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Prozac nation: Welcome, literally, to Lebanon

Comments (23)

Friday, June 6, 2008 | 12:29 PM ET

By Nahlah Ayed

If I've learned anything over the time that I have spent here, it's that the Lebanese are extraordinary at coping.

They would have to be, given all they've been through. From the different phases of their lengthy civil war, to a number of skirmishes and all-out conflicts with Israel, to endless periods of political and economic instability, they have truly seen it all.

So they are masters at adaptation. Block a road, and they immediately create a detour. Shut down the bars, and they throw spontaneous house parties. With lemons, they not only make lemonade, but they also make salad dressing, a palate cleanser, and a potent drink, complete with a decorative garnish to go on the side.

In Lebanon, it seems, when there is a will, there are a hundred ways. There is also, it seems, more than an ample supply of antidepressant medications.

Especially inventive

Lebanese get especially inventive when violence erupts. In the civil war days, they could light up an entire neighbourhood with just one generator.

When cigarettes ran out during the worst of it, they rolled their own using local tobacco. Those who ran out of rolling papers resorted to using pipes, which had other, more exotic uses at soirees apparently held in some basement bomb shelters.

At least that's what they tell me. I wasn't here in those days but I've seen enough conflict in my short time here to be persuaded that it is probably true.

I often wonder what their secret is. Is it because they've had to learn to adapt, or is it something they're born with, related to their innate freedom of spirit? Maybe it's the invigorating influence of the vast sea at Lebanon's threshold, or their particularly willful desire to survive against all the odds. A love of life, perhaps, or the irreverent, who-cares-about-tomorrow attitude that makes today too incalculably important to waste.

It's probably a bit of all that.

Little helper

During 15 years of civil war, people coped by relying on family, turning to music, prayer, meditation. Some took to drink and recreational drugs.

More recently, as Lebanon stumbled through some horribly depressing times, something else was introduced to help the dejected deal with their disquiet.

I started to clue in on this secret weapon after my own, short-lived brush with the blues. I was out for dinner with a few friends a couple of months ago, when I divulged that I was feeling a little down. I admitted mentioning it to my Lebanese doctor when I went for a checkup. The doctor, I confessed, to my friends, had suggested I start taking an antidepressant.

It seemed far too drastic, I told my friends, and throughout the mild episode, I refrained from taking my doctor's advice.

I was surprised how many of my friends, were, or had been at some point, taking antidepressants. Many of our acquaintances had apparently done the same and are still doing the same, often to counteract the depressing influences around them, not least of which is the deteriorating political situation. My friends were surprisingly blasé about it.

Despite their blazing spirits, or as one man I interviewed described it (after days of being stranded abroad while the airport was shut down by opposition supporters last month), their genetically programmed optimism, it turns out Lebanese are among the most depressed people in the world.

There are a number of old and new studies that say so, from Lebanese university researchers and opinion pollsters, all the way to the World Health Organization. They all point to the numerous episodes of violence here as one of the main culprits. Post-traumatic stress disorder following the 1975-1990 civil war here was epidemic. And many people are still suffering from it nearly two decades later .

A team of local researchers recently found that exposure to war-related events increased the likelihood of a mood disorder among Lebanese by threefold. The likelihood of an anxiety disorder jumps sixfold.

The same team concluded that one in four Lebanese has had a mental health disorder in their lifetime. Much of it to do with a series of misfortunes that have befallen this country, all lumped by the Lebanese under the title of the "Situation."

The situation

For the past three years, it's been one crisis after another. Assassination of a former prime minister, scores of explosions, a bruising war between Hezbollah and Israel and last month, open warfare on the streets between loyalists of the Hezbollah-led opposition and those of the Lebanese government.

It was the closest the country has been to civil war, since the civil war. And after witnessing Lebanese wantonly killing other Lebanese, even the most optimistic suspect the worst isn't yet over. This despite the fact that the opposition and the government have finally worked out a deal to end a stalemate that has paralyzed this country.

The proof? In the few days since the deal was struck, there has been:

At least one small explosion that killed a soldier.

Nearly two dozen people injured in clashes, and celebratory gunfire, on a night when Hezbollah's leader gave a speech.

A man wearing a suicide vest was apprehended a moment before he detonated explosives.

Politicians continue their bickering over forming a new government, with no solutions in sight.

The trajectory of increasing violence here over the past three years is unmistakable. And pharmacists I have spoken to report a parallel rise in the use of tranquilizers and antidepressants.

Xanax, Deanxit and Prozac are names as familiar here as Aspirin and 222s. For most, a prescription is required, but in reality, isn't necessary. If you're jittery and deep down in the dumps — or persuasive or well-connected — a Prozac pill is only a phone call away. It's viewed here as friendly and comforting like a hot water bottle and as available as a multivitamin.

