How Counseling Improved My Mindset – And My Life!

 

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There is a slow movement towards acceptance in discussing openly mental health and personal troubles. But how acceptable does it seem to visit a counselor, though? Potentially, you might have only gone to a counselor – as I did – when you have nowhere else to go and frustratingly to lie around and to feel stuck.

My first hand at counseling was when I was in college. I was utterly filled with emotions of guilt, anxiety, and depression that were dominating me during my first semester. Deep within, I was overwhelmed with insecurity and self-hatred, feeling like someone else. This initial counseling experience was a monotonous event of three weekly sessions offering merely a taste of what might become in the long term. Even with my very little eagerness for the counseling session, my desire for self-discovery was dampened, as my concerns were heard and sincerely taken into consideration for the first time.

After a few years, with some travel experience and a college degree, I wished to have discovered myself and removed my internal demons. However, I feel that I haven’t changed much in terms of my mental health. I reluctantly understood that I possibly had to look within myself to recover, so I went into counseling again, which went on for a year.

At that time, I felt that it was truly an eye-opener to be able to talk freely. My teen years had been difficult at home, and now I could talk safely without being judged. I eventually gradually developed empathy for the younger version of me and a feeling of gratitude for the way I was efficiently coping. Previously, I had been persistently critical of myself. I acknowledged that I had kept mum about my inner troubles and how other people’s opinions became my constant reference point. I now began to listen to myself again.

Until now, I often wonder how and what I would have been if not for counseling. I think I would still be the same self-critical and insecure person, always worried and hesitant about how others would perceive me. Counseling really helped me to relax and foster empathy and kindness. All my negativity hindered me from engraining self-confidence and compassion earlier in my life. I have learned to let go of my past pain and bitterness.

Here are some things I have learned about counseling that helped improve my mindset and, ultimately, my life.

You Learn To Value Yourself.

Perhaps you’ve become clever at pleasing other people. Counseling enabled me to recognize the importance of showing true compassion.

You Will Start To Understand Your Past.

Gradually, your past won’t be painful anymore, and you will embrace how it has influenced what you have become today. There is significant value in comprehending the past and how it has affected your journey through life. Old hurts can heal, and unpleasant experiences can be dealt with.

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You Find More Meaning In Your Relationships.

Through regular counseling, you will feel more grateful for the relationships that are vital to you. You might also choose to move a step backward from the unhealthy relationships that you may have had. The therapeutic benefits of counseling provide a practice field for real bonds and relationships. They also help you learn emotional intelligence for better relationship dynamics.

You Change When You Have Self-Awareness.

Without self-awareness, one can be in total confusion. Developing self-awareness permits you to do a reality check and try to be an observer. You start to find sense in things and situations, subsequently leading to better understanding and clarity.

You Are Capable Of Managing Your Own Thoughts.

Every day, there are apparently about 60,000 thought patterns that come across our minds. With regular counseling, you will soon recognize and manage your thoughts and find potential in honing your mood and mindset in life. Once you start noticing the ‘inside talk’ within your head, you become abruptly more in control of how you think.

You Live In The Present.

If you have depression or anxiety, you may spend time regretting the past or feeling anxious about your future. Counseling helps you learn to be mindful of the things and situations around you – you learn to live in the present. I have felt more serene and connected to the world.

Anxiety Decreases, And You Become Braver.

Perhaps your world was previously daunting and miserable. Through the help of your counselor, who will teach you relaxation and coping strategies, you will slowly be able to overcome the challenges in your life without feeling anxious all the time. Then you can start to make your own safe space and be happy and fulfilled.

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You, Will, Know Why Things Didn’t Make Sense.

During the counseling sessions, I was encouraged to recall the things that I did out of depression. I over-ate and even tried to harm myself. Initially, I felt so ashamed, and I didn’t understand why I did them. But after a few months, counseling helped me find sense in what I did. I bravely confronted them, which led me to become braver and stronger than ever.

It Helps You Love Yourself And Others Truly.

When you can be yourself, you begin to feel inner contentment. You slowly permit your counselor to help you by allowing him to intervene with your life and make it better, starting with helping you learn to love yourself and others sincerely. You embrace your imperfectness and love yourself for it. Through this self-love, you will be better at loving others.

 

 

 

Importance Of Personal Growth

Personal growth and development is a process of self-improvement and discovery, and skill formation, enhancing an individual’s quality of life. If you are a positive person who believes that development is essential, then you’re on your way to improving your physical health as well as your mental health. Let’s discuss it more here.

Inner development is an ongoing improvement that can be applied to many aspects of an individual, including mental, social, physical, spiritual, and emotional. Hence, self-development and self-improvement impact overall well-being and overall health. Most successful people prioritize their relationships and overcome life’s challenges with motivation for increased productivity and aim at being the best version of themselves.

These abilities can then be utilized at some point in all areas of your life to grow personally. Inner development and self-growth entail unraveling precisely what is vital to you and learning skills that will help improve these values. It is being committed to achieving one’s goals within a reasonable period of time.

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Personal Development And Self-Growth

Personal growth applies to several areas of counseling and coaching for social growth, self-awareness, learning new skills, improving emotional intelligence and communication skills, fostering relationships, self-understanding, inner peace, and greater resilience.

Self-development means developing better relationships, going out of one’s comfort zone, increasing knowledge, loving progress, leaving a positive impact, and choosing to have a better understanding of the human spirit to achieve happiness and greater success.

Most people get stuck in various aspects of their well-being. This could mean being ensnared or confined in a profession or a life process or merely stuck in frustration and discontent in their comfort zone. It can be perplexing and truly frustrating, and how these feelings have emerged can be unclear.

Often, individuals may be attaining everything they have planned to attain, but sadly, they do not feel rewarded or fulfilled as they should be. This can be related to career, education, identity, sports and fitness, money, spirituality, and relationships.

Personal growth counseling is beneficial for anyone who feels a lack of contentment and happiness.  Counseling can also benefit those who desire to improve their efficiency and boost their ability to explore and enjoy life, relationships, and the rest of the world. Indeed, growth is important.

