• Our software update is now concluded. You will need to reset your password to log in. In order to do this, you will have to click "Log in" in the top right corner and then "Forgot your password?".
  • Forum moderator applications are now open! Click here for details.
  • Welcome to PokéCommunity! Register now and join one of the best fan communities on the 'net to talk Pokémon and more! We are not affiliated with The Pokémon Company or Nintendo.

Why is mental illness so common today?

2,823
Posts
6
Years
  • Age 122
  • Seen Jan 27, 2019
I don't mean to insult people who struggle with it, but seems like everyone and their grandmas have a mental illness these days. Sometimes I see the most normal people claim to have a mental illness. It's gotten so ridiculous that I can't even distinguish between those who are exaggerating and those who truly have it. For example on depression, I have noticed on places like reddit/social media and real life that some can mistake sadness or whatever else for depression. Like I myself, I don't even have depression but I see some self proclaimed depressed folks in my life enjoying their lives more than me. It's weird as hell.

Again, I don't mean to belittle anyone who suffers from mental illness. Also I apologize if this seems insensitive. I can't officially diagnosis myself, but I can relate to depression and anxiety and things like that.
 
Last edited:
1,824
Posts
5
Years
  • Age 37
  • Seen Nov 4, 2018
Being online makes it seem like a lot more. That's part of it. But really, I don't think the actual number has increased, just the method of detection.

New criteria for autism, for example, obviously means more people are included than before, hence more. Not because it's on the rise.
In the 60s however, autism was just "the weird kid in class" or someone like that.
 

Altairis

take me ☆ take you
5,188
Posts
11
Years
there's several explanations for this:
1. more people have mental illnesses simply because there are more people. the population grows every year, and there's no limit on how many people can have mental illnesses, thus, their numbers grow. genetics can cause illnesses or can cause people to be preidsposed to developing them later. as society adapts for disabled and mentally ill, they survive and have kids. basic population genetics.

2. internet and more normalized global communication makes it very easy to recall examples of people with mental illnesses. if we didn't have internet, i could count on one hand the number of people i know with diagnosed disabilities. with the internet, i can think of at least 100 usernames.

3. better diagnostic criteria allows for more people to be diagnosed when they would have previously gone undiagnosed. example: the symptoms of adhd and autism listed in the dsm were mostly indicative of boys' behavior, causing many girls to fall through the cracks, therefore less diagnoses in past. mainly, adhd was thought to be a hyperactive disorder, but many girls don't show hyperactive symptoms and would therefore not have received any diagnosis in the past (source: me).

4. mental illnesses are coming out of the shadows and becoming a more open part of society. people could now be more likely to share their diagnoses. it's quite possible that you knew mentally ill people before, but they just didn't bring it up. example: i would never tell people of my diagnosis in real life, but now that conversations around mental illness are somewhat common, i feel more comfortable.
4.5. when mental illnesses become more prevalent, more people see those symptoms and think "hey, that could be me" and seek help. source: me. i thought everybody occassionally had moments of debilitating anxiety. i never would have gone to a doctor had i not know they were a potential sign of mental illness and could be treated.

5. internet is somewhat anonymous. i, and probably other people as well, feel more comfortable sharing, therefore it appears like more people are diagnosed.

6. the way society is built can cause some mental illnesses to stand out and might actually be causing more people to develop them. if i lived on a farm 300 years ago, my adhd wouldn't be as noticeable or maybe people wouldn't care. now, if you're unable to sit still and memorize material for 7 hrs/day, it stands out. for example: there's studies that show that the insane amount of work causes insane amount of stress which can result in depression. look at japan. i can link studies later.

it's likely a combo of all of these things. i'm not saying everyone you see has a mental illness, in fact, we still normalize using mental illnesses as mood descriptors (ocd, autism, etc), which can cause the illness to be misunderstood by people who don't seek a professional's opinion.

also, it's very harmful to base someon's outward appearance or behavior on a single judgment. people are legitimately denied care and harmful behaviors by the public are perpetuated by this "but you look/seem fine" stereotype. i totally understand where you're coming from, though, but because of this mindset I used to deny my own health because i "seemed" functional. like it's totally fine to assume someone isn't mentally ill or disabled by appearance (it's impossible to tell from outside most of the time), but if someone tells you they have a diagnosis, think about what you're saying when you are denying it. nobody knows what it's like to be you just how you can't know what it's like to be the other person just by looking.

i hope i could explain this as best as possible to help you understand, i am not trying to be rude at all, this issue is just something that personally affects me daily
 
Last edited:

Hands

I was saying Boo-urns
1,879
Posts
7
Years
  • Age 33
  • Seen Dec 15, 2022
I don't think it's increased per se. We just know more about it now and we have a much bigger global population. The internet connects people in a way we have never been connected before as well, which adds to our exposure to it.
 
