Like everything else, Happiness is also a Choice

Like everything else, Happiness is also a Choice

The core of every endeavour, every pursuit and every single action of man is to attain happiness. Yet we are a miserable lot in this world. For most of us, it is a mirage which has been eluding us throughout life. If you peep into a center for mental health services, or any mental health center in California, you will be astonished to see so many dejected faces looking for solace.

But, is it really so difficult to be happy in our lives? The fact is, it is not. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

There are several recent studies to vindicate this claim that happiness is a choice and we can choose to be happy at will. Two U.S. academics, Yuna L. Ferguson and Kennon M. Sheldon conducted a study which revealed that people who chose to be happy were happier than those who did not while participating in it. Studies in the field of positive psychology also buttress this belief that happiness is a cultivated habit.

So, how do we find happiness and stay happy? Let us find our way to happiness and stay blessed:

Choose happiness: First thing in the morning, before getting out of the bed, make a choice for yourself. Choose to be happy throughout the day and then go about your business. It is a habit and needs to be reiterated before it gets embedded in your DNA. It is a wonderful feeling and experience when you see happiness sipping into your life from every aspect.

Share your happiness: The Buddha claims, “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” In other words, whenever you are happy let others also have a piece of the pie. Sharing our happiness only increases it manifold.

Be grateful: Practicing gratitude and thankfulness increases happiness. Studies reveal that those who are grateful appreciate simple pleasures of life and enjoy a happy disposition. That is why we take our Thanksgiving Day very seriously. Be grateful for all that you have in your life and count your blessings every now and then. When you lament, it only brings miseries.

Be non-judgemental: Much of our energy and peace is sapped because of being judgemental. We always remain critical of people, situations and events over which we have no control. However, the moment we become non-judgemental much of our stress dissipates and we become a lot calmer. By being non-judgemental we also reconcile to the fact that we have chosen happiness for ourselves. So, become non-judgemental and enhance your happiness quotient.

Now, that you know the choice is yours choose happiness and keep spreading your joy to others as well.

http://www.sovmentalhealth.com/

Identifying Panic Attacks Symptoms

Anyone who has ever experienced a panic attack knows that this is an incredibly distressing thing to endure. The fear alone is enough to make you never want to experience another attack - and physical panic attacks symptoms make the distress of an attack all the more intense. Keep reading for more about the most commonly experienced symptoms of panic attacks and how you can reduce the frequency and severity of future attacks.

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Physical Panic Attacks SymptomsWhat people tend to dread the most about their panic attacks are the physical symptoms. These are often so severe that sufferers actually begin to suspect their lives are in danger. However, the fear of having another panic attack may become even worse than the attack itself.The most common symptom is a rapid heartbeat, followed closely by shortness of breath; many people who experience panic attacks suffer from both symptoms.

These symptoms combine to make many sufferers feel as if they're having a heart attack, especially when they are accompanied by chest pains, which are another symptom which many people go through during an attack.Nausea, chills or hot flashes are also common, as is vertigo sometimes leading to falls. This dizziness can come on very suddenly as can all symptoms of panic attacks, which make them particularly alarming.

Click here to free yourself from anxiety for ever

Understanding the differences between panic attacks symptoms and those related to a heart attack is important; if in doubt seek immediate medical attention.Mental Panic Attacks SymptomsThe physical symptoms are only part of the picture. There are also symptoms which occur entirely inside of the mind of the sufferer. Even though there are panic attack symptoms which vary from one person to another and may not occur in every attack, one very common mental symptom is an overwhelming sensation of fear. Essentially, the fight or flight response has been invoked in the absence of any external stimuli.

You aren't sure why you are fearful. Many people find themselves overcome with an urge to flee; others have a dissociative reaction, feeling as if someone else is experiencing the attack rather than themselves and freeze up, unable to do anything. Because of the severity of the physical symptoms of the attack, the fear typical of panic attacks is even worse, with sufferers often convinced that they are dying.Dealing with Panic Attacks SymptomsPanic attacks are typically very short lived, lasting only a matter of minutes.

If you experience attacks regularly, you likely fear another attack. One way to begin coping with the condition is to remember that how you react to the onset of your attack often plays a role in how long the attack lasts and how severe it is.The usual reaction to a panic attack is, obviously enough, fear. It's a self-sustaining cycle which escalates the attack and can make it last longer. You can reduce panic attacks symptoms by using breathing techniques and exercises which produce relaxation in order to calm yourself when you feel an attack coming on.

It's not easy to do this at first since you have to try to relax against the approaching tide of panic. However, if you make meditation, breathing exercises, yoga and other relaxation techniques a regular practice, then you can reduce the frequency of your panic attacks and be more prepared for an attack when it does happen.

http://www.defeatpanicattack.com/panic-attacks-symptoms/

Click here to free yourself from anxiety for ever

Weight Loss Diet How to beat depression and come out a winner every time

First of all, I want to start by saying that depression can be an incredibly serious illness. Nothing listed in this article is to take the place of the advice or medications as prescribed by a qualified physician. What we will attempt to do in this article is simply provide some things you can do yourself to hopefully overcome the symptoms of depression without having to resort to prescription drugs. If you cannot, do NOT feel like a failure sometimes the illness of depression requires taking more serious action so heed your doctor\'s advice at all times.

