• About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • DMCA
  • Sitemap
  • Write For Us
Saturday, March 6, 2021
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine
  • Covid-19
  • News
    • All
    • Education
    • Politics
    • Sports
    • World
    Democrats reach deal on unemployment aid, allowing $1.9 trillion relief bill to go forward

    Democrats reach deal on unemployment aid, allowing $1.9 trillion relief bill to go forward

    Bundesliga's all-time best and worst kits: Bayern, Dortmund on both lists

    Bundesliga’s all-time best and worst kits: Bayern, Dortmund on both lists

    011-cnet-finance-mortgage-signage

    Current mortgage interest rates on March 5, 2021: Rates tick up

    DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

    DePaul, University of Illinois-Chicago among universities restoring in-person learning this fall (LIVE UPDATES)

    US adds a strong 379,000 jobs in hopeful sign for economy

    US adds a strong 379,000 jobs in hopeful sign for economy

    California school reopening plan gets final OK, though some lawmakers wanted more

    California school reopening plan gets final OK, though some lawmakers wanted more

    With Claire Williams gone, what next for women in Formula One?

    With Claire Williams gone, what next for women in Formula One?

    Up to 96 Percent of COVID Patients Have This Lasting Complication, Study Says

    Up to 96 Percent of COVID Patients Have This Lasting Complication, Study Says

    Scott Morrison holds a vial of AstraZeneca vaccine (file image)

    AstraZeneca vaccines ready for rollout as Australia fast-tracks modified jabs

    Andrew Cuomo's actions show failure to exercise 'the necessary self-control', Democrat lawmaker says

    Andrew Cuomo’s actions show failure to exercise ‘the necessary self-control’, Democrat lawmaker says

  • Science & Tech
    • All
    • Mobile
    Jay Blahnik offers rare look behind the scenes of the Apple Fitness+ studios - 9to5Mac

    Jay Blahnik offers rare look behind the scenes of the Apple Fitness+ studios – 9to5Mac

    Google is policing itself on privacy because it knows it has to | Engadget

    Google is policing itself on privacy because it knows it has to | Engadget

    Reddit Rolls Out Green Indicator Dots to Notify People When You're Online

    Reddit Rolls Out Green Indicator Dots to Notify People When You’re Online

    Best Cheap Wireless Keyboard Deals for March 2021 | Digital Trends

    Best Cheap Wireless Keyboard Deals for March 2021 | Digital Trends

    6 steps to build a data-driven company, according to experts

    6 steps to build a data-driven company, according to experts

    Xiaomi Mi 11 back against floor

    Xiaomi, not Samsung or Apple, is taking advantage of Huawei’s woes in Europe

    'DarkModeBuddy' is a new Mac app for automating Dark Mode switching based on ambient light - 9to5Mac

    ‘DarkModeBuddy’ is a new Mac app for automating Dark Mode switching based on ambient light – 9to5Mac

    A powerline tower in a grassy field.

    Hackers tied to Russia’s GRU targeted the US grid for years

    Microsoft’s Xbox Game Streaming app for Windows includes touch controls, gyro, and more

    Microsoft’s Xbox Game Streaming app for Windows includes touch controls, gyro, and more

    FDA advisors endorse Janssen's single-shot COVID-19 vaccine

    FDA advisors endorse Janssen’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine

  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    An "emotional" moment at an NSC meeting shows why withdrawing from Afghanistan is so hard

    An “emotional” moment at an NSC meeting shows why withdrawing from Afghanistan is so hard

    What’s playing at the drive-in: 'Raya and the Last Dragon,' 'Coming 2 America' and more

    What’s playing at the drive-in: ‘Raya and the Last Dragon,’ ‘Coming 2 America’ and more

    Rickey Meredith presents his 70s Solo Acoustic Show at the Slauterhouse Brewing Company in Auburn this Sunday afternoon.

    March is on

    Elizabeth Olsen and Kathryn Hahn in Disney+'s 'WandaVision' (Courtesy of Marvel Studios).

    With ‘WandaVision’ and ‘The Mandalorian,’ Disney+ has found its magic spell

    Review: Messy but moving, 'Boogie' puts an Asian American basketball player front and center

    Review: Messy but moving, ‘Boogie’ puts an Asian American basketball player front and center

    Dua Lipa is pop's new superstar. She's also a bit of a mystery

    Dua Lipa is pop’s new superstar. She’s also a bit of a mystery

    Cars lined up in late February at a mass vaccination site at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

    A Welcome Logistical Challenge for States as More Vaccine Arrives

    Texas, Mississippi end mask mandates; Senate taking up stimulus bill, $1,400 checks: Live COVID-19 updates

    Texas, Mississippi end mask mandates; Senate taking up stimulus bill, $1,400 checks: Live COVID-19 updates

    How Did Every Buzzy Film Become ‘The Movie We Need Right

    How Did Every Buzzy Film Become ‘The Movie We Need Right Now’?

