Quantum Health Newsletter, November 2021, Issue 1

A recent study published by the American Psychological Association has found that memes have helped Americans cope with stress during the pandemic, noting that respondents who looked at memes felt "calmer" and more "content." Interestingly, those who viewed memes about the epidemic, in particular, were more confident in their ability to deal with the global health crisis.

The study surveyed 748 people who were shown popular memes from sites like Imgur and IMGflip that featured animals and humans, while a control group was shown other media. Some individuals in the meme-viewing group were given images with COVID-19-related captions instead of that same image's original caption. Participants were then asked to rate how cute and funny they found the meme and to report their anxiety levels and any positive feelings, like calmness or cheerfulness. They were also asked questions related to the pandemic, i.e. how stressed they were about the virus, how confident they felt in their ability to cope with the pandemic and how the memes caused them to think about other information they knew about COVID-19. The study found those who viewed the memes reported more positive emotions.

Lead author Jessica Gall Myrick, a professor at Pennsylvania State University, told The Washington Post that people have been using memes as a gateway to talk about the pandemic and connect with people they've not been able to see in person.

"Because we're isolated, when you see a meme about COVID and it reflects something about our experience, it's really powerful because you don't get to have as much interpersonal interaction with people. There's something about it that helps us relate to other people."

While the study's sample size is small, and Myrick even admitted additional research is needed to more clearly understand how media use may lower stress levels, as The Washington Post notes, the new study is a "notable bright spot" amidst all of the constant bad news we're used to hearing about the internet and social media. Doomscrolling is rotting our brains and Facebook is giving our children destructively low self-esteem, but at least the memes are keeping us sane.

QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: The Quantum Joyful Balance Crystal connects you to a greater whole, reducing stress, and harmonizing the body's energies, reducing environmental stressors, such as vested-interest media.

1. Get plenty of sunlight and vitamin D - "It is believed that sunlight and subsequently vitamin D can influence our experience of positive emotions, protect from depressed mood and anxiety, as well as promote our energy and alertness," says psychologist Sheva Assar, Ph.D.
2. Give and receive affective touch - "We are social beings and benefit from various forms of connection," she Assar says. "For instance, using a supportive touch on self can serve as an act of self-compassion and can support one's sense of self-connection, connection with the present moment and experience of calmness, and reduction of the stress response, i.e., potential decrease in cortisol."
3. Keep a gratitude journal - "Reflecting on things, people, opportunities, and the inherent strengths we are fortunate to have in our lives can have a significant impact on our overall well-being and mental health, as well as likely increased production of serotonin," Assar says.
4. Manage caffeine intake - Caffeine withdrawal can drain your serotonin levels.
5. Get ample sleep - Assar says, "Serotonin contributes to the production of melatonin, which is the sleep hormone that helps us in falling asleep and experiencing sleepiness."
6. Have plenty of nutrient-rich foods and drinks - "Causes of low levels of serotonin could be a combination of things. Two common reasons: Your body isn't producing enough of it, which could be related to vitamin and nutrient deficiencies; your body is able to produce it but not use it effectively," says psychologist Rachel Goldman, Phd. Some useful foods include eggs, salmon, oats, cheese, turkey, nuts and seeds, plantains, pineapple, tomatoes, and kiwis.
7. Exercise regularly - Goldman says, "Physical exercise enhances mood and brain functioning. Exercise can also be effective in limiting the negative toll of stress, which can eventually allow for a greater boost of positive internal experiences."
8. Get a massage - "Massage is another great stress management tool and has been found to not only promote the release of serotonin but also decrease the stress hormone cortisol," Goldman says.
9. Try acupuncture - Acupuncture can help control your autonomic nerve function and potentially stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system for more relaxation.
10. Make meditation a regular practice - "It's known to help relieve stress as well as promote a different outlook on life, which can help increase levels of serotonin," Goldman says.
11. Support gut health - Neuropsychologist Jennifer Wolkin, Ph.D., "We literally need gut-derived serotonin for our mental well-being, and the diversity of the bacteria in our gut, called the gut microbiota, is believed to influence serotonin levels."
12. Practice positive thinking - "When we practice thinking more positively, we, in turn, feel more joy. The brain is cued to create more serotonin in response to positive emotions," Wolkin says.
13. Listen to music - According to Wolkin, listening to music you like activates the pleasure center of the brain, which not only releases dopamine and serotonin but keeps serotonin around longer.

QUANTUM HEALTH TIP: Use the E1 Stress Relief Formula, which adjusts and balances hormonal activity in the body--a perfect companion to the above tips.