Personal Growth Journey

Personal growth counseling helps with the following issues:

  • Developing self-confidence
  • Improving decisiveness
  • Self-awareness
  • Anger management strategies
  • Overcoming anxiety and confusion
  • Building self-esteem
  • Managing loneliness

It is important as each individual is formed by a different set of abilities, experiences, habits, behavior, and views that contributes to the growth of personal aspects. We must strive to achieve success in defining who we really are and not by those that other people set for us.

Begin by realizing what really makes you feel happy, inspired, and fulfilled; you can create goals and aspirations that will expand your control, experience, and growth. It is also crucial for us to progressively outrun ourselves and objectively scrutinize, which can be daunting, especially if you’re a leader at work. Personal development can lead to mindful leadership in the workplace, benefitting both you and the organization you work in.

Development Resulted From Counseling

They are having a good time talking to each other.
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Personal Development Counseling Treatment Benefits

Inner development counseling’s many techniques will guide an individual into helping him maximize equivalence – a state wherein one’s values and beliefs are in line with action and speech. It will enable one with the capability and positive growth mindset for accomplishment, self-understanding, and the capacity to live and enjoy life at any point. Understand that it takes time.

It is a long-term endeavor, and by striving to achieve self-development in personal and professional life, each of us will learn abilities that we can utilize at any point in our lives – present and future.

The Role Of Counselors

In personal growth counseling, counselors use themselves as the primary instrument with which to support the understanding of their clients. If they have not deeply looked into themselves, they will have difficulty providing quality counseling and workshops to their clients. To be efficient in their profession, they must possess self-awareness – and accept themselves more completely, permitting them to provide that same acceptance to their clients.

In managing their clients’ self-development triggers during counseling, counselors should have already understood their own process and method to spot and avoid errors. Often, it may be essential to take a break from their jobs, particularly if they are also going through some difficulties. Not confronting their own issues and concerns may ultimately destroy them as well as their clients.

If a counselor feels incapable of performing his job as a self-development specialist or does not have a thorough background in the field, he should focus and endorse his client or clients to another practitioner who is more qualified and able to lead and help them through the ongoing process.

Key Factor In Overall Development

Self-awareness, which is acquired through spiritual growth, emotional growth, and development, is possibly crucial in person-focused counseling. This is all about associating with the client in a manner that exemplifies the three fundamental principles of congruence, empathy, and unreserved respect and affection. Aspects of incongruence within us may avert us from recognizing and learning these principles.

Learning things in your early age is a sign of good personal development.
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Here Are Some Examples:

If a personal development counselor had an uncharted preconception against, for instance, those with specific sexuality, then found themself with that kind of client during the session, they might not be able to provide unreserved positive regard.

This would negatively impact the quality of service that he was capable of providing his clients. It may even be dangerous to them, violating the essential moral standards of altruism (a guarantee that the client shall not be harmed).

If a counselor had gone through a painful experience that they were not able to address appropriately. Then, his client’s experience made him recall his own past hurts; he will most likely be unable to stay within his scope of reference but rather overturn his own emotions about his own suffering.

This keeps him from giving his clients empathy, which means putting yourself in other people’s shoes and being with them as they unravel their emotions.

Personal Growth

Final Thoughts And Takeaway

Truly, in personal growth counseling, or in any counseling for that matter, counselors act like teachers who use themselves as the primary tool with which to support and guide their clients. They need to have the self-awareness to teach their clients how to be fully aware and successfully move toward personal growth, healing, and recovery.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Personal Growth Examples?

Personal growth examples encompass various aspects of life and development. In the realm of work, individuals may seek personal growth by enhancing their skills, finding new career opportunities, and achieving professional success. In personal life, people can pursue personal growth by nurturing relationships, finding inner peace and balance, and striving for physical and mental well-being. Ultimately, personal growth is about continuously seeking to develop and improve oneself in various dimensions of life, whether it’s in work, relationships, or personal well-being.

What Are The Three Types Of Personal Growth?

Personal growth encompasses various aspects of personal development, aiming to help individuals reach their full potential in different areas of their lives. One crucial facet of personal growth is emotional intelligence, which involves understanding and managing one’s emotions and those of others effectively. By honing emotional intelligence, individuals can navigate their personal and professional life with greater empathy and adaptability. Additionally, personal growth extends to physical, intellectual, and social dimensions, allowing individuals to enhance their capabilities and relationships across all areas of their life.

What Is Personal Growth And Why Is It Important?

Personal growth is the ongoing process of developing and improving oneself in various areas of personal and professional life. It involves enhancing interpersonal skills, achieving a better work-life balance, and striving for growth in multiple facets of life. Personal growth is crucial because it enables individuals to continually evolve, learn, and adapt to new challenges and opportunities. It empowers people to become more self-aware, resilient, and capable of achieving their goals and aspirations. By investing in personal growth, individuals can lead more fulfilling and meaningful lives while making positive contributions to their work life and relationships.

How Can I Improve My Personal Growth?

How Do You Identify Personal Growth?

What Causes Personal Growth?

What Is Personal Growth And Development?

What Are The 5 Areas Of Personal Development?

How Can I Improve My Self Everyday?

What Is A Personal Growth Goal?

Frequently Asked Questions About The Psychological Meaning Of Dreams

A dream is one big chunk of our daily sleep cycle. Dreams vary massively. Sometimes we dream about our loved ones, significant others, and friends. Other times, we dream about memories, human encounters, or future job prospects. Some may have it bizarre, while others have it simple. Many people remember their dreams, while others forget about them the moment they wake up.

Despite the differences in the context and nature of our dreams, one thing is for sure. We always want to recall, uncover, and know what they mean.

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The most basic definition of dreams is images and pictures that we produce while we are sleeping. They range from simple and direct situations to bizarre and almost profound scenarios. People may dream of very clear narratives or settle with those that do not make sense at all.

Dreams can appear in almost any portion of our sleep. But the most bizarre ones show during a phase called REM or rapid eye movement sleep when your brain is having its most active state. Dreams occurring in this period are also those that people tend to remember during the day.

