Tag: mental health

SYLVIA PLATH

 WHO WAS SYLVIA PLATH?

Born in 1932 to middle-class parents in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, Sylvia Plath published her first poem at the age of eight. A sensitive person who tended to be a bit of a perfectionist she was what many would consider a model daughter and student – popular, a straight-A student, always winning the best prizes. She won a scholarship to Smith College in 1950 and even then she had an enviable list of publications. She wrote over four hundred poems.


However, beneath the surface of her seeming perfection were some grave discontinuities, some of which probably were caused by the death of her father, an entomologist, when she was eight.

During the summer after her junior year in college, Sylvia made her first (and almost successful) attempt at suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills. The experience is described in her autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar, published in 1963. After a period of recovery, which involved electroshock and psychotherapy she once again pursued academic and literary success, graduating from Smith summa cum laude in 1955 and winning a Fulbright scholarship to study in Cambridge, England.


In 1956 she married Ted Hughes, an English poet, and in 1960, at the age of twenty-eight, she published her first book, The Colossus in England. The poems found in the book clearly showed the dedication with which she pursued her apprenticeship, yet they only gave a taste of what was to come in the poems she began writing in early 1961. She and Hughes settled for a brief time in an English country village in Devon, England. However, less than two years after the birth of their first child the marriage disintegrated.

In the winter of 1962-63, one of the coldest in centuries, Sylvia lived in a small flat in London, with her two children, ill with the flu and nearly broke. She would sometimes finish a poem a day. In her last poems, death is given a cruel, physical allure and psychic pain becomes almost tactile.

On February 11, 1963, Sylvia Plath succeeded in killing herself with cooking gas at the age of thirty. Two years after her death, Ariel, a collection of some of her last poems was published, which was followed by Crossing the Water and Winter Trees in 1971, and in 1981 The Collected Poems was published, edited by none other than Ted Hughes.

SOME OF HER WORKS

1. MIRROR

I am silver and exact. I have no preconceptions.
Whatever I see I swallow immediately
Just as it is, unmisted by love or dislike.
I am not cruel, only truthful ‚
The eye of a little god, four-cornered.
Most of the time I meditate on the opposite wall.
It is pink, with speckles. I have looked at it so long
I think it is part of my heart. But it flickers.
Faces and darkness separate us over and over.

Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me,
Searching my reaches for what she really is.
Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon.
I see her back, and reflect it faithfully.
She rewards me with tears and an agitation of hands.
I am important to her. She comes and goes.
Each morning it is her face that replaces the darkness.
In me she has drowned a young girl, and in me an old woman
Rises toward her day after day, like a terrible fish.

2. A LIFE

ouch it: it won’t shrink like an eyeball,
This egg-shaped bailiwick, clear as a tear.
Here’s yesterday, last year —-
Palm-spear and lily distinct as flora in the vast
Windless threadwork of a tapestry.

Flick the glass with your fingernail:
It will ping like a Chinese chime in the slightest air stir
Though nobody in there looks up or bothers to answer.
The inhabitants are light as cork,
Every one of them permanently busy.

At their feet, the sea waves bow in single file.
Never trespassing in bad temper:
Stalling in midair,
Short-reined, pawing like paradeground horses.
Overhead, the clouds sit tasseled and fancy

As Victorian cushions. This family
Of valentine faces might please a collector:
They ring true, like good china.

Elsewhere the landscape is more frank.
The light falls without letup, blindingly.

A woman is dragging her shadow in a circle
About a bald hospital saucer.
It resembles the moon or a sheet of blank paper
And appears to have suffered a sort of private blitzkrieg.
She lives quietly

With no attachments, like a foetus in a bottle,
The obsolete house, the sea, flattened to a picture
She has one too many dimensions to enter.
Grief and anger, exorcised,
Leave her alone now.

The future is a grey seagull
Tattling in its cat-voice of departure.
Age and terror, like nurses, attend her,
And a drowned man, complaining of the great cold,
Crawls up out of the sea.

3. CUT

What a thrill –
My thumb instead of an onion.
The top quite gone
Except for a sort of hinge

Of skin,
A flap like a hat,
Dead white.
Then that red plush.

Little pilgrim,
The Indian’s axed your scalp.
Your turkey wattle
Carpet rolls

Straight from the heart.
I step on it,
Clutching my bottle
Of pink fizz. A celebration, this is.
Out of a gap
A million soldiers run,
Redcoats, everyone.

Whose side are they on?
O my
Homunculus, I am ill.
I have taken a pill to kill

The thin
Papery feeling.
Saboteur,
Kamikaze man –

The stain on your
Gauze Ku Klux Klan
Babushka
Darkens and tarnishes and when
The balled
Pulp of your heart
Confronts its small
Mill of silence

How you jump –
Trepanned veteran,
Dirty girl,
Thumb stump.


The Advantages of Implementing Body Neutrality In Your Life

Body neutrality is a relatively new idea for many people. It is the discipline of embracing your body in its current condition for what it can achieve rather than focused on how it appears. As a result, some individuals may be confused why they must try it, or even whether they should.

There are several advantages to practising bodily neutrality, which vary from physical to emotional. One of the positive aspects is that just shifting your attention away from exercise that feels like punishment or for weight reduction goals, and instead engaging in exercise activities you love, can reduce your chances of overworking or injuring your body.

Although body positivity was originally seen to be the best approach to build connections with our bodies, body neutrality, a newer concept, is now thought to be a better method of connecting with our physical selves.

