Bondolfi, G., Hayes, R., Huijbers, M., Ma, H., Schweizer, S., Segal, Z., Speckens, A., Teasdale, J. D., Van Heeringen, K., Williams, M., Byford, S., Byng, R., & Dalgleish, T. (2016). Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy in Prevention of Depressive Relapse: An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis From Randomized Trials. JAMA Psychiatry, 73(6), 565–574. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2517515
[4] Hofmann, S. G., Sawyer, A. T., Witt, A. A., & Oh, D. (2010). The Effect of Mindfulness-Based Therapy on Anxiety and Depression: A Meta-Analytic Review. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78(2), 169–183. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fa0018555
[5] Musich, S., Wang, S. S., Kraemer, S., Hawkins, K., & Wicker, E. (2018). Purpose in Life and Positive Health Outcomes Among Older Adults. Population Health Management, 21(2), 139–147. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pop.2017.0063
[6] Richert, T., Anderberg, M., & Dahlberg, M. (2020). Mental health problems among young people in substance abuse treatment in Sweden. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 15(1), 43. https://substanceabusepolicy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13011-020-00282-6
[7] Keech, K. N., & Coberly-Holt, P. G. (2021). Journaling for Mental Health: In K. Elufiede & C. Barker Stucky (Eds.), Advances in Linguistics and Communication Studies (pp. 39–44). IGI Global. https://www.igi-global.com/gateway/chapter/275621
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