It is also possible to dream during NREM (non-rapid eye movement), but these are the ones that are common and simple. It usually fades from memory upon waking up.  Experts say that a normal person often dreams about three to six times every night, with each dream lasting for about five to twenty minutes.

To date, the real reason why people dream is still a mystery. Some professionals say that dreams are futile and meaningless. Meanwhile, others argue that this is a physical and mental need. Some interesting theories about why we dream in the first place are the following:

  • Development of the mind for cognitive abilities
  • A unique state in our human consciousness that links our past, present, and future. It sometimes acts as a warning for possible threats.
  • A time where our mind processes the memories and learning we had for the day
  • To evaluate and discover unconscious mental functions throughout the daytime.

The psychological interpretation of dreams began with the famous psychologist Sigmund Freud. He believed that a person’s dream mirrors something about his inner self. According to him, a dream manifests motivations, internal thoughts, or even some hidden desires.

Other, more modern explanations about the meaning of dreams include:

  • A deep fear or concern that gets to be unanswered or unsolved during consciousness
  • Can reflect underlying mental condition, personal stresses, or prevailing anxieties
  • Meaning and Interpretation of Dreams are unique to a person

If you want to know more about the types, causes, or meaning of dreams, check out the interesting FAQs about it here below:

Can dreams mean something?

Yes, they can. In psychology, dreams represent our unconscious desires and wishes. In ancient times, dreams were a way to predict the future or to commune with the supernatural. In general, there is still much to study and discover about dreams. Dreams can also be a means of survival.

In general, it is a form of psychotherapy since it develops our cognitive capabilities. Dreaming is also when the brain consolidates and processes learnings throughout the day.

What psychology says about dreams?

Freud explained that we produce images with our unconscious minds while sleeping. For him, dreams had meaning because it helps us understand our deepest selves better.

Contrarily, Hobson and McCarley gave no meaning to dreams. They say that the triggered sensations, emotions, and memories are random. The brain attempts to assemble them into a story, but one without meaning.

The Neurocognitive Model combines the two theories by stating that emotions guide random sensations and memories into a story. This scenario explains why people who underwent trauma are more prone to nightmares.

What are the three types of dreams?

There is passive imagination dreaming, which happens while semi-awake. It can be daydreaming, going to one’s fantasy land. It can also be light-sleep dreaming, combining random images.

External stimuli influence Dream-illusions. For example, sleeping with a hot water bottle at the bottom of the feet can cause dreams of walking on lava.

Meanwhile, thoughts and images influence dream-hallucinations. A boy who frequently thinks about a person he fancies will dream about them. Dream-hallucinations can also revolve around sexual, musical, or artistic desires as a central theme.

Do dreams reveal who we are as a person?

Yes, because dreams express our inner desires and fears that we might not say when awake. Dreams can reveal our state of mind. For example, dreaming about the workplace means that you are focused on productivity and accomplishment. Dreaming of your childhood home may mean that you are in a familiar and comfortable place.

Naked dreams mean experiencing your true self. Meanwhile, if you are covering up, it indicates that you’re feeling vulnerable. Dreaming of death means that you are changing. The circumstances will tell if you desire the change.

Do dreams show your true feelings?

Yes, since we are usually used to repressing our emotions during waking hours. Most of the time, we do not have the time to process our feelings. Sometimes we are in denial of our emotions because society dictates that certain feelings are wrong. The mind processes repressed emotions in our dreams, where we can freely express our feelings without judgment.

Learning your dream language allows you to understand your emotions better and resolve underlying problems. Too repressed emotions due to trauma will result in post-traumatic stress disorder dreams.

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Can dreams be warnings?

Dreams may serve as warnings of our overall state of health. The subtle symptoms that we shrug off when awake may be exaggerated in our dreams. Dreams can remind us if we lack a specific aspect of our overall spiritual, mental, and physical well-being.

Some say that dreams can give us foresight of an event before it occurs. It can guide us toward the correct path to take the best course of action when it happens.

Can God send you dreams?

Some believe that God speaks to us through dreams and visions. In the Bible, God used dreams to send messages to prophets. Some say that people with vivid dreams have a unique insight to predict the future.

Are bad dreams a sign?

Various factors can cause spontaneous bad dreams. Some of these include taking a late-night snack or medication that activates the brain at night. Sleep deprivation from the previous night or withdrawal from drugs and substances can also result in nightmares.

However, reoccurring bad dreams can signal an underlying disorder or a regression of overall health. It can cause psychological triggers such as anxiety and depression. Nightmares are also a symptom of untreated sleep apnea or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What does it mean when you dream about someone sexually?

Sexual dreams mean differently depending on the type of action being taken. Sex with a stranger or acquaintance may mean that you are not meeting your sexual needs. Sex with an ex may suggest two things. It may either mean getting used to a new partner or retaining unresolved grief about an ex.

BDSM may mean being attracted to the idea of being in control or wishing others were in power. Sex with a teacher may represent a desire to be loved by an authority figure. This phenomenon may stem from a lack of attention from a narcissistic parent.

Why do I have crazy dreams?

Crazy dreams are usually caused by activities performed before going to bed. For example, eating before sleeping increases metabolism. Therefore, it increases brain activity and causes dreams to be more intense. Watching television or reading a book may cause your mind to linger on it longer.

Sleep deprivation from previous nights also increases your dreams’ intensity. During this time, your body is essentially making up for lost sleep.

What do dreams signify?

Some dreams can signify certain aspects of our life or our way of thinking. Dreams involving the infidelity of a partner symbolizes feelings of lack of trust, loyalty, and communication. Dreams of failing an exam may signify feelings of unpreparedness for real-life problems.

Dreams involving death usually mean fear of sudden changes in your life. Death is all about a fear of the unknown. Dreams of being nude in public may indicate fear of revealing your imperfections.

How do you have a lucid dream?

Some techniques to force a lucid dream to occur are reality testing, WBTB, and keeping a dream journal. Reality testing is done by continually asking yourself, “Am I dreaming?” or checking if your environment is real.

