Tips for Good Mental Health

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Healthy mental health is very important for a person to control their behavior as well as emotions. Mental health is very important to handle life challenges, lead productive lives, and build good relationships. Mental health means overall well-being of the psychological health and it even includes ability to manage the emotions, how a person feels about themselves, and quality of their relationships.

One should understand that good mental health is not just merely absence of any mental health problems, but it is a condition where a person will be free from depression, stress, and anxiety. Mentally strong people have the ability to deal with stress, love for their life, ability to have fun even in difficult times, feeling of contentment, adapt changes, maintaining a balance between professional as well as personal life, and most importantly self-esteem and self-confidence.

People with good mental health always bounce back from their emotional problems and bad times. People with positive attitude always maintain a positive outlook on their life and they remain calm, focused, and creative during their difficult times. The key to have positive attitude towards life is to balance all the emotions.

Other than this physical health is also highly connected with emotional health. Therefore, a person must take enough rest, exercise regularly, should follow proper diet, avoid alcohol and smoking, and finally should get sunlight every day. Finally, people should engage themselves in activity that makes them happy and should some spend time for themselves to maintain good mental health.

 

 

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Are You Depressed?

Everybody is capable of experiencing ups and downs when it comes to our moods. Sadness is a completely normal reaction to the struggles, the setbacks and the disappointments that we deal with on a daily basis. Many people commonly refer to these kinds of feelings as depression, though feelings of depression are actually much more severe in comparison to sadness. Many people have described having depression as feeling as if you are living in a black hole, or possessing a feeling reminiscent of impending doom. Some people that have depression do not actually feel sadness at all, but instead they experience feelings of apathy, emptiness and lifelessness.

Whatever symptoms you experience, depression is definitely different from a normal type of sadness in that it will completely engulf your life on a day to day basis, interfering with things like your ability to study, work, sleep, eat and simply enjoy yourself. There are a number of intense and even unrelenting feelings that you will experience including helplessness, worthlessness and hopelessness, and it is likely that you will very rarely if ever experience periods of relief.

There are a number of signs and symptoms associated with true depression. If you have any of these symptoms and they do not seem to be capable of going away, then you may be suffering from true clinical depression: difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much, inability to concentrate, previously simple tasks have become more difficult, hopelessness, helplessness, uncontrollable negative thoughts, loss of appetite or inability to control eating, irritable more than often, short-tempered more often than usual, or you experience thoughts that your life is no longer worth living. If you experience any of these symptoms on a consistent basis, then now is the time for you to request help from someone that can help you understand your feelings.

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What to Expect When Beginning an Antidepres​sant

There are many different medications that you can use to treat a problem with depression. They always take some time to begin to work in your system, and then your symptoms of depression are going to start to improve over a period of time, typically spanning one and three weeks. It is important to know that it can take longer, sometimes between six and eight weeks before you see a serious improvement in your depression systems. If the medication does not seem to be working, then it might be necessary for your doctor to increase your dosage or to move you to a different type of antidepressant.

After you begin an antidepressant, there are some side effects that you may experience based on the medication. Most of the side effects that are associated with antidepressants are going to be temporary and they are generally going to go away as long as you continue to use the medication in the way that was directed by your physician. Keep in mind that some anti depressant products have side effects that are not likely to go away, persisting for much longer, but these are not typically harmful side effects and are usually constipation or sexual problems.

If you have any specific questions or concerns regarding the medications that you are taking, then it would be wise for you to talk to your physician. This is especially true if your questions are regarding how well your medication is working, as well as if any side effects are currently bothering you. You should never stop taking the antidepressant medication before you first talk to your doctor, because cutting off your antidepressants abruptly can cause a number of additional side effects and systems, including the return of your depression. Make sure that your doctor is aware of how the antidepressant is interacting with your body so that they can make changes to the dosage amount, frequency of use or type of antidepressant as necessary.

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Choosing an Antidepressant

If you are suffering from depression, there are a myriad of antidepressant products that you may try, but choosing an antidepressant must be an agreement between you and your doctor. One of the first steps is that your doctor may choose one for you.

Past experience with an antidepressant. Your doctor may choose an antidepressant that he or she has prescribed before, primarily for familiarity’s sake. If your doctor has experience with the drug interactions and side effects, then they may be more comfortable prescribing it. Some doctors have a tendency to prefer certain types of antidepressants or certain groups of antidepressants if they have had a track record of being effective for certain types of depression.

Past history with an antidepressant. If you have history with an antidepressant in the past, then the odds are good that your doctor will try prescribing it again, but only if you had any successful history with it. Your doctor will not likely revisit an antidepressant that was not effective for you in the past. Your doctor may ask you specifically which antidepressant products have or have not worked well for you in the past.

