In his final monologue on Friday’s broadcast of HBO’s “Real Time,” host Bill Maher said that while “inflation continues in many situations,” “Biden’s ratings are going down the toilet. “It’s not because he’s doing such a bad job, it’s because of unjust policies.” “Many Americans prefer to live their lives with their heads in the toilet,” indicating low awareness of mental health.
Maher began by saying,[N]New rule: Obsessing over your mental health is bad for your mental health. ”
He continued: “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a puzzle that a lot of people are struggling with: Why are Biden’s approval ratings so low when he’s doing pretty well overall? ” Of course, there are problems. America is a large country, but wages are rising, unemployment is negligible, the stock market is soaring, and we managed to survive both the Trump presidency and the pandemic. Sure, inflation continues for a lot of things, but a really good, decent-sized TV now costs $60. Who gets the credit? Next day shipping, crusty pizza, legal marijuana, GPS, and porn on your phone, cheer up and stop acting like life in America in 2024 is unbearable. Biden’s reputation is on the toilet not because he does a terrible job, but because so many Americans prefer to live with their heads in the toilet. ”
Maher then looked at the number of Americans diagnosed with depression, saying: . …And what about the kids? TikTok’s latest challenge is self-diagnosis of mental health issues. Because there’s nothing like a hotbed for mental health like TikTok. … Now, make no mistake, antidepressants can save the lives of people who need them, but here’s the problem. About three-quarters of Americans The people being treated have never been diagnosed with depression and just want a magic pill. … [T]People who really shouldn’t be that depressed, but act like they are anyway, are just what you think they are: white women. ”
Maher further stated:[E]Americans should really stop pathologizing everything because very bad emotions are not a disease. No one is just sad anymore, they are clinically depressed. They don’t worry much, but they do have chronic anxiety. Do you like things to be neat and tidy? That’s OCD. Do you get irritated when it’s cold? Seasonal depression. Do you hate being alone? Separation anxiety. boredom? That is ADHD. shy? Social anxiety disorder. Is it because you don’t want to go to an office party? No one does. …Are you in a bad mood? No, you have bipolar disorder. And some people have bipolar disorder, and some people are on the bipolar spectrum. But sometimes, just being an asshole is just a hall pass on that spectrum. …Yes, you are on the spectrum, but so are others. That’s why they call it a spectrum. And it is not noble to sit idly by at that soft ending. PTSD is for people who fought in Iraq, not for people who want to take their dog on a plane. There are people in America who have real problems to grieve. But sometimes a bad day is just a bad day. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when we constantly reinforce the message that we are all permanently messed up in our heads, instead of being normal human beings with normal struggles. Maybe the solution is simpler, just go a week without sleep or sunlight, and you have a problem that can be solved with vegetables and exercise. ”
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