Since Hermann Hesse's "Steppenwolf," we have known that each era has its own specific sufferings. While the people of the 19th century were primarily driven by the fear of personal missteps, contemporary individuals are plagued by different concerns. Today, we suffer from restlessness, overwhelm, and a pressure to perform that has deeply embedded itself within us. Depression is a hindrance to life, lethargy, and weakness. It represents stagnation, which is no longer affordable in today's world of progress. However, upon closer examination, it is also something else: a reaction to this societal hyper-acceleration, which manifests itself as a refusal to act. It is no coincidence that an expanded concept emerges in the 20th century: exhaustion depression. This is illustrated by insights from current research in the fields of sociology.