Is depression a new trend that everyone wants to follow or a genuine cry for help? Gen Z is in a race to become the most depressed, but is that win really a win? They have read and seen so much about depression that they started visualising it upon themselves, but to burst your bubble, though depression is a very serious problem, every minor inconvenience is not depression.
This age and generation speaks so freely and openly about mental health and has access to so much information. Generation Z are the first ones who have problems and solutions right in front of them, they were born with the internet. Everything is one click away. But one thing about Gen Z is they are not afraid to speak up or ask for help.
Is being online or social media really a reason for depression?
Let me explain this to you by using an example, there was this influencer, let’s call her Riya, she used to make funny reels on instagram and was just 24, her followers became stagnant after one point and her reels weren’t trending anymore and this lead to her taking her own life. Can you imagine taking your own life because the internet made you question your worth?
What are the top 5 reasons for increasing depression in this generation?
1. Grabbing attention has become a luxury - This tech-savvy youth has a habit of skipping a reel if it doesn’t catch their attention within 2 seconds as their brain needs constant stimulation. Gen Z’s have used social media to fill the void, they don’t know how to sit with the emptiness in between the reels. They have lost their focus.
2. No one knows the actual behind-the-scenes - Every day comparison, doomscrolling, race to be perfect has taken away genuine happiness and innocence. Gen Z’ s only purpose is to show a PERFECT life to others even if behind the scenes say otherwise. They have made likes, followers and comments decide their worth and it changes with every notification refresh.
3. Thousands of followers but not one real friend - They have 1000s of followers online but not 1 real friend to talk to when they need it the most. They try to find solace in chatting and have forgotten the feeling of face to face conversations with friends where you laughed so much that your stomach starts hurting. The closest thing to laughing is a meme or gif reaction now.
4. Part of a rat race - New trend, new aesthetic, new job– the competition for Gen Z is so high that they have become a part of a rat race, not knowing what the finishing line is. They are always chasing something more, forgetting to celebrate what they already have, which leads to burnout in their mid 20s.
5. Aftertaste of isolation - Covid-19 took teenage years of this generation leading to them finding artificial solace in loneliness. Now they prefer bed-rotting, watching netflix for hours rather than going out and doing any physical activity.
Everything has a solution, Pandit Rahul Kaushl has given us some spiritual solutions to cure this depression
1. Mindfulness and Meditation - Practice daily meditation, your brain is so used to scrolling that it forgets to take brakes, meditation can help to calm your nervous system and give it a mandatory break. Wear a Depression Healing Bracelet– it is specifically designed to attract calming energy, reduce mental heaviness and provide emotional balance.
2. Chanting and Believing In The Divine - There is nothing that believing in the divine can’t cure, chant ॐ आनंदमय चैतन्यमय शिवमय अहं, which is a prayer to lord Shiva to remove anxiety. Chant this 108 times a day, you can also chant this before going to sleep.Show gratitude and thankfulness before going to sleep.
3. Improve Sleeping Cycle - Even at 2 a.m. there is one screen highlighted in a dark room scrolling reels, instead of sleeping. Using social media before sleeping can highly affect your thoughts. Make a habit of “NO SCREENS” 30 minutes before bed, and try to sleep at a reasonable hour to give your mind the required amount of sleep before functioning again the next day.
4. Increase Attention Span - Lack of focus causes anxiety and loneliness, try taking up a task and focusing solely on it for 15-20 minutes before taking a break, increase the time limit everyone. Wearing 1-Mukhi Rudraksh can help in re-gaining focus.
5. Hit Pause and Heal Your Mind With Balasana - In a world where everything is so fast and chaotic, it is important to slow down and take a breath. Doing Balasana (Child’s Pose) can help in calming your mind and take it away from scrolling and competition.
Healing won’t come from detoxing for a weekend but from working on yourself, physical activities, professional help, chanting and wearing suitable products can help cure depression and other mental problems.Maybe Gen Z is not broken, they just need to understand that their algorithm won’t help in their mental fatigue. Take a break from your scrolling, look around your surroundings and find happiness in real things, start enjoying moments without capturing them. Real healing will come from listening to the voice within you rather than the noise around you.
