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What are tips to improve mental health? What kind of impact does social media have on your well-being?
On the Huberman Lab, mental health is a grave topic of importance. With guest Paul Conti, Andrew Huberman dives into the problems with mental health treatments, technology’s impact on mental health, and more.
Read more for Dr. Conti and Dr. Huberman’s advice on improving mental health, even when treatments may feel unhelpful.
1. Treat Mental Health Like Your Physical Health
While the Huberman Lab’s mental health coverage includes critiques of mental health care systems, the specific example from Dr. Conti’s emphasis on the importance of patience in mental health practices addresses the limitations of standard treatments. The critique highlights the problems with the expectation of quick solutions in mental health and underscores the necessity for allowing time for intrusive thoughts to naturally weaken and fade.
Dr. Conti’s tip to improve mental health includes treating mental health with the same patience and persistence that one would apply to physical healing or skill development, thus pointing out a significant gap in how standard mental health treatments often operate.
2. Take a Holistic Approach to Mental Health Care Strategies
The speakers elaborate on the mutable nature of our primary motivators and the potential for individuals to adapt these drives through concerted effort and self-awareness.
They recommend a balanced approach where the Generative Drive is central, supported by the Aggressive and Pleasure Drives, to achieve optimal mental health outcomes.
A holistic approach in mental health care considers understanding the balance between these drives as a cornerstone for effective remedial actions and personal development.
3. Reduce Social Media and Technology
Dr. Paul Conti introduces a thought-provoking metaphor likening the misuse of technology and social media to historical mishandlings, such as with gunpowder or nuclear power, indicating the potential for similar destructive outcomes if these tools are not responsibly managed.
This misuse can lead to an environment where overconsumption of digital platforms results in negative self-comparisons and detriments to mental wellness, prompting a call for more responsible use of such influential technologies.
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