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Practicing mindfulness while in the office can be done in many ways. Commuting could be used as a period of time to relax and unwind at the beginning and end of each workday. Instead of using technology during the commute, you can look around at your surroundings and take in reality. While in the office, it is helpful to focus on your breathing. Taking a moment to focus on a deep inhale and exhale can help relieve some tension. These breathing exercises can also be done during regular breaks. Hard work should come with a reward, whether it is a shorter or longer break, this period is effective and will allow your body to refresh and re-energize. You can schedule these breaks as mindful reminders on your phone, so you do not forget! Another tip is to make sure you are actively listening to your coworkers. Being mindful at work and being fully present in conversation can help you learn and build relationships while blocking out the little noises inside in your head. Finally, while at work, it may seem hard to juggle all the tasks that need to be done. However, focusing on one task at a time is more beneficial.
Mindfulness can also be practiced before and after work. You can sit in a quiet and open space for about 5 to 10-minutes. During this time, you can experience your senses and acknowledge what is around you. It is important to feel the slow inhalation and exhalation your body is creating during this time. You can also focus on where your mind travels to and bring it back to the present moment.
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A variety of factors can cause back-to-school stress and anxiety. These include but are not limited to:
-A change in routine -Being separated from family -The fear of the unknown (What will my teacher be like? Who will be in my classes? Will I be able to learn the material?) -Transitioning from one school to another (whether that is due to moving towns or just moving up from elementary school to middle school or middle school to high school) -A change in support system- new teachers and new friends -An increase in homework in classes -Making sure one gets good grades this year The fear of the unknown can cause anxiety, and the start of something new typically can exacerbate those feelings. Anxiety can appear through a multitude of symptoms such as: -Avoidance- not wanting to get up in the morning, not wanting to say bye at drop-off, avoiding doing schoolwork/homework -Stomach aches -Headaches -Difficulty concentrating -Changes in behavior -Withdrawing from friends and family -Loss of appetite -Irritability -Difficulty sleeping -Fidgeting -Hot flashes -Rapid breathing -Frequent bathroom trips To help a child who is worried about school, you can always ask how they are feeling. This open-ended question encourages a child to be more open and allows you to be able to connect with them. You will want to find out what they are nervous about and why they feel they cannot handle going to school. Listening to your child is always important so that you can understand what they are worried about. This leads to validating the child's feelings so you can best help them. Together you can come up with ways to reduce their back-to-school anxieties. A few techniques to ease this anxiety would be: -Trying test runs at the new school/classroom/drop off -Meeting the teacher before the first day -Arranging for a hand-off with a teacher or friend -Coping techniques: -Deep breathing -Grounding techniques by naming things around the room, such as 5 things I see, 4 things I can touch, 3 things I can hear, 2 things I can smell, 1 thing I can taste -teach them mantras such as: -"I have been in school before, the first few days might be nerve-wracking, and I've always been able to get through them." -"Mom/dad/guardian will be there to pick me up at dismissal.” High functioning anxiety is not recognized as an anxiety disorder but is otherwise known as someone who is able to function well day-to-day, while still experiencing some symptoms of anxiety. It can be hard for others to spot someone with high functioning anxiety in day-to-day life as it has a large internal effect with less obvious signs. However, many symptoms that can be seen are similar to those of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and include irritability, under-eating or over-eating, the inability to sleep, and excessive worry or fear.
High functioning depression is described as the ability to function, not necessarily to the fullest extent, while still experiencing signs and symptoms of depression for an extended period of time. Signs and symptoms are closely related to those of Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD) and can include a decreased appetite, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. High functioning depression does not always impact an individual’s day-to-day life, but that does not mean one should not get help for when the symptoms are present. We often find ourselves struggling to distinguish the difference between stress and anxiety.
