Mental Health Archives -

February 18, 2018February 18, 2018

Fight For Your Life! Breaking the Curse of Mental Illness and Depression

Fight For Your Life!

Breaking the Curse of Mental Illness and Depression

This evening’s Podcast interview was with author and friend, Lorena Wooten who really opened up about her early life growing up, dealing with mental illness, depression, including Postpartum Depression.

Her book, “Fight For Your Life!: Breaking the Curse of Mental Illness and Depression” Kindle Edition is available as a FREE download until tomorrow if you are a member of the Kindle Unlimited club.

If you are not a member of the Kindle Unlimited club, click the banner below to sign up for a free trial.

Although the Podcast topic was entitled Social Media and Depression, we all know that depression didn’t start with social media and mental illness has been around since Biblical days. Even though the Bible doesn’t use the word “depression” it’s often referenced by other similar words, such as “downcast,” “brokenhearted,” “troubled,” “miserable,” “despairing,” and “mourning,” among others.

Throughout the Bible, there are a number of stories about godly, influential men and women of faith, who struggled and battled through dark times of hopelessness and depression. Fast forward to today, where many of us may find ourselves struggling and battling severe depression and are self-medicating.

With a non-stop 24/7 365 news cycle on TV, mass shootings, radio, and social media it can become overwhelming, but we don’t have to stay stuck there. There’s hope and things we can do non-medicinally to help one of which is writing/journaling or blogging.

Members across all generations have at one time in their lives felt the pressure to fit in with the crowd. Teenagers have felt a need to fit in with their peer groups long before social media was even a thought bubble, but technology magnifies the problem in a powerful way.

However, in the African American community more specifically the talk of mental illness and suicide seems to be taboo, but this evening Lorena and I talked about why it vital to open up, talk and even get help with depression and mental illness.

Download Lorena’s book then come back and leave a comment.

DISCLOSURE: This post contains Amazon Affiliate Links which mean, if you make a purchase after clicking on it, I may make a few coins. Thank you.

November 6, 2017December 11, 2017

Social Media & Mental Health

Have you ever found yourself tossing and turning, unable to sleep thinking about something that may be weighing heavily on your mind? If you pick up your Smartphone, Tablet or turn on your laptop and check into Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to post that you need someone to talk to, how likely is it that you are going to get a response?

Well according to statistics, it is very likely and it just may make you feel better.

Social media has become integral to the lives of young adults and teens: 45% of teenagers say they use apps such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram daily.

In research published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, they found that college students who viewed their own Facebook profiles enjoyed a boost in self-esteem afterward. Nine times out of ten, your “fans, friends or followers” will reach back if you state that you need someone to talk to in times of loneliness or depression which may help many young adults with serious mental illnesses.

The positive feeling it almost like how you feel after checking yourself out in the mirror before going on a date. Other studies have revealed that people feel more social support when they present themselves honestly on social media and tend to feel less stressed after they do so.

“You get much broader affirmation by posting on social media than from calling a relative. It’s one thing if you text a friend; it’s another thing if you have a bunch of people trying to help you out.”

According to Matthew Oransky, an assistant professor of adolescent psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and a practicing therapist, said many of his patients find social connections online they could not find elsewhere. This is particularly true of marginalized teens, such as kids in foster homes and LGBT adolescents.

“I’ve seen some of the really big positives, which is that kids who are isolated can find a community,” Oransky said. “They’re often first able to come out to online friends.” In a survey in 2013, 50% of LGBT youth reported having at least one close friend they knew only from online interactions.

Young adults with serious mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can find social support via social media, according to a study published in 2016. “These people are openly discussing their illness online,” said John Naslund, a research fellow at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice.

Social media postings can help foster greater acceptance of mental health problems. “It’s definitely real that there’s hostility online,” Naslund said. “But we’ve found that comments related to mental health are overwhelmingly positive. People can learn how to cope with symptoms and how to find the right support.”

Parents should help their children use social media wisely, experts said. Oransky suggested that parents talk with kids about the privacy consequences of posting compromising material, such as revealing pictures or personal details that might affect their job prospects. Naslund recommended that people start cautiously on social media by using pseudonyms.

