Author: simrannkaushall

How to Improve Concentration?

“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus”

– Alexander Graham Bell

Introduction

The definition of concentration is exclusive attention to one object. Concentration means focused attention and it is very important. It helps in studying, allows faster comprehension, improves memory, helps in focusing on a task, allows to ignore unwanted thoughts. It is also helpful in meditation. It is very common to be reading a paragraph when you realize you zoned out and then having to go back and read the whole paragraph just to be zoned out again and repeating the cycle. This happens because of a lack of focus or concentration. This article aims to discuss ways to improve concentration.

Train your brain

Results from a study show that spending 15 minutes a day for 5 days a week on training your brain has a huge impact on your power of concentration. You can train your brain by playing games such as sudoku, crossword puzzles, chess, jigsaw puzzle, scrambles, and memory games. These games can also help in developing short-term memory and will also teach you problem-solving skills. In kids, even colouring improves concentration.

Get your game on

Some new research shows that playing video games can also help in boosting concentration. It says that playing video games for an hour can help in improving visual selective attention (VSA), which is the ability to focus on some tasks while ignoring distractions. Note that this research has been done on a very small level so it is not conclusive yet.

Improve sleep

Sleep is a very important part of our day as getting enough of it helps in a lot of areas of our day. Sleep deprivation easily disrupts our concentration and other functions like memory and attention. Not getting enough sleep on a regular basis can result in affecting your mood and performance at tasks, it can also slow down your reflexes. With enough sleep, you have enough energy to focus on your task without getting sleepy.

Make time for exercise

A 2018 study shows that physical activity helps in improving concentration and attention. Regular exercise has many benefits like increased concentration. In older adults, it shows that moderate physical activity for a year can help in stopping or reversing memory loss. Any type of exercise can work, the point is to get your heart rate up, it can be a walk for half an hour, a morning jog, walk to whatever place you have to go to or bike.

Spend time in nature

Getting outside in nature for even 15 to 20 minutes will help in boosting your concentration. Research from 2014 found evidence which says that including plants in office spaces has helped employees with their productivity, adding to that, it also increases the air quality. It can be any kind of exposure to nature, going for a walk in the park, or even just sitting in your backyard.

Listen to music

According to research, playing music, nature sounds, or even white noise to cover up background noise can help in improving concentration and other brain functions.

Conclusion

Having the power to focus and concentrate will make a huge change in your life. It lets you be more productive as you will be able to focus on your tasks without distractions, and when there are no distractions, things get done faster. Once you start concentrating, you will realize how much time you were wasting normally.

References

How to Increase Productivity? (For Students)

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”

– Stephen Covey

Introduction

Productivity isn’t only for working people, it is equally if not more important for students. As a student you are learning a lot of new things at the same time, it might even become overwhelming. You can be in school or college, you will still need productivity and organization. It is important to stay on track, achieve your goals, be it short-term or long-term. Life as a student can be very distracting, there are too many things begging for attention, such as sports, friends, a social life, partying. At the same time, you are absorbing a lot of new information from everywhere, and to be on top of all your work will help in not feeling overwhelmed. This article aims to discuss how to increase productivity as a student.

Make a To-Do List

Now, this might sound a little stupid but To-Do Lists help a lot, speaking from personal experience. It will be ideal to make the list before sleeping, that way you will not have to waste some time of the day in making the list, and it will also help you in understanding how much you need to get done and you will wake up prepared for it. The very basic way is to just list down the tasks you have for the day but if you want to go a level up, you can schedule your tasks by the hour, that is make a timetable for the day which will include your daily activities as well. For Example:

7:30 – Wake up

8:00 – Attend Family Law Class

10:40 – Have breakfast

11:15 – Do research for Memo

1:00 – Have lunch

Understand Your Learning Style

Everyone has a different style of learning:

Visual learning – learning things by looking at things like graphs, charts, and infographics. Learning things by looking at them.

Kinesthetic learning – learning things through a practical approach like experiments.

Auditory learning – learning things by hearing them said aloud.

Reading and Writing Learner – learning things by writing them and then revising from them.

Once you figure out your learning style, you should try to follow it as that is the best-suited one for you and will help you in understanding better and quicker.

Take Breaks

Studies show that your productivity stays intact when you take short breaks after studying for some time. This gives your brain time to stay focused and motivated. If you keep pushing your brain beyond its capability, you are creating stress and you start getting tired.

Reduce Social Media time

It is a well-known fact that social media is the biggest distraction for everyone. Asking to quit also may sound absurd but all of it depends on your self-control. Personally, I am good at staying away from it when needed so I have never had to quit it temporarily, but if you know you do not have good self-control, you should try to quit it for some time. If that sounds like too much to you, you can try to set time slots when you get to check social media and keep it away when doing a task. Remember that developing self-control is very important.

Reward Yourself

It is important to understand that the practice of rewarding yourself will only work if you have a good sense of self-control. Once you achieve your goal, you can reward yourself with little things like watching a movie, an episode of your favourite series or going out with your friend. This way you have something to look forward to after finishing your work.

Conclusion

Productivity is best accompanied by time management, they both go hand-in-hand. You can only become more productive if you have learnt to manage your time properly. These tips should help with increasing productivity but you should take efforts to increase your self-control as it is a huge part of everything in our life.

References

World Hepatitis Day 2021

Introduction

Every year on July 28th, World Hepatitis Day is observed. The goal is to raise awareness about viral hepatitis. Hepatitis is a medical condition in which the liver is in an inflammatory condition. The theme for this year is “Hepatitis Can’t Wait”, magnifying the urgency of putting efforts to eliminate hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030.

History

July 28th was chosen as the date for World Hepatitis Day because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize-winning scientist Dr. Baruch Blumberg, the scientist who discovered the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and also developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the same virus.

