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(CNN) You can learn a lot from a search history.
This month, Google released its annual “Search Year” list to show which terms saw the biggest increases over the past year. The roundup offers a snapshot of what interests, interests and concerns internet users around the world in 2022.
A major subject is visibly absent this year: Covid-19. Last year there was a lot of interest in vaccination and infection prevention, but this year there was no mention of coronavirus in top health and wellness searches.
Instead, this year’s research focused on physical and mental recovery – how to become physically stronger and how to cope with problems like anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Here’s a breakdown of 2022 in Google searches and some ways to approach these topics through 2023.
Workouts
Workouts have been at the center of conversations this year: “bodyweight workouts,” “weekly workouts,” “exercise for mental health,” and “core gym workouts” were all among searches for most popular health.
Bodyweight workouts are a good entry point for exercising because you don’t need expensive equipment and you can lay the foundation for an eventual strength training workout, said Dana Santas, a fitness expert at CNN and body-mind coach in professional sports, in a previous article.
She arranged a 10-minute workout to get started.
If you’re looking to take it a step further and establish a regular exercise routine, a 2021 megastudy found that the key is to make a plan, build in reminders, and reward yourself for sticking to it.
Dealing with Difficult Emotions
Google users asked “how to deal with stress”, “how to stop a panic attack”, “how to cure depression” and “focus with ADHD”. They also researched good mental health practices for toddlers, looking for breathing exercises for children.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, many people are focused on coping and stress, especially in light of the ongoing global pandemic, economic concerns, and adjustments associated with returning to school and work.
Although stress is a normal physiological reaction that everyone experiences, it can develop into a serious condition like anxiety or depression if left unchecked. One thing to look for is whether the feeling goes away after a stressful event ends, said Dr. Gail Saltz, clinical associate professor of psychiatry at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York.
Stress can also exacerbate mental disorders like depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Saltz said in a statement. 2021 interview with CNN.
If you think you may be suffering from chronic stress or another mental health disorder, you should talk to a trusted friend or family member to see if they have noticed any differences and contact a mental health professional , said Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, psychologist and founder of the AAKOMA Project, a youth mental health nonprofit, in a history 2021.
Journaling, podcasts and books
The quest for better mental and physical health hasn’t stopped at a quick Internet search, data shows.
Popular terms included searches for additional mental health resources, such as books, podcasts and journaling techniques aimed at improving well-being.
“Expressive writing works for a number of reasons,” said James Pennebaker, a psychologist, researcher and professor at the University of Texas at Austin. Recognizing that a life-changing event has value, he added in a previous CNN story. “And writing about it also helps the person find meaning or understand it.”
There are also guided and formatted journals to help you keep going.
Dial 988
A significant change this year was the addition of National Lifeline for Suicide Prevention in Mental Health Crisis. The number is as simple as three digits: 988.
These numbers were among health-related searches that saw a sharp increase this year.
The dialing code is available throughout the United States and is meant to be easier to access for people in mental health crises, like 911.
“One of the aims of 988 is to ensure people get the help they need when they need it, where they need it. So when someone calls 988 they can expect to have a conversation with a trained, compassionate crisis counselor who will talk with them about what they are experiencing,” said Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, administrator of the U.S. Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. of Health and Social Services an interview with CNN in July.
“If it is determined that they need further intervention, it is likely that the crisis counselor will connect them with a local mobile crisis team,” she added.
Additional reporting by CNN’s Jacqueline Howard, Megan Marples and Veronica Stracqualursi