Stop wasting your time

I think just about everyone feels depressed at one time or another. Perhaps you don\'t get the promotion you were counting on at work, or you were struck down with an illness that makes you feel hopeless, or any of a number of other things derail you making you feel that life somehow just isn\'t fair and you become sad and overall depressed. This is certainly common because of the events mentioned above, but for some of us, these symptoms come on suddenly often not even associated with any specific event at all. Depression can strike without warning and zap your interest in activities you used to love or even life in general. If you notice yourself not reacting positively to things you used to love and feeling like you just don\'t want to do or become involved in anything at all, you may be feeling the symptoms of depression. If you notice these signs yourself, the thing you NEED to do is take action immediately. Below is a list of some things that may help you bounce back to your old self.

Exercise - If you are down, then get up and get active! Physical exercise has shown to be incredibly effective at curing the symptoms of depression. Set a realistic goal for your workout and hit it and this sense of accomplishment will do wonders for your outlook.

Solution for Natural Fat loss

Check your diet - Unhealthy eating, especially a diet high in sugar and processed flour has actually been linked to depression in some folks. If your diet resembles the menu of a local bakery, it may be time for an eating overhaul.

Skip the drink - Alcohol is a depressant not to mention it is toxic to your body. If you are looking to kick the blues, then start by kicking the booze!

                     Stop wasting your time

Give meditation a try - Sometimes the stresses of our daily life can be just too much too bear and if we just had a break to allow our mind to rest and relax, we could get rid of this negative energy that can often lead to a depressed. Meditation can be the perfect answer to help you relieve this stress.

Get your 8 hours EVERY night - Sometimes we become sleep deprived and we don\'t evenknow it. If your body has not had enough sleep, then you can bet it will catch up with you. Sometimes the symptoms you may be feeling that mimic depression may simply be because your body is exhausted. Try to make sure you get enough sleep every night as regularity is really the key here.

Make a list of things to be grateful for - Listen, sometimes it is hard to see depending on what we have going on in our life, but there is always someone out there who has it worse than us. If you put down on paper the things you have in your life that you are grateful for it can help put your mindset into perspective. Your family, your job, maybe a skill that you posses, put it all down. Keep this list with you and refer to it whenever you are feeling down.

I want to reiterate how serious depression can be. The tips above can and do help some who put them to use. The key thing is to do SOMETHING. If you are proactive and take action at the first signs of depression, then you can overcome it and come out on top!

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Social Media is Helping Reduce the Stigma of Mental Illness

"Social media can help deal with the stigma surrounding mental illness by allowing people anonymity and also offering a forum and a place to connect both for those who want to remain anonymous and those who would speak openly about their experiences." — Jackson Wightman,PR Daily

What Would Jefferson Say?

Jacob Payne, a high-profile political blogger from Kentucky recently filed a lawsuit against an anonymous blogger asking a local judge to order this individual to come forward to identify himself/herself and to cease and desist the publishing of critical comments that Payne considers "defamatory".

This is just one of many similar legal challenges making their way through the judiciary system in recent years.  Every one of these cases questions the basic rights granted by the First Amendment as they may apply to Social Media and the Internet.

Each side attempts to argue whether or not anonymous blogging is protected under our Freedom of Speech.   Supreme Court justices struggle trying to reconcile twenty-first century Social Media technology with our eighteenth century Constitution.  What are the relevant contexts and the original intent within components of debate separated by more than two centuries of cultural change?  This is an especially difficult task since the Web is something that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams could never have even imagined.  Having never conceived of such a technology, could they ever have been expected to grant rights and protections about Social Media?   And, then there is the issue of anonymity?  This they may have given some thought to back in 1776.  In fact, a pretty crafty patriot by the name of Francis Marion often went by the name "Swamp Fox," and no one but the redcoats seem to complain.  By the way, Marion was the character loosely portrayed by Mel Gibson in the "The Patriot."

One Person's Challenge is another Person's Opportunity

Perhaps, the most important Supreme Court case to date is McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Comm.  In that case, The Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld the First Amendment right to speak anonymously: "author is generally free to decide whether or not to disclose his or her true identity."

McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission is actually a very critical ruling as it indirectly relates to the use of Social Media as a therapeutic tool to aid in the socialization of those with mental illness.  The protection of anonymity is key in facilitating critical interactions in Social Media.  These positive interactions help to break down many of the stigmas associated with mental illness.  It is their anonymity that allows the mentally ill to explore the Web, interact with others and openly express themselves in a manner that offers them protection from a variety of internal (psychological) and external threats (stigma).

According to Web Rights Guru, Ethan Zuckerman: " Social Media gives people an anonymous forum to talk about the fact they are having difficulties, maybe think out loud, and reflect. Because the Internet has become such an interactive forum they can hear from others and they realize, ‘Wow, I am not the only one.'

