Depressed by the News? Here Are 7 Strategies for Self-Care

First the good news about all the bad news you might be reading and seeing these days: Bad news cannot cause depression. Depression is a complex biological illness, and in my professional practice as a psychiatrist, I have seen nothing to suggest that depression rates are rising in a response to the barrage of negative stories we’re hearing and seeing in the media these days. And none of the copious research on depression has concluded that it can be caused by exposure to negative media.

The roots of depression go deeper than environmental factors. After all, some people can suffer trauma and go on to live a normal life, while other people might become depressed over seemingly slight setbacks. Our responses to life’s vicissitudes are determined by the interaction of biology and environment — nature and nurture — and are as individual as each of us.

However, if you’re predisposed to depression or are already in the throes of it, you may find that a lot of time spent absorbing the news — through television, newspapers, or online — can make you feel worse. It’s a bit of a conundrum. Staying informed is important, but it also puts you at risk of being dragged deeper into depression.

The three treatment modalities for depression — talk therapy, medication and, since being approved by the FDA in 2008, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which stimulates nerve cells to alleviate depression — are effective for most people. Even as you are being properly treated for depression, you might also want to consider some strategies for managing your mood while still staying informed about what’s happening in politics, the environment, world affairs, the economy — all those things that are stressing a lot of people these days.

Some suggestions:

1. Don’t use TV for escape. A factor analysis of the Depression Coping Questionnaire, which was developed in the 1980s to measure gender differences in coping strategies, has found that male or female, people with depression often use television as a coping mechanism. This is counterproductive for obvious reasons if you’re watching the news: News programs are rarely uplifting (there’s an old expression among news people: “If it bleeds, it leads”). On top of that, if you’re parked in front of the television, you’re also not doing things we know can help alleviate depression, such as exercising or connecting with friends and loved ones.
2. Read positive news, too. The news media tends to focus on the worst: natural disasters, political squabbles, murder, mayhem. This makes people tune in, but it can also make the world seem like a terrible place. We can counteract the despair this might trigger by taking concrete steps to remind ourselves that things aren’t all bad all the time. Consider the findings of a study out of the University at Albany-State University of New York, which collected data from Chicago residents and found that people who live in distressed neighborhoods better coped with their circumstances when they sought out and paid attention to positive local news. Balancing your consumption of negative news with positive can help brighten your view of the world.
3. Stay aware of your biases: We know that if you’re already depressed, you are likely to pay more attention to negative news than positive, which will make you feel hopeless. Stay conscious of your depressed cognitive biases, to remind yourself that things aren’t as bad as they might seem. Don’t let your mind slip into automatic dark thinking; remind yourself that thoughts aren’t always reality.
4. Read or watch, then relax. If watching the news leaves you all keyed up, learn a progressive relaxation technique to use afterwards. A study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine suggests that focused relaxation — more than distraction — can help dissipate that anxious, unsettle feeling you might have after news consumption.
5. Monitor your moods and behaviors. Don’t let depression or anxiety sneak up on you. Notice if you are slipping into behaviors that suggest a worsening of your condition and take action — see a mental health professional, discuss your treatment with your doctor if you are already in care, do whatever you have learned helps lift your mood. Remember those cognitive distortions, which are one of the hallmarks of depression. If you slide too far down into the pit you may “forget” there’s a way out.
6. Get involved. Responding to bad news with concrete action — getting involved with an organization aligned with your beliefs, for example — might be helpful. The feeling that you have no control over circumstances — an external locus of control — is correlated with depression. By getting involved with a cause that inspires you, you may find that the sense of having more control helps you feel better.
7. Do something else! Put down the newspaper, close the computer, turn off the television. Go outside and take a walk in nature. Read a book. Call a friend. Just because the news cycle is twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, doesn’t mean that you are required to soak in every word. Self-care is more necessary than ever these days, especially if you suffer from depression.