The wake back to bed (WBTB) aims to stay conscious while entering the REM cycle. It involves waking up 5 hours after going to sleep and staying up for 30 minutes. After this, you need to fall back to sleep. The method of keeping a dream journal makes you notice similarities or patterns in your dreams.

Is lucid dreaming rare?

Yes, it only comes naturally to a number of people. The reason is most people do not put much emphasis on developing their inner sense of self. Most live distracted lives and go to bed very tired from their work.

Others are fearful of that type of experience, so they keep their minds noisy. They tend to watch shows or listen to music to distract themselves. However, lucid dreaming can be honed using reality testing, WBTB, and maintaining a dream journal.

Can you lucid dream every night?

Yes, certain people have lucid dreams almost every night. However, it is more common among children than it is for adults. Those who have lucid dreams are more insightful than most. They have the remarkable ability to think outside the box.

If you want to practice lucid dreaming every night, there some techniques to hone the skill. You can try reality testing, WBTB, and keeping a dream journal.

Can you die in a lucid dream?

No, but there are significant side effects to consider, like waking up in sleep paralysis. Lucid dreams can also cause derealization. It happens when you feel that nothing is real despite waking up. Waking up from a lucid dream can be harder. However, it is impossible to get “stuck” in it.

Lucid dreaming is dangerous for people with mental health problems since it can worsen their condition. For example, schizophrenic people have difficulty distinguishing hallucinations from real-life experiences.

Conclusion

Dreaming is a common human mental activity that is sometimes too difficult to control or maneuver. You do not have to worry about dreaming because it is a common experience across cultures. A lot of factors may contribute to what we dream. Most of which include our personal experiences, age, and occupation. 

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Often connected to our emotions, feelings, and ongoing mental status, interpreting these mental images must come from ourselves. Dream guides and definitions exist to help us evaluate and layout the meaning of our dreams. But these cannot fully define our dreams.

Also, do not stress out too much about the meaning of your dreams. If you focus on it too much, you might lose track of your present goals and sleeping schedule. Do not let dream interpretation control you and your current situation. Instead, see it as an opportunity to get to know more about yourself and connect to the inner parts of you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mood Depression

Perhaps there are instances in your life when you feel a little off. There is something inside your head that keeps causing a fuss even when you’re not consciously worrying about it. In some cases, these unwanted thoughts can make you feel uncomfortable, anxious, and stressed suddenly. You may experience an immediate shift in your mood, feeling a major bout of depression without understanding why. Often, you can’t explain these sudden changes because you might consider them normal, especially when facing various challenges in different aspects of your life. However, in some cases, what you are dealing with may not be simple overthinking. It’s possible that your situation is significantly influenced by psychological health struggles and an assessment of brief anxiety and depression severity.

Woman looking stressed
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Depression And Emotions

You can know what depression is. It is a mental illness that may be affected you already at some point in your life. Thus, you know that this illness does not work alone because it can get associated with other health conditions. With that, you deal with all sorts of symptoms, from physical and emotional. Therefore, you get to experience a sudden change in emotions, which is also one factor that can determine this disorder.

Of course, though not all the time, there are quite a few warning signs related to emotional changes. But in most cases, the emotional disorder can become a basis for a diagnosis.

Recognizing The Symptoms And Evaluating Your Feelings

There is a wide range of symptoms that can be experienced as you deal with mental health and emotional disorders. These can range from physical and emotional changes to a sudden shift in one’s disposition. It is important to note that not all people (children, adolescents, and adults) who experience a change in their emotions are necessarily going through depression. However, if the symptoms are frequent and severe, it may be a sign of a deeper psychological health struggle.

If you have been feeling this way for more than two weeks, it may be time to get a more comprehensive evaluation of your mental health. An emotional evaluation is an important step in being able to accurately diagnose this mental illness. A trained mental health professional can help you to identify the signs and symptoms, as well as any underlying factors that might be causing it. It requires a severity measure.

An emotional evaluation typically involves a series of questions about your current feelings and experiences, as well as a review of your past medical and mental health history. The mental health professional may ask about your sleep patterns and habits, your appetite and energy levels, as well as how you are managing your stress and other difficult emotions. They may also ask about any drugs or substance use or medication that you are taking.

In addition to the questions, your mental health professional may also use a variety of tools to evaluate your symptoms. These tools may include a depression screening test, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, or the patient health questionnaire phq. The results of these tests can provide your mental health professional with a better understanding of your current emotional state and any associated symptoms.

After the examination and measure, the mental health professional can then provide you with a diagnosis and treatment plan. This treatment plan can include various forms of psychotherapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and other supports. The most important thing to remember is that it is treatable and effective recovery is possible. With the right support groups and treatment services, you can get back to feeling like your present self again.

It is important to note that an evaluation is just one step in managing this mental illness. You should also have a supportive network of friends, family members, and mental health professionals that you can turn to for help and guidance. Additionally, it is important to practice self-care and to find things that bring you joy and peace. This could include things like spending time outdoors, engaging in creative activities, doing yoga or meditation, or participating in counseling therapy. Thus, contact a professional for help if you need to.

Final Thoughts

Taking primary care of yourself and finding the right support can help to reduce the symptoms and manage your emotions that lasted for over the last two weeks. It is important to remember that treatment is possible and that you do not have to suffer in silence. With the correct and dedicated assistance, you can get back to feeling yourself. It is essential to remember that depression and its associated symptoms are treatable, and recovery is achievable. You must take the time to care for yourself, find a support network, and take part in activities that bring you joy.

You are worthy of all the support and information you need to manage it. If you feel like you need to get evaluated for your mental health, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional. Remember that you are not alone, and with the proper resources, you can get back to feeling like yourself again.

If this is still confusing, let me walk you through a better understanding of mood disorder and its relationship with depression through these frequently asked questions.

How Would You Describe An Episode Of This Behavior?

An episode of major depression in primary care typically presents with symptoms such as frustration, anxiety, fatigue, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in productive and engaging activities once enjoyed. These symptoms are often severe, sudden, and overwhelming compared to periods of normal low mood. In some unfortunate instances, these symptoms can significantly impact a person’s life, as they become highly debilitating. Rating scales are often used in primary care settings to assess the severity of major depression and guide treatment decisions.

