Dealing with Depression

So many people I know are dealing with silent or active form of depression. I even saw somebody recently say that 'depression' is the new cool. As much as I wanted to interrupt and offer a point of view, I didn't. Why is this generation so depressed after all, and what can we do about it?

There must be a million articles around all such things but that will not prevent me from sharing my opinion -

Why are we depressed as a world, as a generation -

1. No everybody is not depressed

2. Sadness is not depression

3. Depression is like a thing, you have it. You don't wake up depressed.

4. Our times are some of the most unstable, anxious times we have seen in recent history - unstable jobs, unstable career paths, unstable people and unstable relationships.

5. Thanks to social media - somebody is always doing better than us - this gets hammered in our head everyday - we are bad - good for nothing - worthless and more

6. Lack of purpose - lot of people increasingly feel like a lack of purpose in their life. A job simply doesn't 'satisfy' them. Earlier people would just work because it pays, but not anymore. People want something more.

7. Lack of people - Well everybody's moving. Everybody's busy. Nobody is there for somebody. People are increasingly lonelier in an over populated world. The lesser we discuss, the more things build up inside, the further we move away from the world.

8. Money - well it's always been a matter of concern, forever, but a high and inflated lifestyle all around makes you want to do all those things too. So while you may be secure / well off in terms of your real needs, your wants keep increasing everyday, putting pressure on you all the time.

9. Health - Not talked about important topic. There's no small pox around in our time, but we have a new kind of killer - stress. What many don't understand is that stress is the underlying cause of many health issues, and the more unhealthy we remain, the more 'sad' we feel.

Solution?

1. How can there be a paracetamol like solution?

2. I don't have a solution.

3. I just know what worked for me and some others

4. PLEASE lower your expectations - from life, from career, from everything. You may end up achieving more than you want, but please start by lowering / toning things down first.

5. Chase Money, but don't go mad after money - no easy way to explain this.

6. TALK, Talk and talk some more - fine, you will meet many jerks. People will 'backstab' you. People will make fun of your for your problems. But you will find one / some people who truly listen to you.

7. Work on being Healthy - No that doesn't mean visiting the Dr when you fall ill. That means how to bring about changes that cut down your visits to the Dr.

8. Cut down on Tea / Coffee / Alcohol - haha right! Like crazy or what. Each High of life comes at a cost - both our physical and mental health pay it over time.

9. Therapy - Haww!! Psychiatrist you mean? So people think I am mad?? Umm ya. Though there's a psychologist, and all kinds of other therapy you can try for your issues. Try it, it MAY work!

10. Cut down on excess social media - I mean at least if looking at other people's perfect lives bothers you, just cut down please / or unfollow them.

11. Not being pushy, but meeting some like minded people once in a while is not a bad thing. Even being a little vulnerable and speaking the truth is not that bad an idea.

12. Try being honest - to yourself, to others. Our ego and arrogance is too heavy to carry, and that burden leads to unintended consequences. Switch gears.

13. Cooking / Music / Movie / TV Series / Reading - You know this of course

14. Change of environment - small trip or something maybe? Maybe not.

All the things I could think of at this point. If this is bad bad advice let me know about it. Else it may work for somebody I think.