How do people get bored on their own in this day and age?

[DoPo]

My friend was telling me the other day that he can't be on his own for very long because he gets bored easily. He said he needs to be with people or on his mobile to other people to feel ok.

Sounds like he is an extrovert and likes company over being alone.

I am also an extrovert but I don't get bored alone. I do not think the two things are mutually exclusive.

"Introvert" and "extrovert" are not binary, you know. It's more of a scale, even then it's not even a one dimensional scale. You can have different types of extroverts. Some people will be somewhere between the two extremes, or may even exhibit traits of each.

So, it's perfectly plausible that your friend may just feel differently than you do. Some people just like the company of others more than being by themselves.

 

[dscross]

My friend was telling me the other day that he can't be on his own for very long because he gets bored easily. He said he needs to be with people or on his mobile to other people to feel ok.

Sounds like he is an extrovert and likes company over being alone.

I am also an extrovert but I don't get bored alone. I do not think the two things are mutually exclusive.

"Introvert" and "extrovert" are not binary, you know. It's more of a scale, even then it's not even a one dimensional scale. You can have different types of extroverts. Some people will be somewhere between the two extremes, or may even exhibit traits of each.

So, it's perfectly plausible that your friend may just feel differently than you do. Some people just like the company of others more than being by themselves.

I am fully aware of the differences in personality types. I used to run a Myers Briggs type indicator course at my work. The point of this thread is to find out the reasons rather than just say people have different motivations.

 

[DoPo]

The point of this thread is to find out the reasons rather than just say people have different motivations.

But...that is a reason...

 

[dscross]

The point of this thread is to find out the reasons rather than just say people have different motivations.

But...that is a reason...

It doesn't probe into what those different motivations are - it just states that motivations exist. As in like saying that the reason animals can see is because of eyes. It doesn't explain anything about how eyes work or the differences between animals' eyes (not sure why I picked eyes as an analogy - haha).

 

[stroopwafel]

One of my friends has clinical depression because his brain and stomach don't produce enough serotonin. He's on anti depressants for life but he's happy because of them. My other friend saw a councillor for 5 years and she's very happy now. It's a long hard road for some people. It's not a quick fix - ever!

90% of serotonin receptors are actually in the GI tract which is the reason why there is such a strong connection between the brain and the gut(primarily through the vagus nerve). Not only that but there is a recent study that showed that bowel bacteria may play an even bigger role on mood than these neurotransmitters(though it remains debatable which influence which first). Ofcourse if someone has benefit from anti-depressants and few side-effects then I guess they serve their purpose but the efficacy of these medications are also significantly overplayed and based on studies which are shaky at best. They are prescribed way too much by first-line practitioners like GP's and that is primarily due to pressure and misinformation of the pharmaceutical industry. Not to say anti-depressants are all bad or anything but it's only a specific and relatively small subset that benefit from them.

Considering how rampant the statistics for depression and mental illness have become it's impossible to see it in isolation. Modern society is hyper individualistic and competitive and evolutionary scholars have made a good case recently that human psychology is relational and that exclusion and perceived loneliness is actually the biggest threat to wellbeing. It's no coincidence that the high onset of depression and mood disorders correlates with the 'loneliness epidemic' that plague modern society. There is this scholar John Cacioppo that has done a lot of research on it which makes for some fascinating insights:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/28/loneliness-is-like-an-iceberg-john-cacioppo-social-neuroscience-interview

 

[dscross]

One of my friends has clinical depression because his brain and stomach don't produce enough serotonin. He's on anti depressants for life but he's happy because of them. My other friend saw a councillor for 5 years and she's very happy now. It's a long hard road for some people. It's not a quick fix - ever!

90% of serotonin receptors are actually in the GI tract which is the reason why there is such a strong connection between the brain and the gut(primarily through the vagus nerve). Not only that but there is a recent study that showed that bowel bacteria may play an even bigger role on mood than these neurotransmitters(though it remains debatable which influence which first). Ofcourse if someone has benefit from anti-depressants and few side-effects then I guess they serve their purpose but the efficacy of these medications are also significantly overplayed and based on studies which are shaky at best. They are prescribed way too much by first-line practitioners like GP's and that is primarily due to pressure and misinformation of the pharmaceutical industry. Not to say anti-depressants are all bad or anything but it's only a specific and relatively small subset that benefit from them.

