Tag: Psychology

Inside The Mind of a Psychologist

Posted on by Admin Zentered Minds

A Blog by Aadhisha Shirish and Siddharth Sharma

Who is a psychologist?” In simple words , a psychologist is a person who studies the mind and behaviour and helps an individual reestablish his way of life.” So does it mean that he/she should themselves be  immune to the various stresses in their life? “ The answer is “NO”.

Now this is one of the questions to which people tend to have a wrong conception. People usually tend to believe and expect individuals pursuing psychology as their career to be completely immune to the various problems that they face in their life. Many of us might have faced situations in which we are told “You are a psychologist , so you should be the one understanding and should let things go!” or something like “Why are you overreacting? You should be able to deal with these issues as it is what you have learnt in your stream.”

People tend to forget that psychology is like any other field where the personal and professional life is different and it should not be mixed. Just because psychologists deal with mental issues and give positivity to others, it is often forgotten that they after-all are humans as well, who like any other individual can and do  feel all the emotions.

So it is really important for everyone to understand that in spite of the fact that psychologists are specially trained to help clients through difficult and troublesome moments, they are only humans and are not immune to the various emotional stressors that their profession presents them with. 

EMOTIONAL STRESSORS THAT A PSYCHOLOGIST FACES

1.   Compassion fatigue:-

Compassion fatigue results from experiencing empathy and relating to the clients going through emotional dysregulation and trauma. Clinical therapists are confronted with numerous sentimental  and psychological demands, for example, taking care of client stress, injury, uneasiness and gloom. Despite the fact that they are prepared to deal with these issues, they can in any case become worried by sentiments of exceptional sympathy and compassion.

2.   Professional isolation:-

Clinicians in private practice might not have the chance to converse with different psychologists during the ordinary course of their workdays. Proficient disengagement can cause disappointment and result in feeling distant from advancements in the field, particularly if therapists don’t search out opportunities to talk about cases in peer oversight or go to proficient gatherings.

3.   Practice demands:-

A portion of the business-related requests psychologists frequently need to incorporate patient booking, charging, insurance  and oversaw care requests, diminished income and paying rent on office space. Contingent upon their region of training and area, a few clinicians may encounter worry from having such a large number of clients and expecting to dismiss referrals, while others may battle with acquiring referrals and managing low caseloads.

4.   Personal issues:-

Clinicians have lives outside of their expert practices. They manage individual issues, for example, misfortune, relationship issues and stress, much the same as any other person. The association between close to home issues and expert practice can be a noteworthy reason for passionate pressure, particularly in the midst of intense emergency. It very well may be hard to set your own interests aside for later while taking care of the necessities of your clients.

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS FACED BY A PSYCHOLOGIST

There are a series of problems that a psychologist faces on the occupational front as well, a few of which is given below:

  • Job pressure, as experts working with individuals in trouble 
  • The demands  and significance of clinical and professional duty 
  • Changed and frequently rapidly moving job demands
  • The test of dealing with the private, confidential and nonreciprocal nature of the client/therapist relationship 
  • Disconnection in the work setting 
  • Job qualities that make psychologists inclined to burnout (e.g., constrained authority over results, restricted assets, elevated level of involvement) 
  • Vulnerability to personal distress from empathetic commitment with traumatised clients 
  • Business and financial pressures (for example diminishing income and independence, loss,  oversaw care requests) 
  • The associations between personal stressors and our work demands

EFFECT OF THESE STRESSES 

  • The psychologists can face several serious issues like depression, job dissatisfaction, relationship conflicts, other addictions, stress related illnesses, etc.
  • Meanwhile, this will have an adverse impact on the client’s life as well. For example:- Boundary violations, loss of faith in therapy, despair , compounding side effects,  guilt, etc.
  • The profession of psychology will also face effects like bafflement/ disillusionment, loss of credibility, legal claims, scepticism, etc.

