Not to be nitpicky but DLSS is a different technology than frame generation, though it also involves AI guessing - just in a different way. DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) means rendering the game at a lower resolution than your screen’s output, then having it upscaled to the correct resolution via AI. This is much more performance friendly than native rendering and can often lead to a better looking visual end product than turning graphics features off and rendering natively - though it will depend on the game, genre and personal preference.
Frame generation is as you described. Worth noting is that DLSS without frame generation doesn’t suffer issues like artifacts and input lag in the same manner as FG turned on. Frame generation also works better the higher your base frame rate is, so it’s a bit of a “win-more”. Using FG to go from 30 to 60 FPS will feel much worse than using it to go from 60 to 120.
The fake frames memes I believe stem from the updated frame generation technology in the 50 series guessing three frames at a time instead of one. So in effect you’ll end up with a majority of the frames you see being “fake”.
I relate to a lot of what you’re writing - almost all of it in fact. Though my birthday is in the middle of the summer so my “feeling like shit due to being reminded of the passage of time” is evenly spaced throughout the year. In a way it would be nice to get them both out of the way around new year’s like this.
I don’t have any helpful words. I’m also just drifting between distractions as I wait for either the courage to end it or death to find me of its own accord. And I relate to the guilt of knowing I have it “easy” really, and can’t manage even given this favourable hand. I’m not going to say that it gets better, because I’ve never experienced that. All you can do is try to find solace in the fact that none of it matters, we’re all insignificant and ultimately fated to be dust, dispersed and forgotten. So the rat race doesn’t matter, and whether you make it within its confines or fail doesn’t matter. There is some hope to be had in that thought, though I often fail to hold on to it myself.
Also, it might be cheesy but who cares. Sometimes when I feel like shit this song makes me feel a little better. It is somewhat comforting to know that you’re not alone, and I hope I managed to convey at least that.