Tag: Psychology

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.

Pride, prejudice and arrogance.


Augustine, it is “the love of one’s own excellence.”

Pride:

Pride is a double edged sword.

Pride is usually considered in 2 ways
1) The feeling of satisfaction that comes from one’s own achievement or those affiliated to us.
2) Having a high opinion of oneself which sometimes expresses itself in the form of arrogance or excessive belief over one’s abilities.

The opposite of pride is humility

Prejudice:


It is described as a stereotyped attitude towards a particular social group.
There are many types of prejudices. There’s ageism, sexism, racism, those from different religions and ethnic groups, people who are overweight or underweight,  people with sexual orientations and the list is endless.
It varies according to environment who are more likely to become a target. -Prejudice does not need a base or proof. It is mostly based on an individual’s delusional theory regarded someone/something because of something they went through.

-Scientific postulates need proof, trial, and error, and goes through thorough objective examination to form a theory.
It is deduced from natural occurrences to aid the growth of every being on Earth.

-Thus there is a clear boundary between prejudice and science.
Thinking that a human born into an ethnicity they had no control over, is preposterous cannot be ever justified.
Well, I mean have thought over this.
You treat them like a monster, take away the room for growth, or won’t let them have an understanding of the world, force upon them their ancestors or someone’s act, treat their every mistake or an act of love as sin.
You are letting them realize that no matter what they do, they will always be regarded as criminals. In order to live a normal life, in order to escape from Hell on Earth, they will have no option but to take actions that align with their prejudices to have a chance at life.
Aren’t you giving birth to the one you are so wary about? How will assuming negative about someone you haven’t met going to remove the things you want?


It is humane to worry about wolves in sheep’s clothing, it is natural to protect someone you love. But hatred and pride blind not only you but also others from peace, from a true safe environment.
   The mutual understanding that prejudice exists but at the same time, trying to resolve those by complete honesty and understanding will protect you from external influences ( yes, I mean someone who wants conflicts to exist between the groups), and will give the groups a chance to make way for growth despite the differences.
It is very easy for me to say and I realize how idealistic or dreamy it seems, but without interaction between conflicting groups, without a wish to make things better for innocent ones around you, the casualties, hatred, and stereotypes are bound to grow and create wars. 

When prejudice causes a group to be treated differently than others in situations that call for equal treatment, it is called discrimination.

Arrogance:


It can simply be defined as aggressive evolution of pride, and manifested in form of extreme expression emotionally (within one’s mind or vocally).  To exaggerate one’s own worth or importance often in a pompous manner.

  • Doesn’t believe they can mistakes or faults.
  • Tries to put blame on others.
  • Creates a fearful environment.
  • Always wants to be right.

We will talk about the thin line between pride and arrogance soon in following articles. 🙂

Insecurity

Everyone feels a little unsure at times. As humans, we constantly think, and some of our thoughts can be filled with doubt. This can lead to thoughts of insecurity. Too much insecurity can lead to other problems — in relationships and in your everyday life. However, there are ways you can work through your insecure thoughts and live life more confidently.

What Is Insecurity?

Insecurity is a feeling of inadequacy (not being good enough) and uncertainty. It produces anxiety about your goals, relationships, and ability to handle certain situations. Everybody deals with insecurity from time to time. It can appear in all areas of life and come from a variety of causes. It might stem from a traumatic event, patterns of previous experience, social conditioning (learning rules by observing others), or local environments such as school, work, or home. It can also stem from general instability. People who experience unpredictable upsets in daily life are more likely to feel insecure about ordinary resources and routines.On the other hand, insecurity can have no definite, external cause. Instead, it can appear as a quirk of personality or brain chemistry. Understanding the nature of insecurities can help you manage your own and offer others the support they need.  

Types of Insecurity:

There are almost limitless areas of potential insecurity. Moreover, insecurity often bleeds over from one area of life into another. However, there are some types of insecurity that appear frequently.

Relationship Insecurity: One of the most common kinds of insecurity concerns relationships or “attachments.” Attachment theory originated out of a desire to connect the attachment patterns of early childhood to later relationship patterns and expectations. When a child’s “attachment figures”, often parents or guardians, aren’t reliably available and supportive, the child often feels insecure, forms a negative self-image and relationship models, and experiences greater emotional distress and maladjustment later in life. Relationship or attachment insecurities don’t need to begin in early childhood. They can arise wherever previous experience or personal insecurity undermines someone’s security in their closest relationships.

Job Insecurity: Job insecurity occurs when you are anxious about your continued employment or about the continuation of certain benefits attached to your employment. It can be triggered by anxiety over your own job performance or anxiety over factors beyond your control, such as the economy, industry trends, workplace conflict, or the danger of company restructuring or failure. High rates of unemployment and temporary work increase job insecurity on a national scale and contribute to widespread mental health problems.

Body Image Insecurity : A common source of insecurity is body image. Many people feel insecure about the way they look and question whether they measure up to an imposed ideal. There is no necessary connection between actual body health or appearance and body insecurity. People of all body types can experience this type of insecurity.

Social Insecurity/Anxiety : Another common type of insecurity surrounds the way we are perceived by our peers and the ease with which we interact with them. This insecurity can be a recurring, low-level problem or can blossom into full-blown social anxiety disorder or social phobia.

Signs of Insecurity:

Signs of insecurity are as variable as the condition itself, but there are some common tendencies you can look out for.