THERAPIST’S SAY ON COPING STRATEGIES

“Knowing your own darkness is the best way to deal with the darkness of other people”, said Carl Jung. This is a very necessary pointer that every mental health worker should keep in mind because only when we are able to understand, differentiate and accept our emotions, we will be able to understand and help our clients. 

Different psychologists use different ways of dealing with their stresses and their emotions. Again, it is not necessary that a coping strategy used by one psychologist should successfully or mandatory be effective for all the others. Because effectiveness of coping strategies is dependent on a series of factors like the individuality of a person, the nature of the problem, the individual’s perception of the problem, the domain in which an individual needs help and the type of help/ solution an individual needs. 

The first and foremost step in dealing with stress individually , according to many psychologists is recognising that you are actually stressed out, which is not very obvious at times. Then comes implementing the strategies which could involve

  • Soothing your senses and sneaking out for moments of self care
  • Any form of art that you enjoy like drawing, writing, singing, dancing, etc ; something that can make you feel happy and light  for that time.
  • Pursuing your hobbies like cooking, gardening, meditation, listening to music, etc.
  • Spending time with your loved ones
  • Taking a break if felt necessary
  • Maintain a constant manageable work clock

Some of the psychologists also suggest the use of positive psychology and positive self talk. The most important of all is getting things off your chest and talking to someone close and trustworthy when felt necessary.

CONCLUSION

“Life doesn’t make any sense without interdependence. We need each other, and the sooner we learn that, the better for us all.” –Erik Erickson

This quote is the best conclusion that could be  as it speaks about how every individual needs somebody or the other in their lives ;thereby breaking the myth that psychologists can and should always get through personal distress on their own or the belief that they should be accepting of all the negativity without getting affected. It is very important to understand that psychologists are no magicians, neither are they any kind of mind readers. They are basic compassionate humans who work on the basis of certain assumptions and knowledge provided to them to help people restore their lives.

– Blog by Aadhisha Shirish and Siddharth Sharma

Repression vs. Suppression

Posted on by Admin Zentered Minds

“The repression of the memory is dependent upon and related to the suppression of feeling, for as long as the feeling persists, the memory remains vivid”.

— Alexander Lowen

When you study about repression you might often come across the term “suppression” and the confusion that surrounds these two defence mechanisms. People often end up using them indistinguishably and synonymously, but from a psychological perspective, their concepts differ drastically.

Repression and suppression both deal with painful memories, unsavoury thoughts, feelings or impulses that an individual does not want to feel and wishes to get rid of them.But one key characteristic feature that separates the two is, that,

Repression is an unconscious process, &

Suppression is a conscious process.

To begin, lets understand what conscious and unconscious is ?

In simple terms; the conscious mind is which contains all the thoughts, memories, feelings of which an individual, is aware of, at any given moment.

The unconscious mind is a reservoir of thoughts, feelings, memories that are inaccessible to the consciousness but that, which influence feelings, judgements or behaviours.

Now , lets understand what Repression and Suppression are …

Repression deals with very painful and distressing thoughts or memories that an individual unconsciously decides to hide in order to completely forget about them and become unaware that they ever existed.

Example- A person who has suffered abuse as a child might repress the memories while growing up and have no idea about it. This is done to protect themselves of it as the memories might be harmful for the well-being of the person. Though this would influence the behaviour of the individual and hinder in forming good relationships in future.

Whereas, in suppression an individual finds a thought to be troublesome or maladaptive, he/she consciously attempts to subdue it, this thought will still be in their conscious, but its intensity would be reduced.

Example- A person who’s been bit by a dog would suppress that thought in order to not get scared or overreact whenever he/she sees a dog again.

To Conclude. . .

Suppression is a phenomenon wherein a person is aware of the thoughts and feelings and they can be recalled; whereas, repression is a phenomenon wherein if a person has repressed an incident then it cannot be brought back to the conscious through recollection as its simply not available.

