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Showing posts with label mental health blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mental health blog. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Cannabis reduces Empathy

Cannabis reduces Empathy | Healthbiztips
Cannabis reduces Empathy | Healthbiztips
photo credit: Robert Zunikoff @rzunikoff @unsplash

Cannabis reduces Empathy | Healthbiztips


@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan | psychology blog | health blog

What if I tell you that there is a substance that can weaken your ability to understand emotions and empathize with other people. That's just tragic because a person's capability to read the emotion of others is a crucial part of social interaction and emotional intelligence. What is it?

It's cannabis.

Surrounded with controversy, cannabis is prized for it's medical and recreational use. You may be more familiar with it's other name--marijuana. It's considered an illicit drug in parts of the world.

Research reveal that cannabis users have smaller region of the brain in the part known as left rostral anterior cingulate cortex which controls the ability to empathize and process emotion.

Individuals who use cannabis have reduced ability in discriminating positive facial expressions such as those of happiness and sadness. On the contrary, cannabis users were found to have higher capability to detect faces showing negative emotions like fear and anger.

Cannabis contains bioactive components which alters the chemicals and neurotransmitter in the brain that leads to behavior and cognitive changes. Individuals who tend to use cannabis more frequently have been shown to have more pronounced difficulty in identifying emotions.

It's not just emotional awareness that cannabis tampers with. The consumption of this substance have known effects both mentally and physically:

  • inability to concentrate
  • cognitive deficit
  • difficulty making sound decision
  • decrease risk perception
  • changes in appetite
  • alteration in sleep pattern


Resources:

Troup LJ, Bastidas S, Nguyen MT, Andrzejewski JA, Bowers M, Nomi JS (2016) An Event-Related Potential Study on the Effects of Cannabis on Emotion Processing. PLoS ONE 11(2): e0149764. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149764

source: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149764

Thursday, June 27, 2019

What is the difference between depression and loneliness?

What is the difference between depression and loneliness? | Healthbiztips
What is the difference between depression and loneliness? | Healthbiztips

Is loneliness and depression the same? | Healthbiztips

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan | psychology blog

It is worth knowing that although loneliness and depression are associated with extreme feeling of sadness, these two are completely different things.

To a layman, the difference between loneliness and depression may not be apparent.


Let's look into loneliness. Have you ever felt the emotional pain caused by being far away from your family or loved ones? Have you ever experienced the pain of a break up?

Loneliness is the sadness a person feels caused by the absence of or being away from close relations like family, friends, and intimate relations.

In Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, we learn that love and belonging  is a basic human need that needs to be fulfilled in order for a person to be motivated to achieve self-actualization. Other basic human needs include physiological needs (such as food, water, sleep, and clothing), safety, and self-esteem.

Humans can go to such extremes just to feel accepted and loved because the sense of belonging is a basic human needs.

When our need to belong is not met, it is normal to feel the pain of loneliness. Did you know that this feeling actually activates the same area of the brain that processes physical pain, thus, the pain experienced is real.

Loneliness stems from the absence of close ties and meaningful relationships.


Depression

Depression is mental health problem in which a person experiences profound sadness, worthlessness, and hopelessness. While loneliness is a normal and temporary response, depression is a serious mental illness that needs to be addressed and treated.

Depression affects both the individuals mental and psysical state. Below are several of it's manifestations:

  • adhedonia (inability to feel pleasure)
  • inability to feel pleasure in previouslt enjoyable activities
  • loss of appetite
  • fatigue
  • sleep disturbance
  • social withdrawal
  • loss of self-esteem
  • feeling of worthlessness
  • inability to concentrate and think clearly
  • loss of purpose and meaning in life
  • developing suicidal thoughts



What causes depression?

The exact cause of depression if hard to point out, but there are several factors linked to it's development:

  • genetics and family history
  • mental health disorder such as bipolar disorder
  • medications such as corticosteroid and isotretinoin
  • unpleasant life experiences
  • history of experiencing abuse
  • death of a loved one



To summarize, loneliness is the feeling of temporary sadness that an individual experiences due to the absence of the basic need of being loved and accepted. On the other hand, depression if a serious mental health problem characterized by long lasting feeling of extreme sadness that's debilitating to a person's normal functioning.

Friday, June 14, 2019

Is it true that talking to yourself makes you smarter?

