That makes sense. I wonder if there's not also some genetic pre-disposition towards some of the things we deal with today? Or as another alternative, I know that dietary factors have contributed towards girls hitting puberty early. I wonder if that, too plays a factor in things like depression? I think once upon a time people were so worried about the needs of simply living that they didn't worry as much about 'keeping up with the Joneses' or 'what I'm entitled to.' The family support system, though often less than adequate, was there. People didn't move around as much and had more stabilty in their lives. I have no doubt that all of these factors contribute to the problems we see around us and experience. In our "For what it's worth" department, the USA is a very individual-oriented society - to a fault IMHO. Other cultures - for example Japan and many other Asian countries - are very group (society) oriented - sometimes to a fault as well. Group oriented cultures express much more of a demand for conformity than we do. Thus it would be interesting to know if the rates of depression, anorexia, and some of these other diseases - which I agree do have some social element - are higher in the US than in, say Japan.

Before they made me they broke the mold!
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