Dr. Baruch Samuel Blumberg was born on July 28, 1925, and died on April 5, 2011. He was an American physician, geneticist, and co-recipient of the 1976 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Daniel Carleton Gajdusek. He was president of the American Philosophical Society from 2005 to his death. He served as a U.S. Navy deck officer during World War 2. He received his MD in 1951 from Columbia University and his D. Phil in 1957 from the University of Oxford. While studying yellow jaundice in 1964, he discovered a surface antigen for hepatitis B in the blood of an Australian aborigine, which is the reason it was initially called “Australian antigen”.

About Hepatitis

It is referred to as an inflammatory condition of the liver. It is usually caused by a viral infection but it can also be caused by other things. It can include autoimmune hepatitis and also hepatitis which can occur because of medication, drugs, toxins, and alcohol. There are five types of hepatitis based on different viruses. 

Hepatitis A is caused by an infection with hepatitis A virus (HAV), this is mostly transmitted by consuming food or water which is contaminated by feces from a person infected by HAV. 

Hepatitis B is transmitted through contact with infectious body fluids like blood, vaginal secretions, or semen. It can be transmitted by injection drug use, having sex with an infected partner, or sharing razors with an infected person. 

Hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It can also be transmitted through direct contact with infected body fluids, especially through used injections and sexual contact. 

Hepatitis D is also known as delta hepatitis, it causes a serious liver disease by hepatitis D virus (HDV). It is caused by coming in direct contact with infected blood, it is rare as it only occurs with hepatitis B because it cannot multiply without the presence of hepatitis B. 

Hepatitis E is waterborne and is caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV), it can usually be found in areas with poor sanitation and from ingesting fecal matter that has contaminated the water supply. 

Facts and Figures

  • 1,100,000 deaths per year are caused by Hepatitis B and C.
  • 9,400,000 people are receiving treatment for chronic HCV.
  • 10% of people with chronic HBV are diagnosed and 22% of those receive treatment.
  • 42% of children have access to the birth dose of HBV vaccine.
  • According to WHO, 325 million people around the world have HBV or HCV.
  • Hepatitis isn’t just an STD, there are other ways of getting it as well.

Conclusion

With the figures of infection and death around the world, it is clear that we can’t just sit and wait around for them to decrease. It is important to make people aware of it, teach them the way to avoid it, and reach a stage where the vaccine can be provided to everyone. As common citizens, we can’t help in the production and reach of the vaccine but we can help in raising awareness and taking steps towards sanitation.

References

World Nature Conservation Day 2021

“Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.”

– Jane Goodall

Introduction

Every year July 28th is celebrated as World Nature Conservation Day. This is to raise awareness to protect the planet we live on, our Mother Earth. The meaning of conservation is carefully using valuable natural substances that exist in limited amounts to make certain that they will be available for as long a time as possible. The practice of not using resources carefully has also led to the extinction of many species. Conservation will help in the growth of biological, economic, cultural, and recreational values. Non-conservation for so many years has also resulted in Climate change which we know is affecting the planet in many negative ways.

Significance

It is important to recognize that we need nature for our survival, if we let that go, it will disturb the environment which will then disturb the climate harming the harvests and the well-being of all humans. Not just that, we also need nature for all the non-renewable resources we keep using for our industries. Celebration of this day recognizes the importance of a healthy environment which is the foundation of a stable and productive society, it ensures the well-being of present and future generations. The aim of this day is to introspect on how we Homo sapiens are exploiting nature and the effects we are facing because of it, such as global warming, natural disaster, increased temperature, and various diseases. 

Theme for this year

The theme for this year’s World Nature Conservation Day is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet”. This theme highlights the importance of co-existing with nature.

Forests are often underestimated and looked upon as just a source of wood, but it is important to know their importance. We greatly depend on forests for our survival, be it the air we breathe or the wood we use. Forests provide habitat for animals and also a livelihood for humans, it also offers watershed protection. Forests help in preventing soil erosion and help in the mitigation of climate change. Over 2 billion people rely on forests for shelter, livelihoods, water, food, and fuel security. Forests are home to over 80% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and 60 million indigenous people. Forests provide jobs for more than 13 million people across the world. They are the second-largest storehouses of carbon which is very important to solve the issue of global warming and to reach the goals described in the Paris Agreement.

Things to do to Conserve Nature

Cut Down on plastic use – Although the use of plastic is convenient for us, it is non-biodegradable and leaves its trace for a very long time, it not only stays in the environment but also impacts other species, like choking animals and birds because of plastic.

Save Electricity – Electricity is produced by using non-renewable resources. If we control how much electricity we use, and don’t waste it, less non-renewable resources will be used. The creation of electricity produces extra carbon waste which increases global warming. 

Save Water – Wasting water is resulting in decreasing levels of drinking water. Not only that but it also creates a lot of energy to treat, pump, and heat water. We should use water judiciously. 

Recycle-Reuse – Following the practice of recycling and reusing will help in reducing the amount of waste we create.

Conclusion

We have learnt about the importance of nature and its conservation above. It is high time to realize the importance of following this practice as we are in deep waters already. This summer the world has experienced nature’s wrath all across, floods in China and Europe, high temperatures in Canada, the US, and the UK. The last few years have seen a rise in forest fires and if this isn’t warning enough of the damage we have caused, then we’re just waiting for a big disaster to hit us.

References

How to Increase Productivity? (For Work)

“Focus on being productive instead of busy.”

– Tim Ferris

Introduction

The definition of productivity is the effectiveness of productive effort or the rate at which a person, company, or country does useful work. In these times every single person has a lot of work on their plate, be it work from the office, school, college, or work related to the house, some extra project you might be working on, or be it just your mental health. To finish the numerous tasks, we need to be productive to finish these effectively and still be left with some time to relax and hang back from the rush of daily life. So we can say that productivity is about getting the required result in less time and effort. Increased productivity is directly related to improved time management. This article aims to list ways to increase productivity for work.

