cigarettes

In my rural hometown in the Appalachian Mountains, a common topic of discussion is the surprising increase of mental health concerns, especially anxiety and depression. 

They will sit on the front porch with a glass of homemade tea that is noticeable thick with sugar and pass around a pack of Marlboros or Camels. Then someone brings up the unfortunate incident of someone taking their own life with a "Well you heard about Barbara Anne's nephew right? That downright pains me to even think about. God, he was so young too." The conversation will start with a recap of the story facts, then migrate to the undo strain it will put on the mother and remaining family. "Bless their hearts. Is somebody taking them some food?" Then, without fail, the conversation will wander to other people who have checked into mental hospitals or are taking medication for mental health, and they light another cigarette. Then people will start commenting on the strange increase of mental health issues and what could be the cause. "It's gotta be them phones. That and they don't live near their family no more." The conversation will lull and people will ponder the weight of death. Another cigarette. "Now we had our hard times growing up but I am so glad we didn't have so much of this anxiety and such back then." Another cigarette. 

But see, I think humans have been anxious and depressed people for as long as we've walked the earth. My dad doesn't struggle with anxiety either, so he says. But watch something stressful happen and he pulls out a pack of Paul Malls. I truly grew up thinking that all the anxiety and depression was for the "city folks" who lost their focus in life and need to get back in nature and manual labor. And that the people around me didn't struggle with mental health. Yet every person I knew smoked, dipped, or chewed tobacco.

I think humans have always and will always need help managing their anxiety. Whether its a pack of cigarettes or a prescription of hydroxyzine, we will medicate to manage.