Some of the advantages of implementing body neutrality in your life are:

  1. Become Less Judgmental

It is really tough to avoid criticizing our bodies. We are continually inundated with pictures of “perfect” bodies in the media, and most people—often including those whose own figures are on display and digitally altered—believe that their own bodies fall short of the ideal form. If you try to stop judging your own body against those of someone else or against an aesthetic in your head, it’s logical that you’ll stop judging other people’s looks as severely.

One of the most beneficial aspects of this is that as we become less judgmental about our bodies, it becomes much easier to be less judgmental towards yourself and others generally. Even though it comes to issues other than bodies, practising body neutrality may cause you to be less critical of yourself and others.

  1. Become More Empathetic

When we become less harsh and judgemental of someone else, we start to open ourselves up to their complex and diverse experiences. Instead of passing judgement on others, we may cultivate our sense of empathy.

This might be in pertinent aspects, like not thinking of an obese person as having an unsuitable physique, or in non-related ways, such as attentively listening  to a person’s experience or narrative before making judgements on them, or deciding what your impression of them is solely based on their looks.

Cultivating more empathy allows you to connect with others more effectively and profoundly. It helps us to be more open since we have a better understanding of how sensitive everyone else is. And it causes us to behave from a gentler interior place, rather than a competitive attitude.

  1. It  Lowers Stress Levels

There is little doubt that chronic stress may have a significant detrimental impact on our lives. Prolonged stress is defined as feeling anxious about your body on a regular basis. Since your body is constantly with you, an emotional issue centred on your body has no end point on its own. Individuals might battle for years, if not their whole lives, with how they appear.

Once you choose to embrace your body for what it is capable of doing and stop concentrating about how it should be changed, your levels of stress are likely to decrease. This makes it simpler to feel content and at ease. Furthermore, when you are under reduced stress, your body produces less cortisol (the body’s major stress hormone), which results in good consequences such as increased energy, good sleep, and improved digestion.

  1. It Enhances Your Intuition

One important aspect of body neutrality is eating what your body desires. To be able to do so, you must first connect with your body on a personal level. Many individuals are accustomed to selecting foods based on what they are taught by nutritional specialists, or even celebrities, as the “correct” items to eat, so eating intuitively might feel like a significant life shift.

Once you have learnt how to connect with your intuition in respect to your health and food, you unlock the way to hearing and listening to your instincts in general. It can be beneficial to your mental health since it can make you feel much more secure in your decision-making abilities.

  1. It Improves Your Mood

If you spend any of your time worrying about your physique, chances are you’re not in the greatest of moods. And then from there, it may well be difficult to immediately put oneself in a great mood, even when everything else in your environment is technically fine.

Less judgement, reduced stress, and improved intuition as a result of bodily neutrality are all excellent mood enhancers. Body neutrality practise may lead to all of these benefits, and as a result, you may find yourself in a positive mindset more frequently than you’ve ever anticipated.

Body neutrality is not a one-time event. It may be a long process, just like any other personal journey. However, the advantages might be enormous. From reduced stress to increased happiness, the mental wellbeing advantages of body neutrality are compelling enough to warrant a try.

Confliction of one's mind

We all are well aware of the different conflicts in our minds. They arrive like impatient thunderstorms,  one right after the other. The times when there’s isn’t any hope to hold onto, we may thrive by words that might explain our mental states. Although, we often fail to do so and start drowning ourselves into the darkest depths of nothingness. 

One thing that never gets old in such situations is writing down your rough thoughts somewhere away from the eyes of anyone, and reading it later at a better stage or when you start feeling yourself again. 

WAYS TO CLEAR YOUR MIND

In a generation where social status depicts one’s nature and affects their state of mind, we often find ourselves getting lost in the world which we created for others to see us like. We should be capable of creating a difference between what’s imaginary and real, that not only helps us stay sane but provides a boundary to the inevitable confusions.

When we invariably replay a situation and can’t stop thinking about it, or think how we messed up; the more we delve into it the more that situation seems to tighten the blank spaces in our mind and start congesting it.

It’s normal to get stuck in the past and have a lot many things playing in your mind at the same time, our mind has a tendency to work funnily.

Instead of putting yourself in a self-inflicting pain, try performing the enlisted activities which will probably distract the course of your mind for the time being:

  • reconnect with an old friend
  • play and spend time with your pet
  • don’t force yourself to be productive
  • go easy on yourself and do some pampering
  • cook yourself an elaborate meal
  • watch youtube, movies and listen to an upbeat music
  • take a long drive to nowhere 
  • take a walk in nature
  • go out with a friend and hangout
SELF VALIDATION

We are forced to put ourselves in a position where it’s tough to concentrate on peace of mind, by comparing ourselves to the person who is superior to us. But we need to understand the concept of self-satisfaction and being content in what we already have.
We should stop comparing ourselves to others because we are unaware of the life that they have behind the scenes, or away from the eyes of the world. It’s natural to get inferiority complexes but that shouldn’t mess with one’s mind.
The positive motivation or the rush and drag to push ourselves to a better position is healthy, but if it makes one sulk and questions their existence then it won’t take long into turning toxic and harmful for the mental peace. 
You have had enough of the taunts and opinions that society has for you, you don’t have to necessarily add yours to it too. If not others, make yourself so focused and proud in what you do that even your conflictions think twice to reoccur in your mind. 
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
― Bernard M. Baruch

Teen Depression and Mental Health

We have heard a lot of cases of teen depression and suicides due to the same, it’s a common problem of the modern and developing world. But have you ever been able to share something that’s bothering you frankly with your family? Or were you forced to keep that feeling inside you and decided to move on with it?