Plan Ahead

The practice of approaching work at random is one of the hindrances to productivity. When you attack work at random, you are not sure about how much more is left and by when you will be able to get to it. To deal with this, you must plan ahead, it can be daily, weekly or monthly planning. It puts you in control of how much work you have and till when you can complete it. Planning offers you clarity.

Set Realistic Goals

You should set goals in such a manner that you have set milestones that help you in knowing your destination. The best way to set goals is to follow SMART.
S – specific, significant, stretching
M – measurable, meaningful, motivational
A – agreed upon, attainable, achievable, acceptable, action-oriented
R – realistic, relevant, reasonable, rewarding, results-oriented
T – time-based, timely, tangible, trackable.

Track and Limit

If you implement a tracking system through which you monitor how much time you take to finish one task, you will be able to understand if you are using your time effectively or not, and if not, then where are you wasting it. Every person has a different productive golden hour. By tracking your day, you will be able to understand when your golden hour is and you can schedule your work accordingly.

Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Being proactive helps you in avoiding the time you waste around and then rush to react in time. When you are reactive, you let others call the shot and give you the work to be done but when you are proactive, you are a few steps ahead of others and you get to call the shots.

Minimize Distractions

Most of our time gets wasted on the number of distractions that put us off our work path. Everyone has become addicted to being online and that is one of the major distractions. It is important to work smarter and set boundaries such as setting work hours during which time you will not be available to others, silencing notifications, setting time slots to check social media and emails, and not doing it during the work hour.

Get Enough Sleep

It is a known fact that not getting enough sleep has negative effects on our performance in all aspects of life but work gets affected the most. This happens because when you are working, you need logical reasoning which is done by your prefrontal cortex which gets impacted by the lack of sleep. Therefore, it is important to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep a night.

Conclusion

Once you understand the importance of productivity, you will learn that it will become a huge part of your whole life, not only when it comes to your work life but also your personal life, as when you are on top of all your work is only when you can give enough time to your personal life as well.

References

The Missile Man

Introduction

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was famously known as the “Missile Man” of India. He was also known for his humility. All the citizens of India are remembering him on his death anniversary on July 27th, when in 2015 he passed away because of a heart attack he suffered in Shillong. He is known to be the people’s President because of his simplicity and humility. He was one of the few Presidents every citizen loved and was fond of. He was the only President of India who did not have a political connection, that is, came from a non-political background. He was the 11th President of India, from 2002 to 2007. This year, July 27th, 2021 is his 6th death anniversary.

About Him

His full name was Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. He was born on 15 October 1931. He was an Indian scientist and politician who played a major role in developing India’s missile and nuclear weapons programs. He was born into a Tamil Muslim family in the pilgrimage center of Rameswaram on Pamban Island, which was then in the Madras Presidency, which now is the State of Tamil Nadu. His father was a boat owner and an imam of their local mosque and his mother was a homemaker. He was the youngest of four brothers and one sister in his family. His ancestors were wealthy Marayakar traders and landowners but the family had lost all fortunes during the poverty-stricken time. Marayakar is a Muslim ethnic found in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka who are claimed to be descendants of Arab traders and local women. As a young boy, he sold newspapers to help his family in contributing income.

During his school years, he scored average grades but he was said to be a bright and hardworking student with a desire to learn. He spent a lot of his time studying, especially Mathematics. On completing his education, he went to Saint Joseph’s College, Tiruchirappalli, which was at that time affiliated with the University of Madras. He graduated from there in Physics in 1954. In 1955, he moved to Madras to study aerospace engineering from Madras Institute of Technology. Once while he was working on a senior project, the Dean was dissatisfied because of the lack of progress and he threatened Kalam to either finish the project in three days or get his scholarship revoked. To his surprise, Kalam met the deadline and impressed the Dean. His dream was to become a fighter pilot which he missed by one place.

Career as a Scientist

He had joined the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in 1958 as a senior scientific assistant. Later on, in 1969, he joined the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) where his responsibility was as the project director of the SLV-III, which is known as the first satellite launch vehicle.

He then rejoined DRDO in 1982 as the director. This is when he got the name of the “Missile Man” because of the implementation of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Program. He was then appointed as the senior scientific adviser to India’s defense minister in 1992. He also played an eminent role in the Pokhran-II tests in May 1998.

Awards

He won various awards:

  • Padma Bhushan – 1981
  • Padma Vibhushan – 1990
  • Bharat Ratna – 1997
  • Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration – 1997
  • Veer Savakar Award – 1998
  • SASTRA Ramanujan Prize – 2000
  • Von Braun Award – 2013

Conclusion

We should take a look at his inspiring quotes on this death anniversary and follow the great inspiration that he is to all of us. One of the most important one is “We are all born with a divine fire in us. Our efforts should be to give wings to this fire and fill the world with the glow of its goodness.”

References

History of the Olympic Games

Introduction

The Olympic Games are an international sports festival which is held every four years. The goal of these games is to cultivate human beings through sports and contribute to world peace. The Summer and Winter Games are held separately. The last Olympics was held in Brazil. After that, it was supposed to be held in 2020 but because of the pandemic, it got postponed to 2021 and is being held in Japan from 23rd July to 8th August 2021.

History

The Olympic games originated in ancient Greece which would make it as old as 3,000 years. From then it was revived in the late 19th century. The Games were held every four years in Olympia from the 8th century B.C. to the 4th century A.D. Olympia was located in the western Peloponnese peninsula, honouring the god Zeus. They used to be held from August 6 to September 19. It became such an important part of the culture that people start measuring time by the interval between the Olympics, this measurement of time is called the “Olympiad”. These games were an intrinsic part of a religious festival in honour of Zeus and the first recorded champion is known to be Coroebus of Elis, who was a cook. He won the sprint race in 776 BCE.

In 776 BCE, there was just one event, that of a footrace which was known as “stade”. This very word is the origin of the modern English word “stadium”. Other competitions were added over the decades. Wrestling and pentathlon were introduced in 708 BCE, boxing was introduced in 688 BCE.