Is it true that talking to yourself makes you smarter? | Healthbiztips
Is it true that talking to yourself makes you smarter? | Healthbiztips

 
Is it true that talking to yourself makes you smarter? | Healthbiztips


@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan | psychology blog

I've found psychology blogs online pointing out that talking to yourself makes you smarter. That's great because I know there's a lot of people who want to boost their brain power, right?

I thought to myself how cool this is but I got disappointed when I got to the real answer.

According to the research conducted by G. Lupyan from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a self-directed speech, not a conversational self talk, can increase your focus.

So, my nonsensical self-speeches do not count at all. I should have known better. Striking a conversation with yourself (I mean, a real talk) still looks strange so you won't want other people to see that part of you. You know, just in case people speculate about your social life.

To make it short, you're only boosting your brain power when giving yourself instruction regarding something you're currently engaged with or when you're discussing with yourself things you've learned.

Say, you're trying to find a familiar object in a grocery store, then repeating the name of that object verbally increases your attention into finally finding that thing.

Research revealed that the strategy of repeating a familiar object's name will increase your speed of finding that object in a grocery store by up to 50 to 100 milliseconds.

Ironically, doing the same strategy to find an foreign object proves to be a handicap. Turns out chanting an unfamiliar object's name doesn't make it any more recognizable in a sea of stuffs.


In conclusion, you get smarter by increasing your focus on the task at hand by speaking out about the current task your have to accomplish and reciting things you've learned to improve your memory about that subject.

Friday, May 24, 2019

The way a person treats restaurant staff reveals a lot about their character

The way a person treats restaurant staff reveals a lot about their character | Healthbiztips


Do you know someone who speaks to their superior in an incredibly nice way, but treats their subordinate rudely. How about a customer who speaks to his comrades kindly but treats restaurant staffs like lowly servants? I've seen it happen and I tell you, it's really awful.

It's like that person is wearing a two sided mask. But, which side is the real one?

Did you know that how a person treats servers and subordinates tells a lot about their character.

The way a person treats restaurant staff reveals a lot about their character | Healthbiztips
The way a person treats restaurant staff reveals a lot about their character | Healthbiztips
photo credit: Deleece Cook @deleece @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan | psychology blog

Let's face it, we just can't help but create an impression about certain people, whether they are friends, strangers, or enemies. At times, it's really important to know a person better. Imagine being engage to the kindest person you've ever met, then finding out after your marriage that he's not as kind as you think. If you'd like to know a person better, then observe how they interact with staffs in a restaurant.

If you're going to a restaurant with a colleague, a friend, or a fiance, pay attention to the way that person treats restaurant staff as it  reveals a lot about their character.

Because let's admit it, we tend to be in our best behavior when we're in front of our boss, but when it comes to dealing with strangers or people we think are working to please or serve us, we can't help but reveal our true essence, and at times, it can reveal the worst of us.

I don't know about you but I don't trust someone who is nice to me but rude to waiter and waitress. If you fiance talks to you like he's all kindness but shouts or acts rudely in front of a restaurant staff because something didn't go by his way, then, it can be a telltale sign of her inner character.


How you treat other people can reveal valuable personality traits about you.

Thursday, May 9, 2019

How Art Therapy heals Addiction

Art therapy for addiction treatment | Healthbiztips


Did you know that art therapy has been used to treat addiction in as early as 1950s.

Art therapy for addiction treatment | Healthbiztips
Art therapy for addiction treatment | Healthbiztips
photo credit: Hin Bong Yeung @hinbong @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Art therapy for addiction is a therapeutic technique that offers individuals a creative and positive outlet to communicate their thoughts and feelings which ultimately lets them overcome their addiction and bad behavior. It is a form of psychotherapy that is done under the supervision of a therapist.

Addiction, especially to tobacco, illegal substance, and regulated drug is a health problem that's a global threat. Treatment and rehabilitation for those people afflicted remains a challenge.

A lot of smokers find it hard to quit their detrimental addiction to nicotine.

Using art therapy is an old and effective strategy to fight addiction. It is used by rehabilitation facilities in addition to other forms of therapy to help an individual to eliminate an addiction.

Expressing creativity fosters a good mental health. It's application can not be underestimated.

People who want to get rid of addiction finds art therapy as an outlet of their emotions and a way for them to express their thoughts. Art therapy remarkably reduces anxiety, stress, and depression.

