Does anybody care anymore?
What’s happened to us as a society?
My Journey
I could attempt to answer this question in so many different ways, especially in this day and age when it seems the world is continuously on fire, both literally and figuratively. The questions remain. Do we care anymore? Do we care about each other as human beings? Or do we let our political persuasions, passions and ideals override our basic needs for care and community? This week, I’m inviting you into my world. I’m inviting you to consider ways we can care for one another, especially when it comes to emotional and mental wellness, navigating mental illness, or both.
Whenever I tell people what I do for a living, it’s always a conversation starter. People hear that I’m a neuroscientist, and they’re ready with their list of questions. It’s not surprising. As human beings, we have an inherent interest in our own brains and how they work. After all, this unseen and powerful organ is central to how we perceive, react to and interact with the world. As a neuroscientist and researcher, I’ll be the first to acknowledge my fascination with the brain. I’m particularly intrigued by how the brain guides our behaviors and actions. Whenever I’m speaking to the general public about neuroscience research, I also talk about how much we can learn about human behavior through humane studies of behavior in other species, like mice and rats.
I once heard a university leader share how their research in rodents as a behavioral neuroscientist prepared and equipped them to work with people as a university president!
That may sound surprising, given all the complexities of our human behavior and social interactions. But I’ve also seen this play out in a number of ways. After giving a public facing research talk years ago, a mother emailed me to share some surprising reflections. In my talk, I described both rodent behavior and human clinical research on addiction. In her follow up message, this mom shared how my presentation on the neurobiology of rat behavior, in the context of substance use, helped her understand her son’s challenges with addiction. Hearing about rodent brain biology and behavior helped her understand why her son behaved in certain ways. She came away with a deeper appreciation for what was happening in his brain after years of substance use, and how it was impacting and changing his behavior. It also gave her hope, as she heard about ways to support him, based on principles from neuroscience, psychology, community engagement, and faith and spiritual practices.
As I previously shared in a Jude 3 Project podcast interview with Lisa Fields, neuroscience research on addiction-related cellular, molecular and behavioral responses in rodents also provides scientific insights that can apply across various types of addiction - from substance misuse to internet addiction to pornography. One powerful theme from these research studies is the importance of community. In fact, research in rodents has provided insights into the molecular processes in the brain that facilitate community building, and consolatory behavior in stressful situations. Many of the same molecular processes that are protective against substance misuse are also helpful for navigating stressful situations. When was also consider findings from clinical studies, we see the benefits of integrating psychological and psychiatric tools, as well as tools from our spiritual practices and faith traditions. All of these reflect the neuroscience of caring and remind us of the importance of community and how we care for one another.
As with many things worth pursuing in life, this research can be arduous at times. Our research relies on teams of people. Not just the individuals performing the research, but those providing the infrastructure and support to sustain that research. This includes teams of folks who take care of seemingly mundane tasks - like maintaining and cleaning equipment, daily checks of room conditions in our experimental spaces, certification of lab equipment, any number of regulatory checks and procedures, and so much more. It’s so easy to overlook these individuals and these tasks. And yet their work is essential for us to continue our research.
I remember my interactions with one of our facilities staff members, whom I call John, early in my career. I’d typically see John once or twice a week, when he would stop by our lab to organize, clean equipment, swap out dirty equipment, and perform general inventory checks amongst other tasks. There was nothing glamorous about the work. But John was always diligent. There were times he’d get behind schedule, because of the amount of work he had to complete in other labs and other facilities. On those busy days, he’d share honestly about his hectic schedule, but still perform his work thoroughly, without cutting corners.
One day, while he was cleaning equipment, I felt compelled to express my gratitude,
“Thanks so much for your diligence. I really appreciate the way you go about your work, and how you always check in to make sure that we have everything we need.”
I didn’t think much of my comment at the time. But a few weeks later, John stopped me in the hallway. He had a slightly awkward look on his face, and I wondered if I’d done something wrong.
“You know that time that you stopped me and said thanks. Well, I wanted to thank you for saying that. That really meant a lot to me, especially coming from someone like you.”
I had to catch myself for a moment, “Someone like me?” As an early career professor, I was focused on trying to establish my career. I was operating in survival mode. I wasn’t thinking about anyone looking up to me, let alone the folks that supported our research. My small comment of appreciation went further than I had anticipated.
It’s so important that we actually convey our gratitude to others. While it’s easy to ignore, research has shown that these expressions of gratitude benefit both the person receiving the gratitude and the person expressing it. Gratitude has certainly been a key piece of my podcast journey. I’m grateful for each and every guest who has graciously taken time out of their busy schedules to join me in conversation. I’m continually in awe of the ways my guests’ generously and bravely share their stories.
I’m truly blessed to host and facilitate these deeply meaningful discussions. And yet, there are times I wonder if the conversations are reaching far enough. Is the podcast reaching those who need to hear it? Are enough people benefiting from the wealth of information, wisdom, insight being shared on the show?
Without fail, when I slip into these periods of doubt, I’ll get an email, hear a conversation, or see a comment reminding me why I do what I do. Sometimes it’s a note of gratitude about a topic we’ve discussed on the podcast. Other times, it’s someone literally chasing me down in the hallway to tell me how much my guest’s experience resonated with them. Other times, it’s a message letting me know how my comments equipped someone with a deeper understanding of the intersection of mental health and faith. Each and every time, your expressions of gratitude encourage me to keep on.
I say all of this to say thank you!
I also have a request. If you’re enjoying or feeling blessed by these podcast conversations, please share it with others. If you know people in your life who would benefit from these meaningful discussions, please share it with them.
As I’ve jumped back into podcast hosting, I’m feeling even more passionate about how important these conversations are for society. This is not because I have so many words of wisdom to share. But because I’m blessed to host so many dynamic advocates and leaders, with powerful lived experience and expertise to share with the world!
I’ll continue to do my part to elevate their voices, even while I continue to learn from them as well.
Recent happenings
My most recent podcast episode speaks powerfully to the importance of community. I hosted Corey Minor Smith and Vicky Sigworth for a conversation called “Severe Mental Illness in Loved Ones - Navigating Resources, Support & the Care System.”
In this episode, I promise that you’ll learn something you can carry for the rest of your life – whether you’ve experienced severe mental illness or not, and whether someone in your life has severe mental illness or not.
Join in for this deeply honest, revealing and empowering conversation as these two pioneering women graciously share their stories and bring you into their world. We highlight the topic of severe mental illness to raise awareness and bring greater understanding. My guests also share critical resources and information for everyone, especially those with loved ones, friends or others you know living with severe mental illness. We lean into the tensions that arise between supporting others and sustaining your own health, mental health and wellness. We also consider some alarming statistics, especially when it comes to medication, caregiving, and illness. Even so, it’s no surprise that the power of community shows up throughout our discussion. Get ready to be inspired and equipped, as our guests share words of wisdom from their experience, knowledge, and emerging friendship.