Family considerations with antidepressants. If you have family members with depression, your doctor may look to the medications that have worked for them in the past, and might make a suggestion based on that information. What has worked for a parent or a sibling may also be effective to treat your type of depression as well.

Health issues and antidepressants. Your doctor will also consider any health issues that you may have, and may end up choosing an antidepressant product based on any potential interactions. If you have a health issue that will prevent a certain type of antidepressant from being ideal, let your doctor know so that they can make choices about your depression treatment accordingly. It is important that your antidepressant benefit you without potentially interacting poorly with a medication that you are taking, or an issue with your health.

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How Healthy are Americans’ Diets?

A diet rich in soy and whey protein, found in ...

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The American diet has long been thought to be high in fat and calories, low in real nutrition. In recent years, however, it seems that many Americans believe that they eat a healthy diet and are doing everything they can to lead a healthy lifestyle. For some, however, their actions still don’t line up with their intentions. Consumer Reports recently polled 1,234 adults in the US to see if their perceptions of their diet matched their actual eating habits.

According to the poll results, roughly 53% believed that their diet was somewhat healthy. 32% believed they ate a very healthy diet and around 6% of respondents believed that they were extremely healthy eaters. These numbers paint a very positive picture of Americans’ diets.

When pressed for more information, however, some more disturbing numbers were revealed. 43% of the people polled said that they drank one or more soda or sugary coffee or tea every day.  Only 25% said that they actively limit the sweets and fat in their daily diets.

Drinking calories—through sodas, artificially sweetened juices, and sugary coffees and teas—is a common way that people gain weight. Dieticians often recommend limiting or eliminating high calorie beverages and replacing them with water or unsweetened fruit juices. It’s much easier to count calories and cut back on daily intake when calories come from food that fills you up and not from drink overloads.

Few in the Consumer Reports poll reported counting their calories or weighing themselves at regular intervals. This may contribute to the fact that 33% of poll respondents believed they were at a healthy weight when they were actually overweight or obese according to their body mass index (BMI).

While more and more Americans may believe that they are healthy, the real figured show that they still have a long way to go.

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Are You Ready for Major Weight Loss?

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People who are 20 percent or more over their ideal body weight, or have a body mass index of 30 or higher, are considered obese. The heaviest suffer from serious health problems, including diabetes, high blood pressure, back and joint pain, fatigue, sleep apnea, shortness of breath, certain kinds of cancer and cardiovascular disease. They also can suffer emotionally and socially.

People who are obese may reach a time when they resolve to drop a large amount of weight.

The first step is to talk with your family doctor. Your physician will order tests to ensure your condition is not related to thyroid dysfunction or medications you may be taking. Since obesity affects every major organ system and your mental state, you may be referred to other specialists, as well as a dietitian, an exercise physiologist and a counselor or psychologist.

You then have a choice: an intensive diet and exercise program, or undergo bariatric surgery.

If you choose the natural route, it will take a plan, discipline, support from others and a complete change in lifestyle. You should incorporate aerobic exercise, weight training, stretching and an overhaul of your eating habits. You won’t drop weight rapidly, but you will immediately gain improved fitness, energy, flexibility and strength. As you get healthier you need to continue these new routines the rest of your life.

Bariatric surgery is a fairly new discipline, first emerging in the early 1980s. Surgical techniques now include minimally invasive and laparoscopic options. Choose a board certified surgeon highly experienced in the procedure you want. Make sure the surgery program is comprehensive, with pre-surgery preparation as well as follow-up and support services. Look for programs certified by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. After surgery, follow your surgeon’s instructions exactly to avoid complications. Spend time talking with a counselor or journaling to help you cope with changes in your body, relationships and your life.

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You’ve Lost Your Job Now

You walk into the office and are met by your boss. He hands you a folder and tells you your job has been eliminated. Your knees buckle and you feel like you’ve been sucker punched in the gut. What now?

This scenario has played out for millions of Americans in the last two years, and it’s still happening. As of December 2010, the national unemployment rate had inched up to 9.8 percent.

The old days of working for one company your entire career have given way to shorter tenures with many different companies and even career changes.

Financial hardship is one matter, but job loss affects many aspects of your life, including your self-esteem, your sense of worth and purpose, daily routines, your social status, relationships and dreams for the future.

