Is Ireland depressed?

ruaille buaille

I've returned to Ireland after living abroad for the past few years. I can't help but notice that people in general seem to be depressed. All we seem to talk about is the recession, how we've no money, theres no jobs etc etc.
Nobody wants to go out anymore. Even if you suggest things that cost little or no money. People actually seem to want to stay in at home all the time. I understand that things are tough at the moment, I am looking for work now aswell and its not easy. Just feel that peoples attitudes make it worse.

Weathering

Like a fcking rope

ruaille buaille

ruaille buaille wrote: »

I've returned to Ireland after living abroad for the past few years. I can't help but notice that people in general seem to be depressed. All we seem to talk about is the recession, how we've no money, theres no jobs etc etc.
Nobody wants to go out anymore. Even if you suggest things that cost little or no money. People actually seem to want to stay in at home all the time. I understand that things are tough at the moment, I am looking for work now aswell and its not easy. Just feel that peoples attitudes make it worse.

Eeeeehhhhhhhhh no.

beano345

only home since last week only stepped outside the door a few times since then its too depressing!

Dravokivich

No, it's the pressing.

hyperborean

ruaille buaille wrote: »

I've returned to Ireland after living abroad for the past few years. I can't help but notice that people in general seem to be depressed. All we seem to talk about is the recession, how we've no money, theres no jobs etc etc.
Nobody wants to go out anymore. Even if you suggest things that cost little or no money. People actually seem to want to stay in at home all the time. I understand that things are tough at the moment, I am looking for work now aswell and its not easy. Just feel that peoples attitudes make it worse.

Nobody wants to listen to your travel stories, thats all<

Caveman1

Us Irish just love a good moan, when its raining the weather is awful, when its sunny it's too hot. We're never happy.

Antar Bolaeisk

Maybe they need to stop fluoridating the water and start prozacing it instead.

Idbatterim

this pretty much sums it up for me...

Matt_Trakker

OP needs new friends.

Hoboo

Only two things Id invest in right now.............guns and Xanex.

anncoates

The glut of recession threads are making me depressed.

Madam_X

Caveman1 wrote: »

Us Irish just love a good moan, when its raining the weather is awful

But it is...

Anyone find the "Us Irish do this and this and this" stuff painfully tedious by now?

kunst nugget

anncoates wrote: »

The glut of recession threads are making me depressed.

Don't worry, we've turned a corner. It's… eh… no, carry on. We're still in recession but the next corner we turn is going to be fúcking awesome!

Caveman1

Madam_X wrote: »

But it is...

Anyone find the "Us Irish do this and this and this" stuff painfully tedious by now?

True, I blame the government. :rolleyes:

ruaille buaille

Ya I know but the point is that I think people should try not to be so negative.

Chuck Stone

Madam_X wrote: »

Anyone find the "Us Irish do this and this and this" stuff painfully tedious by now?

Like an army of Irish Woody Allens' only a hell of a lot less talented.

Gatling

I blame The Germans

Duckworth_Luas

My friends cousins grandfather wants to go back to that Japanese POW camp he was in during WWII, much happier days.

Eramen

ruaille buaille wrote: »

I've returned to Ireland after living abroad for the past few years. I can't help but notice that people in general seem to be depressed. All we seem to talk about is the recession, how we've no money, theres no jobs etc etc.
Nobody wants to go out anymore. Even if you suggest things that cost little or no money. People actually seem to want to stay in at home all the time. I understand that things are tough at the moment, I am looking for work now aswell and its not easy. Just feel that peoples attitudes make it worse.

Yeah, I think Ireland in general is depressed in its own way. I run into the same problems, people just don't want to 'get out there', have a good ol' chat, partake in some interesting or outdoor activity that's free or else very cheap. Sometimes its unduly hard to keep in contact with people too and when you meet up its the same old routine, nothing's changing.

With Irish men especially, I think there are more serious problems. I work with a social/cultural organisation that helps men deal with the problems of the times we now find ourselves in, yet it's the same old faces helping, acting, putting themselves out there. Nobody seems to want to help themselves, to pull themselves off the ground, they are just 'acceptant' of the unacceptable.

