The greatest plague of the 21st century is not AIDS‚ nor cancer‚ nor the H1N1 flu‚ but something that affects much more people in ways we can barely start to understand: depression. Reportedly one in ten Americans suffers from one or the other forms of this malady. The rates of anti-depressant usage in the United States are just as worrisome. A recent poll unveils that one in eight Americans is using them. Prozac‚ Zyprexa‚ Cymbalta are not strange alien names anymore‚ but familiar encounters in almost every American household. Even children approach the usage rates of adults. These are very high and paradoxical numbers in a country where all are free to enjoy “life‚ liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Even in times of crisis‚ Americans have a better life than most countries in the world‚ in all respects. Just glance over to the life of the Christians in the Middle East‚ and you’ll realize the blessings we enjoy every day. Most of us have a job‚ a house‚ a car or two‚ enough food‚ education‚ equal opportunity‚ religious freedom to name just a few. Practically we shouldn’t be in want for anything; yet‚ every tenth person is longing for something‚ is missing something so bad‚ so important‚ that they cannot cope with this need on their own. This explains the usage of drugs; with them‚ the negative aspects of life can be more easily coped with. They are a crutch that helps people move along with their lives for a short while.
But a crutch is still a crutch; it can only take one so far. The depressed man needs a different cure…
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A Cure for Depression from St. Silouan the Athonite‚