 

References:

Kleinke, C. L. (1988), The depression coping questionnaire. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 44: 516–526. DOI: 10.1002/1097-4679 (198807)44:4<516::AID-JCLP2270440407>3.0.CO;2-B

Yamamoto, M. (2018). Perceived neighborhood conditions and depression. Health Communication, 33 (2), 156-163. DOI: 10.1080/10410236.2016.1250192

Szabo, A., Hopkinson, K.L. (2007), Negative psychological effects of watching the news in the television: relaxation or another intervention may be needed to buffer them! International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 14(2), 57-62. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17926432

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/depressed-by-the-news-here-are-7-strategies-for-self-care/

Best of Our Blogs: February 2, 2018

Doing what’s right isn’t always what’s comfortable.

Not speaking up may prevent others from discomfort. It may save your relationship or even your job.

Staying where you are may feel secure because you think it’s safer than venturing into the unknown.

There is a cost when we cover up, keep quiet and remain where we are. It might not be evident on the outside. But over time, when we continue to ignore our inner voice, we’re sacrificing our physical and emotional well-being.

Doing what’s right may require us to stop overthinking and listen to our inner voice. We need to determine whether its our gut or anxiety talking and question our relationships never allowing in words and people that have a negative impact on our well-being. If you’re sorting out the above, you won’t want to miss our top posts this week.

16 Ways To Free Yourself From Overthinking
(Cultivating Contentment & Happiness) – If you rehash every conversation, decision, and situation, you have a problem with overthinking and should read this.

Female vs Male Friendships: 10 Key Differences
(Relationship Corner) – It’s all the things you were curious about when it comes to men and women friendships.

Your Self-Talk, Taking Back Your Mind From Crippling Lies of Narcissist
(Neuroscience & Relationships) – Turns out words can really “break your bones.” Find out how words have the power to transform your life, for good and bad.

3 Reasons to Trust Your Gut – Not Your Anxiety
(Sex, Text & What’s Next) – As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, it’s essential to listen to your gut instincts. But how do you know it’s your gut and not your anxiety talking to you? Read this.

The Secret To Becoming Rejection-Proof
(Change Your Mind Change Your Life) – Terrified about being rejected yet again? This is a must-read if you’re about to dive into the dating pool or feeling the pain of rejection currently.

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/best-of-our-blogs-february-2-2018/

Teaching Clients to Meditate

A family sent their abrasive son to a monastery to learn a better path. When he came home to visit them after having been there his first year, they asked him what he learned. The son replied frustratingly, “All I learned to do was breathe.”

He returned to the monastery, and five years later, when his family asked him what he learned, he looked disheartened as he shrugged his shoulders and said, “All I learned to do was breathe.” He went away and returned again after ten years, and this time he seemed defeated as the same question was posed and he gave the same answer.

Then, many years had passed, and the young man now became a much older man, and at last, he reached enlightenment. When he was asked what he learned to become enlightened, he replied, “Finally, I learned to breathe.”

Our egos like to assure us that we “know.” “I know, I know,” we say, “I should meditate. I know it’s good for me….” But then we don’t. Talking about knowledge makes for interesting conversation, but practicing knowledge is wisdom. In 2018, we have enough evidence from the field of neuroscience to know that even five minutes of meditation a day for six weeks can create physiological changes in the brain. Meditation decreases activity in the default mode network (our constant inner chatter), it lowers blood pressure, and it helps our amygdalas send fewer false signals of danger that lead to anxiety, fear, and ultimately all-too-often, anger. In short, you know that daily meditation can significantly help you, so what’s stopping you from practicing it?

Many people tell me that they “don’t have the time,” and I certainly understand living a fast-paced life with a seemingly perpetually busy schedule; so I often tell people this: You might not have ten minutes a day, and maybe right now you’re convinced that you don’t even have five minutes to do it, but you cannot rationally come up with an reasonable excuse for not having two minutes to meditate a day. And people usually agree. I start people with two minutes a day, because 20,000 hours of clinical experience has taught me that when people start off with two minutes a day, two things happen: 1. They find that they can make the time, and 2. They eventually sit longer until it’s worth it to make five or ten minutes a priority in their everyday lives.