Stress is when you feel overwhelmed but not afraid of an event, scenario, or responsibility. You may experience stress from: 1. A relationship 2. Work tasks 3. Medical ailments 4. Grief 5. Lack of sleep The symptoms of stress may include, but are not limited to: 1. Aches 2. Indigestion 3. High blood pressure 4. Fatigue 5. Anger and Irritability Comparatively, anxiety results from fearing a situation that may or may not occur in the future. For example, you may feel anxious or afraid about the following: 1. An upcoming exam 2. A job interview 3. A move 4. Financial struggles 5. Possible conflict with another person The symptoms of anxiety may include, but are not limited to: 1. Difficulty concentrating 2. Issues with sleep 3. Having a sense of impending doom 4. Increased heart rate 5. Trembling Anxiety can be a person’s response to a stressful event. Once the event has passed, the stress will have gone away, but the person’s feelings of dread and worry will remain. It is important to note that anxiety is fear of what you perceive to be a legitimate threat when it is not one. It is living in fear of a situation that cannot harm you. When one is feeling stressed, it is best to engage in self-care to manage the stress before it turns into prolonged feelings of anxiety. Comparatively, when one is feeling anxious, it is best to prepare yourself with coping mechanisms to deal with these anxious thoughts. These could be counseling, calming affirmations, or meditation. Mental health conditions can be revealed through a variety of different symptoms. Some symptoms may include but are not limited to anxiety, depression, impulsive behaviors, increased anger or rage, and delusional thinking.
Some less common symptoms are usually disguised as being a mental health condition. For example, three unexpected signs that you may have a mental health condition include but are not limited to: 1. Unexpected changes in your sleep patterns: a. When you are suffering from a mental health condition, it can affect all aspects of your life, including your ability to get a restful night’s sleep. For example, racing thoughts may keep you awake and prevent you from sleeping throughout the night. Alternatively, even if you sleep throughout the evening, you may still feel unrested and crave more sleep. Sleep fluctuations can be disguised as a more serious mental health condition. 2. Loss of interest in being social: a. If you are feeling dissatisfied with yourself personally, you may subconsciously distance yourself from your loved ones. This can be due to possible feelings of insecurity and shamefulness. Therefore, disconnecting yourself from those around you. 3. Struggling to concentrate on routine tasks: a. You may find that routine daily tasks become somewhat of a challenge to complete when previously, they came easy to you. For example, some activities can include bathing, doing laundry, getting dressed, or putting away your dishes. However, you may not realize that you have lost the motivation to do this or that other thoughts may consume the greater part of the day. These are just a few unexpected symptoms one may find him or herself experiencing. Mental health conditions manifest in various ways and appear differently in each person. The world of mental health is ever-evolving, and therefore how we view these mental health conditions evolves as well. As a mental health professional, I am seeing an increase in the rate of people dealing with depression and anxiety. While these issues have always been around, they have been occurring at a higher rate in the recent months and years.
The COVID pandemic hit and we all had to put our lives on hold. We were stuck at home, away from our jobs, friends, and family members. The loneliness and fear that followed have led to feelings of depression and anxiety in many people. We found ourselves isolated from the lives we were used to living. Everything became new, unfamiliar, and overwhelming. In addition, during this time, many of us lost friends and loved ones from COVID-19. We had to grieve alone and not be surrounded by the support of others. Now, as we attempt to adjust to the “new normal,” some may feel guilty for surviving and having the opportunity to move forward. The grief of losing people while being alone combined with the guilt of moving forward may lead to depression. Over the last two years, we have had to adapt to these changes and how we deal with situations and emotions. We have grown to become so comfortable isolated at home that the transition of becoming more social may be challenging. As we are beginning to come out of the pandemic, many must readjust to being back in public and re-entering society. We need to learn how to socialize during these new times with new restrictions. Unfortunately, this transition may come with feelings of anxiety, depression, hesitation, and discomfort. Some of us may feel anxious in the following situations: 1. Crowded spaces surrounded by people 2. Having to go back to working in an office after working from home for a year or more 3. Fearing catching various illnesses 4. Fearing leaving the comfort of your home Many will find themselves unsure of the feelings that come with these experiences. As we move towards normalcy, people need to know they are not alone and that reaching out for help is a sign of strength! Anxiety is when you feel nervous and anticipate the worst in a situation. For example, you may have anxiety over an upcoming event, a test, a relationship, or being alone. However, anxiety is not limited to just these examples. It is possible to feel anxious with just about anything!