    David Crosby on dinner with Joni, Phoebe Bridgers and the 50th anniversary of his haunted solo debut

    David Crosby on dinner with Joni, Phoebe Bridgers and the 50th anniversary of his haunted solo debut

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    10 Hair Care Products That Tackle Way More Than Tangles

    10 Hair Care Products That Tackle Way More Than Tangles

    Investment in Agrifoodtech Grew Significantly in 2020 - Food Industry Executive

    Investment in Agrifoodtech Grew Significantly in 2020 – Food Industry Executive

    The beer brand is celebrating the launch of its new Pineapple Lemonade Naturdays beer with the daydream-worthy prize.

    Natural Light offering spring break trip to Florida island: ‘Vacation of a lifetime’

    Apollo Global confident in return of business conventions as it strikes deal with Las Vegas Sands

    Apollo Global confident in return of business conventions as it strikes deal with Las Vegas Sands

    product image

    Glossier’s Iconic Pink Pouch Got an Upgrade

    Beverage consumers increasingly health-conscious says research

    Appreciation: How Fred Segal’s retail vision forever changed L.A.

    Appreciation: How Fred Segal’s retail vision forever changed L.A.

    Making sacrifices is a requirement for startup success. Yet, it’s vital to make sure you’re not making sacrifices to a lost cause. Validate your ideas quickly and kill the unsuccessful ones decisively to free up resources for new, better ideas.

    What Is Sacrifice About In The Early Startup Stages?

    British Airways is now offering Covid-19 test kits (pictured) for its customers for just £33, far below the regular price tag of £100-plus

    British Airways launches rapid Covid-19 test kits that cost just £33

    The Very Tactical Ascent of Givenchy Designer Matthew Williams

    The Very Tactical Ascent of Givenchy Designer Matthew Williams

37 °f
Chicago
33 ° Sat
34 ° Sun
47 ° Mon
50 ° Tue
No Result
View All Result
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Covid-19

Tony Hsieh’s last months are a tragic reminder of how Covid isolation can worsen mental health — here’s how to help

by Staff Writer
December 13, 2020
in Covid-19, Health
Reading Time: 9min read
0
Tony Hsieh's last months are a tragic reminder of how Covid isolation can worsen mental health — here's how to help
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com

Getty Images

Tony Hsieh seemed to have it all.

Hsieh launched the Las Vegas-based shoe ecommerce platform Zappos and sold it to Amazon for $1.2 billion in 2009 — the largest acquisition in Amazon’s history at the time. He was an entrepreneur darling for his unconventional leadership style, which put culture above all else, and scoffed at corporate hierarchy. In 2010, he published a book codifying his own leadership style in a book, “Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose.” He had also become an known for donating $350 million to revitalize downtown Las Vegas.

In a first-person tell-all piece Hsieh wrote and published in business magazine Inc in 2010, Hsieh describes flying to Seattle to meet with Bezos before the deal had been formalized.

“I gave him my standard presentation on Zappos, which is mostly about our culture. Toward the end of the presentation, I started talking about the science of happiness — and how we try to use it to serve our customers and employees better,” Hsieh wrote.

He continued: “Out of nowhere, Jeff said, ‘Did you know that people are very bad at predicting what will make them happy?’ Those were the exact words on my next slide. I put it up and said, ‘Yes, but apparently you are very good at predicting PowerPoint slides.'”

The moment now reads like a harbinger of hard times to come.

On Nov. 18, Hsieh died from complications of smoke inhalation at the age of 46, after being rescued from a fire in a small storage area behind an beachfront home in New London, Conn. Officially, the death was ruled an accident by the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. At least one emergency worker was reportedly overheard saying he’d barricaded himself inside.

The years leading up to Hsieh’s untimely death included voracious alcohol and drug use, extreme “biohacking” which included seeing how long he could go without eating and urinating, an obsession with fire and candles, and buying houses in Park City, Utah, and paying people double their highest dream salary to come and live on the properties Hsieh bought if they would be happy with him, according to reports in Forbes and the Wall Street Journal.

Even without knowing what exactly happened in that shed in Connecticut, Hsieh was clearly in anguish. Mental health experts caution that the ongoing Covid pandemic can increase feelings of isolation and loneliness, and offer tips and resources to seek help for yourself or loved ones.

Loneliness is not just about proximity

The absence of people physically nearby does not define loneliness, says C. Vaile Wright, the Senior Director of Health Care Innovation in the Practice Directorate at the American Psychological Association.

“Loneliness is really this perceived sense of not having somebody who cares about you. That’s different than just being alone. People can be alone and not feel lonely,” Wright tells CNBC.

