Career Over Family: A Ticket To Antidepressant Hell

In our modern society obsessed with career hustle and #girlboss ambition, an inconvenient truth is often overlooked — genuine fulfillment for women lies not in the rat race, but in the sacred bonds of family. As the data shows, the rise of single, childless women achieving professional “success” has paradoxically corresponded with skyrocketing rates of depression, anxiety, and emptiness.

It’s time we had an honest discussion about redefining priorities when it comes to true female happiness and well-being.

The Antidepressant Epidemic No One Wants to Talk About

Let’s start with some sobering statistics: According to the CDC, unmarried women without children were found to have the highest rates of antidepressant use compared to all other groups studied, including married mothers. The next most medicated group is single mothers who divorced or separated from their spouse.

On the flip side, the data indicated re-partnered single mothers had significantly lower rates of antidepressant use, likely due to the emotional and practical support provided by a partner.

The implications are clear — family, partnership, and connection serve as protective factors against mental health struggles for mothers, and women as a whole. Conversely, the isolating path of being single appears to take a severe psychological toll on women, especially as they age.

Here’s where the self-described “independent women” often declare statements like “I’m happy alone,” “men are evil and abusive,” “I can do bad all by myself,” or “I love being single and free.” However, actions speak louder than words. Many of these women cope by self-medicating with wine, indulging in shopping sprees, and surrounding themselves with pets — none of which truly fills the void in their hearts for family and genuine connection. But society often lets these women continue living in their delusion, leading to a sad and graceless end.

Get a Dog and Die Alone

Of course, the “single and successful” life script is heavily pushed on modern women as the pinnacle of empowerment and self-actualization. But at what cost?

Numerous psychologists and sociologists have theorized that humans, especially women, derive a deep sense of meaning, purpose, and happiness from nurturing bonds — be it with a romantic partner, children, or close family members.

By prioritizing career over connection and family, are we inadvertently setting up countless women for a life of emptiness, detachment, and unresolved longing? The mental health data seems to corroborate those concerns. While Kevin Samuels coined the term “get a dog and die alone” partly in jest, the data suggests he was prophetic in his choice of words.

Redefining Female Fulfillment

To be clear, this isn’t an argument that women must choose between motherhood or career — many find profound satisfaction in both worlds. Nor is it a criticism of women who cannot or choose not to have children for various valid reasons.

However, it is a call to re-examine our cultural narratives that push relentless ambition while minimizing or outright shaming the desire for marriage, family, and nurturing bonds as the antiquated goals of the “weaker” sex.

The truth is, a woman’s worth and sense of purpose extends far beyond her paycheck or corporate achievements. For millions, creating and sustaining a family unit is one of life’s most rewarding and meaningful experiences that no career could ever replicate. Moreover, the vast majority of women climbing the corporate ladder won’t get anywhere near the top. And are viewed by their employers as easily replaceable commodities.

So why do we treat the desire for family as something to be overcome or escaped? Why are we so afraid to acknowledge that for many women, professional success will never fill the void left by lack of connection and rootedness?

Embracing the Full Spectrum of Female Identity

The happiest, most fulfilled women prioritize family over career and embrace the idea of rearing the next generation. They tend to be masterful nurturers who leave a leave a legacy of love.

By elevating family, and connection to its rightful place of significance, we provide a counterbalance to the emptiness of ambition alone. We should celebrate women who prioritize soul-sustaining bonds that have enriched the human experience since the dawn of civilization.

Does that mean abandoning career or self-actualization? Of course not. But let’s stop crapping on women whose main objective in life is being wives and mothers. Newsflash, that doesn’t make them weak, or a prisoner in their own lives.

At the end of the day, no amount of money, status, or accolades can insulate a woman from the gnawing loneliness of a life devoid of human connection and belonging. The antidepressant epidemic is just one sobering wake-up call about where our cultural priorities have led us astray.

It’s time to stop diminishing the power of motherhood and family as the pillars of female happiness and identity. Shout out to all the good moms out there. We love you!