What we are only starting to realize (in my opinion) is that we are a network of associations and relationships and not independent autonomous machines. Depressions is a symptom of the failure of the network of associations that manifests itself in an individual person. Post Partum depression does not exist in primitive societies where there are midwives and elaborate birth rituals to participate in. Birth in primitive societies is not an economically efficient sanitary procedure done with speed and efficacy. It is a magical life event. The depression that is prevalent in modern American society is a symptom of the failure of the entire social organization to adequately meet the needs (physical, psychological, spiritual, social, and personal) of the majority of members of that society. Our society is broken and the depression is a symptom of that condition.
Capitalism in particular is a cause of that malady. Capitalism does not exist to protect and nurture. Capitalism only exists to divide, exploit, sell, transfer wealth, exchange goods, and deliver services, by any means possible. Capitalism is ONLY concerned with capital accumulation. Capitalism is a self cannibalizing social system that encourages competition and not cooperation. Capitalism encourages hoarding and not generosity. Capitalism encourages secrecy and not sharing information. Capitalism encourages isolation and not community effort. Capitalism causes depression.
Depression is not your fault. It is the "fault" of the network you live in. Although your own behavior is the only thing that you have real control over, the depression was not caused by you. It was caused by the social network you live in. All we can do is try to move to a move healthy life and work environment, but the forces of the economy are working against us. For example, the most economically efficient job performance is not the healthiest work environment. In fact, economic profitability and worker health expense are inversely proportional (mathematically speaking).
The people that benefit from your ill health will do everything they can to ignore the issue (employers, government functionaries, investment bankers, coworkers, neighbors, landlords, family members).
For example, there are 77,000 homeless people living right on the streets of Los Angeles. Except for the inconvenience of cleaning up the mess, not one person on Earth really cares if they die right on those same streets tonight. THAT is America. THAT is capitalism. THAT is depression.
If you are following the current medical research, it seems that most anti depressants are statistically no more useful than doing nothing at all. It seems that the model of a "chemical imbalance in the brain" is not accurate or useful in effectively dealing with the symptoms of depression. Additionally, it seems that most anti-depressant medication causes additional potentially serious long term health complications of a physical and or psychological nature. Check out the research yourself. Double check who the sponsor of the research is at the same time.
copyright (c) 2016
William Schaeffer
My mother suffered from post partum depression when my younger brother was born. As I remember correctly, there was not one friend, family member, or family relation that came and visited her or stayed with us during the first three months after my brothers birth.
ReplyDeleteWe are not designed by nature to live in the solitary studio apartment dwelling lifestyle that has been given to us. Just going outside is a help and watching the trees move in the wind and walk around. It is also the solid, still, and "not moving" walls that make you go crazy. This is why we like fireplaces. This is why I make art that moves or has blinking lights. To make the environment more healthy and less dead.
ReplyDeleteI agree on all counts.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lee for the vote of support.
DeleteYou're the best.
Interesting placebo treatment for depression: Take a chewable vitamin C tablet. You can buy kids chewable vitamin C at the 99cent store. You cannot overdose on vitamin C even if you take 20,000 milligrams a day. (20 grams) .
ReplyDelete