Low or Superficial Self-Esteem : One sign of insecurity is low self-esteem or negative self-image, particularly when that image seems to be inconsistent with external observation. Low self-esteem means you think badly about yourself or your abilities. It can lead to other problems, especially concerning mental health. Talk to a doctor if your self-esteem is very low.Because the measurement of self-esteem generally relies on self-report, insecurity can lead to superficial self-esteem. People with insecurity often want to appear secure, and their explicit comments may be at odds with their automatic responses to certain stimuli. Deliberate self-misrepresentation or false behavior/information on social media can also be a sign of social anxiety. The act of faking then reinforces the social insecurity.

Perfectionism : The inability to be satisfied with progress and need to control and refine projects until they’re perfect can be a sign of insecurity. It stems from the sensation that you or your performance is never enough. It can appear as a manifestation of insecurity in any area of life but is frequently found in cases of job insecurity and body insecurity. Eating disorders, for example, often appear along with both harmful perfectionism and attachment insecurities.

Self-Isolation : Social insecurity can lead people to avoid social interactions, isolating themselves. Sometimes these people prefer to interact virtually in internet situations they feel they can control.

Anxious or Avoidant Attachment Styles : Attachment insecurities often result in problematic attachment styles, or dysfunctional approaches to relationships. The two most common are anxious or avoidant attachments. Anxious attachment styles are characterized by emotional dependence (relying on someone else for your emotional well-being), a fear of being alone, and fantasies of perfect relationships that can never be fulfilled. Avoidant attachment styles also stem from insecurity but go in the other direction. People with this style tend to keep relationships superficial and disengage from more intimate connections.

Poor Job Performance : Job insecurity (not having a stable job) can work to motivate some people, but it more often results in poorer performances. It can lead to absenteeism (avoiding work), turnover intention (wanting to change jobs soon after starting), disengagement from colleagues and in group projects, and poor work attitudes.

Depression or Anxiety : All types of insecurity can lead to decreased mental wellness. Depressive or anxious behavior or thinking is often an effect of insecurity, particularly when that insecurity produces (or is accompanied by) erroneous beliefs and patterns of thought.

Dealing with Insecurity :

Occasional insecurity is a natural part of life. For deeper and more longer-lasting feelings of insecurity, however, professional therapists can help you sort through your emotions and develop strategies for everyday life. In dealing with insecurity, there are a couple of helpful tips to keep in mind.

Social Networks Matter : Broad and meaningful social networks — frinedships, relationships with coworkers, and more — help to lessen both insecurity and its negative effects. There’s an inverse correlation between healthy social networks and insecure attachment styles. Having a wide circle of friends and many close connections allows you to develop the tools and confidence to engage in deeper adult relationships.Developing good friendships both in and out of the workplace also has a proven record of success as a coping strategy that helps prevent job insecurity, depression, and general anxiety. People who disengage from colleagues in response to job insecurity more frequently suffer in their mental health and job performance.

Trust Takes Practice : While having an overly trusting behavior creates its own problems, ask yourself if you have any reason to distrust expressions of affection or liking from others. People with insecurities sometimes express doubt and perceive rejection in everything from partner relationships to new acquaintances. These expressions can be self-fulfilling. Practice taking displays of interest at face value, something that can be easier in more casual relationships. You can build up the confidence to accept deeper affection and intimacy.

LEARNING LESSONS FROM THE BOOK : THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MONEY

1. Use money to gain control over time, because the ability to do what you want, when you want, with whom you want , for as long as you want to, pays the highest dividend that exists in finance.

2. Wealth is what you don’t see, its hidden, it is the oncome that you have not spent and that is the fastest way to be wealthy, not spending the money you have and doing its opposite will never make you wealthy.

3. Wealth is just the accumulated leftovers after you spend what you take in. And since you can build wealth without a high income, but have no chance of building wealth without a high savings rate, its clear which one matters more.

4. Do not aim to be coldly rational( by looking at the spreadsheet) when making financial decisions. Aim to just be pretty reasonable. Reasonable is more realistic and you have a better chance of sticking with it for the long run.

5. Like everything else worthwhile, successful investing demands a price. But its currency is volatility, fear, doubt, uncertainity, and regret and you have to view them as fees( a price worth paying to get something nice in exchange).

IS JEALOUSY A SIGN OF LOVE ?

Many people glamourize jealousy by saying it’s a sign of love. It’s not! It’s a sign of insecurity and reflective of seeing your partner as an object to be possessed. It’s a negative emotion stemming from both desire and insecurity, but not love. Conversely, if you love the fact someone is possessive about you, it stems from your debilitating need to be loved and be taken care of, even at the cost of your freedom

What is Jealousy?

Jealousy and possessiveness are not safe cocoons. It’s a prison where the prisoner has to behave as per the rules and insecurities of the jailor or be punished for it. There is no space or regard for trust, individuality or personal growth. Your love for your partner and your desire to see them happy will be used as a means to whip you into subservience and to force you to bow down to their demons. None of it is healthy, desirable or productive. None of it will create harmony and long term happiness.

To truly love is to trust. To allow those you love to blossom, be the best they can be. To be protective and not possessive because being protective is to care about them and being possessive is all about catering to the self.

Why We Feel Jealous?

Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock

Jealousy is often thought of in the context of romantic relationships: a boyfriend who forbids his girlfriend from talking to other men, for instance, or a person who can’t stand to see her old flame post pictures with a new partner on Facebook. But the feeling can occur in almost every type of human relationship—from siblings competing for parental attention to coworkers trying to impress a respected boss.

Although jealousy is a painful emotional experience, evolutionary psychologists regard it not as an emotion to be suppressed but as one to heed—as a signal or a wake-up call that a valued relationship is in danger and that steps need to be taken to regain the affection of a mate or friend. As a result, jealousy is seen as a necessary emotion, because it preserves social bonds and motivates people to engage in behaviors that maintain important relationships.

How to Deal With Jealousy?