MYTH VERSUS FACTS

Growing up in an Indian family, most of us must have undergone the pressure of having strict parents who always behaved like the devil with two horns on its head. With that, we were well aware to not talk about our mental being with them because usually, the topic was avoided or changed by the intervention of your marks or the progress in the subject you were failing.

If ever kids try to explain how they feel, they are often shut or are scolded for the reason of their messed up schedule. The adults who are literate and know about mental well-being, ignore this aspect thinking that it’s taboo and shouldn’t be considered for discussion. 

The pressure of acting neutral before parents and gulping their actual feelings make new teens undergo phases that are not only depressive but disturbing, which leads to self-harm and suicide.

Depression isn’t a disease but a mental state, and people should understand that it cannot be cured by fixing the monotonous schedule or by waking up earlier than the individual normally does.

CAUSES OF DEPRESSION

Mental health refers to psychological, emotional, and social well-being, and should be considered as an important factor at all stages of life. 

Excessive stress about work, studies, and peer pressure of doing what one is forced to leads to depression. If a child spends most of the time alone, instead of indulging with kids of their own age results in loneliness in the long term, which is often harmful to their mental development.

The constant nagging from parents and people around about any activity that the teen performs, might lead to long term trauma and fear of coming out to people, which will force them to stay hidden from society because of the fear of being judged will let them down and they’ll probably start liking being alone for a time period until it becomes addictive and courses way to depression and mental instability.

Depression isn’t supposed to look like, a person who is always sitting in the dark and does nothing, it has nothing to do with one’s psychical appearances because that can be faked way too easily; it’s about their mental state which might not be stable even when they’re sitting with you, laughing and having a good time of their lives. We should never judge a person by how they look or what they do because we’re absolutely unaware of what they’re going through.

EARLY SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

Experiencing any such following thing might be seen as an indicating warning sign of depression:

  • eating too much not eating at all
  • having low or no energy
  • pulling away from people and usual activities
  • feeling numb or useless
  • yelling or fighting, friends, and family
  • sleeping too much or not at all
  • having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
  • thinking of harming yourself or others
  • feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
  • experiencing severe mood swings
  • hearing voices or believing things that are not true
CONCLUSION
Depression should be normalized and talked freely, teens should be educated over this topic and should be provided an environment where they feel safe about sharing their feelings and mental state. The unnecessary pressure must be avoided from the side of parents and mentors, letting them have the space to think correctly and not by force.

Yoga And Some Science-supported Benefits.

We all are familiar with Yoga and many of us even practice it on a day-to-day basis. But, do we know what does the word “Yoga” means? And what benefits of Yoga are supported by science? Well, some of us may know and some of us don’t. So, let’s dive into the questions mentioned above, and let’s learn.

The word “Yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root “Yuj,” which means ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke or ‘to unite’. It assimilates mediation and poses composed to stimulate relaxation and reduce stress. In simple words, Yoga is an ancient practice that brings our body and mind together.

Practicing Yoga can provide a lot of benefits for both our mental and physical health. Although not all the benefits are supported by science. Mentioned below are some of the many benefits of Yoga that are supported by science:-

I) Improves Flexibility and Balance

In several studies, it has been found that practicing yoga can improve flexibility and balance. 

According to a study in 2017, a group of 26 male athletes who undertook Yoga for 10 weeks, had shown greater improvement in their flexibility levels compared to the control group. 

II) Could Promote Sleep Quality

Poor sleep quality can cause a lot of trouble for a person. Although it has been found in studies that yoga could improve sleep quality.

In a study, in 2005, 69 old patients were assigned to either practice Yoga, herbal preparation, or be a part of a control group. It has been found that the Yoga group fell asleep faster, slept longer, and felt more rested than the other groups. 

III) Can Decrease Stress

As mentioned in the above line Yoga is known for stimulating relaxation and stress. 

Many studies have also shown that it decreases the secretion of the primary stress hormone (cortisol). 

In an observation, 24 women labeled themselves emotionally distress, when completed a three-month yoga program, showed significantly lower levels of cortisol. They also had a lower level of stress, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. 

IV) Could Improve Heart Health

The health of your heart is a very essential component of your overall health. And studies have shown that yoga may help in improving heart health and in reducing factors leading to heart disease. 

A study has found that participants over 40 years of age who practiced yoga for five years had lower blood pressure and pulse rate than those who didn’t. 

V) Improves Life Quality

For many individuals, Yoga has now become an accompaniment to improve the quality of life. 

In a study, 135 elders were assigned to either practice Yoga for 6 months, walking, or join a control group. The Yoga group showed improved quality of life as well as mood, and fatigue, compared to other groups.

Though these were only a few benefits of Yoga that are supported by science, you can always go and google more. Science has also accepted the beneficiary of practicing Yoga, then you should too. Just by giving 1hr from your day to Yoga, you can improve both mentally and physically. In the end, it always depends on you.  

Yoga And Some Science-supported Benefits.

 

We all are familiar with Yoga and many of us even practice it on a day-to-day basis. But, do we know what does the word “Yoga” means? And what benefits of Yoga are supported by science? Well, some of us may know and some of us don’t. So, let’s dive into the questions mentioned above, and let’s learn.

