Why do you think there are so many people in the US that are depressed?

Question

In the US, we live in a relatively stable, prosperous country and time period in comparison to a lot of underdeveloped or developing countries - in general, people have more money than before; houses are bigger; we have advanced healthcare and education systems; we are able to travel to different places, enjoy good food, have roofs over our heads and have all the gadgets we need to make life more convenient. I'm not saying that those things equal happiness or well-being, but isn't it kind of odd that with all of these things there are so many people that are still depressed in the US? Do you think there are an equal proportion of depressed people in underdeveloped or developing countries? I think the fact that we live in a consumerist society may have to do something with depression, ie, the more we get the more we want, and in turn we are never satisfied. What do you think?

Answer 1

You answered your own question the more we get the more we want. But, its deeper than that. Depression is also due to a chemical imbalance and has nothing to do with wanting or not wanting material items. I think real chemical depression is more prevalent than depression due to other reasons. Such as many people are depressed because they don't have anyone close in their lives. I'm sure all countries rather developed or not will experience this form of depression. Its not about having more material things but having someone to share them with. Also stress on your job and in you school or married life will bring on depression. This is usually temporary if someone talks it out. But, this can be a long lasting form of depression if there is no communication. I think everyone even the most happiest of people at some point feel a certain amount of depression. This is just temporary and we cope and go on. Sometimes, though more needs to be done either through counseling and medication sometimes counseling is enough. To summarize depression is caused by many factors and i feel that all people regardless of their economic factors can become depressed. We know a great deal more about depression than we did even 20 years ago. Back before there was medication people were just in a "blue mood" and had to get "over it". Now there is help. I hope this helps

Answer 2

I am not an American but what u describe happens in all the developing countries. I think u gave the answer yourself. Modern way of living (travel, advanced healthcare, wealth) and technology has lead us to isolation, we do not communicate so much anymore. We prefer "chatting" on the internet instead going out with friends. And just because modern life has a lot of obligations we are all running up and down every day in order to pay bills, pick up the kids from school, do the household. No time for us, no time for friends, just a constant struggling.

And we have become greedy. The more we have the more we want and we don't feel happy with anything anymore because we are taking everything for granted...

Answer 3

Any amount of material comforts cannot bring happiness. One should feel happy inside in which case material discomforts do not matter. Man can always live happily with nature.
Secondly the more the scientific advancement more are the problems accompanying them. So life also becomes mechanical
Once you have made a groove for yourself in the mechanical world you cannot come out of it. This condition is seen even in the cities of developing countries. several years of mechanical living makes a man mechanical. But man has a heart, mind, and emotions. when these cannot be expressed he becomes depressed. That is what has happened to USA

Answer 4

I think you are right. I'm not so sure it's the people's fault entirely. To an extent it might be, because we make our own decisions, but I believe that the media plays a big role in it. There are alot of things that Americans want, but if there wasn't such a huge array of ads, commercials, billboards, and so on, then we wouldn't be so materialistic. Not only does marketing pound products into our brains but it also gives us a standard of what we should look like, what we should wear, what we should eat.. so on. I think that there's alot of depression because of the mixed signals we get from advertisements. One ad might tell us to buy a bucket of chicken and the other might show us a picture of a thin person with those new jeans on. So in turn we buy into everything, but never look like that person in the ads. That just applies to a small percent of the depressed people out there. I do think that marketing has a big part in it though.

Answer 5

I'm not sure that consumerism and depression can be said to go hand in hand exactly...after all, people in poorer countries can be pretty depressed too (swing by Romania sometime). I think it just comes down to a lack of motivation. We need a reason to feel good about ourselves, to get up off our arses and do something with our lives. Some turn to religion for this: "Everything will get better because in my heart I know that there's a God out there who loves me." Some have idols, heroes they worship and attempt to emulate: "If he can do it, maybe so can I." But most of us don't. Most of us just sort of...get by. We do the school thing, the job thing, maybe the family thing. All the while just drifting along, growing ever more cynical as we slip into old age.

Answer 6

Every way you look, something is not right, and we have little to say or do about correction. in politics, no matter to the will of the people, the bastards still do what ever benefits themselves and not the country and it's people,
. The crimes are committed and no one is punished, outside enemies are glorified, interviewed, and asked for their wisdom. In a nutshell dogs are sleeping with cats, men with other men and boys, older women are seducing elementry school kids, and up is down. The answer we get is to take more medication and risk side effects.

Answer 7

I am wondering about that too as I live at very very small country. I am from Malaysia (from Asia) and I love it because of the nature in it. US, a very strong and rich country for me, but the side effects, the people are mostly depressed, especially the 911 inccident.

Answer 8

i think you are very astute.
i have travelled in "3rd world" countries and found that the natives' "happy cup" is generally as full as any american's i know. i have also observed that my own level of happiness hasn't really increased on the same level as my income. i have lots of toys and fun, but i'm no happier now than i was when i was broke.

cash does NOT equal happiness!

Answer 9

We actually think Americans too optimistic, always satisfied, always happy. THAT is significant even in your language - after the question how thay are Am. people always say fine/ok/not bad. And we either say the truth (even if it is sth unpleasant) or complain bitterly;)

Answer 10

i'm sorry to say this but its basically because a lot of americans are brats. just a simple observation.