Art therapy can be a valuable coping mechanism that individuals can employ to lessen the urges brought about by their addiction.


It has several forms
Art therapy to treat addiction can take several forms such as drawing, painting, sculpting, dancing, singing, and playing musical instrument.


The purpose of art therapy
Through engaging in an artistic work, the person not only is able to communicate feelings that are often hard to put into words, with proper guidance, he can also gain valuable insights into the inner workings of his mind, thereby, know himself better.


In art therapy, you are not alone.
Art therapy treatment for addiction is guided by a therapist who helps individuals interpret their artistic work and find hidden meaning that are often overlooked by the naked eye.


It's not about how good you are at it.
The success of art therapy to manage addiction is not dictated by the craftsmanship and superiority of the artwork made. Art therapy is simply a valuable medium to  enable self expression, improve self awareness, and redirect negative emotions. You don't need to be artistic or talented to engage in art therapy.


Art therapy is not enough
Addiction can't be treated by art therapy alone so it is used together with other forms of therapy such as group therapy to achieve success in treatment. Furthermore, art therapy may not work well for all individuals. It is crucial that treatment plan for addiction be tailored to the person's unique needs.



The emergence of correction center to treat addiction is important to help people be cured. However, it is a reality that a huge percentage of people needing treatment for addiction do not receive treatment.


Coffee fights depression | Healthbiztips



Facebook addiction can point to Social insecurity
Facebook addiction can point to Social insecurity

Why do we sigh? - Healthbiztips
Why do we sigh?


Resources:

Aletraris, L., Paino, M., Edmond, M. B., Roman, P. M., & Bride, B. E. (2014). The use of art and music therapy in substance abuse treatment programs. Journal of addictions nursing, 25(4), 190–196. doi:10.1097/JAN.0000000000000048

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Coffee fights depression

Coffee fights depression | Healthbiztips


A cup of piping hot coffee to brighten a gloomy Monday morning. It's not just an expression. There's a real science behind it.

Coffee fights depression | Healthbiztips
Coffee fights depression | Healthbiztips 
photo credit: Janko Ferlič @thepootphotographer @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Studies reveal that the caffeine content of coffee actually decreases the risk of depression. Makes sense considering caffeine is the world's most widely consumed stimulant.

Depression is just not a simple problem. It is a deep feeling of sadness that can distort one's good judgement, which makes individuals suffering from this mental health condition at risk of committing suicide.

The World Health Organization ranked depression as the third medical condition worldwide with the greatest impact to humanity.

Depression is a chronic recurring mental health problem that's challenging to treat. It's better to prevent it from developing in the first place.

Coffee is beneficial to a person's mental health. Drinking coffee everyday has been shown by research to prevent the development of depression and reduce the risk of suicide.

Caffeine is coffee's potent component against depression, therefore decaffeinated coffee loses it's protective effect against depression.

The remarkable benefit coffee has over depression may come down as a good reason to promote it's daily consumption especially to the working class as they are more prone to stress and burnout, but do know that consuming too much coffee has it's risks.

Drinking coffee is not recommended for people who have cardiac problem as it's caffeine content can increase blood pressure and pulse, as well as cause irregular heart beat or dysrhythmia.

For an average healthy person, drinking up to 3 cups of coffee or consuming up to 400 mg caffeine every day is generally considered safe. But do know that there are certain coffee brands that has more caffeine content than others.

Coffee is incredibly rich in antioxidant which prevents oxidative damage to the cells of the bodyand in turn, helps prevent premature aging.

Coffee isn't just effective to prevent depression. In fact, this superfood decreases the risk of prevalent diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and colorectal cancer. That's how amazing coffee is.

Regular consumption of coffee not only jump-start your day, but also serves your body with a pack full of remarkable health benefits.

Sounds like a cup of coffee can really uplift your mood and brighten up your day.

Isn't is heartwarming to know that something so good can really make you guilt free.

Enjoy!


You may also want to check out:

Green coffee bean extract for Weight loss
5 Crazy Healthy Coffee Adds-on Blend
How to make your Coffee Experience Healthier?
Is Coffee Cancerous?
5 Conditions When is Coffee Bad for You
Caffeinated Coffee Increases Blood Sugar
Is coffee an insect repellent?
Here's Why Pregnant Mother should Avoid Coffee

Sunday, April 14, 2019

How did sarcasm become a sign of intelligence? - Healthbiztips

Sarcasm is a Sign of Intelligence


Let's play a mind game!