The symptoms listed below are signs that you may have anxiety: 1. Feeling nauseous 2. Feeling nervous or tense 3. Having trouble sleeping 4. Feeling tired and weak 5. Having headaches 6. Experiencing palpitations or chest discomfort 7. Experiencing excessive sweating 8. Having a sense of panic 9. Being shaky on your feet 10. Struggling to concentrate or focus on simple tasks 11. Avoiding activities or people who make you feel anxious 12. Overthinking most situations 13. Feeling irritable 14. Variations in your appetite (extreme hunger or no appetite at all) 15. Losing your hair 16. Feeling dizzy or fainting 17. Having dry mouth 18. Having hot flashes 19. Experiencing heavy breathing 20. Having an upset stomach It is possible for many of us to, at some point in our lives, experience moments of feeling socially awkward.
However, feeling socially awkward can at times be mistaken for Avoidant Personality Disorder or AVPD. Many factors can distinguish the two from each other. Whereas AVPD consists of personality traits and social awkwardness that stem from anxiety. So, the questions are:
Avoidant Personality Disorder is a condition where a person wants to avoid social situations out of fear of being rejected or judged. You often feel inadequate when comparing yourself to others and are highly sensitive to others’ negative judgments of you. Avoidant Personality Disorder differs from social awkwardness in various ways, as mentioned below. People with AVPD will:
Comparatively, socially awkward people might find themselves doing the following:
The main difference between being socially awkward and having AVPD is that socially awkward people are aware they feel this way and understand their feelings. On the other hand, people with AVPD have deep feelings of low self-worth and the intense fear of rejection and isolation. Therefore, those diagnosed with AVPD will avoid these situations where socially awkward people will still engage but feel uncomfortable while doing it. AVPD is a treatable condition by way of psychotherapy. By using different modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the psychotherapist can help someone become more aware of faulty thought patterns or negative cognitions and help them to modify their ways of thinking. Your mood affects both your mental and physical health. When your mood is down it may affect you in a variety of different ways but not limited to lacking motivation, disengaging from work responsibilities, and withdrawing from personal relationships. Therefore, finding ways to boost your mood are crucial in helping you carry out your daily routine.
Here are ten activities that can help boost your mood and improve your overall mental and physical well-being: 1. Take a walk outside and sit on the grass. Feel the grass between your toes as you watch the clouds pass by. 2. Soak in a warm bath with scented candles and listen to calming music. 3. Engage in proper sleep hygiene. Make sure you get yourself on a positive routine to get the right amount of uninterrupted sleep each night. 4. Cuddle up in a soft blanket or hug a soft stuffed animal. 5. Write down five things that you are grateful for at that very moment. 6. Watch a funny movie or television show. Laughter is important as it increases endorphins, the chemical that boosts your mood. 7. Tidy up your space. Viewing clutter can cause a spike in cortisol, the stress hormone. Therefore, as you clean the area around you, you may feel a decrease in stress, boosting your overall mood. 8. Enjoy a piece of chocolate, which can boost dopamine and serotonin— the feel-good chemicals that are naturally released in your brain. 9. Smelling lavender can help boost your mood as it interacts with GABA, the neurotransmitter that can help relax the brain and nervous system. 10. Consume Vitamin C, which can help to create neurotransmitters that regulate your mood. Some foods high in Vitamin C include but are not limited to citrus fruits, tomatoes, and broccoli. Self-esteem is known as how one views their value or self-worth. One of the most beneficial ways to take care of yourself is through self-esteem building. Your self-esteem affects your overall happiness and other important areas in your life, such as but not limited to your relationships with others, your ability to make decisions, and achieve personal goals. Additionally, how you view yourself can also impact how others may view you.
Increasing your self-esteem also helps increase self-confidence, allowing you to better manage challenges. In addition, learning how to improve your self-esteem increases your overall mental health and well-being. Here are 10 valuable activities to engage in for self-esteem building: 1. Do your best to look at the positives in a situation, even when it may be challenging to do so. 2. Pay attention to how you talk to yourself—use positive affirmations and positive self-talk language. 3. Get in tune with your body and physical needs, such as exercise and eating healthy. 4. Surround yourself with healthy romantic and personal relationships. 5. Say “no” to anything that could negatively affect your mental health. 6. Identify the negative beliefs about yourself and challenge them by reminding yourself of the positive. 7. Start a gratitude journal and write down one thing you are grateful for every day. 8. Write down your goals and aspirations, both short and long-term. 9. Set up a vision board filled with positive images that make you feel good. 10. Write down one compliment every day and display it in a place where you can easily view it. |
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