Depression and Modern Society

18 Mar Depression and Modern Society

The pressure to be “successful” to be a “winner” is on nowadays. Success is measured by the
money people make or how popular they are. However, we do not realize the price we are paying
for trying to reach that “success” or even the consequences of holding these social parameters.
Along with the social pressure, the super ego takes over and attacks with its mandates: “you have
to be successful” you have to be a winner” “you have to be popular” “you have to increase your
income” “You have to be someone in life”. It seems that these high social and personal
expectations became a must, a social requirement to belong and/ or a super ego exigency more
than a matter of personal desire to improve the quality of life or professional position.

Meanwhile, loneliness and depression are increasing social symptoms. People are more
interested in making money and having likes in Facebook than meeting for a coffee or enjoying a
day at the beach. The ability to enjoy the simple things in life is tough for many, the price of
belonging to this insatiable society and obey the super ego can be translated into depression
along with medical problems many times; a high price to pay for many. Perhaps, it is important a
self- analysis to figure it out where oneself is coming from and where one wants to go in life,
what prices one is ready to pay and what others one wants to refuse. Because at the end, it is not
just about the gains but also about the losses along the path.

We can’t change society but we can change something in our side. Perhaps calling that girl for a
drink is a good idea, making time to play with your children might be rewarding or inviting your
friends for a pizza might awake some laughs. Perhaps the definition of success for society, or
one’s family or one’s friends might differ from a personal meaning of success. Perhaps, finding a
personal definition of success is a task worth to work on.

Gabriela R. Giuggioloni MA, LCSW-R