Are sarcastic people really that smart?


Intelligence--we're always interested to know how smart we are.

Being sarcastic might sound like an absurd way to tell if someone is intelligent, yet, scientific studies uncover that it is.

How did sarcasm become a sign of intelligence? - Healthbiztips
How did sarcasm become a sign of intelligence? - Healthbiztips

Sarcasm can be quite tricky because it's saying the contrary of what you intend to convey.

You might ask, if speaking in paradox is the norm of intelligent people, then they must be cracking jokes every few lines. Don't mind me, I'm just being sarcastic.


What makes a sarcastic person so smart?


It turns out, speaking the paradox requires more brain power.

The ability to say and understand sarcasm requires a higher brain process that involves abstract thinking.

Abstract thinking is the ability to analyze and interpret intangible ideas, principles, relationships, and patterns.

It's the ability to think about something which you can not see, feel, or touch, and that which only exist in the mind, like solving a math problem.

The human brain depends on abstract thinking to process mathematics, language, and physics.

Did you know that abstract thinking is a crucial measure of intelligence so it is included in most intelligence test?

The sarcasm. You have to be clever enough to take in the whole situation and find the hidden meaning that is masked underneath a poker face or at times, an inappropriate tone and contradicting facial expression.


Sarcasm boosts creativity


Sarcastic people excel in abstract thinking.

One study reveals that creativity is improved in people who express and understand sarcasm. Yep, after all, creativity is an abstract concept.


In conclusion, I know some of you might think that being sarcastic is such an easy feat that even a kid will have no problem saying and understanding it.

But, in my experience, while I know a lot of people who can spot a sarcastic remark head-on, there are also those folks who just can't catch on. Which, by the way, makes me a mean and judgemental person by thinking that they're "kind of dumb".

At the end, sarcasm sounds like a mind game. It's either you don't get it, take offense, or nail it!

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

What's the early sign of dementia? - Healthbiztips

What's the early sign of dementia?


While dementia is incurable, catching it at it's early stage can buy a patient some time to start treatment that can  slow down the progression of the disease.

What's the early sign of dementia? - Healthbiztips
What's the early sign of dementia? - Healthbiztips
photo credit: @plushdesignstudio Plush Design Studio @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan


Failure to identify common scent is an early sign of dementia.

As we age, out sense of smell normally declines, but patients who are at the early stage of dementia experience a profound loss of the ability to smell even before the onset of cognitive impairment.

The most common form of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease marked by memory loss, language impairment. cognitive decline, and learning disability which worsens over time.

People who experience a profound decline in their sense of smell have been shown by various studies to have higher chance of developing dementia.

It's a recognized early sign of dementia proven by scientific studies. It's a valuable piece of information because a patient can already show sign of smell impairment several years up to decades before the onset of cognitive and memory decline.

Often, dementia is  diagnosed when it's already too late, when severe neurological damage has been done that results to a significant physical and mental retardation.

In itself, olfactory deterioration can reflect a covert serious neurological deterioration.

Doing a "smell test" is simple and inexpensive. However, even when a person's difficulty in detecting common scent can potentially point to dementia, it is not a definitive diagnostic tool so it is imperative not to "self-daignose", but  to consult a healthcare provider.

Monday, April 8, 2019

Are you stress shopping? - Healthbiztips

Are you stress shopping?


Have you ever bought something you don't really need just so it will improve your mood? If so, then you are doing retail therapy. 

However, retail therapy is not a legitimate therapy. While stress shopping does improve the mood of a person, it is not constructive and can backfire.

Are you stress shopping? - Healthbiztips
Are you stress shopping? - Healthbiztips
photo credit: @freestocks freestocks.org @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Stress shopping is a lot more common than you think. When we are under stress, we become vulnerable. Chances are, you may have unconsciously done it yourself.

You may have found yourself buying a treat like sweets or a new shoes at the end of a long busy week or during times when you are feeling down. It's usually a harmless source of euphoria.

Stress shopping is not all that bad considering that the positive effect it has over a person's mood is real. However, when finances gets depleted, it's a serious problem.

Women, especially teenagers, are more prone than men to engage in retail therapy. Studies shows that women tend to buy clothes when they are stress shopping, as opposed to men who tend to buy food.

