Could it be that people aren't _just_ becoming more sensitive, but that aspects of modern society are _causing_ mental health issues to appear at higher rates? I won't say 'capitalism is making everyone mentally ill', but it does seem that a large blind-spot in most discourse around mental health is environment. In this sense, 'medicalising' everyday does, in fact, provide a useful lens to examine mental illness.
Over the last 3 yrs I think I have discovered my supposed (very real and intense) hayfever started when I started 'real' school ( 12 yrs+ ), worsened when I attended uni and started 'working'.
Couple of years ago I started to go outside for long periods of time, at the start of the season, all season. Biking and laying about at the waterside with my nose in the grass. First year, first months, I had symptoms. But after like 2 months of exposure I started to become free of symptoms.
Up to my 'real' school we played outside extensively and I never had symptoms.
When I was about 15 years I was prescribed pills and whatnot.
If I go outside 'enough', I consider myself 'cured'.
Just food for thought.