How to Measure the Personal Impact of Mental Health Stigma

09/16/2022 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Man feeling stressed, sad, upset, or tired, stigma,

Around 20 percent of Americans will experience a mental health condition every year. In addition, about half will be diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point in their lives. However, more seriously, about 1 in 25 Americans have a severe mental illness such as major depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

While many seek treatment, the stigma attached to mental illness prevents many more from asking for help. Stigma occurs when people judge you harshly because of anything that makes you different or a trait that makes you stand out. In the context of mental illness, it happens when an individual is stereotyped, labeled, or discredited due to his mental health.

Sadly, many individuals hold false assumptions and attitudes about those who have mental illness. The mental health stigma is a public health emergency, not just a social one. Discrimination and social stigma can exacerbate mental health issues and prevent people from seeking treatment. However, self-stigma is a problem for a sizable portion of the population. Self-stigma is the negative feelings a person with a mental illness may have about themselves.

Stigma has a severe impact not just on those living with mental illness but also on their families and friends. So it is crucial to measure the individual effect of mental health stigma to minimize its prevalence and impact. The following are significant indicators of the personal effect of stigma related to mental health.

Feeling of Hopelessness

An absence of optimism and apathy marks the feeling of hopelessness. When you feel hopeless, you may stop caring about things that matter greatly to you, such as hobbies, relationships, or even yourself. When someone loses hope, they may lose their sense of security.

Various behavioral and mental health conditions include hopelessness as a symptom, such as depression, PTSD, eating disorders, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and others. To prevent a more serious outcome, it is critical to get help right away. Research shows that many people who are feeling hopeless can recover their optimism and mental health through therapy.

For example, individuals suffering from hopelessness may find relief through cognitive behavioral therapy. The patient’s negative beliefs and preconceptions in CBT are challenged and changed. The focus is on empowering patients to become their own best therapists.

Self-Doubt

Self-doubt is characterized by skepticism about one’s worth and talents. It’s an attitude that prevents you from reaching your full potential and being confident in your abilities. One of the numerous things that might make a person doubt oneself is the stigma attached to mental health issues. Your inability to take praise from others and your unwillingness to give yourself credit are signs of self-doubt.

You can take steps to reduce self-doubt, such as starting each day by looking at the mirror and saying three affirmations to yourself. Avoid comparing yourself to others, as doing so might lead to feelings of inadequacy. You’re special because you’re unique and have your gifts. If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, surround yourself with positive individuals who can support and encourage you.

Avoiding Help

Mental health stigma impacts not only you directly but also the people who care about you and stand by your side. People with mental health problems often face significant social stigma, which can make it difficult for them to seek help.

People who struggle with mental health stigma strongly often do not want to be labeled as weak. If other people discover that they are getting help, they feel ashamed. As a result, they choose to remain incognito until it is too late. This is consistent with a survey finding that 58 percent of students were hesitant to seek treatment for mental health issues at school.

Do not be put off by the labels that have been assigned to you; instead, use them as motivation to get the help you require. For instance, dealing with the social stigma surrounding drug use may be challenging. However, getting assistance from experts at a drug rehab in Riviera Beach County is essential to resolving the issue.

Having Fewer Opportunities

People who struggle with the mental health stigma are rarely in the limelight. As a result, you may lose out on a promotion or other professional opportunity. Isolation negatively affects relationships, maturation, and, ultimately, professional advancement. Do your best to come out of your shell and prove your worth to your coworkers and employer.

Self Help is Essential

Recovery relies heavily on your efforts at self-help. Finding help requires first looking inward. To get started, you must first practice self-awareness and self-control. To better understand the causes of your mental disease, it helps to gain insight into your mind. Think about the things that could set you off, such as your environment, stress, the actions of others, or even global events. Then, recognize the signs and learn to seek assistance when you need it.

Going Healthy, Health, Life

Saturated Fat and Other Things Potentially Bad for Us

09/15/2022 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

It is widely known that a diet high in saturated fat is bad for us yet we continue to eat foods that contain it in great quantities. This might be because we have developed a taste for the wrong kind of foods or because we do not understand which foods they are. Two questions that we should always be asking ourselves are: Why reduce saturated fat in your diet and what types of foods should be avoided to stay healthy? Then we can look to balance our diet more healthily.

Here are the top five food types to avoid if you want to maintain a healthy diet.

Saturated fat

This type of fat is found in animal products such as butter, cheese, and red meat. It can also be found in vegetable oils such as coconut oil and palm oil. Saturated fat raises LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increases the risk of heart disease.