-By Pradeepti Devgun

PHENOMENON APPETITE: A Socio-psychoholic DIVE

Posted on by Admin Zentered Minds

A Blog by Aadhisha Shirish

Anything that happens in a person’s life has various underlying causes and the social environment surrounding that person has a major role in these happenings. This includes everything ranging from basic emotions to serious crimes. All of these happen due to a social influence, either in the recent past or long time back. Studying this relation between the social and psychological domain in a person’s life and how it causes different events and impacts different occurrences is nothing but a socio-psychological study.

Moving on from a single person to an entire population, there are certain phenomena as well, which are based on these socio-psychological concepts. All these phenomena might not necessarily have a social cause but some might even be regarding the impact it has on the social environment or a person’s behaviour towards other people.

Some of the socio-psychological phenomena are as follows:-

1. Social loafing:

It refers to decay in inspiration and efforts found when individuals combine their endeavors to make a group product. Individuals tend to create less yield or to contribute less effort when working on a task collectively where commitments are combined than when working individually. The result is that individuals are less beneficial when working as a part of a team than when working individually. It is comparable to the free rider effect whereby individuals contribute less to a collective exertion when they perceive their commitments are unnecessary. Typically moreover compared to the sucker effect, whereby individuals withhold their commitments to a team to maintain a strategic distance from being the casualty of social loafing or free rider endeavours of other team members. However, the free rider effect and the sucker effect are smaller terms that allude to particular causes of social loafing. Social loafing is a more extensive build that alludes to any decrease in inspiration and exertion that happens when commitments are pooled contrasted to when they are not pooled.

Ex: – Bystander effect –

This happens when the presence of others discourages a person from mediating in a crisis circumstance, against a bully, or during an ambush or other wrongdoing. The more prominent the quantity of onlookers, the lesser probability it is for any of them to give assistance to an individual in trouble. Individuals are bound to make a move in an emergency when there are not many or no different observers present. 

Social clinicians Bibb Latané and John Darley promoted the idea of the bystander effect following the scandalous homicide of Kitty Genovese in New York City in 1964. The 28-year-old lady was wounded to death outside her apartment. At that point, it accounted for that many neighbours neglected to step in to help or call the police. 

Latané and Darley credited this effect to two elements: diffusion of responsibility and social impact. The apparent dispersion of obligation implies that the more spectators there are, the less moral duty people will fail to make a move. Social impact implies that people screen the conduct of everyone around them to decide acceptable behaviour.

2. The Saying is believing effect:

In psychology, this says that we will in general recollect and believe what we state to others, regardless of whether we mentioned to them what we thought they needed to hear (rather than the full truth about what we truly think). 

Ex: – Higgins’s test wherein subjects are given social portrayals of somebody and advised to depict this individual to a crowd of people with the goal that the crowd would have the option to recognise him. Subjects are told that the crowd knows about this individual as of now, and, in various test conditions, that they either like or dislike the individual. 

The outcomes are that subjects would in general tailor their depictions of individuals to accommodate their impression of their crowds’ desires. Moreover, their resulting recollections of the individual depicted were more reliable with their crowd tuned message than the first portrayal that they were given.

3. Mass delusions:

Collective delusions are encapsulated as the unconstrained, quick spread of bogus or overstated convictions inside a population everywhere, briefly influencing a specific locality, culture, or nation. Apparently, the ongoing sightings of a venomous bug in Austria have prompted several individuals thinking they had been chomped, when most had not. In many cases, this is triggered by an environmental incident such as contamination of the water supply that causes people to literally worry themselves sick after getting sick, even though they’re otherwise perfectly healthy. Other examples include strawberries with sugar virus (2006), the dancing plague of 1518, and so forth.

4. Mere exposure effect:

The more regularly individuals have been presented with a stimulus, the more they like it, even when the stimulus is subjected subliminally. It is a psychological phenomenon by which individuals will in general build up an incline for things or individuals that are more known / familiar to them than others. Repeated exposure builds and increases familiarity. It is also called as familiarity effect. According to researches of interpersonal attractions, the more frequently somebody sees an individual, the additionally satisfying and amiable they find that individual. Another example is the point at which you hear a song on the radio and you don’t like it; yet then after you have heard it commonly, you start to like it. Since you become progressively mindful with the tune, verses, and so forth you start to believe that you like it, regardless of your dislike initially. One of its applications is found in the idea of promotion and advertisement.