Of course food and clothing are basic commodities, but when purchases becomes too many, too much, and unreasonable, it doesn't take long to realize that there is an underlying psychological problem.


One can find herself buying material stuffs or food just so it will improve her mood during highly stressful periods in her life. It is worth noting that stress shopping is usually as short lived shopping compulsion lasting only for the duration of the stressful event.

However, when purchasing unnecessary stuffs becomes a long-standing problem or has lead to addiction, then it can can be a sign of compulsive buying disorder  in which the individual looses control over her purchases.

Buying something out of compulsion can have severe percussion to the financial resources of a person which can potentially be a cause of further harm to the person's emotional and mental well-being. Compulsive buying disorder is a mental disorder that can be treated so it is crucial to seek psychological treatment.

When finances becomes depleted and debt starts to pile high, it can aggravate stress, lead to depression.

Monday, April 1, 2019

Is Bribing Children Okay? - Healthbiztips

Is Bribing Children Okay? - Healthbiztips


Bribing your children is the quickest way to get it all done. It's easy but costly. Sure, it can't drain your wallet dry, or could it?

Bribing sounds like a bad thing to do. Have it ever crossed your mind what this escape goat act does to a child's psychology?

Is Bribing Children Okay? - Healthbiztips
Is Bribing Children Okay? - Healthbiztips
photo credit: @fiveohfilms Eddie Kopp @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Now, let me clear off misconceptions about this topic by saying that bribing a child to behave nicely or get something done is catastrophic to your child's mental development.

When parents bribe their children, they're basically telling their kids to act negatively the next time and only stop the bad behavior when they are bribed with money, a toy, or a treat. I'm telling you, you'll be amazed at how fast most children learn.


Respect and Responsibility

Come on parents, seriously, how do you expect your children to grow as a responsible and respectable adults when you're training them to receive bribes at such a young age?

You parents, how do you expect your child to respect you when you're giving them bribes. It's poor parenting. It's really bad.

I know it could be tough to deal with the screaming, crying, and temper tantrums. I understand most parents want an easy way out of this. Often, bribing has become the norm so parents fail to question this tactic.

The thing is, bribing children gives them a false sense of entitlement. Let's get real, when you grow up, having a temper tantrum is not a legitimate way to earn a living. The world doesn't owe you anything. You have to work for it!

Come on, the world has enough self-entitled people.


That's what they're supposed to do

We all have to do something because it's the task that we have to do. You know. ...do homework, finish a project, behave nicely, eat, drink, sleep.

A bribe is the thing you give a child to do something that he has to do. On the other hand, reward is the thing you give them for accomplishing something good.

It's like this, you give your child bribe just so the little brat does his homework. Another parents, who didn't bribe their child to study, treats their kids for receiving high grades at the end of the school year.

When children confuse bribe with reward, it can mess up their psychology. Oh, no! What if they confuse bribe with salary. Then, you'll get yourself a lazy unemployed employee.

Bribing a child teaches him to do something only if he receives a treat. If there's no bribe, that only means the kid don't have to do it.

It works on dogs, so could it be effective for children. The clear answer is NO! Well, a police certainly won't give a person a treat just to stop him from doing that bad thing, but most certainly he'll get himself arrested.

Some things just doesn't go by your way.

A child's brain is at it's formative years. It's at this period that they develop important traits.

Their are rules they have to go by, be it household rules or state law. Their are homeworks they have to finish. They have to learn that money don't sprout from nothing. Anyways, do you, as parents, want to earn their respect or not?


A vicious cycle

Once you bribe your child to behave or do homework, it can backfire. This can start a vicious cycle. Just hang on until your child becomes a teenager, it'll be pure terror.


What if my child is having a temper tantrum

I know it's hard not to give in especially when you're dealing with your child's rage. You have to know what to do in this situation.

When your child is having a temper tantrum, you have to stay with the child and prevent him from inflicting himself harm, until the tantrum ends. Keep away blunt objects. You have to keep yourself calm so you don't end up yelling which can aggravate the matter.

Tantrum is just your child's way of handing that extreme emotion inside of him. It's common in toddlers and preschoolers. Given time and nurture, your child will be mature enough to handle it.

You do not want your child to handle the extreme emotions inside them with a bribe.


