Two YouTube channels that I follow often receive comments saying that the videos help alleviate or relieve symptoms of mental illness, such as anxiety and depression. To a certain point, I agree. I too find myself escaping into these videos sometimes.
Why is this? Is it as simple as you letting your brain focus on something else other than your illness? But then why don’t I just go to the gym or read a book or make some waffles? Does watching videos online have that much lower of a threshold? Are they that much more accessible? Or is it something else?
The channels I’m talking about are
Put the videos down. Go outdoors, get some exercise in a natural environment.
Medicine has been screaming this for a long time, now more than ever.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression-and-exercise/art-20046495
Botslop astroturfing and dopamine withdrawl addicts say…
Heroin addicts also testify that heroin helps their well being.
Why? Here is why.
You tube videos also do this, as did channel surfing back in the days of TV channels. Flick flick flick until you find what excites your reward circuits. Same as a you tube feed, or jumping around a video until you find the rewarding parts. All variation of the same mechanism.
Exercise 100%. This isn’t about exercise though. It’s about why listening to people talking feels relaxing, I guess?
Did you read the rest of my post?
Edit: I guess not.