According to research published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, Americans between 50 and 65 are getting lonelier, more depressed, and physically weaker. They’re even showing worse memory than previous generations, and they’re all much worse off than their peers in other wealthy countries.

This is measurable and based on decades of international data. Taken together, the findings indicate that Americans are trending downward across multiple indicators. Middle-aged Americans were lonelier, more depressive, had worse memories, and had far weaker grip strength than middle-aged people in, for instance, northern Europe. Even the lives of middle-aged people in countries like England and Mexico are steadily improving, while American middle-aged folks are falling precipitously.

If you guessed that literally everything about the United States is the problem here, you are correct.

Two full time working parents while raising little kids, having to help care for aging parents and help them navigate the health system is exhausting. I’m supposed to be enjoying my 40s, were financially set at least, but I still feel like I’m stuck in an endless grind. American dream.

I really need to figure out a way to leave this place.