The Reason for Almost All Mental Illnesses - Prof. Jordan Peterson 

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"Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes." - William Gibson

Kindness goes a long way in the mind of someone who is overwhelmed.

I suffered severe depression and mental disorder years ago as a teenage. Got diagnosed with cptsd. Spent my whole life fighting cptsd. Not until my wife recommended me to psilocybin mushrooms treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly. 6 years totally clean. Never thought I would be saying this about mushrooms.

That’s exactly what happened to me. Got hit with wife getting cancer, teenage daughter running off with boys, colleagues at work being horrible, stopped sleeping properly and boom anxiety and panic through the roof. That was three years ago and I’m still in the process of recovery

One of the worst things about growing up in a dysfunctional family is that you are literally trapped with a bunch of horrible people for at least18 years, and by the time you are finally able to leave them all behind you are so exhausted mentally that you end up spending your 20s/30s/40s reliving your childhood which in turn leaves you with zero energy to even make an attempt at leading a less complicated life

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

I felt I was depressed before I met my husband. As soon as I did (someone who understood me, spoke my language) my "depression" lifted and I felt saner, more in control of myself and thought I could handle almost anything. It was truly remarkable.

So true, I feel those with the least complex lives who live the simple life with a warm supporting family live the best longest lives.

I was a happy kid until about 12 years of age. I had good grades in school, I was liked by teachers, I had friends with whom we played outside or played video games all our free time, we respected each other, I had girls whispering to each other I was cute and saying they wanted to go out with me. I was happy and interested in things. Then my mother forced me to switch schools to go to one I didn't want to, it was sort of this elite school for smart kids. She gave me no good reason to leave all I had behind, no discussion or anything. Just strictly said I would go. From then on, everything went downhill. I lost contact with my old friends, the status I had built up with them until then, my sense of place in the world, gone. I started getting bad grades, I refused to study, the teachers sensed that and started to dislike me, later even bully me. By the age of 15, I was smoking and drinking heavily. I had toxic friends all around me, leeching on me for various reasons. Then at age 17, I had my first full-blown panic attack. I found myself completely stunned by it. Back then, I didn't even know something like that existed and no one around me has ever talked about it (I come from a country in Europe where the former communist regime used to lock up people into mental institutions for political reasons). I kept it secret from everyone because I was so ashamed and afraid of being labeled crazy. It was so bad I couldn't even talk to a professional. All I could really do was look up information online. Long story short, with the help of many books by both self-help authors and psychologists, I conquered the beast. It took me six agonizing years. So there I was at age 23, basically starting my life all over. My point is, you can do it. The illness is there for a reason - so you can become wiser. My other point is, be very careful about people around you, including the ones very closest to you. The fact is everyone is fighting their own demons, and so they might not always have your best interest in mind. I wish you all the best.

I couldn't agree more. Most "mental illnesses" are completely normal responses to unaddressed trauma. Thanks for everything, JP 🌺

As an emotion coach, this is also what I found to be true. Most people don't have a "disorder" that needs medication, but a complex life that feels out of control. Their life may be disordered (or the people around them) but that doesn't mean they have a disorder. It does take a bit of work to muddle through the mess, but that's what I love doing with them!

I can tell this guy has the kindest heart and has the most empathy I wish I could talk to him

Yes! I always said “my depression is environmental” and it was. Only being around my family caused the problems. I cut them off and I have never felt hopeless

"The political system collapses, you lose your job, and you have someone that you love or two people die..." Damn - that's definitely the situation for a lot of people right now

Amazing , he summed up mental illness in 2 minutes and it makes complete sense. I find myself and others with mental illness do better with routine and not adding in complexity, changes.

As someone who has suffered from depression for a very long time i can honestly say that it's nothing i have personally done myself. It comes from outside influence such as death of friends and family at too young an age.

This guy saved my life and helped my son move forward with our lives - he deserves the highest praise and recognition . Thank you sir

forever jealous of those who had him as a professor

About 40 years ago I met a young woman on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Her sister asked me to speak to her. We met in a quiet room and I asked her how she was feeling, what was wrong. And then I just listened. She was distraught and jumped from one issue of distress to another. After about 15 minutes I handed her a pen and piece of paper. I said, let's make a list of these terrible problems. She grew quiet and began to write. Soon there was a small list of 6 items. Then I had her number them in order of severity. Next, I had her rewrite this list, leaving space between the issues, prioritized from top to bottom. Now we discussed each one from a perspective of how consequential each was, and pragmatically what could and should be done. After a bit, it turned out that half her list was actually fearful speculation, which she acknowledged. For the real problems she wrote below them her alternatives. By the end of this session she was cured. Melissa has long since passed away but I still have her letter of heartfelt gratitude among my treasured possessions, and I'll never forget the power which decluttering her complications had on her.

