Depression = Stress/Satisfaction.
This simple equation tells you your depression score. Yes, there are some that suffer from legitimate neurological disorders of the brain whereby their brain’s ability to produce or utilize neurochemicals is impaired and/or, as science is learning, where chronic inflammation and/or problems is the digestive tracks where neurochemicals are being produced reduce said feel good chemical production due to commonly horrendous consumption habits which, in turn, diminish our health, and with poor health placing a constancy of stress upon us. That is, I find that at least as much, and likely far more, of what is considered ‘depression’ in the modern day, with depression and suicide steadily on the rise, is circumstantial rather than, or existing before and precipitating the neurological.
The modern human being, in other words, is overstressed and under-satisfied. This causes its own neurological impact, with mind, body and brain of course all being connected. We are so consumed by lives of fighting to get ahead, and often just to keep our heads above water, that too many of us live in constant fear of drowning. This is the source of the depression: modern day life. Too little fun, relaxation, exploration, even love… what is sometimes called ‘self-care;’ all those things providing joy and a sense of fulfillment. And far too much emphasis on garnering greater wages and improved careers and trying to do and have it all and fretting over mortgages and credit card payments and student debts and unfulfilling jobs where we feel used and underappreciated and disconnected from one another in our egocentric culture of ambition and individualism in which commonality, collaboration and shared identity are underserved and, I believe, purposefully discouraged for the purposes of preventing any real measure of unity from disrupting the status quo. We need, in other words, more and better means and modes of fulfillment and less stress (or more stress reduction). This is the only cure for our horrible depression rates, and for dropping the antidepressants and alcohol and overconsumption and other ways we mask that depression that tend only to exacerbate it in the long run. A revolution in the conventional cultural values is required, as is, likely, systems actually serving majority interest.