HealthyGamerGG Why It's Getting Harder To Treat Existential Depression
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Oct 4, 2025 Dr. K delves into the rise of existential depression, which thrives on uncertainty and a bleak outlook. He contrasts it with classic depression and critiques the serotonin imbalance model. The discussion highlights how a 'frozen future' leads to escapist behaviors like gaming and doom-scrolling. Practical tools for re-engaging with life meaning include balancing thoughts, feelings, and actions, along with seeking fulfillment through self, service, and spirituality. Listeners gain insights into restoring life’s rhythm and the power of new experiences.
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Serotonin Model Is Insufficient
- The serotonin-deficit model of depression lacks consistent evidence and cannot explain most cases.
- Dr. K says only about one third of depressed patients respond substantially to antidepressants.
Existential Depression Is Growing
- Existential depression rises when people judge the future as objectively bleak rather than distorted by their mind.
- Dr. K links modern uncertainty (AI, debt, climate) to a surge in this depression type.
Depressive Realism Challenges CBT
- CBT assumes cognitive distortions cause depression but fails when depressed people are actually more accurate.
- Depressive realism shows some depressed people judge reality more accurately than non-depressed people.