Skitterphoto_Pexels

Even though it may feel taboo, simply acknowledging jealousy’s presence can both help ward it off in the future and strengthen a relationship in the present. Exploring the emotions that underpin jealousy can inspire self-reflection that may help to develop internal coping skills. Being honest with the other party about jealous feelings can spur productive conversations about what the relationship might be missing and how to repair the bond

Valuable though it can be, jealousy also has the potential to fuel damaging behavior. It can compel someone to obsessively monitor another’s communication, relationships, and whereabouts; attempt to lower their self-confidence; or even behave violently.

FAQs

Why am I so jealous?

Research has identified many root causes of extreme jealousy, including low self-esteem, high neuroticism, and feeling possessive of others, particularly romantic partners. Fear  of abandonment is also a key motivator.

Are men more jealous than women?

Men and women both feel jealousy. Some evidence suggests that in the context of romantic relationships, men feel greater jealousy about sexual infidelity  (real or perceived), while women tend to feel more jealous about emotional infidelity.

What to Do When You Need Someone to Talk To.

[Bhoomika Saini]

What to do when you need someone to talk to

No matter what you’re going through at the moment, connecting and communicating with others is the key to living well, especially if you’re struggling with an illness, depression, addiction, the loss of a loved one, or even just loneliness. For this reason, it’s important to know what to do and where to look when you need to talk.

Trying to stuff your feelings, grit your teeth, and go it alone, is never effective. In fact, your emotions and feelings are there whether you talk about them or not. They are not going to simply go away just because you ignore them.

But if you make the effort to talk to another person, you may be able to release some of the tension and negativity that you’re experiencing and feel better in the end.

Here’s a closer look at the benefits of talking to others and how to find people to talk to when you feel alone or isolated.

Benefits of Talking to Others

Finding someone to talk to not only provides connection, comfort, and understanding, but also offers opportunities to talk about shared experiences as well as prevent loneliness and isolation.

Stress Relief and Friendship Building

Consequently, talking to another person relieves stress and helps build friendships and connections.

Talking things over with other people also aids in decision-making and allows you an avenue to process your thoughts and feelings. Talking also exposes you to new perspectives and ideas and helps with problem-solving. In fact, there are a number of powerful psychological benefits to talking.

According to research from UCLA, talking can diminish the response of your brain’s amygdala, which initiates the fight or flight response when you’re feeling intense emotions like fear, anxiety, or aggression.

As a result when you get stressed out or overwhelmed, this part of your brain takes control and can even override your more logical thought processes.

But researchers noted that by using “affect labeling,” or talking through your experiences and processing what happened, you can override the amygdala’s response and cope with your feelings in a more effective way.

Friendships May Add Years to Your Life

Additionally, research suggests that having strong social ties, or people you can talk to, is linked to a longer life. In contrast, social isolation and loneliness are linked to depression, poorer health outcomes, and a risk of premature death.

Additionally, having a variety of social relationships—or people you can talk to—may help reduce stress as well as heart-related risks. So, it’s important to find people you can share things with.

Too many times, though, people are reluctant to reach out to others to talk despite its many benefits. Either they allow fear and shame to keep them silent, or they simply don’t know how to reach out.

Other times they allow work or family obligations to get in the way of any type of real connection with others. And before long, they feel lonely and isolated and like they don’t have anyone to talk to.

Finding Someone to Talk To

If you’re like most people, you may assume that you have no one to talk to, especially if you live far from family, are single, or don’t have a best friend. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, it may really be easier to find someone to talk to when you really need it, if you know where to look. Here are some ways you can find someone to talk to.

Make a List of Social Connections

When you start thinking about who you might be able to open up to, start by making a list of your social connections. Include people you know from a variety of situations like family members, friends, Facebook friends, and even co-workers.

Then, try to determine who on your list is not only emotionally intelligent but also emotionally skilled. Typically, people with these skills tend to be much easier to talk to because they are empathetic. Once you have a list of possibilities reach out to them and invite them for coffee or to go for a walk.

However, you need to recognize that you will have to go slow. You won’t be able to talk about your deepest feelings right from the start.

With time, though, you can build trust with one another and start sharing more and more intimate details about your life.

Of course this approach is not ideal if you’re in a crisis and need to talk to someone right away, but it is an important part of building a support system.

Join an Online Forum or Chat

During those times when you feel like you need to talk with someone right away, you might want to consider an online forum or chat with a group tailored to your needs.

Aside from providing you with people who get what you’re struggling with, you also have the option of sharing details anonymously.

Sometimes people really appreciate the immediacy of an online forum or chat. Plus, communicating online can help take away any apprehension or help people with social anxiety relax and share.

Participate in a Support Group

One way to build your support system is to join a support group. Whether it’s an online group or a group that meets in person, both options provide you with a network of people who can relate to what you’re experiencing.

There, you will be able to get the support and understanding that you need as well as offer support to others in similar situations.

Work With a Therapist

Whether you need to discuss a mental health issue, want help managing your stress, or just need to find ways to be more mentally healthy, a good therapist can help you make sense of your feelings and emotions.

Therapists can help you develop healthier coping mechanisms and may even be able to provide input on how to build a support network.

If you don’t have insurance or if your insurance doesn’t cover mental health issues, some counselors and therapists work on a sliding fee scale.

You also may want to check out online therapy providers as well. In addition to being more conducive to busy schedules, sometimes these options are more affordable too.

Participate in a Group

A great way to make connections and meet new people is to join a group. Once there, you will meet people with similar passions and desires and you are more likely to meet someone that you can build a lasting friendship with.

Plus, attending regular meetings and events with the group provides you with the opportunity to socialize and have a casual conversation.