In ancient Olympics, all events were held on one day, from that they later shifted to covering all events in four days. It is also said that the participants followed the practice of participating in the nude. This practice has been tried to explain and the top explanations are that nudity bespoke a rite of passage, nudity was a holdover from the days of hunting and gathering, the Greeks believed that nudity had a special power to ward off any harm, public nudity used to be a costume of the upper class and to be nude in public without erection showed a high level of self-control.

Women in Olympic Games

There were no women participants in the ancient Olympics, although some names of women can be seen on the official list of Olympics victors as the owners of the stables for the chariot entries.

Demise of Olympics

In the middle of the 2nd century BCE, Greece had lost its independence to Rome. The Romans did not think kindly of athletics. They thought that stripping naked and competing in public was a degrading act.

Modern Olympic Movement

The architect of the modern Games was Pierre, baron de Coubertin who was born in Paris. In 1890, he traveled to England where he met Dr. William Penny Brookes who had been trying to revive the ancient Olympic Games for decades. He got the idea from a series of modern Greek Olympiads held in Athens since 1859. Brookes first attempt at British Olympiad in 1866 was successful but the subsequent attempts were unsuccessful. In the 1880s Brookes started arguing to begin an international Olympics in Athens. But Coubertin stole Brookes’ idea and proposed the same in 1892 at a meeting of the Union des Sports Athletiques in Paris. Coubertin faced a lot of problems in the establishment of this, like refusal by the Greek Prime Minister but when a new Prime Minister took place, Coubertin and his colleague were able to convince him and the Games were held in the first week of April 1896.

Conclusion

Coubertin said the spirit of the Olympic Games is “The elevation of the mind and soul, overcoming differences between nationalities and cultures, embracing friendship, a sense of solidarity, and fair play; ultimately leading to the contribution towards world peace and betterment of the world.”

References

Kargil Vijay Diwas 2021

Introduction

Kargil Vijay Diwas is celebrated every year on July 26th to remember the sacrifice of the Indian soldiers during the Kargil war of 1999 with Pakistan. The brave-hearted men of the Indian army had aided the Indian air force in defeating Pakistan on this very day 22 years ago.

Kargil War

The war was fought between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 in the district of Kargil which is in Kashmir, along the Line of Control (LOC). It is also known as “Operation Vijay”. India launched “Operation Vijay” to clear the Pakistani infiltration in the Kargil sector. A huge part of this war was the Indian Air Force’s role in acting along with the Indian Army ground troops. Indian Air Force’s role was to flush out the regular and irregular troops of the Pakistan Army. This operation of flushing out the Pakistani troops was given the codename “Operation Safed Sagar” which means “White Sea”.

Cause of the War

This war was caused because the Pakistani troops infiltrated the Indian side of the Line of Control acting as Kashmiri militants. The Line of Control is the de facto border between India and Pakistan in Kashmir. In the starting stages of the war, Pakistan blamed Kashmiri militants for all the fighting but later they messed up and left some documents because of casualties which showed clear involvement of the Pakistani paramilitary forces. Adding to that, later a statement by the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, and the Chief of Army Staff, General Pervez Musharraf, confirmed the involvement of the Pakistani paramilitary which was being led by General Ashraf Rashid. With the help of Operation Vijay and Operation Safed Sagar, the Indian Army recaptured most of the area. Adding to that, Pakistan was facing international diplomatic opposition so they had to withdraw their forces as well.

This War is the most recent example of high-altitude warfare in mountainous terrain which for obvious reasons posed logistical challenges.

World’s Opinion

Pakistan was greatly criticized for instigating war. They claimed they did not start the war and that it was the Kashmiri militants but a lot of evidence contradicted their claim and nobody believed them, for one, the war was at heights where only trained soldiers could fight, and not some simple freedom fighters.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif had flown to the United Stated to ask the US President Bill Clinton for support, who showed his clear disapproval and asked him to withdraw his soldiers from the Indian territory.

The G8 nations at that time, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, and the United States supported India. Even the European Union opposed Pakistan’s violation of the LoC. China who is known as a long-time ally of Pakistan also suggested retreating and settling the issue peacefully. Even ASEAN supported India.

Gallantry Awards

Four Param Vir Chakras were awarded to – Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey, Captain Vikram Batra, and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar. And eleven Maha Vir Chakras were awarded.

Facts

  • The war was fought at a height of 8,780 feet. 
  • The soldiers had to fight at a temperature of minus 10 degrees Celsius. 
  • Operation Safed Sagar was the first time the Air Force conducted an operation at the height of 32,000 above sea level. 
  • The pilots and engineers of the Air Force were given just one week to train. 
  • As many as 527 Indian soldiers laid their lives and the Indian Army built a memorial wall with all the names of the soldiers who lost their lives. 

Conclusion

The victory of the success of Operation Vijay meant a lot to India and all the Indians. Till now, every year Indians remember July 26th as the day of victory and remember the sacrifice their fellow Indians paid for the safety of all.

References

National Parents’ Day 2021

“We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves.”

– Henry Ward Beecher

Introduction

National Parents’ Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of the month of July, which this year is on July 25th. Mother’s and Father’s Day have been celebrated from 1900s but National Parents’ Day was only established in 1994.

History

National Parents’ Day came in existence in 1994 when President Bill Clinton signed a Congressional resolution that approved National Parents’ Day by law. The aim of this day is to recognize, uplift and support the role of parents in bringing up their children. Fourth Sunday of July was decided as Mother’s Day is in May and Father’s Day is in June so it makes sense to recognize and support both together in the next month.

In United States of America, the holiday is celebrated with participation from citizens, educational institutions, federal and local governments, legislative bodies and organizations. Some activities and events are also planned for the same. There’s also a Parents’ Day Council which promotes the holiday by conducting ceremonies such as the Parent of the Year award.

