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RAB Research Archive

The Mental Toll This is Taking



Are you feeling anxious, agitated, lonely, depressed or even hostile? As the crisis continues, you may notice people getting more and more frustrated, quick to anger or mildly depressed. I’m by no means a medical professional, but I do like to watch human behavior and I think we can all see it. Kim Johnson, our director of sales at RAB, sent me an article recently that gives a medical explanation to what some may be feeling. The article is titled: Oxytocin May Be The Key To Staying Positive in Hard Times.

Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter that acts as a hormone in the brain. The article explains that sometimes it’s called the “love molecule” because it’s produced when we have contact with others. They say it’s important because it binds us together and has shown to lead to increased happiness, lower stress and the desire to be more kind, express charity or compassion towards others. What’s not to like, right?

Here’s the problem – our oxytocin levels increase when we have contact with others, or conversely decrease, when we have no contact with others. Think isolation, lock-downs, stay-at-home orders and all the things we are doing to try and stop the spread of COVID-19 (which we are now talking about AGAIN). These things can be having a deleterious effect on your oxytocin levels. The article lists 12 things you can do to keep or boost your oxytocin levels. We’re going to list five to get you started:

1. Look at people when they are talking – In a COVID-19 world, this means using video chat whenever possible.

2. Interact with your pet – If you’re fortunate to have a furry critter, giving and getting some affection from your pet can work wonders.

3. Take a walk – Being exposed to sunlight is a great way to get vitamin D into your system. Vitamin D helps produce oxytocin.

4. Sing like no one is listening – Crank up the radio and sing along to your favorite songs.

5. Laugh about it – Humor breaks down barriers and can lead to connection and safety. Comedy and laughter can work wonders.

Who would have ever thought a sales tip would be focused on oxytocin and ways to feel better? Share a laugh, share a video smile, take a walk or do something nice for someone. These are principles that many of us were taught when we were young. If we all put some of these things into practice we can imagine the world being a better place as a result of COVID-19.

Jeff Schmidt is the SVP of Professional Development. You can reach him at Jeff.Schmidt@RAB.com. You can also connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Source: Jeff Schmidt, RAB