Why We’re Seeing A Nationwide Mental Health Decline
Are you missing what is right in front of you?
Introduction
This post will elaborate on a section from a previous post of mine: How I Came to Rewild and How You Can Too. In the section: Mental Health Profession, I briefly touch on common themes I see while providing therapy as a practicing Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC).
I believe sedentary lifestyle, overuse of technology, social media, and current medical practices have had a negative impact on Americans. It is also my belief that the above mentioned, are largely influenced by our modern lifestyle.
How is your free time spent?
Negative Impact 1: Sedentary Lifestyle
A large majority of Americans spend much of their time indoors. We’re either at work, school or home, sitting most of the day. And after all that sitting, we lay down and sleep. Instead, movement should be the highest priority. Whether that be through recess, extracurriculars or a trip to the gym.
Human beings are meant to be physically active. If we look through an ancestral lens, we evolved from spending all of our time outdoors. No comfort from modern homes or buildings. We had to hunt and chase down food, forage, and collect water just to survive. We were always outdoors and always active.
There are a plethora of physical and mental health benefits associated with time spent outdoors and being active.
Being outdoors positively impacts peoples mood, encourages relaxation and even brings about a sense of peace. Amazingly, our sun provides vitamin D, which a lack of is associated with low mood and depressive symptoms.
The physical act of movement allows for the brain to produce new neural connections and increases levels of dopamine and serotonin. This shift in chemical production allows for a rise in mood, better focus and a greater ability to relax afterward (Hyman, 2009).
How to change:
Get outdoors and get active! As often as you can. Swap out screen time for play time. Take your lunch break outdoors. Go for a walk in nature or take an exercise class.
For kids specifically, allow them to have unstructured free play time. It allows children to build an important skill: distress tolerance.
Confidence and self-esteem flourish, and resiliency is built. Knowing they can rely on their imagination and creativity to reach solutions is healthy and empowering.
How many different devices do you have access to?
Negative Impact 2: Overuse of Technology
In our modern world, the creation and use of technology is rising exponentially. Growing up with constant access to technology and the internet has impacted us negatively. Don’t get me wrong, technology is a great thing, but too much of it can be problematic.
Screen time in its many forms: television, video games, social media, web surfing, etc. is a form of distraction and dissociation. When we are absorbed into the cyber world or lost in a movie, it’s like we have left the room - our mind is elsewhere. It affects our ability to function properly.
I find that individuals are no longer comfortable, or able to sit with their own thoughts. When times get tough, instead of relying on ourselves and our own skills, we look to a distraction. It provides the immediate relief we are looking for, but it does not help us in the long run. When we put the device down, those uncomfortable worries/anxieties are still there, and most likely stronger. This creates a vicious cycle and a dependency on these distractions.
Technology is demising personal interactions and relationships. Sure, you can connect with others online, but sitting down in the same space as another person, or play time with a friend is more meaningful and beneficial.
Human beings are social animals, we thrive while interacting with others.
I have noticed an increase in both social anxiety and depression. I believe this is due to a lack of interaction with friends and family, largely influenced by the overuse of technology.
How to change:
When technology use is not necessary - for work, school, or learning, step away! Limit your use. If you need help starting this, most devices have the ability to set scheduled screen time or time limits. Plan a family walk or family game night instead of screen time. Meet up with a friend for a bite to eat or a coffee instead of messaging through an app.
Yes, it will be hard at first because technology is addicting, but real experiences like quality time, meaningful conversation, and exploring your surroundings are a much better addiction. Present moment experiences are what many of us lack in this fast paced world.
How to limit screen/app time on Apple products:
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/set-up-screen-time-for-yourself-iphbfa595995/ios
How to limit screen/app time on Android products:
How many apps are on your devices?
Negative Impact 3: Social Media
I have an entire post on this topic, Reasons To Consider Deleting Your Social Media. Check it out if you’d like to read a more in depth description of this topic.
Social media is designed to keep us on our phones, continuously scrolling so companies make their money. Social media creators are able to feed this addiction because the “apps” gather unique data from the individual’s search and scrolling habits. From there, they use algorithms to continually feed more content the individual will continue to view. (https://www.thesocialdilemma.com/youth/)
Social media takes away from an individual's ability to build confidence & self-esteem. It has caused a decreased desire to be around others. The ability to feel connected through a screen and having the “perfect” image impact the way one views themself and others. A combination of constant worry of what others are thinking and physical isolation leads to symptoms of anxiety, social anxiety and depression.
How to change:
The obvious answer: get rid of your social media!! If you are not there yet, or are unable due to work obligations, take steps to make accessing the accounts difficult. Limit your usage of app time on your phone. Once the time is up, you’re done for the day. Delete the apps themselves from your phone. This makes it more of a pain to access. You would have to go into the internet browser and type all of your information to log in, deterring you from doing it as frequently. Try pausing your accounts for a week and see if you feel differently over that time period.
You can take a look at my personal journey here: Why I Choose To Be Social Media Free.
Do you feel like this is something you have to keep handy?
Negative Impact 4: Medical Practices
Many Americans are on at least one, if not multiple, daily medications.
Our current healthcare system is broken into providers specializing in one part of the body. Very few are trained to look at the body as a whole and recognize the interconnectedness of all our systems.
Because of our current teachings and practices, individuals are prescribed a cocktail of various medications. Each aimed to target a specific area of the body for a specific diagnosis. When medications are mixed together like this, the impact they may have on our mind/body are unknown. How could they be when each individual’s genetic makeup is so unique and their prescribed cocktail differs greatly from others?
My concern is the rate at which medication is being prescribed. Is it necessary? What are the long term impacts on our bodies?
How to change:
Look at your current lifestyle choices to improve your health.
Medication usually helps to manage symptoms, not address and correct the underlying issues causing those symptoms. Changing habits may take more work, but will implement change and can lead to living a healthier life, free of prescribed drug dependency. Here are the various areas to target:
Diet/Nutrition
Exercise/Playtime
Removing toxins from the body/environment
Amount/quality of sleep
Time outdoors
Quality time with others
Positive change begins with YOU.
Conclusion
The current mental health climate in our country is steadily declining. We can look to outside resources for help, but the real work should be done starting within. Once we help ourselves by adjusting lifestyle choices, outside resources can make an even bigger impact.
If you are seeing any of these themes pop up for yourself or your children, try making some of these changes. You may not see or feel change right away, but stick with it and your quality of life will begin to increase.
Leave us a comment with your thoughts. If you are able to give any of these suggestions a try, or have already done some on your own, let us know how they work out for you!
Resources
Hyman, Mark (2009). The UltraMind Solution: Fix your broken brain by healing your body first. Scribner.
“‘The Social Dilemma’ - Gen Z Action Guide.” The Social Dilemma, 22 Oct. 2021, www.thesocialdilemma.com/youth/.