While the ability to cloak ones identity from the masses when sharing personal experiences on the Web is most desirable for some, regardless of their mental health.  But, not everyone with mental illness prefers to remain anonymous in Social Media.

Steven Schwartz, struggles with BiPolar disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder.  A former Canadian journalist, Steven authors a popular blog called "the bipolar badger."  In his posts he openly shares his personal experiences dealing with mental illness…and he is brutally honest about it all.  That is not to say that he is unable to laugh at himself and share entertaining anecdotes in his writings from time to time.  Steven seems to believe that revealing himself and being who he really is equates to his own well being; the enlightenment of himself and countless others; and the general good.

For putting his neck on the line, the mental health community owes Steven Schwartz many accolades and many thanks.  But this is just Steven's story.  For others, it is the anonymity that they crave allowing them to shield themselves from the insensitivities they may face from day to day. There is much hurt resulting from unfair stereotyping and the acceptance by others of inaccurate and improper assumptions made about those who struggle with mentally illness.There is little doubt that Schwartz undergoes healthy catharsis as he openly and honestly expresses his personal thoughts and emotions.  Admirable is Steven's stated goal (within his blog) to personally help make a difference in the ongoing campaign to reduce the stigma, shame and misconceptions associated with having mental illness.

Technically Protecting Your Anonymity

All people need to talk with and learn from others about themselves and about the world around them. This is regardless of whether they wish to reveal themselves or remain anonymous.  This is not just a need of the mentally ill; it is a basic human need.  And, as we have learned from the courts; all of those who appreciate democracy place a very high value of their Freedom of Speech along with their right to remain anonymous when sharing their views, publicly.  Those who are mentally ill and who are able to grasp these concepts are among them.

So what basic tips can be offered to protect one's anonymity over the Web these days:

1. Use pseudonyms tied to free, international webmail and blog hosting sites.  These are less easily traceable than the better known fee-based, domestic services
2. Use public computers, wherever possible.  Schools, libraries and Internet Cafes are among the places that offer Social Media access for free or at reasonable cost.
3. Use anonymous proxy servers like those found on a list of public proxy servers.  Chances are you may need help choosing and setting up a proxy server interface, but once this is done it is nearly impossible for your IP (computer /location/identity to be traced)
4. Use a stealth blogging site like "Invisiblog," which allows blog posting by specially created E-mails (Mixmaster) rather than by direct uploading of written material.   It really helps to cover one's personal trail.  There are also ways to further encrypt one's Web contributions with online services such as GPG.  It will take some effort or the need to ask for help setting some of these tools in motion, but it is worth the added attention.

 If Social Media continues proving to be an aid in the overall treatment of Mental Illness, it becomes increasingly important for everyone in the mental health community to advocate for the protection of anonymity on the Web.  This will be a tough battle as the courts must be consistent in their rulings and it will be nearly impossible to create a double standard here.  Can anyone really separate the malicious creep who posts attacks – anonymously – on the Web to avoid detection and prosecution from the mentally ill, who may also let loose from time to time –anonymously- to avoid identification and stigma?   This will be a real challenge.  At stake may be more than the gold standard of Freedom of Speech; it may be the platinum value of good mental health.

http://advancedbehavioral.com/

                                                                        

Anxiety - Mental Health

Some people don't even realize that they are having anxiety attacks, until they know what the definition of one is. An anxiety attack is a strong sensation that creates fear in oneself, as the symptoms can seem like you are actually dying. If you are someone who suffers from these kinds of attacks, it is important to know as much as you can about them as to help control them. Thus the more you learn and know the quicker you can begin to control your anxiety attacks. 

  

The cause of anxiety attacks can vary from person to person. They may be caused by an upsetting event in someone's life or a fear of something they have experienced growing up. Stress is a big contributor to anxiety attacks, but the possibilities are truthfully endless. Medication is a known trigger of an anxiety attack, and being less than active is known to be a contributor as well. In reality, there is not a particular known reason for people who experience these attacks, they are in short a body's way of dealing with an overwhelming feeling in one way or another. 

  

One of the main symptoms of anxiety attacks is extreme fear. Now, fear may be acknowledged as a symptom of anxiety, but in reality it is just the end result of the real symptoms. Before fear sets in, you are likely to experience one or more symptoms of anxiety, which lead you to the fear. Chest pain due to a racing heart, shortness of breath, and dizziness are all symptoms you may experience before the fear sets in. In the end, any uncomfortable sensation that is realized which makes you become fearful for your life is considered a symptom of anxiety, and therefore should be treated as such until you can confirm your suspicions. 

  

Because so many symptoms that are realized during an anxiety attack are similar if not exactly like those of some other kind of condition, it is almost impossible to determine if what you have been feeling is due to anxiety attacks, or another condition. This is why it's important to see a doctor and explain your symptoms, so that your physician can run the necessary tests in determining whether you have an underlying medical condition that needs to be dealt with or whether it is more than likely anxiety you are dealing with at which point you can work with your doctor in finding ways to control it. 

