What is the magic ingredient that makes us 'shift'?

I honestly don't think this can be categorized. There are as many reasons for shifts occurring as there are people with difficulties; from a long, slow road to recognition and change to a moment's chance meeting with someone, and everything in between.
I think it also depends upon the individual's back-story. This has as strong an impact upon how one deals with 'flights into health' as anything else.

Butty what a wise response. There isn't a magic bullet and it is all those things you mention. I remember when my mother was dying and my sister was looking after her, and she had been in a miserable marriage for a long time, she phoned me and said "I'm leaving him". I said "why now?" And she said "I can't do both". And that was it, she chose looking after my mum over coping with her marriage.

My son, who has given us the hardest time over the past 18 months, it is suddenly as if the mists have cleared and he has stepped out into the sunshine. In his case, I think it is the 'love of a good woman' for which I am grateful beyond words.

That is good to know gk .

So now just go off and enjoy Spain, your mini-meet-up, and have the most wonderfully relaxing time in the sun.

My daughter has 'shifted' in the last few weeks. Maybe because that 'X' time is over. The days are getting longer. There is some sun.

I am hoping it is also because I said to her 'Where are you going to be in ten years' time?'
She needs qualifications to get a job. Now she is starting a computer course.

Allie sometimes a well timed question can do it.

An unexpected or unlocked for kindness.

Unlooked for. Bloody iPad.

jeni maybe the unlooked for kindness was unlocked.

GK that's a deep question. Having spent half my working life with women escaping domestic abuse, I think it varies from individual to individual and could be gradual, awakening or epiphany. Often a combination -gradual realisation that things are not right, leading to a change in attitude, followed by a lightbulb moment, triggered by a trivial or extreme happening but can only occur when someone is in the right frame of mind to receive the enlightenment.

As to depression it was explained to me that seritonin is the key. When you are happy you produce seritonin - seritonin makes you feel good - you feel happy so you produce more. When you are miserable (because of constant rain, stress, the flu, a bereavment) you produce less seritonin - you feel more miserable - you produce even less. Usually something breaks this vicious circle - a sunny day, a Grandchild's hug, a new hairdo introduces a little chink of light - some seritonin is produced, you feel better, produce more, feel happier, are more receptive to . Following this model the change would be incremental or cumulative.

[Clinical depression occurs when there is a problem with the receptors in the brain which fail to pick up the seritonin message. Hence Selective Seritonin Re-uptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) which are designed to stop available seritonin being reabsorbed into the system leaving it still around for longer, giving faulty receptors more chance to pick it up.]

Hope Jeni does not think I am supplying duff information here

Perhaps! My iPad is relly playing silly bs today! It did most peculiar things with chicken earlier
Think I'd better go and read my file for welsh Wales on Tuesday!

That reply was toGrannyknot
No, G 23 you have explained it perfectly. In fact probably better than I could have done![ smile]

Very interesting, Granny23. Thank you.

Granny23 I take medication for clinical depression. Your comment has explained the whys and wherefores. Thank you. [flower]

Granny23

But it's all theory at the moment. The serotonin theory is collapsing. They are beginning to think that depression causes the low serotonin. Not that the low serotonin causes the depression.

jings I was hopeful that Granny23 was right.

it might be down to neurogenesis (the happy pills causing new brain cells to develop

So long as they work soop. Guess it doesn't really matter why.

You're right j07 it is only a theory. I'm happy they work for some people, but sadly not for everyone. My DS for one

There have been times when I've felt as if my shoes were filled with lead. Kindness, not pity, has been invaluable. Not forgetting Fluoxetine. [sushine]

Thanks, jings for a very interesting link.

J Thanks for that interesting link. I'd read about how the growth of neurogenesis is suppressed over time by the use of traditional antidepressants and finding a way of increasing this directly, without going the route of neurotransmitters, which is what happens at the moment, sounds like a good thing.

So the jury is still out on this, but it is encouraging to read that advances in medical science is still developing, and in this arena for the better, I hope.

Here's to @smiliefacesandsunshine!

Hope your bug is on the way out.

Good grief! I misread the last word in the title for a moment.