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Why Envy Is Bad For Your Mental Health — And How Envy Could Produce Depression

The Relationship Between Social Support and Psychological Resilience in Envy and Depression

Antonio Segovia, MD.
7 min readNov 9, 2022
Image From Canva By ArtHouse Studio on Pexels

Envy is a powerful and destructive emotion. It can trace back to historical and mythological contexts, where it has been a part of human nature for centuries.

The psychological effects of envy are complex and far-reaching, often leading to emotional illnesses. To understand envy and its impact on our lives, we must first explore its origins and history.

The History of Envy

Envy has been present in human society since the beginning of time.

In Greek mythology, it was present in the Narcissus story, who fell in love with his image in a pool of water. When he realized he could not have his own reflection, he became consumed with envy and eventually killed himself.

Envy also appears in the story of Cain and Abel, where Cain becomes jealous of Abel’s success and kills him.

Envy is also present in many other ancient cultures. In China, it was known as “the green-eyed monster.”

Later in India, it was called “the disease of the heart.” And in Arabia, it was known as “the evil eye.”

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Antonio Segovia, MD.
Antonio Segovia, MD.

Written by Antonio Segovia, MD.

Physician. Media and Journalism specialist. Scientific disclosure. Medicine, Mental Health, Psychology, Inspiration, Philosophy, Culture, Poetry, Books, Sports.

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