Who says being a parent is easy? Ultimately, it's down to parents to hone their child to be responsible and respectable adults.

Monday, March 18, 2019

Intelligent people Daydream More - Healthbiztips

Intelligent people Daydream More


At first glance, daydreaming may sound like a useless distraction, but research debunks this common notion and actually associates mind wandering with intelligence. Curious isn't it?  Daydreaming may be the last thing in your mind when you think about an intelligent person. I mean, how can you accomplish a goal if your mind keeps on wandering?

Remember Bruce Lee's famous line "The successful warrior is the average man, with laser focus."

Intelligent people Daydream More - Healthbiztips
Intelligent people Daydream More
photo credit @filmape Jay @unsplash

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Studies shows that daydreaming points to intelligence and creativity.

Daydreaming may look like a no-brainer, but it actually involves complex parts of the brain.

Even when you are not doing anything, certain areas in your brain becomes active. This area of your brain is called the default mode network (DMN) which includes the medial prefrontal cortex, medial temporal lobe, and posterior cingulate cortex. The default mode network deactivates during tasks that require concentration.

I have to point out that people with high intelligence are not stuck in their daydream, but instead, can easily get back to reality when needed. The brain do not stop working even when the person is on standby, another part of the brain enables daydreaming, but when it's time to get real, they can quickly get back to reality.

MRI scan reveals that intelligent people are very good at juggling between their daydream and real life tasks.

Research shows that people with higher intelligence tend to daydream more compared to average people. They also show more creativity. But, daydreaming is not a rare phenomenon.

In fact, daydreaming engages our mind, so much, that it consumes about 30% to 50% of our waking hours. In a sense, daydreaming keeps our mind healthy.

Daydreaming have positive mental health benefits like enabling problem solving, lifting the mood, and planning future actions.


Resources:

CA, Goodwin, et al. "Functional connectivity within and between intrinsic brain networks correlates with trait mind wandering." Neuropsychologia. Aug;103:140-153. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2017.07.006. Epub 2017 Jul 10.

McMillan, Rebecca L et al. “Ode to positive constructive daydreaming” Frontiers in psychology vol. 4 626. 23 Sep. 2013, doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00626

Sunday, March 3, 2019

Facebook addiction can point to Social insecurity

Facebook Addiction is linked to Social insecurity. 


Many of us can be guilty of this -- we tend to compare our lives with others. It seems there are people whose standard is to exceed other's accomplishment. Do you doubt yourself and question your accomplishments to the extent that you have to look at the success of others? This is where social insecurity comes in.

In spite of their inferiority complex, people with social insecurity have a defense mechanism to ease their feeling of self-doubt. They brag about their accomplishment, and try to make others feel insecure.

Now, if you think about it, Facebook, the social media giant, sounds like a very good platform for people with social insecurities.

In fact, a study has revealed that Facebook addiction is linked to social insecurity.

Facebook addiction can point to Social insecurity
Facebook addiction can point to Social insecurity

@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Let me clear our what Facebook addiction is. Millions to billions of people check their Facebook account every single day. But, merely browsing Facebook is not yet an addiction. A person who has Facebook addiction spends the majority of his/her time on Facebook to the extent that it harms his/her personal, social, work, or school responsibilities.


Is FAD, which stands for Facebook Addiction Disorder" a real thing?


Although Facebook Addiction Disorder (FAD) is not a valid diagnosis, it's coinage makes us realize the extent at which Facebook influence the lives of a huge number of people across the world.

Social media sites is a place for people to interact with one another, yet even in this virtual environment of people interaction, their are people who get addicted. Facebook, a popular worldwide social media site, has gained  an enormous craze and mania, so much that it has become an obsession.

We see the emergence of a generation in which people spends so much time engaged in social media sites. Facebook addiction is a strong word that points to those people who spend tremendous amount of time on Facebook, to the extent that it interferes with their normal life. Facebook addiction can lead them to neglect their family, friends, school activity, work, and even themselves.


Social media sites like Facebook offers a convenient and fast way to express yourself and to connect with people, however, a trends can easily turn into an obsession for a number of reasons which can include social insecurity.


Resources:

Shensa, Ariel et al. “Problematic social media use and depressive symptoms among U.S. young adults: A nationally-representative study” Social science & medicine (1982) vol. 182 (2017): 150-157.

Friday, March 1, 2019

Take Slow Deep Breaths to Calm your Nerves

Take Slow Deep Breaths to Calm your Nerves


Take Slow Deep Breaths to Calm your Nerves
Take Slow Deep Breaths to Calm your Nerves
photo credit Carol Oliver @caroliveer @unsplash

When you feel shaky and your mind starts to go blank, wouldn't you hope that their's something you can do to prevent yourself from going downhill.

How about this tip to calm your nerves: Take slow deep breaths.

A lot of stuffs in life can cause a person to feel nervous and anxious, like speaking in public, taking an examination, and talking to an interviewer. If you're wondering that in spite of all these serious stuffs, you're only getting a simple advice that tells you to breath slowly, then don't take this lightly...

There's an actual science behind this. You see, when you take slow deep breaths, you activate your brain's parasympathetic system which creates a sense of calmness and relaxation. Your heart rate and blood pressure decreases. Meanwhile, your blood oxygenation is enhanced. You regain control.

You may notice that when you're anxious, your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing increases. This is because stress activates your brain's sympathetic center. The opposite happens when your parasympathetic nervous system is activated.


How to take slow deep breaths?
  • 1. Breath in slowly through your nose for about 4 seconds.
  • 2. Hold your breath for about 2 to 3 seconds.
  • 3. Exhale slowly through your mouth for about 4 seconds.
  • 4. Hold your breath for about 2 to 3 seconds before inhaling.
  • 5. Repeat step 1.
Continue doing slow breathing for about 10 to 15 minutes to ease your mind.


Did you know that controlled breathing techniques to calm the nerve and reduce stress is actually an ancient practice that often goes along side with meditative practices in the eastern world.


Resources:

Zaccaro, Andrea et al. “How Breath-Control Can Change Your Life: A Systematic Review on Psycho-Physiological Correlates of Slow Breathing” Frontiers in human neuroscience vol. 12 353. 7 Sep. 2018, doi:10.3389/fnhum.2018.00353

Russo, Marc A et al. “The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human” Breathe (Sheffield, England) vol. 13,4 (2017): 298-309.

Sunday, February 24, 2019

How Sunlight Impacts our Psychology - Healthbiztips

How Sunlight Impacts our Psychology

You may have known that exposure to sunlight is a beneficial to the body in that it stimulates the skin to produce Vitamin D, but did you know that sunshine has a tremendous impact on our mind.

How Sunlight Impacts our Psychology - Healthbiztips
How Sunlight Impacts our Psychology - Healthbiztips
@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan

Research has shown that immersion to direct sunlight uplifts the mood, reduces anxiety, increases feeling of satisfaction, and lessens stress.

On the other hand, lack of enough exposure to sunlight, especially due to weather condition or the season, is strongly linked to mental health problems such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (a type of depressive disorder that affects a person during the fall and winter season).

Depressed people are particularly vulnerable to sunshine's positive psychological effect. So, if a person is already suffering from depression but prefers to stay indoor with minimal exposure to sunlight, it can potentially lead to memory impairment and cognitive decline.
Sunlight improves blood flow to the brain. Furthermore, it regulates the wake-sleep cycle (circadian rhythm). Sunshine also balances crucial chemicals in our brain such as serotonin and melatonin.
Exposure to sunlight triggers our brain to release more serotonin, but less melatonin. The increase in the neurotransmitter serotonin uplifts the mood and reduces depressive symptoms. Meanwhile, the decrease in the sleep hormone melatonin causes the person to become energetic and attentive.


It goes without saying that sunshine plays a crucial role in keeping us healthy both mentally and physically. Waking up to a nice warm sunshine is refreshing and invigorating.


Resources:

Kent, Shia T et al. “Effect of sunlight exposure on cognitive function among depressed and non-depressed participants: a REGARDS cross-sectional study” Environmental health : a global access science source vol. 8 34. 28 Jul. 2009, doi:10.1186/1476-069X-8-34

An, Mihyang et al. “Why We Need More Nature at Work: Effects of Natural Elements and Sunlight on Employee Mental Health and Work Attitudes” PloS one vol. 11,5 e0155614. 23 May. 2016, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155614

Patwardhan, Vivek G et al. “Duration of Casual Sunlight Exposure Necessary for Adequate Vitamin D Status in Indian Men” Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism vol 22,2 (2018): 249-255.

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