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 well-being, discover the latest research on how the mind impacts the body, or find out which celebrities are helping continue 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 how GPS weakens our memory, why silence benefits our mental health, and the psychology behind why we love to hate fictional characters.

Why Being Too Independent Isn’t Always A Good Thing

In our society, there is a lot of celebration around the concept of independence. Although being self-sufficient and having self-confidence can be beneficial for your mental health, “hyper-independence” can negatively impact your relationships, career, mental health, and more. Defined as having “an over-investment in autonomy and self-reliance,” hyper-independence is often associated with the inability to let go of control or accept support. Experts weigh in, sharing what hyper-independence looks like, whether or not it's a trauma response, and how to address it. READ.

The Brain Benefits of Silence

The world is noisier than ever before and it is causing more and more stress in our lives. Science has shown that our bodies excrete stress hormones when exposed to loud sounds and that noise pollution can increase the risk of hearing loss, depression, and cardiovascular disease. But introducing the absence of noise, also known as silence, can actually benefit our brains in many ways. Researchers found that surrounding yourself with silence causes a positive stress response, which they believe stimulates the growth of new brain cells. So how exactly can we sit in silence? Experts have advice. READ.

Can GPS Weaken Your Memory?

Thanks to the Maps App and in-vehicle GPS technological advancements, we have been able to move away from print-out directions to find our way around. By simply following the turn-by-turn directions on your phone, you’ll end up where you need to be. Although this “convenient navigator” has made all of our lives a bit easier, researchers warn that relying on the audio directions comes at a cost to our memory, spatial navigation, and overall brain health. The good news is experts have suggestions for ways we can use GPS without harming our memory. READ.

How to destress and reset in a matter of minutes

Making a conscious effort to slow down your breathing for a few minutes has been scientifically shown to shift your body into your parasympathetic response, promoting functions such as digestion, immunity, relaxation, and sleep. Here’s how to get started:

1. Inhale through your nose for six seconds.

2. Exhale through your nose for six seconds.

3. Repeat this cycle for at least 3 minutes, but there is no limit on how long you can go.

4. If six seconds feels like a struggle, reduce it to five or four seconds and get comfortable breathing at that rate first. You can then gradually build it up to six seconds.

Read MORE.

The Psychology Behind Why We Love to Hate Fictional Characters

Many of us love to watch TV shows and movies despite consciously disliking most of the characters. Take "The White Lotus," for example, which just aired its season 2 finale on Sunday. It’s a show that most viewers can’t stop watching despite finding something to hate, get annoyed with, or dislike in every character. Clinical psychologists believe there is a psychological reason behind this. READ.

B-Present Foundation

This week, we are highlighting The B-Present Foundation, a nonprofit focused on fostering support for every adolescent and young adult with cancer. The B-Present Foundation helps improve the quality of life and health outcomes of young adults with cancer through programs that promote and strengthen connections between young adults and their communities throughout treatment and beyond. To check out their resources or find out how you can support their mission, head HERE.

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Welcome to our new referral program, in which we give you some goodies for sharing the Digest with people who might enjoy this mental health news recap (and its bad jokes) as much as you do.

Here's how it works:1: Use the 'Click To Share' button below to access your personal link.2: Send this unique referral link to friends or family through email or text.3: Earn rewards like Local Optimist stickers, The Madhappy Journal, and Madhappy hats when they subscribe to the digest. Must be based in the U.S.

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