Are your coping mechanisms healthy? | Dr. Andrew Miki | TEDxSurrey

Summary

This video explores the connection between learned behaviors and mental health, drawing parallels between training pigeons to count and human coping mechanisms. The speaker, a clinical psychologist and father, discusses how unhealthy habits can develop from seeking immediate relief, like using smartphones for reassurance, which can exacerbate anxiety and depression. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, mental fitness, and open conversation to unlearn these patterns and improve self-confidence, suggesting that overcoming depression and anxiety can lead to a more optimistic mindset.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The connection between a pigeon's counting ability and human mental health lies in learned behaviors and the reinforcement of habits in the brain.
• 🕊️ Shaping, a process used to teach pigeons to count, involves gradually increasing the complexity of tasks while reinforcing the behavior with rewards, similar to how humans develop coping mechanisms.
• 🔁 Unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as procrastination or overusing smartphones, can initially provide relief but may lead to long-term anxiety and depression.
• 📉 The concept of 'insanity' in the context of the script refers to repeating the same unhelpful behaviors and expecting different outcomes.
• 🤔 Awareness of one's own patterns and coping mechanisms is crucial for mental health improvement, as it allows for the unlearning of unhelpful habits.
• 👨‍👧 The speaker shares personal insights from being a father, emphasizing the importance of building self-confidence in children to combat anxiety and depression.
• 📱 The overuse of smartphones as a coping mechanism can reinforce anxiety, as it trains the brain to seek instant reassurance rather than building resilience.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Mental fitness, like physical fitness, requires active engagement and effort to improve, suggesting that talking more about mental health can help uncover and address issues.
• 🌪️ The 'perfect storm' of life's challenges can deplete one's internal energy, leading to a reliance on unhelpful coping mechanisms and potentially worsening mental health.
• 💡 The script encourages self-reflection through two questions: understanding one's reactions to stress and the effectiveness of those reactions over time.
• 🌱 The brain's capacity to build new connections allows for the unlearning of unhelpful habits, suggesting that trying new strategies can lead to improved mental health.

Q & A

What is the connection between a pigeon's ability to count and human mental health mentioned in the script?

The connection lies in the concept of learned behaviors and the reinforcement of habits in the brain. Just as a pigeon is taught to count through shaping, which strengthens neural connections over time, human brains also reinforce certain habits or coping mechanisms that provide temporary relief but can lead to long-term issues like anxiety and depression.

What is the process of shaping as described in the script?

Shaping is a process used in animal training where an animal is gradually taught a complex behavior by rewarding closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior. In the script, it is used to teach pigeons to count by rewarding them with food for looking at a touchscreen and gradually increasing the complexity of the task.

How does the script relate the concept of learned behaviors in animals to human coping mechanisms?

The script draws a parallel between how animals learn behaviors through reinforcement and how humans develop coping mechanisms that may initially provide relief but can become problematic over time, such as procrastination or overusing smartphones.

What is the definition of insanity as presented in the script?

In the context of the script, insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different response. This is related to unhelpful coping mechanisms that people repeat without realizing they are contributing to their stress or mental health issues.

Why do people tend to rely on unhelpful coping mechanisms according to the script?

People rely on unhelpful coping mechanisms because they provide temporary relief or a dopamine hit in the moment, even though they may exacerbate stress, anxiety, or depression in the long run.

What is the role of self-confidence in relation to anxiety and depression as discussed in the script?

The script suggests that self-confidence is inversely related to anxiety and depression. When people have high self-confidence, they are less likely to suffer from these mental health issues. Conversely, as self-confidence decreases, the impact of anxiety and depression increases.

How does the script use the example of a teenager wanting a smartphone to illustrate the impact of coping mechanisms on self-confidence?

The script uses the example of the speaker's daughter, Natalia, wanting a smartphone to show how the desire for instant reassurance can undermine self-confidence. The father explains that the more time kids spend on smartphones, the more anxious and depressed they become, which can erode self-confidence.

What is the 'perfect storm' mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to mental health?

The 'perfect storm' refers to a series of negative events or circumstances that occur simultaneously, leading to a significant depletion of one's internal energy or resilience. In the context of mental health, it can trigger a reliance on unhelpful coping mechanisms and exacerbate feelings of anxiety, depression, and self-doubt.

How does the script suggest we can improve our mental health and self-confidence?

The script suggests that by understanding and recognizing unhelpful coping mechanisms, we can work to unlearn them. It also emphasizes the importance of talking more about our mental health struggles to uncover and change these patterns, as well as trying new strategies to build mental resilience.

What are the two questions the script encourages individuals to ask themselves regarding their mental health?

The script encourages individuals to ask themselves: (1) What do you do when you feel stressed, anxious, or sad? and (2) Have these feelings gotten better or worse over time? These questions are meant to prompt self-reflection and awareness of one's coping mechanisms.