The word “Yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root “Yuj,” which means ‘to join’ or ‘to yoke or ‘to unite’. It assimilates mediation and poses composed to stimulate relaxation and reduce stress. In simple words, Yoga is an ancient practice that brings our body and mind together.

Practicing Yoga can provide a lot of benefits for both our mental and physical health. Although not all the benefits are supported by science. Mentioned below are some of the many benefits of Yoga that are supported by science:-

I) Improves Flexibility and Balance

In several studies, it has been found that practicing yoga can improve flexibility and balance. 

According to a study in 2017, a group of 26 male athletes who undertook Yoga for 10 weeks, had shown greater improvement in their flexibility levels compared to the control group. 

II) Could Promote Sleep Quality

Poor sleep quality can cause a lot of trouble for a person. Although it has been found in studies that yoga could improve sleep quality.

In a study, in 2005, 69 old patients were assigned to either practice Yoga, herbal preparation, or be a part of a control group. It has been found that the Yoga group fell asleep faster, slept longer, and felt more rested than the other groups. 

III) Can Decrease Stress

As mentioned in the above line Yoga is known for stimulating relaxation and stress. 

Many studies have also shown that it decreases the secretion of the primary stress hormone (cortisol). 

In an observation, 24 women labeled themselves emotionally distress, when completed a three-month yoga program, showed significantly lower levels of cortisol. They also had a lower level of stress, anxiety, fatigue, and depression. 

IV) Could Improve Heart Health

The health of your heart is a very essential component of your overall health. And studies have shown that yoga may help in improving heart health and in reducing factors leading to heart disease. 

A study has found that participants over 40 years of age who practiced yoga for five years had lower blood pressure and pulse rate than those who didn’t. 

V) Improves Life Quality

For many individuals, Yoga has now become an accompaniment to improve the quality of life. 

In a study, 135 elders were assigned to either practice Yoga for 6 months, walking, or join a control group. The Yoga group showed improved quality of life as well as mood, and fatigue, compared to other groups.

Though these were only a few benefits of Yoga that are supported by science, you can always go and google more. Science has also accepted the beneficiary of practicing Yoga, then you should too. Just by giving 1hr from your day to Yoga, you can improve both mentally and physically. In the end, it always depends on you.  

How To Quickly Improve Your Mood

While we’re in the midst of life’s stresses, we sometimes just want to feel happy immediately. Not only do studies indicate that cheerful individuals have many advantages in life as a result of their happiness, but happiness also just feels good.

Every area of your life is affected by your mood and mental health, from how you feel about yourself to your relationships with others and your physical health.

Though it may appear like happiness is just around the corner with a better career, a healthier relationship or a nicer house, the euphoria that comes with those accomplishments might be ephemeral. Furthermore, you don’t need to make major changes to be joyful; you can experience happiness even with doing miniscule task

There are several strategies to keep your brain and emotions in peak condition. Exercise, good nutrition, and stress-reduction strategies such as meditation or mindfulness may maintain your brain — and your body — in peak condition.

How to Quickly Improve Your Mood

Listen To Music

Music is believed to have the capacity to affect one’s mood, making it a great stress reliever. In reality, music has been utilised therapeutically in hospitals for pain management and mental well-being. Music has also been related to happiness, particularly specific genres of music, according to research. Music, particularly music with a major tone, is associated with reduced stress and feelings of enjoyment.

Incorporate Laughter In Your Life

As it’s so true, the saying “Laughter is the best medicine” has become a cliche. We know that laughing has several benefits other than improving one’s mood. Laughter has been shown to boost immunity and extend life. Laughter can not only be helpful for elevating your mood but the mere anticipation of laughter has been shown to have advantages.

Change Your Mindset

Changing your expectations and comparisons is a quick and easy approach to improve your attitude. Rather than focusing on what you don’t have, consider all you do have. There will always be those that will have more than you in some aspect of life, but so many would have less than you. Enjoy the advantages of thankfulness and shift your perspective on what you have, and you will feel happier right away.

Do a Good Deed

Many people have found that helping others makes them happy. Indeed, studies suggest that individuals who volunteer have higher levels of health and pleasure. This is believed to be true for a number of reasons. The first is that generosity itself has several advantages, including an increased degree of emotional well-being. If you are doing something kind for someone else, your attention shifts away from yourself and your issues and onto others and making them happy. A smile that you put on somebody else’s face is an infectious smile that spreads contagious happiness.

Practice Meditation

Although meditation appears to be more of a stress management strategy than one that may increase happiness, it has been shown to be an efficient approach for both. Meditation’s stress-reduction effects are well-known, but research also suggests that regular meditation can lead to higher levels of happiness.

If your attempts to improve your mood aren’t helping or you’re having difficulty giving yourself a very much needed boost, consider seeking help from a  professional therapist. If your mood has been low for much more than two weeks or is affecting your relationships, job, or education, speaking with a therapist can help.

Myths and facts about the most common mental illness: Anxiety

Remember the feeling of nervousness and fearfulness on the first day of school/when going for a job interview/when moving to another city/when giving your first speech? Well, if you do then that feeling my friend is called Anxiety. 

Anxiety is our body’s natural response to stress. It’s a feeling of fear or uncertainty about what’s to show up. However, if you feel anxious on a severe level and the feelings last longer than six months and are intruding with your life, you may have an anxiety disorder. 

