[CrabJoe StretchPants]

What to Do When the Future Feels Hopeless

Humans like to feel optimistic about and in control of where their life is headed. The pandemic has made it very hard to feel that way.

www.theatlantic.com

On a semi-related note:

I know this was said (mostly) tongue-in-cheek, but I happened to be listening to a podcast the other day that brought up the apparent noted phenomenon of a decrease in mental health issues during times of really large crisis or war. Apparently, it's not just depressive assholes like me who feel better when shit gets really weird. Sebastian Junger wrote a book that addresses some of this that I guess I need to go find, and there is this apparently famous study done after WW2 that addresses a "community of sufferers". I'm no scientist or mental health expert, and perhaps there are plenty of holes to poke in the above noted works, but it does seem, at least anecdotally, to be a thing.

https://www.amazon.com/Tribe-Homecoming-Belonging-Sebastian-Junger/dp/1455566381

I feel like there are some parallels to this with nihilism as well, or whatever degree of that I have always considered myself to identify with. My mental and emotional stability and well being have always been a concern for most people that know me very well, but since this all started I almost feel more....normal? Like seeing a lot of general irritability, stress and inability to properly deal with it and overall emotional mood swings in just about everyone else to a degree gives me a "see?.... everything is fucked not happy and perfect like everyone likes to pretend" feeling.

Not sure I can adequately describe what I mean, as it's hard to describe in words. But I think I can draw parallels to what you described.

 

[Pesqueeb]

I feel like there are some parallels to this with nihilism as well, or whatever degree of that I have always considered myself to identify with. My mental and emotional stability and well being have always been a concern for most people that know me very well, but since this all started I almost feel more....normal? Like seeing a lot of general irritability, stress and inability to properly deal with it and overall emotional mood swings in just about everyone else to a degree gives me a "see?.... everything is fucked not happy and perfect like everyone likes to pretend" feeling.

Not sure I can adequately describe what I mean, as it's hard to describe in words. But I think I can draw parallels to what you described.

"Nihilist huh? That must be exhausting."


But seriously, that's actually a really good description. High five, my depressive brother!

 

[mandown]

Swinging on the pendulum between continuing my nearly 100% isolation (except for doctors) and considering forming a small bubble for social-distance visits.

 

[Nick]

I've read Tribe. Very interesting. I'd send my copy to one of y'all if you'd like to read it.


Also, I'm not cruise-controlling through this any longer, I find it's a regular exercise to balance work, find fun, and manage isolation, being broken the last month + hasn't helped. Talk to your people, people

 

[Pesqueeb]

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/153/3/e2023064245/196655/Antidepressant-Dispensing-to-US-Adolescents-and?autologincheck=redirected

"Between January 2016 and December 2022, the monthly antidepressant dispensing rate increased 66.3%, from 2575.9 to 4284.8. Before March 2020, this rate increased by 17.0 per month (95% confidence interval: 15.2 to 18.8). The COVID-19 outbreak was not associated with a level change but was associated with a slope increase of 10.8 per month (95% confidence interval: 4.9 to 16.7). The monthly antidepressant dispensing rate increased 63.5% faster from March 2020 onwards compared with beforehand. In subgroup analyses, this rate increased 129.6% and 56.5% faster from March 2020 onwards compared with beforehand among females aged 12 to 17 years and 18 to 25 years, respectively. In contrast, the outbreak was associated with a level decrease among males aged 12 to 17 years and was not associated with a level or slope change among males aged 18 to 25 years."

Anecdotally, the Reddit thread I found this article in was FULL of older men describing very similar reactions to the one I had way back on page one of this thread. Basically, the COVID lock downs brought them some of their happiest/content days in adult memory. Can't say that I'm smart enough to parse out what that all may mean, but it does speak to my preconceived notion that modern society is fundamentally broken.

 

[jonKranked]

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/153/3/e2023064245/196655/Antidepressant-Dispensing-to-US-Adolescents-and?autologincheck=redirected

"Between January 2016 and December 2022, the monthly antidepressant dispensing rate increased 66.3%, from 2575.9 to 4284.8. Before March 2020, this rate increased by 17.0 per month (95% confidence interval: 15.2 to 18.8). The COVID-19 outbreak was not associated with a level change but was associated with a slope increase of 10.8 per month (95% confidence interval: 4.9 to 16.7). The monthly antidepressant dispensing rate increased 63.5% faster from March 2020 onwards compared with beforehand. In subgroup analyses, this rate increased 129.6% and 56.5% faster from March 2020 onwards compared with beforehand among females aged 12 to 17 years and 18 to 25 years, respectively. In contrast, the outbreak was associated with a level decrease among males aged 12 to 17 years and was not associated with a level or slope change among males aged 18 to 25 years."

