Student Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Name

Date

Depression

Individual perspective

I have been struggling with depression for years. I attribute these to the complex and highly demanding modern life as young adults which forces us to conform to the current standards of society. As a young adult you are expected to study a good course, and have an active social life. You are expected to follow a career path as expected by society. These expectations put pressures on me to conform to society expectations while ignoring y own needs. This leads to depression as I end up doing things which I don’t like or want just to fulfill the expectations of society. This pressure to conform to society standards has a had a negative effect on my mental health. I have devoted much of their time and energy to meeting the expectations and neglecting my own wishes and happiness. In the end, I have become an unhappy person just doing things which society deems valuable. I have realized that focusing on societal expectations has affected my mental health. Depression has become a regular thing where I fell that I have failed and not achieved like my peers whether in academics or social life.

Sociological perspective

Several research has indicated that, millennials and the younger generations are experiencing one of the highest depression rates in history. Sociologists nd psychologists attribute this rapid increase in depression rates to the younger generations with the current competitive nature where social media, school and the home environment pushes them to conform to societal expectations. Whether in school they have to perform well, at home they have to conform to the latest fashion tends and afford the latest gadgets. The lifestyle for young adults and teenagers is becoming increasingly expensive and those who cannot afford it feel left behind and are depressed they have this feeling that they are missing out.

The fear of missing out has caused one for the major mental crisis for the young generation. The fear of missing out puts them in constant self-criticism and ends up being depressed as they cannot appreciate what they have as they see themselves as inferior to their successful peers, the emergence of social media sites has exacerbated the problem of depression. Depression is increasing and has become a cause of concern for sociologists and the mental health community. The high rates of depression is worrying and shows that there is something wrong with the current system of society. The high pressure to conform to the high standards by the prosperous is putting pressure on those who lack. When they compare their lifestyle with those who are privileged, they feel that they are missing out. In social media many flaunt their expensive lifestyle and many wonder the kind of life they are living.

The ease of aces to social media will continue to increase depression among teens and young adults as they seek to conform to the standards set by their peers. On realizing that I am not the only one battling depression because of the fear of missing out, by realizing that there are several peers in the world like me who are battling depression because of fear of missing out is quite reliving and give me hope that I am not alone in this struggle of self-criticism. Realizing that there are a million others like m around the world who have the same thoughts and fears like me is an eye opener and completely changes my perspective on myself.

I will no longer be very critical of myself and I now understand that there are others battling the same self-criticism and will learn to appreciate the little achievements I have made, my whole perspective on life has changed. I now accept that we cannot be all prosperous as we are not exposed to the same opportunities. I now accept that there is a hierarchical system in society. We cannot all achieve the same level of success. I have learned to appreciate my own achievements and I n o longer criticize myself or view myself as a failure. The experience has been indescribable. It is really a transforming experience. It has changed my whole mindset. When you realize that your experience is similar to many other in society, social imagination changes your perspective and gives you new abilities to look at life itself. It is like a new ability and I am now able to battle my depression and I no longer have the fear in me of missing out as I now understand how life works.

Social imagination has allowed me to be a contended human. I have learnt the value of content and how it helps safeguard your mental health as it allows you to have a positive self-analysis. It widens your perspective on things as I no longer view myself as a failure or missing out on the good life. This is a big transformation of thought and now I can enjoy my life experience. I am no longer lost in my thoughts lost in self-criticism and wondering about y failures. I have embraced life and have positive plans for my future. I now have a completely different and positive perspective on life due to social imagination. Having a perspective on how y fellow peers around the globe are battling depression has given a new perspective and I have become a positive person and no long er worry about being a failure or missing out. This is a significant transformation; social imagination is really powerful and transformative as mills pointed out.