Anxiety is the most common mental illness. Also, you have heard a lot of things about anxiety, out of them some are facts and some are myths. So, let’s have a look at some of the myths and facts about Anxiety:-

I) What are the types of Anxiety?

Myth: All anxiety is the same.

Fact: There are multiple different types of anxiety disorders.

Anxiety affects people differently. For some people, anxiety may only be experienced in certain situations, while others experience it more often. 

Common types of anxiety include:

★ General anxiety disorder

★ Panic disorder

★ Social anxiety disorder

★ Phobias

★ Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

★ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

★ Separation anxiety

II) Who suffers from Anxiety?

Myth: Only adults suffer from anxiety. 

Fact: Anxiety affects both children and adults. 

The more Anxiety is common in Adults, the same it is for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 4.4 million children aged 3-17 have been diagnosed with anxiety. 

Anxiety can affect children by causing; children behavioral, emotional, and physical symptoms, similar as they can in adults. 

III) How serious is Anxiety? 

Myth: It is not a big deal. 

Fact: Anxiety can cause serious health problems. 

As mentioned above anxiety can be different for everyone. Anxiety becomes a problem when it starts intruding on your day-to-day life. 

Anxiety can cause emotional and behavioral problems like worries and fears. Also, it can cause physical problems like rapid breathing, sweating, headaches, and tense muscles. It also affects eating and sleeping patterns.

IV) Anxiety and Depression

Myth: Anxiety and depression are not related.

Fact: Many people who suffer from anxiety also undergo depression. 

It is common to have both anxiety disorder and depression at the same time. 50% of people undergoing depression are also diagnosed with anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). 

Also, according to ADAA, anxiety is linked with numerous other mental and health conditions:

★ Headaches

★ Irritable bowel syndrome

★ Chronic pain

★ Eating disorders

★ Sleep disorders

★ Substance abuse

★ Bipolar disorder

★ Attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder

★ Fibromyalgia

Anxiety is a concerning issue, stop believing in myths, check your facts. And if it has started intruding your life, consult a doctor. 

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.

Will Getting Up Early In The Morning Make You Happier?

Mornings may be difficult, particularly when you ‘re striving to squeeze in every additional wink of sleep you can. Waking up early, on the other hand, may make you a happier individual and studies suggest that it can enhance your overall health and general feeling of well-being.

Existing studies have found a relationship between chronotype, or a person’s biological predilection for mornings or evenings, and mood. Night owls, for instance, are more vulnerable as morning persons to suffer depression.

Morning people tend to be more in sync with conventional work-rest patterns, but night owls may struggle to adjust. Getting up early has been shown in studies to improve mood, increase satisfaction with life, and reduce mental health issues. Also there is a relationship between getting up early and having a higher level of well-being among elderly people.

Some Of The Advantages of Getting Up Early

Improved Organizational Skills

Because you have uninterrupted time to yourself in the early morning, this is usually the most productive time of day. When you are not distracted, you can do any work more quickly. You may utilise this calm and quiet time to organise your day ahead of time, allotting a certain amount of time to each of your activities. Mentally planning your day before you begin improves your organisational abilities and promotes productivity.

Avoid Heavy Traffic During Your Commute

If you get up really early, you may leave your house before peak traffic hours. You don’t lose time sitting in traffic on your way to and from work.  You’ll also be on schedule for all of your subsequent engagements during the day.

Have a Stress-Free Environment

Getting up early allows you to organise your day ahead of time. You aren’t racing through your day with a crowded head. Preparing ahead of time reduces the anxiety that comes with hurrying to complete tasks. Furthermore, waking up early allows you more time for stress-relieving leisure activities, allowing you to begin your day with a peaceful and focused mind.

Reap The benefits of Quality Sleep

Morning people are more likely to fall asleep quickly. When you get up early, your body becomes fatigued quickly, which leads to great sleep as soon as you go to bed. You become used to the natural circadian rhythm, which causes you to go to bed and wake up early. Heading to sleep early increases your chances of completing all four phases of sleep over the course of four to six sleep cycles, resulting in a well-rested and refreshed feeling the next morning.

Tips to Get Out of Bed Earlier

Begin slowly

Set reasonable goals and don’t begin getting up at an unusual hour. It is better to steadily increase the time. For instance, if you are accustomed to getting up at 7 a.m., set an alarm for 6:45 a.m. When your body has adapted to the change, you can extend it for another 15 minutes. Starting slowly will allow your body to better adjust to the shift.

As Soon as You Wake Up, Get Out of the Bedroom

In the bedroom, your mind has been programmed to feel drowsy. Leaving the bedroom as soon as you wake up prevents you from falling back asleep. While attempting to become early risers, numerous night owls succumb to the urge of going to sleep when they spend some time in the bedroom.

You Should Reward Yourself

You can encourage the system while training yourself to wake up early. You may spoil yourself with your favourite coffee taste or with more time in the shower. Do something out of the ordinary to make yourself feel exceptional for achieving your goal of getting up early. Rewarding oneself encourages you to stick with the exercise.

Maintain Good Sleep Hygiene

Create a nighttime ritual that signals to your body that it is time to sleep. Take a nice shower, read your favourite book, or reflect on the good things that happened to you that day. All of these things assist you to relax and prepare your body for sleep.

