Monday, December 7, 2015
Mental Health Problem Symptoms, Causes and Effects
hological factors and environmental factors such as upbringing and
social exposure can form the foundations for harmful thought patterns
associated with mental disorders. Only a certified mental health
professional can provide an accurate diagnosis of the causes of a given
disorder.
What are mental illnesses?
Mental illnesses are health problems that affect the way we think about ourselves, relate to others, and interact with the world around us. They affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Mental illnesses can disrupt a person’s life or create challenges, but with the right supports, a person can get back on a path to recovery and wellness.It’s important to understand that there are many different types of mental illness that affect people in different ways. Within each mental illness, people may have very different symptoms and challenges.
However,
Sunday, December 6, 2015
practice mental fitness:

- Daydream – Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a dream location. Breathe slowly and deeply. Whether it’s a beach, a mountaintop, a hushed forest or a favourite room from your past, let the comforting environment wrap you in a sensation of peace and tranquility.
- “Collect” positive emotional moments – Make it a point to recall times when you have experienced pleasure, comfort, tenderness, confidence, or other positive emotions.
The Importance of Mental Fitness Share
Mind-Body Connection
It’s no surprise that the more you help your body, the more you help your mind. Physical activity increases the flow of oxygen to your brain and increases the amount of endorphins, (feel-good chemicals) in the brain. For this reason, it’s not surprising that people who are in good physical shape also tend to enjoy a higher level of mental agility. Engaging in a vigorous workout can help you battle depression and gain a more positive outlook on life and yourself. It’s also a great way to beat stress, which can harm you mentally and physically.While exercise is good for the brain and the body, so is meditation. Meditation, in conjunction with other methods, is an alternative way to treat depression. Calming the mind allows you to calmly think through your problems
Saturday, December 5, 2015
How Positive Emotions Improve Our Health
We all know that physical health depends on a good diet and exercise. But recent research suggests that it also comes from a regular dose of positive emotions.
Now a new study goes one step further, not only showing that positive emotions improve health but identifying precisely how they have this effect: by making people feel more socially connected.
shironosov
In the study, published online in Psychological Science, researchers divided 65 people into two groups. One received training in the ancient practice of loving-kindness meditation;
the other was put on a waiting list for the meditation training. All of
the participants were faculty or staff at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. None had any prior meditation experience.
The researchers chose loving-kindness meditation because, they write, “it teaches individuals how to cultivate feelings of love, compassion, and goodwill toward themselves and others.” The participants in the meditation group attended one hour-long class per week for six weeks, which they were asked to supplement with daily practice at home.
Now a new study goes one step further, not only showing that positive emotions improve health but identifying precisely how they have this effect: by making people feel more socially connected.
The researchers chose loving-kindness meditation because, they write, “it teaches individuals how to cultivate feelings of love, compassion, and goodwill toward themselves and others.” The participants in the meditation group attended one hour-long class per week for six weeks, which they were asked to supplement with daily practice at home.
Emotional Health Benefits
Due to the strong mind-body connection of yoga, there are many emotional benefits to be gained from a consistent yoga practice.
- Mood. Overall well-being improves with yoga practice. The combination of creating a strong mind-body connection, creating a healthy body, and focusing inward can all lead to improvement in your mood.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Treatments and drugs
Your treatment depends on the type of mental illness you have, its severity and what works best for you. In many cases, a combination of treatments works best.
If you have a mild mental illness with well-controlled symptoms, treatment from one health care provider may be sufficient. However, often a team approach is appropriate to make sure all your psychiatric, medical and social needs are met. This is especially important for severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia.
Mental illness Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of mental illness can vary, depending on the disorder, circumstances and other factors. Mental illness symptoms can affect emotions, thoughts and behaviors.
Examples of signs and symptoms include:
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Mental health statistics, facts and myths
These key facts and statistics about mental health problems can help to challenge the myths that can contribute to the stigma that many people still face.
It’s so important that we challenge these myths so we can understand the real facts about what mental health problems are and how they can affect people.
- Mental health myths and facts
- Statistics about violence and mental illness
- Facts about portrayals of mental health in TV dramas and soaps
Types of mental health illnesses
Anxiety and panic attacks
Explains anxiety and panic attacks, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.Bipolar disorder
Explains what bipolar disorder is, what kinds of treatment are
available, and how you can help yourself cope. Also provides guidance on
what friends and family can do to help.
Body dysmorphic disorder
Explains Body dysmorphic disorder, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family.What is Emotional Health? An Emotional Health Definition
Emotional Health, Emotional Wellness and Emotional Intelligence Defined by Licensed Psychologist
Emotional Health Definition:
Emotional
health is defined by the degree to which you feel emotionally secure
and relaxed in everyday life. An emotionally healthy person has a
relaxed body, an open mind and an open heart.
The
more emotional health you have, the more self-esteem you have. This
means you do not frequently react with knee jerk responses, anxiety or
panic to the events that occur in your life.
Instead,
you are usually calm and patient with yourself and others. You are an
emotionally safe person to be around because you feel emotionally
secure.
Emotionally
safe people do not judge or criticize others. This is because they
have learned not to judge and criticize themselves.
Emotionally
healthy people feel safe and secure with their own emotions and
feelings. They feel their feelings and emotions instead of avoiding
them or trying to control them.
To
be emotionally healthy you must express your emotions in healthy,
assertive ways. If you inhibit your emotions and feelings you cannot
achieve emotional health. This means an emotionally healthy person is
assertive.
40 Physical & Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
When my firstborn was one year old I decided to take a “learn to teach aerobics” class at my gym. I learned all about the principles of fitness, the hows of teaching, and got especially good at step aerobics. Within a couple of months, I was a certified fitness instructor. Why I would want to have to exercise for my job–in front of a room full of people, no less–I realize, doesn’t make much sense. But, getting paid to work out, with free babysitting, certainly did!
That was in 1997, but, over the years, fitness has continued to be a specialty of mine; in fact, my doctoral degree emphasis is “Health Psychology”. My background in fitness always comes in handy, both professionally and personally, as it helps me keep myself mentally and physically strong so I can help others do the same. I am a firm believer in (and practicer of) exercise, and love helping others get “fit,” lose weight, become healthier–physically, mentally, and emotionally–and feel happier through regular exercise.
Six things I have learned about building mental fitness

1. Three miles can feel as hard as 13
It took me a while to grasp this. There’s a three mile loop around Battersea Park in south London. A pleasant trot along the Thames, taking in Battersea Bridge; lovely, sparkly Albert Bridge; a few trees; some nice green space. I hated it.
Somehow, that loop felt ridiculously hard, and it was made all the harder by a swelling sense of panic that I couldn’t manage a mere five kilometres. And yet eight miles, 15 miles, 20 miles were all possible. Sometimes they were difficult, sometimes they were brilliant. I learned not to berate myself on the shorter runs, and to keep adding too, or switching, the distance. Mentally, it doesn’t seem to make much difference.
Why And How You Should Practice Mental Fitness
Why should you practice mental fitness?
You start and end each day with hygiene activities, don’t you? You wash your hands, brush your teeth and take a shower every day. Are you doing something for your mental hygiene? You should! Your mind is also full of impurities that require cleansing: stressful thoughts, worries, envy, lack of will, dullness, doubt, restlessness… the list goes on and on. Maintaining a culture of mind means that you need to cultivate positive values, such as consciousness, good will, agility, self-confidence, joy, and happiness.Saturday, November 21, 2015
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