S No.
115
do not index
do not index
ready to publish
ready to publish
backlinks
content score ss
# of words
994
publish date
Apr 21, 2022
POV: You've heard that social media is the bane of Gen-Z existence. That it triggers insecurities, low self-esteem and phone addictions. But if social media and technology are so harmful, you're wondering why we even continue to use them, and like HOW.
Technology is not the yang to the yin of life. It is essential to our lives today and for a good reason too. But yes, like every other thing, it has its pros and cons. When used within the bounds of usefulness, technology is a savior and when overused, as part of negative coping mechanisms, it is a clear con.
All said and done, technology holds the key to our current and future problems, including mental health concerns. How?
Technology as a Depression Cure?
Let's do a simple thought experiment to understand this. Imagine a world without technology - no social media, no internet, no smartphones, no computers, no network, no cars, no electricity and so on. Now add the complex reality of the pandemic to this.
We may never have known about Covid-19 in time, or learnt from other countries' mistakes or had online classes or have even called it a pandemic.
Seems unimaginable, doesn't it?
Well, that's the point. As human beings it's in our blood to innovate and technology (which is just an umbrella term for our organised creative labour) is a reflection of that. Mental and physical health are essential foundations blocks that push us to explore and create technology for easier and more intuitive living. They're two sides of the same coin that is us.
Yet alas, technology might also be seen as the cause to many of the problems we face today. And it is possible and happening. That's the learning curve, and to only understand a painting through a few selective strokes is also a bit unfair. The issues created by technology can also be rectified using improved and more innovative technology.
So if, the pandemic - a global crisis - can be made easier to get through, can't depression cure be aided by technology? And is it not already?
Using Technology for Treating Depression
An increasing sense of loneliness, one of the most common depression symptoms, due to the ironical disconnect created by virtual networking platforms can be assuaged by more intimate forms of networking. We are a global village and since it takes a village to raise a child, we're learning the ropes of technological parenting.
Here are a few ways in which technology is aiding depression treatment:
Mini-Therapies
When we can't wait for our next therapy session to feel better, we can rely on mini-therapies to help us cope with our thoughts and emotions. Mini-therapies can be accessed on the being app at any hour of the day (since that's how our emotions work). They're teeny-tiny sessions of therapy designed to help with specific discomforts. Like when we're thinking, '', we have the option of taking out of 5-10 to practice this mini-therapy to build healthy coping mechanisms + awareness, instead of letting our reptilian brain take hasty decisions of instant gratification.
Online Communities
Be it Reddit or Instagram or YouTube, this is the age of online communities. We can choose to follow like-minded people, people who inspire & teach us, educational & self-help channels, and so many more.
And because online communities can be daunting due to the separation of distance and god-knows-what-else, we can also choose to remain anonymous while we develop a sense of belonging and safety.
If the virtual platform is a stage, we are masked actors authentically playing ourselves.
Opportunities to Explore & Grow
The internet allows us to access any information at the click of a search button. We can learn about anything (for free as long as we know where to find it). Let that sink in.
This free access pass means that we can literally become improved human beings using technology.
Want to know how to set and achieve your personal goals?
No problem, here are 10 articles to read, a course to master the mindset, and a few podcasts to hear others' journeys.
No joke, we can do anything from knowing ourselves better, to acting towards our goals, to upskilling ourselves using technology. We see how vast the world us, realize we also have opportunity to try-fail-learn-succeed like everyone else.
One important reminder: use technology as an aid and not as a mentor. We always have the veto power - don't believe something you don't agree with just because it's on the internet. Give it a fair chance of reasoning, but at the end of the day, we trust ourselves first, even if we later learn it's a mistake. That's the learning curve. We first need to be ourselves to then become better.
Last Word on Mental Health
Even a hundred years ago, it would've seemed bizzare to expect earning while sitting at home. But today, it's a undeniable reality and that's the fruit of human labour aka technology.
There's pros and cons. The way to hack technology is to first understand it. We gotta read the manual. Or mindfully use technology.
And like that, it wouldn't be bizzare anymore to see and use technology to treat depression and relieve symptoms.
Note on Mental Disorders
Clinical depression can be of many different types - moderate depression, severe depression (aka major depression or major depressive disorder), treatment-resistant depression, or more. If you have symptoms of depression or thoughts of self-harm, please use the national suicide prevention lifeline or contact a mental health professional to seek treatment options.
Antidepressant medications (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) may be prescribed in the case of severe symptoms, in combination with a form of therapy such as interpersonal therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation or progressive muscle relaxation techniques, based on severity and type of depression. A holistic treatment option is the complementary and integrative health approach, which combines conventional and unconventional therapies.
Written by
