Anti-depressant effect of illness (?)

[Soren]

Bit of a weird one this, but i'm not messing around, honestly!

I've noticed that the day before i come down with a cold or virus, i feel abnormally relaxed, happy and optimistic (i.e. not depressed, anxious, angry and miserable as normal).

Only for a day, mind; then its snot misery for the foreseeable.

This happens absolutely without exception, and has done for many years. I speculate that the body's reaction to an infection makes you feel good before the inevitable onset of the more familiar miserable cold/virus symptoms.

I've always assumed that this is my own idiosyncrasy, and if so, then i'll look pretty silly when this thread attracts no response - but what the heck: Has anyone else noticed anything like this?

P.S. Could this tell us anything about depression as a physiological condition?

 

[Leon]

this might sound weird but I once read that there had been a controversial treatment for psychosis which was to give the patient an viral illness (treatable of course), as the doctor in question noticed they didn't become poorly, while psychotic, I forget the details, but it made me think at the time
Ive noticed that in my depressive episodes I don't get ill, but normally I'm very prone to flu and colds, etc.
the same is true this time. Something interesting going on in the mind/body

 

[nina]

Hello,

I've a similar experience..mine is when I've actually a cold I don't know what goes on but when I have a cold all I feel is physically ill.

I can open the front door alot easier in my dressing gown greasy hair and big red nose than I can 'looking' fresh as a daisy.!?

I rarely feel anxious if I'm ill it is very strange.

Nina

 

[Soren]

thanks for posting Leon and Nina. yeah, i think maybe the body's metabolism changes when you're ill. i've noticed my sleep patterns sometimes improve too. oh well, thanks again.

 

[YellowBrickRoad]

Have to agree. When I have a cold/flu/virus I don't feel depressed just ill. I can go out the door much easier when I have a cold than on a normal cold-free day. Strange...

 

[xxxmetal-chickxxx]

i agee . when im ill i feel better about myself. when im not .. im depressed or very manic x