Parenthood

Parenthood is said to be a difficult but a memorable job. Ask your parents about their experience as parents and you will hear a list of complaints about yourself but it will always end with a second list of good, happy and memorable times with you.

Myths about Parenthood

On this occasion, here is a list of myths about parenthood:

  1. You will spoil your baby if you pick them up whenever they cry

Truth – during the first six months of the baby’s life, it is important to develop trust and picking him up when they cry is a way of doing so. After the first six months is the time to pull back a bit to teach the baby that they can survive.

2. Sugar makes kids hyper

Truth – Sugar is not the culprit, any food that affects the blood-sugar level will produce the same response. The way to mitigate this is by fiber, when some sugary treats do not have enough fiber, it tends to make the kids hyper.

3. Strict parents raise well-behaved kids

Truth – it is fine to have a set limit but it has to be done in a sensitive way or else it will make a very rigid child or an incredibly rebellious one.

4. It is better to shield children from loss

Truth – completely avoiding and acting like the loss hasn’t happened might be preventing the kid form building resilience which they will no doubt need in the later stage of their life.

5. All kids are picky

Truth – no, they are not, plus if you keep accommodating their pickiness, you are influencing it.

6. Children should come first

Truth – if you have decided to raise a kid, you need to be there for them and provide them with all necessities but that does not mean you can let your mental health slip away as that will then negatively affect your child. Taking care of yourself at the same time teaches your child the importance of self-care and still loving others.

7. Parents shouldn’t fight in front of their children

Truth – it is good to avoid a full blown fight in front of the kids but if you can control your anger and have an open dialogue to solve the issue in front of your kid, it will show them how to deal with disagreements.

8. Parenting comes naturally

Truth – you only become a parent when your baby arrives, it is not like you have special experience and training. You are also growing and developing as a parent as time passes. Parenthood isn’t something you learn once and you know everything, you are always growing and learning as a parent.

Conclusion

It is important to note that not every parent is as good and providing as the most, some are abusive, if you face this, you don’t have to feel guilty about not respecting or worshipping them. And for other people, if anyone ever opens up to you about having abusive parents, you should not tell them to be grateful about having parents and to respect them.

Parents sacrifice their time and resources for their kids. Growing and taking care of a whole human is not an easy job, it is a continuous process and a tough one at that but it is as rewarding. For the to be parents, when you look at other parents, it might look like they’ve got it all figured out and that it is very scary but trust and believe in yourself. As kids, we should respect our parents for their efforts.

References

Psychological Disorders Part 10

Introduction

The Psychological Disorders Part 9 discussed Schizophrenia. It is a lifelong disorder but the intensity and the effect of it can be controlled with the help of planned treatment and various medicines prescribed by the psychologists. This article will discuss Personality Disorders.

Personality Disorders

Personality disorders involve a pattern of maladaptive thoughts, feelings and behaviours that cause serious detriment to various areas of life.

Antisocial Personality Disorder is also known as sociopathy. It is a mental disorder wherein a person continuously shows zero regard for what is right and wrong, in doing so the person also ignores the rights and feelings of other people. People with this disorder have a tendency of antagonizing, manipulating and treating others in a harsh manner. They also tend to show no guilt. The people with this disorder often end up violating the law and hence become criminals. Some of the symptoms are persistent lying, exploiting others, disregard for right and wrong, using wit to manipulate others for personal gain, being cynical, disrespecting others, arrogance, repeatedly violating the rights of others through dishonesty, criminal behaviour, being impulsive, lack of empathy, lack of remorse, aggression, violence, abusive relationships, dangerous behaviour, persistent irresponsibility, not considering negative consequences of their behaviour. Adults with this disorder usually start showing signs by the age of 15. This is a lifelong disorder.

Avoidant Personality Disorder (APD) is a mental disorder in which the person has a pattern of extreme shyness, they feel inadequate and are excessively sensitive to rejection. Symptoms of this personality disorder include fear of rejection, criticism, embarrassment, disapproval, intimate relationships, getting to know new people and fear of being ridiculed. People with this disorder might also have trouble believing someone likes them.

Borderline Personality Disorder is a mental disorder that impacts the way a person thinks and feels about themselves and others. It includes self-image issues and difficulty managing emotions. A person with this disorder will have an intense fear of abandonment or instability, which would make being alone difficult for them. This disorder usually begins by early adulthood. Some of the symptoms are intense fear of abandonment, pattern of unstable intense relationships, periods of stress-related paranoia, rapid changes in self-image, suicidal threats in response to fear of rejection, extreme mood swings, intense anger and an ongoing feeling of emptiness.

Dependent Personality Disorder involves being anxious about being left alone, that is, the inability to be alone. Some of the symptoms are behaving submissively, needing repeated reassurance, relying on others for making decisions, easily being hurt by disapproval, feeling nervous when alone, tendency to be naïve, fear of abandonment and fearing rejection.

Histrionic Personality Disorder involves people having a distorted image of themselves. They base their self-esteem on other’s approval. Some of the symptoms are uncomfortable in situations where they are not the center of attention, display of rapidly shifting emotions, interaction with others involving inappropriate seductive behaviour, consistently using physical attention to get others focus and showcasing exaggerated expression of emotions.

Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of importance, they need a lot of attention and admiration. They also have a lack of empathy. Some of the symptoms are having a sense of entitlement, expecting to be recognized as superior, exaggerating achievements and talents, belittling others, expecting special favours, arrogance, boastful and insisting on having the best of everything.

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder involves a person wanting extreme perfectionism, neatness and order. People with this disorder feel the need to impose their standards on others. Some of the symptoms are perfectionism to a point that it is difficult to finish tasks, rigid mannerisms, extreme attention to detail, overwhelming need to be punctual, fixation with lists, hoarding useless items, sense of righteousness and rigid adherence to ethical codes.

Paranoid Personality Disorder involves people being extremely suspicious of other people. Some of the symptoms are believing that people have hidden motives, trouble working with others, quickly becoming hostile, having trouble relaxing, socially isolated, defensive and doubting loyalty of others.