18,257
Posts
10
Years
I think it's just because we know more about it and what to look for in certain symptoms.
But the way society is these days, with putting pressure on people and getting people to constantly compete isn't helping.
 
22,743
Posts
11
Years
  • Age 34
  • Seen today
I think it's just because we know more about it and what to look for in certain symptoms.
Let's not forget that practizing psychologists are perceived by the people (themselves included) as more competent than they actually are. I wonder how many people are diagnosed with some sort of mental illness without actually have one.
But the way society is these days, with putting pressure on people and getting people to constantly compete isn't helping.
So there was a time when this was not the case? What do you mean with "compete"?
 
18,257
Posts
10
Years
Or how many people are told they're just ~going through a rough patch~ when they might have a mental illness?

And what I mean is people are always comparing their growth with others. I see it all the time. People will say "oh this person has x job and I only do this" life isn't a competition, and this only adds unneeded stress.
 
20
Posts
5
Years
  • Age 33
  • Seen Oct 2, 2018
The way they try to detect mental illness is completely without context
It is way too over simplified
 
57
Posts
7
Years
  • Age 30
  • Seen Mar 14, 2024
I think a case can be made about over-diagnosis, at least for some mental illnesses.
I don't have a particularly low opinion of psychiatrists, but I myself have been diagnosed on the spot with bipolar disorder by a doctor who never met me before, never talked to me before, doesn't know me, just by him reading my file and me speaking like a sentence to him. Obviously I'm not bipolar and that was a shitty excuse for a diagnosis in a very specific case where my parents were scared to death by me having suicidal thoughts and felt like they needed to rush me to a doctor to see if I might need to be in a psychiatric ward for a while(it wasn't against my will btw).

Anyway, there are other vairables that I think Altairis examplified pretty well.
 
20
Posts
5
Years
  • Age 33
  • Seen Oct 2, 2018

Because it is without context
They asume everything about you contributes to mental illness without regard for the perspective of a client
I think this sometimes leads to false diagnosis

My insomnia still goes undetected
I think standardized tests are to blame
But they only have limited resources
 
25,439
Posts
11
Years
Because it is without context
They asume everything about you contributes to mental illness without regard for the perspective of a client
I think this sometimes leads to false diagnosis

My insomnia still goes undetected
I think standardized tests are to blame
But they only have limited resources

I don't know if you've ever actually talked to a psychologist or not, but I can say from my own experience that's not true at all. with doctors maybe a bit, but the people actually specialising in mental health they tend to ask a lot of question and will use the entirety of their first session with you just getting to know you and develop that context.
 
20
Posts
5
Years
  • Age 33
  • Seen Oct 2, 2018
I don't know if you've ever actually talked to a psychologist or not, but I can say from my own experience that's not true at all. with doctors maybe a bit, but the people actually specialising in mental health they tend to ask a lot of question and will use the entirety of their first session with you just getting to know you and develop that context.

My last girlfriend was a psychologist
She actually got everything right about me, ending our relationship xD

But others no, and i agree with the doctor thing
I had one trying to convince me i am beyond saving, worst thing... I believed him
Even my ex didnt say that

Im kinda on the fence now
I really want to be able to enjoy life like everyone else
But i am so damaged though
But talking about that, i dont think i am allowed to talk about it on here, too dark
 
25,439
Posts
11
Years
My last girlfriend was a psychologist
She actually got everything right about me, ending our relationship xD

But others no, and i agree with the doctor thing
I had one trying to convince me i am beyond saving, worst thing... I believed him
Even my ex didnt say that

Im kinda on the fence now
I really want to be able to enjoy life like everyone else
But i am so damaged though
But talking about that, i dont think i am allowed to talk about it on here, too dark

Talk to a psychologist in a proper session. You might find it helpful, you likely will, and it might change your mind a bit too so added bonus.
 
