The human brain is wired to fear scarcity and solve problems. When technology and capitalism fulfill most basic needs, this problem-solving instinct doesn't disappear. It latches onto more abstract, often social or political, issues, fueling neurosis and creating a population that externalizes its anxieties onto the world.

In large, impersonal societies, it is difficult to gauge a person's character (virtue). Consequently, people seek status through easily observable metrics like wealth and achievement (success). This focus on quantifiable symbols of worth drives persistent status anxiety.

Existential angst is a luxury problem. A century ago, life's purpose was clear: survive. The comfort and freedom of modern life have removed physical struggles but introduced complex psychological ones, like finding meaning and identity, which are a hidden cost of progress.

People consume endless self-help content but fail to change because the problem isn't a lack of information. True behavioral change requires intense, consistent intervention, which is why long-term therapy works where books and videos fail to create lasting impact.

People who are already conscientious or anxious—termed "advice hyper-responders"—tend to overdose on self-help advice, amplifying their predispositions. Meanwhile, those who genuinely need the advice often ignore it, leading to a net increase in imbalance rather than correction.

In post-religious, capitalist societies, work is the primary source of identity and honor. As sociologist Emile Durkheim noted, this means financial failure is no longer just a regrettable setback but an assault on one's core sense of self, leading to profound psychological crises.

The cultural fixation on therapy as a panacea turns a useful tool into a 'comfort industry' that obscures the root cause of much modern anxiety: economic instability. The most effective mental health intervention for many would not be individual counseling, but rather massive structural changes that provide affordable housing and stable jobs.

Unprecedented global prosperity creates a vacuum of real adversity, leading people to invent anxieties and fixate on trivial problems. Lacking the perspective from genuine struggle, many complain about first-world issues while ignoring their immense privilege, leading to a state where things are 'so good, it's bad.'

Contrary to the self-help genre's focus on internal optimization, evidence suggests that true well-being comes from "unselfing." Activities that draw focus away from the self—like playing with a pet, appreciating nature, or socializing—are more effective than the introspective methods sold in books.