I guess when you working a routine, unenlightening job all day/no job, you go home and are flooded by a sea of video games, pRon, FB, and tv sports it's going to have a bad effect on the mind. It's basically living in isolation. It's not meant to be this way. Where is the society, brotherhood and self-progression?

ruaille buaille

Yes that is exactly what I'm thinking. People are living in isolation. I know so many people who have just stopped going out and socialising. The few people I know who do go out are only interested in going out pubbing or clubbing on a saturday night. Nobody really wants to go for a walk etc.
I think part of the problem is that people feel too comfortable at home being on the internet rather than going out. It also annoys me that people dont talk about their hopes, dreams and what they want to do with their life. I know it seems a bit 'American' but I think people generally need to believe in themselves more and be more positive and stop hiding away.

Minderbinder

I'm not depressed. I'm really just underwhelmed by things that seem to excite other people. I think the OP and other travellers who come back mistake re-entry shock for a societal shift in their home place. In other words, we haven't changed you have.

jimmyRotator

Tuesday following paddys bank holiday weekend, yeah I'd say Ireland is fairly depressed!

Augmerson

Eramen wrote: »

I guess when you working a routine, unenlightening job all day/no job, you go home and are flooded by a sea of video games, pRon, FB, and tv sports it's going to have a bad effect on the mind. It's basically living in isolation. It's not meant to be this way. Where is the society, brotherhood and self-progression?

Ah heyor. What the **** is wrong with playing videogames all day? Have you seen the ****ing weather outside? Self-progression is for the summer months. Right now I am in hibernate mode. Not going outside unless I absolutely have to.

ejmaztec

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

My friends cousins grandfather wants to go back to that Japanese POW camp he was in during WWII, much happier days.

Mister Tojo?

Head The Wall

ruaille buaille wrote: »

I've returned to Ireland after living abroad for the past few years. I can't help but notice that people in general seem to be depressed. All we seem to talk about is the recession, how we've no money, theres no jobs etc etc.
Nobody wants to go out anymore. Even if you suggest things that cost little or no money. People actually seem to want to stay in at home all the time. I understand that things are tough at the moment, I am looking forfor work now aswell and its not easy. Just feel that peoples attitudes make it worse.

It's the first thing I noticed when I moved to London. Pretty much everyone was giving out about something in Ireland and it's not like the UK is doing great either.

I'm a very cheery optimistic person but I can only imagine what all that moaning does to people that are depressed or feeling down.

Daveysil15

What's even more worrying is our poor attitude towards mental health.

Eramen

ruaille buaille wrote: »

Yes that is exactly what I'm thinking. People are living in isolation. I know so many people who have just stopped going out and socialising. The few people I know who do go out are only interested in going out pubbing or clubbing on a saturday night. Nobody really wants to go for a walk etc.
I think part of the problem is that people feel too comfortable at home being on the internet rather than going out. It also annoys me that people dont talk about their hopes, dreams and what they want to do with their life. I know it seems a bit 'American' but I think people generally need to believe in themselves more and be more positive and stop hiding away.

Well, I've no problem in getting people out for a drink on the week-end myself either - but yes, I see the exact same situation you've commented on.

If anything else other than drinks is suggested, it seems you are 'dragging people out of their comfort zone', from the warmth of their stead or the easiness of a languid night spent indoors. Polite excuses are the way of it, without sounding too judgmental, but I just find it such an uphill battle in persuading people who just aren't otherwise interested that I leave them to themselves as regard to suggesting anything too exceptional.

I know a couple of guys who would be regularly up for countryside excursions, fishing, astronomy and walking etc. I count myself as extremely lucky.

Everyone has their dreams and goals, but we all need to learn to take the first step, when it's taken you'll love every minute of it. I'm not advertising as some sort of role-model here, just trying to get a bit of optimism rolling

number66

Minderbinder wrote: »

I'm not depressed. I'm really just underwhelmed by things that seem to excite other people. I think the OP and other travellers who come back mistake re-entry shock for a societal shift in their home place. In other words, we haven't changed you have.

Have to agree with the above. Very little has changed here in Ireland, I laugh/cry every time I see a club advertising 80's 90's disco's.