  

Once you and your doctor have worked together you can be on the way to resolving your trouble. If it is an anxiety attack there are many approaches you can take to help. Discuss your approach with your doctor. In many cases awareness is the first step you can take to stop your anxiety.

what are the mental disorders

Weight Loss - The Mental Process

When you go on a diet and decide you want to lose some weight, most people think "I'll stop eating so much, maybe do a bit of exercise and be my ideal weight in just a few days". Sadly, these people end up disappointed and usually heavier than when they started.

Dieting is not just a physical process but a mental one too.

If you do not have the mental processes right then your diet will be a struggle and possibly fail. By having the right mental approach and being in control of your brain you can turbo charge your way to your ideal weight.

So how do you get in control of your brain then?

Before I reveal that, you need to know that you are made up of two parts.

You have your conscious mind, which is your ego - the part that chatters on all day.

Then you have your sub-conscious, which is the part that grows your hair, your nails, pumps blood around your body and so on.

This is a very powerful thing to know, because most people fail in their diets because they do not have the sub-conscious mind working with them, and so it sabotages their efforts.

Consciously you want to lose weight, but sub-consciously you enjoy the extra weight for various reasons, e.g. security, lack of attention from the opposite sex, etc.

The first step in making any change is awareness. This means you become aware of the way your brain works and how you think about yourself and weight loss.

For example, lots of people will say, "I'm struggling to lose weight" or "I hate dieting" or something along those lines.

The words you use program your sub-conscious mind. When you say things like this you are giving a strong message to your subconscious mind which takes it all on board.

The same if you say, "Why can't I lose weight?" or "Why am I always eating so much?" or anything like this your sub-conscious mind will give you the answers and tell you why! And how will that make you feel - not so good I imagine!

Being in control of your mind means being in control of what it says to you - it doesn't operate on its own doing what it wants, it operates in a pattern that it has learnt over the years from you. And the nice thing is, this habit - you can change it!

So the first step is to become aware of what you say to yourself when you talk about your dieting and weight. What do you say? Think about this now ...

Is it positive and encouraging? Or is it not?

Over the next week, listen to how you talk to yourself about your weight, your appearance and your diet.

Now you are more aware of what you are saying to yourself about dieting and losing weight, you can start to reprogram yourself and get rid of those patterns.

When you hear yourself say something that is discouraging or negative about yourself stop yourself immediately and change it into something positive and encouraging - something that makes you feel good.

When you start doing this you will soon notice that your diet becomes so much easier and the weight disappears!

Want To Improve Your Health? Improve Your Circulation With Yoga

Yoga has been shown to improve the health of those who practice it, in many ways. These include mental and physical health as well as, for some, spiritual aspects of their lives. Yoga can have dramatic effects on the lives of many people.

And one area where that can be evident is in general blood circulation. Yoga exercises are very good for improving blood circulation and for anyone suffering from a circulatory problem it is well worth considering taking up Yoga, after a suitable consultation with your doctor. And blood circulation is important to so many aspects of our health.

All the tissues in our bodies need to move regularly to function properly. Witness what happens to those who are bedridden and suffer all sorts of problems related to their inability to move around enough.

The practice of Yoga ensures a good flow of blood to the tissues of our body. This in turn ensures a supply of oxygen because blood carries oxygen. And this helps improve the functioning of our organs and our general health. It will help in many areas of our general physical and mental health.

And those who suffer from some mental problems such as reduced memory may well also find that the regular practice of Yoga and the resultant improvement in oxygen supply to the brain from improved blood circulation results in some improvement to their specific mental problems.

This can be true in so many areas of our lives. Yoga can be beneficial during pregnancy for example, and there are many women who suffer from circulatory problems during pregnancy. The practice of Yoga can help maintain the womans overall health and mental well being and this may well in turn give her better physical ability and confidence to help her with the delivery.

And there are all sorts of other physical conditions which can be improved with improved blood circulation which results from the practice of Yoga. Perhaps you will find that blood pressure problems improve, or back pain may improve or even just that you get a better nights sleep.

There are many benefits to be found from a disciplined practice of Yoga, many stemming from improvements in the overall circulatory function. There are even some particular Yoga exercises called Inversions which are especially developed to improve stamina and the strength of the upper body, and these also help improve blood circulation.

Inversions keep your legs above the level of your heart which in turn affects the flow of blood. They should be done after long periods of standing. There are some who should avoid inversions, such as pregnant women, and anyone suffering from a specific medical problem should of course consult their doctor first.

Yoga is a discipline like any other, and so the benefits you get from it will depend on the degree to which you practice Yoga, however if you do so regularly, dont be surprised to find your overall health increasing.

And there are many Yoga exercised that can improve overall health by improving the circulation. Consult your instructor if youd like to learn more about the effects of Yoga on circulation, and find out more about the specific Yoga exercises to help you improve your circulation.

Some people believe that our brain becomes inactive when we sleep. If that were so then we should not have any dreams. Dreams are evidence that our mind remains active, even when we are asleep. This simply means that our mind is active 24 hours a day without any rest at all. Just imagine how our bodies would behave if we were to go through 24 hours of physical activity.