Schizoid Personality Disorder is when people avoid social activities and continuously shy away from interacting with others. They tend to have a limited range of emotional expression. Some of the symptoms are preferring being alone, not enjoying close relationships, feeling like can’t experience pleasure, appearing to lack motivation, feeling no desire for sexual relationships and may seem emotionally cold.

Schizotypal Personality Disorder is a disorder in which people are often described as odd and have very few close relationships. Some of the symptoms are being a loner, flat emotions, excessive social anxiety, belief in special powers, peculiar style of speech and dressing.

Conclusion

There are many kinds of personalities which brings many kinds of personality disorders as well. Personality is known to be fluid but the reason of these disorders includes brain chemistry and genetics because of which they remain permanent. These disorders are very harmful for the people themselves and their loved ones, which makes it important to consult a psychologist to get treatment and reduce the symptoms.

References

Note: this is the last part of the Psychological Disorders series.

Psychological Disorders Part 9

Introduction

The Psychological Disorders Part 8 discussed Neurocognitive and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders. Both types of disorders need consultation from psychologists to control, monitor, and limit the effects they have on daily life. This article will discuss Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia

This is a serious mental disorder in which people interpret reality in an abnormal way. People with this disorder require lifelong treatment. The DSM-5 says a person has schizophrenia if they show two or more of the following, each present for a significant portion of time during a 1-month period. At least one of the following must be delusions, hallucinations, or disorganized speech. The level of functioning in a major area such as work or self-care should be below the level achieved before the onset for a significant portion. And the signs of the disturbance must persist for at least 6 months. The symptoms of schizophrenia are:

  • Delusions – these are false beliefs that are not based on reality. For example, thinking you are famous, someone is harming you, a major catastrophe is about to take place.
  • Hallucinations – these involve seeing or hearing things that do not exist. For the person having them, it seems extremely real. The most common is hearing voices. For example, hearing someone whispering about a murder, or seeing aliens in the back alley.
  • Disorganized thinking – disorganized thinking and disorganized speech are linked. The person might start answering questions with things partially or completely unrelated. At times it is possible for them to make a sentence by mixing two or more words that do not make sense, this is known as word salad. For example, run desk making dinner sunglasses menu.
  • Abnormal motor behaviour – this can be in many ways such as childlike silliness, resistance to instructions, bizarre posture, and unpredictable agitation.
  • Catatonia – is a group of symptoms that includes a lack of movement and communication. For example, a person will sit silently in one position for very long stretches.
  • Negative symptoms – this includes lack of ability to function normally such as, a person neglecting personal hygiene, appear to be lacking emotions, the person may lose interest in daily activities.
  • Avolition – it is a lack of motivation to do activities that have an end goal such as paying bills.

The symptoms of schizophrenia in teenagers are similar to the ones in adults but they become difficult to recognize because of the similarity to a normal teenage behaviour, some of these symptoms are withdrawal from friends and family, trouble in sleeping, lack of motivation, a drop in performance at school, irritability and depressed mood. Although teenagers have a less chance of having delusions, they have a higher chance of visual hallucinations as compared to adults getting hearing hallucinations.

People with this disorder often have suicidal thoughts and behaviours. The cause of this disorder is not known but it is believed by the researchers that it is a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental factors. Some naturally occurring neurotransmitters known as dopamine and glutamate might be playing a role. Neuroimaging studies have learnt that there is a difference in the brain structure and central nervous system of the people with schizophrenia.

Conclusion

Schizophrenia is a lifelong disorder but the effect and symptoms can be managed with proper guidance and medication. Following the treatment plan is important to reduce these symptoms.

References

Note: this is just the Part 9 of the Psychological Disorders series.

Psychological Disorders Part 8

Introduction

In Psychological Disorders Part 7, Depressive and Substance-Related disorders were discussed. They are both very serious disorders that need immediate help. Both can be dealt with by consulting a psychologist and taking the proper medication needed. This article will discuss Neurocognitive and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders.

Neurocognitive Disorders

These disorders are accompanied by deficits in cognitive functioning. These are different from the disorders of impaired cognition present at birth.

Delirium is a serious disorder concerning disturbance in mental abilities that results in confused thinking and reduced awareness of the surrounding environment. Delirium is usually very rapid; it starts within hours or a few days. It usually arises because of contributing factors such as a chronic illness, changes in metabolic balance, medication, infection, surgery, or intoxication. It is important to note that delirium and dementia look very similar but are different. Symptoms for reduced awareness of the environment are the inability to stay focused or continuously switching topics, getting easily distracted by useless things, getting stuck on one idea, and being withdrawn. Symptoms for poor thinking skills are disorientation, poor memory, difficulty in speaking or recalling words, trouble understanding speech, rambling, and difficulty in reading or writing. Some of the behavioural changes are hallucinations, calling out or moaning, lethargy, disturbed sleep habits, agitation, being withdrawn, and reversal of the night-day cycle. Some of the emotional disturbances experienced are depression, euphoria, apathy, anxiety, paranoia, anger, unpredictable moods, and personality changes.

