How Language Learning Saved My Mental Health Through The Toughest Times

This video is sponsored by BetterHelp: visit betterhelp.com... to get 10% off your first month!
Today I'd like to talk about how language learning has had such a huge and positive impact on my mental health over the last 10+ years that learning foreign languages has been a central passion and part of my life.
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[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

I hope you all enjoyed the video! If you'd like to try BetterHelp, please visit betterhelp.com/robin to get 10% off your first month! 🎈

[@soroll]

Hola Robin, hice el cuestionario hace unos minutos pero cuando te pude ingresar el nombre del canal de KZbin donde encontraste la referencia a este servicio no aparece el tuyo cuando pones el nombre del mismo

[@carolinamarinas47]

Couldn't agree more with you, learning languages is absolutely healthy, especially when one is going through an overwhelming and hard time of your life. It's like a window to another dimension. Keep up the good work. Greetings from Colombia

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

I'm so glad that has been your experience, too, Carolina! I love the way you put it as a window into another dimension :) Saludos desde Inglaterra!

[@pinay_and_languages]

"window to another dimension"

[@artiesolomon3292]

Mental health is primarily about relating to other people in a positive way. It is about minimizing fear, anger, depression, and hopelessness. Languages opens you up to new magazines, books, and great historical figures from another culture. Watching foreign movies may be great fun. Robin is great at dealing with all problems and situations relating to language study. I recommend subscribing.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you for this thoughtful and supportive comment, Artie! I appreciate your contribution 😊

[@IowaLanguages]

I can so relate to this whole video. I have friends who "live in the moment" (kayaking, hiking, BBQ, drinking) who may think language learners don't have "fun". But learning is a richer, more satisfying feeling than "fun". I live some of my life in other cultures. Honestly I'd be so bored with just my native language and culture. I'm looking for people like me in my area (they don't seem to exist), but at least I know there's people like me out there. Thanks for sharing!! 💕❤️💜

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

I'm so glad you have found that richness in life Tricia! I'm sure you will find *your tribe* 😄✨ I know the feeling, but let's keep working hard and staying hopeful! ❤️💫

[@yasserveneyasser9714]

I can relate to everything you said.I lost my job and it was so difficult for me. Reading and learning languages helped me a great deal in coping with these circumstances. I speak Arabic, English, French and Spanish and now I'm learning German and Italian. That's my passion 😊 I love literature and I enjoy so much reading my favourite authors in their native languages. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. If you ever want to learn Arabic I would love to help😉

[@anduril2695]

I definitely use my language learning as a way to cope with my own anxiety and other issues

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

I'm glad language learning can be that tool for you, Brandon!

[@christophiluslovingchristb5441]

One thing that amazes me is how, when one learns a new language, one may see things that were always right in front of them. Example, I grew up in a medium size town & I never noticed how many speakers of Swahili lived in that town. After spending some time in Tanzania & being immersed in the language & culture, I am now more aware of my surroundings. More & more I run into people speaking Swahili that had already been living in my hometown & now I have new friendships based on these things.

[@ceciliocedonoblocnote]

9:00 I feel like each language is a character with its own personnality who helps me during different parts of my life. I never knew other people feel the same way !

[@ewazych4841]

I can 100% relate to everything you say in this video. Languages keep me afloat in difficult times and give me something to look forward to even if the day has been bad.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

I’m so glad the video was relatable, Ewa! It’s great that languages have such a positive impact on you as well. I feel like even if the day has been kind of rough, if I end it with some peaceful language study things just seem okay somehow.

[@justnoticing]

Language learning has been a great help to me when dealing with depression and anxiety due to work-related post traumatic stress as well as some of the everyday worries and annoyances. The challenges focus my mind in a way that helps me block out other thoughts, I am boosted and excited by new discoveries about the language and my own achievements along the way. it has also provided many ways to connect and interact with other people. However, my obsession with learning the language has made it difficult to maintain a balance in my life as I would often rather do that than go out and do other things (not that there has been much opportunity in the last 18 months). Anyway, I very much look forward to being about to travel to Italy and to speak Italian face to face every day. Thanks for sharing Robin.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

I'm really happy that you've had language learning to help you through depression and anxiety, Rena! I know those things can be so deep and serious and can often feel just insurmountable when we're stuck in that valley, so I've always felt so thankful to always have something the hold onto. It's definitely also good to be aware of the potential downsides so thank you for sharing those as well. Let's hope that being aware of that and having those experiences will now allow you to embrace the benefits language learning brings you while maintaining balance as best you can 😊 Thanks always for sharing and supporting.

