The best medicine

Studies into mental health have made great strides. With a combination of medication and psychiatric support, people who suffer from serious mental health problems can lead the life they want.

For more common mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety disorders, there are also opportunities for people to help themselves. Ways to change the negative perspective that traps and isolates people at the mercy of the darkest parts of their own minds.

But most of these treatments are focused inwards. They’re reflective, not interactive.

Recently, a delightful new idea for a mental health treatment came up. The concept is as old as society itself, and forms the basis for any healthy social contract—that we should treat others the way we would like to be treated. We should be kind.

It turns out people suffering from mental health issues like depression and anxiety, especially social anxiety, can actually alleviate their symptoms when they brighten someone’s day.

Buy a stranger a coffee, or compliment them on their outfit. Help someone who is carrying heavy bags or anticipate a simple need, like a place to sit down. It doesn’t really matter what, as long as it’s a good deed.

In June, two researchers from BC published a study about the effect random acts of kindness have on people who fear and avoid social situations. They took three groups of people who had been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, and asked one group to face their fear, exposing themselves to social situations, but also do something nice for someone.

The researchers compared this group to others with social anxiety. They discovered that the group of people who did good deeds on a daily basis were more relaxed in social situations.

Imagine that: a prescribed treatment to a health problem that not only improves life for the sufferer, but for the society around them. If it does ever become part of a treatment plan for people with anxiety disorders, it will possibly be the treatment with the best-ever side effect.

Even those who don’t suffer from mental illness can stand to benefit. Whether we are kind or cruel to the people around us, there’s a ripple effect. We get to choose which way it goes.

Daily frustrations can leave people feeling overwhelmed, and it’s easy to respond with small abuses: cutting someone off in traffic, being rude to a customer service worker. Those abuses might offer a little relief, but that’s short-lived.

It’s much better to be kind, especially if it takes some effort to do so. If your mind is resistant to doing a good deed, chances are you’re even more in need of brightening someone’s day than if it comes easily.

mihal@mihalzada.com