The Local Optimist Digest #16

Welcome to The Local Optimist Digest, your crib sheet for the latest news in mental health. Whether you want to know how the government is (or is not) investing in our wellbeing, discover the latest research on how the mind impacts the body, or find out which celebrities are helping destigmatize the conversation by opening up about their own mental health struggles, we’ll be covering it all here every week. This week, we're looking at the rise of quiet quitting, CBD's effect on anxiety, and how Serena Williams protects her mental health.

Meet quiet quitting, the antidote to pandemic burnout

In case you haven't heard, hustle culture is dead (sorry to the #nodaysoff crew). In its place is quiet quitting, or not going above and beyond at work but, rather, coasting – a silent protest of sorts against being overworked. Experts are split on whether this TikTok-coined phenomenon is good or bad, but they agree that it's been fueled by pandemic burnout, particularly the always-on work mode that's come from WFH. One clinical psychologist speaking to The Hill called it a form of self-protection, "People are saying work is important but so is the rest of my life. Work doesn't own me." Amen to that. READ

Oh, great: when we eat affects our mental health, too

We're well aware by now that what we eat can affect how we feel, but a growing body of research shows that when we eat can do a number on us, too. When we eat irregularly or at odd times, like late at night, it can throw off our circadian rhythm, leading to circadian desynchronisation and poor energy regulation in the brain, which influences mood. Unfortunately for us, this means that a bedtime snack isn't always recommended. As one researcher put it, "Food is a wake-up cue to the brain and can worsen sleep quality if eaten too close to bed." Womp. READ

We're one step closer to a wearable device that tracks our mental health

Imagine being able to track your mental health with an Oura ring or Whoop? Well, someday soon you might be able to. Researchers at NYU's Tandon School of Engineering have developed a "novel inference engine" (think of it like an algorithm) that can accurately monitor brain activity through the skin in real-time, measuring the electrodermal activity of the skin, which changes during periods of stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. The team hopes to create a watch that will offer tips to help people get back to a neutral state of mind under periods of stress. Where do we sign up? READ

Yes, taking CBD really can reduce your anxiety

Despite the booming market, CBD's usefulness for various mental health concerns has been hotly debated, but new research indicates that it really can reduce anxiety symptoms. A study of 31 people aged 12-25 diagnosed with an anxiety disorder found that taking up to 800mg of CBD per day for 12 weeks nearly halved their anxiety symptoms and improved their social and occupational functioning. What's more? The effect of taking CBD led many participants to stop self-medicating with illicit substances. READ

A rare win for smartphones: they may help improve memory

The news about how our reliance on (er, addiction to?) smartphones is impacting our health is rarely positive, but new research indicates that it's not all bad. A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that the external storage of information afforded to us by a digital device can free up memory storage in our brain, improving our memory long-term. Of course, a downside to this is that if our phones die or get lost, we lose access to that information (see: all the phone numbers we no longer know by heart). READ

Thanks to TikTok, women are diagnosing themselves with ADHD and autism

When it comes to mental health, TikTok is a double-edged sword: it's helped expand and destigmatize various mental health conversations, but it's also led to rampant self-diagnosis that can be dangerous. Neurodivergent conditions, like ADHD and autism, are believed to be underdiagnosed in women due to their harder-to-identify symptoms and girls' increased ability to mask symptoms by imitating others, so many women are taking to TikTok to diagnose themselves instead. The danger, of course, is that by relying on information that's not expert-vetted, they're misdiagnosing themselves. But forces beyond TikTok may be to blame: if our medical systems were better equipped to handle the mental health crisis in our country right now, experts say this likely wouldn't be happening. READ

Feeling extra stressed these days? Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman says practicing a "physiological sigh" can act as a kill switch for your body's panicky stress response.

To do it, take two short inhales through the nose, followed by a long exhale through the mouth. Repeat that pattern three times. Why does it work? In the simplest terms, when your inhales are longer than your exhales, your heart speeds up. When your exhales are longer, the exact opposite happens, slowing down your heart rate and calming you down in the process.

Semicolon tattoos (and the mental health message behind them) are trending again

Semicolon tattoos, popularized by celebrities like Selena Gomez, are trending again, and there's a much larger meaning behind them than you might think. Inspired by Project Semicolon, a grassroots organization dedicated to encouraging discussion around depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts, the symbol reflects a person's choice not to end a sentence when they could have. Seen as a metaphor for choosing life, despite its hardships, many people with the tattoo get it as a symbol of resilience and use it as an initial talking point for important mental health conversations. READ

Serena Williams says she's had to set serious boundaries for her mental health

Serena Williams, who just announced her retirement in the September issue of Vogue, recently opened up about the mental health boundaries she's had to set to thrive as one of the most famous athletes in the world. As someone who could technically always be focused on perfecting her game or participating in something connected to her career, like meetings or media engagements, she's had to enact what she calls strict "shut down moments," where she turns off for the day and focuses on her needs alone. Once again, we bow down. READ

Love is Respect

When Love is Respect launched in February 2007, they were the first 24-hour resource for teens experiencing dating violence and relationship abuse, and today they are still the only teen helpline to serve the entire U.S. and its territories. The non-profit works to prevent intimate partner violence and unhealthy relationships by providing 24/7 information, support, and advocacy to people aged 13-26 who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships. To check out their resources or find out how you can get involved, head HERE.

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