Contact a Hotline

If you are in crisis, it’s important to get help right away. For this reason, never hesitate to call a hotline. Regardless of your need, there are crisis lines with trained advocates there to help you.

Many times, they will listen and chat with you for as long as you need. Whether you want help with a drug addiction, domestic violence, an eating disorder, or even thoughts of suicide, there are people available to talk almost any time of day.

Visit a Place of Worship

Churches, mosques, and synagogues are a great place to find someone to talk with. Often, religious leaders are more than happy to talk with people in crisis or in need. So, you may want to look to your local church or synagogue as a possible resource.

Even if you don’t have a religious affiliation right now, you may want to pursue different options and see if there is a place of worship that fits with your values and beliefs.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings between emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). The word bipolar itself means two extremes. Hence, it is a mental health condition characterized by extreme shifts in moods and mental states. Depression causes feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and you lose interest or pleasure in most life activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania, you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly. People with bipolar disorder may have trouble managing everyday life tasks at school or work, or maintaining healthy relationships. There is no known cure, but there are many treatment options available that can help to manage the symptoms. 

Causes

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but several factors may be involved. For example, researchers believe that certain people with bipolar disorder have biological differences that cause chemical imbalances in the brain. There is also the factor of genetics, as bipolar disorder is more common in people who have a first-degree relative, such as a sibling or parent, with the condition.

Types

  • Bipolar I disorder: This involves manic episodes lasting 7 days or more, or severe mania that requires hospitalization. The person may also experience a major depressive episode that lasts 2 weeks or more. Thus, this type is characterized by extreme and severe highs and lows.
  • Bipolar II disorder: This features both mania and depression, but the mania is less severe than in bipolar I, and doctors call it hypomania. A person with bipolar II may experience a major depressive episode preceding or following a manic episode. Hence, here there are briefer, less extreme periods of elation with longer periods of depression.
  • Cyclothymic disorder: Also known as cyclothymia, this type includes symptoms of hypomania and depression that last for 2 years or more in adults or 1 year in children. These symptoms do not fit the criteria for wholly manic or depressive episodes.
  • Other types: People with these disorders experience symptoms that do not fall into the above categories. The symptoms may stem from drug or alcohol use or medical conditions, for example.

Symptoms

The three main symptoms of this illness are those mentioned earlier; mania, hypomania, and depression. These symptoms also vary depending on the type of bipolar disorder. The most serious type is Bipolar I, where a person experiences both mania and depression very deeply.

Mania is an emotional high that makes people feel excited, impulsive and euphoric. But these exceed ordinary feelings of joy, causing racing thoughts, rapid speech, sleeplessness, hypersexual feelings, and risky actions. Hypomania is generally associated with bipolar II disorder. It is similar to mania, but not as severe.

Depression causes things like low mood, dwindling interest in hobbies, changes in appetite, feeling worthless, sleeping too less/too little, and suicidal thoughts. Basically, life loses all colour for a person experiencing depression, and it is very hard for them to enjoy anything or feel any positive emotions.

Treatment

Though it cannot be cured, bipolar disorder can be controlled with treatment. Medication is the cornerstone of bipolar disorder treatment, and psychotherapy can help many patients learn about their illness and how to cope with it, preventing future mood episodes. Treatment aims to stabilize the person’s mood and reduce the severity of symptoms. The goal is to help the person function effectively in daily life.

Medications known as ‘mood stabilizers’, such as lithium, are the most commonly prescribed type of medications for bipolar disorder. These medications are believed to correct imbalances in brain signaling. Because bipolar disorder is a chronic illness in which mood episodes typically recur, ongoing preventive treatment is recommended. Bipolar disorder treatment is individualized, as individuals react differently and symptoms vary widely. It is important to get a correct diagnosis and find a suitable treatment as per the individual.

People suffering from bipolar disorder have their life split in two realities; elation and depression. For someone constantly bouncing between emotional states, it can be hard to find the balance which will help lead a healthy life. Hence, we should also support the people in our lives suffering from bipolar disorder and help them cope with such extreme and debilitating emotions.

Universal Design

Universal design is the approach of designing products and environment so that it can be used by broad number people irrespective of age, disability, ability, status in life and various other factors.

Usually, products are designed to be suitable for average users whereas products designed under the principle of universal design try to be suitable for the maximum number of users. The purpose of universal design is not to create a design that can work for 100 percent of the people because it is almost impossible to have a ‘One size fits all’ design. The purpose is to create a design that can serve solutions that are more inclusive. Designers have to look at those designs that push the boundaries as far out as possible without compromising the quality and integrity of the product.

There are many instances where a designer will have to choose between different designs and determine the more suitable design according to UD principles. For instance, if there is a choice to choose between a lever-design handle and a knob-design handle. It is preferable to choose the former rather than the latter as the lever design can accommodate more people’s daily usage. The lever design feature will be a more inclusive element compared to the latter. It can accommodate various usages like opening the door with closed fists or the elbow or so that a person can easily access the door while carrying something as well as people with finite strength.

There are briefly 7 Principles of Universal Design. These were developed in 1997 by a team of architects, designers, engineers, and environmental design researchers.  The team was led by the late Ronald Mace who was an internationally recognized American Architect and designer in North Carolina State University.

The seven principles are:

  • Equitable use

While designing, the product should be kept in mind that it should be accessible by every person including disabled people.  

  • Flexibility in use

The design needs to be configurable to accommodate everyone’s preferences, needs, and abilities.

  • Simple and intuitive

This means that the design should be easy to understand for everybody. The person can easily figure out a well-designed product or an environment without thinking too much about it.

  • Perceptible information

The design can communicate all of its necessary information to everybody irrespective of the environmental conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.

