Depression – the Epidemic of the 21st Century

Depression - the Epidemic of the 21st CenturyIf the 20th century was dubbed by psychologists as the century of concerns, the 21st century, which we have barely entered, is already being recognized as the century of depression. People are tired of fearing extremists, terrorists, cataclysms and crises, and are now quietly wallowing in depression.

Each year, up to 200 million workers lose their ability to work due to depression. Moreover, if we add cases that don’t fall within official medicine’s field of vision, then the World Health Organization’s numbers multiply this number by five.

More than half of the pharmacological substances produced in the world today are antidepressants and psychoactive medications.

Depression is the main reason for disability, and is predicted to become the second most severe disease (after cardiovascular) by 2020 (see the World Health Organization’s page on depression).

My Current Mood: depressed

Kabbalah Teaches Us How to Be Free

Kabbalah Teaches Us How to Be FreeQuestion for ML: From our birth, we’re controlled by the genes embedded in us. So who are we? Where is our “I”? Please, can you write something about how genes (Reshimot) control us from the inside, and society from the outside, making us all ROBOTS! There is no free will – there’s no reward or punishment for our actions!

My Answer: Kabbalah reveals the desires and thoughts in which a person is free! Using this knowledge, we can change our destiny.

Anorexia as addictive as ecstasy

Everything is controlled by the desire for pleasure.

Scientists are suggesting that anorexia is addictive. Their studies show that the feeling of hunger stimulates similar bodily responses as does the drug ecstasy. If their studies are correct, then you could say that anorexic girls are simply drug addicts, getting their fix from hunger. What difference does it make what a person gets pleasure from?

Genes affecting generosity may be found

Scientists are just beginning to find genes that may underlie generosity. Their DNA tests showed that people with a particular variation of a gene called AVPR1a gave away their money 50% more of the time. This study was published in the magazine, Genes, Brain and Behavior. “The experiment provided the first evidence, to my knowledge, for a relationship between DNA variability and real human altruism,” said Dr. Ariel Knafo, a psychologist who was part of the research team.

The genes responsible for altruism have evolutionary significance. Since good deeds can be considered as having mutual benefit, and since today’s social relations are becoming increasingly complex, concepts such as altruism and the ability to cooperate are becoming more important than ever before.

My Current Mood: cheerful