Although research may show that 30% of mental illness may occur without a trigger of stress, it also shows that a majority - 70% - of mental illnesses occur with stress. The research may have failed to look at the other 30%, mentally ill who may not be 'acknowledging' stress at a given moment. This gives us a pessimistic view of mental illnesses. We are made to believe that we can do nothing about them.

We are also told that mental illnesses occur because of our genes, our upbringing, our personality, our temperament, our lifestyle and we can do nothing about them. Stress or no stress, we are told, if we have all these factors loaded in our personal history, we are prone to have a mental illness. Some psychiatrists adhere to this belief strongly. This belief is then put across authoritatively as the "gospel truth" of science. Naturally, this brings up a sense of low self-esteem and helplessness in the person who is suffering with the illness. We are then made to believe that medications are man-made answers to mental illness, which is a curse of nature.

Prayer, which was until recently considered unscientific, has now been shown to have beneficial effects on patients.1 Similarly, the current belief in psychiatry is that mental illnesses can be treated by medical professionals only and the person who is mentally ill has no control over their lives. The medical system works in a way in which the doctors themselves have limited choices other than prescribing drugs.

The patient has no choices worth mentioning. From the legal perspective, a person who is mentally ill is considered not capable of taking any responsibility for their actions. This is one of the most unfortunate aspects of mental illnesses. People who are mentally ill also have a sense of responsibility in many areas of their lives.

The role of emotions in mental illnesses has been totally ignored by scientists. Yet researches do show that separation from mother,2 losses3 - including deaths,4 traumatic events, especially when they occur over the previous three months5 can trigger mental illnesses. What has been looked at is the history of such events in a person's life. What is ignored is the emotional upheaval it causes in a person's body and mind.

Emotional expression ameliorates the effects of trauma.

6 Repetitive upheavals in the body are simply not forgotten. Release of emotions by emotional expression explains the role of counselling and confession. We tend to believe, erroneously, that everything will settle with time. Things do settle with time - but not everything. It is these issues and their emotional effects, that cause mental illnesses and psychosomatic illnesses. It is obvious that whenever we undergo any emotional experience, our nervous and hormonal systems are shaken-up. The nervous system and the hormones together control the activities of various parts of the body. If the neurohormonal expression is allowed to go through completion, a physiological calmness occurs in the body. This has a scientific basis.

7 For people who attend church regularly, a common experience is the sense of calmness on entering a church. Coupled with music, incense and sermons spoken in a low, soft tone, a sense of calmness dwells on the person. There is scientific evidence to suggest that going to church helps a person remain healthy.

8 More interesting is the fact that there is little research to state that music or aromatherapy help to bring about mental health. Yet experience shows that they have a calming effect. Only recently have papers started to be published in scientific journals bridging the gap between spirituality and science.

9 It has now been researched that people who are religious in orientation have a lower rate of strokes than those who are not religious.

10 The whole area of mental illness is about losing a sense of freedom. When we find ourselves bound to emotional issues of our life, that we cannot rid ourselves of, we lose our freedom of thinking. This creates stress in our mind and our body bears the brunt of it. This loss of freedom brings up a sense of fear or a sense of helplessness. Both such feelings bring up a sense of insecurity. A person loses confidence in their own worth. Self-esteem becomes low. With lack of confidence and low self-esteem, comes poor decision-making. A person suffers with all these conditions when suffering with a mental illness.

This changes the behaviour of the person. The behaviour is affected by the way the person feels and thinks. If the person feels fear for a long time, the chances of becoming phobic and paranoid increase. Withdrawal from social situations occurs. The family members observe the person to be unwell. Such a person is then asked to see a doctor. With the person's self-esteem low, vulnerability increases.

This does not mean however, that the person becomes totally irresponsible towards their own well-being. Many times the person wants to do 'something' to get better, but the health system has limited resources to offer much in terms of growth of the person, except medication. When a mentally ill person goes to seek help - confidence, self-esteem and sense of freedom are already lost. Instead of helping the person become independent, there is a tendency to make the person dependent on medication.

Medication plays its role in controlling the condition or state of illness. It does nothing to improve the quality of life permanently. To improve their quality of life, the person needs to take responsibility for their own well-being. This is encouraged in some of the organisations, which are being run by the sufferers themselves. GROW is an example of such an organisation. Are there any alternatives to medication in mental conditions? A doctor can only prescribe drugs to "control" the mental condition.

The current trend in some other parts of the world is to encourage people suffering with mental illnesses to take responsibility for their own well-being, along with medication. Psychotherapy11 and self-help is encouraged. The usage of medication in such situations is minimised or eliminated.

In psychiatry, we know that the suicide rate among physicians is higher than in the general population and psychiatrists are at a greater risk among physicians, than other specialists.

12 Research shows that psychotherapy is more economical than medication alone in treating mental illness.

13 Conditions like schizophrenia are also being treated without medication in some parts of the world.

14 It is also a known fact that the more positive the attitude we have, the more balanced are the chemicals in our body.

15 This would be more acceptable for those who see the positive role of religion on mental health. Some authors have suggested that the medicine of the future is going to be "prayer and Prozac."

