Philosophy Discussion Forums

I know this is not a nice thing to say. However, I believe it must be said. To question how a country so privileged, with such high quality of life, could possibly have a vast majority of their youth be depressed or anxious, is laughable. The simplest answer I can offer is such. Because the country is so privileged and has such a high quality of life, its youth is bound to succumb to depression and anxiety. The shere quantitives of things that must be accounted for that make up this phenomena are far too many to list at this moment, but I will list a few. Posit this if you will, in recent years, statistics have shown that 15% of the population ages from 13 - 22 have either felt depressed or anxious at least once in their life. Contrast this with older data that suggested, only 3% of the population in the similar age ranges, having felt depressed or anxious. This can mean two things. It can mean, in recent years people have become more depressed and anxious than before. Or it can mean just as many or more people were depressed then, but due to lack of a pool sample, it seems so little.
If the first is true, then it would lead one to believe, despite on a general scale of everyone living a comfy life, without the former stressors of our less advanced and equipped selves. We find ourselves more depressed and anxious, than ever recorded. That this non-confrontational, happy go lucky, way of living has brewed more problems than that we have ever faced. We traded in our old worries about survival, protecting our land, raising our children. For modern sorrows about which pronouns we use, whether or not we want to live in a studio paying $1,500 or a one bedroom for $2,100, or deluding ourselves, that we don’t need anyone and are satisfied with just our dog. I don’t find myself surprised or at all shocked, when a teenage boy in the midwest says he’s depressed or suicidal because he was bullied for being gay. Or when a twenty something says she suffers from anxiety due to societal and cultural pressures. I am the least bit surprised. Although, I am surprised when a young man who tends to the cattles, shepherds the lambs, and feeds his family, says he is depressed or anxious. I am surprised when a teenage girl that cooks and bakes alongside her mother, reads her religious scripture, cleans her home says she is depressed or anxious. This illicits confusion. How could doing something so human, so integral, cause one to have depression or anxiety? Could it be the uncertainty of food that causes the anxiety? Could it be the shakey faith that causes the depression? It couldn’t possibly be the uncertainty of food, as having the certainty of food, still we are anxious, and it can’t be the shakey faith, because even with total rejection of a higher power, we are still depressed. Then what could it be? Perhaps, this lingering depression and anxiety is inate as to who and what we are, maybe it is inevitable that we will be depressed or anxious. It will forever be a part of us, but what is it that has led to the increase of those who are. Pool sample? Fear of ridicule? Romanticization?

dontkilldad wrote: ↑May 8th, 2021, 7:22 am I know this is not a nice thing to say. However, I believe it must be said. To question how a country so privileged, with such high quality of life, could possibly have a vast majority of their youth be depressed or anxious, is laughable. The simplest answer I can offer is such. Because the country is so privileged and has such a high quality of life, its youth is bound to succumb to depression and anxiety. The shere quantitives of things that must be accounted for that make up this phenomena are far too many to list at this moment, but I will list a few. Posit this if you will, in recent years, statistics have shown that 15% of the population ages from 13 - 22 have either felt depressed or anxious at least once in their life. Contrast this with older data that suggested, only 3% of the population in the similar age ranges, having felt depressed or anxious. This can mean two things. It can mean, in recent years people have become more depressed and anxious than before. Or it can mean just as many or more people were depressed then, but due to lack of a pool sample, it seems so little.
If the first is true, then it would lead one to believe, despite on a general scale of everyone living a comfy life, without the former stressors of our less advanced and equipped selves. We find ourselves more depressed and anxious, than ever recorded. That this non-confrontational, happy go lucky, way of living has brewed more problems than that we have ever faced. We traded in our old worries about survival, protecting our land, raising our children. For modern sorrows about which pronouns we use, whether or not we want to live in a studio paying $1,500 or a one bedroom for $2,100, or deluding ourselves, that we don’t need anyone and are satisfied with just our dog. I don’t find myself surprised or at all shocked, when a teenage boy in the midwest says he’s depressed or suicidal because he was bullied for being gay. Or when a twenty something says she suffers from anxiety due to societal and cultural pressures. I am the least bit surprised. Although, I am surprised when a young man who tends to the cattles, shepherds the lambs, and feeds his family, says he is depressed or anxious. I am surprised when a teenage girl that cooks and bakes alongside her mother, reads her religious scripture, cleans her home says she is depressed or anxious. This illicits confusion. How could doing something so human, so integral, cause one to have depression or anxiety? Could it be the uncertainty of food that causes the anxiety? Could it be the shakey faith that causes the depression? It couldn’t possibly be the uncertainty of food, as having the certainty of food, still we are anxious, and it can’t be the shakey faith, because even with total rejection of a higher power, we are still depressed. Then what could it be? Perhaps, this lingering depression and anxiety is inate as to who and what we are, maybe it is inevitable that we will be depressed or anxious. It will forever be a part of us, but what is it that has led to the increase of those who are. Pool sample? Fear of ridicule? Romanticization?