There are many different ways to meditate, but the most basic is to focus on your breath. I recommend people sit up, because I have seen evidence that sitting with a straight spine activates the reticular formation, which is the center of our brain’s ability to pay attention. Like the monk from the story above (and like mastering anything), learning to breathe takes effort, until it doesn’t. I teach people to sit up straight and to focus on their breath. I also recommend not trying to stop your thoughts, as trying to do so often becomes discouraging, since it’s not very realistic. Instead, I encourage people to become an observer of their thoughts—to watch their thoughts move by like watching a boat pass on a river. As the “boat carrying your thoughts” goes by, come back to your breath. A two-minute timer will likely go off sooner than you think. Eventually, so will with the five or ten minute one.

My experience has taught me that it’s foolish to wait until we’re anxious or angry to try to begin handling those tough emotions. Instead, if we can breathe with intentionality as often as possible throughout our day, as well as engage in actively having realistic self-talk, then our ability to handle things like anxiety and anger when they arise will become significantly better. You have all the tools you need to start meditating daily and practicing and role modeling the type of self-control and healthy habits for your clients that will help them see that you are living the example that you are presenting to them. After all, you already know how to breathe… or do you?


from http://www.psychotherapy.net/blog/title/teaching-clients-to-meditate

So, You’re Lost? The Advice You’d Never Expect

Here’s a secret: you will lose your way. We all do. At some point in our lives, we wake up and wonder where we are and, more importantly, why we are here. It’s human nature.

And it doesn’t always have to be on a grand scale. You may wake up and realize you lost your way in friendship, in love, in work, or, yes, in life overall. And, of course, we’ve all lost our way on a diet or exercise regimen here or there. It happens. We’re human.

Still, it’s hard.

And there’s absolutely nobody to blame. Your ex? Maybe, for the fun of it; but in your heart, you know that blame’s not warranted. Your parents? Sure, it’s the best cliché blame we have. But we all know it’s not true. Nobody pushed you off course. Nobody led you to make some avoidable decisions. And there is no way to undue what has happened. It’s in the past.

But when you find yourself lost in life, there are a few simple things you can do to get back on track. And they are not at all what you’d expect:

1. Blame yourself for where you are. But only for a minute! When you take responsibility for your life, you also claim power. Sure, there’s that brief sulking of acknowledging, “Wow. My choices landed me here. Shucks.” Though, perhaps you didn’t grow up far enough South to have “shucks” in your vocabulary. But whatever your choice of word, when you begin to acknowledge that your decisions have the power to determine your future, you gain power over your future. My friend, you could make a decision right now to get out of this lost place! Blame isn’t a judgment; it’s just a power move!
2. Play a game of “What if.” Ask yourself, “What if I chose a different career?” or “What if I broke up with him two years ago?” Ask yourself every what if that comes to mind, and let your imagination wander into the possibilities. Then make those possibilities your new reality! You know what you want in life. You just imagined it. So what are you waiting for? Stop wishing you had made that choice and go for it right now!
3. Give up. Something clearly isn’t working — this guy, this job, this town, this outfit. Something is making you feel lost right now. And the hardest thing in the world is to say, “I quit.” The hardest thing is to let a part of your life go. We as humans just crave the familiarity of our patterns. And we fear that empty space that comes after the statement, “I quit.” For a moment, there will be a part of our lives that is simply unfilled. Maybe it’s those Monday through Friday work hours; perhaps it’s that pillow on the left side of our beds; maybe it’s the hair reaching down to our lower backs. Something will be missing, and it will feel … off. The thing is, discomfort drives change. And when we’re feeling lost, change is exactly what we need. And finally,
4. Get a little self-conscious. Look in the mirror, and really just let your mind go for it. Roast yourself like the Tonight Show depended on it. Tell yourself every negative thought you hear. And pay attention to those thoughts. Keep a record of them. Because those negative thoughts are the ones standing in your way.