I am blown away by this. For the longest time I wanted to see a psychologist. And the irony is I ended up seeing one of Jordan speeches where he talked about owning and admiting and ultimately facing your fear. I faced mine and all my worry literally evaporated. I also learned that when you have peace around one particular thing you are worried about, you'll be sure fire to find something else to worry about :) For me it was money and retirement. Once I sorted that, I started to have the problem of "well, I need more for retirement" :) Since, I've learned to relax and know when I've won.

I grew up with a dad who rarely showed love and was quick to lose his temper and give out. I ended growing up quiet shy and afraid to speak because of him. Conversation was never free flowing and I felt/still feel like i can't connect to him. He's very negative too, maybe he's narcisstics, I don't know. His dad is the same way. The environment you grow up in has a huge impact on how you turn out. I was shy, developed social anxiety in my teens and clinical depression. I don't think this was all chance. I had a poor support network at home, felt it hard to make friends, a dad who was negative and felt I could never open up to or be myself around.I started hypontheraphy to clear core beliefs such as im worthless and unlovable since my dad showed me not much love, or it was always conditional. I'll never make the same mistakes if I ever have children. I feel better away from my dad and so will move out on my own soon, once I save up some money to do so. Ps thank you for all the comments gus. They warm ny heart.

YO where’s the part where he conjures the neon multi-colored fractal? Clickbait

He made a profound observation. Complexity can push most of us to a breaking point.

Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.

"Spamming quotes under JP's youtube videos can get you tons of likes" ~ Confucius

Ongoing sleep deprivation can cause a variety of mental illnesses too.

I could remember several years ago I suffered from severe depression and mental disorder. I was addicted to illicit pills, alcohol, and smoking until I was recommended for psilocybin mushroom treatment. Psilocybin treatment saved my life honestly I'm 8 years clean now. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against anxiety and depression.

It's alarming that there are so few people amongst us with his level of intelligence and foresight.

“I’m not perfect, you’re not perfect, and this is perfect”. We need to accept each other without being arrogant

I have been diagnosed with social anxiety and depression. I think Jordan is spot on. I don't feel mentally ill. I am not deranged or histrionic bi polar. I just want things to be as simple as can be after 65 years of turmoil. I DON'T WANT to talk to people who pressure me to be what I am not. People let me down or pile emotional shit on me. I prefer my dog.

I've had anxiety since I was a child, sometimes genetics ducks you up. Sometimes life does.

That's why they say, "he has lost his mind". Not that his mind suddenly jumped out of his body and disappear into ether. His mind got so complex he simply lost control over it. I completely agree with Jordan Peterson.

"yes we can" -Bob the Builder

Absolutely 100% correct. Moved up the corporate ladder, we bought a new house, we had a son, both of my parents died, I wrecked a car and I lost a high-paying job - ALL IN 2.5 YEARS OF SO. At one point I woke up in the middle of the night and involuntarily jerked upright drenched in sweat and with tears flowing. I had had problems/issues in life before just like everybody else, but those listed here - on top of life's daily struggles - put me over the top. Unfortunately, it wasn't temporary - I inherited this illness from my mother. It took a hospitalization, therapy on and off for a few months and Prozac for a couple of years. It has never gone away 100% though. My mother-in-law had/has a worse case. I just hope it does not get passed down to my son.

I was about to comment on my own share of misfortunes. But then I perused the comments and realize how really sad the world is for some people, how difficulties encountered in childhood can haunt us all the way into our adult lives, how terribly difficult it is to overcome, heal and comfort ourselves because everyone is busy trying to mask their pain or insecurities or too occupied with being an evil person. I pray you all get better, especially mentally and spiritually, to finally be free and make space for the wonderful opportunities of present moment.

Two minutes and this man will teach you more than many people can in two generations

People are like bridges .....they all have a load limit .

