EPISODE · Aug 13, 2026 · 19 MIN
Why everyday problems aren't symptoms of mental illness
from Afternoons
Feeling lonely, stressed, unmotivated or anxious about the future? You're not alone. These are ordinary human experiences, but psychologist Dr. Clay Routledge says we're increasingly treating them as symptoms of illness. He's Vice President of the Archbridge Institute, Director of the Human Flourishing and a leading researcher on the science of nostalgia as a way to build resilience. But he believes our culture is moving in the opposite direction. In a recent essay for the New York Times he argues that by medicalizing everyday struggles, we're undermining our ability to cope with life's inevitable ups and downs. Instead of viewing discomfort as something to be eliminated, he says it can be the very thing that helps our mental health in the long run. Dr. Clay Routledge chatted to Jesse.
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Why everyday problems aren't symptoms of mental illness
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