Before I start this let me clear the air by saying that I don't hate my English teacher anymore. In fact in the last day or two I've found a profound respect for him that's a little scary considering the way I previously felt about him. But that is not the purpose of this blog.
In English class right now we are reading a collection of non-fiction works, one of which is Darkness Visible. This is a true story about the author's struggle with depression. First off, this is the first text I've even liked in the class, but it's still disturbing. Reading this story made me look at the world around me and realize how much of an issue depression is in our society. Especially when the teacher asked how many of us knew someone that had been diagnosed as depressed and there was maybe 2 or 3 people that didn't raise they're hands.
Looking around my school, even just that class, you could really see how much depression impacts everyone, even if you aren't depressed. From the girl I know so well that has been depressed nearly since she can remember but just won't admit it, to the boy who's friend is on anti-depressants, to the girl that has attempted suicide before, it seems to be everywhere. This is extremely disturbing to me. Why are we so depressed? and Why isn't anything being done to make our society a happier one?
With the stigma attached to depression (that you are crazy, or suicidal..not all depressed people are) I can't say I'd blame anyone for trying to hide it. I also see where it comes in when I watch the news...all we hear about anymore are the bad things in life. No wonder so many of us are depressed. But I think that people need to be more educated on the issue. I don't think that people already suffering this difficult disorder should have to further suffer by putting up the facade of being "fine" or have to be taunted and grilled about meds and therapy. It's saddening to see what this world is coming to.
All of these thoughts were basically spurred by the book which I definitely recommend to anyone and everyone.
Yeah, I agree, depression is very prevelant in today's society. The media is very intent on bringing out the bad in every aspect. Next time you watch the news, keep a mental note of how many of the stories are positive and how many are negative, I think you'll probably find that most of them are negative. With all this negativity (since most teenagers and young adults find themselves in front of the TV or computer all day) it's no wonder that many of our citizens are depressed. I think our government is actually trying to make an effort to help depression and other related situations, but they're going about it the wrong way. They (the government) seem to believe that if we furnish our youth with a nice building to be educated in with a nice environment, then our students will learn better and be happier. News flash, your environment does not dictate everything you are and every feeling that you feel. A very clear example would be taking two people (in most cases siblings), put them in the same environment and you'll see that they can and probably will turn out very different from eachother. I know that my brother and I are very different from each other. So, depression is definitely a mind thing, I don't really believe in medication for it. The medication is just curing the symptons, it doesn't help the underlying problem(s).
oh yeah I definitely agree about the meds thing...I would never take medication...ever...
and I do agree about the siblings being in the same environment thing...to an extent...b/c there are six kids in my family and I know that 3 at least have had eating disorders and depression...but we are all different...
and yes the govt. is going about it wrong...they need to make people feel like it's okay to have something wrong...not just push the good on them
Wow, 6 kids, I've just got my brother and myself. But even with just the two of us, people are shocked to realize that we're brothers. We don't look alike and have many different interests. We have our similarities but most people wont' really recognize those that much. The funny thing about medicating depression is that the human body builds up resistance to drugs, even the good ones. You'll just need more and more until you need too much, that's how drug addiction works.
Depression isn't a problem that they government needs to be involved in. There are many institutions that the government isn't needed in but are involved in. For instance, the one that's really annoying me is the attempt to make guns illegal. If I recall correctly, the Constitution clearly states that I have the right to bear arms. To me, arms would mean weapons, a gun if you will. Taking guns away from everyone won't help, it will just take away the self-defense of the people. The people that would use guns for ill use would find a way to buy a gun anway... Wow, sorry to rant about guns there... not realted to depression really, at least not directly. I apologize.
yeah six but I love it...and none of us really look alike...me and my younger sister are 14 months apart and no one can tell we are sisters unless they know us..so I know what you mean
and yeah that's the bad thing about the meds...that and people don't realize it so they just keep taking them...and then you can't stop
Read the entire Amendment, brother.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
I, too, must apologize-- I didn't mean to come off rudely, but the NRA rhetoric (wisely in their interests) disregards the full text.
Sustainably yers, http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/green-underbelly
So would "well-regulated" imply that we take guns away from everybody? I mean, in an ideal situation, that would work out perfectly, but do you really believe that would work? The people that obey the law will be without guns and those that don't obey the law will be without guns... for a short while. A black market is bound to sprout up soon thereafter. This black market would supply guns to those breaking the law and those law-abiding citizens would still be without defense. That, to me, doesn't sound like a well-regulated militia. Sorry if I sound harsh, seems like everyone's saying that today...