Is It Possible To Self-Diagnose?

Assessing how you feel is a common thing to do, especially if you know something is wrong with your usual routines. However, self-evaluation is not originally designed to diagnose any mental health disorder and is not reliable most of the time. Only a mental health professional can develop a clinically proven diagnosis of your mental health concerns. But if you believe you may be experiencing it, you can freely take a patient health questionnaire or health questionnaire and share the results with your doctor.

Why Is Googling Symptoms A Bad Idea?

Googling your symptoms often leads to incorrect diagnoses. Self-diagnosing mental health symptoms using information obtained from the internet can obscure potentially serious mental disorders, as the risk of misidentification is significant. Continuously researching health concerns contributes to heightened stress and anxiety, conditioning the mind to remain vigilant for alarming but ultimately invalid health information. It’s essential to consult a professional or utilize reliable depression inventory and depression rating tools, and consider meta-analysis studies for a more accurate mood assessment when depressed for your mental health.

How Do You Know You Have A Disorder?

You might be able to identify if you have an emotional disorder with the common symptom. These include irritability, aggression or hostility, ongoing sadness, emptiness or anxiousness, appetite or weight changes, difficulty sleeping, troubled concentration focus, and emotional flare-up.

But in case you are not sure about the signs, you can reach out to a therapist or licensed professional that can help assist you with what you are emotionally and mentally dealing with.

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How Long Do Manic Episodes Last?

Manic depressive episodes last based on the person’s ability to cope with the mental health issue. But if it gets left untreated, mania’s first episode could last an average of two to four months. Meanwhile, the episode stays up to eight months or longer. It is vital to consider many variations. If the person does not get immediate treatment or does not try and access self-help strategies, these episodes tend to become more frequent and last longer as time passes.

 How Do I Know If I Need A Stabilizer?

If you think you are dealing with mild to severe disorder symptoms, you need to consult a psychiatry expert regarding stabilizers. A clinical physician or a doctor is the only one allowed to prescribe these stabilizers. It is only exclusive if you have an episode of mania, hypomania, or depression that usually changes and suddenly worsens. You might need to take these stabilizers as a long-term treatment to stop severe symptoms from happening because of some instances.

Which Disorder Is A Mild Yet Chronic Form Of The Mental Illness?

Dysthymia is a more moderate form of this disorder. However, it is a condition that tends to last for a longer period. It is also known as a persistent depressive disorder that involves changes in the person’s physical aspects, emotions, feelings, and thoughts. The chronic form may influence you to lose interest in things that previously made you happy. It makes coping with symptoms linked to this disorder challenging as the current emotion may be mild and unnoticeable.

Is Emotional Disorder The Same As Depression?

Your emotional changes that often interfere with your everyday activities indicate an emotional disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder. It goes with symptoms that include alternating times of depression and mania. Fortunately, these disorders are a highly treatable medical state. As long as there is an appropriate diagnosis, support, and treatment, its struggles usually get better.

What Are The Examples?

The universal mood disorders are:

  • Dysthymia (dysthymic disorder).
  • Major depression.
  • Bipolar disorder.
  • Mood disorder due to general medical issues.
  • Substance-induced disorder.

What Are The Evaluation Methods For People Diagnosed With Mental Health Disorders?

There are several evaluation tools available to screen for these disorders. Tools such as the BDI, DASS, and HDRS are some tests we can use to diagnose this disorder. An evaluation often includes a physical examination, too.

What Is The Disposition Of Patients?

During an episode, they may feel a loss of pleasure or interest in activities. They might also experience feeling sad, empty, and irritable. You might describe someone who’s experiencing this as an individual who looks discouraged and very down. Many patients describe this as having no feeling, only having a dark and deep hole of emptiness.

How Do You Evaluate A Client With This Mental Health Disorder?

All patients with mental health disorders such as this should be evaluated for suicidal risk. If they pose any threat to themselves, they might require hospitalization or close monitoring. Aside from the different evaluation tools such as written tests and physical examination, past and family medical history is important too. A psychiatrist must also check out what medications their patient is currently taking.

What Is The Most Popular Evaluation Method?

What Evaluations Are Used For Mental Health Conditions?

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Final Thought

Keeping your mental health stable is not easy, as you can get easily caught up with life stressors. But you need to pay attention to your emotional response. If you feel like you are having trouble regulating your emotions, you should consult a professional help once and for all. Yes, your condition might not be that serious, and you might find yourself able to get rid of it at some point. But it does not mean that you should ignore it. Be mindful to assess your emotional and mental health to avoid further psychological complications.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Seeing A Therapist For Schizophrenia

Movies and TV shows often portray schizophrenia as unpredictable, violent, or even scary. Far from the truth, schizophrenia is a mental disorder that distorts someone’s reality. It makes them hallucinate or hear voices that do not exist. These portrayals stigmatize people with this condition. In reality, the degree of intensity of schizophrenic episodes varies from case to case.  

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Schizophrenia is a truly debilitating illness that alters a person’s thoughts, actions, and perceptions. Psychotic episodes can occur only once in their whole life or reoccur whenever triggered. Harsh voices and delusions can lead to confusion or to actions that may endanger themselves. It is common for people with schizophrenia to have difficulties expressing themselves and communicating their thoughts. 

Sadly, there is no cure for schizophrenia. However, do not lose hope as the right combination of psychotherapy and medication can help control the condition. While support from loved ones is helpful, guided treatment on its own is useful. It is possible and proven that people with schizophrenia can build meaningful relationships and live normal lives. 

It is best to seek professional help and advice to find the best treatment for schizophrenia. Therapy has notable effects to help people with this condition. It allows patients to process their thoughts, distinguish what is real from what is not, and is effective in most cases. It can also help patients understand their condition better and overcome symptoms when they occur. 

Planning to seek therapy for schizophrenia for you or your loved one? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions to help you start.

What type of therapy is best for schizophrenia?