Check out this Podcast where we talked about how blogging can be a good low-cost, non-medicinal way in which to improve your mental health.

So what are your thoughts, has posting on social media been a boost or deterrent to your state of mind?

DISCLAIMER

The information in this blog is provided “AS IS” with no warranties and confers no rights. This blog does not represent the thoughts, intentions, plans or strategies of my employer, it is solely my opinion.

Feel free to challenge me, disagree with me, or tell me I’m completely insane in the comments section of each blog entry, but I reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason whatsoever (abusive, profane, rude, or anonymous comments) – so keep it polite, please.

March 6, 2017May 28, 2017

Natural Ways to Boost Your Mental Health

Today’s Guest Post was contributed by Maurine Anderson

First things first: any serious medical condition should, of course, be examined and addressed by a licensed healthcare professional. With that being said, however, it’s never a bad thing to also discuss with your doctor how you might be able to alter your lifestyle to boost your mental health.

Here are some proven (and sometimes unexpected) ways that you can actually improve your mental health for better all-around well being.

Spend time outdoors.

Studies have shown that spending time in nature can actually decrease brain activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, which is the region of the brain that’s active when you’re engaging in negative thinking. It also has the power to improve self-esteem and relieve symptoms of a variety of mental health conditions.

Try aromatherapy.

Essential oils can be used in a variety of ways to boost mental health—in a warm bath, in an essential oil diffuser, or in a cup of hot tea, for example. And certain essential oils actually have positive mental health benefits tied to them.This article, for example, mentions that lavender can be used to encourage sleep and relaxation; lemon can relieve effects of depression and anxiety, and eucalyptus can offer clarity of the mind.

Get a massage.

Speaking of aromatherapy, aromatherapy can be used in conjunction with massage to boost mental health benefits even further. According to to this article, getting a massage relieves stress and stabilizes your overall mental state. In fact, it even triggers the release of “happiness” hormones like dopamine and endorphins, giving you an instant boost of gratification.

Meditate.

Meditating isn’t only for the spiritually centered—it is a practice that anyone looking to improve their mental health can incorporate in daily life. Meditation has the power to rewire thought patterns, decrease pain perception, and clear the mind from distraction—a common symptom amongst those with mental health conditions.

Get some exercise..

It may sound like common sense, but the benefits of exercise are simply too great to leave this one unsaid. Mental health may be only one aspect of your health, but it is truly related to every other aspect of your well-being—including your physical health. Research has found that those who get regular physical exercise are more resilient to the cognitive decline that comes with age.

Exercise can also reduce the symptoms of many mental health conditions and improve sleeping patterns. And for those who prefer having immediate gratification, physical exercise, like massage, triggers the release of “happiness” hormones, resulting in a lifted mood.

Have a cup of green tea or matcha.

Ever wonder why so many health-conscious individuals seem to drink green tea daily? Green tea has a variety of mental health benefits to offer—as does its powdered relative, matcha.

According to this article about the health benefits of green tea and matcha, drinking green tea or matcha can relieve stress, improve your memory, and minimize neurological health conditions—among many other physical health benefits which can only support stronger mental health.

Eat mental-health promoting foods.

Green tea isn’t the only thing that can boost your mental health. A variety of other foods has been linked to stronger mental health, including salmon, olive oil, avocados, nuts, and berries.

SMLXL

Practice self-care.

All of the tips in this article have something in common—they involve some form of self-care. Self-care is essential because if you are not in a proper mental state in the first place, you simply won’t be able to look outward and serve others. So in addition to the tips listed above, don’t underestimate the power of small forms of self-care, such as taking a nap, cleaning your living environment, or spending a few minutes in the morning on personal hygiene.

SMLXL

Do service for someone.

You’d think that the perfect picture of happiness was relaxing in a peaceful place, with plenty of money to buy you just about anything you could ever want. But studies have actually shown that people are happier in life when they center their focus around meaningful activities rather than hedonism. So if you’re looking for more happiness to boost your mental health, let happiness be a side effect of taking part in meaningful pursuits that will help others.

Let’s Chat: what are some of the things that you do to relax your mind and body?

Disclosure: This post contains affiliates links which will not add an additional cost to your purchase, however, it may buy me a cup of coffee!

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