Daveysil15

number66 wrote: »

Have to agree with the above. Very little has changed here in Ireland, I laugh/cry every time I see a club advertising 80's 90's disco's.

Or worse still, when they start bringing in these Z-list celebrites to try and draw the crowds. In my local club they keep getting these talentless gobsheens from Geordie shore and Tallafornia, and when you go in, all the attention is on them. People are more interested in getting a photo for their facebook page than anything else.

RaRaRasputin

Daveysil15 wrote: »

What's even more worrying is our poor attitude towards mental health.

ah please..

Daveysil15

RaRaRasputin wrote: »

ah please..

What?

TroutMask

Yep, very depressing in Ireland. I'm in France right now and it's great. Lovely food, nice people, everyone says hello. Think I'll stay

RaRaRasputin

Daveysil15 wrote: »

What?

I haven't encountered a place with a bigger obsession with mental health yet

heartseeker

Its the Ameericans or tourists I feel sorry for that come over with great expectations of this dreamy land of saints and scholars or to build a new life for themselves because they think that the US has problems only to get here and then realise the grass isn't any greener here!!!

nocoverart

Irish people in general aren't the problem, It's Irish people watching RTE that's the problem... fooking depressing channel that!

TroutMask

i hear that - RTE is the worst. Thankfully I'm on FreeSat, not an irish channel in sight

Daveysil15

RaRaRasputin wrote: »

I haven't encountered a place with a bigger obsession with mental health yet

And what about America where its almost cool to see a shrink? I meant there's more of a stigma wtih it here and its not really openly discussed.

Equium

Statistics show that 6 out of 7 dwarfs aren't Happy.

Minderbinder

heartseeker wrote: »

Its the Ameericans or tourists I feel sorry for that come over with great expectations of this dreamy land of saints and scholars or to build a new life for themselves because they think that the US has problems only to get here and then realise the grass isn't any greener here!!!

Saints and scholars aren't supposed to look happy though. They're meant to be in control of their emotions. People associate laughter and exuberant behaviour for happiness but people who are like that are as likely to be depressed as anyone else. I'm happy but look like a right grumpy sod, for example.

The_B_Man

You know when u wake up hungover, and u just lay in bed for a while? Between the smell of drink off ya, and the constant supply of farts coming out of ya, you have the whole room stunk up overnight. You realise there probably is a smell, but you've been lying in it long enough that you're used to it and don't really care.

When somebody else walks into the room, they nearly collapse with the smell. If they tell you that the room stinks, in most cases you'll either say u don't care, or you'll tell them to **** off coz you dont wanna hear it.

This is what its like coming back to Ireland after being away.

Wompa1

The_B_Man wrote: »

You know when u wake up hungover, and u just lay in bed for a while? Between the smell of drink off ya, and the constant supply of farts coming out of ya, you have the whole room stunk up overnight. You realise there probably is a smell, but you've been lying in it long enough that you're used to it and don't really care.

When somebody else walks into the room, they nearly collapse with the smell. If they tell you that the room stinks, in most cases you'll either say u don't care, or you'll tell them to **** off coz you dont wanna hear it.

This is what its like coming back to Ireland after being away.

Sounds like someone has a drinking problem! If you cut back on your drinking, said smell of alcohol will be gone and you'll be able to focus entirely on the issue of your farting...

Weathering

Feel sick after the above posts

ToddyDoody

Ireland probably is depressed. When someone here told me I seemed like quite a positive person I began to get suspicious.

MiseryMary

ruaille buaille wrote: »

I've returned to Ireland after living abroad for the past few years. I can't help but notice that people in general seem to be depressed. All we seem to talk about is the recession, how we've no money, theres no jobs etc etc.
Nobody wants to go out anymore. Even if you suggest things that cost little or no money. People actually seem to want to stay in at home all the time. I understand that things are tough at the moment, I am looking for work now aswell and its not easy. Just feel that peoples attitudes make it worse.

Agree with the points you made but I think its not just depression but alot of anger to it as well to how Ireland got into such a state, stores closed down all over, people lost jobs who is trying to provide for their family and struggle to put bread on the table, ridiculous charges to get money off people the whole time, at the end of the day you can't blame people to how they feel and people tried givng in CVs to look for work and your refused even tho you are qualified for the position so there is rejection. A twisted system puts people off big time.

efb

No, we are no just living within our means- the 'keep up with the jones-jones's is thankfully over.

