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Why is depression and anxiety so common nowadays?

More free time sure.
Social media used as a flawed mirror.
Conflicting messages about personal/human values.
Media driven pathology that results in confusion and uncertainty.
Government induced and controlled divisiveness to alienate citizens and
discourage unified opposition to policy.
 
Well

Because our whole society is based off never feeling satisfied and that pressure just builds and builds. I'm not advocating for communism here so don't get excited but I do think capitalism depends on this to thrive and function. Social media feeds the feeling. The movies and video games and entertainment feeds it.. more and more we are exposed to things that make us want more and feel inadequate
 
biscuitsbrah said:
Is it because people have too much free time and are stuck in their minds now?
I heard an explanation about how a big part is social media and just overall technology is a big cause. I think people and kids especially dont have to interact and socialize with others as much in person. So it obviously gives people social anxiety to do so. Just like how you would get anxious snowboarding or doing something for the first time. Its like that for a lot of people nowadays

Obviously a huge part of "depressed and anxious" people are just being little bitches and its fake news, they are exaggerating and are just drama queens. But it seems to be a real phenomenon especially for young adults and teenagers. Whats funny is you rarely hear it being a huge problem among older adults.

What is your theory?
Click to expand...
I heard the childrens hospital near me, the psyche wing is full of kids, and never has been. More anxiety and depression than ever been seen.

That is probably what a years worth of telling kids that they have to social distance, can't play too close, and have to wear a mask all the time.

This stuff affected adults too. We are social people.

The mandates were stupid and did damage. I think the people who are in power now are bringing them back soon.
 
Papi Chulo said:
I heard the childrens hospital near me, the psyche wing is full of kids, and never has been. More anxiety and depression than ever been seen.

That is probably what a years worth of telling kids that they have to social distance, can't play too close, and have to wear a mask all the time.

This stuff affected adults too. We are social people.

The mandates were stupid and did damage. I think the people who are in power now are bringing them back soon.
Click to expand...
<BidenShutIt>
 
Herwald said:
I don't care. Anxiety = cowardice. Take 10 different dictionaries, compare definitions for both words - it's the same thing.

The only reason you're struggling to cope with this is cause it's tough to look back and realize you've been through some cowardly moments. So you better spray some perfume on that turd and keep living in lies.

Realizing you were being a bitch gives you more individual power and responsibility, which psychiatry is against - they'll indulge with some horseshit labels before jamming pills down your throat, numb you instead and not help you.
Click to expand...
I've posted here maybe five times in the last decade and this is the kind of tardgarbage that sadly reminds me why
 
One can argue that it isn't that it's more common now than it's ever been, it's just that people are finally talking about it. There are better options to treat it rather than sweep it under the rug like say 20+ years ago.

Another thing is, there are a lot of people who self-diagnose, which imo is dangerous. People do it with their physical health all the time and potentially cause harm to themselves either short term or long term trying to figure what's wrong instead of going to a professional for help. Mental health is no different, and in some instances, even more dangerous.

It does feel like we are victims of the society we've created. Open up social media and try to compete with some of these people physically, financially or watching the relationships they have makes it extremely difficult to be a normal functioning human being.
 
It's not any more prevalent today than any other time in human history.

The pharmecutical industry will not rest, however, until they convince every man, woman, and child on earth that they shouldn't feel sad or unhappy...and that their pill can fix thier problems.

They already have every woman and most kids. The men are the last holdout, and we've seen the media campaign to get them on board pushed hard the last decade.
 
biscuitsbrah said:
Is it because people have too much free time and are stuck in their minds now?
I heard an explanation about how a big part is social media and just overall technology is a big cause. I think people and kids especially dont have to interact and socialize with others as much in person. So it obviously gives people social anxiety to do so. Just like how you would get anxious snowboarding or doing something for the first time. Its like that for a lot of people nowadays

Obviously a huge part of "depressed and anxious" people are just being little bitches and its fake news, they are exaggerating and are just drama queens. But it seems to be a real phenomenon especially for young adults and teenagers. Whats funny is you rarely hear it being a huge problem among older adults.

What is your theory?
Click to expand...

i agree with a lot of what you said. i'd also add that today people have many more connections than ever before, and because of this, your attention to specific people becomes less, and less meaningful. your time is being spread out to more people. when you have hundreds of connections online, each one inevitably becomes an acquaintance instead of a true friend.
 
Papi Chulo said:
I heard the childrens hospital near me, the psyche wing is full of kids, and never has been. More anxiety and depression than ever been seen.

That is probably what a years worth of telling kids that they have to social distance, can't play too close, and have to wear a mask all the time.

This stuff affected adults too. We are social people.

The mandates were stupid and did damage. I think the people who are in power now are bringing them back soon.
Click to expand...

Anxiety is now being studied as a possible symptom of COVID 19. The virus may be causing changes in the brain that lead to anxiety.

It's a question of whether the disease causes changes in the brain or if it's people thinking about it and the changes in their lives from it causing the anxiety.

People who were very active prior to the disease and can't seem to get back to what they did before they got sick.
 
Interesting question.

I'm pretty sure diet, particularly high carb processed foods lead to states of depression. People worrying about things they can't change (ie world wide events, politics etc) doesn't help.

I noticed in the west many people are distracted, depressed etc. I also noticed when I went to third world nations people were poor and had less things, but were generally much happier. Family and friends and experiences over material objects etc I guess.

As a side note, I got some blood tests done and was consistently low in vitamin d, iron and B12. I started with supplements and noticed a distinct mood change in like 2-3 weeks. I'm not saying I had depression or got rescued from it, but I think diet (or your body not processing certain things you need) definitely plays a role.

Constant dopamine hits/highs we seek probably contribute as well.
 
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Lifestyle, new societal norms, dissatisfaction at life due to new lifestyle/societal norms and better understanding mental illness/access to means of diagnosis/treatment.
 
juligrat said:
There was always depression, people just didn't talk about it.
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I believe more people are just open to talk about it now. The taboo has sort of lifted. I think people are not as embarrassed or ashamed to say they are feeling depressed or anxious or what not nowadays.
 
MXZT said:
I agree with this. I believe more people are just open to talk about it now. The taboo has sort of lifted. I think people are not as embarrassed or ashamed to say they are feeling depressed or anxious or what not nowadays.
Click to expand...

I agree to a certain extent but other neurological conditions are on the rise and have been for sometime..........and it's not because we've become better at diagnosis.........

There's more going on........and has something to do with our diet and how we farm and prepare food.
 
William Huggins said:
I agree to a certain extent but other neurological conditions are on the rise and have been for sometime..........and it's not because we've become better at diagnosis.........

There's more going on........and has something to do with our diet and how we farm and prepare food.
Click to expand...

This could be true. I won't deny that. Our food and diet has been atrocious for the most part. Obesity is on the rise like no other. So yeah this could certainly factor in.
 
There's a journalist named Sebastian Junger who did research and found that people who live in very rough conditions, ghettos, poor countries, villages etc, they have less depression than people who grow up in middle class type of neighborhoods that you see in developed countries today. Something to do with how people in rougher conditions usually have tighter bonds and friendships with people in their communities where middle class folks don't really feel that connected and feel like they are alone
 
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