16 Mental health is a preventative activity. Do we need to suffer first before we take steps to deal with it? If we could only assume responsibility for our own mental health, we may not have to suffer. The best medicine in this case is certainly prevention.

We live in a free society. The freedom to suffer is also one kind of freedom. We also have the freedom to look for answers to minimise our suffering.

Weaving Mental Health First Aid into Workplace Wellness

Every month Anne LaFleur sends employees in her office a quiz about various wellness topics. When the topic was depression, she received twice as many responses as usual from co-workers.

When LaFleur, vice president of human resources at a credit union in Pawtucket, RI, took a Mental Health First Aid course in February, she quickly understood the reason for the high level of interest in mental health issues. The training also helped her identify people in her office who may be suffering a mental health problem and taught her how to provide help and refer people to self-help and professional resources. "The training made me realize that mental health issues are very common, yet one of the least talked about problems," LaFleur says.

More than one in four people suffer from a diagnosable mental health problem in any given year. Mental illness likely costs businesses more than $79 billion a year, $63 billion of it in lost productivity. The statistics point to the significant need to incorporate mental health into burgeoning employee wellness programs, which have received a shot in the arm with the passage of federal healthcare reform legislation.

Mental Health First Aid has proved to be an ideal program to promote improved mental health in workplaces across the country.

LaFleur is one of more than 6,000 people certified in Mental Health First Aid since the training was introduced in the United States two years ago by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare along with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Missouri Department of Mental Health.

Those who participate in the 12-hour Mental Health First Aid course learn a five-step process to assess a situation, select and implement appropriate interventions and help a person developing signs and symptoms of mental illness or in crisis receive appropriate care. Participants also learn about the risk factors and warning signs of specific illnesses such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addiction.

Evaluations show that the evidence-based Mental Health First Aid program saves lives, expands people's knowledge of mental illnesses and their treatments, and reduces the stigma associated with mental illness by helping people understand and accept mental illness as a medical condition. One trial of 301randomized participants found that those who took the training had greater confidence in providing help to others, greater likelihood of advising people to seek professional help, and decreased stigmatizing attitudes.

Unexpectedly, the study also found that Mental Health First Aid improved the mental health of the participants themselves.

"By understanding the signs and symptoms of depression, I learned to recognize this in myself," says Kellie-Ann Heenan, director of human resources at a company in Lincoln, RI.

Heenan, who had the training in February, has an adopted son from Russia who suffers from a number of emotional issues.

"The tools I learned made it easier to connect with him and better understand where he's coming from," she says. "In the end, the training improved my own mental health."

LaFleur has also applied the lessons she learned in the course to her home life.

"My kids are in their 20s and they go through the typical ups and downs," says LaFleur, "I use my Mental Health First Aid training to see how my kids are feeling." LaFleur says she was surprised by the range of mental health issues covered in the course.

"We looked at how to deal with both crisis and non-crisis situations, and it made us very aware of the terminology we use that may not be socially correct," she says, noting that describing co-workers as "crazy" or a "nut case" may be hurtful to people going through an emotionally trying time.

The training proved to be particularly helpful to Lynn Corwin last January when two fellow employees walked into her office in a panic. They told Corwin, director of human resources at the organization, that a co-worker was extremely upset about the recent earthquake in Haiti. The distressed young woman had a close friend in Haiti and had been unable to contact the person for five days. Fearing the worst, the woman was having difficulty managing her emotions, let alone being able to work.

While the two workers had no idea how to deal with the situation, Corwin sprung into action.

"I used what I learned in the course to calm the woman down and talk with her about how she's feeling," says Corwin. "I explained to her that it was OK to be upset, and to not be embarrassed about it."

"The training left me with a greater sense of confidence about how to deal with a variety of people issues that come up in every office," concludes Heenan. "There's such a stigma around mental health and people don't want to talk about it, so having the information gives me confidence that I'll be able to handle these types of situations when they arise."

About Meditation to Improve Mental and Physical Health

Meditation is a group of mental training techniques. You can use meditation to improve mental health and capacities, for spiritual development, to improve your motivation for your goals and also to help improve the physical health. Some of these techniques are very simple, so you can learn them from a book or an article; others require guidance by a qualified meditation teacher.


WHAT IS MEDITATION

Most techniques called meditation include these components:

1. You sit or lie in a relaxed position with closed eyes.
2. You breathe regularly. You breathe in deep enough to get enough oxygen. When you breathe out, you relax your muscles so that your lungs are well emptied, but without straining.
3. You stop thinking about everyday problems and matters.
4. You concentrate your thoughts upon some sound, some word you repeat, some image, some abstract concept or some feeling. Your whole attention should be pointed at the object you have chosen to concentrate upon.
5. If some foreign thoughts creep in, you just stop this foreign thought, and go back to the object of meditation.

The different meditation techniques differ according to the degree of concentration, and how foreign thoughts are handled. By some techniques, the objective is to concentrate so intensely that no foreign thoughts occur at all.

