Franz Kafka, a well respected author, was believed to have suffered from anxiety and depression. He was born July 3, 1883, in Prague to his parents, Hermann and Julie Kafka (“A Short Biography of Franz Kafka”). He was the eldest of six children, but only three of his siblings survived past infancy (“A Short Biography of Franz Kafka”). Throughout his life he endured numerous illnesses, like insomnia, migraines, and constipation (“A Short Biography of Franz Kafka”). In 1917, Kafka contracted tuberculosis and after many years of suffering, he died June 3, 1924 (“A Short Biography of Franz Kafka”). While Kafka was never formally diagnosed with anxiety, many scholars believed he may have suffered from it (Adams). They came to these conclusions based on some of his writings such as Metamorphosis, as it can be described as “express[ing] the anxieties and alienation felt by many in 20th-century Europe and North America” (Hauptmann). Since Kafka most likely did suffer from a type of anxiety, he would have probably considered anxiety a social epidemic. He similarly would have sympathized with college students experiencing anxiety during such major life changes as, “most of Kafka's life was spent living amongst societal tensions, between nationalists, religions, ethnic groups, and even within his family” (Adams). Given Franz Kafka’s writings and personal experience with anxiety, he would perhaps have empathized with some of today’s college students who experience the same type of anxiety.  

    All of Franz Kafka’s life there was not a lot of stability, which contributed to his social and emotional wellbeing that manifested itself as severe anxiety. In Czechoslovakia, there was much anti-semtism around the late 1800s, so “due to [his] Jewish faith, he was isolated from integrating into Czech society. Kafka also spoke German, further polarizing himself with Czechs, as well as between himself and Germans who became more hostile to Jews” (Adams). Being socially outcast in a country with a different language possibly caused Kafka to suffer from social anxiety. The Mayo Clinic cites, “Children who experience teasing, bullying, rejection, ridicule or humiliation may be more prone to social anxiety disorder” (qtd. in “Social Anxiety Disorder”). The exclusion Kafka experienced caused him to isolate. Isolation and feelings of loneliness are often associated with greater risks of developing anxiety and depression (“Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions”). Kafka was forced into seclusion because of factors outside of his control, which potentially contributed to him developing anxiety. 

In addition, Kafka and his turbulent family life was a factor in his anxiety condition. His two younger brothers passed in infancy, leaving only him and three sisters (“Franz Kafka”). The death of his siblings likely took a great toll on Kafka as he was only six-years-old when it occurred. Franz Kafka also had much conflict with his mother; Julie “was a devoted homemaker who lacked the intellectual depth to understand her son's dreams to become a writer” (“Franz Kafka”). Research has found that lack of parental support of a child increases the likelihood of experiencing depressive and anxious symptoms in adulthood (“Shaw”). Kafka was known to be shy and more introverted, so his father’s outspoken and forceful personality caused the two to clash (“Franz Kafka”). The poor family dynamic and grief at such a young age in all probability contributed to Kafka developing social anxiety.

    One of Kafka’s most famous works was Metamorphosis, in which a man named Gregor Samsa is transformed into an insect (“Franz Kafka - Quotes, Books & Works"). Kafka writes, “So they couldn’t understand his words any more, although they seemed clear enough to him, clearer than before – perhaps his ears had become used to the sound” (8). It is common with social anxiety to have a hard time with volume control and making conversation (“Social Anxiety Disorder”). The short story is believed to be how Kafka viewed his own mental state. Gregor always felt like a burden and an exhausted individual. Scholars can reasonably infer it was inspired by Kafka’s own life because his insomnia caused him to often feel exhausted and not “fitting in” likely made him feel like a burden “Franz Kafka”).     

    Kafka was a known activist who held very progressive views. He was so outspoken that “according to his childhood friend and schoolmate - Hugo Bergmann, they had a slight falling out during their last academic year (1900-1901) because his socialism and my Zionism were much too strident” (qtd. in Kay). Kafka was extremely vocal about his opinions and was often thought of as an activist. He even attended an “anarchist conference on free love” (Kay). Kafka often attended political protests and supported controversial subjects. Often individuals who support more progressive ideas also support mental health initiatives (“Progressive Left: Liberal, Educated and Majority White; Most say U.S. Institutions Need to be Completely Rebuilt Because of Racial Bias”). This further supports the notion that Kafka would be in support of those suffering from anxiety.

    Franz Kafka never spoke publicly about his mental health struggles, but that was probably due to the time period. The stigma around mental health is still present, but in Kafka’s time it was very much a taboo subject. The treatment for mental health has changed dramatically in recent years, and “throughout the 18th Century and up to the mid 1900’s, individuals with mental illness, particularly those with severe mental problems, were often institutionalized in state mental hospitals also referred to as insane asylums” (“How America’s Mental Health System Evolved”). The misinformation around mental health inevitably caused Kafka to not seek support. Mental health was widely misunderstood and not openly spoken about in his day. In the early 1900s, diagnostic criteria was just being created, but before that it was undefined. This meant that diagnoses were not very clear and the classification was often vague (“The History of the Psychiatric Diagnostic System”). The time period heavily constricted Kafka’s ability to be treated for his mental health struggles and show support for mental health. 

    Franz Kafka was a well renowned, absurd fiction author, who possibly suffered from anxiety and depression. Numerous likely causes for his development of anxiety and depression:  a lack of stability, poor family relations, and being considered an outcast among peers.  Kafka often used writing to express himself and his true feelings. Metamorphosis, his most famous  work, is a reflection of his own life; the piece of literature aided readers in viewing a glimpse into Kafka’s own mind. Due to the time period Franz Kafka lived through, he was unable to express his support for those dealing with mental health conditions.