In 2014, the stigma surrounding depression is every bit as harsh as it was in 1998, when I was diagnosed. In some ways it's even harsher. That really sucks. I

In 2014, the stigma surrounding depression is every bit as harsh as it was in 1998, when I was diagnosed. In some ways it's even harsher. That really sucks. I think it's worse. People are more aware of the illness itself, but there's more conformity, which means that it's harder to find accommodation for symptoms that are mild but embarrassing (e.g. needing a quiet room, instead of an open-plan hell, to recover from a panic attack). What's new and upsetting is the competitive conformity of the Millennial generation (or maybe I'm just biased against my won age group). Gen Xers in 1995 may have had to show up for work at 9:00 and wear slacks, but they didn't rat each other out. They knew it was them against the system. The rising generation seems to have more house-slave types who'll rat each other out. I don't mind conforming (to a reasonable degree) and I don't mind competing, but when people compete to conform I just want to punch everyone in the face.