Photo: NBC
Hard to believe it’s been two decades now since Seinfeld went off the air. That’s 20 years of no new episodes, which could easily be the point of blame for why depression in America has never had higher rates in the last 25 years.
Demonstrated using 20 hilarious GIFs, we’re connecting the dots between the Fab Four and the highest rates of mental illness (namely depression and anxiety) amongst Americans in the last 20-plus years. While these ’90s reruns, covering hot-button issues like living with your parents, quitting your job yet still somehow paying rent in New York, slipping your boss a Mickey, and dating women who eat their peas one at a time, still hold up better than most new TV today, it’s nothing we haven’t already seen. That is unless, of course, you don’t own the banned episode, “Puerto-Rican Day Parade,” a personal favorite.
So if you’re wondering why your life is particularly pathetic and near unredeemable, it could very well be a lack of Jerry and the gang in your life. Then again, there probably wasn’t much hope for you to begin with. So check out all these Seinfeld gifs below.
20 Years With No New ‘Seinfeld’ Episodes Could Be to Blame for the Highest Rates of Depression In America In Two Decades
In Memoriam: All the Old ‘Seinfeld’ Dudes That Are Dead Now
Seinfeld 20th
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A Perpetual Need for Feeling Good All the Time
Society has sped up to a constant dopamine drip of instant gratification via social media, which makes living outside of your virtual life difficult.
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An Endless State of Ambivalence
There's so much information and options available that having one firm stance on anything is nearly impossible. One minute you're hearing soccer moms gab about the importance of the future being feminine while the next your podcast featuring the Dalai Lama tells you to remain present. And then your mother calls to remind you about the time in the distant past when you peed yourself because you weren't well prepared enough for public.
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Outward Misery
Most people are miserable, imposing their negativity on others.
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A Little Too Much Honesty
And some people are a little too alright with their misery.
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Mental Illness & An Opioid Crisis
There are reports that say depression and anxiety has never been higher in the last 25 years, with more than 90 percent of teachers surveyed saying that they seen increase in mental illness amongst teen students in the classroom.
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Poor Communication
A lack of communication makes for a myriad of troubles, as assumptions are easily made, usually the wrong ones.
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Even Poorer Communication
That goes for men, too.
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Mostly, People Struggle to Find Happiness
People are so consumed by the idea of happiness, yet many don't know what would make them happy and keep them that way. That's why humans invented the disease of selfies so strangers could do it for them, which of course fades away almost immediately.
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People Aren't As Active
Many people are active but have to document it and continue rebuilding their self-esteem. The rest are stuck in their phones, garnering back and neck pain, completely disconnected while fooling themselves into thinking they've never been more connected.
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Many Turn to Drinking to Ease Their Pain
The good ol' bottle...
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And Dating Is As Ubiquitous As It Is Impossible
Because women think they're cooler than they are, and men think they deserve hotter women than they actually do.
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Which Leads to a Life of Constant Frustration
The cycle of loneliness, immediate attachment, detachment and misery never ends. And unsqueezable ketchup bottles don't help one bit.
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And More Drinking
Which, of course, always leads to more drinking, especially if you can't date without a few in you.
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And Squabbling With Friends
Odds are you've dated the same people as your best friend, which eventually comes out in the worst way, usually in the form of the devil's threesome.
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And Racial Slurs
Because racism is trending again.
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America Is One of the Few Cultures Where Dancing Is Persecuted
It's true, look it up.
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Although Some Dancing Should Be Persecuted
OK, some dancing should be outlawed, such as the full-body dry heave.
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In the End, There's Always Going Be Problems
It never ends.
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And Someone Who Wants to Tell You Theirs
Neither do the people who like to complain.
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So You Might As Well Get Used to It
Settle in. Because we've probably got another 20 years without new Seinfeld episodes. That, or the sweet embrace of death, just around the bend.