The Local Optimist Digest #22

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 what it means to experience “lifestyle fatigue,” how to prepare if winter gets you feeling down, and why Kanye’s recent online behavior has sparked discussions about bipolar disorder.

Forget burnout; you might be experiencing “lifestyle fatigue”

We’ve become increasingly familiar with the term burnout in regards to work. However, if you’ve constantly been feeling off, down, or tired, you might actually be experiencing “lifestyle fatigue.” Great, just what we needed. Fortunately, experts share there are a few warning signs that can indicate if you’re stuck in a rut or if it is something bigger. READ.

Shorter days and colder weather: how to prep if winter makes you feel depressed

It’s that time of the year when colder and darker days become a reality for many. However, just because the weather is getting worse doesn’t mean our mental health has to follow suit. Now is the time to think about how the colder weather might shift your summer habits and find ways to proactively support your mental well-being during the winter season. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is real, but there are tweaks you can make to your routine to support your mental health. READ.

So how do you actually know if what you heard on TikTok is legitimate? Experts have suggestions.

With the continual rise of social media, more and more people are turning to platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter to better understand their mental health. And while that’s not always a bad thing, some health information on social media can go sideways fast. We’ve all heard by now that not everything we learn online is true – but how can we start to consume mental health advice in a safe way (since we can’t seem to escape it)? Experts suggest considering the creator's qualifications, reading the comments, exploring who else is talking about the topic, and more. READ.

Feeling stuck, blah, or bored? Try taking a creative rest.

This can look like…

• Listening to music

• Painting

• Drawing in a coloring book

• Going for a walk

• Tinkering around a shop

• Taking a day off

• Learning a new skill

P.s., You don’t have to be “good” at a project to be creative. Just have fun with it and enjoy yourself. Read more HERE.

Kanye’s recent behavior has sparked discussions about bipolar disorder

The rapper Ye, formally known as Kanye West, has been making headlines for wearing a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt at Paris Fashion Week, bullying Vogue fashion editor Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, and, most recently, sharing antisemitic statements before being locked out of his social media accounts. The rapper has opened up about his bipolar disorder diagnosis in the past, causing many to wonder whether West’s recent behavior or comments are related to his mental health. While there’s no way to know, it is clear that there needs to be a better understanding of bipolar disorder globally. To help get the conversation started, psychiatrists, therapists and people diagnosed with bipolar disorder share what it feels like to live with the condition, how it is treated and how much it can affect a person’s behavior. READ.

Trust Your Gut-Brain Axis

In the past decade, research has unveiled an internal, bidirectional “superhighway” between the gut and the brain, termed the gut-brain axis. Molecules and compounds produced by your gut microbiota make their way to your mind, affecting everything from your mood to your behavior to your mental health. Building on over a decade of discoveries from the Caltech lab of gut-brain pioneer Dr. Sarkis Mazmanian, Seed Health just launched a gut-brain development program to develop probiotics targeting the gut-brain axis for mental health – think anxiety, depression, stress, and overall mental well-being. READ.

The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation

In keeping with our mission to move mental health forward, we'd like to shout out The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, which has been awarding grants that lead to advances and breakthroughs in mental health scientific research since 1987. To learn more about their efforts or get involved, click HERE.

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