But yet they can keep finding people willing to pay such high rent.

Not always, especially if it’s a company that’s holding a lot of units – they’ll keep the rents high even if they can’t fill all of them to ensure the valuation of the others stays high. The math works out such that they’ll earn more from 12x$2000 than 20x$1000, for example. Plus, not as much money spent on upkeep for unused units.

Edit: And quick edit to add, the best way to fix this is to tax unused units or property (roughly, there’s a lot of nuance there). In fact, that would fix a lot of the current housing and rental market insanity. It’ll be a monumental effort to push past realty lobbying, but any time you see this proposal pop up in regional politics, please show up and voice your support if able.

Think about how fast you can evacuate from the cocaine after snorting cocaine

This is more preventative than something that would help you now, but try to practice gratitude/active appreciation. It’s a bit of a slog to start, but once you get in the habit you’ll feel overall more positive and more directly in control of how you feel at times like this.

Basically, take time a few times throughout the day to acknowledge something you’re thankful for or are enjoying, and then say or murmur it out loud to solidify it. Sunny weather or a crisp morning? Feel good about it for a second or two. Those headphones your relative or friend got you as a gift sound banging? Mentally thank them for it.

This is one of the few therapeutic practices that have a universally positive impact on mental health and outlook, and it’s definitely served me well in general as well as in very similar circumstances to what you’re dealing with.

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2019/03/practicing-gratitude

Exactly. At this point I’m more invested in fediverse services. Between that and RSS feeds, they scratch 90% of the dopamine itch that Twitter and Reddit did. If the communities just continue to expand a little bit more at the rate they’re already going, I’ll have no desire to look back.