
Chronic Depression among teenagers is climbing at a record rate. It can be be seen by anyone. Studies suggest that more then ten percent of teens are depressed. Of course this number, in my opinion, is much higher as these studies do not nearly cover a broad enough scope to really give a realistic number. Mental illness if that of itself is on the rise at an alarming rate. Most people will admit to being on some sort of psychotropic medication. This gives me shivers when i think about it. What has given rise to this epidemic? How close are we to having our entire society medicated? Before i begin i have to disclose some information about myself as to reveal what bias, if any, i have in writing this. I have suffered from depression ever since i can remember. I have also suffered from insomnia since the age of ten. I have also been on countless medications, switching from one to another almost to no avail. I am at the center of this epidemic, so therefore, i might have a perspective a little different from those who are on the outside looking in. Bear with me as i try and explain the possible causes that may not have been explored as much as they should be.
THE CAUSES OF WIDESPREAD Depression
Advertising
We all watch television, listen to the radio, and surf the web. We are bombarded with advertisements the majority of our day and they have an impact on us that we are not even aware of. The key to advertising is to scare the consumer into buying their product. Think about it. If you do not get Claritin you will suffer from horrible allergies. If you do not buy this HD Tv, then you are out of date. All your friends have this brand new phone and you still have that old black and white screen piece of shit. If you do not buy this acne cream then your pimples will gross out those of the opposite sex. If you don't buy our deodorant you will smell like shit. Are you feeling depressed, then take this pill. Stomach aches, take this pill. Are you sometimes in a bad mood, or sometimes switch moods, have headaches then take this pill. The goal of advertising is to make you believe that you need and or want their product. What better way to do that then to lower your self esteem. It is hard to perceive that this is the method that they use, but believe me, it is. They have become experts at subliminally making you feel inferior unless you purchase what they have to sell. So now you are being bombarded by advertisements all day long that take very subtle shots at your self esteem. This will not change your perception of yourself right away, but week by week, month by month, it begins to have an effect. So now you have advertisements that say if you are feeling depressed they can give you a pill that will make that go away. The advertisements that take shots at you also offer you a solution that seems incredibly simple. Also the way that they advertise these medications make the symptoms so broad that they could apply to anyone. So now anyone who has been made depressed by advertisements can relate to an advertisement telling them that they are depressed and need medication. So you are constantly viewing advertisements. The advertisements are meant to lower your self image. Then you view advertisements that cover almost all human aliments linked to feeling lousy and tell you to ask your doctor about a pill. Just a thought.
Teenagers Being " In Touch"
Teens go to school where they socialize all day long. Then they go home and talk on their cell phones, text each other with their phones and chat online using AIM or some other instant messenger service. Not being in contact with someone else even for an hour can now be a scary thing. Years ago you socialized at school and when you got home the only way to be in contact with other kids your age was to actually go and hang out or call them on the house phone which couldn't be used as much as everyone in the family needed to use it. So now being alone with oneself seems odd and uncomfortable to some. My sister once got grounded from using the computer and phone for one week and i have never seen her so depressed. She actually cried about it. Now given that we are all on different schedules it is impossible for a teenage to be in contact all the time. So when they are not calling, texting, or instant messaging a friend they feel very lonely and get depressed. Then when someone they know gets online or they receive a text message all of a sudden they no longer feel lonely. This leads to up and down mood swings which can lead to depression. Also it no longer has to be necessary to actually be with your friends to seem like you are haning out with them as long you are all in contact. So at the same time as they are being more connected they are also being more isolated without even knowing it. Just a thought.
Psychiatrists
Now that it has become a very regular thing to see a psychiatrist, people are forgetting their doctors goal. To give you medication. I would find it rare for a docter to simply say well you could simply excersie more, change some behaviors and so on. Instead they will give you a medication and then the process begins. You take the medication and it doesn't work so you try differant ones and finally find the right one. However since it a chemical that changes your body's chemistry you are bound to have side affects. Therefore, heres another pill. Soon you become so dependant on these medications that you are afraid to go off of them, so therefore you are now apart of the epidemic. Also keep in mind that most psychiatrists are sponsored by the drug companies themselves. Just a thought.
The Pace of Our Lives
People are so busy these days there is absolutely no time for rest and relaxation. This leads to stress and feeling trapped in our schedules. We have no time for ourselves and no time for any recreational activities in which we can find peace. This also leads to depression when we become slaves to our obligations with no time to rest except for sleep. Just a thought.
The Change of the Music Culture
ce In days now long since past we rarely heard sad, angry, or sadistic songs. All music was positive and uplifting. We must admit that music plays a huge role in our lives, we all have our own song. Now that there depressing and angry music has become so prevalent, it acts as lighter fluid to someone who is already feeling kind of blue. You can admit to this. It is almost addicting to listen to depressing music while depressed only adding to the depression. Just a thought.
The Obesity Crisis
eClearly in this case one epidemic adds to the fire of another. Obviously being overweight leads to poor self image which leads to being depressed.
I have given clear examples of how our culture is the main cause of the rise of depression. Now family life, actually serotonin imbalances and such are still main causes as well. But if we continue to buy into certain aspects of our culture and do not step back and use some moderation we are all doomed to be medicated zombies. We should also look to solve our depression problems by modifying our behavior and lifestyle instead of being so quick to take a pill. Also we should look towards traditional talk therapy as a means of helping one's self instead of the pill.