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Isis
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since 1999-09-06
Posts 6296
Sunny Queensland

0 posted 2001-04-17 07:18 PM


Is it me, or have I drawn the wrong conclusion?
It seems to me these days everyone is suffering from depression.  Now more so than ever before.
Is it the modern world?  Do we have too much time to focus on ourselves?  Is this a good or bad thing?

I believe say 150 years ago, there was hardly any depression.  People had to survive, grow the food, tend the animals and all that.  They had no time to focus on themselves and then realise they were depressed.  If they didn't grow the crops, harvest them, slaughter the animals etc, they wouldn't eat!!

Were they better off than we are?  Were they right?

Today everyone seems so self involved.. (myself included here of course).  150 years ago, I'd have been too busy or exhausted to sit and think much about myself...

What do you all think?  Discuss....

*War produces one thing - Cemetaries. And in cemetaries there are no enemies!*
~Isis~~Sovereign of the Spirit.



© Copyright 2001 Isis - All Rights Reserved
Acies
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Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-07
Posts 7665
Twilight Zone
1 posted 2001-04-17 09:09 PM


I think it's a matter of what society has put into our minds in terms of what a good life is.  I guess if we don't have it, we're depressed.

"So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this give life to thee."  W.S.

Poet deVine
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Hurricane Alley
2 posted 2001-04-17 09:20 PM


I disagree. People were depressed 150 years ago, they just didn't sit around and talk about it. And doctors didn't recognize it as a problem and treat it! And being focused on one's self isn't the issue. A lot of depression is from chemical imbalances in the body!
inot2B
Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205
Arkansas
3 posted 2001-04-17 09:57 PM


150 years ago they didn't have the internet or decent mail service to share with people who would care or just an ear to listen when they felt depressed. Also they died at alot younger age than now. Maybe it was due to the lack of medication. We do have a larger population now.
coyote
Senior Member
since 2001-03-17
Posts 1077

4 posted 2001-04-17 10:10 PM


I too, think depression has always been there.
But Isis is also right.
We seem to know how to:
"milk it for all it's worth"
instead of having to milk.  

"I hate quotes, they suck!"
I.G. Norance

LoveBug
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5 posted 2001-04-17 11:39 PM


Here's the way I see it. 150 years ago, most of the laborers didn't have time to think about themselves or their emotions. As Isis said, this could be a good thing... but it's also a terrible thing. Think back to the really old writers. Most of them were in a state so that they didn't have to do much of anything, so they sat around and thought about life and emotions and wrote about them. It's the same way with scientists and the other thinkers of those times, also... and you may also recall that most of these writers were very depressed and went mad... but hey, you gotta take the good with the bad!  

But think about it... if some of those people didn't have the time to sit down, think about things, and eventually write, create, or invent something, where would we be?

"Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel."-Machiavelli
Blame Canada!

Isis
Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-06
Posts 6296
Sunny Queensland
6 posted 2001-04-18 01:18 AM


Consensus split down the middle huh?

But I'm not sure 150 years ago they all died younger.  Most of the people that quickly come to mind lived until their 80's or so.

Sure I didn't cover the ones that were instituitionalised etc, but generally I really think they were just too busy with real priorities to worry about themselves.

I feel that if all I had to worry about was crops, and farm animals and cooking and caring for a large family, I would fall into bed exhausted each night, without having the time or the inkling to focus on myself and what my life was missing.

True today's people, dream more, want more, envision more, have more goals etc, but that doesn't mean they are happier.  Perhaps the reverse when they don't get their dreams they become depressed?  

Who knows?  But thanks for responding!  
Isis

*War produces one thing - Cemetaries. And in cemetaries there are no enemies!*
~Isis~~Sovereign of the Spirit.



Dopey Dope
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Member Patricius
since 2000-08-30
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San Juan, Puerto Rico
7 posted 2001-04-18 01:42 AM


People have been depressed all of time....but....I admit that there are a lot more factors that can contribute or start depression.

Ron
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Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669
Michigan, US
8 posted 2001-04-18 09:11 AM


If you're not falling into bed every night exhausted, is that a reflection of our time or of your own choices?
Poet deVine
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Hurricane Alley
9 posted 2001-04-18 09:58 AM


I would like someone to research this issue. I for one think we just didn't HEAR about the depression people suffered. I think you are making a blanket generalization here that shouldn't be made!
Poet deVine
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Hurricane Alley
10 posted 2001-04-18 10:32 AM


Check this out:

http://www.culture.com.au/brain_proj/17thcent.htm

Poet deVine
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
11 posted 2001-04-18 10:39 AM


And this:


http://salmon.psy.plym.ac.uk/year1/DEPRESsion.HTM

Poet deVine
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Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612
Hurricane Alley
12 posted 2001-04-18 10:40 AM


and this...

http://www.abilitymagazine.com/Tabe-lincoln.html

Isis
Member Ascendant
since 1999-09-06
Posts 6296
Sunny Queensland
13 posted 2001-04-18 07:44 PM



Damn my connection failed after I typed a huge response!  I'll never get all those points again.
Sharon,
Checked out your links the first didn't open for me, but saw the other two fine.
Not once have I said depression didn't exist in the past.  I was merely asking do people think it is more prevailent now in the modern world?
Laura Ingalls Wilder suffered depression after her son died.  Took to her bed etc!  But eventually she said to herself 'Stop Shilly Shallying - my family need me!' and got up and got on with things.
I know indeed it was around through all time, but it still seems much more prevailent now.  In fact, most of us have suffered it, even in small doses, at some time in our lives.  There is no denying it is out there.
I suffered it myself quite minorly after Dylan was born..
Obviously my questions weren't clear enough and it was interpreted that I thought it didn't exist...
My adoptive grandfather suffered it after losing a leg, I have friends in passions who suffer from it, and friends in personal life as well, and I did for a brief time.

Ron,
I myself fall into bed exhausted most nights!     From assisting at Dylan's school, trying to be in touch with nature, being a friend, mother, wife, writing poetry, Passions, singing and playing my instruments, housework, etc.  But I thrive ont the busy.  If I am not busy I feel as though I have achieved nothing..
Perhaps those people who are bored, not busy by circumstance or choice are the ones more prone to depression?  More time to reflect and be melancholy?

I know that for myself at least...

How I wish I could get some kind of consensus recording such things from 150 years ago, but generally all the facts are lost to us through the passage of time.  It is only with letters and journals such as Lincoln's etc, that we see the proof there were some depressed in the past.
The wars have added to it etc.  I know that.

My points were is it more prevailent now?  And if so, is it cos of modern society etc?

Sorry you both misunderstood me..

Isis
---------------------------------------------


*War produces one thing - Cemetaries.  And in cemetaries there are no enemies!*
~Isis~~Sovereign of the Spirit.


[This message has been edited by Isis (edited 04-18-2001).]

Moon Dust
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Member Elite
since 1999-06-11
Posts 2177
Skelmersdale, UK
14 posted 2001-04-19 10:00 PM


nah I think its cos today u dont need much skill to achive something.

Don't ever give in, if you do you've lost everything you've ever had and everything you hope to gain, but if you carry on your already winning.


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