Mr_Spaceman

heartseeker wrote: »

Its the Americans or tourists I feel sorry for that come over with great expectations of this dreamy land of saints and scholars or to build a new life for themselves because they think that the US has problems only to get here and then realise the grass isn't any greener here!!!

If people are seriously going to be naive enough to think Ireland is one shangri-la of saints, scholars and jolly little people then I've little sympathy for them. Americans naive? Never!

Irrespective of what country you visit, nothing is ever what it seems in the brochure. It can approximate, yes, but let's get real.

Daveysil15 wrote: »

And what about America where its almost cool to see a shrink? I meant there's more of a stigma wtih it here and its not really openly discussed.

You can go and see a shrink and keep it private. You don't need to tell the world about it like many Americans feel compelled to do.

Personal matters don't have to be broadcast as some kind of attention-seeking fashion statement which is, as you say, quite often the case in the US.

Quite frankly if the OP finds Ireland 'depressed' - and there may be a grain of truth in this of course - then I suggest going to countries where children haven't got shoes on their feet or a pot to piss in.

Legs.Eleven

I don't know what Ireland is like right now (only go home at Chrimbo and for a weekend here and there, so people are in good form - don't see what it's like on a daily basis) but Spain is depressing as fook right now and for all the love of the fiesta here, people on a day-to-day basis are not in a good place. People I know from here have mentioned how they feel the mood has changed dramatically since the beginning of the crisis. I've only ever known this country in crisis, so I can't compare but people are very obviously a angry and sick to the back teeth of the constant reminder that their country is in the shytter and that feeling is palpable every where you go and I think it's understandable.


I'd be a fairly optimistic person but it's tough to stay positive all the time and continue to be hopeful about the future when I don't have much faith in those who are governing us here and over there. I'm lucky (so damn lucky) to have a job but I can't imagine how hard it is to be long-term unemployed (I've been lucky enough to have never experienced that). There's only so many walks on the beach you can take per day and keeping yourself motivated to do some self-improvement is no easy feat for your average Joe. It's so easy for someone employed like me to come along and preach at unemployed people that they have to keep positive at all times - it's not that easy. It's against our nature to be positive all the time anyway. That's something imported from the Americans - the idea that being realistic (sometimes mistaken for negativity)is bad. That's bollocks. Do we really want to be taking advice from a country with a huge of proportion of their citizens off their heads on Valium just to get through the day?

And the weather IS atrociously bad in Ireland, let's be honest here! It can be pretty demotivating to get out and do something.

My ex Slovakian housemate who I shared flat with in Dublin during the good times said when she visited Ireland a year or so ago, she cried because she could "feel the depression in the air" and she wouldn't be the emotional type.

I dunno. I feel it's understandable that people are down in the dumps right now. We can't pretend everything is rosy when it's very clearly not. We're only human. I'm not condoning constant moaning but it's really hard to be positive when so many people are trying to keep their heads above the water.

CrabRevolution

heartseeker wrote: »

Its the Ameericans or tourists I feel sorry for that come over with great expectations of this dreamy land of saints and scholars or to build a new life for themselves because they think that the US has problems only to get here and then realise the grass isn't any greener here!!!

That has to be one of the least concerning things i have ever heard. To be honest i think its fantastic that Americans annoying stereotypical images of here are shattered before their eyes.

Ridiculous image to try and live up to anyway; would you be crestfallen if you went to France and the men werent wearing berets and carrying onions and baguettes?

ToddyDoody

CrabRevolution wrote:

would you be crestfallen if you went to France and the men werent wearing berets and carrying onions and baguettes?

Yeah a little... Of course the real reason we're depressed is that we're too clever to be stupid enough to be capable of moderate happiness

Daveysil15

Mr_Spaceman wrote: »

You can go and see a shrink and keep it private. You don't need to tell the world about it like many Americans feel compelled to do.

True, but at least they're more open about it and they're generally not as stigmatised for seeking professional help like so many are here. Many people with mental health difficulties continue to face negative attitudes in Ireland.