Author: Pamela Willis

One of the biggest mistakes that we do when trying to help family members with mental health is assuming we know how to help. We quickly conclude things because we rely on the idea of familial connection. We believe that our loved ones’ feelings, thoughts, and actions are only a little effect on their unstable life. With that overly confident way of thinking, we act immediately and we confront them, as if we already have the answers to their struggle. But that mentality only makes things worse because sometimes, we utter words we know we shouldn’t have.

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“It’s All In Your Head”

Most of us consider that happiness is a choice. However, a mental illness like depression most definitely is not. Sometimes, we fail to realize that the condition is due to the things that are out of our loved ones’ control. These include traumatic experiences, environmental factors, brain chemical imbalances, as well as genetics. So there is no point in condemning them for feeling depressed or experiencing a mental breakdown. When we try and comfort someone with depression, we do not convince them to forget and ignore all the things they are mentally and emotionally experiencing. Because even if we might not see it, the effects of those illnesses are just as real as physical pain. We have to realize that depression is not something anyone can shrug off any time they want. So we shouldn’t think that our loved ones are overreacting and that they’re just making a big deal about it.

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“You Seem To Look Fine”

Sometimes, we tend to help our family in a different way than what we usually do. That explains why we often try to stay positive as much as possible so that it can impact our loved ones’ overall well-being. With that, we utter words like “you look fine to me” to assume positive feedback. We think it is a compliment. However, for people who are experiencing a mental illness, it represents a different meaning. It makes them believe that we are invalidating their feelings and struggle. As a result, our loved ones become resentful towards us. They will think that it was a bad idea to confide their feelings to such insensitive individuals like us. In some unfortunate instances, those words can make them take away their trust towards us.

“You Are Not Trying Hard Enough To Help Yourself”

For some reason, family members with depression know that their condition is not something they can easily control. Most of the time, they are struggling with it without even noticing it. And since we assume we know how to take care of our family, we confront them. We give advice and make sure that they push themselves to positivity. But sometimes, we get upset when all our efforts seem not to work. With that, we express our frustrations to our loved ones because we think helping them is useless without their cooperation. We feel they are not striving hard enough. But those words can deeply hurt them instead of encouraging them. They make our loved ones feel guilty of having a mental illness even though it is never their fault.

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“There Is No Reason To Feel Depressed”

Depression is different from the occasional sadness and loneliness we feel. It is not comparable to having a normal emotional and mental response from the ups and downs of life. There is no specific cause for it. So when we tell our family that they shouldn’t be depressed because there are no reasons to be, we come off as unsympathetic, insensitive, and irritating individuals. Even if our intention is only to remind our loved ones about the great things they have in their lives, it will still turn out to be an unacceptable approach. That is because those words can make them believe that they are ungrateful. That emotional trigger will only worsen their condition and eventually make them not want to help themselves.

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“I Know How You Feel”

Understandably, saying these words to our loved ones means to convey understanding and sympathy. However, for those family members with depression, it feels offensive. If we have suffered the same mental health conditions that our loved ones are now experiencing, we can say these words. But if not, there is no better way to say that we truly know everything about their emotional and mental pain. To help our family, we must first understand that we don’t know anything about their pain. No matter how hard we imagine we can relate to their struggles, we can’t. That is the first step to recognizing the effort we need to put.

It is better to understand that sometimes, even a well-intentioned remark can get misinterpreted. Even if we think we deliver our words correctly, it can still be misconceived as something ignorant and hurtful. Thus, we must try our best to be careful in transferring our thoughts into words.

 

 

The coronavirus pandemic is affecting people around the world. And even those who are in quarantine are taking a considerable toll on themselves, not physically, but mentally. Families are out of their usual routine. And are forced to adjust to the “new normal” – working at home and even homeschooling, making our kids feel anxious and isolated. But before we can take care of our child’s mental health, we need to start with ourselves. 

Here is how we, parents, can take care of ourselves while in quarantine.

Follow A Schedule

The coronavirus pandemic has taken us out of our usual routine, locking us in our homes for safety measures. Because of this, we lost our sense of control of our lives, making us anxious and stressed most of the time. So what you need to do to regain that control is to have a schedule. Create a new routine that you and your family can follow every day. Set aside a time for working, hanging out with your kids, exercising, and even having just a free time to relax.

