So having established that everyone, at some point(s) in their life will go through varying levels of downs in their lives, something has been bothering me - and its this;
...The comparison of ones own pain/suffering/depression to that of others and making decisions based off them. ...
Let me try and give you an example for what I mean. I'm just gonna be straight up and say that I've been getting some mean and major downs, for extended periods, over nearly nothing. Mainly just a collection of shit that decides to avalanche at one time, and linger. Nothing unique from anybody elses problems, you might pass as teenage angst anyway. BUT I'm not here to explain myself or my condition or whatever. My point is this: - while feeling like this, I will go through the thought that there are others way worse off than me.
Don't get me wrong. Ofcourse there are. I don't know if I can speak for others when I say this but I've certainly been brought up in a family and a culture where if something bad happens to you, you aren't to sit and reflect over the negative. You're to remember those that are worse off, be greatful for what you have and then just get over it with a head held high. This is especially true in my case - where I really can't explain or have anything immediately identifiable that I can pinpoint to be the cause of downs and depressions. As is often the case with the depression of many (keeping in mind that mental disorders and illnesses often come with no warning or obvious cause).
In a way, a noble and virtuous idea. A common one at that, don't you think? To be thankful for what you have, and to be unmindful of what you don't.
Having said that, it in no way makes things better for you.
What I'm trying to say is this;
...Why should my pain or suffering mean any less to me or people that care about me because that there are others that have it worse?...
Why should you, or me, or anybody feel like that one's problems deserve to be put on the backburner and ignored because much more terrible things happen to others?
I've been told that just because you haven't been raped, abused, starving on the streets, been poor, lost your job, been mugged (ETC.) doesn't make your pain or suffering any less terrible to yourself. I find this to be so valid on so many levels. Someone else may doubt the way you're feeling because of its indeterminate nature, but if you sure feel like you're up shit creek without a paddle, then you probably are - no matter where everybody elses signs point.
And just for some food for thought about an associated issue:- according to the World Health Organisation, depression will be the second highest killer in the developed world next to heart disease after 2010. 1 in 6 adults in the US already suffer from clinical depression, and childhood depression rates rise 24% every year.
Humans in the developed world may expect to have an average life expectancy of over 100 years old and I don't believe we have to wait long in order to see the artifical reverse or prolonging of natural life. But suppose due to the mental state that the social climate creates, human beings simply will lose the will to live that long?
I'm not trying to say that people will eventually start killing themselves before their statistical time is up on a grand scale. What I'm trying to say is that mental issues and depression is on the rise. It's so common and it may not even be something as obvious as violence and abuse that causes it. It could be our lifestyles, our society, our food AS WELL as the other more obvious causes.
My final word:- don't belittle your problems, or anyone elses. Fix it now, in ways that you feel are best for yourself. Talk about it, see someone, music - whatever. Just don't feel like you're a nobody because somebody out there actually gives a shit. Including myself .
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