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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think we medicalise the normal throes of life?

84 replies

OneHonestSquid · 24/04/2025 21:36

It feels like nowadays, anyone’s who’s sad about something is instantly labelled as “depressed” and anyone who’s worried about something is “anxious.” It’s like we’ve forgotten that experiencing emotions like sadness or worry is just a natural part of being human.

I get that mental health is important but are we over-diagnosing and medicalising things that used to just be part of life? AIBU to think we might be going a bit too far with these labels? Or is there genuinely a rise in mental health issues that need more attention?

OP posts:
Didimum · 24/04/2025 21:53

No, I have not experienced this with the people I know in life. Those depressed or with anxiety, and diagnosed, experience it to the extent of it being debilitating. I also don’t know on anyone on medication that isn’t otherwise significantly debilitated.

Wakemeupbe4yougogo · 24/04/2025 21:53

I totally agree OP. It's perfectly normal to feel stressed/overwhelmed/anxious but we're teaching our younger generations that they need to be medicated/off school/off work because of it. Life is hard at times and people need to stop living inside their own heads.

Jshrbt · 24/04/2025 21:51

I think so; life events can make you sad and it doesn’t need to be depression and same with anxiety. I say that after thinking i was “depressed” in the past and then experiencing it in full and recognising how different it is.

LoveIndubitably · 24/04/2025 21:51

By "labelled" do you mean "diagnosed by a medical professional" or casually referred to as that?

If you're anxious, you're anxious. It's not weird to call it that. It's unhelpful to conflate that feeling with an actual anxiety disorder... but you seem to be assuming that's what it means?

LoremIpsumCici · 24/04/2025 21:50

No we are not at all.

Yoheresthestory · 24/04/2025 21:49

I think its so case by case you really can't comment.

JorgyPorgy · 24/04/2025 21:49

Yes I think many feel the need to stick labels on things which are in many cases the normal human experience, behaviours and responses.

ItsSummerSoon · 24/04/2025 21:48

I count actions when I'm really anxious. I have thoughts that I have to do things and if I don't bad things will happen. I've had proper panic attacks when I lost my younger sibling.

rubicustellitall · 24/04/2025 21:43

I totally agree

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