Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Mental Health and Chronic Disease If you ever lived or worked with a person suffering from a chronic disease, you probably witnessed a lot of frustration, lack of motiva- tion, pain, and even depression. Any chron- ic disease means that that person more than likely will have to live with all the symptoms and limitations for their whole life. Yes, medi- cal science makes progress every year and new treatments are developed that may change the above prognosis, but, in most cases, it will mean controlling the disease and not curing it. Unfortunately for us, our genetic disposi- tions and random mutations of codes cannot prevent us from developing some conditions. The risk factor can change but the risk will still exist. If you speak with a person suffering from chronic arthritis or eczema, you clearly can sense how much the disease has changed their mental status. How it affected their sleep, work, willingness to interact with others, and, in some cases, even motivation to interact with others. I still see psoriasis patients who cover their skin with clothes even during a very hot summer. And they avoid contact with others. What many patients with chronic problems need is actually more person-to-person con- tact. They need empathy from another per- son and they need acceptance. There is a lot of priceless value in human contact that can identify another person's worries, fears, and frustrations. Sometimes it can be a touch to show that psoriasis lesions are not really that ugly or contagious, and other times, it can be sharing simple exercises that can relieve some pain. Human contact and interaction with others promoting empathy and understand ing do not have a price tag and will never be replaced by Al-produced imaginary figures or social media 'friends'. There are many studies showing clearly that remote working, lack of personal interactions, and elimination of in-person social life led to increased mental problems and depression. It might have started during COVID, but it has not disappeared afterwards. Contrary, social media became a reason of 'anti-social' be- haviors and, in result, 1 in 6 Americans take anti-depressive medication. If you add some other factors associated with challenges of ev- eryday life, we can say we became society ad- dicted to computers, cell phones, social media, and drugs. Now, we are bombarded by massive influence of Al that may become yet another addiction. ma I am not against any of the progress in tech- nology and new 'toys. Contrary, as a medical researcher, I strongly believe in development of novel ideas and tools. But this is what they should be tools. Al will not cure your pain exactly the same way social media friends will not give you a hug. Yes, Al can help scientists in finding new ways of treatment, but only if they use it as a tool. This will be true with all other ways of utilizing this new concept. Al will not improve our mental health either. 1 am afraid it may even make it worse. Our mental health is very much associated with our brains. Like any other organ, if our brain is not used for critical thinking, emotions, empathy, joy, it may at some point 'forget' how to think critically, how to show empathy or joy. In oth- er words, at some point, we may become less human and more like machines, dependent on outside directions and 'oil changes. Of course, I am paraphrasing a lot and of course, I may exaggerate. But I have been practicing for well over twenty years and 1 have seen a lot of chronically sick patients whose mental health was deteriorating due to symptoms, but also due to loneliness and lack of what I call human touch. I am afraid that we are getting ourselves deeper and deeper into more chronic problems by replacing hu- mans with fake creations produced by tech- nology. Being pushed by developers of these new concepts, we forget to use them as tools and they become our way of life. And we allow them to control us. That is dangerous. Michael Bukhalo MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Mental Health and Chronic Disease If you ever lived or worked with a person suffering from a chronic disease , you probably witnessed a lot of frustration , lack of motiva- tion , pain , and even depression . Any chron- ic disease means that that person more than likely will have to live with all the symptoms and limitations for their whole life . Yes , medi- cal science makes progress every year and new treatments are developed that may change the above prognosis , but , in most cases , it will mean controlling the disease and not curing it . Unfortunately for us , our genetic disposi- tions and random mutations of codes cannot prevent us from developing some conditions . The risk factor can change but the risk will still exist . If you speak with a person suffering from chronic arthritis or eczema , you clearly can sense how much the disease has changed their mental status . How it affected their sleep , work , willingness to interact with others , and , in some cases , even motivation to interact with others . I still see psoriasis patients who cover their skin with clothes even during a very hot summer . And they avoid contact with others . What many patients with chronic problems need is actually more person - to - person con- tact . They need empathy from another per- son and they need acceptance . There is a lot of priceless value in human contact that can identify another person's worries , fears , and frustrations . Sometimes it can be a touch to show that psoriasis lesions are not really that ugly or contagious , and other times , it can be sharing simple exercises that can relieve some pain . Human contact and interaction with others promoting empathy and understand ing do not have a price tag and will never be replaced by Al - produced imaginary figures or social media ' friends ' . There are many studies showing clearly that remote working , lack of personal interactions , and elimination of in - person social life led to increased mental problems and depression . It might have started during COVID , but it has not disappeared afterwards . Contrary , social media became a reason of ' anti - social ' be- haviors and , in result , 1 in 6 Americans take anti - depressive medication . If you add some other factors associated with challenges of ev- eryday life , we can say we became society ad- dicted to computers , cell phones , social media , and drugs . Now , we are bombarded by massive influence of Al that may become yet another addiction . ma I am not against any of the progress in tech- nology and new ' toys . Contrary , as a medical researcher , I strongly believe in development of novel ideas and tools . But this is what they should be tools . Al will not cure your pain exactly the same way social media friends will not give you a hug . Yes , Al can help scientists in finding new ways of treatment , but only if they use it as a tool . This will be true with all other ways of utilizing this new concept . Al will not improve our mental health either . 1 am afraid it may even make it worse . Our mental health is very much associated with our brains . Like any other organ , if our brain is not used for critical thinking , emotions , empathy , joy , it may at some point ' forget ' how to think critically , how to show empathy or joy . In oth- er words , at some point , we may become less human and more like machines , dependent on outside directions and ' oil changes . Of course , I am paraphrasing a lot and of course , I may exaggerate . But I have been practicing for well over twenty years and 1 have seen a lot of chronically sick patients whose mental health was deteriorating due to symptoms , but also due to loneliness and lack of what I call human touch . I am afraid that we are getting ourselves deeper and deeper into more chronic problems by replacing hu- mans with fake creations produced by tech- nology . Being pushed by developers of these new concepts , we forget to use them as tools and they become our way of life . And we allow them to control us . That is dangerous . Michael Bukhalo MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net