I was depressed because I was overwhelmed I was overwhelmed because I was confused, I was confused because I had situations partly beyond my control that persisted, and toxic people partly influencing my perspective Time and distance changed my reality, revealing toxic and hindsight worked it out, and with the understanding the mental “illness” problems vanished

What a profound observation!! Huge respect for this man ♠️

If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. -C.S Lewis

Here is the problem with the label Mental Illness, way to many things come under those words, my son was 15 when i noticed he was developing fears of every thing, then he started talking out loud to people who were not there, he didn't do drugs, or alcohol, those where the first things that was tested when i finally got doctors to listen and admit him to hospital, it turned out to be Schizophrenia, and it has been a wild ride ever since, he is now 32, he had two older brothers with no such illness, they all grew up the same in the same house. The brain is very complex, i have been by his side to all his hospital stays and appointments with doctors, so it drives me nuts when people say go for a walk, oh you just need to be happy, or this and that i am sick of it all. No one talks about cancer like that and says oh i told you not to eat red meat, no they except it is an illness with a million reasons why it could have happened. I gave up caring why it happened, now i just support him every way i can.

This really touched a spot. Live a simple life. Beautiful video.

Professor Jordan Peterson has such complete understanding, empathy, sympathy, and kindness. I'm very impressed. That was a perfect way of putting everything. He truly has something special about him. I appreciate his teaching so much.

“Man who drop watch in toilet have shit time” - Confucius

As a person that has had many "complex" things happen to him in a few years I can totally relate to this explanation.

What a great and compassionate man.

I can totally relate to this, sometimes when a sequence of disaster events happen one after another in quick time, you feel like someone is chasing you towards depression and eventual death

Glad Dr.Jordan Peterson is back and recovered. Hopeful for his continues recovery.

“Perhaps it’s that some things are wrong FOR you, rather than that there is something wrong WITH you.” One of the first things my psychotherapist ever said to me.

My mother ran the family and always commanded us what to do, without question or ever asking what we feel about it. I ended up a happy person, but with a serious self esteem issue: never believed I can change things or understand how others depend on me, or that my feelings matter. I perceive life as "do what you are told to do, quickly and efficiently". Maybe it is not a bad life motto, however notice that there are no people in it, or no self drive. Sometimes I think, if only mother and father asked me how I feel and what my goals are, my self esteem would be x2 . But I am grateful to them, even after their mistakes. It's a pity rhat we spend from 20 to 40 years old, to resolve these issues.

Wow. I never thought about things this way, but he has a very good point. Peoples' brains nowadays can become completely overloaded, especially with all the CRAP going on in the world. Personally, when I get to that point, I completely shut down, because I can't even see where/how to begin to dig myself out of my out of control situation, i.e., job I despised, both parents became ill, had to fly home, parents got better, flew back, then one parent DIED, had to fly back home again, and deal with death and a funeral, plus the other traumatized parent; then flew back again, quit my job, determined I was going to MOVE home, so spent months packing and all of the stuff that goes with that; packed everything up, drove 1,000 miles home by myself. So I know it's going to take me a loooong time to decompress and come to grips with everything that's been going on over the past 6 months. Sometimes I think that just sitting and staring at a wall for a few days is preferable over having to deal with life. But I literally just take one....step....at....a....time. Suicide is NEVER the answer.

When sorrows come, they come not as single spies but in battalions. William Shakespeare

Our world has become exponentially more complex over the last two decades

I just love the Lectures of Jordan Petersen a real Psycotherapist

“Not always, but almost always”. Well said. That’s a great insight and it’s very compassionate one. It’s not demeaning and insulting people as the medical profession often does, insinuating people are weak when really, it is that they have been assaulted in some way. The philosopher Alaine de Baton has a RU-vid video titled, “How the modern world makes us mentally ill.” It explains this phenomena also. Getting back to simple living, family, community and supporting not judging one another might help.

As an older man I can attest to the fact that a complicated life is often fraught with stress; and often it's not the unforeseen hardships we face but embracing cultural cancers which make life less enjoyable. Living beyond our means is a huge stress factor; often crippling debt is linked to that behavior. I think many people go through a stage of accumulating stuff they don't need at the cost of running up debt and working excessively to maintain a "lifestyle". But it doesn't matter how nice a house you have if you're never there to enjoy it. In recent years I've started steering my life toward a simpler way of living, and it's made all the difference.

Simplicity is best for me. My life became very complicated after years of living simply and I immediately went into a depression that lasted years where I just longed for a quiet and simple life again.

