Yes, indeed. I believe in the statement: Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it!

At the same time, we've become a busy society- disassociated from our neighbours and family only breaking down community and increasing our stress and isolation. With isolation comes a struggle to withstand the waves of life on our own. But, we want to do things ourselves- hence, the 'self help' phenomenon.

One of the biggest strategies to defeating depression, according to the medical journals, is social support. With this breaking down, it's no wonder depression seems to be on the rise.

We don't need better drugs, we need better community. We need communities of unselfishness where we put others first and ask how they are doing.

Today we have garages attached to our houses where we can get into our cars without stepping outside. We can drive off to work and home again, often never even asking our neighbours how their day was!

(Also, notice we no longer get fresh air and exercise).

We come up with more gadgets that allow us to cop out of true conversation and friendship.

Notice, I am blogging with you folks who I don't know, while my husband is on his computer talking with folks on the other side of the world.

Ah, we are no better!

[Hun, wanna go share some chai tea together on the porch?]

Thank you for your comment. More than "pleasure and self-help", I'd suggest that it is the often too complex lives we tend to live that contribute to the high levels of anxiety, stress and depression in our society.

The better we learn how to learn, how to cope with change, how to adapt, the better we will all be.

What do you think?

Quote: "We can't be so arrogant that we think we know exactly what a pattern of activity in the brain means" - Mayberg

Looking forward to hearing more of Mayberg's findings!