Blue Lights Should Be Avoided

Melatonin synthesis might be suppressed by blue light from your television or other devices. Inadequate or delayed synthesis of this sleep-inducing hormone may have a detrimental impact on your sleep quality. To really be regular with waking up early, you must go to bed early. Keeping away from blue lights for at least an hour before sleeping aids in your objective of falling asleep earlier.

Take Care Of Yourself

If you’re feeling unwell or weary, ease up on yourself and don’t force yourself to get out of bed too early. This adaptability will keep you from hating the thought of getting up early.

Ways To Improve Your Work-Life Balance While Working From Home

Work is an important aspect of everyone’s lives. Our income ensures that the lights are kept on, that there is food on our table, and the rainy-day fund is full. In today’s volatile and incredibly quick corporate environment, achieving work-life balance is a difficult challenge.

As we become more linked via social media and the internet, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish our workplace from our personal life. It is standard practise to read emails at all periods of the day and night, to handle business calls at the dinner table, and to work on our computers on weekends. How did this come to be regarded as acceptable?

Jobs are starting to require more and more from their employees, putting them under intense pressure to provide better outcomes. As a result, employees work harder and longer and spend less time at home.

Despite overwhelming proof that working longer is damaging to both individuals and employers, several workers continue to struggle to alter their beliefs — and strongly established behaviours — about work hours.

Establishing a healthy work-life balance is not only beneficial to one’s health and wellbeing, but it could also boost one’s efficiency and, consequently, performance. Simply stated, if your employees do not see work as a chore, they will work even harder, commit fewer errors, and are much more inclined into becoming company supporters.

How To Improve Your Work-Life Balance While Working From Home

Allow yourself to just let go of perfection

We should constantly aim for excellence rather than perfection; this really is especially crucial when balancing work and life while working remotely. You are unlikely to have everything you need to do your tasks exactly as you would at the office. You won’t have access to all of your files, computer, copier, or even the fax machine you barely use once a month. It’s time to make changes and just do the utmost you can with the resources you have. It’s a little mental adjustment, but it makes a massive impact.

Disconnect

If you’re always available, your working hours never conclude. You require those periods when you switch off. Allow yourself some time away from work. It might be something as easy as not reading emails in the evenings or on weekends. Give yourself periods of tranquilly rather than racing through each activity.

Exercise

Exercise should always be the first thing we make time for when our routine is interrupted in such a major way. It decreases stress, increases endorphins, and improves your mood. Don’t even have an hour to work out? Begin by stretching for 15 minutes with yoga. It will provide you with the same benefits (although on a smaller scale) as well as an extra sense of achievement and self-care.

It’s understandable that when gyms and sports centers are shut, it might be difficult to find alternative forms of exercise. Several trainers and gyms now offer online lessons, and you may even find free classes on YouTube. When working at home, exercising is a wonderful method to attain work-life balance.

Have proper meals

While munching on snacks during the day while working from home may sound appealing, it does nothing for your productivity or feeling of work-life balance. At work, we may feel more driven to take a lunch hour when our colleagues urge us to do so – this doesn’t really occur when you are working from home. Ensure that you schedule time in your day for a decent break. Create a calendar or phone alert about it.

Create transitions going in and out of the work mindset

We frequently take our transit time for granted and wish we can get there sooner. However, we rarely recognise the chance it provides to psychologically prepare. You don’t usually sign off on a large project and then head home to cook dinner. Allow your mind to press the reset button. Get a signal to serve as a buffer at the start and conclusion of your day.

Remember to socialise

When the whole company begins working from home, you are shut away from several informal everyday contacts. If you’re not accustomed to working alone, this might be isolating. Occasional social contacts can break up your day and make it feel unique, whereas isolation may make each day seem like Groundhog Day, except we’re all working.

Resist this by speaking with your coworkers several times during the day. Take a video coffee break, inquire how they did over the weekend, check up on their personal happenings, reach out and exchange that joke or meme, or simply talk about the series you’re currently binge-watching. Continue to chat to them on a certain issue if you typically do.

When working from home, these small encounters might help you maintain your work-life balance.

Positive Psychology

Positive psychology is one of the newest branches of psychology to emerge. This particular area of psychology focuses on how to help human beings prosper and lead healthy, happy lives. While many other branches of psychology tend to focus on dysfunction and abnormal behaviour, positive psychology is centered on helping people become happier. Positive psychology is designed to “complement and extend the problem-focused psychology that has been dominant for decades,” explained the late Christopher Peterson, author of “A Primer in Positive Psychology” and professor at the University of Michigan, in a 2008 article published in Psychology Today. “Positive psychology is…a call for psychological science and practice to be as concerned with strength as with weakness; as interested in building the best things in life as in repairing the worst; and as concerned with making the lives of normal people fulfilling as with healing pathology,” Peterson wrote.

According to leading authorities in the field, Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, positive psychology will help achieve “scientific understanding and effective interventions to build thriving in individuals, families, and communities.” In order to understand the field of positive psychology, it is essential to start by learning more about its major theories, applications, and history.

History of Positive Psychology

“Before World War II, psychology had three distinct missions: curing mental illness, making the lives of all people more productive and fulfilling, and identifying and nurturing high talent,” wrote Seligman and Mihaly Csikszenmihalyi in 2000. Shortly after WWII, the primary focus of psychology shifted to the first priority: treating abnormal behavior and mental illness. In the 1950s, humanist thinkers like Carl Rogers, Erich Formm and Abraham Maslow helped renew interest in the other two areas by developing theories that focused on happiness and the positive aspects of human nature.

