The Modern Day Caveman

Did cavemen suffer from depression?
This was one of my more random shower thoughts back in 2022 – and yet, it stuck with me.

Having lived with clinical depression and anxiety for much of my adult life, my mental health hit some of its lowest points after the pandemic. Through periods of panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, and endless fatigue, I often wondered: if life was stripped back to its most primal form, would these struggles still exist? Or are they purely a modern creation – born out of social media, financial stress, and relentless societal expectations?

Three years later, I’m finally ready to explore this question. If our ancestors didn’t suffer from the same mental health battles, what can I learn from the way they lived? And if they did, what might that say about the roots of depression and anxiety buried deep in our DNA?

I’m not starting with research papers or complex theories. My first step is much simpler: food. I want to see what happens when I cut back on ultra-processed foods and move closer to a “modern caveman” diet.

Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing the results of my “experiment”, including the changes I’ve made to my diet, the recipes I’ve discovered, and the physical and mental shifts I’ve experienced. I’ll also be exploring other pillars of the modern caveman life, like movement, community, and time spent outdoors.

Ultimately, this journey is my attempt to answer a simple question: is living like a caveman the cure for a modern world?