Treatment for schizophrenia usually includes both medication and psychotherapy. Antipsychotics are useful for the initial treatment of an acute schizophrenic episode. These drugs reduce anxiety and aggression in the short term and decrease the risk of hallucinations and delusions with more prolonged usage.

Meanwhile, psychological treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, allow people to better deal with schizophrenic symptoms. Therapy helps identify and change patterns that lead to unwanted consequences.

Can schizophrenia be treated with therapy?

Proper treatment will help control symptoms, reduce episodes, and contribute to disorder management. However, schizophrenia demands lifelong treatments, even after the disappearance of initial symptoms. Doctors may try various combinations of antipsychotic drugs to provide the desired improvements with minimal side effects.

Psychological and psychosocial therapies are also crucial for helping the patient, and their loved ones cope with this mental illness. However, most patients can control their condition through rigorous treatment.

What psychologist deals with schizophrenia?

Psychiatrists are mental health professionals who specialize in managing schizophrenia and other similar conditions. As medical doctors, psychiatrists can give a diagnosis, prescribe medications, and deliver psychological therapy. They work with other psychologists who can assist in measuring treatment progress and conducting cognitive rehabilitation.

Psychiatrists can also benefit from licensed professional counselors and licensed clinical social workers for providing professional counseling.

What are the goals of therapy for schizophrenia?

The main therapeutic goals include preventing harmful behavior, reducing the severity of psychotic symptoms, and addressing causes that lead to acute episodes. Notably, schizophrenia is incurable, so therapy focuses on management and the restoration of normal function. Over time, therapy aims to decrease the risk of relapse by minimizing stress and training loved ones to provide adequate support.

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What triggers schizophrenia?

Stress is the primary trigger for schizophrenia. In particular, major life events such as losing a loved one, loss of livelihood, termination of a relationship, or abuse can promote schizophrenic symptoms. People with a predisposition to schizophrenia, such as those with genetic factors and imbalanced neurotransmitters, are more vulnerable to these triggers.

How Can schizophrenia be cured permanently?

Unfortunately, schizophrenia has no permanent cure. However, effective treatment can help patients manage symptoms indefinitely. With therapy, many people with schizophrenia can engage in everyday activities in work and social relationships. Most patients get to restore normal function, with many even achieving a symptom-free life.

Does schizophrenia worsen with age?

Schizophrenia symptoms vary over the years, with some patients experiencing more intense impacts from the disease while others remain mentally stable. Remission rates can be significant for the general population, although varying remission criteria makes accurate analysis difficult.

However, schizophrenia does not accelerate mental deterioration with age. Many people receiving adequate treatment may even see improvements in psychosocial functioning due to better control over the condition.

Is schizophrenia the worst mental illness?

Schizophrenia can be one of the most debilitating mental conditions, although common media portrayals can exaggerate its effects. Given that this condition affects how people think, act, behave with others and perceive reality, schizophrenia can drastically affect life quality.

However, the severity of the illness itself varies among patients. Some people only have one psychotic episode for their entire lives, while others might struggle even between recurrent episodes.

What is the lifespan of a person with schizophrenia?

People with schizophrenia may have reduced life expectancies, with patients living from 12 to 15 years shorter than people without the condition. Factors contributing to reduced lifespan involve lifestyle factors, as it may be more difficult for people with schizophrenia to commit to healthy habits.

Furthermore, people with schizophrenia may receive less optimal healthcare, especially for dangerous but preventable conditions like cardiovascular diseases and cancer.

Do people with schizophrenia have to take medication for life?

Given that schizophrenia is a lifelong condition, patients will have to take medications and attend psychological therapy sessions for life. However, they might receive various dosages and combinations of antipsychotic medications depending on their current symptoms and mental status. Changes in medication allow for optimized benefits and reduced side effects.

How do people with schizophrenia behave?

Distorted views of reality are hallmark symptoms of schizophrenia, causing patients to exhibit erratic behavior at times. People with schizophrenia can have hallucinations and illusions that cause them to behave inappropriately. Difficulties in expressing emotions can drive patients to withdraw socially.

Do people with schizophrenia feel the love?

People with schizophrenia can feel and express including emotions. Patients can form romantic relationships with other people. However, they might have difficulties in anticipating future emotions. It can also be challenging to engage in dating and other bonding activities with people.

Can a person with schizophrenia act normal?

Some schizophrenic patients undergoing therapy can experience a symptom-free and relatively normal life. However, experiences can vary. Some people might only have a single psychotic episode, while others might suffer from recurring symptoms. A combination of medication and psychological treatments can increase the chances of living a normal life.

What kind of voices do people with schizophrenia hear?

Schizophrenic patients who have auditory hallucinations might hear imaginary voices that give them comments, insults, or even encouragement. Experiences vary widely, but people most often hear repetitive, commanding, and hostile voices. These voices can be interactive, with the patient able to form a conversation with their imaginary companion.

Can overthinking cause schizophrenia?

Overthinking alone is not a trigger for schizophrenia. Overthinking about traumatic events is associated with the symptoms of schizophrenia. However, overthinking is likely an effect of the traumatic experience, not a cause for schizophrenia.

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Schizophrenia is a disabling condition that can progressively worsen without the proper guidance and treatment. Hallucinating and having a distorted reality can strain relationships, which can lead to isolation and social withdrawal. At times, this erratic behavior can be overwhelming and further deteriorate overall well-being. 

Treatment for schizophrenia cannot fully cure it, but it helps control and minimize symptoms. With regular treatment, one can expect things to get better over time. Constant treatment may be necessary even when there is no manifestation of symptoms. Support from a therapist and trusted people are key to overcoming the challenges presented by this mental illness. 

Seeking help from a mental health professional or therapist is a brave step to take. Acknowledging one’s condition does not come easy for everyone. For some, it takes time. 

The treatment process will help improve the overall quality of life. It can help reduce stressors and identify triggers. The success of the treatment lies in the willingness of the patient to communicate with a healthcare provider.

