Are People in Their 30s Depressed? You’re Not Alone

The “best years” myth: Why your 30s might feel heavy

Let’s be real for a second. Everyone says your 30s are supposed to be your prime. You’re stable, wiser, maybe finally making decent money. But… why do so many of us feel off? Not just stressed or tired, but emotionally flat, anxious, or downright depressed?

Last week, over coffee, my friend Ava (she’s 34) told me: “I thought by now I’d feel more… secure. But I’m more lost than I was at 24.” And honestly? I felt the same. So I started digging, reading, talking, even reflecting on my own mess of a decade.

Turns out—yeah, people in their 30s do struggle with depression. More than you’d think. And it’s not weakness. It’s a mix of life, pressure, expectations… and sometimes, just plain burnout.

What actually causes depression in your 30s?

The pressure to have it all figured out

In your 30s, there’s this weird, invisible checklist you’re supposed to be ticking off:

• Career? Thriving.

• Relationship? Stable or married.

• Kids? Maybe.

• Savings? Obviously.

• Mental health? Zen master level.

But if even one of those things is shaky, you start questioning everything. I remember turning 32 and crying in the shower because I still hadn’t “found my thing” professionally. Meanwhile, my LinkedIn was full of “promotion to VP” posts.

That kind of social comparison is brutal. And constant.

Burnout is real—especially for millennials

We were raised to hustle. Study hard, get a job, overdeliver, keep grinding. But by the time you hit 30-something, your body and brain are like, “Yeah, we’re tired now.”

According to the World Health Organization, depression and burnout are increasingly common in adults aged 30–39. It’s not just about work—it’s emotional exhaustion from life. Relationships, bills, aging parents, fertility decisions, climate anxiety, trying to eat healthy, going to therapy (but missing sessions), and still answering emails at 10pm.

Pfff. It’s a lot.

Signs you might be dealing with more than just stress

It’s not always dramatic

I used to think depression looked like crying every day, staying in bed for weeks, or total despair. But in your 30s, it can look quieter:

• You feel numb, like nothing excites you anymore.

• You laugh with friends but go home feeling hollow.

• You function—but everything feels heavier than it should.

• You scroll for hours to escape.

• You feel stuck. Like… deeply stuck.

Honestly, that last one hit me hardest. I didn’t even realize I was depressed until I caught myself dreading everything. Even the good stuff.

“High-functioning” depression is a thing

You can be going to work, paying your bills, smiling at parties—and still feel completely off inside. A lot of people in their 30s hide it well. Maybe because we don’t want to look like we’re failing. Maybe because we don’t even know what’s wrong.

But just because it’s invisible doesn’t mean it’s not valid.

How to cope if your 30s feel heavier than expected

Therapy, yes—but also small, weird rituals

Look, therapy helps. Big time. But sometimes it’s not accessible, or not enough on its own. For me, it was a mix of therapy and weirdly specific habits that pulled me out of a rut:

• Journaling at 7:13am every day (don’t ask why that time, it just stuck)

• Cooking dinner even when I had no appetite

• Saying “no” to things I didn’t actually want to do

• Walking aimlessly without a podcast, just listening to the city

It didn’t “fix” everything, but it reminded me that I’m a human being. Not just a productivity robot.

Talk to someone. Even if it feels awkward.

One night, I messaged my old roommate and just said, “Hey, do your 30s ever feel weirdly sad?” Her response? “Yes. All the time. Thank you for saying it.”

That moment cracked something open. I wasn’t alone. And neither are you.

It doesn’t have to be a deep therapy session with every friend—but even just admitting you’re feeling off can make the weight easier to carry.

So… are people in their 30s depressed?

Yeah. Many are.

Not because they’re broken. But because life in your 30s is complex, demanding, and full of unspoken pressure. We’re all carrying more than we show. And sometimes, that weight turns into depression.

But here’s the good news: it’s okay to name it. To slow down. To ask for help. To take the pressure off being “fine.”

Honestly? That might be the most grown-up thing we can do.

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The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

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Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

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Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.