5. Cross race effect:

People identify appearances of individuals of their own race more precisely than the appearances of individuals of different races. Cross-race effect has a solid association with the in-group advantage phenomenon. With in-group advantage, individuals assess and judge individuals from their own self-characterised bunch as being preferable and more pleasant over individuals from different gatherings. Social psychologists have shown over the most recent 30 years that even the slightest part of the separation, similar to inclination for kind of frozen yogurt or style of music, can trigger in-group advantage.

6. Fundamental attribution error:

It refers to our tendency to clarify somebody’s conduct dependent on inward factors, for example, character or manner, and to think little of the impact that outer variables, for example, situational impacts, have on someone else’s conduct. Individuals will in general clarify others’ conduct regarding their own qualities instead of the circumstance they are in. We may, for instance, clarify the way that somebody is jobless dependent on his character, and censure him for his predicament, when in truth he was as of late laid off because of a languid economy. Obviously, there are times when we’re right about our suppositions; however the fundamental attribution error is our inclination to clarify the conduct of others depends on character or disposition. This is especially obvious when the conduct is negative.

–Blog by Aadhisha Shirish

REFERENCES:

1. http://jfmueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/crow/examples.htm

2. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/bystander-effect

3. http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/social-psychology/group/social-loafing/

4. http://mrdupdates.blogspot.com/2008/09/saying-is-believing-effect.html

5. https://opentextbc.ca/researchmethods/chapter/phenomena-and-theories/

6. https://www.wiwi.europa-uni.de/de/lehrstuhl/fine/mikro/bilder_und_pdf-dateien/WS0910/VLBehEconomics/Ausarbeitungen/MereExposure.pd

7. https://study.com/academy/lesson/fundamental-attribution-error-definition-lesson-quiz.html

8. https://psychology.wikia.org/wiki/Cross-race_effect

How To Be There For Someone Who Is Struggling

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A Blog by Antara Jain

There is immense amount of pain in the world, there are people struggling every single day and most of them are not open enough about the way they feel due to the generic thought that “I know what people are going to say so what’s the point?”. This is exactly where the problem lies – we as individuals fail to recognise the way we put across our words, the way we use our words towards another individual who may be at their lowest point. We are trained to believe that Mental Health Issues and even experiencing any kind of negative emotion is “just a phase”, is just a person being “too sensitive” or being too “dramatic”. We may not recognise this but we tend to invalidate an individual’s feelings to an extent that they become self-critical of their own emotions, they begin to feel how they are or were feeling is irrelevant and somehow their fault, they jump into the cycle of self-blame and eventually begin to believe that there is something wrong with them. There are several things to keep in mind when you are trying to be there for someone – we believe that giving someone advice or comparing their emotions and problems to those of other people who “have it much worse” means being there for someone but it’s literally the opposite. In fact, when you start telling a person who is already falling apart that they indirectly don’t deserve to fall apart or feel so negatively about a certain aspect of their lives because “other people have it much worse”, you’re basically claiming that just because their problems aren’t as bad as those of others, they are not allowed to feel upset. This will lead to nothing but a downward spiral in terms of the individual’s Mental Health. 

When someone is sharing about how they’re feeling regarding something you may have done or said to hurt them or just some aspect of their lives which is making them feel low and upset – most of us have a tendency to start talking about ourselves, our problems and how we are feeling. Now imagine being in a situation like that. This person trusted you enough to open up to you, they probably opened up to you because they felt that you would understand – however, if you begin to take away their perception towards the situation and how they felt by making it all about yourself, chances are this individual will never open up to you. It’s imperative to remember that it’s not a competition, it’s not about you in that very moment – it’s about the person who was strong enough to be honest and vulnerable with you. There are also instances where our automatic response is to tell someone how they should feel and how they should not feel: “be positive”, “chill out” , “don’t overreact and over-analyze, just let it go”, “stop overthinking” – such terms are toxic to use when you’re trying to be there for someone, how can we tell someone how to feel?

