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| source : racgp.org.au |
Let me ask you something:
When was the last time someone told you to join a choir, paint something, or go for a walk in the park… as a treatment plan?
Yeah, I didn’t think so.
But maybe they should have. Because there’s a powerful kind of “medicine” out there that doesn’t come in a pill bottle, and it’s quietly transforming how we think about health. It’s called social prescribing, and the more I’ve learned about it, the more I’m convinced this is what a lot of us have been missing.
Especially now, when more people are eating dinner alone, working remotely, and binge-watching Netflix instead of making plans. Loneliness has become so common, it’s practically a lifestyle.
But we’re not wired for this.
What Is Social Prescribing Anyway?
Social prescribing is exactly what it sounds like: doctors prescribing activities instead of meds, movement, nature walks, art, community service, and group belonging, as a way to heal.
And before you roll your eyes, yes, there’s legit science behind this.
Journalist Julia Hotz, in her book The Connection Cure, dives deep into how these “non-clinical” prescriptions can tackle everything from anxiety and chronic pain to depression and even dementia. It’s already taking off in the UK, and it’s starting to gain serious traction in the U.S.
This Isn’t About Replacing Your Medication
Let me be clear, this isn’t some anti-science “ditch your doctor” nonsense. If you need medication, take it.
But what if your healing could also come from joining a community garden, volunteering at a kids’ hospital, or learning how to dance again?
Hotz says we’re missing out if we don’t see health care as a whole-life experience. The goal isn’t to throw out the meds. It’s to add more options to the table, especially ones that reconnect you with your body, your purpose, and other human beings.
A Real-Life Example: Akeela’s Story
One story stuck with me. A woman named Akeela had to leave her caregiving job due to a back injury that turned into chronic pain. She tried everything, pills, surgeries, you name it.
But what really changed things?
Volunteering at a children’s health charity.
Suddenly, her pain didn’t consume her days. She found joy again, not because the pain disappeared, but because her focus shifted from suffering to serving.
That’s the power of meaning. That’s the power of people.
One Size Doesn’t Fit All, And That’s the Point
What works for you might not work for your neighbor. That’s why social prescribing is so personal.
Pain psychologist Dr. Rachel Zoffness asks her patients, “When’s the last time you forgot about your pain because you were so absorbed in something?”
Whether it’s knitting, skateboarding, drumming, or feeding stray cats, that thing could be your prescription.
And the best part? You can prescribe it to yourself.
Ask yourself:
What lit me up as a kid?
If I had two extra hours a day, how would I spend them?
When do I lose track of time?
That’s your medicine cabinet.
Loneliness Hurts (Literally)
Here’s something wild, loneliness increases your risk of early death more than obesity or heavy smoking. Seriously.
Studies show it’s the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. No wonder the U.S. Surgeon General is calling it a public health crisis.
Social prescriptions aren’t about pretending everything’s fine. They’re about connecting with something real.
Not “let’s hold hands and sing kumbaya,” but creating moments that pull us out of isolation and into meaningful togetherness.
Real Connection > Doomscrolling
Digital connection is convenient, sure. But is it nourishing?
Most of the time, scrolling through filtered lives on social media only deepens that feeling of being on the outside looking in.
Hotz puts it beautifully: True connection leaves you feeling more like yourself, not less.
It’s that friend who makes you laugh until your stomach hurts. The pottery class where you forget to check your phone. That hike where the conversation flows better than any therapy session.
Belonging Is a Health Essential, Not a Luxury
The longest-running happiness study in the world (Harvard’s, if you’re curious) found that the strength of your relationships is the #1 predictor of how long and well you live.
That’s not woo-woo. That’s data.
Humans evolved in tribes, not cubicles. And while solitude can be refreshing, chronic disconnection chips away at our physical and mental health, often in ways we don’t even notice.
When We Don’t Belong, We Break, Sometimes Publicly
Hotz makes a chilling observation: people who lack belonging are more vulnerable to extreme ideologies and harmful movements.
Why?
Because our brains register social pain like physical pain. When we don’t feel seen or included, we seek that feeling, anywhere we can find it.
Even in places that hurt others.
That’s why community spaces, art groups, walking clubs, volunteer projects, are more than “nice extras.” They’re protective structures.
The 5 Pillars of Social Prescribing
Here’s what Hotz calls the “pillars” of this prescription movement:
Movement – Even light exercise releases feel-good chemicals and boosts brain function.
Nature – Just 20 minutes outside can lower your cortisol and restore focus.
Art – Making, viewing, or even talking about art helps process emotions and reduces trauma symptoms.
Service – Helping others lights up reward centers in your brain and gives you a sense of purpose.
Belonging – This is the thread that ties it all together. We heal faster, cope better, and live longer when we’re connected.
Is This Actually Happening in the U.S.?
Yep. Slowly, but surely.
Nonprofits like Social Prescribing USA are popping up. Doctors across different states are trying pilot programs. And individuals, like you and me, are starting to take the initiative by self-prescribing local activities.
Bonus? It’s way cheaper than emergency room visits. And way more fun than sitting in a waiting room.
Final Thought: Maybe We Don’t Need More Pills, We Need More People
If you’ve been feeling off lately, low energy, unexplained anxiety, maybe just “blah”, try this:
Don’t just ask what’s wrong with me. Ask what’s missing.
Maybe it’s movement. Or purpose. Or connection.
Whatever it is, the prescription might be just outside your door.
So go on. Sign up for that class. Join the book club. Walk the dog with a neighbor.
The cure for what’s aching your soul might not be found in a pharmacy… but in a pottery studio, a park, or a local soup kitchen.
And best of all?
There are no side effects, just side hugs.