[@victoriahasskerl7282]

I was just telling my friend that since I have really been more diligent in my study and I'm now able to communicate with others I am less lonely here and happier. Thanks Robin

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Aw that's fantastic to read, Victoria! I'm so glad that you're having that experience. Keep up the great work and let's hope you continue to feel even less lonely and happier ☺️

[@luyandosichula3265]

I totally agree with you! Languages are such great friends! I can never be lonely or bored when I have friends like French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Portuguese, Swahili and Chinese!

[@rossmills6888]

Absolutely agree. There is something about preparing for a life in another country that makes today’s worries seem a bit lighter.

[@ricardomd4229]

I loved the whole video, I totally agree with your points of view and especifically I also consider the languages that I speak as friends. Your a great inspiration for language enthusiasts like me, thank you so much. Te mando un fuerte abrazo a la distancia. Saludos.

[@gabysadowyj8399]

Great video Robin as always. I will pass this on to my daughter, she is not the language learner, that is me, but she is struggling so much with anxiety and has been for such a long time, silently. I wish you all the very best in this rollercoaster of a ride. Take care my friend.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Aw thank you, Gaby! I'm sorry to read that your daughter is struggling so much with anxiety 🥺 I really really hope some of this could be helpful to her even in some small way! It is a rollercoaster indeed and I wish you the very best as well as we all find our way along it! I'm sure you're making a huge difference to your daughter ❤️ You take good care as well my friend.

[@mikepotap]

Robin, thank you so much for this video! I had the experience of fixing my mental health and dealing with negative emotions through learning Spanish by myself (and English. I am from Dnipro, Ukraine🇺🇦). That was very tough for me to reconsider my priorities in life, but I think I'm on the right track). At least I can speak 4 languages now 😀 You are doing a great job, and I can't really express how grateful I am. The best of luck to you!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks so much for sharing, Mike! I'm delighted to read that you feel like you're on the right track now, that's wonderful! Keep up the amazing work and thank you for your support! ✨😄

[@chadi6105]

Every language session for me is just like a good free therapy session :)

[@selenadubaitrainer]

I'm in such a crisis now in my life, and I feel this strength in your video, great content and a calming vibe, love it! Thank you so much to be my inspiration! Bravooo!

[@gabylopez6990]

This video was helpful to me, I'm improving my English, some times is good to know other people feel the same way as me !! Thank you so much !!! ... From México 💌

[@solea59]

Another great video ! Thanks Robin, and a nice touch to say that your languages are your North star . It's great to have a rock when the sea gets rough !

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you Brian! I totally agree. Especially when there’s not much of anything else to hold onto ⛵️

[@solea59]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms I have been in that position too Robin. I don't know if people suffered from mental health more in the past or if it's worse now because we have so much more coverage with our modern day communication systems. Anyway, like you , I love my studying and it keeps me on the tracks most of the time 👍😀

[@the_oneironaut]

Language learning is a game-changer

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

💯%!

[@สุนิสานรินทร]

This is my comment. I appreciate your advice, and your chanal, with your chanal it makes me improve my English skills. Previously, I 'm weak in English so much, so I' ve watching your vedio every morning for 2 weeks, till now I feel I understand you better. Thank you for your subtitles also😊 I am lucky to find your chanal.

[@สุนิสานรินทร]

This is my first comment**

[@claudiadeviena]

Love this video and your thoughts on that topic. Learning languages has also helped me a lot getting through 2020. Like you said, communicating with people is essential the whole journey. I have met so many great people. 😊

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you for sharing, Claudia! I think especially in 2020 and this recent time in the world, language learning has been such a special passion to hold and to keep us feeling connected to people and places around the world ❤️🌎 I'm really glad you've met great people through this journey!

[@christophiluslovingchristb5441]

¡Gracias! & Asante sana!!

[@skorpi09irl]

Fellow polyglot here…this was all so relatable, I don’t even know where to start.

[@mounikapuligurthi557]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences about how language learning guided you! Your video is super relatable to how so many of us are doing mentally right now and couldn't have come at a better time! After quitting a stressful job environment and feeling burnout, I decided to pick back up on my Portuguese through Busuu and Italki, and my Brazilian tutor and I message each other almost on a daily basis even though we're thousands of miles apart. It's amazing how language learning can be so therapeutic and at the same time open our minds to different worlds :)

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks so much for your comment, Mounika! I'm so glad this came at the right time. Congratulations on taking that huge step to quit that stressful job and getting away from that burnout situation, that's so courageous 💪🏼 That's so cool how you and your Brazilian tutor message almost daily like that. I've experienced that a lot in my life and it's amazing how close you can become with someone thousands of miles away like that :) I truly hope that you'll continue building this positive momentum with languages and see more and more benefits in all areas of life!

[@alobo_78]

oh it is really good to know how important is language learning for you and your health.. I live and love languages .... ! big hug!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Languages are a wonderful way to live and love 😄❤️ Gracias Annie! Un abrazo a ti!