  • Tolerance for error

It refers to safety so that the design minimizes hazards, accidents or unintended actions.

  • Low physical effort

The design in use needs to be comfortable and efficient rather than being exhausting and fatiguing to use.

  • Size and space for approach and use

The design irrespective of user’s body size, posture, or mobility should not restrict anybody by its size or space.

Universal design can really make the lives of people much more comfortable, safer, and efficient in the long run. There are still many areas that are not designed well and poorly designed products, buildings or the environment can be a safety hazard as well. It is usually the job of a universal designer to design new products from the ground up and many also renovate existing designs to make them more accommodative and accessible.

References:

http://universaldesign.ie/What-is-Universal-Design/The-7-Principles/

https://www.washington.edu/doit/what-universal-design-0

The Impact of Music: Can It Help Your Health?

It’s difficult to discover anyone who doesn’t have a special bond to music. Even though you can’t hold a tune or play a musical instrument, you can certainly draw up a list of songs that bring back nice memories and lift your mood. Doctors have traditionally played their favourite tunes in the surgery room to reduce tension, and bringing music to patients has been related to better clinical outcome.

Music has the ability to evoke any feeling imaginable. It can lift us to unfathomable heights, soothe us in our sadness or loneliness, helps us in expressing our anger or irritation in a non-harmful way, gets our bodies going, and provides peace and serenity to our souls. Music has the ability to boost our health and well-being, which adds to its greatness.Music therapy has been more important in many aspects of recovery over the last few decades.

What precisely is music therapy?

Music therapy is a psychological approach that employs music’s inherently mood-lifting characteristics to assist people in improving their mental health and general health. It is a goal-oriented treatment which may include music creation, songwriting, singing, dancing, hearing music and analyzing music. Music therapy affects the body, mind, and soul. It  may divert the mind, slows down the rhythms of the body, and affect our mood, both of which can impact our actions.

This method of therapy may be beneficial for those suffering from anxiety and depression, as well as improving the quality of life for those suffering from physical ailments. Anybody can participate in music therapy; you wouldn’t need knowledge of music to benefit from it. 

Music therapy treatments are planned with the patient’s general wellbeing, communications skills, cognitive capabilities, psychological well-being, and hobbies in mind.

Types of Music Therapy

Music therapy is an evolving process in which patients participate in the creation of music, or a passive one in which patients hear to or respond to music. Certain therapists may employ a hybrid strategy that includes both active as well as passive musical engagement.

There are many recognized techniques in music therapy, such as:

Analytical music therapy: Analytical music therapy enables you to communicate your unconscious ideas through an improvised musical “conversation” such as singing or playing an instrument, which you may then ponder upon and analyse with your therapist.

Benenzon music therapy: This method integrates some psychoanalytic principles with the process of producing music. The quest for your “musical sound identification,” which defines the exterior sound that most closely fits your interior psychological condition, is part of Benenzon music therapy.

Cognitive behavioural music therapy (CBMT): It blends cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with music. Music is utilised in CBMT to encourage certain behaviours and alter others. This method is planned rather than improvised, and it may involve having to listen to music performing, singing, or playing a musical instrument.

Community music therapy: This style focuses on utilising music to support transformation on a group level. It is carried out in a group environment and necessitates a great degree of participation from each participant.

Vocal psychotherapy: In this approach, you engage with your thoughts and desires by using numerous vocal exercises, natural sounds, and breathing techniques. This exercise is intended to help you get in touch with yourself more deeply.

The Advantages of Music Therapy

Because music therapy can be extensively customised, it is appropriate for people of all ages—even very young toddlers can gain from it. It is also adaptable and beneficial to persons with varying degrees of musical expertise as well as varied mental or physical health issues.

Music therapy can stimulate brain areas that regulate memories, feelings, mobility, sensory relay, some autonomic activities, decision-making, and rewards. It can help children and young people with developmental and/or learning impairments enhance their motor skills and improve their communication.

Overall, music therapy has been shown to promote good emotions such as relaxation, happiness, emotional closeness, optimism, and confidence.

Ways to Manage Stress

Stress is part of being human, and it can help motivate you to get things done. Even high stress from serious illness, job loss, a death in the family, or a painful life event can be a natural part of life. You may feel down or anxious, and that’s normal too for a while. Talk to your doctor if you feel down or anxious for more than several weeks or if it starts to interfere with your home or work life. Therapy, medication, and other strategies can help. In the meantime, there are things you can learn to manage stress before it gets to be too much. Consider these suggestions:

Exercise : To start with, physical activity can help improve your sleep.  And better sleep means better stress management. Doctors don’t yet know exactly why, but people who exercise more tend to get better deep “slow wave” sleep that helps renew the brain and the body. Just take care not to exercise too close to bedtime, which disrupts sleep for some people. Exercise also seems to help mood. Part of the reason may be that it stimulates your body to release a number of hormones like endorphins and endocannabinoids that help block pain,  improve sleep, and sedate you. Some of them (endocannabinoids) may be responsible for the euphoric feeling, or “runner’s high,” that some people report after long runs. People who exercise also tend to feel less anxious and more positive about themselves. When your body feels good, your mind often follows. Get a dose of stress relief with these exercises: running, swimming, dancing, cycling, aerobics.

