To think our current way of living is unsustainable?

[goldenlikedaylight]

The number of sick days in 2022 was at a record high. I myself had 2 months off from work last year because of my mental health just crumbling beneath me. I've heard of so many adults who have also taken sick leave for mental health, or have had to take time out from working because of it. I just think the way modern life is set up at the moment is not sustainable, and it's breaking people. Does anyone else feel the same?

Taking medication when they don't need it perhaps.

Quite teaching and got a far less stressful but lower paid job. Get to WFH 3/5 days.

I'm poorer but my mental and physical health are definitely improved in just a few months.

But I am very lucky our mortgage is relatively small, so we could afford for me to take the financial hit. The smaller income still stresses me out, but the gains elsewhere have been far greater. Especially the fact I see me kids more, and the whole household is calmer

Why do we continue to have high levels of depression, burnout and anxiety as a society if life is so good? Blaming it on people being greedy doesn’t sound plausible to me. Or is it greedy to want to be happier?

no, of course not. But how do you define happiness? I do think many of us are dissatisfied with what we have. And there is an absolute tendency to focus on what we don’t have, rather than what we do. Human nature to compare ourselves with the next person. I do think it helps to be have a modest outlook on life, to work on being grateful for the small stuff, however twee it might feel. of course, this is only possible when your basic needs are met and with a failing health care system, people being in pain, or genuinely struggling mentally are not getting the help they need. It’s,no good being grateful for a windy day if you can’t pay your rent. But it is very much worth recognising that if you can pay your rent, that’s a positive. End of. You don’t need to over analyse it, say but ‘we should be able to pay rent, we work, I’m not grateful for that’ because that causes dissatisfaction with what you do have and becomes difficult to manage mentally.

How would you change it though? People are chasing material possessions to the detriment of family and community but I don't think anyone will want to change. Plus times have always been hard, perhaps there was a golden period in the latter half of the 20th century but would you rather live in the 1930s or in the 19th century

The first answer on this thread is the best.

We all have the chance if we want to compete with others or simply live in the way that makes us happy.

The less I care about why I look to others the happier I am. Although I learned to stop caring what 99.9% of people think in my early twenties. I only care about the opinions of my close friends and family.

@onefinemess who would know who needs antidepressants other than someone's doctor?

Couldn’t agree more.