[@alobo_78]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms of course ...! 😊 have a wonderful day!

[@miazborovancikova7430]

Absolutely true!! Languages always saved the day, no matter what happend ❤

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Annie! 😊 I'm so glad that you have your English, German, and Spanish to save the day whenever you need them ❤️ Another aspect that feels like friendship to me is that the longer I learn a language and the more deeply I learn and understand it, the *more* comforting it becomes and the closer I feel to it and the people who speak it. I think that's very special

[@eveh5340]

Great video, Robin. Studying a language is how I practise “mindfulness”. It is a wonderful tool.

[@christophiluslovingchristb5441]

Studies in 'brain plasticity' reveal studing languages, working several areas of the brain, causes the increase of many new synaptic connections. This process may also create new neural pathways which can help in emotional development. Also, learing language with culture can increase our feelings of connectedness with people around the world past & present.

[@learningfrench101]

Love that you shared this with us Robin! Language learning for me has helped me to feel more connected to other people and that is encouraging in itself ☺️

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

I’m so glad that language learning has had this impact on you, @Learning French! ☺️ I totally agree that this is encouraging in itself! One thing that I’m really enjoying working on this year is finally actually allowing my languages to help me connect with others and have more shared experiences, even if those are all virtual at the moment - since these past years I’ve just been learning languages almost entirely by myself and hardly speaking them with others. It feels great and I can’t wait to push myself to get out there more as things hopefully get more and more back to normal 🥰

[@learningfrench101]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms I love your reply, and I cannot wait to see the bridges that you'll cross. We're all in this together :)

[@Enoc63]

Thanks brother for this. You are definitely right about having language learning as an aid when you feel like you're going nowhere in life.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks Abraham! I know a lot of people feel lost and so I always feel so grateful to have language learning as that guide.

[@Enoc63]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms For sure 🙏. Hope you have good one brother!

[@eundongpark1672]

you're really great to listen to. I'm writing this and trying to pin point exactly why, what it is that makes me feel good watching your videos. The accent, the worldview (not parochial, people focused), sincere and not pretentious, the right balance of self revelation without being uncomfortably TMI. Of course, the language focus is also extremely satisfying (my main interest). As someone extremely famous in Korea once said, "you good; keep going".

[@masonmmjmu]

Hi Robin, thanks for creating such relatable content! I've been learning German for what seems like years at this point. Its been difficult motivation wise and finding ways to converse with others and take it more seriously so that I can get to the next level. I've felt so lost during this pandemic and questioning constantly "what am I doing, where do I want my career to go, xyz?!" And I've recently found diving into language learning a life saver. It helps focus the constant stream of thoughts and worries. Thanks for this!

[@Howtogetfluent]

Nice vid, Robin. BetterHelp sounds a bit like italki for mental health! :)) Seriously, though, it sound a great idea. I too have always thought that the barriers to therapy seem high and that it could nevertheless benefit so many of us.

[@genkisudo5999]

As a native Afghan i already spoke fluently 5 languages by age 5 - Pashto, dari, Farsi, English and Urdu. By age 11 I taught myself Chinese and Japanese using online resources. At 16 I moved to Germany where I learnt German and polish. I’m now learning Swedish, Czech and Cantonese. While training BJJ (I’m a black belt 3 Dan ) I also taught myself Portuguese for fun… But yes I can relate to what you are saying - it is a painful process sometimes! But nevertheless so good for mental health. Love the channel btw.

[@AceOfSpades_211]

This is even more so true with how crazy this last year was!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Absolutely!

[@hannahnic1473]

Your videos are so special, thanks so much

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

I’m so glad you think so, Hannah! Thank *you* ☺️🙏🏼✨

[@alexandreguilhermemaestro]

As usual, very nice thoughts Robin! All the best ☺️

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you, Alexandre! All the best to you as well ☺️

[@MDobri-sy1ce]

Re-connecting with my Swedish friend definitely helped a bit in motivating me too learn Swedish again. Not just because of him but I have been considering it for a while after taking a long hiatus from Swedish.

[@beauty2333]

I often struggle with anxiety and OCD which has definitely been a challenge to deal with during this COVID 19 pandemic. however one way i found reallyh helped me to get better and cope better was to get back into studying languages which i hadnt done for a while before lockdown. Not only did i improve my language learning skills but i also found a strategy to cope when stress enters my life.

[@stevenrodriguez6900]

Whenever I find myself worried or anxious i will watch my favorite french movies, comedy skits, or series

[@nicolemeyer5398]

Love you, man! You are so passionate, open and genuine! And a great resource for my German lessons (I teach). Thank you!