Diet : The benefits of eating health foods extend beyond your waistline to your mental health. A healthy diet can lessen the effects of stress, build up your immune system,  level your mood, and lower your blood pressure. Lots of added sugar and fat can have the opposite effect. And junk food can seem even more appealing when you’re under a lot of stress. To stay healthy and on an even keel, look for complex carbohydrates, lean protiens, and fatty acids found in fish, meat, eggs and nuts. Antioxidants help too. They protect your cells against damage that chronic stress can cause. You can find them in a huge variety of foods like beans, fruits, berries, vegetables, and spices such as ginger. Stick to a healthy diet with a few simple tips. Make a shopping list. Carry healthy snacks with you when you leave the house. Stay away from processed foods, and try not to eat mindlessly. Scientists have pinpointed some nutrients that seem to help lessen the effects of stress on the body and mind. Be sure to get enough these as part of a balanced diet: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Omega-3 fatty acids.

Sleep : A common side effect of stress is that you may struggle to fall asleep. If this happens three times a week for at least 3 months, you may have insomnia, an inability to fall and stay asleep. Lack of sleep can also add to your stress level and cause a cycle of stress and sleeplessness. Better sleep habits can help. This includes both your daily routine and the way you set up your bedroom. Habits that may help include: Exercise regularly, Get out in the sunlight, Drink less alcohol and caffeine close to bedtime, Set a sleep schedule, Don’t look at your electronics 30-60 minutes before bed, try meditation or other forms of relaxation at bedtime. The role of your bedroom in good sleep hygiene also is important. In general, your room should be dark, quiet, and cool — 60-65 degrees is thought to be an ideal temperature to stay asleep. Your bed also plays an important role. Your mattress should provide support, space and most of all, comfort.

Meditation : It has been around for over 5,000 years for a reason. Meditation works well for many people and has many benefits. It can lower stress, anxiety, and chronic pain as well as improve sleep, energy levels, and mood. To meditate, you will need to: Find a quiet place, Get comfortable (sitting or lying down), Focus your attention on a word, phrase, object, or even your breath, Let your thoughts come and go and do not judge them.

Deep breathing: When you practice deep breathing, you turn on your body’s natural ability to relax. This creates a state of deep rest that can change how your body responds to stress. It sends more oxygen to your brain and calms the part of your nervous system that handles your ability to relax. Try belly breathing. Get comfortable, close your eyes, and place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest. Take a deep breath in through your nose. You should feel your belly rise more than your chest. Now, exhale through your nose and pay close attention to how your body relaxes. Repeat.

STRESS MANAGEMENT :Give your stress wings and let it fly away.

Set peace of mind as your highest goal, and organise ur life around it.

What is stress?

Stress is a natural feeling of not being able to cope with specific demands and events. However, stress can become a chronic condition if a person does not take steps to manage it.

Stress is the body’s natural defense against predators and danger. It causes the body to flood with hormones that prepare its systems to evade or confront danger. People commonly refer to this as the fight-or-flight mechanism.

When humans face a challenge or threat, they have a partly physical response. The body activates resources that help people either stay and confront the challenge or get to safety as fast as possible.

The body produces larger quantities of the chemicals cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These trigger the following physical reactions:

  • increased blood pressure
  • heightened muscle preparedness
  • sweating
  • alertness

These factors all improve a person’s ability to respond to a potentially hazardous or challenging situation. Norepinephrine and epinephrine also cause a faster heart rate.

Stress is your body’s response to changes in your life. Because life involves constant change ranging from everyday, routine changes like commuting from home to work to adapting to major life changes like marriage, divorce, or death of a loved one there is no avoiding stress

Your goal shouldn’t be to eliminate all stress but to eliminate unnecessary stress and effectively manage the rest. There are some common causes of stress  that many people experience, but each person is different.

Causes of stress.

stress can be the reason behind high blood pressure.

Stress can come from many sources, which are known as “stressors” Because our experience of what is considered “stressful” is created by our unique perceptions of what we encounter in life (based on our own mix of personality traits, available resources, and habitual thought patterns), a situation may be perceived as “stressful” by one person and merely “challenging” by someone else.

Simply put, one person’s stress trigger may not register as stressful to someone else. That said, certain situations tend to cause more stress in most people and can increase the risk of burnout stress management

How can we manage our stress?

Stress can be effectively managed in many different ways.

Exercise

Physical activities can help in improving your sleep. And better sleep  means better stress management. Doctors don’t yet know exactly why, but people who exercise more tend to get better deep “slow wave” sleep that helps renew the brain  and body. Just take care not to exercise  too close to bedtime, which disrupts sleep for some people.

Exercise also seems to help mood. Part of the reason may be that it stimulates your body to release a number of hormones like endorphins and endocannabinoids that help block pain, improve sleep, and sedate you. Some of them (endocannabinoids) may be responsible for the euphoric feeling, or “runner’s high,” that some people report after long runs.

People who exercise also tend to feel less anxious and more positive about themselves. When your body feels good, your mind often follows. Get a dose of stress relief with these exercises:

  • Running
  • Swimming
  • Dancing
  • Cycling
  • Aerobics

Diet

The benefits of eating health foods extend beyond your waistline to your mental health. A healthy diet  can lessen the effects of stress, build up your immune system, level your mood, and lower your blood pressure. Lots of added sugar  and fat  can have the opposite effect. And junk food can seem even more appealing when you’re under a lot of stress.

To stay healthy and on an even keel, look for complex carbohydrates, lean proteins, and fatty acids found in fish, meat, eggs, and nuts.

Antioxidants  help too. They protect your cells against damage that chronic stress can cause. You can find them in a huge variety of foods like beans, fruits, berries, vegetables, and spices such as ginger.

