I wonder to what extent the setting in which the author works selects for people who will feel isolated/regretful and therefore develop the kinds of problems s/he encounters.
> The town where I practice psychiatry is mostly white and mostly wealthy. That doesn’t save it.
The underlying assumption is that white and wealthy must not be worse off than the alternative.
But what if the environment itself creates problems that less affluent environments don't?
- Children can afford to move out of the house and so they do
- Couples can afford to get divorced, and so they do
- Individuals can afford to experiment with behaviors that lead to addiction, and so they do
- Families don't need their children economically, so they spend their time in the care of others or alone
There can be no regret without choice. The more money you have, the more real choices you get to make. And the more ways you can come to regret those choices.