Depression and the modern man

Depression and the modern man Depression is not a harmless weakness and a sign of laziness, but a serious illness that can inflict on everyone. Every fifth person on our planet suffers or has had at least one depressive episode in the past.

A healthy person is not able to imagine the torment of people suffering from depression. President Abraham Lincoln wrote about this: “I am the poorest man of all living today. If my feelings were evenly distributed throughout the human race, there would not be a single smile on earth. Will, I ever feel better; I do not know."

Any of us had to get upset and despair, but there was a big difference between these feelings and the picture of Clinical Depression. Even a healthy person is prone to bad mood and apathy. And this is a completely normal state, not considered a deviation from the norm. After all, a bad mood passes in a couple of days, but prolonged apathetic states are a bad sign. If a person continually feels anxiety, completely unreasonable, is in a depressed mood, accompanied by mental retardation and even insomnia, then this is a deviation from the norm, called depression. It can last for weeks and months.

The tragedy can often cause the suppressed state, the loss of a loved one or another grief. In this case, the person may also be in a state of apathy for a long time. But everyday life, with its worries and bustle, gradually sad thoughtscrowds out and makes one live on with it. The state of depression passes. If it does not pass, then it is time to think about treating deep depression.

The sufferings from past to present What happened in 2012 that so much changed the behavior of a whole generation? The economic crisis had ended, devastating young people. But at the same time, another important event occurred - more than 50% of the American population had smartphones. Experts of the generation born between 1995 and 2012 are growing up with a smartphone in their hands and do not know how to spend the time without the Internet.

The advent of smartphones and tablets was quickly followed by Desperate Statements about the harm that the screen lays on the people’s mind and health. But the impact of new devices was underestimated because they affect not only the sustainability of attention, but more. Smartphones have completely changed the lives of adolescents: from the nature of their social interactions to mental

health. Also, these changes do not depend on race or gender or place of residence - where there are cell towers; there are teenagers with smartphones.

But the goal of generation’s research is not to succumb to nostalgia for the "analog" past, but to understand the essence of the changes that have occurred. The modern generation, say, is most physically protected- it is more convenient for teenagers to spend time at home than at the wheel of a car or at a party. Since 2011, depression and suicide rates have increased significantly. It would not be an exaggeration, to conclude that the iGen-generation risks being in the most serious mental health crisis of several decades. And in many respects, it seems, smartphones are to blame - scientists have serious evidence that these devices make adolescents truly unhappy.

A recent survey confirmed skeptical speculations. Students who have social media account were asked to talk about their mood and time spent on the social network for two weeks. As it turned out, the more they used Facebook, the more they felt miserable, lonely.

It should be noted that this feeling itself did not lead to more interaction onsocial media. On the other hand, guys who communicate online and live normal offline life do not feel discomfort. But still, since 2013, the level of loneliness among teenagers is quite high.

Equally high is the level of depression. Sports, homework and participation in clubs - all this greatly reduces the risk of depression, while constant use of a smartphone increases it by 27%.

It is also noteworthy that teenagers began to spend less time on homework (but not those who are going to go to university).

What are they doing? Sit in the phones in their room alone - emotionally exhausted.

Current teenagers, as a rule, carefully document their lives. And in those rare days when they are going to have fun, the guys who are not invited, are experiencing great stress, encountering publications of their friends on Snapchat and Instagram. Those who are not attending events, or do not have a great social life feel the pressure and heat of showing up.

Another important feature of modern adolescents is the unwillingness to grow up. Why don't they strive to take on the responsibility (and pleasures) of adult life? Changes in the economy and education play a role. In the modern world, where higher education is valued above the early work experience, parents may be forcing their children to study more, rather than look for work.

Also, the use of a smartphone and social media before bedtime leads to a deterioration in the quality of sleep. The conclusions suggest themselves: lack of sleep leads to different diseases - obesity or increased pressure, and also contributes to the development of depression and anxiety. Do not think, says the psychologist, that this does not affect adults.

Given the extent to which depression and smartphones are connected, it would be reasonable to assume that parents should limit their interaction with the device to children. However, it is extremely difficult!

Significant changes in sleep quality and mental health occur when a person spends more than two hours online every day. Modern teenagers use social media for about two and a half hours a day. Therefore, reasonable restrictions on the part of parents will help to avoid unpleasant consequences.

Besides, it is best to beat depression in its own way. Jonathan Otto, a popular personality and research journalist provides assistance to depression patients via his documentary series discussing the possible causes and how one can get rid of it without any serious medications.