Scientists have pinpointed some nutrients that seem to help lessen the effects of stress on the body and mind. Be sure to get enough these as part of a balanced diet:

  • vitamin C
  • Magnesium
  • Omega-3 fatty acids

Sleep

A common side effect of stress is that you may struggle to fall asleep. If this happens three times a week for at least 3 months, you may have insomnia, an inability to fall and stay asleep. Lack of sleep can also add to your stress level and cause a cycle of stress and sleeplessness

Better sleep habits can help. This includes both your daily routine and the way you set up your bedroom. Habits that may help include:

  • Exercise regularly.
  • Get out in the sunlight.
  • Drink less alcohol and caffeine  close to bedtime.
  • Set a sleep schedule.
  • Don’t look at your electronics 30-60 minutes before bed.
  • Try meditation  or other forms of relaxation at bedtim

The role of your bedroom in good sleep hygiene also is importantYour bed also plays an important role. Your mattress should provide support, space and most of all, comfort.

Relaxation Techniques

Yoga. This is a form of exercise, but it can also be a meditation. There are many types of yoga. The ones that focus on slow movement, stretching, and deep breathing  are best for lowering your anxiety  and stress.

Meditation. It has been around for over 5,000 years for a reason. Meditation works well for many people and has many benefits. It can lower stress, anxiety, and chronic pain as well as improve sleep, energy levels, and mood. To meditate, you will need to:

  1. Find a quiet place.
  2. Get comfortable (sitting or lying down).
  3. Focus your attention on a word, phrase, object, or even your breath.
  4. Let your thoughts come and go and do not judge them.

Deep breathing. When you practice deep breathing, you turn on your body’s natural ability to relax. This creates a state of deep rest that can change how your body responds to stress. It sends more oxygen to your brain and calms the part of your nervous system that handles your ability to relax.

Try belly breathing. Get comfortable, close your eyes, and place one hand on your stomach  and the other on your chest. Take a deep breath in through your nose. You should feel your belly rise more than your chest. Now, exhale through your nose and pay close attention to how your body relaxes. Repeat.

5 signs your mind is warning you about mental illness

What classifies as an abnormal behavior? How to differentiate between normal and abnormal thoughts/ actions and behavior? Who gets to decide them and their treatments?

It often feels like walking on eggshells when we discuss what is abnormal and what isn’t. In a societal context, the kind of behavior which is often seen, encouraged, and occurs frequently is called “Normal Behavior”. The sort of behavior and actions that are rare and deviates from social norms are regarded as “Abnormal Behavior”. But deviance from social norms cannot be always labeled as abnormal behavior since it is subjective to one community.

The situational context i.e., the social settings or circumstances which preceded or continued when the event occurred makes a significant difference in how thinking or behavior is labeled. For instance, let’s take phobias. A person comes to a therapist saying that they have severe anxiety and fear when they people’s hands or balloons or cheese. This would have been taken as something absurd since it was unheard of. But now, a therapist might discover that a traumatic event occurred when they were exposed to hands, balloons, or cheese which made them develop chirophobia, globophobia, and theophobia respectively.

The thinking or behavior which significantly disrupt one’s thought processes or course of actions, which affects themselves or/ and affects people around them can be termed as maladaptive or abnormal behavior. Maladaptive behavior or thinking also means that a person finds it hard to adapt to day-to-day living. It is the key element in the definition of abnormality.

Well, how do psychologists decide what is abnormal?

Rather than pinpointing what is abnormal, psychologists tend to focus on how effectively one deals with daily encounters with the world, the levels of distress it is causing an individual, and their reactions to them. To get a clear picture of what’s going on, individual and professional psychologists must take in all factors while determining whether one’s functioning and behavior are significantly affecting their lifestyle. (But remember that the main objective is to figure out what is causing them; be it biological or mental factors, to find out how to cure the mental obstacles or find an effective way to lessen their intensity. It isn’t you, rather it’s just a part of you. Abnormality and insanity are completely different)

Psychopathology – The study of behavior and psychological dysfunction.

Few symptoms:

Firstly, never self-diagnose! If you feel strongly regarding these signs, find a professional psychologist who feels right to you, share your thoughts and experiences and have a healthy discussion about what you researched and clear out doubts. Be open to every possibility and kudos for taking a step to care, help and love yourself.

  1. Getting easily annoyed and having a hard time handling frustrations and urges.
  2. After having dealt with a traumatic experience, has the thinking or behavior been unusual? It can range from subtle isolation to severe panic while dealing with a stranger or a familiar course of events (that previously led to the trauma).
  3. Does thinking or behavior go against the social norms? (P.s Norms change over time)
  4. An extreme change in moods and lifestyle.
  5. Certain news, course of events, or items (Triggers) that affect your ability to function or causes significant subjective discomfort?

What gives birth to mental illness?

Psychodynamic view: It includes Freud’s belief which emphasizes that unconscious psychological process (The wishes, urges, and fear which we suppress creates conflict outside of a person’s consciousness), childhood experiences, and environment before birth influences our thoughts and behaviors. To keep the repressed thoughts from resurfacing, disordered functioning aka defense mechanism develops as a way to keep them contained.

Cognitive perspective: It talks about how we think about a problem interfered by disordered thoughts which leads to mental disorders. One can overcome this by consciously using more rational cognitions. How we perceive, evaluate, and anticipate events tend to be negative and disruptive when interfered with mental blockages.

Biological view: This view beliefs that disorders are caused by organic or physical causes such as defective neurotransmitters, genetics, traumas to the brain, and basically neuroanatomy. For instance, personality traits are influenced by genetic inheritance, and in disorders like schizophrenia, dopamine levels are believed to play a part as well as differences in the brain anatomy.

Behaviorists believe that just like normal behavior we learn abnormal behavior influences largely by conditioning and observational learning. For example, children with parents who deal with substance abuse or an environment with violent circumstances give birth to various coping mechanisms which might be healthy or unhealthy.

Although, just like we can learn all kinds of behavior, we can unlearn them too.