Of course, treatment will be tailored on a case by case basis. There is no one-size-fits-all plan to control and overcome schizophrenia symptoms. Striking a balance between medication and guidance is something your doctor or therapist will help you with.  

Experiencing symptoms and being diagnosed with schizophrenia can be scary due to the stigma surrounding it. However, this illness does not define you. Have hope and strengthen the resolve to push towards recovery. 

Ways To Keep Your Family Empowered

 

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When confronted with a lot of trials in parenting, there are essential factors that you can bear in mind. Along with your own experience with parenthood, these practices will keep you and your family empowered, healthy, and happy.

Establish fostering and loving moments with your kids.

The key to an empowered family is built upon the times that you spend with one another. Make useful time with your children and other family members and prioritize them. Find ways to connect with them emotionally and mentally every single day. It can be as simple as watching television together, giving good morning hugs and kisses, fun conversations in the living room after meals. You can talk about how your day went or if there was anything in particular that you wanted to share – an interesting encounter or a worrying thought.

This regular involvement in your kids’ daily lives will establish a foundation of closeness and trust that will lessen the heavier burdens and trials, as they are already relaxed and confident of the attention that you provide them.

Be open to learning new things about parenting.

There is no universal manual guide for parenting, so you must be active, critical, and cautious in finding quality information. In today’s modern age, there are hundreds of resources online that parents can learn from. Some have better quality than the rest. Another great way to safeguard your family against bad parenting information is to double-check what you are reading with credible resources that are directly associated with your life, like your family physician, your kid’s teachers, or your relatives and significant others.

Additionally, don’t hesitate to widen your parenting comprehension by enrolling in parenting classes or participating in online support groups where you get to know other parents with similar experiences.

 

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Practice positive habits to help you deal with stress.

When you are a parent, you tackle various levels of children-related anxiety and stress nearly every day. Make sure that you find the time of day for some quality alone time. Rejuvenate yourself by taking some rest and relaxation at least 30 minutes daily. This could be as simple as a refreshing soak in the tub while reading your favorite book or getting a therapeutic massage. Another technique for effectively dealing with the challenges of parenthood is through physical exercise, which has proven to help remove toxins and other negativities from the body. Mental exercises, such as meditation and yoga, are equally helpful activities as well.

Create a group for emotional support.

Over the decades, kids were so used to being raised by other members of the family, such as grandparents and other family members or close friends. Nowadays, parents need to take responsibility for creating their own social and emotional groups of support. Ask help from neighbors that you trust and respect and be involved in community activities. Connect with parents who have kids and are in a playgroup so your kids can join in. This is a good way for your kids and you as well to socialize with various families and learn from each other.

If you are a religious family, you might want to join a faith community that suits your beliefs. The more social ties you make with other parents who have the same values as you, the less alone you feel when dealing with unpredictable parenting problems.

Know important community resources that aid in supporting primary family requirements.

One of the greatest ways to maintain an empowered relationship with your kids is to be sure that your family’s primary needs are provided for. These needs include a comfortable home, sufficient food supply, and availability of education and healthcare. If one of these primary needs are in danger of lack or neglect, you must educate yourself on where you can seek help and support. Reach out to the family for resources at your physician’s clinic or speak to a counselor at your kid’s school. In certain countries, there is a specific number to call about support groups that help families in their areas. Asking for help and accepting it is not something to be ashamed about.

 

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Make a list of routines that can help your kids improve their social capabilities.

When children are born, they have no idea whatsoever about how to behave socially. A lot of the daunting challenges come when they are exposed to a whole new situation, and they do not know how to respond. To avoid this, be sure that your children learn social skills so they feel that they belong and they know how to make friends. Try making a list of typical routines for improving their social skills. Create it in a way that they can follow a regular schedule around mealtime, naps, and sleeping time so that they will learn the principle of time and habit. Have an open conversation about how they must behavior their age and push them to learn good deeds by themselves and to ask questions about what is right and wrong.

By following these ways, you and your kids will continue to possess a healthy, strong, and empowered family relationship.

 

 

 

Positivity Over Anxiety

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“Anxiety is a reaction to a situation we perceive as stressful or dangerous,” Monique Reynolds, Ph.D., licensed clinical psychologist.

In today’s world, anxiety is a very common mental disorder. It’s due to the things that pressure us, things that surround us which make us weak for no particular reason. The nervousness or uneasiness about something with an uncertain outcome can force us to become pressured.  But don’t worry; there’s an abundance of tools available to overcome this condition. We have to understand the effects of positivity in our life, so let’s get into it.

We worry about things because we fear that we can’t handle worse situations. However, most of the things we worry about don’t particularly happen in real life.  It is only the idea of fear that we incorporate in our minds. In fact, when we solely believe that negativity will impact our lives, then it will. But if we try to think about the opposite and picture ourselves on the right side of the moment, we’ll eventually end up laughing and smiling all through the course of the struggle.

 

How Do You Learn To Believe In Yourself?

You’ve already been through a lot of difficulties in life, and perhaps you already pull yourself out of it at some point. Self-belief and self-love are the two of the most powerful things that stop anxiety. Every time we face a new challenge in life, there’s a small part of us that assumes its difference from the previous ones we already encountered. From there, we imagine that we won’t be able to handle it. But guess what, we already made it through before, and we can probably deal with it the second time around. It’s a matter of positioning our thoughts into the realm of getting best results instead of focusing on the hardships instead.

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Positive And Negative Vibes

Spending so much time thinking about the future is not going to help and will only make your anxiety worst.  Fretting over hypothetical scenarios will only lock us away from reality. As a result, we limit capabilities in doing the things we have to do because we’ll get too afraid of trying. However, pushing too hard for something we want can give us anxiety as well.  It will eventually cause us pain, suffering, frustration, and devastation. And because of that, we tend to stick to negative motivation and gather contrary ideas.

If we adopt the belief that life doesn’t give us anything we couldn’t handle, we will start to have faith in ourselves. We have to remember that we are in control of our destiny. Letting go and having faith in living our wishes are the most challenging parts. But once we get through the process of accepting what life has to offer, we will eventually receive the benefits afterward.

