Existing in the world that we have come to know is inherently traumatic. Over the last decade, rates of depression in U.S. adults has steadily increased, and that of teenagers has nearly doubled. The society that we have come to know\u2014one that is characterized by extreme capitalism and technological \u201cadvancements\u201d such as artificial intelligence and social media that detaches people from the genuine human connection and critical thinking\u2014are quickly deteriorating the fabric of society with no clear solution in sight.<\/p>\n
Trauma can result from a wide variety of causes, whether it\u2019d be a singular extreme event or years to decades of accumulating stress. With the rise of social media, children and teenagers grow up with unfettered access to inappropriate content. Many youths have been the victims of cyberbullying online, which can have devastating consequences. While bullying has always existed, the introduction of social media has exposed children to the anonymous criticism of those from all over the world. The permanent nature of the online world means that simple mistakes all children make can haunt them for a lifetime. According to recent reports, teens spend an average of five hours day on social media, blurring the lines between the online world and the real world.<\/p>\n
After a childhood full of screens and scrollings rather than socializing and playing outside, modern teens are met with an economy and job market that pales in comparison the the \u201cAmerican dream\u201d they grew up reading about. Chronic stress, which can often materialize into trauma, is often the result of socioeconomic stressors. Saddled with student loans from degrees that no longer guarantee steady work, impossible rent prices and costs of living, adults are struggling to keep their heads above water. People don\u2019t have time to socialize or care for themselves, people can\u2019t afford therapy or other resources that may help them cope with the stressors of everyday life. Their only reprieve is a couple hours of \u201cdoomscrolling\u201d after a long day of work, in the apartment they share with several roommates that has tripled in price in the last two decades. There is no more sense of community, everyone is too occupied with fending for themselves. Taking time for oneself to unwind or reconnect with nature or seeking proper care for mental or physical illness is inaccessible for the majority of Americans.<\/p>\n
The society that we have come to know is one that, for the majority of people, causes an unsustainable amount of stress and anxiety that is bound to develop into trauma somewhere along the line, not to mention the amount of political and social turmoil in this decade alone. Viewing the current state of humanity from a trauma-informed lens reveals a bleak landscape that is in desperate need of reform, in order to prevent society as a whole from reaching an inevitable breaking point.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n References<\/p>\n Zhu, C., Zhang, T., Li, Q., Chen, X., & Wang, K. (2023). Depression and Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Epidemiology, Mechanism, and Treatment. Neuroscience bulletin, 39(4), 675\u2013684. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12264-022-00970-2<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n