‘We’re sedating women with self-care’: how we became obsessed with wellness

“Raphael takes her reasoning a step further and argues that wellness has become a new form of faith. As organized religion has retreated from everyday life, she argues, wellness has rushed in to fill the void. “It’s providing belonging, identity, meaning, community. These are all the things that people used to find in their neighborhood church or synagogue. Wellness offers some sort of salvation on the horizon.” It also offers the illusion of control and empowerment. “If you work hard enough and you buy the right things, you’ll be saved from disease and ageing and anything bad happening to you,” Raphael says.”

I've been reading a bit lately on the wellness industry and on self care in general and how much we put on the individual in the US. Everything is up to the individual doing the right thing, but is it possible for the individual to really do it all? Where do community and safety nets come into play? I'm not saying everyone should go back to a religious institution but I am wondering what types of insititution or community and care can rise up to fill the gap. The wellness industry isn't the answer.