The mental health effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are hitting people of all ages, with the latest research finding that three in 10 Millennials feel lonely either “often” or “always.”
Lockdowns, social distancing, and economic strains have added an unhealthy dose of anxiety to our already stressful lives.
If you’re feeling particularly isolated and on edge, science says it may not be a personal shortcoming, but rather a natural disposition — and there’s an explanation for it in our brains.
While scientists may not have a solution just yet, they can finally offer some explanation — which is a good start.
In this episode of The Abstract, we discuss what newly identified patterns of brain activity says about why some people are more prone to anxiety and loneliness.
Our first story is about the latest research explaining why lonely people feel so isolated from those around them. Highlighting a phenomenon known as the “self-other gap,” researchers say loneliness may not necessarily be a consequence of your circumstances but rather your own state of mind.
Our second story attempts to explain why some people are more susceptible to anxiety than others. With the help of a strange new study on marmosets, researchers narrowed in on a clear neurological reason some of us are prone to panic while others remain calm.
Read the original Inverse stories:
- Serotonin study explains why some people are more prone to anxiety
- The brains of lonely people reveal why you can feel alone in a crowded room
Where to find us:
- Subscribe to The Abstract wherever you listen to podcasts: iTunes | Spotify | TuneIn | RadioPublic | Stitcher
- Follow Ali Pattillo on Twitter
- Follow Emma Betuel on Twitter
- Follow Inverse on Twitter
- We're hosted and produced by Tanya Bustos
—
Right now, facts and science matter more than ever. That's part of the reason for The Abstract, this all-new podcast from the Inverse staff that focuses exclusively on science and innovation. Three new episodes are released a week, and each covers one theme via two related stories. Each features audio of original Inverse reporting, where the facts and context take center stage. It's hosted by the Tanya Bustos of WSJ Podcasts. Because we're Inverse, it's all true but slightly off-kilter. It's made for people who want to know the whole story. —Nick Lucchesi, executive editor, Inverse
