Dialogue exercises our language skills which helps to keep parts of the brain connected to other neural structures. It requires social interaction which nurtures our brain’s social functions. It also helps to slow the decline of cognitive abilities.
SO IF YOU WANT TO HELP WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, DEVELOP HEALTHY DIALOGUE WITH OTHERS. Here are a few interesting aspects to consider:
- Conversing with others involves social interaction which protects the brain’s health.
- Lack of social interaction damages portions of the brain, leading to aggression, depression, and various neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Healthy conversation involves more than just usual talk; gossip, the weather, sports, and the like.
- Healthy conversation involves abstract ideals, such as major topics in the world; what technology will look like in 20 years, the meaning of life, the omnipresence of God, or the universe/multiverse.
- Angry, fearful, worrisome, argumentative talk harms self and others. The amygdala (the downstairs brain) drives this negative perspective and increases anxiety and depression.
- Dialogue with others without trying to “win” your perspective, but with the intent to listen.
- Healthy dialogue manifests through conversation NOT debate.
- Listen with the intent to understand. Understanding leads to empathy, empathy to compassion, compassion to caring, caring to love. This process promotes and develops the ability to “love our enemies.”