Become aware of the voice telling you that “you can’t.” By letting that emotion surface, you allow yourself opportunity to talk back. If you think you’re incompetent, great! There’s something to work on. You hold a belief, and whether or not you believe me right now, those negative beliefs just aren’t true. With a little help — from CBT, journaling, perhaps therapy or just coffee with some friends — you will look in the mirror and realize that your self-conscious voice only has great things to say! You can become your own advocate. And in simply connecting to yourself, you may feel just a little less lost.

It’s hard to feel lost. It’s hard to look around and wish everything would just change. It’s painful to believe that change is out of your control. And it’s really no consolation to know that everyone else, at some point, in some way, has felt the same.

The worst experience of all, of course, is receiving unsolicited advice. It always ends with something along the lines of “so perk up,” as if it were that easy.

So that’s not what I’m going to tell you. Instead, I’m here to say keep sulking. Keep what-ifing. Keep blaming yourself until, one day, you wake up and realize that inherent in your own mental process is the key to the path of your dreams. And if that’s the wrong path, too, well then, you know what to do!

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/so-youre-lost-the-advice-youd-never-expect/

Schizophrenia Prevalence: Fear-Mongering, Fake News & the NIMH

It’s odd what upsets some people. Take E. Fuller Torrey and Elizabeth Sinclair’s recent take on a change in the way a single number — the 12-month prevalence rate of schizophrenia — is displayed on the National Institute of Mental Health’s (NIMH) website.

This esoteric number has little impact in most people’s lives. If you live with schizophrenia or know someone who does, they most likely don’t give a hoot about it. Like most people, they probably don’t even know what it means.

But these two authors do care, suggesting the number was reduced due to a hypothesized renewed focus on accountability of the NIMH. In their blazing, fear-mongering headline, they boldly claim that “the National Institute of Mental Health Made Two Million People with Schizophrenia Disappear.”

So what’s the truth about the numbers with schizophrenia, and what is “fake news?” Let’s find out…

Prevalence rates are always estimates — we don’t know with any certainty how many people in a given population actually have a given disease or condition. Researchers generally conduct surveys to find out, most often done by telephone, but sometimes by in-person visits or through analyzing government data.

Prevalence rates give researchers a good idea of how prevalent a given disease or condition exists in a country’s population. This can help guide government policy for treatment, whether it be a vaccine for a new strain of bird flu, or directing more money to a condition that seems to be increasing in rate.

Prevalence rates are fairly stable for most conditions in most populations. Despite an array of modern treatments, mental disorders rarely see a marked decline or increase in their rates from decade to decade.

Two Types of Prevalence

For this discussion, it’s important to note two types of prevalence researchers talk about — 12-month prevalence and lifetime prevalence.

For 12-month prevalence, a researcher is estimating how many people in a given population have the condition, including those who had it at the start of the period as well as those newly diagnosed. For lifetime prevalence, a researcher is looking at the percentage of the population that is diagnosed with the condition at some point in their life.

If you had a bout of panic attacks in your 20s and saw a therapist to treat them successfully, and no longer experience such attacks now that you’re in your 30s, you would be counted in the lifetime prevalence number, but not the 12-month number. ¹

Schizophrenia’s Prevalence Rates

Torrey, founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC), and Sinclair cry foul to the NIMH daring to update their website to reflect the most current data about schizophrenia prevalence rates:

Until November 2017, NIMH had claimed that the one-year prevalence of schizophrenia in adults in the US was 1.1%. […]

Inexplicably, in November 2017, NIMH changed its website and declared that the one-year prevalence of schizophrenia is now 0.3%, or 3 cases in 1,000 adults.

It’s hardly inexplicable. New research means new data. You update your website to reflect that new data. What exactly is so inexplicable about that?

What’s more inexplicable is Torrey and TAC using a magician’s metaphor and a fear-mongering headline to suggest that the federal government is somehow making actual people living with mental illness disappear. Data are not people — especially when you use that data to scare others into believing something clandestine is happening within the NIMH.