I am so grateful to you Mr Peterson for sharing your lectures. I hope you are feeling much better now and progressing well to full recovery. I too am a very compassionate person and don’t like to see anyone or anything suffer. It is such a relief to hear this video because it suggests to me that OCD is curable, is my understanding correct and if so how is it cured in the quickest possible way? Is it a service you offer? Has anyone else on here cured OCD please, and if so how (if you don’t mind sharing)?

It's remarkable that people go to RU-vidrs for this kind of information when you have such a learned and distinguished Professor with all of his material online.

In a word: stress.

"I'm not afraid of death,.... I just don't wanna be there when it happens." George Burns

Im 47yrs old, lived a hugely varied life...and this 2.34sec video blew me away!

Very impressive speech/lecture. Will be definitely watching more.

He needs to start an online university. I would join it.

we’ve all been raised on television to believe that one day we’d all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. but we won’t. and we’re slowly learning that fact.

Thanks Dr. Peterson for all you do.

As someone who has 'been there done that' I know that you are spot on with your thinking. A popular song when I was going through a suicidal depression was Roy Clark's "Right of Left at Oak Street" in which a man comes to an intersection he encounters every day on his way to work. In the song he has stopped at that intersection and asks himself if he should right like he always does and go to work, or should he turn left and keep going to escape it all. To me the left turn was a metaphore for suicide.

Being forced to deal with narcissists is also a major risk factor.

Mr. Peterson, real depth, and individual freedom comes from speaking to the individual, and you do so magnificently.

Interesting perspective. I agree about the complexity problem. So what I did as a master problem solver is reduced the complexities, designated the responsibilities to different people, and simplified my existence. It helped a lot.

Living with a toxic narcissist will definitely bring on mental problems and it's all deliberate on their Part. They are evil

Genius! It's about time we looked at root causes and circumstances, before calling someone mentally ill! Let's look at what drove them there!

Going through selection to the RAF and need to be able to explain a recent 'low mood'. This could not more emphatically hit the nail on the head and I'll use it to help formulate my explanation. Thank you JP (again) and uploader!!!

Thank You so much JP for everything! You change lives❤

This is such an accurate description of how mental breakdown occurs, so well put into words and so easy to understand, thanks so much.

I figured out when I was just a child that if I lowered my expectations of life to the fact that I simply have a pulse then nothing could ever disappoint me...30 some odd years later I was right...as long as I'm alive there's always opportunity for me...even in the smallest capacity...

This reflection is total genius. The problem is more complexity than facing the problem. That totally makes sense.

Ok, here is my take on this... I am no PHD Doctorate, I am however a Masters student studying psychology (Child & Adolescent Mental Health) at Leeds Beckett University in the UK... From personal experience I had a "few" of these catastrophes as follows: 1. My girlfriend of 7 years had an affair and decided to chance a new life with said individual. 2. A full blown family court custody battle ensued for full care of my son (2.5 years long) 3. I was passed on an STI by my unfaithful partner (which I got clear of with modern medicines) 4. My Car windows were smashed in, tyres slashed, windows on car egg/floured & my home vandalised several times (by ex's new partner & third parties) 5. The Ex's new love affair came to my home and attacked me by strangling me and threw punches. (we fought, he got 2 black eyes.. My amateur boxing days really paid off in being able to protect my son & myself). 6. I was left in debt the Ex had unpaid debts which were passed to me also so I had debt collectors on my tail too... Now there is much more that I endured during this time which I wont put on here there are things I was accused of etc but I wont go into detail. My mental health suffered negatively as a result.. I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety & I had started to get panic attacks. The thought of losing my son made me very much question my existence to the point that I was ready to end it all should things not turn out the way I thought they ought to. Now.. I had 2 choices I could curl up into a ball and turn to drink or drugs, give in, accept my fate or I could fight this thing and give it my ALL my very ALL. My absolute best and that's what I decided to do. I studied family law every night and learned all around the scenarios and how to deal with things so that I could be the most prepared version of myself. I was an hour early to every court hearing. After the pre mentioned 2.5 years in family court I won full residency of my son and I've raised him to the best of my ability... By this point I had been hammered from all angles the uncertainty of where my son would live killed a part of me, the betrayal killed a part of me.. I lost myself in the process. Once court was done I decided to focus on myself. To improve my health. I had no qualifications from school but after a years voluntary work within community based help centre for families I applied to University to study a degree in Teaching & Education. I studied for 3 years and put my heart and soul into it and I got a 2:1 (B of the Uni world). I then decided to see how far I could really take this thing after facing adversity so overwhelmingly intense that it brought out innate qualities that I assume anybody is capable of. Now I'm studying my master's I am doing well so far as its my first semester. I never saw myself getting this far despite feeling I have nothing to prove anymore. I can look myself in the mirror now which is nice to be able to do to be honest. I believe that any work I do in this field once fully qualified 9 months from now will be of great importance and most importantly beneficial to the people I work with. I came from nothing and I now have an understanding surrounding the human psyche and what drives us and the implications of things we go through and how the all effect us uniquely as we are all different. No 2 handprints are the same and neither are 2 minds. I agree with the complexity theory that Jordan Peterson speaks of. However the RESILIENCE of the individual is one of the main factors in how things play out. We all have ups and downs in life but I feel that I am now in a position after dealing with what I have that I will always be able to make the best decision forward and that's all its about. Building resiliency isn't always a choice but it can be done... sometimes life just happens. Many of this comes down the the nature nurture debate and inclusive of genetic predispositions exhibits that its not one or the other but rather a multitude of both. Thank you for taking the time to read this if you did... 😁

