age conditioning and by the use of a drug called

Soma, which produces euphoria with no side effects,

or as Huxley describes it " a vacation". In today's

world with our increasing stress, our rising

numbers in mental illness, and our incessant use of

anti-depressants it seems that today's society is

on a quest for Soma. But is Soma the answer?

A. Introduction to Society in Brave New World

In Aldous Huxley's science fiction novel, Brave New World, Huxley attempts to create a vision of a Utopia future where happiness and stability is generated by the government, or otherwise known as the World Controllers. In Brave New World, the motto "Community, Identity, Stability" is posted at the entrance of the "Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre" the place where people are now born from test tubes an

Although a Soma like drug would be the easiest way to cope with today's obstacles and challenges, it seems that anti-depressants with their side effects also may not be the cure for all. With increasing levels of stress and depression in this country it is disheartening that medicine has not yet found a Soma solution. Perhaps Huxley's idea of a Utopian society where there only exists happiness doesn't seem sound, for with out sadness there does not exist happiness. I know for myself, I would really more like the softer way, but it seems that my only solution to coping with stress and times of sadness lie in action; the action of prayer and meditation. I think it was best said by Simma Lieberman in an article in Restaurant and Hospitality, "Your mental, physical and spiritual health are directly impacted by how well you deal with the stress". She goes on to interview an owner of two restaurants who frequently meditates who says, "I can solve problems more easily, no matter what is going on externally. Stress no longer runs me"(Meditate).

Secretan,Lance. "Meditation's Many Rewards." Industry Week

Being equipped with all these facts, perhaps we are well on our way to solving these two critical health issues. Well, with the present decrease in our economy it would be skeptical of myself to make that prediction. However with our ultramodern science we have come to what most medical doctors would call a cure. Today's Soma, we call Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin, just to name a few of the anti-depression and anti-anxiety medications. They are also known as SSRI's short for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhipitors. It would seem that with the prevalence of stress disorders and depression, analogous to the common cold, people would not think twice about popping a pill. Unfortunately, society maybe still antiquated in our ways of mental illness, views anti-depressants as a weakness, as they themselves lack the ability to deal with the problem. Even in the 1998 presidential campain, rumors and allegation of depression was used against Michael Dukakis to question his fitness for political office. Just as Bernard in Brave New World who being part of the upper class Alpha plusses, found himself smaller and saw society as dismal. Basicly he was unhappy. Unconforming, he refused to take Soma. Why, maybe because of his pride, thus taking Soma would be to capitulating to the painful reality that he was different. This maybe the similar conflict among most with prejudice towards mental illness. I myself am not an advocate for anti-depressants, however I do feel that there are

Some common words found in the essay are:
Stress Directions, Industry Week, World Happiness, Conditioning Centre, Prozac Backlash, Shush Soma, Brave World, Health Service, Georgetown University's, Reuptake Inhipitors, brave world, april 2001, mental illness, 12 april, 12 april 2001, stress management, mental illness incessant, rising mental, industry week, world happiness, stress rising, increasing stress, illness incessant anti-depressants, rising mental illness, april 2001 stress,
Approximate Word count = 1746
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)