New Study Says Maybe You’re Not Depressed, You’re Just Narcissistic

You can be happy by being kind. Who would’ve thought?

A new study from The Ohio State University Publiziert The Journal of Positive Psychology Tuesday discovered that small acts of kindness, even simple ones, were the best way to relieve depression symptoms.

“Social connection is one of the ingredients of life most strongly associated with well-being. Performing acts of kindness seems to be one of the best ways to promote those connections,” David Cregg, co-author of this study, Make a statement.

Cregg collaborated with Jennifer Cheavens, Ohio State Psychology Professor, on the study. The pair examined central Ohio’s 122 reported victims. “moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.” Participants were divided into three groups and each was given different techniques to calm their symptoms. This is what it looked like “acts of kindness” were Defined As “big or small acts that benefit others or make others happy, typically at some cost to you in terms of time or resources.”

Researchers found that acts of kindness were the most effective.

“We often think that people with depression have enough to deal with, so we don’t want to burden them by asking them to help others. But these results run counter to that,” Cheavens said. “Doing nice things for people and focusing on the needs of others may actually help people with depression and anxiety feel better about themselves.”

Community connections created by sacrificial acts of kindness were at the heart of the participants’ improvement, Cheavens said.

“There’s something specific about performing acts of kindness that makes people feel connected to others. It’s not enough to just be around other people, participating in social activities,” She elaborated.

The research underscores the role of social isolation in the nation’s omnipresent mental health crisis. Addiction to screens that offer cheap dopamine hits from the comfort of one’s home has cheapened social interaction, all while polarization divides our neighbors.

The study’s findings, that acts of kindness make for happier people, should not at all be surprising. Since the inception of humanity, we have known that kindness is a fundamental part of living a happy and fulfilled life. Siddhartha Gautama, a moral philosopher, is often referred to as “Buddha” He founded a religion that preached a similar belief system. Message For centuries.

It’s a revolutionary idea Study Last summer’s publication refuted the idea that depression can be caused by chemical imbalances. This means that depression could be completely circumstantial. A rising number of Americans were reporting signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Before Pandemic lockdowns Exacerbation They are a sign that something is profoundly happening in the culture.

It’s telling that we even had to study the effects of kindness and depression. Americans must be more open to kindness, motivated by the desire to grow roots and live in harmony within our communities. Instead, too many Americans have given in to technology’s traps, and are now struggling to be kind. Narcissism is a growing trend

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