We have talked about the current mental health crisis among our youth in our Wellness Hub meetings.
What are the real causes of depression and anxiety and how can we help?
The COVID-19 measures seem to have aggravated the situation and it really worries us that most of my children’s teenage friends are on antidepressants.
In Johann Hari’s book “Lost Connections” he defines depression as being a situation in which one is disconnected from those activities, people and experiences that give your life meaning. An approach to overcoming depression is to re-establish connections with these vital factors in a new way.
Across the world, Hari found social scientists who were uncovering evidence that depression and anxiety are rarely caused by a chemical imbalance in our brain. He says they are largely caused by key problems with the way we live today. In our next few articles, we will explore factors like loneliness, detrimental societal values, disconnection from one’s work and from nature. and talk about possible solutions. Encourage your young people to refocus on some ways to feel more positive about themselves and learn some self-care strategies like massage workshop, health eating, doing exercise with friends etc.
Disconnection from other people causing loneliness…..
Humans started off in the savannahs of Africa living in tribes and being only able to survive because they collaborated in a group. The moment you were separated from your group you were very vulnerable and in mortal danger. Studies (John Cacioppo et al) have shown that our bodies are still wired that way. If someone feels acutely lonely, the stress hormone production increases as high as if he was being physically attacked. This is an urgent signal from your body and brain to quickly “get back to your group”. Every human instinct is honed not for life on your own, but for life in a tribe. We don’t only feel bad in isolation, but also insecure. Lonely people notice threats much faster than socially connected people. In this hypervigilant state you become more suspicious of any social contact, take offence where none was intended, and can become afraid of strangers. You start to be afraid of the very thing you need most, as disconnection spirals into more disconnection. The tragedy is that many depressed people receive less love, as they become harder to be around.
For decades Harvard professor Robert Putnam has been documenting one of the most important trends of our time: that we do less and less together in groups. Involvement in community organisations dropped by 45% from 1985 to 1994. The structures for looking out for each other in families and communities fell apart. We disbanded our tribes and often unconsciously experimented to see if humans could live alone. We changed or were forced to adopt an individualistic vision of how to live: shut yourself in your home, accumulate success and stuff for yourself. We have shrunk our sense of self to just our ego, and this has made our pain swell and our happiness shrivel.
Many people feel lonely, isolated, and meaningless even though they see people every day. To ease loneliness, we need to have a sense of mutual aid, meaningful connection and protection.
We must return to seeing our distress and our joy as something we share in community and create social reconnection again.
Christmas and summer holidays are approaching fast. Let us all consciously build community with family and friends and reach out to each other to deepen our relationships. Make the supreme effort to find your tribe, walk, talk, eat and share life together.
We would be very happy to talk with anyone, especially our young people at our Open Days, at the Clinic or individually as they prefer.
brooklynwellness.nz 