Neurocognitive Disorders used to be known as Organic brain syndrome. It is a group of conditions that leads to impaired mental function. These disorders usually occur in older people but that does not mean they cannot affect young adults. It includes problems with memory, changes in behaviour, trouble performing daily activities, and difficulty understanding language. These symptoms may be caused because of a neurodegenerative condition like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Neurodegenerative diseases result in the brain and nerves deteriorating over time which then causes loss of neurological function. Neurocognitive disorders can be a result of brain trauma or substance abuse. Symptoms for this are memory loss, confusion, anxiety, headaches, inability to focus, short-term memory loss, trouble performing normal tasks, changes in vision, and difficulty in walking and balancing. Some of the neurodegenerative diseases that cause this disorder are Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, prion disease, dementia, and multiple sclerosis.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

This is a category of psychiatric condition that includes obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), body-dysmorphic disorder, hoarding disorder, trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder), excoriation disorder (skin picking), substance-induced OCD, and OCD because of a medical condition.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a pattern of unwanted fear (obsessions) which leads to doing repetitive behaviours (compulsions). This starts interfering in the daily activities. When a person tries to ignore the obsessions, the anxiety keeps increasing hence making the urge to do the compulsions stronger, and this is how the cycle of OCD is created. Obsessions usually have a theme such as fear of contamination, having difficulty tolerating uncertainty, needing things to be symmetrical, having horrific thoughts about losing control, and unwanted thoughts on religion or sexual subjects. Symptoms of obsession are fear of touching people because of contamination, doubts whether you have locked the door or turned off the stove, images of driving into a crowd of people, unpleasant sexual images, excessive stress when objects are not placed orderly, thoughts about acting inappropriately in public and avoiding situations that might trigger obsessions. Symptoms of compulsion are washing hands till the skin becomes raw, checking doors repeatedly, checking the stove repeatedly, counting in a pattern, silently repeating a word or phrase, and arranging things in a particular order.

Conclusion

Neurocognitive disorders remain chronic but they can be controlled and monitored by medication and therapy. There is no exact way to prevent OCD but it can be treated by consulting a psychologist and learning how to deal with the fears that lead to the compulsions.

References

Note: this is just Part 8 of the Psychological Disorders series.

Psychological Disorders Part 7

Introduction

In Psychological Disorders Part 6, Disruptive Disorders were discussed. They are rare and chronic but can be controlled with the help of medication and therapy, so if you think you have any, you should consult a psychologist. This article will discuss Depressive and Substance-Related Disorders.

Depressive Disorders

Depression is a mood disorder that involves a persistent feeling of sadness and a loss of interest. It is also called a major depressive disorder or clinical depression. This can cause trouble in doing daily activities. It is also important to remember that you cannot just snap out of it and it takes time but medication and therapy can help with it. Symptoms for depression are:

  • Feeling of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
  • Frustration and angry outbursts
  • Loss of interest in normal activities
  • Sleep disturbance like insomnia or hyposomnia
  • Reduced appetite or increased appetite
  • Lack of energy
  • Slowed thinking
  • Anxiety or restlessness
  • Unexplained physical problems like headache and backache
  • Trouble concentrating and remembering things
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Feeling worthless

Although there are different types of depressive disorders based on the duration and timing:

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder is a childhood condition in which the child has extreme anger and irritability.

Major depressive disorder is when the person feels a loss of interest in activities.

Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) is chronic depression.

Unspecified depressive disorder is when the case cannot be categorized into one particular category.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a type of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) wherein the person feels depression, anxiety, and irritability before a week or two of the menstruation date.

Substance depressive disorder is when the person experiences the symptoms of depression while using alcohol or any other such substance.

Depressive disorder due to medical condition is when the person is going through depression because of another medical condition.

The cause for this is firstly, biological, people with depression have physical changes in their brains, secondly, brain chemistry, difference in the functioning of neurotransmitters, thirdly, hormones, change in the level of hormones can also cause depression like after delivery which is known as postpartum, and lastly, inherited traits, you are more likely to have depression if someone in your family has or had it.

Substance-Related Disorders

These are the disorders that involve the use of alcohol and drugs. Examples of this disorder are:

Alcohol-related disorders involve consuming alcohol wherein the person has a problem controlling the alcohol consumption. Symptoms include being unable to limit alcohol consumption, wanting to cut down the consumption but being unable to, spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from the use of it, craving alcohol, failing to fulfill major obligations because of the consumption, continuing to drink knowing the problem it is causing, giving up on work and hobbies, developing a tolerance for alcohol resulting into consuming more, experiencing withdrawal symptoms like nausea and using alcohol in unsafe situations like driving.

Drug-related disorders involve the inability to control the use of legal or illegal drugs or medication which affect the person’s brain and behaviour. Symptoms are the same as alcohol-related disorders, the only difference is of the substance being used.

It is important to note that substance-related disorders negatively affect the health and immunity of the person.

Conclusion

Depressive and Substance-related disorders are very common and serious. The way to deal with both of them is to approach psychologists and doctors. It is important to note that these two disorders can often be related, meaning that a person starts abusing alcohol because of depression and a person suffering from depression because of alcohol-related disorder. Depression is a very serious disorder, please consult a psychologist immediately if you think you are suffering from it.

References

Note: this is just Part 7 of the Psychological Disorders series.

Psychological Disorders Part 6

Introduction

In Psychological Disorders Part 5, Sleep Disorders were discussed. It is extremely important to consult a psychologist if you think you have any sleep disorders. This article will discuss Disruptive Disorders. These are all chronic disorders.

Disruptive Disorders

These are also known as impulse-control disorders, these are the disorders when a person is unable to resist a destructive urge. That is, an inability to control emotions and behaviours which end up in harm to self or others.

Kleptomania

Kleptomania is the inability to resist the urge to steal items that are generally not needed and have very little value. It is a rare yet very serious disorder as it holds the potential of causing emotional pain to the person and their loved ones. Symptoms for this are the inability to resist the urge to steal things of no need, feeling increased anxiety which leads to theft, feeling gratification while stealing, feeling shame after the theft, and the recurrence of the urge to steal. People with this disorder don’t steal for their gain, but because of the urge. The cause of this can be low levels of serotonin, addictive disorder because of the release of dopamine while stealing, and an imbalance in the brain’s opioid system which regulates the urges.

Pyromania

Pyromania is an impulse control disorder in which a person is unable to resist starting fires. People with this disorder know that it is harmful but it tends to be the only way they can get rid of the anxiety they get from the urge. Symptoms for this are setting a fire on purpose more than once, feeling tense before starting a fire, being obsessed with fire, and feeling gratification when setting a fire. This is an extremely rare disorder.

