Perhaps they look to others to make them happy because they think it is an entitlement.
Idiot
An interesting and important question. Whatever the answer, it seems the material success you’ve alluded to is not the key to happiness.
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It appears that material things, even comforts, are not perfect indicators for happiness. This is a very interesting question that people are looking at, but I don’t think there is a easy “meme” answer, but am interested to see any current research or thoughts on the topic. I think it is one of the more important issues of our information age society.
Edit: I see ED had a similar reply above
Edit2: I’ll also add that I heard this asked to the freakonomics author Stephen Levitt and he said this is one of the questions that keeps him up at night (figuratively). I find his thought process interesting and he focuses on areas such as this, and it is a very difficult question as it is counter-intuitive. Can’t remember where I heard the discussion so I’ll struggle to find the link.
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Snowflake.
So true lol.
You might want to tamp down this line of rhetoric man. Without actual experience with clinical Depression (yes big D) you’re going to sound pretty foolish.
Are SSRI’s over prescribed? Maybe. Are their plenty of people with depression (yes little d) that are on them and would better benefit from some basic lifestyle changes? Yes.
But let’s not throw the baby out with the proverbial bathwater here.
Much more likely the case than SSRI usage alone.
Just be clear you’re talking about little d and not big D depression here is all.
And we know more about the brain, and we’re a century further in clinical psy.
Also, maybe we’re depressed because western society doesn’t know how the fuck to deal with “negative” emotions, at all, as a whole? (I put negative in quotes because there is no negative or positive emotion, no good or bad, emotions just are.) We have every material comfort the world has ever known at our finger tips, and we’ve never taken a damn moment to learn how to process something as simple as “sad” in any meaningful way.
Fuck me I can’t remember the book, but once I do I’ll reply with links. But it was dude’s idea.
The issue with drugs is that they don’t work for everyone, and there is increasing suspicion that certain antipsychotics may actually cause violent behavior. I’m at work so need to focus on that, but there is an interesting article covering this point with regard to a few recent mass shootings. I’ll try to pull it up later. We need to take this aspect seriously. To some extent I find myself stuck between the “suck it up” approach popular on the right and the “but their rights!” Position popular on the left. If you know anyone with family members who has experienced psychotic episodes, schizophrenia, etc. they will tell you about feeling completely helpless and unable to get others to help. The police will lock them up for 3 days, the docs will give them some meds, and they’re back out again angry and crazy as ever. Per the article you posted I agree this isn’t many people but the ones theissues effect wreck absolute havoc on their families’ and others’ lives. I’ve heard lip service on it for decades. It’s beyond frustrating watching someone die and knowing they need help but being unable to get it.
Hardly.
Availability of information, availability of illusory options in life. It’s not about finding a job, marrying, starting a family, retiring etc. but about all those maddening options, whether they’re about your sexual partner, geographical location, employment or your free time that cause anxiety and depression.
Facebook also generates unhappiness because chances are 100% of the time someone of your Facebook friends is allegedly having fun and posting about.
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Thanks, Beans!
Clinical Depression is no more managed and “cured” by Lifestyle Changes than Diabetes is managed and cured by not eating candy.
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Actually lifestyle changes can help some with various forms of clinical depression. Not every clinically depressed person suffers from a severe case that requires medication. Some do. Some don’t. Clinical depression is also far removed from things like schizophrenia (although schizophrenics certainly suffer from depression).
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“A calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success combined with constant restlessness.”
Keeping up with the Jones’ has never been worse in our history, imo.
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This is all 100% true. In fact I’d say one isn’t going to make any progress without lifestyle changes.
The issue is, if the SSRI provides the relief necessary for the Depressed to make those changes, they are better off.
I’m not going to argue whether or not they are over prescribed, because I can’t. But I will caution against being full out on either side here though.
My armchair google psy degree is lacking in the areas of schizophrenia so I really can’t comment there. I can talk on depression anxiety and things like PTSD and NPD though…
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Rogan talks on this a little bit in a podcast with Peterson and Weinstein.
I’ll try and find that book that sort of touches on the same ideals too…
That sounds interesting. Einstein figured this out forever ago, the pursuit of shit doesn’t make you happy. It never has and it never will and the mental/emotional cost of that pursuit is detrimental to happiness. You’d think that would be painstakingly obvious, but we’re not the smartest creatures on the planet…
“Among the rich you will never find a really generous man even by accident. They may give their money away, but they will never give themselves away; they are egotistic, secretive, dry as old bones. To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it.”
― G.K. Chesterton
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I don’t have a degree in psychology/psychiatry, but do work on a volunteer basis, and did have a loved one with very severe schizophrenia. I’ve lived and seen it close up. I won’t hesitate to say that I’m glad he shot himself before the rise in mass shootings because I’m nearly certain he would have gone that direction. Instead he just shot himself. It sounds incredibly cruel and callus but in hindsight I’m glad (at least at times) that he did. The issues I’m speaking of in terms of mass shootings aren’t mild mental health issues (which seems to be where most organization focus their efforts to my own frustration). These issues are very real. On the other hand I also get frustrated with hearing every lazy ass who feels bad that mommy didn’t treat him well talk about depression. Sometimes people do need to suck it up. It’s a balance and there seems to be a great divide between two extremes who seek easy answers in a world with few easy answers. Hell, I really need to go work now.
Lack of purpose.
When life was a lot harder you could rest your head at night knowing fully and well that you did your damndest. Pass or fail, at least you did your best.
Now people wander through entire stages of life unchallenged and without purpose, becoming cynical and depressed.
We used to have 12-14 kids to make sure that some of them survived and contributed to their families well being.
Now we have one or two and make sure that they never experience even the mildest unpleasantry or discomfort.
I went to school with a kid that was born and raised to go to Harvard. Wore a tie and carried a brief case even through middle school. The one day that he got a B on his report card was the last day of his life.
Then I look at myself. Substance abuse, various other difficulties- anxiety, depression etc… but I can look at life as a series of victories (and failures) that were accomplished with some purpose.
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There was an interview the other day on the Bennington show with Art Garfunkel (dude is very strange lol) where he mentioned something to this effect. Essentially (I’m paraphrasing from memory here) you have to challenge yourself with the goal of staying interesting to yourself. So, every so often he would think of ways to challenge himself in new ways. For example, he just decided to walk across America and then I believe Europe.
Obviously, everyone can’t take weeks off to just walk, but the point struck me as incredibly astute.
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I tend to agree (with myself?).
What do they train you for in the military? That your purpose is your mission. Your allegiance is to your team etc.
What do we have now, with such a high percentage of former military trained to relate their purpose to their mission, but without any mission?
A very high suicide rate.
What was the Las Vegas shooter doing with his life? Gambling, blowing cash, living a life of leisure, drinking and popping pills. To what end?
Granted this isn’t scientific in any way. Just observational tidbits.
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