Considering how rampant the statistics for depression and mental illness have become it's impossible to see it in isolation. Modern society is hyper individualistic and competitive and evolutionary scholars have made a good case recently that human psychology is relational and that exclusion and perceived loneliness is actually the biggest threat to wellbeing. It's no coincidence that the high onset of depression and mood disorders correlates with the 'loneliness epidemic' that plague modern society. There is this scholar John Cacioppo that has done a lot of research on it which makes for some fascinating insights:

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/28/loneliness-is-like-an-iceberg-john-cacioppo-social-neuroscience-interview

I wasn't saying the only option is anti depressants. I would suggest the CBT route personally first, but if you are clinically depressed and you can't produce enough chemicals then I think it's a good option.

I'm massively clued up on the gut brain connection actually because of what I ive been through recently. That's why I mentioned his stomach as well as his brain, but I meant it as a catch all for his digestion in general. It was antibiotics that caused mine - I now have quite serious IBS and some other problems including small intestinal bacteria overgrowth. I was getting panic attacks for a while and I'm very sure it was connected. Your microbiota, is unfortunately, not well understood yet. However there is one way out to repopulate it, which is quite a new thing called a faecal matter transplant. I'm getting one done on a clinical trial. It's had great success so far. Fingers crossed.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

I get bored. But I think that's primarily because I occasionally use narcotics and mundane life kind of sucks in comparison. Though due to other health issues, I can't exactly be a junkie. Not that I could afford to be a junkie. I have heard they might consider legalising heroin for purchase through a doctor's evaluation and perscription in Australia, so maybe I can live the dream?

 

[stroopwafel]

I'm massively clued up on the gut brain comnedtion actually because of what I ive been through recently. That's why I mentioned his stomach as well as his brain, but I meant it as a catch all for his digestion in general. It was antibiotics that caused mine - I now have quite serious IBS and some other problems including small intestinal bacteria overgrowth. I was getting panic attacks for a while and I'm very sure it was connected. Your microbiota, is unfortunately, not well understood yet. However there is one way out to repopulate it, which is quite a new thing called a faecal matter transplant. I'm getting one done on a clinical trial. It's had great success so far. Fingers crossed.

I only know from antibiotics that they can provoke an auto-immune response in the large intestine of some people like Crohn's disease or colitis ulcerosa. Though, only after really long-term use. Didn't know they could also had an effect on the stomach. Maybe the mucosal lining?

Yeah, I also read in a study about IBS that low dose use of anti-depressants(espescially 5HT3 antagonists) can mitigate some of the hypersensitivity of the nerves. Worth a shot I guess.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Yeah, I also read in a study about IBS that low dose use of anti-depressants(espescially 5HT3 antagonists) can mitigate some of the hypersensitivity of the nerves. Worth a shot I guess.

Can do with certain individuals, but then again so can trytophan and sleep.

 

[davidmc1158_v1legacy]

My personal theory is that our modern society has turned the majority into stimulation addicts. Between radio, television, our phones and the internet, we are always receiving (or seeking) mental stimulation far above the amounts we received before those technologies became as common as they are. The problem, of course, is the reality of diminishing returns on such stimulation. As I said, a personal theory because I don't know of any proper psychological studies that cover the concept.

At some point, over saturation of stimuli is going to happen. And, at least it seems to me, one likely result is going to be a sort of boredom because nothing seems interesting or engaging.

I don't know. It makes sense in my head. And most of the voices there seem to agree the idea has merit.

 

[dscross]

I'm massively clued up on the gut brain comnedtion actually because of what I ive been through recently. That's why I mentioned his stomach as well as his brain, but I meant it as a catch all for his digestion in general. It was antibiotics that caused mine - I now have quite serious IBS and some other problems including small intestinal bacteria overgrowth. I was getting panic attacks for a while and I'm very sure it was connected. Your microbiota, is unfortunately, not well understood yet. However there is one way out to repopulate it, which is quite a new thing called a faecal matter transplant. I'm getting one done on a clinical trial. It's had great success so far. Fingers crossed.

I only know from antibiotics that they can provoke an auto-immune response in the large intestine of some people like Crohn's disease or colitis ulcerosa. Though, only after really long-term use. Didn't know they could also had an effect on the stomach. Maybe the mucosal lining?

Yeah, I also read in a study about IBS that low dose use of anti-depressants(espescially 5HT3 antagonists) can mitigate some of the hypersensitivity of the nerves. Worth a shot I guess.

Be careful if you ever have to take them. They can fuck with you so much, read a book called the Microbiome Solution.

 

[dscross]

My personal theory is that our modern society has turned the majority into stimulation addicts. Between radio, television, our phones and the internet, we are always receiving (or seeking) mental stimulation far above the amounts we received before those technologies became as common as they are. The problem, of course, is the reality of diminishing returns on such stimulation. As I said, a personal theory because I don't know of any proper psychological studies that cover the concept.