In 1994, the American Psychiatric Association published the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), and stated, “[…] the lifetime prevalence of Schizophrenia is usually estimated to be between 0.5% and 1%.” In the revised edition of this manual released in 2013, they stated that the lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia “appears to be approximately 0.3% – 0.7%” — a seeming decline in their estimates.

It’s hard to say whether the decline was real or just due to more research and data becoming available in the nearly 20 year period publication of these two reference manuals. I’d argue the latter, since there was indeed a fair number of new prevalence studies published throughout the world about schizophrenia during that period.

Click for larger image; blue bars indicate 12-month prevalence rates

 

The Current Final Word on Schizophrenia Prevalence Rates

The most reasonable explanation for why the NIMH decided to update its website with more up-to-date, accurate numbers is due to a comprehensive review of schizophrenia prevalence rates published in 2015 (Simeone et al., 2015).² These researchers combed all published data in the world on both types of prevalence rates related to schizophrenia.

The researchers found 65 studies in all to look at. Thirty-one (48 percent) were from Europe and 35 (54 percent) were conducted in samples of greater than 50,000 people. These are pretty robust numbers to be examining.

What did they find? “Among 21 studies reporting 12-month prevalence, the median estimate was 0.33 percent with a [range of between] 0.26 – 0.51 percent. The median estimate of lifetime prevalence among 29 studies was 0.48 percent [with a range of between] 0.34 – 0.85 percent.”

Now unless we want to claim that the U.S. is somehow a wildly odd outlier here — where the 12-month prevalence rates of schizophrenia are more than triple the median estimate (and double the highest estimate!), the NIMH’s new numbers make perfect sense. They are backed up science and hard data — the enemy of people who like to spread fake news around for political purposes.

Like it or not, science tells us that the 12-month prevalence rate of schizophrenia is in the 0.26 to 0.51 range, with a median of 0.33 percent. The NIMH is correct. The Treatment Advocacy Center is not, and instead seems to prefer to rely on decades-old, outdated data.

And that’s the point. Science is here to help us keep informed about the world around us. If we bury our heads in the sand and loudly proclaim that the number must be wrong because it’s always been some other number, we’re choosing to remain ignorant and not informed by the latest and most accurate scientific data.

Torrey and Sinclair seem to be arguing the number not from a scientific point of view, but rather from a political one.³ And that’s a shame, because data doesn’t give one whit about politics.

And neither should those who are seeking to keep others informed about important mental health issues.

 

Read the full article: Hocus Pocus: How the National Institute of Mental Health Made Two Million People with Schizophrenia Disappear

 

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA.

American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Arlington, VA.

Simeone, Jason C.; Ward, Alexandra J.; Rotella, Philip; Collins, Jenna; Windisch, Ricarda. (2015). An evaluation of variation in published estimates of schizophrenia prevalence from 1990-2013: A systematic literature review. BMC Psychiatry, 15.

Footnotes:

1. Chronic conditions where maintenance treatment — rather than a cure — is the norm can sometimes exhibit similar 12-month and lifetime prevalence numbers (within 1 percent of one another). Schizophrenia is arguably in this category, because most people who have schizophrenia typically have it for much of their adult life.
2. Why it took the NIMH nearly two years to update their website since this data was published is another question.
3. I can agree, however, with their conclusion that not enough money is spent to study prevalence rates — for most mental disorders. As Simeone et al. (2015) pointed out three years ago, “Several large, heavily populated countries (such as, Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, and Russia) had either one or no published studies on the prevalence of schizophrenia among general populations, while estimates from many other countries were >10 years old and in need of updating. In fact, the only schizophrenia prevalence estimates from Central or South America were the country-specific estimates presented in the 2003 WHS study.”

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/schizophrenia-prevalence-fear-mongering-fake-news-the-nimh/

Obstacles That Stop Us from Decluttering—And How to Overcome Them

Years ago, Cas Aarssen would spend hours looking for lost items, cleaning up and tidying up, and dusting items she didn’t even like.