Lebanese may be creative when it comes to adapting to the unpredictable and fast-changing environment that is this tiny, troubled country. But all that's happened here over the years has simply overwhelmed some of them. Self-medicating has become a popular way to cope, and to escape.

The other popular option, for many, is leaving altogether.

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Comments (23)

Nairobi

have hariri's killers been found?

Posted June 12, 2008 02:47 AM

Sergio

I wish to all Lebanese that they take on natural time honored stress-coping techniques, that we in the West are starting to discover: Yoga, Meditation and breathing techniques (Pranayama). With time it will also help them change their attitudes toward each other and promote peace.

Posted June 11, 2008 11:11 PM

len

monxcton

well who wouldn't be depressed if all you have known since birth is the sound of arms,small arms,artillery,self propelled grenades,constant civil war and invasions?canadians,some at least,use anti-depressants simply because the price of gas is too high,or they suspect a spouse of infidelity.these little gems were not present during two world wars,a blast of good old grog did the job.

Posted June 11, 2008 10:42 AM

Thank you for bringing mental health issues to the attention of readers, about the hightened coping-skills required to live in such horrific conditons.

My friend in Iran lives in constant oppression and fear from the dictator running the Country, human rights do not exsist. PTSD is a serious mental-health problem throughout parts of the MIDDLE EAST. The citizens in Iran have NO HOPE of freedom, and fear that because of their 'LEADER' they will be at war; they also realize that this is the only intervention that can offer them hope.

What a disgusting world - I appeal to the WORLD to help the citizens, a.k.a.prisioners, in IRAN!

Posted June 10, 2008 03:40 PM

Dean Sanduga

Edmonton

It appears to me, that we are looking at the Lebanese situation as reported in this article
In fact , this article can be used to describe most of the Middle East, I am writing my response from Jerusalem, I have visited Jordan, the Palestinian West Bank and Israel, I have witnessed the long line up at security crossing between villages and cities, the very damaged streets with pot holes so deep to damage tires and the entire car, filthy and dusty roads, African style garbage disposal by open fire in the middle of a heavy populated area.
Dogs and cats having a feast at the open garbage collection area, I have seen and noted a very severe contamination, air, water, food , and the display of food being sold at the dusty roads.

I am looking forwards to return home

Posted June 10, 2008 01:01 AM

Maya

Montreal

I can understand that such things happen as the access to prescription drugs is easier than in Canada, however I having lived through all the wars in Lebanon until 1991 can say that adapting is necessary because if you don't you either go crazy or you kill yourself or if both options become unbearable you leave like I did! Unfortunate but true, maybe that's why there is a bigger number of Lebanese outside Lebanon than in Lebanon. We use our adaptation skills wherever we go!

Posted June 9, 2008 03:10 PM

Ottawa

Maybe you have it backwards ... maybe it is an entire country of depression that is causing the crises you write of.

Posted June 9, 2008 02:07 PM

Warren

Dubai

Edy, Canada's not at war!

Posted June 9, 2008 04:04 AM

Paul MacGillivray

Vancouver,BC

Living and working for extended periods in situations where things can rapidly become chaotic or dangerous - small wonder she gets the blues sometimes.
It's even less surprising that the Lebanese would use drugs as part of their coping strategy, given access to them. It would be more newsworthy if they did not.
I hope Ms. Ayed manages to become more sanguine and continues reporting on the Middle East. Journalists who can understand the local language and culture can also provide richer and more accurate information, from an insider's perspective.

Posted June 9, 2008 03:02 AM

Japy

Canada

Israel doesn't need our help, it's being helped by the USA with Billions of dollars. Lebanon and other poor countries do not have that luxury. Let's put things into perpective here.

Posted June 8, 2008 11:49 PM

don don

proud of my arab-lebanese backround . I have to agree with NAELA , lebanese doctors are pill happy, most pharmacies dont require prescriptions to purchase medicine ' which allows substance abuse . It is a myth " lebanese adapt to problems ",they move on without correcting the problem . Example , if the road is closed , the right thing to do is to open it . not quickly looking for an another road. that is ignoring a problem not solving it .and so on problems compile year after year since 1958 with no end in sight .

Posted June 8, 2008 11:04 PM

Simon Ibrahim

Anti-depressants are a fad. Many Lebanese love a fad: "My neighbour is on Prozac, then I have to be too. He's not better than I am."
In the old days all these woes were solved by a glass of Arak. Not anymore.
I know I was born and raised in my beloved Lebanon.

Posted June 8, 2008 10:40 PM

DoogieHowser

Toronto

Problem with the whole region of the Middle East is that each ethnic group fails to see another as an equal. Isrealis vs Palestinians, Shia vs sunni vs christian, hezbollah vs lebanese govt.