How to find the right treatment(s) for you?

Well, Trial and error! Having a medical professional gives you a safe room to mistakes, share and learn from your experiences and find more therapies the right way. Psychotherapy and biomedical therapies are common courses of treatment.

Psychotherapy includes insight therapies; the main goal here is to help both mentally healthy and psychologically disordered persons try to understand their motives and actions, action therapy (more focused on changing behavior rather than insights), and more. The main goal is to resolve the issues from their roots, learning and unlearning behaviors and developing healthy habits.

Biomedical therapy includes the usage of medicine, surgical methods, and noninvasive stimulation techniques. Antipsychotics, antidepressants, anti-cycling agents, and hypnoanxiolytics are the main classes of psychiatric medications.

Note that, biomedical therapy is used to alleviate or eliminate symptoms of disorders. Sometimes, biomedical and psychotherapy go hand in hand. When it comes to treating psychological disorders, I believe that cure can have a variety of meanings. Many behavioral disorders cannot be cured but with proper treatment, one can live a productive and happy life which usually accounts for the cure of the disorder.

References:

 Psychology by Pearson | Fifth Edition | By Pearson. by K. Ciccarelli Saundra, White J. Noland, et al. | 15 October 2017.

PANDORA EFFECT: Why curiosity usually beats the common sense.

Curiosity killed the cat, but for a while I was a suspect.

What is pandora effect?

The relentless human desire to know – to satisfy curiosity at all costs –People are more likely to open the box if the outcome is uncertain and expectedly negative than if the outcome is certain and neutral or certain and negative can be more of a curse than a blessing,. We refer to this effect as the Pandora effect.

Whether it’s surreptitiously checking your partner’s phone for signs of infidelity, avidly reading celebrity gossip mags, or hunting people down on social media, too much curiosity can be like opening Pandora’s Box: the urge to do it can outweigh any benefits you might get from knowing, and it can seriously affect your happiness and wellbeing.

Opening the box

Curiosity is a spark behind the ……..

The researchers provided volunteers with a box containing prank pens that gave anyone clicking the button at the top a painful but harmless electric shock. The participants were randomly allocated a box containing either pens with a certain outcome or pens with an uncertain outcome. One group were given five pens with red stickers telling them the pens would give an electric shock and five pens with green stickers indicating the pens wouldn’t give an electric shock. The participants in the uncertain outcome group were given 10 pens all marked with yellow stickers indicating that they might or might not give a shock.

It turned out that the volunteers were far more likely to click the uncertain pens than either of the other sets of pens, and even more than both of the certain groups combined.

Curiosity leading to unpleasant experience

The cure for boredom is curiosity but there is no cure for curiosity.

Results like this show we have an innate desire to resolve uncertainty even if we know that doing so will have no positive effect and may even be unpleasant. The researchers suggest that we might make better decisions in life if we first stop and consider whether our choices will have positive or negative outcomes.

Perhaps, for example, if we consider the harmful effects of rubbernecking before we see a motorway accident we can help protect ourselves from being overcome by curiosity and end up in an accident ourselves. But if the researchers’ hunch is correct, even if we know about the unpleasant consequence of curiosity, we are still likely to open that box.

Curiosity brings excitement in our life and makes it more interesting doesn’t mean that we should make choices that can hurt us just for fulfilling our desire of curiosity .

Sometimes it’s better to leave the things the way they are .

FALSE MEMORIES: THE PAST YOU REMEMBER IS NOT ALWAYS THE TRUTH

We can’t reliability distinguish the true memories from false memories.

False memory is a psychological phenomenon whereby an individual recalls an event that never happened, or an actual occurrence substantially differently from the way it transpired.

In other words, a false memory could either be an entirely imaginary fabrication, or a distorted recollection of an actual event. Moreover, false memories are distinct from simple errors in recollection.

Firstly, an individual who holds a false memory maintains some certitude in the veracity of the memory.  Secondly, a false memory deals not with forgetting something that actually happened, but with remembering what had never taken place.

Instances of this phenomenon may range from the mundane—such as remembering that you ate breakfast when you actually did not, to the serious—such as falsely recalling that you were assaulted by your boss.

HOW ARE FALSE MEMORIES FORMED OR MADE?

The difference between false memory and ones is as same as for jewels: it is always the false ones that looks the most real, the most brilliant.

Memories are complex. While you might imagine a memory as a black or white element, the truth is memories are subject to change, malleable, and often unreliable.

Events are moved from your brain’s temporary memory to permanent storage while you sleep. The transition, however, isn’t absolute. Elements of the memory may be lost. This is where false memories can begin.

IS THERE A GROUP WHICH IS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE FALSE MEMORIES?

people change memory dosnt.

Memory isn’t permanent. Indeed, it’s pliable and often ever-changing. Certain people or events may make you more likely to develop false memories. These include:

Eye witnessing

If you witness a crime or an accident, your testimony is important — but not conclusive. That’s because experts and law enforcement officials know memories and recollections can and do change, whether through suggestion or the passage of time.

Any gaps in events may be filled in by your memory, turning a reliable recall into a faulty one.

Trauma

People who have a history of trauma, depression, or stress may be more likely to produce false memories. Negative events may produce more false memories than positive or neutral ones.

OCD

Individuals with Obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) may have a memory deficit or poor memory confidence.

They may be more likely to create false memories because they don’t have confidence in their own memories. This often leads to the repetitive or compulsive behaviors that are associated with this disorder.

Aging

As both you and a memory age, details about that memory may be lost. The gist of a memory becomes stronger, while the details fade away.

For example, you may remember you went to the beach on your honeymoon, but you don’t remember the name of the hotel, what the weather was like, or even the city you stayed in.