JOURNEY TO SANITY – MINDFULNESS

In the current world, we might have taken the term mindfulness too seriously in literal terms. We constantly keep our minds filled with news, gossips, shows and every other non-important thing in order to avoid the most important thing – OURSELVES. However, Mindfulness in reality is the art of being in the present both physically and mentally.
Many a times we get caught up in planning for the future or cherishing the past memories. It is good to remember old things and look forward to new experiences, but not at the expense of the present.
As it’s beautifully quoted by Master Oogway: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery but today is a gift. That is why it’s called Present”.

So, now the question that arises is, how to stop the urge to overthink?
To answer that, It’s hard to control your mind as the more you try to control it, the more it wonders. Kind of like caging a bird, who yarns for freedom. A good master is considered to be a person who sets the bird free and allows it to come back to him. Similarly, mindfulness does not mean the absence of distractions or complete numbness. It is the ability to be aware of the thought, accepting the thought and then, gently bringing it back to the present.

Other ways to be more mindful can be :

~ Eating with complete attention on the food you intake, without being distracted by television, phone, etc.

~ Avoid multitasking and juggling between different works.

~ Avoid using phones in the washroom (I know you do)

Though it might seem as we have just today to achieve everything possible and today will change our future but relax, listen to your heart. It might not be that bad to rest and enjoy life for once

Do not forget to read more from the series 🙂

JOURNEY TO SANITY – ACCEPTANCE

JOURNEY TO SANITY -JOURNALING

JOURNEY TO SANITY – SELF CARE

JOURNEY TO SANITY – DOUBLE STANDARDS

JOURNEY TO SANITY – SUNSHINE 🌤️

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OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER(OCD)

Diagram chart of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder .

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a mental health disorder that affects people of all ages and walks of life . It occurs when an individual gets caught in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions . It can be said that person with OCD are plagued by constant thoughts of fears that cause them to perform rituals or routines . The disturbing thoughts are called obsessions and rituals are called compulsions .

In simple words , OCD is a type of mental of disorder that causes repeated unwanted thoughts . To get rid of the unwanted thoughts , he/she performs the same task/activity again and again . For example, a person may fear that everything he/she touches has germs on it . So , to get rid of that fear he/she washes his/her hands again and again . Persons suffering from OCD might understand that their obsessions are unreasonable , but trying to stop or ignore them causes anxiety and stress . There are some symptoms of OCD , which may range from mild to severe . Some of the obsession and compulsions are mentioned below.

Main obsessions

  • A fear of harm to yourself or loved one .
  • A fear of contamination by germs .
  • A forceful or driving need to perform things perfectly or correctly .
  • Having excessive doubt on any individual .
  • A fear of being embarrassed .
  • A fear of getting dirty .
  • A fear of making mistakes.

Main compulsions

  • Repeating things or always moving items to keep them in exact order .
  • Bathing or washing hands several times.
  • Checking things over and over again.
  • Repeating specific words.
  • Hoarding .
  • Constant praying.

Causes of OCD

The exact cause of obsessive compulsive disorder is still unknown . Research studies suggest that there may be a problem with the way one part of the brain sends information to another part . Serotonin is the chemical in the brain that sends messages from one part to another . Insufficiency of serotonin may help in causing OCD . Stress and anxiety do not cause OCD but they may worsen the symptoms of OCD.

Recent studies have indicated that there may be considerable genetic basis for OCD. Depression is also thought to be the cause of OCD but the experts’ opinion is split .

Monophobia-Reality of 2021

People were hurt financially as well as mentally by the prolonged lockdown. The truth is that financial losses can be recovered over time, but the mental disease that our generation is experiencing is not.

Covid-19 claimed the lives of around 3,923,238 people worldwide. Every day’s news digest about medical supply shortages and increasing covid instances broke people’s hearts. Such dire conditions were not restricted to those in hospitals; those in their safe havens of their homes were also not safe as they confronted a terrifying invisible monster spreading its arms and doing harm to their mental health.

Monophobia is the state where an individual fears to be alone. Even in a usually comforting place like home, can cause severe anxiety for people with this condition. People with monophobia need another person or other people around in order to feel safe. A person with this condition usually faces extreme anxiety.

With the outbreak of the pandemic, practically all offline work moved online, and people needed time to acclimatise to this new reality. Even after settling in, many struggled to overcome feelings of loneliness and worry that were gradually taking over their minds as a result of a lack of social contacts and physical meetings. It is now universally accepted that physical meetings had a higher level of significance and will always be more valued than any texts, calls or video conferencing.

Because of this lack of interaction, the majority of people now fear being alone. We now understand the value of being surrounded by people, such as family and friends. It’s depressing to learn that many people have committed suicide as a result of loneliness and anxiety issues.

Monophobia is a side effect of the post-lockdown situation. Following the Lockdown, harsh realisations emerged that life is unpredictable and far too valuable to be taken for granted.

So, what is the current need? It is self-evident that we must widen the doors of our hearts and accept others. Acceptance is crucial; it may aid your family member or friend in recovering and reliving their experiences. Inquire of your relatives, acquaintances, or even a new acquaintance “Are you all right? And if you ever need to share something, I’m here to help.”

Make yourself a better companion by being a little kind to the individuals you interact with. Stop passing judgement on people during such trying times; you never know what they are going through. Also take good care of your own self in order to help others. As more the merrier. healthier the better.