Why the Mental Health of Liberal Girls Sank First and Fastest
(jonathanhaidt.substack.com)
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Would you say that such people require some philosophy?
I wasn't all that different in the past. What really helped me turn some things around (not that my life is great right now) was adding philosophy to all the psychology and talk therapy.
I tell kids now, when I see them struggling with depression, that it's basically just a signal that they are failing to move towards their life goals and deep personal values. They act a little surprised sometimes, because kids don't even know their life goals. So I try to explain that they wouldn't be able to have that depression if there wasn't something they really wanted and were failing to move towards. Like depression is some conscious sequence - no, it starts in the dark with all the things you weren't paying attention to.
Of course, there's some crap philosophies out there, so I try to push the core of logic and introspection.
I think I remember you speaking about how psychology and therapy were geared towards women. Perhaps it excludes philosophy because women aren't exactly deep thinkers.
Philosophy requires an ability for introspection and abstract thinking. For men, that's not a guarantee. Many would improve by being able to settle their chaotic thoughts and categorize it through philosophical ideologies, because their emotional state is caused by overthinking in the first place. But there are also those who do not have that ability either, for better or for worse.
That's why the industry of "man therapy" is actually taking off slowly but surely. Wherein, instead of deep thinking or simple talking, you are taken out to just do things. Boating, lifting, camping, wood/metal working. Just the act of doing these things (with some talking during to help the process) is shown consistently put men's minds in order. Not every man is meant to be an intellectual, but every man is still a man and his body reacts accordingly. Even a noodle arm beta commie will get his rush of testosterone and better feelings from seeing a shelf he built with his own two hands.
However, as you say, this doesn't apply to women in either form. Which is why talk therapy and pills are the dominant option. Because those are vaguely effective for women, on paper at least. It doesn't truly help them, because what they crave is nearly always their missing father giving them boundaries and removing the control they have over their own life. But therapists can't provide that very well.