It bothers me when I read in a Scientific American article that an estimated 1 in 10 Americans report suffering from depression, and many are self medicating with pain killers. We do this because we don't want others to know we are feeling depressed.
"In a recent study, 23 percent of people polled said they kept their symptoms of depression a secret because they feared their doctors would prescribe anti-depressants. And in fact, disclosing depression might be more of a societal than personal problem, with anxieties that insurance premiums will rise or colleagues at work will find out."
I also followed their link to a CDC report and see at first glance that some of the most depressed groups are ironically those who feel disenfranchised - societal depression.
To me this says many are living our lives in a way that doesn't work. Large numbers of people no longer feel connected with life, being alive. How are we becoming trapped into such depressing lives? Is this why we're hooked online and into gaming - simple escapism - denial? Is the explosion of Oprah culture, yoga and coaching a way to bring things back in sense - acceptance and moving on? Will the societal systems of 'the man' also have t change - hell yeah but how?
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