Here are some tips to survive this stressful time:

  • Find out about your severance package (if any) and health insurance options.
  • Contact your state unemployment insurance office to apply for benefits. It’s usually better to go in person even though the wait can be lengthy.
  • Take a hard look at your finances and seek ways to cut back. You may need to contact creditors and set up a hardship plan.
  • Talk candidly with family members so they understand your situation.
  • Find out if there are support groups in your area for unemployed people. Or talk with a trusted friend, spiritual advisor or counselor.
  • Don’t get ripped off by scams targeting desperate people offering bogus work at home opportunities or resume services.
  • Develop a great resume. You’ll need several versions appropriate for different industries or jobs.
  • Network, network, network. Use personal and online networking to let people know your marketable skills and the types of jobs you’re interested in.
  • Register with online job search engines.
  • See your doctor or a psychiatrist if you need antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication.
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Be Nice to Aspys: A Little Known Condition is Gaining Recognition

You approach a stranger at a party. He’s nice looking, well groomed and wears stylish clothing. He’s standing alone, with a rather stiff, self-conscious posture. You smile. He stares back a few awkward seconds, then shapes his mouth into a returning smile. You strike up a conversation about a recent game. He nods his head with interest, then begins spouting a stream of statistics and data about the game, the major plays of each team, the coaches, the officials, the history of the sport Your eyes glaze over and you find an excuse to break off and flee to the other side of the room.

You may have met an extremely devoted fan of the game or you’ve just had an encounter with an Aspy.

Asperger syndrome disorder (AS) has only become a distinct diagnosed condition since the early 1990s. It is characterized by social awkwardness, inability to understand facial expressions and body language, clumsy movements, overly formal use of language, preoccupation with favorite topics, poor impulse control, difficulty empathizing, hypersensitivity to light, sounds, smells and touch, and repetitive routines.

Asperger’s is a type of autism, although people with this condition often are highly intelligent, have excellent written and verbal abilities, appear ordinary, and function fairly normally.

Although mostly diagnosed in children, AS is increasingly recognized in adults who initially seek help for depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, self-esteem issues, OCD, ADHD and relationship problems.

One of the most famous Aspys is Temple Grandin, a scientist, college professor, animal rights advocate and author. Grandin has said her condition is like a computer that hasn’t been loaded with software. Most people intuitively know how to make connections with others; Aspys must watch and learn appropriate behaviors, thus loading the needed software into their brains.

So, next time you meet someone who seems odd, be extra nice. They may be an Aspy coping with their limitations.

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After Job Loss¦Take Care of Your Beautiful Mind and Your Body Electric

If you’ve been let go from your job it’s normal to go through bouts of denial, anger and depression. The key to setting yourself up for a brighter future is in moving from the initial negative feelings to a more productive state of mind. You accept what has happened and start looking forward instead of backwards. And you take care of your most valuable asset you.

You are now in the sales and marketing business, and the product you are selling is you. So let’s get personal.

  • Take a look around and be grateful for what you have. You probably have reasonably good health, a place to live, food to eat, people who care about you. Not a bad place for starting over.
  • Write down your abilities and accomplishments. Include your technical and your interpersonal skills. Develop a short commercial to use when talking to people about your job search and during interviews. Being able to clearly and concisely describe your education, experience and skills will set you apart.
  • Take a look in the mirror. Maybe you could lose a few pounds. Maybe your teeth could be whiter. Maybe you could use a hair cut. Spending some time and money on your appearance is one of the best investments you can make.
  • Don’t lie around and feel sorry for yourself. Follow a daily schedule work on your resume, make calls, do research, set up meetings and informational interviews. Add exercise to your routine.
  • Avoid isolation. Keep up with your contacts and work to expand your network. Attend social and business events.
  • Improve upon or learn new skills. Employers want workers who have multiple skill sets and are up to date with software applications.
  • Consider the type of company you want to work for next, or whether you want to become a consultant, open a franchise or start up your own business.

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Aren’t We All a little Paranoid?

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is characterized by a deep distrust of others. People with PPD suspect that others are competing with them, undermining them, plotting against them and out to humiliate and belittle them.

Well, let’s think about this. Didn’t Bernie Madoff bilk billions from people who trusted him? And in the workplace aren’t we constantly competing with our coworkers for time, attention, rewards, promotions and job security? Haven’t most of us encountered so-called friends, who smile to your face, then spread rumors behind your back? What about the guy who cuts you off in traffic or suddenly slams on his breaks in front of you for no reason other than to get you upset?

There are some good reasons in our current world for people to have a healthy distrust of others. They’re likely to be more cautious and careful, very selective in whom they befriend and which institutions they patronize.

It’s probably a normal human trait to be a little paranoid  a survival mechanism. It’s wise to look before we leap, to suspect hidden agendas behind offers that seem too good to be true. We just have to be careful not to let our cynicism block us from actual opportunities and genuine relationships.

People with PPD seldom seek counseling, and if they do, they won’t open up and share with their therapist. Their thinking is so rigid they find it hard to let down their guard and consider a different reality than the one they see.

The beauty of self reflection and personal growth is that we can take a breath, forgive others, try to understand a different point of view and not let setbacks keep us from hoping and dreaming.

It takes courage in a time of change and uncertainty to look for the good in others, overlook offenses and stay positive.

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