Depression and anxiety are two things that seem to be more present in our world now than ever before. I mean, it’s not like there was a massive pandemic or anything that changed the way we look at things. Oh wait, there was!
People have become much more introspective and mental health has become a huge topic. We are allowed to not feel okay and that is an interesting thing to unpack. I personally believe we all experience anxiety and depression in our lives. Some of course experience this far more than others. With the transition from high school to college, these emotions come up, so I decided to watch a TED talk on them.
Johann Hari is a writer and journalist originally from Scotland. His TED talk is titled, “This could be why you’re depressed or anxious.” In his talk, he addresses how we are at a fundamental disadvantage in fighting these negative emotions. He describes America as the loneliest society. Hari discusses the popular notion of “being yourself.” He counters this by saying that people need belonging. The constant goal of trying to be different from everyone else is not only a stressful concept, but a path to isolation. Isolation is difference and a strong contributor in anxiety and especially depression.
Social media is no help and he compares it to junk food. Just like we consume processed foods that are bad for our bodies, we consume junk online. He questions why is it that we know what’s important to us in life, but we still see social media as a means to show off money or a fancy lifestyle. No one thinks about their fancy cars on their death bed; They think about the time spent with their family and friends. How do we know what truly matters but still fail to prioritize these activities?
The most impactful quote from his speech happens towards the end. “Your depression is not a malfunction, it’s a signal.” There is a mental health stigma still present and there’s no doubt about it. People with these symptoms look on themselves as broken. He explains that we are not machines! We are human beings and just need to figure out what’s causing these discrepancies. This represents as an overarching message that’s never explicitly stated….
Be kind to yourself (always).
Hi John,
As someone who struggles with anxiety and depression, I really enjoyed this TedTalk. I especially like the quote you used at the end and I think it is extremely true. Sometimes, there is truly no explanation for what goes on inside a person’s mind, and all I know is that there is strength in unity and conversation. Thank you for blogging about such an important topic!
– Amalia
Jonh,
I think that your last paragraph is so true as someone who was dealt with feelings similar to what you described. Also, I agree with the part of social media being junk food because I have a very big issue with fueling my procrastination through social media and a lot of times my procrastination is a cause of anxiety for me. Great work!
Sophia
John,
Personally I think that the fact that I got the internet so early and was on social media all the time is part of the reason I feel this way now. America can definitely be described as a colder society too compared to other countries, and during events like COVID, it is worse. Great work!