This quarantine schedule does not have to be on the dot and uptight. Allow for some flexibility and contingencies. Do not let this routine be another source of your anxiety. Follow your schedule, but do not be afraid to veer away from it when you need some downtime for yourself.

Be Physically Active

Before, staying at home means relaxing and getting away from the usual problem of your daily life. Now, staying at home is a mandatory practice to keep yourself and your family safe, blurring the lines of work, school, and relaxation. So, it may be tempting to forgo working and just relax all day, but that will do you more harm than good. Mainly since lack of physical activity contributes to other health issues like weight gain and heart diseases.

So while in quarantine, find time to work out for at least 150 minutes per week. Besides keeping you physically healthy, it can also help you mentally as exercising improves your move and boosts your energy.

Eat Healthily

Another essential health tip to remember is to eat healthily. As much as possible, avoid binging on unhealthy snacks like soda and salted chips when binge-watching your favorite shows. There is a science behind avoiding these foods and having better moods. And now more than ever, you will need to be mentally and emotionally healthy to better deal with these unstable times.

So, be sure to incorporate foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in your diet and have instant mood boosts at every meal.

Have Enough Sleep

One of the things that you should also include in your schedule is the time for sleeping and the time for waking up. Research shows that having enough sleep can improve your mood and decrease your risk of anxiety and depression. Jade Wu Ph.D., also shares, “getting enough sleep is important for your health and happiness.” She adds “Keeping a consistent wake-up time will help you to get on the same page with your body, and to have just the right amount of that sweet, innocent sleep.”

So when it’s near your bedtime, put your phones away, tuck yourself in bed, and get ready to fall asleep right on schedule. 

Minimize Screen Time

Both the internet and the television are full of negative news about the pandemic. And continuously exposing ourselves to these can increase our anxiety. Researches have also reported that exposure to negative news fuels our natural negativity bias. It is making us pay more attention to the threatening events around us, which ultimately makes us more depressed and anxious.

It is essential to be informed about current events while in quarantine. But it is also necessary to know when enough is enough and when to turn off your TVs and get out of social media to find peace in yourself.

Communicate Your Feelings

Lastly, do not forget to communicate your feelings. Yes, you are a parent, and you need to be reliable for your children, but you are also a human being. So, whenever you feel overwhelmed with emotions, reach out to your partner or a trusted friend, and tell them about it. Keeping negative feelings may put you on edge and unable to take care of your children. 

Never wait for your emotional cup to be full. When you don’t feel okay, tell someone about it.

One important thing to note: our children feel our anxiety. So before we can fully assist our children in dealing with their mental health while in quarantine, we must mentally and emotionally ready to do it. Start taking care of yourselves to help your kids cope with this pandemic.

The 2019 Mental Illness Conference revealed that teletherapy is the next big thing now. With the emergence of COVID-19 and social distancing, it is getting more challenging to have a physical meeting with your therapists. Some people might feel a bit hesitant to try this new approach. With this in mind, listed below are some of the top benefits you can get if you engage with teletherapy.

More Accessible

As mentioned above, it’s a little bit challenging to set an appointment with your therapist physically. Simultaneously, some individuals living in rural areas find it challenging to travel just for this service. Teletherapy eliminates the distance barrier so that therapy is accessible to everyone everywhere.

Privacy

Some people do not engage with therapists because they’re scared of being judged. They do not want other people to see them enter a therapist’s clinic. With the emergence of teletherapy, you don’t have to worry about this issue. Since everything is online, you will be able to eliminate all the awkwardness of seeking the therapist’s services.

Reduced Wait Times

If you line up at a therapist’s office, there’s a significant chance that you will have to wait for your turn. Some sessions will inevitably extend, so you have to sit at the lounge for a longer time. With teletherapy, this won’t be a problem anymore. Add to this the reduced time of battling with traffic going and returning from your session.

More Comfortable

Believe it or not, several people feel a bit anxious when sitting in the waiting room of the clinic. They have to process their emotion of meeting a new person and pouring their feelings to him or her. This scenario makes them a little bit stressed. If you’re one of these people, you don’t have to worry about experiencing this. Teletherapy alleviates the anxiety since they’re processing everything in the comfort of their own homes.