Sound familiar?

Sometimes, we get so entrenched in our routines that we don’t see the belongings that no longer belong in our homes. Or we feel too busy, too overwhelmed, too exhausted to tackle a big project like decluttering. We think it’ll require energy and effort we just don’t have.

Another obstacle to decluttering is actually letting items go. “We are especially reluctant to declutter things that were expensive, have sentimental value or things that we perceive as being useful ‘someday,’” said Aarssen, an author and professional organizer. “Unfortunately, almost everything can land in one of these categories and by holding onto too many ‘useful’ items, we are making the spaces in our homes ‘useless.’”

We also don’t get rid of items because our stuff starts to represent different possibilities. And that stuff ends up replacing our actual habits. For instance, professional organizer and ADHD coach Debra Michaud, M.A., worked with a client who had a growing yoga DVD collection, which she didn’t use. “What she really wanted was the habit, but she found herself instead buying more and more DVDs.”

Basically, our clutter can personify the people we want to be. The person who lifts weights and runs on the treadmill. The person who always looks put together in fancy (and uncomfortable) shoes. The person who uses cookbooks to make elaborate dinners for their family. The person who does arts and crafts and makes beautiful things.

“Unfinished projects are a very common cause of clutter,” Michaud said. You might be surrounded by broken things you’re planning on fixing one day and piles of magazines you’ll read next week or the week after that or the week after that or….

“People often hang on to [these items] as some sort of albatross, almost a punishment for not getting everything done.”

All of these are super common obstacles—which you can absolutely overcome. These tips can help.

Have a clear vision.

“The best motivator to declutter is to have a clear vision of what is beyond it,” Michaud said. She suggested asking yourself: What do you really want? What would you really miss?

Remind yourself regularly why you’re decluttering. For instance, clutter robs us of our time and causes a lot of needless stress, said Aarssen, bestselling author of Real Life Organizing and Cluttered Mess to Organized Success. It also zaps our energy, makes us inefficient and prevents us from living in the present, Michaud said.

Start small.

So overwhelm doesn’t stop you from starting, Michaud always suggests tackling clutter in small chunks. Really small. For instance, you might identify one item per day you’re going to donate.

Michaud also recommended using a timer, and starting with 5-minute sessions. “Five minutes of focused decision-making is more productive than 2 hours of wheel-spinning and moving things around.” In fact, she defines clutter as “the interest we pay for deferred decisions (or projects).”

And because of the decision-making required, pick a time when you can focus, Michaud said. “At the end of a tiring workday, for example, will probably yield a frustrating and inefficient organizing session.”

Start with garbage.

Aarssen suggested grabbing a garbage bag and filling it as quickly as possible with things you can throw away without any hesitation. For instance, this might include old receipts, expired medications, stale food, empty boxes and old magazines, she said.

Address your guilt.

Michaud always tells her clients “wouldn’t you rather [an item] go to someone who needs it and uses it, than have it sitting in the back of your closet?” She also asks them if the giver would really want them to feel burdened by their gift. And, of course, they wouldn’t.

When it comes to unfinished projects, remind yourself that no one gets to everything. “In a way, letting go of clutter is…coming to terms with the finiteness of life,” Michaud said. However, “ironically, it’s when we let go that we start to feel in control.”

Self-reflect.

If your stuff represents different possibilities, wishes and people, consider if those are still true for you. Consider if you even want to do these things, if you’d even enjoy them. Do you want to lift weights and run on the treadmill? Maybe you don’t—and that’s OK. Maybe you love to take walks. Maybe you actually prefer to cook quick meals, and don’t like cooking from recipes.

Either way, you’ll feel so much lighter once you let go of the stuff that represents your unrealized and unwanted dreams—along with those no longer-relevant dreams.

Donate 21 items.

“I love this decluttering technique because it is a big enough number that you need to push yourself, but small enough that it isn’t overwhelming and won’t take you more than a few minutes to accomplish,” Aarssen said. Again, the key is to go quickly, and make it into a game.

