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 why we feel anxious the day after drinking, how to acknowledge and prevent trauma dumping, and the mental realities of a digitalized workplace.  

When Oversharing Turns Into Trauma Dumping

Friends are often the first people we call with exciting news and the latest “tea.” They are also the ones we rely on for support if/when something not-so great happens. Although it is important to have people to talk to about the heavy things, sometimes we can fall into a trap of over-sharing serious information that our friends aren’t equipped to handle and process as a listener. Psychologists refer to this as “trauma dumping.” Experts explore why we have a tendency to do this, how to be more mindful of it, and how to set proper friendship boundaries. READ.

Hangxiety: Why It Happens And How To Deal With It

For those of us of the legal drinking age, having a few drinks on a night out with friends can be fun. What’s not-so-fun is waking up the morning after with a raging hangover. If you’ve experienced a hangover from drinking before, you’re probably familiar with the usual physical symptoms: headaches, nausea, etc. But hangovers can have psychological symptoms as well, most notably being feelings of anxiety. This phenomenon is so common that it even has its own name: “hangxiety,” defined as the overwhelming feeling of worry and anxiety after drinking too much. Estimates suggest between 12% and 22% of people experience hangxiety. The good news: experts have suggestions for how to prevent and cope with post-drinking anxiety. READ.

The Pros And Cons Of A Digitalized Workplace

The use of technology within the workplace has significantly increased over the last decade.  The advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics, along with the rise of mass-consumed communication devices and technologies, have changed the way we think and work. It has been found that the use of digital technology within the workplace can have both significant positive and negative impacts on employee mental wellbeing and job satisfaction. READ.

How To Care For Your Mental Health During The Holidays

1. Make a Plan: Whether you plan to stay in this season or have a host of activities to attend, the first thing you should do is make a plan. Decide what you want to do, what you need to do, and understand the difference.

2. Honor Your Needs: Taking time out to care for and honor your needs is important. Be kind to yourself and put your physical and mental wellbeing first.

3. Set Boundaries: Another way to manage your mental health during the holidays is to set boundaries. People like to be generous during the holidays, but that generosity doesn’t have to come at the expense of having healthy boundaries.

4. Ask for Help: Are you planning to host the holidays? Perhaps you’re cooking for a family of four—or 14? Whatever your seasonal plans, it’s important to know you don’t have to go it alone. 

5. Keep a Routine: While routines are important year-round, particularly for those living with mental illness, maintaining normalcy is key. Make sure you eat and sleep well, and schedule time to exercise. 

6. Find Support: Whether you are dealing with depression, anxiety, a mood episode, or just seasonal stress, it’s important to talk to someone if you feel overwhelmed. Friends and family can be great pillars of support. 

Read MORE.

Mel Robbins On Stephen tWitch Boss’s Death

You did not have to know Stephen tWitch Boss on a personal level to be profoundly impacted by the news of his death by suicide. Mel Robbins, a podcast host, author, motivational speaker, and big fan of tWitch, took to her podcast mic the day following his death to share her feelings with her community. Robbins shares, “You just have no clue what is going on in somebody’s life, so be kind,” adding, “...news like this can bring a lot of personal feelings to the surface for many of us.” LISTEN NOW. 

If you need help, call 988 for the National Suicide Hotline or text HOME to 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line for resources and support.

To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA)

This week, we are excited to highlight To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), a nonprofit dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, and inspire, and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery. Since its start in 2006, TWLOHA has donated over $3 million directly into treatment and recovery, making it possible for people to access mental health care when they need it the most. Annually, their work to provide mental health resources connects 40,000 people to services like crisis lines, support groups, and affordable local mental health resources. To learn more, 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. 

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