Depression: Life Isn't Necessarily Easy For Everyone!

I agree with what the other commenters have said, first off. Just because we live in America does not mean that we have an easy life. Just a different one. I'm not saying I don't feel blessed to have what I have. I'm not saying life is not hard for a lot of people, and maybe a lot harder than it is for me, no matter what I have been through. But you can't really make blanket statements like that. Okay, yes, a lot of Americans make their own problems worse, but one thing that you should consider is that most of the time Depression is a chemical deficiency in the brain... not a conscious choice by a person. When you consider that, most of the time people cannot help it that they are depressed. A lot of people won't admit that they are, either. But BEING depressed can affect every aspect of your life, and yes, make it unbearable. So honestly, and take it from a person who has been struggling with depression for her whole life, being depressed makes not so bad... really bad. What am I doing about it? I see a doctor. I take medication. I try to do things to improve my depression so that I can consciously appreciate more what I do have. A lot of times though, I would like nothing more than to just give all this away and trade it in for a simple life where there are not the headaches of what life in the US can sometimes be. Advancement comes with a price for everyone. Also, there is a poverty problem in the US the same as anywhere else. We have people living on the streets as well. We have people starving as well. I, personally, have issue with the fact that our government will send large amounts of aid to other poor nations while letting Americans starve - not because I don't think we should help, but because I think we should help ourselves, first. Also, what should also be considered here is that while America may seem like a dream come true, it's really not, all the time. Political problems, finance problems, greed, theft, just the fast pace in general. A lot of depression can happen simply from the lifestyle as well. So I would say that in regard to both types of depression that you mention, yes, living in the US is something that we are fortunate for but in different ways life is not just fun and games and not everyone is made of money like it may seem. In reality it's a very small percent of the population that have the most money. The rest of the population of this huge country are at best middle-income (which I realize might still be "rich" to some people) and poor. I think it's the same everywhere... people just have a grandiose vision of what the US is like.

Depression is not a disease. It is mental state of mind. I am an old man and live India which is an underdeveloped country.Believe me I never heard of depression in my younger days.We heard of disappointments nut not depressions . The concept of depression is knew to me and to many in our country. Yes I have visited America and England which are very developed countries where I heard much about depression.It turns out to be a disease if continued. They look weak and do not mix with others.The best way is to look at others who are less fortunate.The main cause is is comparison of self with others who are better placed in life and nothing else.If you avoid comparison 90% of depression is cured

Hi tweetbird, It is difficult to understand how we, Americans, can be in a state of depression, when you consider the other citizens in other countries who are less fortunate than we are. In america, we have become complacent with all the "riches" we are given. Even if those riches come through welfare, jobs, or inheritance. When those "riches" are all gone we get depressed. Depending on how attached we were to our "gifts" that no longer exists, we can go into a deep depression, which need to be addressed by the medical professions. I think we all have small bouts of depression, even when our "riches" are intact. The rude awaken is, when we see the other countries' sufferings, because of their lack of necessities to survive , not luxuries, but necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and medicine, then we, sometime, realize how fortunate we are, and that if we are depressed it should be about the ones who are really suffering and not about our petty problems.

Depression is like cancer it goes beyond poor or rick and your living status.Even very rich people has cancer and die from it. Depression is a state of mind influence by many factors like enviroment,hormone,upbringing,stress level and others. Regardless of poor or rich , there are always stress. Stress of being rich and stress of being poor. Everyone suffer stress and depression but some can handle it and defuse it while other wither and suffer from it.

everybody feels depressed at some points in our life, it's just certain things that trigger it off. For some people it can be when it gets dark early or stupid little things. You don't need to harm our self to get away from it all. If I really feel this bad about I prefer to talk to someone a family member or a closed friend to open up my problems and feelings to get a certain advice what to do.

People are depressed because of problems and lose, I guess what is also the cause is lack of Social Support; it maybe from the family members and community. Studies shows that mentally ill individuals recover more if they had support from their community. Maybe if people has social support or neighbors are helping one another then maybe depression can be lessened in those places that don't have problems financially. proper coping of the person is also important, if the person has low self esteem then he probably would develop depression.

Depression isn't easy, but you can learn to overcome it and to deal with it in time. Once you have depression, you don't get over it over night, and sometimes you do have to take medication for it in order to control it. Going to therapy and groups really does help.

Depressionc can suck but I am a strong believer that if you let it get to you then it becomes worse....I went to counceling and joined a group and met wonderful people that help me overcome my way of thinking....What brought me to depression was the events in my life I'm still working on the sleeping and motivation issues of it...But I've now got the power of positive thinking....When I catch myself going into a down or something has happened to really upset me I try to even find the slightest bit of positivity in the situation.....

Life is not a bed of roses and I think most people are aware of that. We encountered problems almost everyday and I think it's destiny's past time to give us many problems along the way of our path to life. The journey of life is never easier and if it is that will be much appreciated. However depression doesn't have to be long lived. Yes...we have the power to end depression if we just allowed the positive things to come in to our life. If we entertain so many negative emotions we can't simply get out from depression. I am depressed too way back then I realized that nobody can help me to overcome it...so I chooses to end it. I'm glad I did.

Sometimes people are so spoiled they do not see that they have the best things in life compared to billions of people around the world who goes to sleep with an empty stomach and wake up the next day just the same. You cannot say that they are not trying their very best because they are but the pay is too low to afford them to eat 3 decent meals a day. In the 3rd world countries no access to food stamps, scarcity of free housing or any kind of help...just imagine that yet they continue to try to live with whatever they have got and try not to ever get discouraged. We all get depressed no one is invincible to this but if you know how to carry the weight of your burdens and remain on the positive side then you are chasing the blues away! I do get depressed but then I try not to dwell in it far too long because that is just so toxic. The battleground is in the mind so think positive...lol don't ya agree?

Most time, its my work..with ontime deliveries and work loads. I try to divert mind on music and i feel better. We need to manage stress, as it is part of life in busy world. But if we concentrate, we can manage it. I does it through my yoga, listening music and going out on vacation.

I live in the UK. I was diagnosed with Bipolar in 2003 and only now have had the means to do something about it as NHS therapy isn't that good so am paying out for private. Some people know they have nice things etc and still have depression because they don't know how to change, the therapy is teaching me that. A lot of clinical depression is to do with the blueprints we have used over time as coping methods and that those coping methods no longer work but we don't know how to change the blueprints in our subconscious that tells us to do X because it worked last time. People who see no reason to be depressed (good job, money etc) try to ignore these thoughts which only makes them come stronger. (the whole pink elephant theory). yes there are people a lot worse off than us out there but we can't do much (but do charity work etc) to change that. But there are people helping there. On you're own its sometimes hard to see the help right in front of you.