Crystals that relieve depression

There is currently no evidence-based medical evidence proving that the physical and chemical properties of crystals can directly treat depression or alleviate pathological depression symptoms. Its positive effect on mood is essentially the result of a combination of placebo effect, anchoring psychology and mindfulness carrier.

Let’s start with the most hard-core scientific research conclusion: the main component of crystal is silica, which is not fundamentally different from the glass used in daily life and the river sand that can be seen everywhere by the river. The so-called "crystal has its own high-frequency magnetic field and can regulate neurotransmitters in the brain" has no reproducible scientific experimental support. The Empirical Research Center of the University of Oxford conducted a controlled experiment in 2021. 127 subjects with mild depression were randomly divided into two groups. One group received natural white crystal that was promoted as having "healing effects", and the other group received imitation crystal glass with exactly the same composition. After 8 weeks of follow-up, there was no statistical difference in the improvement of the depression scale scores between the two groups - to put it bluntly, you thought it was the crystal that was working, but it is actually the same as if you took a piece of polished glass.

But if you ask friends who actually carry crystals with them and say they are useful, they will probably be able to tell you several real experiences of improving their mood. Don’t think they are being deceived. The psychological logic here is really tenable. I have met a little girl who works as a content operator before. She has mild anxiety and depression. In addition to taking medicine as prescribed by the doctor, the doctor asked her to do mindful breathing for 10 minutes every day. She always said that she could not calm down, and her thoughts would drift to unfinished plans and criticism from her boss. Later, her girlfriend Mi casually gave her a piece of ice-cracked milky white crystal. Every time she was distracted, she would hold the crystal and touch the uneven texture, counting the small cotton dots on it. Gradually, she was able to sit for 10 minutes. After using it for three months, she said that the number of emotional breakdowns had been reduced by half. Do you think this is the result of crystal? In fact, she unintentionally made the crystal her own emotional anchor. As soon as she touched it, her brain would reflexively trigger the "stop and focus on the present" signal, pulling her out of her ruminating thoughts.

Supporters of New Age culture will have another explanation. They believe that crystals are formed after hundreds of millions of years of geological movement and have a stable energy field that can resonate with the energy frequency of the human body and clear away accumulated negative emotions. This kind of statement belongs to the category of subjective beliefs, and it has the same logic as the psychological support obtained by believers wearing crosses and elders wearing peace charms. If you believe it can protect you, it can really give you extra confidence. There is no need to deny it from the commanding heights of science - after all, emotions themselves are very subjective. As long as formal treatment is not delayed, it is better to believe in something than to grasp nothing.

Of course, controversy has never ceased. Many psychiatrists are very disgusted with advocating "crystal healing". The core fear is that some people really regard it as an alternative treatment plan. They will not take medicine and seek consultation after being diagnosed with depression, but will meditate with crystals every day, which ultimately delays the disease. Not to mention that many merchants now boast about crystals. A palm-sized crystal dares to sell for tens of thousands of dollars, claiming to be "wearable for three months and guaranteed." This is purely an IQ tax. There is really no need to pay this money.

When I was an emotional counseling volunteer, I often suggested finding an "emotional anchor" for visitors, which may not necessarily be a crystal. If you like to pinch bubble wrap, just carry a few pieces of bubble wrap. If you like to make skewers, bring a skewer. You can even put half a bottle of fine sand in a small bottle and carry it in your pocket. The core is to find a place for your attention, and don't focus on the thoughts that make you painful. The reason why crystal has become the first choice of many people is that it looks good, feels cool to the touch, is small and easy to carry in a pocket, and the natural cracked ice and cotton wool also have a bit of a "unique feeling that only belongs to me". It is easy to be given personal emotional meaning, and it is just convenient to use.

Last week I met a girl in a coffee shop. After answering the phone, my eye circles turned red instantly. I subconsciously took out a small lavender crystal from my pocket and held it in my hand. I turned it around seven or eight times, took three deep breaths, and then picked up the phone and slowly responded to the message. What do you think was helping her at that moment? Is it crystal? In fact, she had already established conditioned reflexes of "holding the crystal and turning it three times" and "I want to hold on steady". The crystal was just a small prop that helped her trigger the emotional switch.

To be honest, there is no need to worry about whether the crystal is useful or not. If you like it and feel comfortable when you touch it, it is no problem to buy one for ten or twenty yuan and carry it around. Just treat it as buying yourself an exclusive emotional crutch. If you think this thing is an IQ tax, then using the small pendant you usually hang on your key as an anchor will have the same effect. If your mood has been so bad recently that it has affected your eating and sleeping, don't carry it around or buy random healing products. Go to the hospital and see a doctor first, which is more useful than buying a hundred crystals.

In the final analysis, it is never the cool little stone that can relieve depression. It is your willingness to find a hand for yourself to stop, and your willingness to try some seemingly unreasonable tricks to help yourself. This desire to live well is the most effective "crystal".