Intermittent Explosive Disorder involves repeated and sudden episodes of aggressive and violent behaviour, it can also include impulsive angry verbal outbursts. These outbursts are very out of proportion with the situation. These can cause a lot of distress and negatively impact the relationships of the person suffering. Some of the symptoms before an aggressive episode are rage, irritability, increased energy, tingling, palpitations, chest tightness, racing thoughts, and tremors. Some symptoms in case of explosive verbal and behavioural outbursts are heated arguments, property damage, assaulting people or animals, temper tantrums, shouting, slapping, physical fights, and tirades. This disorder can begin in childhood after the age of 6 years. Its possible causes are said to be the firstly, environment; if a child is exposed to such behaviour at their house, they are likely to have the same, secondly, genetics, it can be passed down from parents and lastly, it may be caused because of a difference in the structure and chemistry of the brain.

Conduct Disorder

Conduct Disorder is a serious emotional and behavioural disorder that can occur in children and teenagers. A child with this disorder may show a pattern of violent behaviour with problems in following rules. Symptoms of this are aggressive behaviour like fighting and bullying, destructive behaviour like the destruction of property and vandalism, deceitful behaviour like lying and shoplifting, and violation of rules like running away and skipping school. Children with this disorder have low self-esteem, temper tantrums, and often abuse drugs and alcohol. It is important to note that teenagers usually have behaviour related problems but this disorder only exists if the behaviour is long-lasting.

ODD

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a disorder in which a child or teenager has a pattern of anger, arguing, irritability, and defiance towards authority figures. Symptoms for an angry and irritable mood are easily losing temper, being easily annoyed by others, and is often angry and resentful. Symptoms for argumentative and defiant behaviour are often arguing with the person in authority, actively defying the adults, deliberately annoying people, and blaming others for their mistakes. Symptoms for vindictiveness are being spiteful and showing spiteful behaviour at least twice in six months. Its causes are genetic and environmental, the type of supervision from the parents.

Conclusion

These are the impulse-control disorders that disrupt the daily life of the person with the disorder as well as their loved ones. Although these disorders are chronic and there aren’t any permanent solutions to them, they can be controlled and monitored with the help of some medications and therapy. If you have any of the above-mentioned disorders are ashamed to come forward and seek therapy, please understand that it is not your fault and it is okay to seek help to protect yourself and your loved ones.

References

Note: this is just Part 6 of the Psychological Disorders series.

Psychological Disorders Part 5

Introduction

In Psychological Disorders Part 4, Eating Disorders were discussed. It is very important to consult a psychologist if you are facing any of the eating disorders as they can be life-threatening. This article will discuss Sleep Disorders.

Sleep Disorders

These disorders involve interruptions in the sleeping pattern which leads to distress and affects the daytime functioning of the person.

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder in which the person has overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sudden attacks of sleep. People with this disorder find it difficult to stay awake for long periods and this can cause excessive disruptions in their daily routine. There are two types of narcolepsies, one that is accompanied by a sudden loss of muscle tone, called cataplexy, this is type 1 narcolepsy and type 2 is without cataplexy. The symptoms for this are excessive daytime sleepiness, decreased alertness, sudden loss of muscle tone which can cause slurred speech, sleep paralysis, changes in REM sleep, and hallucinations. This is a chronic disorder so there is no cure for it but it can be managed with medication and some changes in the lifestyle. The cause for this is unknown but it is observed that in type 1, people have low levels of the chemical hypocretin which is important for the regulation of wakefulness and REM sleep.

Insomnia Disorder is a disorder in which a person has trouble falling or staying asleep, it can be acute or chronic. There are two types of insomnia, primary and secondary. In the case of primary insomnia, the sleep problems are not related to any other health problem, whereas, in the case of secondary insomnia, the trouble in sleeping is because of another health condition. The causes for primary insomnia can be stress, noise, light, temperature, jet lag. Symptoms of insomnia are sleepiness during the day, grumpiness, problems with concentration and memory, and fatigue. You are more likely at risk of insomnia if you are a woman because of the hormonal shifts.

Hypersomnolence is when a person suffers from excessive sleepiness despite having slept enough. Symptoms for this are falling asleep several times during the day, taking naps to deal with the sleepiness but still not waking up refreshed, sleeping more than 9 hours but still not feeling rested, feeling confused when waking up, having difficulty waking up. This can cause problems at work, school, or other daily routines.

Sleep Apnea is a serious sleep disorder in which breathing continuously stops and starts. There are three main types of sleep apnea; firstly, Obstructive sleep apnea is when the throat muscles relax; secondly, Central sleep apnea is when the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles which are responsible for controlling breathing; lastly, Complex sleep apnea syndrome is when someone is suffering from the combination of the first and second type of sleep apnea. Symptoms are gasping for air during sleep, loud snoring, episodes in which you stop breathing, morning headache, awakening with dry mouth, hypersomnia, difficulty staying asleep, irritability, and difficulty paying attention while awake.

Parasomnia involves unusual and undesirable physical which disrupt sleep. It includes abnormal movements, talk, or other unusual things during sleep. There are two types of parasomnias, Non-REM and REM, this distinction is based on the stage of sleep in which they happen. Parasomnias during Non-REM include sleep terrors, sleepwalking, and sleep-related eating disorders. Parasomnias during REM include nightmare disorder, recurrent isolated sleep paralysis, and REM sleep behaviour disorder. Symptoms are waking up confused or disoriented, being tired during the day, difficulty sleeping through the night, and finding cuts and bruises which you do not remember.

Restless Legs Syndrome causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs because of an uncomfortable sensation. Symptoms are sensations that begin after rest, relief with movement, worsening of symptoms in the evening, and nighttime twitching.

Conclusion

These sleep disorders are very serious. As we know sleep is very important for our health, it is important to sleep properly for the health of your body and if you think you have any of these sleep disorders, please consult a psychologist who can help you regulate your sleep.

References

Note: this is just Part 5 of the Psychological Disorders series.