It’s important to avoid foods that are high in saturated fat, such as processed meats, cheese, butter, and creamy sauces. Instead, we should focus on eating healthy foods that are low in saturated fat, such as fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains.

Always know the foods to avoid and the alternative foods that will prevent you from eating the unhealthy ones. This is the key to getting our diet right. Combined with exercise, diet, will be the key to maintaining health in the short and long term.

Trans fat

This type of fat is found in processed foods such as margarine, crackers, and cookies. Like saturated fats, trans fat increases LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and also makes it more likely that we might suffer from heart disease in the future.

Trans fats are created when vegetable oils are hydrogenated, which makes them solid at room temperature. Trans fats raise bad cholesterol levels and lower good cholesterol levels, which increases your risk for heart disease. They’re also linked to diabetes and obesity.

It is important to avoid the wrong kinds of fat and to understand their impact on the body.

Sodium

This mineral is found in table salt, processed foods, and fast food. Too much sodium can raise blood pressure and again increase the risk of heart disease.

To keep your salt intake under control, try to avoid processed foods, which are often high in sodium, and cook from scratch using fresh ingredients whenever possible.

Sugar

This sweetener is found in candy, cookies, cakes, and soft drinks. Too much sugar can cause weight gain and cavities.

Sugar is one of the worst things for us diet-wise. It’s packed with empty calories and can lead to weight gain and other health problems. We should avoid sugary foods as much as possible. That means steering clear of candy, sugary drinks, and baked goods.

Alcohol

This beverage is found in beer, wine, and liquor. Too much alcohol can damage the liver and increase the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

While diet is an important consideration for living a healthy life, it’s not the only factor. Alcohol consumption is also something that should be limited for optimal health.

Alcohol is high in calories and can contribute to weight gain.

For these reasons, it’s best to avoid or limit alcohol consumption as much as possible. If you do choose to drink, do so in moderation and try to stick to low-calorie drinks like wine or light beer.

So, now you know. These are the five food and beverage types to avoid if you want to maintain a healthy diet. Remember, moderation is key. Enjoy everything in moderation and your health will thank you for it!

Life, Lifestyle, Parenting

3 Wonderful Tricks We Can Play On Our Children To Preserve Their Health

09/06/2022 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

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It’s true to say that children rarely know what’s best for them. If they had the choice, they’d never go to bed until 4 am each morning, they would eat ice cream every three meals of the day, and all of the budgeted money they receive would be spent in the local toy store.

As such, sometimes it’s worthwhile for a parent to play ‘the bad guy’ to ensure discipline is applied towards treating them correctly, and helping them develop in the right manner. Yet sometimes, a child, despite how nice their disposition may otherwise be, can be wholly uncooperative with this aim. That in itself can be a relatively irritating problem to manage, especially if we’re already overtired and overworked.

Thankfully, there are a few wonderful tricks you can play on your child to ensure they don’t know you’re trying to ‘do what’s best for them,’ instead thinking you’re giving them a break. If only they knew. We’re sure you’re at the edge of your seat, so without further ado, let’s get started.

Great-Tasting Medication

Kids notoriously dislike medicine, and that’s okay, they may be too young to swallow pills or capsules and so we can’t blame them for that. Also, not all liquid medications have been flavored appropriately. However, some have. For instance, using Combantrin which taste like chocolate pellets, or opting for the child-friendly strawberry-flavored paracetamol can make a big difference in how receptive they are to it. If you frame it as a simple treat (and keep the package well out of their reach), you can help them get the medical support they need.

Vegetable Alternatives

Of course, all children deserve a healthy and balanced diet, but sometimes, this can be difficult for them to understand. This is why it can be a good idea to sneak vegetables into their food, from sweet potato fries from a light broccoli or pea sauce with a meal, as they grow we can start integrating better and more tasty vegetables into their diets with care. It can also be worthwhile to show them just how tasty vegetables can be in general, such as by steaming and roasting them too as opposed to just boiling and losing the taste.

One important thing to consider is to avoid catastrophising vegetables or making them seen as a bargaining chip (you’ll only get dessert if you eat those!) because this entrenches the combative attitude your child might have. Instead, allowing vegetables to speak for themselves, as funny as that sounds, can be key.

The Awesome ‘Choice Trick’

A good way to trick your child into doing something you wish for is to give them a binary choice which helps them accept something you need to do. For instance, you may ask them if they want their milk in a red or blue cup, so that they don’t question the idea of milk, only the kind of cup style they’re feeling that day. You can see how this principle is applied, and most of the time it works.

With this advice, you’re sure to play these wonderful sleight of hand tricks in helping your child developing in the healthiest manner.