Statistics on mental health paint a dire picture, with self-reported and diagnosed depression and anxiety on the rise post-pandemic.
Dr. Andrew Weil. (Kevin Abosch)
Over a decade ago, Dr. Andrew Weil, a pioneer in integrative health, wrote “Spontaneous Happiness” as a guide to emotional well-being and in response to the skyrocketing interest and incidences of depression. Twelve years later, Weil, who has been an early advocate for many things that have only recently made its way into the mainstream culture (matcha, mushrooms, mind-body health, to name just a few) says there’s not much he would change about the book.
“First of all, I think the pharmaceutical industry has been very effective in persuading people that ordinary states of sadness are biochemical problems in the brain that require treatment treatment with psychiatric medications,” Weil said. “And that won’t always be the case. I think we’re not supposed to be happy all the time.”…