Anecdotally, the Reddit thread I found this article in was FULL of older men describing very similar reactions to the one I had way back on page one of this thread. Basically, the COVID lock downs brought them some of their happiest/content days in adult memory. Can't say that I'm smart enough to parse out what that all may mean, but it does speak to my preconceived notion that modern society is fundamentally broken.

tl;dr office life is a killer.

 

[Pesqueeb]

tl;dr office life is a killer.

I did find it interesting when I re-read this thread that everyone in this thread who talked about how COVID helped them realize that work sucks, still works those same jobs. Myself included. I also don't know what that means.

 

[jonKranked]

I did find it interesting when I re-read this thread that everyone in this thread who talked about how COVID helped them realize that work sucks, still works those same jobs. Myself included. I also don't know what that means.

glad i'm on track to retire early

 

[Jozz]

I did find it interesting when I re-read this thread that everyone in this thread who talked about how COVID helped them realize that work sucks, still works those same jobs. Myself included. I also don't know what that means.

I actually changed 'career' 180°

 

[Toshi]

I did find it interesting when I re-read this thread that everyone in this thread who talked about how COVID helped them realize that work sucks, still works those same jobs. Myself included. I also don't know what that means.

COVID helped my employer get off their asses (with my help—I spearheaded this) and get us home workstations for ~50% WFH days

that definitely improved my quality of life. And allowing for after hours moonlighting from said home workstation also improved my income at the price of some otherwise likely wasted on internet time

 

[Westy]

I actually changed 'career' 180°

You develop plans to tear down buildings?

 

[Pesqueeb]

COVID helped my employer get off their asses

Yeah...... This definitely did not happen in the airline industry.

 

[chuffer]

Yeah...... This definitely did not happen in the airline industry.

I had high hopes that COVID would wipe out the travel-for-work thing. It just seems like work-travel is even more horrible now.

 

[Westy]

I had high hopes that COVID would wipe out the travel-for-work thing. It just seems like work-travel is even more horrible now.

I was recently asked to got to Chicago for a trade show, I said no. I was then told to go to Chicago for a trade show.

I sat down with my manager and told stories of how I had spent a good 6 months of my life setting up and tearing down 15,000 square foot booth full of robots and CNC machines. Working 14 hour days for a month straight. Stories of almost dying from taking 480V to my armpit because of a colorblind electrician and having a standoff with a bunch of Teamsters. Stories of being assaulted by a homeless guy walking back to my hotel.

He agreed that I shouldn't go to Chicago because he didn't want to have to listen to any more fucking stories about trade shows in Chicago.

 

[eric strt6]

aw come on Westy, McCormick place in mid winter is so happening. I used to man the CASIO booth there. It so sucked the life out of you

 

[chuffer]

I was recently asked to got to Chicago for a trade show, I said no. I was then told to go to Chicago for a trade show.

I sat down with my manager and told stories of how I had spent a good 6 months of my life setting up and tearing down 15,000 square foot booth full of robots and CNC machines. Working 14 hour days for a month straight. Stories of almost dying from taking 480V to my armpit because of a colorblind electrician and having a standoff with a bunch of Teamsters. Stories of being assaulted by a homeless guy walking back to my hotel.

He agreed that I shouldn't go to Chicago because he didn't want to have to listen to any more fucking stories about trade shows in Chicago.

View attachment 209897

Sounds like IMTS. We won’t have a booth there this year, but I may need to go anyway….lucky me!

 

[Adventurous]

I did find it interesting when I re-read this thread that everyone in this thread who talked about how COVID helped them realize that work sucks, still works those same jobs. Myself included. I also don't know what that means.

The transition to WFH and now getting to do that 4 days of the work week, absolute game changer.

What I realized is that my job doesn't suck. There's little stress, my coworkers are great and I view everyone in my leadership chain favorably. It pays decently and has okay benefits. There's little expectation of travel. I get to maintain standard working hours and am rarely bothered outside of that.

What does sucks is the commute and sitting in an office. Waking up early to fight traffic, sitting in a loud, distracting open office, fighting traffic and get home in the dark sucks. Only getting to see my rapidly growing kid for 3 hours (maybe) before bed, 5/7 days a week sucks. Feeling under appreciated because my personality and work style never meshed with the type A extroverts at work sucks.

I feel bad saying this, considering how many people had to die or have their lives irreversibly changed because of COVID, but some of the changes that came out of the pandemic have greatly benefitted my quality of life and mental health.