The Local Optimist Digest #17

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 promise of psilocybin therapy for alcohol use disorder, the rise of "cyberchondria," and Nick Kyrgios opening up about his mental health.

Psilocybin therapy may be the next big treatment for alcohol use disorder

Many people don't know that Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, originally wanted there to be a 13th step to his program that involved taking psychedelics. Recent research indicates that he may have been on to something. A new study on the therapeutic effects of using psychedelics to treat alcohol use disorder found that just two doses of psilocybin (found in certain mushrooms) led to an 83% decline in heavy drinking among the participants. By the end of the eight-month trial, nearly half of those who received psilocybin had stopped drinking entirely. Consider us convinced. READ

Skipping breakfast is risky for young people's mental health

If you're anything like us, breakfast probably wasn't top priority for you in middle or high school (that would be sleeping through our alarm). But a new study out of Spain adds to a growing body of research showing that kids and teens who skip the first meal of the day are at higher risk for physical and mental health problems. Interestingly, those who ate breakfast out of the home (like at school) were also at greater risk for psychosocial issues than those who ate it with their families in the morning. Our takeaway? Cocoa Puffs are better than nothing. READ

Highly sensitive people make decisions differently

Being highly sensitive is a blessing and a curse: we often have greater empathy and better intuition than our less sensitive peers, but can also feel more easily overwhelmed and overstimulated. New research indicates that we make decisions differently, too, needing more time to deliberate on a solution than others and occasionally suffering from analysis paralysis. As one psychiatrist put it: "Because HSPs process stimuli in much greater detail than others, any decision ultimately becomes more heightened in importance due to the impact [it has] on their overall state of being." Not not true. READ

Yes, your family can really screw up your body image

In news that will surprise no one with a weight-obsessed relative (or five), comments from family members about our looks can cause lifelong insecurities. Research shows that our perception of bodies and their varying social acceptance is shaped in the early years of our lives, meaning that both an early compliment or a criticism can set the tone for how we feel later on. Being complimented on your thinness when you're a child, for example, but then having your diet heavily regulated when you later hit puberty sends a doozy of a message. So let's try this: not commenting on other people's bodies at all. READ

Online dating leads many people to feel burnt out

If you've ever used a dating app, you know how tedious they can be, what with the endless swiping, searching, and conversations that go nowhere they often involve. "It really is almost like this part-time job," one user told The New York Times. With looking for love now feeling more like work, many people are experiencing a level of burnout we often associate with the office. A recent survey of 500 18- to 54-year-olds found that nearly 80% of singles said they experienced emotional burnout or fatigue with online dating. While love can be found on these apps, it's clear that the algorithms are not always in our favor. READ

Self-diagnosing on Google has led to cyberchondria

With Google at our fingertips, it's become commonplace to fall down a self-diagnosis rabbit hole whenever we're experiencing physical or mental health symptoms. While there are helpful resources online that can help us better describe our symptoms to a doctor and avoid misdiagnosis, relying on the internet too much for health information can lead to cyberchondria – in which someone experiences a high amount of health anxiety from searching symptoms on the internet. So next time you're feeling unwell, maybe tread lightly with the search button. READ

Think you suck at meditation? You might just need to reframe how you think about it. If you find yourself getting frustrated by how often you get distracted when you sit down to zen out, experts say that noticing in and of itself is beneficial. "Distraction in meditation is not proof of failure," says Dan Harris, co-author of Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics. When you notice you're distracted, it actually indicates that you're becoming more mindful.

The key is to get back to focusing on your breath every time you get distracted, even if that means doing it over and over again in the span of a few minutes. It's about accepting where you are in the moment, rather than hoping for a different (less-distracted) state of mind.

Nick Kyrgios credits Naomi Osaka for inspiring him to speak out about mental health

The Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios credited Naomi Osaka for inspiring him to open up about his own mental health struggles during a recent U.S. Open panel. "There were times in my tennis career where I was really struggling [and] I wasn't sure if it was OK to feel that way," he said. "But then I met Naomi. We did a podcast together, and she kind of opened up... [which] made me feel more comfortable to open up about it." The player, known for acting out rather aggressively on the court, added: "I think men around my age really struggle to open up, can't feel weak. Naomi helped me a lot with that." READ

Executives want their employees to know they have feelings, too

The hottest new trend in management these days? Opening up to your employees to show that you are human. Books like Dare to Lead by Brené Brown and business school courses on interpersonal dynamics, combined with greater mental health awareness, have made emotional intelligence and vulnerability top of mind for those in the C-suite, but, sometimes, the results are awkward. When the chief executive of HyperSocial recently posted a crying selfie after laying off a few of his employees, the backlash was swift. As one person put it: "This 'you don't know how hard it is for me to fire you all' vulnerability is something people can stop doing, please." READ

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

It's National Suicide Prevention Week. In 2020, there were an estimated 1.20 million suicide attempts, according to the latest research from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The organization is dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education, and advocacy, and hosts annual "Out of the Darkness Walks" to build awareness around the realities of suicide. To find out how you can advocate for suicide prevention or donate to the cause, head HERE.

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