“A lot of us are physically isolated as a result of Covid, but it’s still really critically important to maintain social connections that are meaningful and counteract that sense of loneliness.” That can mean phone calls, video calls and outdoor walks with friends, but it can also mean sending care packages or writing letters, Wright says.

If a friend or loved one is isolating, that’s a “really critical red flag,” says Wright.

“The hallmark would be when somebody’s symptoms are interfering with their ability to function in some significant ways,” Wright tells CNBC. “They’re not able to work, even work from home, or to attend school. They stopped taking care of themselves, which can look like not showering, not eating, not sleeping or they are unable to take care of loved ones.”

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, where staying away from other people has become the norm to stay physically healthy, isolation can manifest as a person not showing up for regularly scheduled virtual appointments, not returning texts in accordance with their usual cadence or abusing substances.

It is harder to identify dangerous loneliness when everyone is being asked to stay apart, says Wright.

“It becomes even more important for us to do what we can to try to reach out to people, typically those that we know might be more vulnerable, and to be persistent,” she tells CNBC. Sometimes, concerned friends and loved ones don’t reach out because they don’t know how to fix the situation, Wright says, but even just expressing concern can be a huge help.

“Usually people are just looking for somebody who cares about them, who wants to hear what they’re going through, and validate their experience and then maybe help problem-solve,” Wright says. “But really I think we just need to be reaching out and asking open-ended non-judgmental questions about how people are doing.”

Good, simple options for what to say if you are concerned a friend or loved one is in danger are as follows, according to Wright: “I’m worried about you. Can you tell me how you’re doing?” Or, “I’ve noticed that you haven’t you know then returning texts and I’m wondering if you’re OK.” Letting someone who is feeling lonely that you are there for them is key, she says.

Why loneliness is bad for our health

“Scientists from various disciplines argue that that humans are our social species, and so throughout human history we have needed to rely on others,” Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University tells CNBC. “And so being part of a group has been associated with with safety and efficiency of effort. And so being outside of a group or alone is very threatening.”

Social isolation means having to “cope and deal with everything entirely on our own,” said Hold-Lunstad. “It has been argued that our brains in essence has have evolved to expect the proximity to others and so when we don’t, when we lack this proximity to others — and particularly trusted others — that this creates a state of alert and threat in our brain.”

When the brain is in a “heightened state of alert,” it sends signals to the human body to be also and that “can include things like heightened blood pressure and heart rate, circulating stress hormones, and inflammation,” she says. “This information in turn has been linked to a number of of chronic illnesses — it’s been linked to depression, and interestingly even linked to greater susceptibility to viruses.”

Hold-Lunstad’s research has shown that the perception of support is enough “dampen these physiological responses” associated with feeling isolated. Her laboratory research shows mitigated responses to stress even when the people who give study participants a feeling of support are not in the room.

“So that perception of availability of support is huge,” Hold-Lunstad says. “In one of my studies that we had data from over 300,000 participants globally, we found that perceptions of support were associated with a 35% increase odds of survival.”

Doing kind things for others helps, too. Hold-Lunstad just completed a study between July and September with just over 4,200 trial participants between the U.S., UK, and Australia. It showed that those who completed random acts of kindness for neighbors, whether mowing a lawn or sharing information on where they found baking yeast was available, “showed significant reductions in loneliness over the four weeks.”

Teens and young adults are struggling, too

According to the 2020 American Psychological Associations Stress in America survey, 67% of Gen Z adults (ages 18-23) say that the coronavirus makes “planning for their future feel impossible,” a statistic which psychologist Dr. Mary Alvord highlighted for CNBC. And half of Gen Z teens (ages 13-17) say the pandemic has “severely disrupted their plans for the future,” according to the report.

And while the coronavirus and resulting life changes are a massive hurdle, there are other stressors too, Alvord says, including “racial unrest, misinformation, divisiveness in the population and families, financial stress of families, grief and loss not only from COVID deaths and illnesses, but also from jobs and businesses lost.” There’s also the constant uncertainty around school and whether it will be in person, online or some combination of both, says Alvord.

“Rites of passage are missed,” Alvord said. “Athletic, theater and club activities are missed or held virtually, but not equivalently to in-person.”

“While they are old enough to read and hear the news, they are not always able to keep perspective on all the events and issues,” said Alvord, who is also the co-author of “Conquer Negative Thinking for Teens: A Workbook to Break the Nine Thought Habits That Are Holding You Back.” “When you hear ‘catastrophizing’ such as ‘What if this happens,’ and ‘What if I can’t x,’ this may mean that anxiety is taking over and perspective is reduced. Ask the teen or young adult, ‘What are the realistic chances of something really bad happening,’ ‘Can they handle it,’ and, ‘What would they tell a friend worrying about the same thoughts.'” 

Similar to the aforementioned warning signs for adults, “sudden changes in behavior, sleep, eating patterns or shift or cut-off from friends and family, and negative self statements” are key warning signs that young adults aren’t managing, Alvord says.

