Below is an article explaining the recent suicide of singer Marie Osmond's 18-year old son who was suffering from depression.
What kind of society are we that we just accept such tragedies, and even comfort (IE. Bury our heads in the sand) ourselves by thinking "it can't happen to us"?
Is it more/less important because it happened to a celebrity, of course not. The celebrity aspect is strictly because that's what we, as a society, want to hear about.
What is important is that depression kills, but it also treatable (as long as it's not made out to be something to be ashamed of!!). We ALL need to educate ourselves on what depression is, and how to cope with it.
Whether a sufferer or not, it is EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US' responsibility to be courageous enough to overcome our misconceptions about depression and mental illness, and finally be cognizant of what it really is,, and what we can do to combat it and prevent future events like this one from occuring.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/100228/entertainment/centertainment_us_osmond
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
What are we waiting for?
Below is an article on the recent passing of Andrew Koenig, actor and son of Star Trek actor Walter Koenig.
The story explains how Andrew was suffering depression, and it is what eventually got the best of him.
The Koenig family did what they could, but the limited available services made it impossible for Andrew and his family to make the seriousness of the situation known.
This must not become another "sad story" and be left for not.
Depression is real, it kills people, and does not discriminate; men, women, young, old, rich , poor.....And we are all victims, whether as sufferers or friends / family of sufferers.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100225/entertainment/koenig_disappearance
The story explains how Andrew was suffering depression, and it is what eventually got the best of him.
The Koenig family did what they could, but the limited available services made it impossible for Andrew and his family to make the seriousness of the situation known.
This must not become another "sad story" and be left for not.
Depression is real, it kills people, and does not discriminate; men, women, young, old, rich , poor.....And we are all victims, whether as sufferers or friends / family of sufferers.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100225/entertainment/koenig_disappearance
How does evolving differ from conforming?
As mentioned previously, I've struggled with the idea of "Fitting in / Normalcy" while being "unique" at the same time.
When I take about "evolving", I refer to a person "progressing socially" and "keeping up with the times". How is this different from "keeping up with the Jones'"?
To be "up with the times" in 2010, one would be up to date with celebrity culture, technologically literate, have a Facebook account, Tweet, blog (!!). Yet so many people fit that description, how is that not simply conforming?
Our culture emphasizes being "true to oneself", self-expression, and our differences, but these differences are more similarities. My Facebook / Twitter / blog are "different" than others, but are they not all the same?
When I take about "evolving", I refer to a person "progressing socially" and "keeping up with the times". How is this different from "keeping up with the Jones'"?
To be "up with the times" in 2010, one would be up to date with celebrity culture, technologically literate, have a Facebook account, Tweet, blog (!!). Yet so many people fit that description, how is that not simply conforming?
Our culture emphasizes being "true to oneself", self-expression, and our differences, but these differences are more similarities. My Facebook / Twitter / blog are "different" than others, but are they not all the same?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Functionality and happiness.
One of the most difficult things in life in balancing how one fits in society without feeling like they are just a number, while embracing their uniqueness without coming off as a kook.
In my deepest darkest days, one thought that kept coming back was "If being functional is all there is, I'm not interested". My definition of "functional" was (and still is!!) "just do enough bot to be a nuisance to others". During my depression, that thought was compounded with the belief (which is not entirely wrong, by the way!!) that the main thing people care about in social contact is to not be burdened.
If someone is not "funcional" they are a burden and therefore unworthy of genuine care.
Functionality, by that definition, has nothing to do with happiness.
Is the functional person automatically happy?
Is the non-functional person automatically sad?
When taking stock of a person (or ourselves), do we put a disproportionate emphasis on functionality, as opposed to happiness?
If functionality is as important as it is made out to be, why are so many people still unhappy?
In my deepest darkest days, one thought that kept coming back was "If being functional is all there is, I'm not interested". My definition of "functional" was (and still is!!) "just do enough bot to be a nuisance to others". During my depression, that thought was compounded with the belief (which is not entirely wrong, by the way!!) that the main thing people care about in social contact is to not be burdened.
If someone is not "funcional" they are a burden and therefore unworthy of genuine care.
Functionality, by that definition, has nothing to do with happiness.
Is the functional person automatically happy?
Is the non-functional person automatically sad?
When taking stock of a person (or ourselves), do we put a disproportionate emphasis on functionality, as opposed to happiness?
If functionality is as important as it is made out to be, why are so many people still unhappy?
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