[@Backpacknbeyond]

Completely agree with you take on this topic in this video

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

I’m really glad to read that, Greg!

[@TomasSchertel]

Nice to see your "original" hair back 😉

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Haha thank you Tomas! I hope you like it 😄

[@irish203]

I love your KZbin Channel waiting for new videos ! from Brazil . gosto muito de seu canal aguardando novos vídeos de Brasil !

[@saulcontreras4686]

Great video Robin, is 100% true in my own experience, love you content!

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you Saúl! I’m so glad this has been your experience, too! ☺️

[@dmanakell]

Robin, Latinamerican Christmas is at a whole new level. Find latinamerican friends for the next holidays

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

It does seem like Latin American christmases are pretty amazing! 😄 Over Christmas I was actually watching a lot of documentary episodes about different Latin American cities!

[@dmanakell]

@@RobinMacPhersonFilms I don't think you'll have an issue finding some latin friends there. Give it a go

[@christophiluslovingchristb5441]

I love your videos.

[@brendanbeirne2]

Hi Robin, you must read Adam Phillips' book Missing Out. He's a British psychoanalyst who combines his experience as a clinician with a pretty deep understanding of literature. I think you'd dig it.

[@jacksonhitt6005]

I can't relate to your happiness. What should I do if I feel language learning is not productive but keep facing difficulties and struggles? I feel bad and lose my confidence.

[@lungjie1]

❤Cool.

[@irenemcnamara9699]

You are a people centric person. So much of your life is centered around other people. I believe this makes you an extrovert.

[@rafalkaminski6389]

If you can deal with life in your native language, another language makes you look on reality from a different perspective and meet people WHO appreciate you. 😅

[@kikithedisneyfan5607]

Hi Robin! I like to learn languages but I have this thing where I would pick a language and than I would stop learning it after getting so far in it and I don’t know if it’s because I’m not passionate about the language I’m learning or what. Have you ever felt this way? Like you start a language and than don’t finish it? Or do I have to find a language I am very passionate about? :) thank you so much for reading my message. Have a good day. :)

[@agathoklesmartinios8414]

Language learning for me has also been something that also helped me get through depressive episodes, sometimes being the only thing that kept me going. Something that I felt was useful and constructive, when I'd spend days or weeks doing nothing of any substance, just laying about and watching KZbin pretty much non-stop, and feeling like crap for it. That said, there's also been times when I felt burnt out and didn't work on my languages for extended periods of time. So it hasn't always helped me.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thanks for sharing this, Agathokles! It's great to read that language learning has been so pivotal and helpful for you at some of your worst moments when you really needed it. Thanks for also sharing the other side of the coin, too 😊 Hopefully now that you've had these two different experiences, you can maximise the ways language learning has helped you and been a positive force in your life, while now recognising those signs of burnout and avoiding those negative sides as best you can 😊

[@michaelkraft218]

When you said that, even when you were living other places, you dealt with financial and survival issues, I knew you were for real. How much of our mental health is drained by struggling to survive financially, let alone emotionally? I study languages to divert neuron in my brain from stuck pathways, which in itself is therapeutic.

[@SilentPolyglot]

Great video! Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Robin! ❤️

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

You’re very welcome @Silent Polyglot! I’m so glad you liked it 😊❤️

[@kelianglin2569]

Hey, Robin. It's Lincoln here. I feel great that I click into your video and listen to such a wholehearted talk. To be honest, I can truly identify with you. See, I'm learning English now, but I am not that good and there is still a lot of room for improvement. Besides, I am learning Japanese at the same time, but only at the beginner level. Your video really gives me motivation and I believe that I could reach my goals for both languages, I am looking forward to seeing you leave a comment for me. It would be very appreciated. Thanks and wish you a happy day. XD

[@uplate6674]

I’m living in a group home, living with severe clinical depression, and studying Italian because I hope to go to Italy some day. Studying Italian gives me hope.

[@astranger3377]

Ironically learning English is causing me headaches after two almost three years I think I still haven't developed that accuracy in English I constantly forget words, And when I want to express something with those words I can't Beacause I forgot em although I know I know em, It's just frustrating to the point where I'm just not wanting to learn English, So many grammar rules, Inconsistencies in the language that I hate, English is definitely not my favorite language or language learning in general, I can have a conversation but not really a level where I can talk about super complex topics cause I just don't have the vocabulary

[@selenadubaitrainer]

and you're not missing out I wanna say, things are how they meant to be and you had your valuable experiences!

[@MDobri-sy1ce]

Part of me feels, I wish I could have maintained language through out my college years but I was stretched to my limits. Now, in my early 30’s I am planning on spending time on more languages and a bit less on structured academics.

[@ryanmaneo]

Couldn't agree more.

[@RobinMacPhersonFilms]

Thank you Ryan!