They call it breakdown, but really it is a build up!

“For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.” HL Mencken

I Agree with this information. I can say that I have consistently perceived the world in a way that perpetuated the consistent feeling of being "overwhelmed" by my own thoughts about all of the unstructured activities that had to be done. Procrastination gets its claws deep into me at times making it a personal journey that may at times permit an Intervention by a friend. With the overwhelming feelings it becomes difficult to distinguish the critical things from the not so critical items on the list. Thus, I make things more "Complex" than they really have to be by overthinking. Slowing down and taking more focused and precise motions in order to not deplete the hard to sustain energy that I have from lack of being able to sleep properly. Getting good rest is key in this to recharge to capacity to have the cognitive integrity to be at best for the day. It doesn't take the world fallen down on me to throw me for a loop so I am concerned with how I will process inevitable upcoming events that will alter the face of every day normal relations. MY GOSH!!! I am tired and rambling right now. Lol!! GOOD NIGHT

Described beautifully and exactly.

"People's lives dont end when they die, it ends when they lose faith" - Itachi

I often say just because I can’t adapt to a psychotic society doesn’t mean I’m the one with the problem! Too much crap and you have to take time to dig out and recoup from digging and pray you don’t dig the wrong way! Much love to all!

I had all sorts of stuff happen over many years and I kept trying to deal with it on my own. I went to see a psychiatrist, I was beside myself and asked " Why won't this mental and physical pain go away?" She said " You let this go on for too long and an internal switch has been flicked and now every part of every cell has major depression and can not be undone" That sucked.

It takes a great deal of knowledge and understanding to summarize what so many people can't even comprehend within 2 and a half minutes...

"People come to [psychologist] because their lives are so damn complicated they cannot stay on top of them in any way that doesn't make it look like they're just going to get more complicated."

Talking about mental illnesses is difficult, but it's easier hearing kermit the frog explain it to me.

This is certainly true and as someone who treats mental illness I can tell you that true illness is vastly over diagnosed. True major depression, I’m talking slowed thinking, psychomotor retardation, profound hopelessness…it’s there, but very rare that it comes with no environmental loading and nowhere near as common as the number of times you see it casually placed on a chart. The more common depressions have become extinct, because insurance companies won’t pay for them.

this is such a powerful video. I love. JP

Interesting seeing him say this years before he had his own set of catastrophes... wishing him all the best and hope to see you soo JP

This is the plain truth right here. Some people have so much going on at once that it is only a matter of time before they break.

This is so brilliant , I know a couple people that need to see this

This advice has come at the right time. I was a very happy-go-lucky person with a great love for life. That’s until I got married to the wrong person and had 2 troubled kids. Many years of struggling and depression until I realized it wasn’t me but the company I kept. All the comments I read below were wise and therapeutic. Thanks for this everyone.

Basically, it's fear based. When you're overwhelmed and things feel out of your control or more than you can manage.

I had my first mental brakedown when I was 11 year old, I am 64 now and still struggling, I found out I have Autism AD HD OCD, in my late 40s.

Gives a stronger meaning to the "development" part of mental illness. Especially in the teens and 20's

“Collapse in the direction of their biological weakness” stealing that

Nothing better than a free lecture about a subject you are interested in, with helpful information, a good teacher who delivers it well. Here when the internet feels like the best human invention.