You’re basically taking away their power to experience their emotions completely, you’re taking away their response to a situation or a thought. In such instances, the individual does not even want your advice, they just want you to be present, they want you to listen to them in a space which is created to be non-judgemental and non-bias – that’s all that people are looking for, a safe space where they can express themselves without being made to feel invalidated or criticised. 

After reflecting on our misconceptions and mistakes, let’s throw light on the effective ways to genuinely be there for people who are struggling. Let’s keep in mind that you don’t know the extent of someone’s suffering and you never will but you have the power to use your words in an appropriate manner to instil a sense of courage and hope within the individual – “I can’t imagine what you’re going through but I want you to know that I am here to listen to you”, “I know it’s hard to see strength in oneself when you feel hopeless and this may not matter, but I do see strength and resilience in you”, “Don’t feel bad for feeling the way you’re feeling but I want you to know that you will get through this and I will be here”. Such words are validating and depicts the idea of you being present with the person. Regardless – focus on their positive qualities, focus on their courage and their strength, help them find hope again amidst the words that you use while you’re trying to help. Don’t project your “sympathy” towards them, instead practice empathy – try to understand what the other individual may genuinely be feeling and how this feeling could be affecting their emotional well-being – don’t jump to conclusions and don’t make assumptions. Just be there for them empathetically. A person who is heard and understood is a person who will begin to heal. 

A journey of recognition to acceptance!!

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A person studying or working in the field of psychology is generally assumed to be one with a clear vision, who can handle every emotion, every up and down of life just like that because it’s their job!! But is it so? Does a person with a psychology background have no right to feel depressed or anxious? 

The answer to this is yes. They can feel that way and for a matter of fact, they do feel that way sometimes. Here is a story of a girl who was a passionate student of her favourite subject psychology. Being a psychology student , she went through a lot. Though she was aware of what she was going through, the reason behind it and also knowing the cure, she was just helpless!! Let’s dig a bit deeper into her situation!!

The story I would like to share is about a girl named Anna. Anna was a very bright student , a passionate dancer and  an amazing speaker. She was a lively person who loved to live in her own world of imaginations, a world in which fairy tales also came true.!! One day, she met a guy who was a complete stranger but didnt feel like one. They began meeting frequently and in no time fell in love with each other. 

Everything seemed like a fairy tale initially but as time passed, things got toxic , very toxic. This affected Anna’s personality and self esteem adversely. She began losing her liveliness, got frequent panic attacks and began feeling anxious throughout . She realised what she was going through and even was able to identify the symptoms. Moreover, she even knew how she could get herself better and heal herself, but for some reason was unable to do so. In spite of her having a psychological background , she couldn’t help herself and something was stopping her from seeking external help. Soon she went into severe depression and even began having suicidal thoughts Not long after, a  day came when she acted upon her ideations and chose the extreme step.

But luckily, Anna was saved and she got a second chance. A chance wherein she could not only be aware but also accept and seek help. She had definitely chosen an end for herself, but this end was actually a new journey. A journey which began with her recovery, not just physically but mentally and intellectually.

After recovering, she analysed herself and realised that she had been conscious and aware throughout , so it wasn’t consciousness or awareness that she lacked. She was aware of everything that was happening with her. She realised each and every stage that she was going through.She was even able to identify every symptom that she showed but yet she couldn’t help herself and  the only reason behind this was denial. She was so engrossed in the denial that she didn’t realise when she got chained in the shackles of depression. Her area of lacking lied in her acceptance and admission to her emotions. Having realised this,the first thing that  she decided to do was working towards “acceptance”.She accepted herself the way she was and tried understanding the importance of self love. Succeeding in this led to the discovery of self love and acceptance being the foremost priority for any individual in any situation. Once this change happened in her belief system, there was a  new beginning and a new story!!

