Depression has stumped doctors and scientists since its discovery all the way back in early Mesopotamia. Early writings of this era discussed the ailment as being brought on by evil spirits. For centuries priests would tend to people with depression believing it could be cured through exorcism and other spiritual rituals. The earliest written accounts of what is now known as depression appeared in the second millennium B.C.E. in Mesopotamia. In these writings, depression was discussed as a spiritual rather than a physical condition. Like other mental illnesses, it was believed to be caused by demonic possession. As such, it was dealt with by priests instead of medical professionals. Even in the 1950s women suffering from postpartum depression were dismissed by doctors along with men who were raised back in those days to hide emotions and not talk about their feelings. Mental health has really only become a topic of open discussion within the last ten years or so. This map of the US from CEUfast.com highlights the cities that reported the highest diagnosis of depression. Some of the cities on the list like Salem, Oregon, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Salt Lake City, Utah were surprising as these places seem like fun, bustling, and very outdoorsy locations. Do you live near or in one of these cities?
