Feel Better Now? The Rise and Rise of the Anxiety Economy – The Guardian, March 10, 2019
Anxiety is now a multibillion-dollar industry that is rising fast and at risk of becoming over-commoditized. It contains many “anti-anxiety” products, ranging from squishy toys to coloring books to meditation apps to weighted blankets, which often do little to acquiesce anxiety and sometimes have quite the opposite effect. One solution that is not a “product” is to reconnect with nature and go for a walk. This encourages our brains to release serotonin—it improves our mood, helps combat stress, and releases tension.
Brexit Has Become a Mental Health Issue – Quartz, March 12, 2019
New research shows that the uncertainty over Brexit is taking its toll on British people’s mental health.
The Only Metric of Success That Really Matters Is the One We Ignore – Quartz, March 12, 2019
The thing that makes us happiest in life is other people. And yet other people are often the first thing to fall off our list of priorities.
The Invisibility of Older Women – The Atlantic, February 27, 2019
As they age, women experience less public scrutiny—and entertain a wider set of choices about when and how they are seen.
Why Do We Need Sleep? Israeli Scientists Solve the Mystery – Haaretz, March 6, 2019 Groundbreaking research shows that when a zebrafish sleeps, so do its nerve cells—freeing it to focus on repairing its DNA.
A Striking Stat:
A new US study suggests social media is linked to an alarming rise in young people’s mental health disorders. Teens reporting major depressive symptoms jumped 52 percent from 2005 to 2017. Young adults (18–25) experiencing serious psychological distress surged 71 percent from 2008 to 2017—while rates of suicidal thoughts/actions skyrocketed 47 percent in the same time.
Source: American Psychological Association, March 2019
