Alzheimer’s: Communication Tips for Caregivers

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Have you ever felt this frustration when your loved one forgets meeting a person or even knowing them at all? How often have you said, “You know him, Dad, you met him last week at dinner”, or “you remember, we went there yesterday?”

These phrases have no relevance to those with Alzheimer’s. These people have issues with thinking and remembering how to manage their life. Their symptoms range from short-term memory loss to personality changes like depression and mood swings.

These effects can be overwhelming—your world has been turned upside down, and you find it difficult to communicate with them.

 

Keep calm and follow these tips:

#1 Clear all distractions

Whenever you want to talk to them, noisy interruptions can distract both of you. Always chose a quiet and peaceful environment for your conversations.

#2 Listen

This is needed for individuals with memory impairment. Learn to listen to them. Resist the temptation to butt in with a comment. