Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
7 Statements That Hurt People With Anxiety
Source: http://www.curejoy.com/content/7-statements-hurt-people-anxiety/
Do you often come across people with chronic anxiety? May be your friends and family members who often complain that they wake up with a weight on their chest every morning? These people are, in other words, dealing with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and constantly break into cold sweats or burst into tears.
You want to help them but might be scared that one wrong move can make it worse. So here are 7 things to avoid saying to those suffering from anxiety; these statements may sound helpful, but they’re not.
“You Have A Lot To Be Grateful For!”
You mean to say, “Look at the bright side,” but what they hear is, “I’m not doing enough to appreciate the good things in my life.” They are usually already dealing with guilt and shame for not being good enough. They think they’re a burden to people.
So instead, say, “I appreciate you.” Appreciation is better than gratitude, and everyone, especially them, need to know that they are appreciated for being strong and dealing with their troubles.
Never Use The Word “SHOULD”
“Maybe you SHOULD meditate,” “Maybe you SHOULD go see someone,” “You SHOULD not feel so sensitive about this issue,” or “You SHOULD not over think.” If you’re trying to help someone come out of anxiety, “should” is a word that most certainly NOT be used with them.
Never tell them what to do. Instead, ask them what they’d like to do. “What brings you peace?” “Would you like to go shopping with me?” “Maybe some meditation will help.”
Suggest them things to do to feel better, or ask them if they would like to do something that’d make them feel better. Leave the choice to them.
“Everything Will Be okay”
But how?
Instead, say, “Don’t worry, I am here for you.” Anxiety makes them feel isolated and lonely. Tell them you are there to help and you will always be with them.
Do you often come across people with chronic anxiety? May be your friends and family members who often complain that they wake up with a weight on their chest every morning? These people are, in other words, dealing with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and constantly break into cold sweats or burst into tears.
You want to help them but might be scared that one wrong move can make it worse. So here are 7 things to avoid saying to those suffering from anxiety; these statements may sound helpful, but they’re not.
“You Have A Lot To Be Grateful For!”
You mean to say, “Look at the bright side,” but what they hear is, “I’m not doing enough to appreciate the good things in my life.” They are usually already dealing with guilt and shame for not being good enough. They think they’re a burden to people.
So instead, say, “I appreciate you.” Appreciation is better than gratitude, and everyone, especially them, need to know that they are appreciated for being strong and dealing with their troubles.
Never Use The Word “SHOULD”
“Maybe you SHOULD meditate,” “Maybe you SHOULD go see someone,” “You SHOULD not feel so sensitive about this issue,” or “You SHOULD not over think.” If you’re trying to help someone come out of anxiety, “should” is a word that most certainly NOT be used with them.
Never tell them what to do. Instead, ask them what they’d like to do. “What brings you peace?” “Would you like to go shopping with me?” “Maybe some meditation will help.”
Suggest them things to do to feel better, or ask them if they would like to do something that’d make them feel better. Leave the choice to them.
“Everything Will Be okay”
But how?
Instead, say, “Don’t worry, I am here for you.” Anxiety makes them feel isolated and lonely. Tell them you are there to help and you will always be with them.
“Just Be happy”
Aren’t they trying to be?
Anxiety is not just a matter of willpower and personal focus. There could be reasons or personal experiences that might have left them sleepless at nights.
Ask, “What Can I Do To Make You Feel Better?” Give them the option to pour their hearts out to you. Let them open up about what worries them and how you can help them.
“It’s All In Your Head!”
Yes, it’s a psychological issue, but it’s not in their control. This statement can actually make them feel helpless and crippling.
So switch to “Let’s go have some fun.” Take them out to a park or a pet shop. Help them de-stress by engaging them in fun activities.
“What Do You Have To Be Anxious About?!”
Are you trying to tell them that their stress and anxiety is meaningless? Maybe not, but that’s what they understand from that statement.
Instead, ask them, “How can I make you feel less stressed?” Let them do a little soul searching and understand what could actually work to make them feel better.
“There Are People With Much Bigger Problems”
Agreed. But does it mean it’s their fault? How is their anxiety anyway connected or relevant to those with bigger or smaller problems? The statement can actually make them feel worse.
So try, “I’m really sorry to hear that. Do you wanna talk?” You will see how their issues and anxiety are valid. You can make them feel better by helping them share their distress with you. You never know, maybe there is a way you can help end this struggle for them?
So the next time you see someone creeping into the darker depths of blues, if can’t say the right thing, at least know what not to say to them.
Source: http://www.curejoy.com/content/7-statements-hurt-people-anxiety/
Source: http://www.curejoy.com/content/7-statements-hurt-people-anxiety/
Monday, April 3, 2017
10 Natural Depression Treatments By R. Morgan Griffin
source: http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/natural-treatments#1
Being depressed can make you feel helpless. You're not. Along with therapy and sometimes medication, there's a lot you can do on your own to fight back. Changing your behavior -- your physical activity, lifestyle, and even your way of thinking -- are all natural depression treatments.
These tips can help you feel better -- starting right now.
1. Get in a routine. If you’re depressed, you need a routine, says Ian Cook, MD. He's a psychiatrist and director of the Depression Research and Clinic Program at UCLA. Depression can strip away the structure from your life. One day melts into the next. Setting a gentle daily schedule can help you get back on track.
2. Set goals. When you're depressed, you may feel like you can't accomplish anything. That makes you feel worse about yourself. To push back, set daily goals for yourself. "Start very small," Cook says. "Make your goal something that you can succeed at, like doing the dishes every other day."
As you start to feel better, you can add more challenging daily goals.
3. Exercise. It temporarily boosts feel-good chemicals called endorphins. It may also have long-term benefits for people with depression. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways, Cook says.
How much exercise do you need? You don’t need to run marathons to get a benefit. Just walking a few times a week can help.
4. Eat healthy. There is no magic diet that fixes depression. It's a good idea to watch what you eat, though. If depression tends to make you overeat, getting in control of your eating will help you feel better.
Although nothing is definitive, Cook says there's evidence that foods with omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon and tuna) and folic acid (such as spinach and avocado) could help ease depression.
5. Get enough sleep. Depression can make it hard to get enough shut-eye, and too little sleep can make depression worse.
What can you do? Start by making some changes to your lifestyle. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Try not to nap. Take all the distractions out of your bedroom -- no computer and no TV. In time, you may find your sleep improves.
If you're not up to full-time school or work, that’s fine. Think about part-time. If that seems like too much, consider volunteer work.
7. Challenge negative thoughts. In your fight against depression, a lot of the work is mental -- changing how you think. When you're depressed, you leap to the worst possible conclusions.
The next time you're feeling terrible about yourself, use logic as a natural depression treatment. You might feel like no one likes you, but is there real evidence for that? You might feel like the most worthless person on the planet, but is that really likely? It takes practice, but in time you can beat back those negative thoughts before they get out of control.
8. Check with your doctor before using supplements. "There's promising evidence for certain supplements for depression," Cook says. Those include fish oil, folic acid, and SAMe. But more research needs to be done before we'll know for sure. Always check with your doctor before starting any supplement, especially if you’re already taking medications.
9. Do something new. When you’re depressed, you’re in a rut. Push yourself to do something different. Go to a museum. Pick up a used book and read it on a park bench. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Take a language class.
"When we challenge ourselves to do something different, there are chemical changes in the brain," Cook says. "Trying something new alters the levels of [the brain chemical] dopamine, which is associated with pleasure, enjoyment, and learning."
10. Try to have fun. If you’re depressed, make time for things you enjoy. What if nothing seems fun anymore? "That's just a symptom of depression," Cook says. You have to keep trying anyway.
When you're depressed, you can lose the knack for enjoying life, Cook says. You have to relearn how to do it. In time, fun things really will feel fun again.
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