The Middle east requires a leader who would care for everyone as if they are his/her own. Such a leader does not exist at this point in time.

Posted June 8, 2008 03:36 PM

Lloyd Spicer

Very Interesting article by Nahlah Ayed. I believe it was the Englist playwright W. Somerset Maugham that said Beirut was the most beautiful city in the world. Sadly, that is no longer the case. However, one thing bothers me about the terrible things that were said about Canada by Canadian Lebanese who were caught up in the conflict with Israel a few years ago. Most were people who had come to Canada, obtained Candian Citizenship and went back to Lebanon. And not a few, hundreds of thousands apparently and they were none too understanding of this country when it tried to arrange shipping for them to evacuate the country. It wasn't as easy for Canada to make these arrangements as it would be for the French, Italians, Greeks, etc. I know some did apologize for their vitriolic remarks but Canada was doing the best it could for them.

Posted June 8, 2008 03:09 PM

sparrowfahrenheit

Calgary

Solution?

As we divide, destroy each other, our cultures and history, we move further away from being able to solve the problems we all face.

Largest parts of the world economy by size:

1. Guns (military industrial complex)
2. Drugs (Pharmaceutical - Drugs would be no. 1 if illegal drugs were included)
3. Oil

We have created a world society where the most profitable activities are war and disease.

Greed, ignorance and stupidity are humanity's enemy (some might define "satan" as such).

Free Lebanon. Free the world. Don't feed the evil economy. One united front. Do you know what your taxes and spare change do? Don't feed the beast.

Posted June 8, 2008 01:20 PM

Moe H.

Canada

Nice article and interesting topic. I agree with you that Lebanese are very smart when it comes to "negative situations" related to war and political instability and they find innovative ways to adapt but I am interested to read an article of how Lebanese behaves to "situations" where it's not related to civil war or politics would they still have this creative adaptation mindset?

Posted June 8, 2008 11:53 AM

Altin

Edmonton

The article is interesting and Nahlah has expressed her opinion which is valid since she lives there.
This comment is in response to Bill Brown:
Unfortunately Mr. Brown, the politics in small and poor countries is not played by the people who live there, but from either the stronger nations surrounding them ( Israel and Syria for Lebanon) or others ( US and Iran)
Lebanon has been a battleground not on their own choice and there is a huge involvement of Syria and Iran in the Hezbollah movement.

Posted June 8, 2008 11:26 AM

G James

Shanghai

After teaching in the Middle East for 2 years I can tell you bill brown that Lebanon is not so much a country but a loose coalition of several different groups whose ties of loyalty are stronger to those than the abstract concept of a country. I had many Lebanese students who all bemoaned the fact that anytime there was a problem between the Palestinians and Israel, it invariably led to fighting in Lebanon. Right now, the country is the battleground for a proxy war between Israel and the US versus Iran and Syria [and Hezbollah]. It is unlikely to end in the near future--which is too bad because Lebanon has so much potential that will never be reached until these other groups find another place to wage their battles

Posted June 8, 2008 06:03 AM

Benjamin Lavallee

This is very interesting to read. Lebanon has had more than its share of conflict in the past few decades and in 2006, however, that can be said for other places as well; I would speculate (having had lived in the region for sometime) that the thing is that Lebanon is more connected and more importantly more accessible with the drugs than other places such as Dafur, Afghanistan and Yugoslavia. I may be wrong.

Posted June 7, 2008 08:02 PM

Wael Hassan

Nahlah, as a proud Canadian with Lebanese roots, I beg to differ. Your article is well targeted, you portray a social aspect that affects many societies, including the Lebanese. However, your proposition to label the lebanese "Powered by Xanax," may face some criticism.
For it to hold, I think you may want to discuss substance abuse in general. Most Lebanese doctors are highly qualified, with western education, I do not think that they are to blame. Drug companies, and the commercialization of antidepressants, labeling them as the "Happy Pills", is the real reason behind such a fact.
Lebanese are great at adapting, survival is their greatest gift. We have our faults, however, a label is not something we need.

Posted June 7, 2008 11:30 AM

Dona

Hudson,QC.ca

Nahlah Ayed's article is very enlightening.
I hope Canada will offer its help and support for the Lebanese people when necessary.
And not only to Israel. The Lebanese people have obviously suffered too much.

Posted June 7, 2008 11:29 AM

Edy Haddad

It is sad, when the Most beautiful country on the planet must suffer the misery of War!!
LET us pray for the People of my home,
and Bring them all PEACE!!
With Love,
Edy Haddad

Posted June 7, 2008 11:15 AM

bill brown

If the Lebanese are so adaptable , why dont they put some of thes adaptable people in power and quit killing each other off and live in peace.

Posted June 7, 2008 10:16 AM

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