Thursday, February 18, 2010

Stressed and Depressed

Chapter 5 is all about stress. The authors suggest that we are more stressed out now than in the past and offer a few peripheral causes, from having too many possessions to acquire and maintain (see my previous post, 'Stuff'-ed) to having too many choices at the grocery store! -- Brief aside: we have the book mentioned in the 'grocery store' section, The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less, by Barry Schwartz, on the shelf here in the library. If there's a slow week, I may revisit this topic and write a post related to my wife's near-pathological need to comparison shop and the inevitable buyer's remorse after she thinks she's made the 'wrong' purchase... -- But the authors squarely lay the blame for increased stress on one main cause: we work too much. Most of the chapter consists of statistics and testimonials regarding longer work hours and higher workplace expectations.

Besides causes, the authors also mention some of the medical and psychological symptoms of higher stress levels. As the doctor quoted in the chapter introduction says, "It could be physical symptoms. Headaches, low back pain, hyperacidity, palpitations in the heart, unexplained aches and pains. Or it could be emotional problems like depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, irritability, yelling at your boss or at your colleagues or your kids."

This fits in nicely with an Associated Press article e-mailed to me a few weeks back by English professor Anne Dvorak. The article reports on a recent study that found current high school and college students were five times more likely to be affected by anxiety, depression, and related mental health issues than students in the 1930s (i.e., during the Great Depression!). "...[M]ental health professionals speculate that a popular culture increasingly focused on the external - from looks to wealth and status - has contributed to the uptick in mental health issues." Sound like affluenza to anyone else?

The psychology professor who led the study, Jean Twenge, wrote a book in 2006 titled Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled - and More Miserable Than Ever Before (also conveniently located here at the library). There's a chapter called "The Age of Anxiety (and Depression, and Loneliness): Generation Stressed" that covers a lot of the same ground as Affluenza, Chapter 5 - only specific to high school students, college students, and recent college graduates. (A quick note about Generation Me: Twenge refers to a ton of statistics and research. Although there are no notations in the text, she cites all of her sources, by page number, in the Notes section in back. There are over four pages of citations for the chapter on depression alone.)

While everyone agrees that more people are being diagnosed and treated for depression and other mental health issues than ever before, nobody seems to agree on why. Are more people suffering from depression or anxiety (as the Affluenza authors and Twenge seem to be suggesting)? Are more people aware of mental health problems and potential treatments? Are more people diagnosed because drug companies want them to be aware of 'potential treatments'? For a great, 'Opposing Viewpoints'-style debate on the topic, I recommend this recent segment from the outstanding NPR broadcast Science Friday. Although we don't have Gary Greenberg's new book, Manufacturing Depression: The Secret History of a Modern Disease, on the shelf yet, three guesses where you can find Peter Kramer's Listening to Prozac and Against Depression...

I'm not sure where I stand on these issues. Without violating anyone's privacy, I will say that several of my friends and family have been or are currently being treated for depression, anxiety, OCD, etc. On one hand, I'm glad that the stigma surrounding mental health issues seems to be subsiding and people who need help are more willing to ask for it. The medications also appear to be getting more effective with fewer side effects. On the other hand, I'm worried that we still don't know exactly how these drugs function and interact with our own delicate chemistry. Doctors seem awfully willing to prescribe medications that people may or may not really need. And there are still side effects, some serious, as doctors adjust patients' dosages and drug combinations.

So what do you think? Are 21st-century Americans more stressed and depressed than other people or at other times? If so, why? Too much work? Not enough fun? Not enough anti-depressants? Too many anti-depressants???


UPCOMING AFFLUENZA EVENTS ON CAMPUS

Book Discussions: Once a month, library staff will lead a one-hour discussion in the Campus Center Private Dining Room. Everyone is welcome - bring your Affluenza-related questions, comments, and opinions.
Friday, February 26 - Noon to 1:00
Tuesday, March 23 - 11:00 to noon
Thursday, April 15 - 11:00 to noon

Coming the week after Spring Break: Presentations on budgeting and finance from Longview Business instructor Zack McNeil - dates, times, and places TBA

And it's never too early to start working on your entry for the Multi-Media Contest. Get more information on guidelines, deadlines, and prizes here.



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