You seem to be confusing sadness with depression. Sadness is caused by life stressors, depression is caused by neurochemical imbalance in the brain. Of course the sad group and the depressed group definitely overlap because they are so large.

Very few argue that depression was underreported in previous eras, so you are correct that straight statistical comparisons between eras on depression are inaccurate on their face.

You seem determined to discuss the relationship between stressors and sadness in the modern era. To my eye there are two new issues that drive sadness that previous generations didn't have to address. The first is social media, where everyone pretends to be more interesting and happier than they really are, thus when viewed by simple minds, makes one's real life look extra boring and lame. The second is the death of the middle class due to tax policy changes that boost the wealthy class at the expense of everyone else. The poor can barely tell they are poorer but the middle class can tell they are losing ground, generationally.

I had a theory on social depression a couple of years ago that you might find interesting . here's a video a friend of mine did on it . i figured it would be easier than reading a ton of text lol but if you have questions please feel free to ask
https://youtu.be/5RoMmAXEkek

Not everyone in any 1st world country with lots of privilege can afford it right? And yes, many can afford it but how easy it is for them to maintain that lifestyle? I don't think so. Everyone has their own battlegrounds in their minds and we all have different ways to challenge them.

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I have a few notes to share with you below.

dontkilldad wrote: ↑May 8th, 2021, 7:22 am
…statistics have shown that 15% of the population ages from 13 - 22 have either felt depressed or anxious at least once in their life.

…a vast majority of their youth [is] depressed or anxious…

I hesitate to point out that 15% is not a vast majority. Also, saying that a majority is depressed or anxious (I.e. suggesting that this was a concurrent event) is not comparable to a timeframe of the previous 13 to 22 years.

dontkilldad wrote: ↑May 8th, 2021, 7:22 am
Because the country is so privileged and has such a high quality of life, its youth is bound to succumb to depression and anxiety.

I should point out that without statistical evidence, there’s no way to know if privilege and high quality of life are causal agents of depression and anxiety.

dontkilldad wrote: ↑May 8th, 2021, 7:22 am
The shere (sic) quantitives (sic) of things that must be accounted for that make up this phenomena are far too many to list at this moment,

I agree. Indeed there are many.

dontkilldad wrote: ↑May 8th, 2021, 7:22 am
We traded in our old worries about survival, protecting our land, raising our children. For modern sorrows about which pronouns we use, whether or not we want to live in a studio paying $1,500 or a one bedroom for $2,100, or deluding ourselves, that we don’t need anyone and are satisfied with just our dog.

I doubt this, however you may have some evidence supporting the connection between protecting our land and the pronouns we use.

dontkilldad wrote: ↑May 8th, 2021, 7:22 am
I don’t find myself surprised or at all shocked, when a teenage boy in the midwest says he’s depressed or suicidal because he was bullied for being gay. Or when a twenty something says she suffers from anxiety due to societal and cultural pressures. I am the least bit surprised.

Although, I am surprised when a young man who tends to the cattles, shepherds the lambs, and feeds his family, says he is depressed or anxious. I am surprised when a teenage girl that cooks and bakes alongside her mother, reads her religious scripture, cleans her home says she is depressed or anxious. This illicits confusion. How could doing something so human, so integral, cause one to have depression or anxiety? Could it be the uncertainty of food that causes the anxiety? Could it be the shakey faith that causes the depression? It couldn’t possibly be the uncertainty of food, as having the certainty of food, still we are anxious, and it can’t be the shakey faith, because even with total rejection of a higher power, we are still depressed.

Inasmuch as you seem to be focusing on cattle, cooking, cleaning, scripture and faith, you are actually off topic here.

dontkilldad wrote: ↑May 8th, 2021, 7:22 am
Then what could it be? Perhaps, this lingering depression and anxiety is inate (sic) as to who and what we are, maybe it is inevitable that we will be depressed or anxious. It will forever be a part of us,

This may well be the case. Certainly intrinsic depression, presumably due to biochemical imbalances, is innate in some individuals. And anxiety seems to be a part of the personality that stems from a primal response to stressors.

dontkilldad wrote: ↑May 8th, 2021, 7:22 am
but what is it that has led to the increase of those who are. Pool sample? Fear of ridicule? Romanticization?

I should say that after digesting your comments, what has lead to an increase in depression and anxiety could be just about anything.

Again, I wish to thank you for your thought provoking comments.