To think modern life makes us miserable and unhealthy

[thedcbrokemybank]

I am currently doing an Msc. My research at the moment is on depression and there is evidence that environmental stressors in life are contributing to increase incidence of depression which is the biggest cause of burden in high income countries.
There is also evidence to suggest that modern lifestyles Inc diet, technology, increases in sedentarism etc also lead to us being more physically unhealthy and dissatisfied with our lives.
I am a parent and try and give my dc opportunities in life by feeding them a healthy diet, limiting screen time and promoting exercise but I find I am often up against barriers e.g my ds gets called the health police because he doesn't take large bags of sweets etc to activities, he finds he is somewhat socially isolated because I limit his opportunity to play computer games.
AIBU just to up and leave and move us all to a simpler environment, away from a society where measures of success in life are judged on material wealth?

BeBeatrix

We own 120 acres of woodland as a second home that we source all our wood from.

I think you're right, but I'd replace the words 'modern life' with the words 'late capitalism'.

I think social media has a huge part to play, people are constantly looking for validation. I worry about the current 13-21 year olds, they're so self loathing and SM is their life. I see so much competitiveness, I've also noticed that a lot more teenage girls seem to be ill, they have to detail every single moment. I think it's unhealthy as they scare their parents half to death, love the validation, look a wee cannula pic here, had a pain in my toe so called 999. If I can offer anything meaningful please DM me.

Forgive me, I've only skimmed through this thread but I'm curious about your research
thedcbrokemybank.
Does it focus solely on environmental factors being the cause of many cases of depression, as in; the air we breathe, the condition of the water, pesticides, as well as things like technology and how its use is creating a new social environment for us to adapt to?
Is any of your research geared towards the way that medication is, generally, the first port of call for any form of depression or anxiety, as opposed to cbt or counselling (gp's will prescribe pills in a heartbeat, alternative therapies usually come with long waiting lists)?
It's something I've wondered about a lot recently. If there's a hint of difficult times, countless people may suggest 'happy pills' and admit to having found them helpful, a lot less seem willing to admit to any form of counselling. It seems much more socially acceptable to have prescribed medication than it does to have seen a shrink.

Btw, no YANBU but why move?
Get a vegetable patch in your garden, home school, live the 'good life'. Nobody has to conform to the norms of society.

I think you are right.

Think of all those women who had 'nervous disorders' in the past who ended up in asylums or sanatoriums or not leaving the house, who were probably suffering from some form of depression. Which could be helped now.

I don't think it's a new thing just more often correctly diagnosed and can, in many cases, be treated.

Read the yellow wallpaper.

Hmm. Every era has its upsides and downsides. But one of the differences between modern life and 'the olden days' is that we do actually have a choice about the extent to which we embrace many of the advances in technology and other things we may think affect our quality of life - such as choosing where we live. Whereas many of the downsides in the past were unavoidable whatever you did - such as lack of clean drinking water, lack of antibiotics and other medication, lack of freedom if you were female or black.

Going to live in an area with lower pollution and fewer people, or limiting your exposure to screens and devices may not be easy, but it's not impossible.

This thread needs more Marx!

"I'll take modern medicine, contraception, votes for women, marital rape being a crime etc etc over the Good Ol' Days any time"
You are literally talking hundreds of years ago with most of that, I think the OP meant a bit less distant past - well that's the way I read

Um, no, no, no, just no.

Marital rape got outlawed in Germany in 1997. Don't know the number for the UK, but doubt it is much better.
Seriously, inform yourself.

I very much like modern medicine as it is right now, too.

We could have full human rights for women without any modern inventions, so I would consider that a separate issue. Still very much prefer modern times.

We own 120 acres of woodland as a second home that we source all our wood from

It is not free, then, you paid for it when you bought the woodland.

It is nice that you can have that and do that, but it is not for free, and not everyone can do it.

Exactly - modern life with rights, medicine etc. If you want to unplug a bit and have a simpler life, quit Facebook, don't have a mobile phone, do a low-tech job, move to the countryside, do gardening, learn to knit, eat less processed food etc. Don't chuck the baby out with the bath water.