Parents “can model coping,” Alvord tells CNBC, giving teens and young adults a template to follow for how to handle stress. They can do that by staying calm in the face of stress and unplanned roadblocks. Or, “if they are not calm, they can say something like, ‘I am so frustrated because x just happened. But, I will take a few deep breaths, calm myself, and figure out next steps. I am going to think about 3 things I can do about this situation,'” Alvord says. “‘I can’t control all that is going on, but I can control this part of it and I am thinking of a plan to handle it.'”

Professional resources

If someone you know is in desperate danger, call 911 and send a health professional to their home, says Wright.

Another important resource is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Related posts

A vendor displaying hydroxychloroquine tablets at a pharmacy.

How Brazil gambled on unproven drugs to fight Covid-19

March 5, 2021
Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Thousands register for United Center vaccination site; 1,740 new cases and 42 deaths reported as state nears 3 million doses administered

Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Thousands register for United Center vaccination site; 1,740 new cases and 42 deaths reported as state nears 3 million doses administered

March 5, 2021

If a friend or loved one seems at risk of harming themselves, it’s okay to be direct, says Elinore F. McCance-Katz, the Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services for Mental Health and Substance Use, the agency within the federal government’s Department of Health and Human Services working to improve behavioral health, which funds the hotline. Tell them they can call the hotline 24 hours a day, she says.

“In a straightforward and supportive way, share what you are noticing and offer to talk about it (e.g., ‘You have seemed very sad, the past few weeks’),” McCance-Katz tells CNBC by way of a department spokesperson. “Be willing to gently ask the direct question: ‘Have you been having thoughts about harming yourself?’ You won’t be putting the idea in your loved one’s head; rather, many see this as a way to open the door for the conversation. It takes away the stigma associated with thoughts of suicide and the shame one may feel if they have them.”

If you are concerned about a friend or loved one and need urgent help or guidance, you, too can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, McCance-Katz says.

If a loved one or friend is showing signs of a deterioration in mental health, professional therapy may be necessary. “Most therapists have pivoted to tele-health, that is video conferencing or phone only, and we know that both of those methods are as effective as face-to-face [therapy],” Wright tells CNBC. The search for a therapist can start with your primary care doctor or your insurance company. If you don’t have a primary care doctor or insurance, you can start by asking friends and family for their recommendations or search on a therapist locator on the web, such as the one at Psychology Today.

Fundamentally, trying to help someone who is struggling with mental health problems is hard. “It can be challenging when you’re the loved one or the friend because there often isn’t a lot in your control other than to reach out, to offer resources, to off yourself as resource,” Wright tells CNBC. “To a certain extent it has to be the person themselves who reaches out. And that’s what’s really challenging.”



Source by www.cnbc.com

Tags: Amazon.com Incbusiness newsDepressionHealth care industryLifeMental healthTechnologytony hsieh
Share196Tweet123Share49
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Van Morrison teams with Eric Clapton for anti-lockdown song

Van Morrison teams with Eric Clapton for anti-lockdown song

December 19, 2020
Sen. Rand Paul's ‘Festivus Report’ claims $54B in tax dollars was 'totally wasted'

Sen. Rand Paul’s ‘Festivus Report’ claims $54B in tax dollars was ‘totally wasted’

December 23, 2020
'Zombie' greenhouse gas lurks in permafrost beneath the Arctic Ocean

‘Zombie’ greenhouse gas lurks in permafrost beneath the Arctic Ocean

December 24, 2020
Democrats reach deal on unemployment aid, allowing $1.9 trillion relief bill to go forward

Democrats reach deal on unemployment aid, allowing $1.9 trillion relief bill to go forward

0
Fact check: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would defer his annual raise

Fact check: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced he would defer his annual raise

0
Swedish government sidelines epidemiologist who steered country's no lockdown experiment as deaths rise

Swedish government sidelines epidemiologist who steered country’s no lockdown experiment as deaths rise

0
Democrats reach deal on unemployment aid, allowing $1.9 trillion relief bill to go forward

Democrats reach deal on unemployment aid, allowing $1.9 trillion relief bill to go forward

March 6, 2021
Bundesliga's all-time best and worst kits: Bayern, Dortmund on both lists

Bundesliga’s all-time best and worst kits: Bayern, Dortmund on both lists

March 6, 2021
011-cnet-finance-mortgage-signage

Current mortgage interest rates on March 5, 2021: Rates tick up

March 5, 2021
Daily illinois - USA | News, Sports & Updates Web Magazine

Copyright © 2020 Dailyillinois.com.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • DMCA
  • Sitemap
  • Write For Us

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us Page
  • Contact
  • DMCA Policy
  • Home 1
  • Privacy Policy
  • Submit, Guest Post, Write For Us and Become a Contributor
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2020 Dailyillinois.com.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.