My job as a feng shui consultant is to notice environmental patterns and arrangements that work against a person’s health and well-being, and suggest ways to mitigate or better them. And, being in thousands of homes over the years, I have become quite good at it. For example, I’ve noticed that kids who get bullied often have a window at the head of their bed, and people with shoulder trouble have sharp metal (like weapons) near their bed.
Recently, another new connection seems to be happening, and I wanted to see if I could see if there are other people out there that could validate this anecdotal-type connection. I have been seeing a possible connection between my clients anti-depressant-taking and the genre of TV shows they prefer.My clients with depression are also the ones that prefer crime shows and heavy dramas over sitcoms or other wish-fulfillment or contest-type shows.
So, I thought I’d put it out there and see if anyone would like to comment and add any anecdotal stories that might further show a connection or not. Do you or someone you know seem to follow this pattern? On the other hand, do you prefer to NOT view these shows (or find them too disturbing to watch) and AREN’T on Anti-depressants?
Any help would be most appreciated. If I see more of a pattern with this, I will be able to help not only my clients, but the students that I train to become professional feng shui and healthy-home consultants.
May 15, 2012 - 4:02 pm
Gosh Karen what you says make sense and I stopped watching the kinds of shows and movies you mentioned many years ago and I don’t take anti depressants. Of note here: Ekhart Tolle says by watching these kinds of shows we become a part of the problem. In other words engaging in heavy dramas means you become a part of the heavy drama.
May 16, 2012 - 4:13 am
exactly Karen.youre 100 percent right.If your suffering from depression better not too watch drama.It affects your emotion.i think if you really love to watch tv or movies try comedy or anything that is fun.Thank you for sharing i was waiting for your blog for a month.
May 18, 2012 - 2:05 pm
My dad loved to watch the reality shows about prison, prison gangs, gangs, homicide shows, etc. He was suffering severe depression, having violent nightmares, etc. I told him that he should stop watching those shows because the energies involved were affecting him. He has since reduced his watching of these shows and the nightmares have reduced and /or gone away.
We are watch we eat, watch, and surround ourselves with!
May 22, 2012 - 5:00 am
For the most part I have stopped watching TV altogether … it hasn’t really improved my mood. In fact I feel a little MORE antisocial and left out of it all. When I do watch I prefer things like CSI/NCIS/BONES etc .. martially because I love mysteries and partially because reality tv bores me… (Jersey Shore? Do I need to watch someone else’s train wreck? There are plenty of reality ones nearby) and shows like House Hunters International and most things on TLC/HGTV make me frustrated because I don’t have the time or $$ to do any of it myself! Definitely need to improve my chi because i am stewing in frustration with or without TV!
May 22, 2012 - 8:50 am
Very interesting point! My boyfriend loves to watch the prison shows, and gang-type shows as well as the crime dramas. He is on anti-depressants. He also watches a lot of sports, for whatever that is worth. I on the other hand, HATE those prison shows and don’t even like when I can hear them from another room. I do not like crime shows or any kind of violent acts on tv shows. I am not on anti-depressants, nor have I ever been.
A few years ago my dad told me he does not like violent movies or crime drama movies and tv, and I would consider my dad a happy, optimistic person.
Thanks for the post!
May 23, 2012 - 12:46 am
I prefer NOT to watch crime shows, and I do not take anti-depressants. My natural state is pretty optimistic and happy, and I watch a lot of upbeat, inspiring programming (Oprah, Gilmore Girls, etc.) However, I also watch shows with a lot of conflict and competition (reality competition shows or just general reality shows). I also watch several “fantasy” shows (Supernatural, Vampire Diaries, etc.) that happen to include crime-like imagery related to the plot (however, I don’t like to see it and I prefer to look away until it’s over). I think the reason I can “deal” with the crime-like imagery in the fantasy shows is because they are NOT real, and I never feel as if any of those things could happen in the real world, nor do I think it reflects the real world, because it’s very obvious that it’s UNreal. So my positive outlook on humanity and the world remains intact despite this imagery. Overall I really dislike seeing anything violent, and would prefer that if it’s included in any way, that it only be alluded to, and not shown or described in detail.
May 24, 2012 - 5:48 pm
Hmmmmm, I DO watch a lot of crime shows (tend to have them in the background while I do other things) and I also take anti-depressants. One reason I like the crime shows is the way everything is wrapped up in >hour, all neat and tidy. On the other hand. . . . it is an awful lot of exposure to dark things.
May 24, 2012 - 6:11 pm
Now, we’re starting to get some traction…here’s what I suggest. For all those who are taking antidepressants, stop exposing yourself to those shows for 3 to 4 weeks and report back and see if demeanor/feelings, etc. changes It may be hard to notice with the drugs in your system (I’m not saying get off of them for this experiment) but do your best to notice if anything changes.
June 3, 2012 - 3:14 pm
I’ve also heard that latest film by Ridley Scott got poor reviews. Best avoid that too. Don’t want to get depressed by poor scripting or lack of depth of characters, let alone the SF violence do we?
June 4, 2012 - 3:18 pm
Interesting idea, Karen. I rarely watch any type of TV shows and if I do, never anything violent. Same goes for movies. I am not nor have ever been on, anti-depressants.
July 13, 2012 - 5:19 pm
Absoultely, I agree with you. I know people who are depressed that watch old WWII footage, military programs, and just plan depressing things. I feel so much better when I watch happy things. Even cartoons that I liked as a child make me laugh (Flintstones, Pink Panther). I watch some of the cartoons that my daughter likes and they make me laugh. I make sure she watches only “nice” cartoons. It all has an affect on our mental state.
July 17, 2012 - 9:22 am
I do take antidepressants and I don’t watch those types of shows. When I’m already feeling down I know they would just make me feel worse! I need to watch light, happy things. I also try to limit my TV watching because it is very easy to go into a sort of ‘trance’ from too much TV which doesn’t help me get out of the depression either.
July 30, 2012 - 9:56 pm
I’ve always held to this school of thought. I tend to run on the side of paranoia and fear in my every day life, so for decades Ive only watched movies and shows that were innocuous if not constructive. (Anything on HGTV, or shows like How I met Your Mother or Friends re-re-re-runs. Shows that have no agenda.) BUT I do tend to be depressed more often than not. Although Ive never been on medication. But oddly I gravitate towards books written by Dean Koontz, Stephen King and John Irving. So I suppose all my efforts to keep my fear centers clear are defeated by my taste in books.
August 1, 2012 - 2:06 am
I was on anti-depressants for years during and after working in the criminal justice field. After leaving i decided to eradicate all things connected with my past career including the clothes, accessories and papers that I had used during this time. Of course, I also stopped watching the news, crime shows and unpleasant movies. . I also don’t listen to commercial radio or read papers on a regular basis- sounds unreal and I might be in danger of being ill-informed – but it works for me- and I’m now off the anti-d with no other interventions. I prefer Real life.