“The physical reaction to anxiety, by nature, is supposed to be short-term. The body is supposed to come back down to baseline,” clinical psychologist Robert Duff, Ph.D. says. “But a prolonged period of anxiety depletes your resources and exhausts you. If your anxiety is bothering you and you are suffering, you deserve to get help,” she adds.

 

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Life might take you on a roller coaster ride, but that’s all going to be worth it. The final destination will always be up to you. Once you decide to get the things you want and pursue it with conviction, it’s already yours. You got to believe in yourself enough to get through the road of success. Even if you take bad turns, you can always find a chance to start over.

Psychologist Leslie Becker-Phelps, Ph.D.,  says that people in therapy “often come around to supporting treatment once they see that it makes a person happier.”

So, if you want to be happy, try therapy at BetterHelp. The therapists in that site are nice people and they really want to help.

Morning Habits To Improve Home Quarantine Life

It has been a couple of months since the outbreak of Coronavirus, and surely, there are a lot of things that already changed in your routines. Somehow, you probably managed to adjust on schedules and learn new things to do. That is great if that is the case. But if you haven’t found the right routines and are still trying to figure out the best habits during your home quarantine experience, here are some of the tips you might want to consider.

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Putting Your Phone Away When You Sleep

If you are the type of person who likes to begin his day by waking up to an alarm, you might want to consider putting it away when you sleep at night. That way, you will have to wake up and leave the bed to reach for it. And by forcing yourself to leave the comfort of your bed, you will be less likely to go back to it. Also, quit the habit of taking your phone with you in the bed so that you won’t have to spend hours using it before you sleep. Do not fall into the trap of using your smartphone as a sleep-inducer because that is useless.

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Change To Your Workout Clothes Immediately

Once you get out of bed, change to your workout clothes immediately. That way, you can never skip exercise every day. It is a great time to exercise because your energy and motivation after waking up are higher compared to any other time of the day. It helps you get your day in a productive foot. You can try to work out at least 15 to 30 minutes a day. And on days you feel particularly tired, unmotivated and lazy, wearing your workout clothes can somehow give you an impression of moving your body and do some simple stretching.

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Take A Morning Bath

Once you are done exercising, you can rest for a little while. After that, consider taking a bath. Not only it helps in revitalizing your whole body, but bathing in the morning can give you an energy boost. It can set your body into the right temperature as it promotes better blood flow. A morning bath can make you feel refreshed. It can set you up for a good mood and improve your overall well-being. Also note that even if you are at home, you need to change and use your regular clothes. Remember, not because you are home quarantined does not mean you have to stick with your pajamas all day.

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Prepare And Eat Your Breakfast

Your morning routines will not complete if you miss out on your breakfast. But note that it is ideal that you prepare your own food. Not only can you choose what to eat, but you can also spend time getting busy preparing your meal. Plus, you can incorporate healthy diets and learn new cooking skills as well. And at mealtime, always remember to eat your food without distractions. Meaning, you should avoid using your phone while you are eating. That way, you can enjoy and savor the moment while having your breakfast.

Clean Everything

After taking your morning slowly, you can consider cleaning everything before you fall into your leisure time. That way, you won’t have to worry about any pending tasks that might irritate you in the evening. Choose to step away from turning on the television or sucking yourself on social media updates. That way, you can work things around the house efficiently and productively. You can start by washing the dishes, sweeping the floor, wiping the windows, and so on. Just make sure you set your to-do list so that you won’t exhaust yourself by putting too much on the table.

Establishing Emotional Health To Battle Pandemic Stress

We don’t often experience situations like this. In fact, for most of us, this COVID-19 pandemic is one of a kind. Its effects are not something we can easily forget about because it attaches trauma to our mental and emotional health. But despite the adversities of the situation, we understand the value of taking measures in keeping our overall health safe. Therefore, we need to establish strategies to stay emotionally healthy and resilient during this time as much as possible.

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 Practice Self-Compassion

As we are all working through this COVID-19 crisis, we are aware of the mental illnesses it can create. There are anxiety and depression that we often cannot control. With that, we need to become more compassionate with ourselves regarding how to react to the things that are happening around us. Yes, we will have various responses in situations and that we might face the emotional pain differently. But we need to recognize our stressors to be able to find ways to deal with them. We need to understand that it is okay sometimes to feel weak because all of us are going to endure our moments of struggle one way or another.

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Get Socially-Connected

As much as we want to practice and promote physical distancing to minimize the spread of the virus, we need to be socially connected. We must find time to reach out to our family and friends. We need to secure a technology-based interaction with others through phone calls, chat, and other forms of video conferencing. There are lots of options to choose from. We need to understand that in times of isolation, staying connected with people will help us fight the emotionally draining situation of this pandemic.

I went to BetterHelp for more connections. The people there are nice to have a conversation with and very helpful.

Look For Unique Opportunities

In this unique situation that we are experiencing, it is essential to look for sources of opportunities. Yes, the struggle will be difficult because of the rising levels of uncertainties, but we should not be scared. We need to search for positive opportunities that exist. It could be something we didn’t have time doing before, or it does not interest us back then but is now available. The opportunity could be something we thought we couldn’t do but is now waiting for our attention. We need to think about other things that require our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual presence.

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Try And Engage In Different Activities

Due to our regular life, even before this pandemic situation, there are limited things we can do. But now that the situation allows us to focus on ourselves more, we need to try and engage in different activities that will make us feel different. It can be as simple as learning new things such as sewing, cooking, playing instruments, and so on. There are lots of activities that can allow us to become productive. Not only these simple activities cater to our sense of need in times like this, but it will also help us manage our stress and emotional burden.

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Avoid Excessive Media Exposure

Yes, we all want to be up-to-date with the figures and facts of what is going on with Coronavirus and how it continually creates damage to the world. However, we need to recognize that for us to be able to maintain balanced emotional health, we must stay away from negative information from the media. We must tone down in pushing ourselves to the toxicity of the situation to avoid unhealthy consequences. We must pay attention to how much exposure we need so that we can set boundaries as to what is necessary for us and what is not.