Depression appears to be running rampant in our society today…regardless of age. I personally feel that many people are incorrectly labeling “boredom” as depression. I remember my husband speaking of depression as diagnosable if the same symptoms occur every day for a minimum of at least two weeks straight. That is when action should be taken.
In my graduate studies, I learned that the greater the population gets and the larger the city grows, etc., the more people feel isolated and alone. You would think the opposite is true.
I know I prefer city surroundings as opposed to being a hermit in the wilderness. Yet, I remember that my family didn’t know the names of all the neighbors on our street where I spent my life until I was eighteen years old. I rode the same public bus to school every day with many of the same people, but we never spoke or risked getting acquainted. It just wasn’t normal to talk to strangers.
Perhaps the reason so many feel alone today and thus have feelings of depression is that, not only can they not relate with strangers on the street, but they may also feel isolated from their own families. I, at least, had family members with which to talk, play, argue, and interact with in my home. As I look at many families today, I see the members of the family each engaged with someone or something on their cell phones, etc. They are just coexisting with the people around them.
Family conversations and interactions are the “nurture” part of the old question: “Is a person shaped by nature or nurture?” Although such interactions may only be a few minutes at a time, they are the vehicle for passing along core values, beliefs, dreams and aspirations among family members. Through these moments of sharing, children learn they are worthy individuals.
The gifted children I teach have learned long ago that “I’m bored!” usually gets parents to move. However, smart parents counter with “We are not here to entertain you. Use your imagination and find something to do!” It helps if parents have made provision for some hands-on games or puzzles or projects around the house. I don’t think you’ll hear “I’m bored” if they are given tasks to do whenever that phrase appears on their lips. It doesn’t take rocket science to quickly figure out that being bored is the opening for a parent to task the child. Eventually, the word will not enter the child’s mind!
- Kay