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 what super-helper syndrome is, how to keep conflict healthy, and why disappointing people may not be such a bad thing. 

Super-Helper Syndrome: What It Is And How To Combat It

It goes without saying that being there for your friends and treating them with kindness is important in any friendship. But have you ever found yourself putting others' needs above your own and struggling to say the word "no," even if at the expense of your well-being?  If this feels familiar, you may be what’s known as a “super-helper.” Coined by psychologists, the term describes people who have the compulsion to help others while neglecting to meet their own needs, which can have negative impacts on their mental health. But how do you know where an act of kindness ends and super-helper syndrome begins? READ.

City Walking And Nature Walking Found To Have Different Mental Health Impacts

Going on a walk in nature has been found to ease tension, anxiety, and stress. Whether in the woods or by the ocean, taking a stroll can be calming and soothing. But is walking still beneficial when in a busy city? While any movement is good, even if you’re wandering through the active streets of a city, experts have found there are significant mental health differences between a nature walk and a walk in an urban environment. READ.

A Viral Tweet Explains Why Disappointing People Isn’t Always a Bad Thing 

Many of us tend to put the needs of others before our own. We people-please, often allowing our boundaries to be crossed in the process. Once this becomes a habit, it is a tricky cycle to break. But according to psychologist Dr. Nicole LePera, disappointing people isn’t such a bad thing after all. In a Twitter thread that has already exceeded 100,000 likes, Dr. LePera explains that in 2023 she’ll actually be embracing disappointing others, and shares why we should consider it too. READ.

6 Ways to Keep Conflict Healthy

1. Being assertive is OK. Rather than avoiding conflict, getting aggressive or becoming passive-aggressive, assertively communicate what you want and need from others.

2. Get to the point. Start the conversation with candid feedback and then use the rest of the conversation to work toward a mutually beneficial solution.

3. Replace "you" language with "I" language. This will avoid putting others on the defensive and allow you to be more receptive.

4. Focus on the issue, not the person. As soon as you make the discussion personal, you run the risk of turning conflict into combat. By keeping the conversation about the issue, you will reduce defensiveness.

5. Paraphrase. When you listen and paraphrase what another person is telling you, it demonstrates that you really care about understanding them and they are less likely to be defensive.

6. Seek understanding, not agreement. Make an effort to try to understand the other person's viewpoint, rather than convince them of yours. The goal should not be to avoid conflict but to embrace it, staying focused on productive outcomes.

Read MORE. 

Simone Biles Breaks Ties with Telehealth Provider Cerebral

After her mid-event withdrawal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Simone Biles became an icon in the mental health world. In an interview shortly after the 2021 Olympics, Biles shared that she initially chose to partner with Cerebral, a company that provides online access to therapists and prescribers for mental-health treatment, because she aligned with their idea to create a space where people could access therapy from anywhere. But after some current and former employees at Cerebral raised concerns about the company, Simone Biles has abruptly ended her partnership with them. READ. 

The National Human Trafficking Hotline

It is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Although it is important to do so every month, in January we are encouraged to educate ourselves and raise awareness about how to identify and prevent human trafficking. We are excited to highlight The National Human Trafficking Hotline, a 24/7 phone and text line that connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and supports to get help and stay safe. To learn more about The National Human Trafficking Hotline, head HERE.

Get Rewarded for Sharing the Digest

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.

 READ MORE  |  ABOUT  |  MADHAPPY