Drawing a conclusion, it can be said that inspite of being from a psychology background or a psychologist, it is completely natural for an individual to experience a storm of emotions leading to severe sufferings.The only thing that matters is “acceptance” and the ability to seek help when necessary. Simply having realisation or awareness regarding your situation will not help you until and unless you  accept it and seek help when necessary.  So , don’t wait for miracles or tragedies to bring you  new beginnings. Instead start introspecting, loving and accepting your flaws before they become your weakness and make your own new beginnings!!!

The Mind-Body Connection: Holistic Approaches to Mental Wellness

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Introduction:

The mind-body connection is a fundamental aspect of mental health and well-being. This blog explores the interconnectedness of physical and mental health, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches that consider the whole person.

Understanding the Mind-Body Connection:

The mind and body are intricately connected, and the state of one can significantly impact the other. Stress, for example, can manifest physically in the form of tension, headaches, or digestive issues. Recognizing this connection allows for a more comprehensive approach to mental wellness.

Holistic Approaches to Mental Health:

Holistic approaches consider the person as a whole, addressing physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Practices such as yoga, meditation, exercise, and nutrition play a vital role in supporting mental health. Integrative therapies that combine conventional and complementary approaches are gaining recognition for their holistic benefits.

Incorporating Mind-Body Practices:

Incorporating mind-body practices into daily life can contribute to mental wellness. Mindfulness meditation, yoga, and mindful eating are examples of practices that foster a deeper connection between the mind and body. These practices not only alleviate stress but also promote overall resilience and balance.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, recognizing and nurturing the mind-body connection is essential for comprehensive mental wellness. By adopting holistic approaches that prioritise both mental and physical well-being, individuals can enhance their overall quality of life.

Cultural Competence in Mental Health: Addressing Diverse Perspectives

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Introduction:

Cultural competence in mental health is an essential aspect of providing effective and inclusive care. This blog delves into the importance of recognizing and respecting diverse perspectives to ensure mental health services are accessible and relevant for everyone.

Understanding Cultural Influences:

Cultural backgrounds significantly influence individuals’ perceptions of mental health, illness, and treatment. Understanding these cultural nuances is crucial for mental health professionals to provide culturally competent care. It involves recognizing the impact of culture on stigma, help-seeking behaviors, and the expression of symptoms.

Challenges in Cross-Cultural Mental Health:

Cross-cultural mental health care comes with its challenges, including language barriers, differing cultural norms around discussing mental health, and the stigma associated with seeking help. Addressing these challenges requires a commitment to cultural humility, ongoing education, and adapting therapeutic approaches to suit diverse needs.

Promoting Diversity in Mental Health Services:

Promoting diversity in mental health services involves creating inclusive spaces where individuals from all cultural backgrounds feel seen, heard, and understood. This includes diversifying the mental health workforce, incorporating cultural competence training, and offering resources that reflect the diversity of experiences and perspectives.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, embracing cultural competence in mental health is essential for providing equitable and effective care. By recognizing and respecting diverse perspectives, we can work towards creating mental health services that truly meet the needs of all individuals.

The Power of Peer Support: Building Community in Mental Health

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Introduction:

In the landscape of mental health, the power of peer support is emerging as a transformative force. This blog explores the significance of building communities where individuals with shared experiences come together to foster understanding, empathy, and collective healing.

The Strength in Shared Experiences:

Peer support acknowledges the strength found in shared experiences. Connecting with others who have faced similar challenges can reduce feelings of isolation and create a sense of belonging. This shared understanding forms the foundation for genuine empathy and support within the mental health community.

Online Peer Support Platforms:

In the digital age, online platforms provide spaces for individuals to connect anonymously or openly. Forums, social media groups, and dedicated websites offer a virtual haven for people to share their stories, seek advice, and provide support. The accessibility of these platforms has significantly expanded the reach of peer support.

