Do you think "depression "is a late 20th century "illness"?"

[paranoid android]

People have been suffering from depression since the word melancholy was invented and even before then. It's been recorded since anyone bothered to record the illness so no it's not end of the century nausea to quote a phrase . As for it being diagnosed more now that may simply be due to mental illness being more accepted now then it was in the dark ages of medicine. It's only somewhat more accepted now so we are not out of the darkages yet.

No doubt some of it may have to do with people getting depressed when they lose all their cash and due to circumstance but this is no different then during any other era.

 

[unsettled]

I really shouldn't post on ambien anymore!

I just wanted to clarify that I don't think I was born depressed, just born with a predisposition to depression. I've always been more susceptible to depression than most people I know. I've also been very happy at times. I think that anyone who is sensitive, introverted and contemplative is more likely to become depressed at times. However it's possible that those same sensitive and contemplative people have the greatest likelihood of being most in touch with their emotions and possibly being more emotionally healthy than people who just go through life without thinking about it.

I'm pretty sure depression has been around as long as human emotion has been around.

I definitely think Subutex should be an option for people who are depressed, at the same time anyone who is truly proactive in their effort to not be ruled by depression will find a way to get what they need to get by.

People also just need to realize that depression is natural, everyone is going to have their ups and downs. One thing I've noticed is that you get a lot of shit from others when you're depressed, as if you wanted to be depressed just to piss off those around you. I understand that reaction but people need to be more compassionate to clinically depressed people.

Interesting thread, I keep getting off topic, so I'm going to let someone else chime in.

 

[rickolasnice]

Of course chemical imbalances exist.. think about how drugs work.. they can make you feel good (flood your brain with chemicals) then really shit (when those chemicals run out / your brain is desensitized to them)..

Can't believe you used tom cruise as an example in a scientific question xP

Go scientology.

 

[Jabberwocky]

i think a lot more depression is around because we're at the top of the hierarchy of needs. plus if anyones read 'affluenza' by oliver james you may agree all that stuff about our modern consumer society makes it easier for us to be very depressed. i personally made massive headways in getting better when i consciously decided to fuck society and what society thinks so it must play a massive role.

i think i was born depressed and have to constantly work not to be. there seems to be a strong genetic element. all my grandparents were depressed, 2 with serious substance abuse problems. both my parents are/have been, one ended up out of work for years due to a nervous breakdown. it can't all be genetics though cos my siblings seem just fine!

 

[das_feuer]

I know BL is a place where many understand the horrors of true depression but ive had debates with people who say (non bipolar) depression is all circumstances.(i.e.unhappiness)
I had months where i dont leave the house, dress , wash much etc.. but this is due to paranoia and anxiety/agoraphobia etc..and this makes me suicidly depressed..
Anyway back to the main point , can people with great jobs, no childhood trauma's etc.. be going about their lives and all of a sudden wham! their housebound, depressed or must they loose their job/wife first.
Also ive read chemical imbalances ,dont exist with depression (see tom cruise) and are a "scam" by large drug companys who make the anti-depressants. My personal opinion is depression is over diagnoised far too much but i do regard it as an illness on its own.(non manic)

Depression and other forms of mental illness have existed as long as humans have. Mental illness is not a product of pharmaceutical companies. Mental illnesses, especially depression, existed way, way before drug companies ever came into being. There are reports of famous figures suffering from crippling depression and bipolar disorder as early as the 1500s. The bible also has examples of depression and mental illness in it, even though it isn't exactly too reliable a source.

And yes, people can have picture perfect lives and then, suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, become extremely depressed and non-functional; it happened to me (bipolar depression) and I have a few relatives who suddenly found out that they suffered from unipolar depression. Different forms of mental illness express themselves typically at different age ranges for males and females.

Tom Cruise is a Scientologist; those people are kind of whacko. They are basically a cult.

Also, "chemical imbalance" is the simplest of simplest ways to explain mental health issues. It isn't that simple.

If you are curious about mental illness and want to learn about it I suggest reading a lot of books about it. If you can get hold of a few old, used copies of college-level introductory courses to psychology they usually cover the history of mental illness. Pretty interesting stuff.

Some people in this thread seem to completely misunderstand what depression is. It isn't caused solely by experiences in life; it's clinical. Biology plays a role in it. The "depression" that most people think of, when you lose your job, when someone close to you dies, when your girlfriend or spouse leaves you, that isn't major (also known as clinical or unipolar) depression. That isn't the type of depression that is considered a mental health issue. It isn't something that people can just "get over" or go out with friends, go to a park, or partake in their favorite activities to get over. It's just not possible. Actual clinical depression is much, much worse.

 

[donnie080208]

^good post and yes i do believe depression has allways been there but i also believe that it is way over diagnosed these days. The words" depressive illness" are becoming watered down imo, with the term being used for general unhappiness and in rare cases simple character weakness.
I think depression can be a crippling condition and because so many people go and get anti depression scripts at the first sign of any trouble in their life, they downgrade the condition for those who it truly effects (ive found many docs dont take it seriously and are cynical somewhat)
BTW tom cruise is a brainwashed idiot i agree, just put him in so you knew here i was coming from.

 

[AndroidsDreamofBTC]

Lack of Darwin's survival of the fittest has weakened us as a race. We have more sickly people, such as obese and mentally ill people because they didn't die due to scientific advancements. The fact that 'life is precious' is also a detraction from their deaths. In America, even when people want to die, they can't because its not allowed.

[Please tone it down a little, TDS is not the place for aggressive outbursts, thanks - n3o]

My bad, just I don't see how bringing eugenics contributes to a meaningful discussion about depression in the 21st century. But yeah, point taken!