Depressed? Ditch Your Phone, Go Outside, Fix Your Diet, Practice Prayer and Kindness

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Americans seem more miserable than ever, but they don’t have to be.

A new Gallup poll out Wednesday shows rates of depression have reached record highs, with nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults reporting a depression diagnosis at least once in their lifetimes. Nearly 18 percent reported treatment. . .

A groundbreaking study published in Molecular Psychiatry journal last summer exposed antidepressants as having scarcely more effect than placebos. The findings led some psychologists to reject the long-held belief that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance.

Instead, it’s possible the problem lies in our circumstances, and in our approach to those circumstances. One study from researchers in Saudi Arabia published last year found antidepressants don’t even raise the quality of life over time. . .

Gallup’s findings that depression is on the rise happen to coincide with a dramatic climb in internet use. About 1 in 3 U.S. adults report a “constant” presence online, according to the Pew Research Center. What does that even look like? If 30 percent of Americans spend all of their time watching other people live their lives on screen, it’s not very surprising that nearly 30 percent report lifetime depression. Just one hour of daily screen time is correlated with lower psychological well-being in minors aged 2-17. (Read more from “Depressed? Ditch Your Phone, Go Outside, Fix Your Diet, Practice Prayer and Kindness” HERE)

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