Create a time capsule.

According to Aarssen, when you’re really struggling to relinquish certain items, pack them in a box and write an expiration date on it: “If Not Used By September 2018, DONATE This Box.” Keep your box somewhere in your home. When that date arrives, if you haven’t missed or needed anything in the box, donate its contents, she said.

Get help.

“Sometimes the biggest impediment to decluttering is just knowing when to reach out for help,” Michaud said. She suggested hiring a professional organizer or finding a neutral “clutter buddy.” This might be a close friend or a member of Clutterers Anonymous.

Whoever you pick, it’s important that they’re not judgmental and can ask you thoughtful questions, such as: “Do you love it? Do you use it? Realistically will you use it in the next 2 years? Would you buy it again today? Would you miss it?”

Decluttering does take time and energy and effort—but it’s time and energy and effort which aren’t a waste. It’s worthwhile, and it’s absolutely freeing. As Michaud said, “We often don’t even realize how much clutter is weighing on us until it’s gone.”

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/obstacles-that-stop-us-from-decluttering-and-how-to-overcome-them/

Podcast: The Sit With Us App: Curbing School Bullying

After years of being bullied in school and having to eat alone – often not even in the cafeteria – Natalie Hampton decided to something to help others in similar situations. She created the Sit With Us anti-bullying app, which allows a user to locate a table in their school’s cafeteria where they will be welcome, so that no one needs to eat alone. In this episode, Natalie explains how the app came to exist, and how it’s being used by more than just schools. Additionally, she offers her views on why bullying is so prevalent in some schools.  Hosted by Gabe Howard and Vincent M. Wales.

.

Subscribe to Our Show!

.

Sit With Us Show Highlights:

“All it takes is one person to change the world. And, starting now, that’s you.” ~ Natalie Hampton

[1:33]   What is Sit With Us and what does it do?

[4:13]   The unexpected success of the app, and how it happened.

[5:49]   How being bullied led Natalie to create the app.

[7:06]   Natalie’s other anti-bullying activities.

[7:53]   Why is bullying so prevalent in some schools?

[12:38] Natalie’s TEDx Teen talk.

[15:45] How someone becomes a bully, and how to stop it.

 

About Our Guest

Natalie Hampton is a Los Angeles high school senior, anti-bullying activist, app developer, and the CEO of a non-profit called Sit With Us, Inc. Severely bullied in middle school, Natalie was forced to eat lunch alone nearly every day. After she switched schools, and quickly fell in with a great friend group, she would invite anyone who was eating alone to join her. Those people became her friends, friends with everyone in the group, and were invited to social gatherings. She saw that one simple act of kindness made a big difference in their lives. This inspired her to create the Sit With Us mobile app, which serves as a free lunch planning tool for middle and high school kids so that no one has to eat lunch alone. In addition to creating the Sit With Us app, Natalie volunteers extensively for her community.  She is a counselor for United in Harmony, a non-profit organization that runs a sleep away camp for underprivileged and homeless kids, and she tutors underprivileged kids at the Otis Booth campus of Children’s Institute International.

All It Takes Is One TEDx Teen

Website: www.sitwithus.io

Facebook: /sitwithus.io/

Twitter: @nobodyeatsalone

Instagram: @sit.with.us

About The Psych Central Show Podcast Hosts

Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar and anxiety disorders. In addition to hosting The Psych Central Show, Gabe is an associate editor for PsychCentral.com. He also runs an online Facebook community, The Positive Depression/Bipolar Happy Place, and invites you to join.  To work with Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

 

 

Vincent M. Wales is a former suicide prevention counselor who lives with persistent depressive disorder. In addition to co-hosting The Psych Central Show, Vincent is the author of several award-winning novels and the creator of costumed hero Dynamistress. Visit his websites at www.vincentmwales.com and www.dynamistress.com.

 

 

 

 

from World of Psychology https://psychcentral.com/blog/podcast-the-sit-with-us-app-curbing-school-bullying/