by Milton Johanides

Created on: August 19, 2009

If money was linked to depression then rich people would not get depressed, and there would be no analysts in Beverley Hills. But although money is not invariably linked with depression, that does not mean that being broke cannot make you depressed. Being broke can definitely make you depressed, but it is also possible to cheer up while still being broke. Likewise, it is possible to be the wealthiest person on the planet and to be depressed due to boredom. So if money is not the key to curing depression, what is?

More important than money is self esteem, the way you see yourself and the way others see you. The problem in modern society is that self esteem is so often linked to money that we can confuse the two. Quite often, the trick to picking yourself up when you are broke, is realising that your worth as a human being is not linked to the size of your bank account. This is a more obvious statement than it seems. A serial killer would not be a nicer person if he were rich. But although this is such an obvious truth, it is sometimes very difficult for us to accept it as such. Media advertising sets up high aspirations for us to reach so that we buy product which we expect to make our dreams come true. But that same media advertising over the years sets up shop in our subconscious until we believe we are not good enough unless we can afford to go out and buy this and buy that. Although marketing people have to follow strict guidelines to ensure they do not lie about their product, the aspirations inherent in the advertising turns the way we see ourselves into a lie.

So the trick is to uncover the lie and put truth in its place. What is the truth? The truth is the way we treat each other is far more important than wealth. If you are good to your friends you are doing a far more valuable service than if you were out buying nice things for yourself. Altruism, or the need to help others, is a great antidote to not only feeling bad when you are broke, but also to feeling bored when you are rich. Altruism not only is good for those people you decide to help, it is also good for building up your own self worth. Depression is really quite a self-centred emotion. It is often confused with self-pity. It brings about feelings of not being able to get going, or get motivated in any way whatsoever. Everything seems futile. The best way to overcome this feeling is to begin looking outward, at first a little at a time, then gradually more and more. Who else is living with

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>