Streamlines Communications

One of the most vital benefits that teletherapy brings to the table is streamlined communications. All records are available on one platform. Also, patients can access their files online, view their charting program, and receive appointment notifications. They can even pay digitally!

Teletherapy brings a new perspective and frontier, and with its growth, the future looks brighter.

 

The 2017 Mental Illness Summit tackled the different strategies dedicated to safeguarding mental health. One of these is coming up with the best diet that can be of help in addressing depression. According to a study in 2017, individuals with moderate-to-severe depression improved their situation upon following a more healthful diet for three months. 

Read on to know what food to eat and avoid when you have depression. 

EAT: Dark Leafy Green Vegetables

Experts revealed that the healthiest food out there in the market is the dark leafy green vegetables – no contest. This list includes Kale, Spinach, Swiss chard, and the like. Eating this will help boost your immune system and provide anticancer effects. It also addresses brain inflammation, a condition linked to depression. 

DO NOT EAT: Sugar

If you’re a fan of cookies and chocolates, then you might not like what you’ll read. Professionals advise people with depression to avoid taking in sweets, as desserts only lead to multiple mood swings. Your mood will most likely go up and down (mostly down!) several times a day. Experiencing this might only lead to anxiety. 

EAT: Walnuts

Walnuts are known for being one of the richest in omega-3 fatty acids. Numerous studies have proven how this particular fatty acid reduces depression symptoms by supporting brain function. 

DO NOT EAT: Soda

Aside from contributing to a spike in your blood sugar, regular soda does not provide any nutrition to your body. At the same time, some researches supported the link between sugar-sweetened drinks, such as soda, to depression. Therefore, if you are craving for that bubbly fix and seltzer water, try shifting your attention to sparkling water instead. 

EAT: Berries

Raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries, are known for its cell-repairing antioxidants. A study by the Journal of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine showed that patients who are mentally-ill but got treatment with these antioxidants for two years received a lower depression score. 

DO NOT EAT: Ketchup

Yes, ketchup is usually from tomatoes, right? Unknown to many, however, is that it also contains lots of sugar – 4 grams per teaspoon, to be exact. These artificial sweeteners are a no-no to those with depression since it leads to unusual mood spikes. 

The sad reality is that only a few people talk about their mental health issues. Up to this moment, there are still many individuals who prefer to keep their problems within themselves. This is why the suicide rate has gone up in recent years. When a particular person fails to keep his emotions in check or to talk to others about the things that bother him, there is a high possibility that the same person will commit suicide. Because of this, it is essential for you to watch out for the signs indicating that a loved one is about to take his own life.

 

Continue reading “How To Stop Your Spouse From Committing Suicide”

Staying in a relationship or marriage is always a choice. With all the temptations and doubts in this material world, keeping a marriage becomes challenging. Some couples struggle in saving their marital union because of infidelity, domestic violence, and other matrimonial woes. Nowadays, cheating has become apparent and prevalent in many marriages. This is why you have to be extra careful when it comes to your married life.

 

 

Continue reading “Is Your Husband Cheating On You?”

Do you want to move on from a broken marriage? Are you struggling to survive the breakup or divorce? Are you having difficulty handling custody issues with your former husband? If your answer is yes, then this article is perfect for you. In this write-up, we are going to list down some of the tips that you could use so that you can learn how to let go of an old flame.

 

Continue reading “Letting Go Of An Ex: How To Do It”

A recent study shows that people who are in a relationship, especially those who have received the sacrament of matrimony, are happier compared to those who are still single. There are many reasons for this conclusion, one of which is that married couples have already attained a high level of satisfaction. They experience bliss because they get to wake up with the people they love every single day. Because of this, some experts have concluded that marriage is good for a person’s mental health.

 

 

Continue reading “Marriage And Mental Health”

 

 

 

If there is one thing that needs your full attention today, it is improving your psychological well-being. With all the current things happening in your life right now, you sometimes forget the significance of caring for your mental health. You have so many tasks to complete every day to the point that you have forgotten how to nourish yourself with the right amount of vitamins and even good vibes. Take note that failure to focus on your mental condition could have adverse effects on your life, career, and relationships with others.

Continue reading “Mental Health”