General interest in positive psychology has grown tremendously since the concept was introduced. Today, more and more people are searching for information on how they can become more fulfilled and achieve their full potential.

Uses

Positive psychology can have a range of real-world applications in areas including eduction, therapy, self-help, stress management, and workplace issues. Some of the major topics of interest in positive psychology include: Character strengths and virtues, Flow, Gratifications, Gratitude, Happiness, Pleasure, Helplessness, Hope, Mindfulness, Optimism, Positive thinking, Resilience .

Impact of Positive Psychology

Some of the major findings of positive psychology include: Money doesn’t necessarily buy well-being, but spending money on other people can make individuals happier, People are generally happy, Some of the best ways to combat disappointments and setbacks include strong social relationships and character strengths, While happiness is influenced by genetics, people can learn to be happier by developing optimism, gratitude, and altruism, Work can be important to well-being, especially when people are able to engage in work that is purposeful and meaningful.

Potential Pitfalls

Positive psychology is often confused with positive thinking, and misconstrued as self-help tactics rather than research-backed theories. Positive thinking is a way of thinking ourselves into better behavior and greater resilience, rather than behaving our way into a different frame of mind. Positive psychology, on the other hand, is the scientific study of what makes people thrive. It focuses on behaviors that can lead to a more optimized frame of mind as well as on thought patterns that lead to more functional behaviors.

Myths about Counseling

Mental health challenges affect millions of people around the world. In any given year, unfortunately, misconceptions and myths around counselling and talk therapy often discourage people from seeking help and contribute to the stigma surrounding mental health issues. The truth is that counselling has the ability to help almost anyone with mental health concerns, social issues and personal development. But another truth is that every person is very unique – they will respond to and experience counselling differently and a method that works for one person is not necessarily going to work for someone else. If you have tried counselling before and didn’t find it helpful we encourage you to try again, with a different counsellor and/or different method.

Myth 1: Counselling is only for major issues or “crazy” people : Yes, counselling can help you through major life issues and traumas but those aren’t the only situations where counselling can work for you. Sometimes we just need someone unbiased to talk to about a situation or feelings we’re having – and that’s okay. It’s normal to seek help for problems large and small or simply when you’re not feeling quite yourself and you don’t know why. Counselling does not need to be used as a reactive measure when life gets hard. It can also be preventative and help provide you mental and emotional tools and strategies to use in future times of stress. We see physicians for prevention through annual check-ups – we can think of counselling in the same way.

Myth 2: Admitting that you need help and going for counselling means you’re weak: The concepts of weakness and vulnerability tend to get confused with each other. There is vulnerability in sharing what you’re going through and what you’re feeling, but that is not a sign of weakness. It is courageous to open up to someone. It’s an act of strength to take steps to better yourself when you’re not feeling your best. Vulnerability is not a weakness but rather a quality to take pride in, not be shameful of.

Myth 3: Counselling doesn’t help or will make the situation worse : Every person is different, and every person has different needs – the results from counselling are not going to be identical for everyone. But most of the time, counselling will provide you with support, new perspectives, and a plan to tackle your problems.

Myth 4: The counsellor doesn’t know me, so they can’t help me : When things aren’t going quite right and we want advice, we turn to our family and friends – people that know us and care about us. Having social connections is extremely important for maintaining mental wellness but our loved ones normally don’t have the skills or the objectivity needed. We’re not recommending that you turn away from loved ones or that their advice can’t be helpful, but counsellors are an excellent additional resource to guide you through difficult times. An unbiased, impartial trained professional can give insight into the situations and feelings that you’re having that you would not be able to get from people that are close to you. Professional counsellor’s training and experience can help beyond the well-intentioned advice of your loved ones.

Myth 5: Counselling takes a long time and costs a lot : The length of time, or number of sessions needed with a counsellor will greatly vary depending on many factors, such as:

  • How long you’ve been dealing with the issue
  • The severity of the problem
  • The time you need to make any necessary changes (i.e. Habits, copying mechanisms, etc.

Myth 6: Couples counselling is only for people that have problems in their relationship : Just like you need to water a plant to make it grow, or practice an instrument to master it, you also need to work on a relationship if you want it to thrive. Take the plant analogy – you wouldn’t just water your plant when its leaves are wilted and it’s near death. You would water it on a regular basis, even when it’s healthy looking and vibrant. Working on skills with your partner like communication, conflict resolution, and intimacy when your relationship is strong, is just as important as building on those skills when times are tough. Having the desire to improve your relationship with some help doesn’t mean your relationship isn’t good or that it won’ last – it means that you care enough about your partner to invest in the relationship.

Myth 7: They will blame my parents for everything : Every struggle you go through is unique. And the process to heal from those struggles is going to vary. Much of your work with your counsellor will be guided by you – the areas of your life you want to focus on: past, present and future. For some situations it can be helpful to analyze your past and see how your environment and the people around you shaped how you respond to things today. Some situations are best solved by looking at current behaviours. Regardless if you and your counsellor analyze your past or your present, the most important thing to keep in mind is that counselling is not about assigning blame, but learning how to have a healthy mental outlook and have healthy relationships with yourself and others.

