Why do I get depressed when I watch too much TV at once?

[Jevana]

When I watch TV for too long I feel really depressed .
Does anyone else experience this ?

Why?

Serious answers only please

[Lara]

I know children can display depression like behavior after watching T.V too long. Your brain isn't thinking or being healthy when watch T.V. You may also feel alone while watching T.V, which can lead to depression like behavior.

[Cupcake Mama!!]

Watching TV can increase the risk of depression warn scientists.

A study by Harvard University found inactivity can cause a range of emotional and physical symptoms associated with the condition.


Whereas exercise has a positive impact boosting self-esteem, sense of control and endorphin levels.

According to the study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, women who regularly exercised were around 20 per cent less likely to get depression compared to those who rarely exercised.

Close to 50,000 women were surveyed every couple of years from 1992 to 2006 as part of the U.S. Nurses' Health Study.


Lead author Michel Lucas said: 'Higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower depression risk.'


Participants recorded the amount of time they spent watching TV each week in 1992, and answered questions about how often they walked, biked, ran and swam between 1992 and 2000.


At the same time, women were asked to report any new cases of clinical depression or medication taken to treat depression.




Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/articl...z2xSzUxFcC
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook












You're probably thinking, considering what's on prime time TV these days, it could make anybody depressed. Seriously, though, studies have found a correlation between excessive television viewing and depression. Of course, "excessive" is a relative term. But according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average adult spends half of his free time watching television. The California State University at Northridge reports that 99 percent of all households have at least one television set and that in the average house that television set is on for six hours and 47 minutes every day. Americans spend a total of 250 billion hours each year watching TV.
A study conducted by University of Pittsburgh and Harvard Medical School found that the more adolescents watched television, the more likely they were to be depressed. Only six percent of those that spend fewer than three hours per day watching television developed depression over the course of the study, while 17 percent of those that watched television more than nine hours per day developed depression.

The correlation between television watching and depression is not limited to teens, however. A study conducted by the University of Maryland reviewed 35 years of data and found that people that spend less time watching TV are happier than those that spend more time watching television.

The Relationship Between Television and Depression

Researchers aren't quite sure why people that watch a lot of television are more depressed. They aren't sure if watching television causes depression or if people that are depressed just tend to watch more TV. After all, when someone is very depressed, they aren't likely to have much energy or to feel like doing much besides sitting on the couch in front of the TV.

Watching too much television could contribute to depression in some people that weren't depressed to begin with, though. We know that physical activity helps improve mood, and while you could walk on a treadmill while watching television, but most people don't. Spending time with family and friends helps combat depression but television viewing is primarily a solitary activity. Even if other people are in the room watching with you, it's hard to carry on a conversation or develop a strong sense of camaraderie while watching a movie. People only have so many hours of leisure time each day and if you spend most of those hours watching television, you won't have much time left for activities that might protect against depression, like taking walks, exercising, socializing with friends, going to church and engaging in various hobbies.

What you watch on TV might affect your mental health, as well. The California State University at Northridge reports that by age 18, the average American has watched the television portrayal of about 40,000 murders. They say that 53.8 percent of all television broadcasts are related to crime, disaster or war. Watching hour after hour of tragedy on the tube could lead to depression or anxiety.

Advertising on TV might also contribute to depression. Viewers may feel dissatisfied with their own lives or possessions when they are bombarded with ads for things they don't have or can't afford.

Sources:

Bureau of Labor Statistics. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/atus.nr0.htm. American Time Use Survey Summary.

California State University at Northridge. http://www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/tv&health.html. Television and Health.

Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb/03/...e/sci-tv3. Study Links TV and Depression.

Natural News. http://www.naturalnews.com/025790_health...sion.html. Excessive Television for Teens Raises Risk of Depression as Adults.


Children who spend too much time watching television or playing computer games could be at a higher risk of anxiety and depression, a major report has claimed.

A link between time spent in front of screens and lower levels of wellbeing amongst children is a major cause for concern, according to a study by Public Health England.

Higher levels of TV viewing are contributing to lower self-worth, lower self-esteem and lower levels of self-reported happiness.

The briefing paper is released as a new Change4Life campaign encourages families to use the back to school period to adopt healthier behaviours - one of which is reducing children's screen time.

Children who spend more time on computers and playing video games tend to experience higher levels of emotional distress, anxiety and depression, said Professor Kevin Fenton, Public Health England's Director of Health and Wellbeing.

"There are many complex factors that affect a child's wellbeing such as the wider environment they live in and their social, financial and family circumstances, but there are also some very simple things we can all do every day with our children to help improve their health and wellbeing.

"Our goal is to encourage families across England to sign up to Change4Life to make a healthy change to their new term-time routines, which will hopefully then become part of their everyday lives."
Little girl using a laptop computerChildren who do more physical activity do better at school
The study reveals that children doing more physical activity are more likely to concentrate better in school, enjoy good relationships with classmates, and display lower levels of worry, anxiety and depression.

But some parents were sceptical about the report findings.

Jemma Murphy, a mother of two from Handforth, Cheshire, said she allows her children, Casper, aged four and Summer, three, to watch some television whilst encouraging other activities in the home and outside.

"My children don't watch television hour after hour but they do watch it sometimes because it's often the only time I can get things done around the house," she told Sky News.

"But we also have craft days and go to the park or for walks to get them out of the house. It's a balance."

Lil Caprani, Director of Communications, Policy and Campaigns, The Children's Society said: "When we asked children about their wellbeing as part of our Good Childhood Report, we found a strong association with being active and being happy.

"Things like cycling, swimming or playing football all had a clear relationship, but simple things like just going for walks were associated with higher wellbeing."

[jollyuncle966]

As a child I watched way too much tv and did not have one when my daughter was little and she was a Straight A student. TV numbs your mind and emotions. Read books instead.
Namaste