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Platinum NO RATINGS 
I find these statistics about anti-depressant use to be fascinating and really sad because what they say to me is that people KNOW that something is badly wrong and are trying to fix it. They realize that they are "off their game" or "not themselves" and are taking personal responsibility to fix the problem the best way they know how but getting NO SUPPORT from our deaf, dumb and blind politicians.
I'm a political moderate--neither a believer in draconian cuts nor a "nanny state" but I DO believe that our government should be giving people some leadership, some direction--and some HOPE. It is just tragic to me that our optimism has fallen off the charts because with it go our can-do spirits, our entrepreneurism, and our REAL chances for digging ourselves out of this very deep hole. Right now, it's all just one, self-fulfilling prophecy. And, boy, how depressing is THAT?  User Rank
Blogger NO RATINGS
Amen.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
The use of anti-depressants is understandable given the fact that so many of our problems are beyond the reach of the common person to solve.
Even the most enterprising people are finding it hard to face an economy skewered by regulation and doubt. Many business owners won't hire more people because they fear increased staff will put them on the radar for more regulation. Captains of Industry like White House Sychophant Jeff Immelt lead by example dismantling jobs here and shipping them overseas. I'm waiting for our President to stand up and say "Don't worry - under Obamacare we'll allow you to keep your own prozac prescription."  User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Even if you are a dyed in the wool optimist, if you listen to the news ( especially the financial news) you can not help but be pessimisitic. the Greek Banks, the EU and Euro, the record year for disasters, etc are all sensationalized and overblown to supposedly capture viewer interest. It has the effect of making the bad seem a lot worse. Then you do a consumer sentiment poll and behold- people are pessimistic. I think this sort of thing just feeds on itself. kudo to Warren Buffet.
 User Rank
Gold NO RATINGS
Pessimism breeds more pessimism and the more you worry the more depressed you get. And I agree with you that the media is not helping. There is a limit to what people can bear and sadly the antidepressants seem to tell their own bleak story. Wonder whether there are things that could be done to make people more optimistic.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Phoenix, I think the main thing that could be done to make people more optimistic would be to give them some reasonable hope of becoming employed.
There is nothing like being able to pay one's bills to improve one's mood! User Rank
Gold NO RATINGS
Having a job or the possibility of having one in the future could really make you more optimistic. But I've just looked at some if the economies that are really doing well who came out of the last recession faster than the US. I think the US is somewhat encouraging a 'handout culture' where people depend too much on unemployment benefits and other social security benefits. If they continue to have such benefits why do people have to get jobs in a hurry?
In places where there are no such benefits people try harder to find some sort of employment. The government has skill development programmes. They even encourage the elderly to take part with greater job flexibility to meet their needs. This encourages people to create their own. Like Scott says you have to try to work something out and match the skills needed in the market right now.
 User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
I agree with you. I know people who refuse jobs because the pay is "too close" to what they get on unenployment. I mean, really! Get up, get moving, get a job if you can find one.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Phoenix, can you provide some examples of places that are recovering faster than the USA and instilling an entreprenuerial culture to boot?
User Rank
Gold NO RATINGS
Countries like Singapore and Malaysia did far better than the US. I think even Japan did well until the tsunami. Even after that they showed a better than expected growth rate. Instead of unemployment benefits people are encouraged to learn new skills to better fit the present needs. Tax rates are also much lower. Small startups do not have to pay tax within the first few years if they earn below a given profit margin.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
No pun intended on the weighs in...I thought I'd check out what our National Treasure of Happiness had to say on the subject.
Martha Beck, Oprah's resident life coach, obliged me THIS VERY DAY with this post on finding greater happiness. And THIS ONE, TOO! Must be a sign! I STILL think there's nothing like having a JOB, but I guess Oprah's BFF, Barack, is going to weigh in on that subject himself on September 7th. Meanwhile, I wish you ice cream sundaes, walks in the park, purring kitties, and Prozac! User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
How much more proof do the economic gods need to realize that we need an economy that based on something other than consumption and mood swings. Or is the USA economy too far gone to shift more toward innovation and production rather than services and entertainment?
 User Rank
Blogger
Yes, the macro environment is depressing ... that's the reality of a balance-sheet recession, long-lasting and persistent.
