How does kindness help with depression and anxiety?

Kindness, it's great to give and it feels great to receive. A study was done saying that acts of kindness can cure depression and anxiety. Performing good deeds can lead to a great amount of mental health improvements. The acts of kindness towards others can result in feeling more connected with people. This helps because when you’re showing acts of kindness it can take your mind off of the negative thoughts that you otherwise would feel if you weren't doing something kind. What is an act of kindness? It is a big or small act that benefits others or makes others happy. Encouraging words for a friend, baking cookies to give to employees, giving a ride to someone, helping the homeless and many other acts can be attributed to a good deed of kindness.  

According to The Mayo Clinic, “Kindness is more than behavior. The art of kindness means harboring a spirit of helpfulness, as well as being generous and considerate, and doing so without expecting anything in return. Kindness is a quality of being. The act of giving kindness often is simple, free, positive and healthy.

 

Good for the body

Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and improve mood. It can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone, which directly impacts stress levels. People who give of themselves in a balanced way also tend to be healthier and live longer. Kindness can increase your sense of connectivity with others, which can directly impact loneliness, improve low mood and enhance relationships in general. It also can be contagious. Looking for ways to show kindness can give you a focus activity, especially if you tend to be anxious or stressed in some social situations.

Good for the mind

Physiologically, kindness can positively change your brain. Being kind boosts serotonin and dopamine, which are neurotransmitters in the brain that give you feelings of satisfaction and well-being, and cause the pleasure/reward centers in your brain to light up. Endorphins, which are your body’s natural pain killer, also can be released. Discover ways you can create happiness.

Be kind to yourself

It is not just how you treat other people — it is how you extend those same behaviors and intentions to yourself as well. I believe you can be kinder in your own self-talk and practice gratitude. People are good at verbally beating themselves up, and rarely does that work as a pep talk. Rather, negativity often causes you to unravel and may even create a vicious cycle of regularly getting down on yourself. You wouldn't talk to your neighbor the way you sometimes talk to yourself. This is what I call the “good neighbor policy,” which can be helpful. If you would not say it to your good neighbor, do not say it about yourself.”

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/the-art-of-kindness