Myth 8: All counsellors are the same – If you didn’t have success with one, counselling won’t work for you : You don’t “click” with every single person you meet and everyone doesn’t respond the same way to the same exact form of any kind of treatment. Counsellors and counselling treatments are no different and not every counsellor will be a perfect fit for you. That’s okay. We want you to see results from your counselling experience. When you request counselling from Calgary Counselling Centre, we ask many questions to make sure you are assigned to the type of counsellor you prefer and that you’ll receive the type of treatment that is most likely to achieve the best results. If after a few sessions the relationship with you and your counsellor doesn’t seem to be a match, you can request another counsellor. We promise, your counsellor will not be offended by this, on the contrary, they want the best for you.

Yoga for mental well-being

 In our busy day-to-day routine, we often ignore the importance of mental health in our life. Yoga is a way to deal with our stressful schedule and ensure mental as well as physical well-being. Yoga is an ancient Indian practice which builds physical, mental and spiritual strength. 

According to WHO’s definition of mental health given in 2014, it does not mean absence of mental illness. Mental health is defined as a state of well-being, when the person can cope up with the normal stress of everyday life. For overall mental well-being, it is extremely important to nurture our mind. Yoga has gained world-wide popularity and studies  have been conducted to establish its relation with mental health. It  has been proven to promote a healthy and peaceful mind. 


Impact of Yoga on mental health

Experts call yoga and mental health an underexplored relationship. In the current busy lifestyle, yoga acts as a physical exercise and has psychological benefits which calm the mind. 

Stress and anxiety are one of the major causes of mental illness. Chronic stress can cause cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, and mental disorders. Yogic postures can affect the functioning of Hypothalamus in a way that it can generate a better response to stress and lower the stress hormones. 

According to studies, yoga leads to release of Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) which uplifts mood and reduces anxiety. Yoga also helps to restore the natural energy of our body and mind which helps to deal with fatigue. It has also contributed to better sleeping patterns among people with insomnia, increasing their time and quality of sleep. .  

People with mental illness often prefer going to yoga based therapy which increases self- awareness, concentration, productivity and helps build a positive self-image. It also helps people to build patience and make improvements in behavioural patterns.

Yoga is often used as an add-on treatment for those undergoing some treatment for mental illness. One of the major benefits of yoga is that it includes meditation. Yogic postures associated with meditation are helpful to reduce anxiety and release stress. 


  • Pranayama, a posture that focuses on breathing, is one of the famous Yoga asanas used  to calm the mind.  
  • Natarajasana, also known as the dancer’s pose, is a mood lifting asana. 
  • Vajrasana helps to build focus and calmness. 
  • Padmasana, the basic pose of yoga, helps to build spinal strength and a calm mind. 
  • Savasana, lying flat on the ground, is one of the easiest asanas which helps to relax our mind and body. 

In these tough times of Covid pandemic, looking after our mental health should be a priority.  Amidst the chaos in the world, yoga is a way of life that can help us achieve spiritual, physical and mental well-being.

WHAT DOES ADOLESCENCE NEED?

Need for independence

With the growing physical and mental development an adolescent wants to express his opinion independently, to take part in different social activities and to become self-dependent like any adult member of the society. On attaining adolescence, the child who earlier used to depend on his elders, finds himself full of life and energy and cannot help but to take part in the diverse activities of the society. Thus, he defies the dominance of his elders and wants to proceed in life independently

Need for self-recognition

The adolescents not only want to take part in different social activities but also want self-recognition. They want to attract attention of other people by showing their abilities. The children in adolescence want to project themselves before the society in such a way so that people can appreciate their qualities and give them due respect and recognition.

Need for self-expression

There is a great desire among the children in adolescence to express their feelings, thoughts and ideas. At this age, every child wants to express himself in his area of proficiency like sports, dramatics, studies, music, literature, art or any other medium.

Need for social life

One of the important needs of adolescents is to take part in the greater social environment. Before entering into the age of adolescence, children do not get much scope to mix with people outside their family. But as they attain adolescence children want to experience the greater social-life and want to get involved closely in different social activities. This need for social life gets an outlet when the adolescents involve themselves in the activities of different social institutions like club, social welfare committee, community service etc.

Need for self-reliance

Another important need of children in adolescence is the need for self-reliance. There is a great desire among the children of this age to become self-reliant as soon as they attain puberty. And they start dreaming about their future professions and the ways to establish themselves in their respective fields. The children of this age are also very eager to acquire professional qualifications according to their choice.

Need for Philosophy of life, morality and need to know the unknown

The children in adolescence want to have a philosophy of life, a clear concept of morality and want to know all the things which are unknown to them. They have a lot of inquiries regarding the basic purpose of life. They want to know how human life can be goal-directed and what is the main aim of life. When the children attain puberty, they also indulge in a great deal of thinking over the concept of right and wrong, good and bad. They want to evaluate all the activities of themselves and people around them in accordance with the concept of right and wrong. There is always a tendency among them to do whatever is morally right. And if they do something morally wrong, they go through terrible mental agony. At adolescence, there is also a great desire among the children to know what is unknown to them. The new discoveries of science have a great influence on the minds of adolescents.

Need to satisfy sex-related curiosity

As the children attain puberty they develop a deep sex-related curiosity. This curiosity greatly perturbs them as the result of natural outcome of their sexual development. First, they try to satisfy this curiosity by natural means. But later, by being ignored or scolded by the elders, they try to satisfy this curiosity through abnormal ways. Adolescence is one of the important stages of growth and development of the child. At this stage a unique disturbance develops in the mind of the child. According to modern Psychologists, this disturbance in the mind of the child is not an essential outcome of his physical development, rather it occurs in the mind of adolescents because of unfavourable environment.