Twitter User Debunks ‘Solutions For Preventing Anxiety’, Shows How They’re Made For The Rich Only

He makes a lot of good points, but a white dude talking about the evils of 'white feminism' as if women fighting to be able to work and have financial independence was evil and useless because it played into the capitalist system is not a good look

yeah. quick exemple. people always says: buy local! why i'd buy local strawberries at 5$ for half a pound when i can get a pound of strawberries for 2,5$ ? if i have a choice i'd rather don't buy strawberries and buy cookies, it's less expensives. people who don't struggle with money don't know what is like

25 years ago I was a professional athlete. I trained every day for 2-5 hours a day. A lot of it was short-duration high impact stuff with some stamina work thrown in from time to time (for those of you that care, I ran a 'twelve-minuter' (8 laps of a football pitch in under 12 minutes) in under ten minutes). I literally could not have been in better shape. I was diagnosed with Depression and Anxiety. The doctor told me to 'do more exercise' and that I would feel much better if I did. So if anyone tells you that, you can tell them to shove it.

Not beeing poor seems to be the solution to many modern problems

OK, so here's the thing: he doesn't talk about anxiety at all. Anxiety is a mental ilness which causes people to experience ELEVATED levels of stress, MORE THAT IS NORMAL IN THEIR LIFE SITUATION. I believe that the advice he listed is usually given to people who suffer from that mental illness, not for people who are highly stressed because they struggle a lot. It's normal to be stressed if you struggle, no amount of self-care or therapy will solve it, only change of life circumstances or system as a whole. That's not a briliant new thought, that's common sense, or so it seems to a non-American like me. If your system is so broken it is gaslighting poor people like this article says, I am sorry, I had no idea. Not that my country has no poor people and no things that has to change, but I've never heard such a nonsense before.

This article implies that all therapists are oblivious. My therapist is very aware that the system is awful and that people are often in less than ideal situations. Calling out bad advice is good, but let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater by implying that you’ll never find a therapist who will give you advice that’s actually useful. Also, anxiety itself tends to make you more pessimistic. So for example, I regularly worked 60+ hour weeks before the pandemic and there were things that I straight-up couldn’t do, but there were smaller things that I COULD do, and some of my resistance to those things was rooted in my anxiety. It’s why I’ve now gone on medication - because I realised that my anxiety was worse than I thought and willpower alone isn’t enough. So sometimes therapists are being clueless but sometimes they want to work with you to find small things that ARE possible for you to do.

They just cut to the core commodity. For decades, ads promised "peace of mind" if you bought life insurance, belted radial tires, probiotic yogurt, etc. Why not slap a price tag on Peace of Mind itself? Consumerism makes no distinction between tangibility and intangibility.

Meh, not sure I agree with him. I don't have kids but do work hard and I'm also doing an MSc. There is time available - it's what you choose to do with. I routinely feel like there is never enough time. But I can choose to spend some time doing the things I enjoy - cooking, reading, podcasts, a brief walk, playing the piano, amateur dramatics, meditation. Even if only for only 30 minutes per day (except am dram and occasionally cooking). It's not as much as I'd like, but if I cut out crap TV and social media, I have waaay more constructive time at my disposal. Others would be wise to consider how much time we waste doing things that add zero value to our lives.

I went to a few sessions with my therapist before the pandemic. One session costed more than I make in a day. I also had to take time off work to go there, which I couldn't claim as sick leave and I have no personal days. While I appreciate the help and confirming that I have anxiety, I just can't afford to go regularly. I'm in my 30s and I have a crappy job, paying for my studies, living at home, trying to build one of my own etc. I can't just pick myself up and take time off or travel or "don't worry too much" because I do have to worry, every day, about my next move and to make sure I don't f*** up.

Not only for the rich. Not all over the world.

i feel so bad for all of these people who have/had $hitty therapists. :( my therapist is fantastic, she's a close friend of 15+ years at this point, and she really gets my issues because she's chronically ill as well. but also the points made about food are so true. my household started getting like $600/month in food stamps suddenly in the middle of last year (we'd been getting a measly $73 or so) and being able to cover all food purchases and try new things, as well as just eat lots of better quality food, is such a relief. people who have lots of money can't possibly understand the simple joy in seeing a treat at the store and being able to buy it once or twice without having to worry about spiralling into overdraft fees.

Things cost in money, or in time, or both. Exercise costs time, sleep costs time, meditation costs time. If you are struggling financially, or work and have a family, or work and study, you are going to be time poor as well as cash poor. Real things you can do: Listen to music while on public transport or doing chores. Most of us have a phone. Block the social media sites that make you depressed or anxious and eat up your time. Do deep breathing exercises while on/waiting for public transport, in idle moments, and to help you fall asleep. Lay out your clothes, pack bag, make lunch, confirm bus timetables and class schedules etc, the night before, so you aren't rushing and stressed in the morning. When you go to bed, if there are things making you anxious/stressed, write them down, and verbally tell yourself "X, you can think about these things tomorrow. It's okay to put them aside and sleep now." Try it. It does help. Cut back on caffine and alcohol if you can.

I don't agree with the self-help related bit. I think most good well regarded self-help books from authors who have been there (down, poor, addicted, abused and so on) sharing how they've managed to turn their lives around and what they've learned along the way is an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to do the same. I've spent a good 1.5 years consuming lots of these books and my life will be forever different. I am doing well now, considering to write a book at some point but also I remember what is was like not having options, money and a strategy.

Oh man, what a load of s**t. Listen, I am a professional opera singer, a voice teacher, an author, and a father of a newborn. I have time for my own mental health. If you have time to write a post, and vote on a post, on bored panda or some other site, you are privileged and have enough time and money for mental health. 🤦‍♂️

I don't disagree, but money doesn't cure depression. Our country has world famous social security network but we also have a lot of depressed people. Also the rich people can be severely depressed. Having less stress, time to take care of yourself helps and makes life more bearable but depression can be much more than being tired, stressed or overworked and when you are badly depressed you can't even get out of bed, not to mention to go do yoga even if you have all the time in the world.

I remember when, through a series of industrial actions, women were able to persuade the government to make equal pay for men and women a right enshrined in law and enforceable. This was over 40 years ago and what has happened since is that men's wages have gradually been going up more slowly until a couple who both work full time are earning what a man would've earned on his own 45 years ago (the equivalent of) The bosses have effectively stolen 40 hours of our time using our laws against us. Business ethics is an oxymoron..

What a gigantic bunch of pussies... Oh no, I have to work for a living... Oh no, I have stress! It's never been different. Go complain to an African mother, or a North Korean labourer. Wimps! Get your head out of ypur rear, stop complaining and GET TO WORK ON IMPROVING YOUR SITUATION!