In other techniques, the concentration is more relaxed so that foreign thoughts easily pop up. When these foreign thoughts are discovered, one stops these and goes back to the pure meditation in a relaxed manner. Thoughts coming up, will often be about things you have forgotten or suppressed, and allow you to rediscover hidden memory material. This rediscovery will have a psychotherapeutic effect.


THE EFFECTS OF MEDITATION

Meditation has the following effects:

1. Meditation will reduce stress and give you rest and recreation.
2. You learn to relax.
3. You learn to concentrate better on problem solving.
4. Meditation often has a good effect upon the blood pressure.
5. Meditation has beneficial effects upon inner body processes, like circulation, respiration and digestion.
6. Regular meditation will have a psychotherapeutically effect.
7. Regular meditation will facilitate the immune system.
8. Meditation is usually pleasant.


THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HYPNOSIS AND MEDITATION

Hypnosis may have some of the same relaxing and psychotherapeutic effects as meditation. However, when you meditate you are in control yourself; by hypnosis you let some other person or some mechanical device control you. Also hypnosis will not have a training effect upon the ability to concentrate.


A SIMPLE FORM OF MEDITATION

Here is a simple form of meditation. By this meditation technique, you should concentrate in an easy manner. This will allow foreign thoughts to pop up. These are handled one by one as they appear. You proceed as follows:

1. Sit in a good chair in a comfortable position.
2. Close your eyes and relax all your muscles as well as you can.
3. Stop thinking about anything, or at least try not to think about anything.
4. Breath out, relaxing all the muscles in your breathing apparatus.
5. Repeat the following in 10 - 20 minutes:

-- Breath in so deep that you feel you get enough oxygen.
-- Breath out, relaxing your chest and diaphragm completely.
-- Every time you breathe out, think the word "one" or another simple word inside yourself. You should think the word in a prolonged manner, and so that you hear it inside you, but you should try to avoid using your mouth or voice.

6. If foreign thoughts come in, just stop these thoughts in a relaxed manner, and keep on concentrating upon the breathing and the word you repeat.

As you proceed through this meditation, you should feel steadily more relaxed in your mind and body, feel that you breathe steadily more effectively, and that the blood circulation throughout your body gets more efficient. You may also feel an increasing mental pleasure throughout the meditation.


THE EFFECTS OF MEDITATION UPON DISEASES

As any kind of training, meditation may be exaggerated so that you get tired and worn out. Therefore you should not meditate so long or so concentrated that you feel tired or mentally emptied.

Meditation may sometimes give problems for people suffering from mental diseases, epilepsy, serious heart problems or neurological diseases. On the other hand, meditation may be of help in the treatment of these and other conditions.

People suffering from such conditions should check out what effects the different kinds of meditation have on their own kind of health problems, before beginning to practise meditation, and be cautious if they choose to begin to meditate. It may be wise to learn meditation from an experienced teacher, psychologist or health worker that use meditation as a treatment module for the actual disease.
http://www.abicana.com

Role of Exercise in Mental Problems

Mental health professionals will treat mental disorders differently using one or a combination of psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, case management, or other practices.

The term, ‘mental health problem' covers a wide range of problems which affect someone's ability to get on with their daily life. Causes of mental illness also vary, but may result from genetics, trauma, biological factors such as infections or toxins, or neuroplasticity resulting from psychological or anthropological factors. Mental health problems can affect anyone, of any age and background, as well as having an impact on the people around them such as their family, friends and carers.

Symptoms of mental illness greatly vary dependent upon the specific disorder, but may include mild to chronic forms of depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, difficulties with attention, loss of cognitive abilities, or the presence of hallucinations or delusions.

Mental health problems result from a complex interaction of biological, social and psychological factors, but are still usually discussed in medical terms. Multiple sclerosis does cause mental illness and psychiatric conditions, other than depression, and these psychiatric conditions are relatively common. Most people recover from their mental health problems. Long -term problems can lead to considerable disruption and difficulty in people's lives, but many of the people affected find ways of managing their problems and are able to lead active lives. People with mental health problems need help and support to enable them to cope with their illness. There are many treatment options, including medication, counselling, psychotherapy, complementary therapies and self help strategies.

Sometimes people with mental health problems are discriminated against. This can lead to social problems such as homelessness, and may make the mental health problem worse. Environmental events surrounding pregnancy and birth have been linked to an increased development of mental illness in the offspring. This includes maternal exposure to serious psychological stress or trauma, conditions of famine, obstetric birth complications, infections, and gestational exposure to alcohol or cocaine.

Minority ethnic groups, including first or second-generation immigrants, have been found to be at greater risk for developing mental disorders, which has been attributed to various kinds of life insecurities and disadvantages, including racism. Mental health professionals treat mental disorders differently using one or a combination of psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, case management, or other practices. The major treatment options for mental disorders are psychiatric medication and psychotherapy.

