[joesbucks]

Think of all the years people suffered through what we are talking about without the benefits of modern medicine or medicaiton. Tough it out, have faith, get real........not too many years ago those were the only solutions. Those who suffered mental illness were thought to be demon possessed and that prayer was the only answer. We now know that there are severe chemical imbalances that can severely affect mood and mental state.

[ClancyJ]

Right.

Yet, it could be that the gene pools have evolved bringing forth modern day illnesses or weaknesses that were not prevelant in earlier times. Or, it could be that the lifestyle of those times solved some of the problems we have today in a different lifestyle.

Like colesterol. Our lifestyle allows cholesterol to progress to a serious problem but the farmers led a life of hard labor that allowed the grease filled diet to be controlled due to the exercise.

I feel sure diseases and genetic weaknesses evolve same as the species evolve.