The Role of Peer Support in Recovery:

Peer support is not a substitute for professional mental health care, but it can play a crucial role in the recovery journey. Hearing about others’ successes, learning coping strategies, and receiving encouragement can be empowering. Peer support complements traditional mental health services by adding a layer of shared humanity to the healing process.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the power of peer support lies in its ability to create a sense of community and understanding. As individuals continue to navigate their mental health journeys, the support of peers can be a valuable and affirming resource.

Mindfulness in the Modern World: Finding Peace Amidst Chaos

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Introduction:

In a world filled with constant stimuli and a perpetual rush, the practice of mindfulness has emerged as a beacon of tranquility. This ancient practice, rooted in awareness and presence, is finding a place of prominence in the modern pursuit of mental well-being.

The Science of Mindfulness:

Scientific research supports the efficacy of mindfulness in promoting mental health. The practice has been shown to positively impact brain function, reduce stress, and enhance emotional regulation. As individuals seek effective tools for navigating the complexities of life, mindfulness has become a compelling option.

Mindfulness in Daily Life:

Incorporating mindfulness into daily life doesn’t require a radical lifestyle change. Simple practices such as mindful breathing, eating, and brief meditation breaks can significantly contribute to a sense of inner peace. The emphasis is on being fully present in the moment, cultivating a heightened awareness of thoughts and emotions.

Mindfulness Apps and Resources:

In our tech-savvy era, numerous mindfulness apps and online resources have emerged. These tools provide guided meditations, breathing exercises, and insights into mindfulness practices. Their accessibility makes mindfulness more achievable for individuals looking to start or deepen their mindfulness journey.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, mindfulness offers a transformative approach to mental well-being in the modern world. As individuals increasingly recognize the importance of finding peace amidst chaos, the practice of mindfulness provides a valuable set of tools for cultivating a calm and centered life.

The Rise of Teletherapy: A New Frontier in Mental Health Care

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Introduction:

The landscape of mental health care is evolving, and one significant development is the rise of teletherapy. This shift toward digital mental health support is transforming accessibility and reshaping the way individuals receive therapeutic care.

Teletherapy Explained:

Teletherapy, also known as online therapy, involves receiving mental health support through digital platforms. This can include video calls, chat, or other virtual means of communication. The appeal of teletherapy lies in its increased accessibility and flexibility, making mental health support available to a broader audience.

Benefits and Challenges:

The benefits of teletherapy are substantial. It provides a convenient option for those with physical limitations or those residing in remote areas with limited access to in-person services. However, challenges such as internet connectivity issues and the need for privacy must be acknowledged and addressed to ensure the effectiveness of teletherapy.

The Future of Mental Health Care:

The rise of teletherapy signals a potential shift in the landscape of mental health care. As technology continues to advance, so too will the capabilities of online therapeutic services. The convenience and accessibility offered by teletherapy may become integral components of mental health care, especially for individuals seeking flexible and personalized treatment options.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, teletherapy represents a new frontier in mental health care, offering unprecedented accessibility and convenience. Embracing this digital evolution in mental health services opens doors for individuals who may have otherwise faced barriers to seeking help.

Navigating Mental Health in the Digital Age: The Impact of Social Media

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In our increasingly interconnected world, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. This digital landscape brings both opportunities and challenges, particularly in the realm of mental health.

Introduction

Social media platforms have transformed how we connect, share, and perceive the world. From fostering supportive communities to influencing mental health awareness, these platforms play a significant role in shaping our collective well-being.

The Positive Side

On the positive side, social media serves as a powerful tool for connection and support. Communities form around shared experiences, creating a sense of belonging. Positive mental health campaigns gain momentum, breaking down stigmas and encouraging open conversations. The ability to connect instantly with others, especially in times of crisis, demonstrates the potential for social media to be a force for good.

The Dark Side

However, the dark side of social media cannot be overlooked. Excessive use has been linked to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep patterns. The pressure to present an idealized version of life has led to unrealistic comparisons and feelings of inadequacy. Cyberbullying, a pervasive issue, further exacerbates the negative impact on mental well-being.