Exercise In Mental And Other Problems:

Exercise helped to relieve the symptoms of depression and more than half said it helped to reduce stress and anxiety. Regular aerobic exercise will clear the cobwebs and help your brain to function more efficiently. Physical fitness does not come easy. The best strategy is to gradually increase the duration of your exercise sessions and, along with enhancing your physical fitness, your mental muscle will also begin to take shape. Many people with mental health problems use physical exercise to make them feel better, a survey has found. Mind found that people with mental health problems were more likely to get their exercise from everyday activities like walking, housework and gardening.

http://www.depression-treatment-help.com/

5 Ways to Promote Positive Mental Health

Positive mental health is a great way to ensure you lead a long, happy and healthy life. Maintaining your mental health is easier than most people think and will have a significant impact on your everyday life. Would you like to have more energy? What about a good night sleep? How you would like to go an entire year without catching the flu once? Achieving a positive mental health state will not guarantee these things, but it sure will help. Here are the top 5 things you can do to help promote positive mental health in you and your children:

1. Eat Healthy.

Eating fast food 3 times a week and downing a few cold ones before bed might be easier than making a home-cooked meal and more enjoyable than drinking a cold glass of water but it won’t do a whole lot for your health. Eating home-cooked foods (especially fruits and vegetables) and staying away from the fast food joints will help you achieve the healthy lifestyle you desire.

2. Drink Lots of Water.

To maintain a healthy lifestyle, average individuals are expected to consume at least eight glasses of water a day. And while this seems like it may be a lot, it’s actually not. Eight glasses is almost equivalent to filling up your water bottle a few times between waking up and going to bed. Remember, if you work out, you will need to increase your water intake to compensate for the water you’re burning off while exercising. Drinking water will detoxify your body and restore it back to a healthy state – especially after drinking coffee or alcoholic beverages.

3. Kick the Bad Habits.

We’ve already mentioned it a few times but eliminating significant alcohol intake will have positive results on your mental health. Likewise, kicking other bad habits like smoking and drinking considerable amounts of coffee will also help keep your mental health at its best.

4. De-Stress.

Stress is one of the leading causes for poor mental health. When you’re stressed out, your body has to work harder to keep up and, overtime, it will take its toll on your body and your brain. Next time something stressful happens, try lighting some candles and taking a bath. If that doesn’t work for you, try letting off some steam by going to the gym or going for a run. Keeping a positive frame of mind will promote positive mental health and eliminate undue stress on your brain.

5. Book Regular Check-ups.

Unfortunately, you can do all of the things listed above and still suffer from mental health problems. In fact, you might have a mental illness and not even know it. Make sure you’re mental health is in good condition by booking regular appointments with your doctor. He/she will be able to confirm whether you’re lifestyle is healthy or identify where you may need to make some changes...

http://www.onehealthylifestyle.com

The term, ‘mental health problem' covers a wide range of problems which affect someone's ability to get on with their daily life. Causes of mental illness also vary, but may result from genetics, trauma, biological factors such as infections or toxins, or neuroplasticity resulting from psychological or anthropological factors. Mental health problems can affect anyone, of any age and background, as well as having an impact on the people around them such as their family, friends and carers.

Symptoms of mental illness greatly vary dependent upon the specific disorder, but may include mild to chronic forms of depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, difficulties with attention, loss of cognitive abilities, or the presence of hallucinations or delusions.

Mental health problems result from a complex interaction of biological, social and psychological factors, but are still usually discussed in medical terms. Multiple sclerosis does cause mental illness and psychiatric conditions, other than depression, and these psychiatric conditions are relatively common.

Most people recover from their mental health problems. Long -term problems can lead to considerable disruption and difficulty in people's lives, but many of the people affected find ways of managing their problems and are able to lead active lives. People with mental health problems need help and support to enable them to cope with their illness. There are many treatment options, including medication, counselling, psychotherapy, complementary therapies and self help strategies.

Sometimes people with mental health problems are discriminated against. This can lead to social problems such as homelessness, and may make the mental health problem worse. Environmental events surrounding pregnancy and birth have been linked to an increased development of mental illness in the offspring.

This includes maternal exposure to serious psychological stress or trauma, conditions of famine, obstetric birth complications, infections, and gestational exposure to alcohol or cocaine. Minority ethnic groups, including first or second-generation immigrants, have been found to be at greater risk for developing mental disorders, which has been attributed to various kinds of life insecurities and disadvantages, including racism. Mental health professionals treat mental disorders differently using one or a combination of psychotherapy, psychiatric medication, case management, or other practices. The major treatment options for mental disorders are psychiatric medication and psychotherapy.

Exercise helped to relieve the symptoms of depression and more than half said it helped to reduce stress and anxiety. Regular aerobic exercise will clear the cobwebs and help your brain to function more efficiently. Physical fitness does not come easy. The best strategy is to gradually increase the duration of your exercise sessions and, along with enhancing your physical fitness, your mental muscle will also begin to take shape. Many people with mental health problems use physical exercise to make them feel better, a survey has found. Mind found that people with mental health problems were more likely to get their exercise from everyday activities like walking, housework and gardening.
http://www.depression-treatment-help.com