Dealing with Social Anxiety, Loneliness, and Depression

Twin Cities, Minnesota
Given by Dustin Ellison
February 7, 2026

With the advent of chat boxes, example chatGPT, AI personas, etc., some have become so lonely and/or depressed that they have given up on human love and relationships for a charade. It was reported recently that a young woman even "married" an AI persona! According to a recent poll (in Japan), chat boxes ranked higher than best friends and mothers as confidantes. The trend is growing even in America. Today, the rates of social anxiety, depression, and loneliness are the highest on record. But chat boxes, online games and shows, practices of isolation with AI companions, and withdrawal from society just makes things worse. What can help overcome society anxiety, loneliness, and prevent depression?