About a year ago I went through a particularly difficult time because the answer everywhere was "no," I had friends with economic problems, my own projects were stagnating, and I needed to refresh. I read a couple books that inspired me and got my head together. Here is my advice on how to cope: * If you are looking in job opportunities, look in areas of growth rather than banging your head against the wall in a dead market. Areas I see growing: energy, clean-tech, Internet, digital graphics and art. * If you are having a tough time, take a day off and practice ridding your mind of "negative thoughts." Get some excercise, which clears the mind. Make a list of positive things you want to accomplish. * Focus on improving family and social releationship despite any economic worries. * Create your "dream job" on paper. Then pick up the phone and try to work it out. * Get into contact with past professionals and friends via phone, social-networking, e.t.c. But don't ask "What can you do for me?" Ask "What can I do for you?" You can sometimes find the best opportunities in life by doing some stuff for free and/or favors in areas that interest you and creating good will. Yes, I believe in karma. These are some things I worked through personally. Hopefully it will help others. User Rank
Gold NO RATINGS
I really like your points on how to develop a positive mindset. And I agree with you on good karma it does work. I have also recently read something about the law of attraction. It says that if you consistently think that something will happen it's bound to happen. So if your thoughts are continuously negative you continue to attract more and more negative things. If you have positive thoughts you attract more positive outcomes. Basically if you do relax and have a happy mindset you really end up being happy.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
These are really solid suggestions Scott. It's so easy to start feeling sorry for yourself. It's better to look beyond yourself, as you suggest, even if it's only to go do some volunteer work.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I agreed that sports is one of the best treatments for all kinds of depressions. Each time I feel depressed, I just do some exercise, like swimming or hiking. It help a lot.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I agreed that sports is one of the best treatments for all kinds of depressions.
@Value Hiker Hobbies also helps us to relax when we are depressed. I go for photography whenever I feel depressed. Its helps to relax your mind. User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I agree, each time I went hiking, I carried my DSLR & tripod, taking picture along the trail. It is very relaxing.
 User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
Going live is even more therapeutic.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Perhaps the real message behind the stats has to do with the wisdom of investing in pharmaceutical companies.
User Rank
Blogger NO RATINGS
Ha! well, they are cheap... and they pay good dividends.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Americans have always been resilient. But we have sustained so many kicks in the gut that it has simply become too hard to breathe. When you are literally kicked in the stomach, you need one of two things: You need someone to stop kicking you, or you need someone to HELP you when you get those kicks. As American consumers, we're getting neither -- not even the psychological support of strong leadership.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I think we have to look at this as survival time. As long as we keep our heads above water we're winning. We shouldn't feel depressed if we're not "gaining" as long as we're not falling too much farther behind.
 User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
US consumer confidence plunged in August to the lowest level in more than 30 years. In other words, the nation hasn't felt so hopeless since Jimmy Carter was President.
I'm telling my kids this is what 'malaise' felt like. User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
Do you mind if I tell mine the same? Good description of a bad situation.
User Rank
Platinum NO RATINGS
I know that getting a pet isn't really a cost-saving measure, but having one is the greatest anti-depressant in the world! Even a fish...
If therapy pets work for populations in nursing homes and suffering from PTSD, autism, etc., think what they can do for the rest of us who are suffering from "regular" life stresses. When it all just gets to be too much, there is NOTHING like walking my dog to set the world right. And she thinks so, too... User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
Street Smart, that's very true. When everything is falling apart, and even the people you love the most annoy you to death, a dog, or a cat or a whatever just loves you and makes things a little more OK (even if they do take a lot of your "extra" cash! I really don't have to buy SO many treats for them,,,)
 User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS I am not a pessimist but I can’t help but agree that we have little good news on any front. We as a country are in dire straits with no end in sight. Unless we see some significant movement from our leaders the future is not bright, it’s frightening! I also read that the Europeans feel equally as optimistic about their financial prospects. Historically this will lead to explosive politician and civil situations worldwide, as we are seeing with the riots in Greece and throughout other cities. User Rank
Iron NO RATINGS
I feel like it's a ping-pong effect between the US & Europe. Who will have the worse news today to the next day.
This leads to tentative investment, stock market uncertainty, and low employment opportunities. I think we need some type of legitimate, fruitful stimulus (not artificial, superficial measures by fiat economy governments).  User Rank
Silver NO RATINGS
morale has been low, and comsumers are doing what they need to do to stimulate the economy, but we need some help from Washington, DC.
The blogs and comments posted on Investor Uprising do not reflect the views of Investor Uprising, PRNewswire, or its sponsors. Investor Uprising, PRNewswire, and its sponsors do not assume responsibility for any comments, claims, or opinions made by authors and bloggers. They are no substitute for your own research and should not be relied upon for trading or any other purpose. |
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