• oatscoop
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    1 year ago

    Because they were depressed and had a litany of other issues. Since it was taboo to talk about (and confront) those issues they developed fucked up coping mechanisms. Like hitting their kids/spouse. Explosive tempers, or just being an asshole. Drinking, gambling, cheating, etc.

    Two of my grandparents were hardcore alcoholics that drank themselves to death after attempting suicide multiple times (which I only heard about as an adult). The third succeeded in hanging themself. The fourth lived to old age and was one of the nastiest, most narcissistic people I’ve met.

    • Tavarin@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      Sure, so then why are mental health issues appearing to get worse, despite the fact that people were so depressed they beat their kids all the time in the past?

      Simple, we’re just better at diagnosing and treating it now, and people are more comfortable admitting to it now.

      We’re not worse mental health wise, we’re a hell of a lot better than in the past. People are just more willing to talk about it now, and not try to have a stiff upper lip like with past generations.