At some point, over saturation of stimuli is going to happen. And, at least it seems to me, one likely result is going to be a sort of boredom because nothing seems interesting or engaging.

I don't know. It makes sense in my head. And most of the voices there seem to agree the idea has merit.

I agree with you, but you don't have to just distract yourself all the time with modern stuff. I did mention walks in the countryside and meditation as possible alone time options. And I guess people have been obsessed with TV for a while now.

But yeah people are too quick to go on their mobile devices these days. Imagine what the next generation will be like! I'm posting this reply on a mobile device right now. Oh god! Im addicted just like everyone else.

 

[krystalphoenix]

Boredom to me implies a lack of appropriate stimulation. Note the term appropriate. What your stimulation needs are vary wildly. I have been bored in one lesson then hyper engaged in another. I have been bored with a game one day then come back a week later and played for hours.

I think one of the reasons that we jump to phones and the internet in general when bored is that finding alternate stimulation is only a tap or click away. It's very instantaneous stimulation and reward. While reading a book, watching a movie, playing a game might need hours to both stimulate and then reward.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

I get bored. But I think that's primarily because I occasionally use narcotics and mundane life kind of sucks in comparison. Though due to other health issues, I can't exactly be a junkie. Not that I could afford to be a junkie. I have heard they might consider legalising heroin for purchase through a doctor's evaluation and perscription in Australia, so maybe I can live the dream?

I remember the Heroin Trial in Canberra about a decade or so back, apparantly it went really well but was struck down at the federal level for full legal implementation. I don't remember what the reasoning was though.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

I remember the Heroin Trial in Canberra about a decade or so back, apparantly it went really well but was struck down at the federal level for full legal implementation. I don't remember what the reasoning was though.

Argh... I'm guessing it was something along the line of; "Can't people be happy with natural substances in a controlled environment and quantities that help improve the lives of people with depression and undercut organized crime?"

And big pharma and investors thereof said no. Apparently only legal opioids sold at ridiculous mark up and cause worse problems for people concerning addiction are allowed to dealwith chronic pain and psychological distress. You know, heroin used to be sold in ounce bottles in Australia for almost nothing in 1953, and probably did wonders for the traumatized diggers (physically or mentally) returning from the War?

Safe, therapeutic, cheap.

A lot of them probably survived because of it, in an age where psychological services were lacking. Maybe the chronic "legal" opioid addiction rate in the U.S. ripping off an entire generation of people might help send ripples to terra australia?

 

[Blood Brain Barrier]

I remember the Heroin Trial in Canberra about a decade or so back, apparantly it went really well but was struck down at the federal level for full legal implementation. I don't remember what the reasoning was though.

Argh... I'm guessing it was something along the line of; "Can't people be happy with natural substances in a controlled environment and quantities that help improve the lives of people with depression and undercut organized crime?"

And big pharma and investors thereof said no. Apparently only legal opioids sold at ridiculous mark up and cause worse problems for people concerning addiction are allowed to dealwith chronic pain and psychological distress. You know, heroin used to be sold in ounce bottles in Australia for almost nothing in 1953, and probably did wonders for the traumatized diggers (physically or mentally) returning from the War? Safe, therapeutic, cheap.

A lot of them probably survived because of it in an age where psychological services were lacking.

Heroin isn't quite a natural substance, you know.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

Heroin isn't quite a natural substance, you know.

So...? Diamorphine substances are going to require some form of synthesis.

 

[BreakfastMan]

Choice exhaustion. When people have too many choices, they find it hard to choose.

 

[Marik2]

There is absolutely no reason to be bored these days

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

I remember the Heroin Trial in Canberra about a decade or so back, apparantly it went really well but was struck down at the federal level for full legal implementation. I don't remember what the reasoning was though.

Argh... I'm guessing it was something along the line of; "Can't people be happy with natural substances in a controlled environment and quantities that help improve the lives of people with depression and undercut organized crime?"

And big pharma and investors thereof said no. Apparently only legal opioids sold at ridiculous mark up and cause worse problems for people concerning addiction are allowed to dealwith chronic pain and psychological distress. You know, heroin used to be sold in ounce bottles in Australia for almost nothing in 1953, and probably did wonders for the traumatized diggers (physically or mentally) returning from the War?

Safe, therapeutic, cheap.

A lot of them probably survived because of it, in an age where psychological services were lacking. Maybe the chronic "legal" opioid addiction rate in the U.S. ripping off an entire generation of people might help send ripples to terra australia?

Cocaine was available on a doctor's subscription too if I remember rightly.