1
Posts
5
Years
  • Age 33
  • Seen Sep 19, 2018
Having a depression is not a joke. I've been dealing with this for several years now and it's hard to sleep at night when I know I am thinking about all the things I shouldnt be worried to begin with. I want to heal, so, I have read many articles about medical marijuana and how it can help you in terms of chronic pain, bone injuries, eating disorder/anorexia, anxiety disorders and panic attacks, inflammation, even cancer and a lot more. Like this article about a marijuana strain from blimburnseeds.com/news/marijuana/news/events/spannabis-barcelona-2018/. Cbd and thc are also new to me and I don't even smoke. Alternatively, they've also found new ways to infuse cannabis on food and beverages. If this is true I can't find any solid conclusive evidence that speaks to its efficacy. Any personal experience or testimonial would be highly appreciated. Thanks
 
25,439
Posts
11
Years
Having a depression is not a joke. I've been dealing with this for several years now and it's hard to sleep at night when I know I am thinking about all the things I shouldnt be worried to begin with. I want to heal, so, I have read many articles about medical marijuana and how it can help you in terms of chronic pain, bone injuries, eating disorder/anorexia, anxiety disorders and panic attacks, inflammation, even cancer and a lot more. Like this article about a marijuana strain from blimburnseeds.com/news/marijuana/news/events/spannabis-barcelona-2018/. Cbd and thc are also new to me and I don't even smoke. Alternatively, they've also found new ways to infuse cannabis on food and beverages. If this is true I can't find any solid conclusive evidence that speaks to its efficacy. Any personal experience or testimonial would be highly appreciated. Thanks

I have heard similar things but haven't got any evidence or personal experience myself. What I would say is that before trying anything to treat a mental illness, you should consult with an expert like a doctor or psychologist/psychiatrist. Or even better, both. The wrong thing for your thing can be a very bad thing.

I'm pretty sure the society we live in today and how we treat eachother has a little to do with it.. Js

I don't think this is entirely off the mark either. We live in a very divisive and high-stress time and while I don't think this is directly causing a surge in mental illnesses, it could certainly contribute to exacerbating a mental illness that would otherwise not cause significant difficult and go unnoticed.
 

Altairis

take me ☆ take you
5,188
Posts
11
Years
Doctors can also help identify what type of treatment works best. Some people respond better to chemical treatments (prescriptions) and some people respond better to therapy. Depression can also mimic symptoms of other conditions, and they usually know what to look for. I do know that asking for help from a stranger can be hard, though.
 
23
Posts
5
Years
I don't mean to insult people who struggle with it, but seems like everyone and their grandmas have a mental illness these days. Sometimes I see the most normal people claim to have a mental illness. It's gotten so ridiculous that I can't even distinguish between those who are exaggerating and those who truly have it.

I think the trend that you're noticing can be attributed to two things in particular:

1. Collectively, we know a lot more about mental illnesses than we did even ten or twenty years ago. As such, people who suffer from these afflictions can give their symptoms a name more so than they could in the past. It's not that these illnesses are necessarily increasing in frequency, rather, those who are suffering from them now know what they are dealing with and can communicate that to others.

2. Nowadays, there is less stigma associated with admitting that you have a mental illness than there was in the past. Historically, those who dealt with severe mental illnesses were thrown in insane asylums and were thus cut off from the rest of society. Obviously, that does not occur today. The internet has given people a pseudo-anonymous way of divulging their struggles to others, and those who tell their friends, family, doctors, etc. about what they're feeling are generally not ridiculed for it. As such, people who have mental illnesses may be more willing to open up about what they're dealing with than they might have been in years past. This, I believe, is due to a change in societal norms rather than a spike in the number of individuals who deal with mental illnesses.
 

Pure Essence

Reverb, Resound, and Repeat!
800
Posts
6
Years
Allow me to put in my own 2 cents.

The truth is, any unusual behavior could be summed up to "Its a mental illness!". That combined with the growing number of mental illnesses, means that while a lot of people say that it's because more people are open, maybe a higher percent of people do have a mental illness, diagnosed or not.
 
Back
Top