Strategies for a Healthy Balance

To maintain a healthy relationship with social media, individuals must implement strategies for balance. Setting boundaries, such as designated screen-free times and limiting exposure to triggering content, can mitigate negative effects. Practicing digital mindfulness, being intentional about online interactions, helps create a positive online experience. Periodic digital detoxes, stepping away from screens for a while, contribute to mental well-being by promoting real-world connections and reducing the risk of addiction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the impact of social media on mental health is a complex interplay of positives and negatives. Recognizing the potential harm and implementing strategies for a balanced digital life is essential. As we continue to navigate this digital age, open conversations about mental health on social media platforms can contribute to a more supportive and understanding online community.

Grief: Dreadful or Comfort

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A Blog by Pradeepti Devgun

Grief is a response to a loss of a bond or affection that was created with an individual. This response is characterised of intense sadness, emotional numbness, crying, regret and in extreme situations depression. It has not only emotional but physical, cognitive, behavioural, social, cultural, spiritual and philosophical dimensions as well.

We know that grief may involve extreme emotions and behaviours such as feelings of guilt, anger, despair, fear, etc.

But is grief only dreadful or can it bring an individual, peace?

When we talk about peace we intend to feel harmonious and balanced within ourselves and with our surroundings. But when we say the word grief we always associate it with sadness, pain, shock, denial, guilt and all the negative emotions we can think of.

What it means when you grieve?

An individual who’s faced a loss might go into a sudden shock, be angry, yell to heavens, feel obsessed about the loss, lash out at loved ones and might cry for hours, because it’s the pain that they absorb — the emotion that everyone fears to go through. They let it sink in for a while captivating all the love and affection they had for the person they lost, only to break free from it.

This time from the confinement of emotions to the acceptance is the most dreadful experience for a grieving individual. They go into a state of disbelief or numbed feelings, with pain, guilt and anger, a resentment towards every positive aspect that comes their way .

To understand whether grief is only dire or could lead to solace as well, lets understand the stages of grief;

Denial and Shock

This is a state of numbed feelings or disbelief. Basically, this gives the individual more time to absorb the change and process it in their own manner.As this stage starts to pass away the individual is then confronted by all the painful feelings they’ve been hiding away and can be called the most difficult part of the journey.

Pain and Guilt

This stage comes with immense emotional turmoil, wherein the individual is confronting with their sore feelings and contemplating – how they’re making it hard for they’re loved ones to deal with them because of their feelings and needs.

Anger and Bargaining

This stage results in the individual generally making unrealistic demands, lashing out, to a superior power or god to make them get rid of these feelings in return for anything.

Depression

This stage comes with deep contemplation for the individual leading to isolation and loneliness in order to process and reflect on the change or loss.

The Upward Turn

By this stage , the stages of grief that dealt with anger and pain and guilt have resided down and dealt with and, now, the individual is poise and alleviate.

Reconstruction and Working Through

Now, the individual has started to get back to their old routine, i.e return to their normal living pattern and starts to move ahead in their life.

Acceptance and Hope

This marks the last stage of grief, wherein, the individual is gradually accepting the change and is moving forward in their life and is looking forward to the future possibilities.

What it means when you don’t grieve?

Simple- it could mean a number of things.

It is usually thought that people who don’t grieve are cold-hearted or don’t care about other peoples’ feelings. But, this is not what it really is.

It could be that individual’s own grieving process, the emotions due to the loss could feel overwhelming and that could be their brain’s way of coping with it.

Also, it is a possibility that to some level it doesn’t affect that individual regardless of their closeness to that person. We have made this notion that this process of “grief” should be a certain way and forget that every individual is different and this process differs for every individual and cannot be labelled as same.

Summing up through these stages, we can say that grief results in both dreadfulness and comfort. It puts an individual into a state wherein they deal with drastic emotions which are not easy to handle and make them numb and might make them feel weak, and with time, they process these emotions and feelings and come to a state of peace and comfort and find themselves getting strong.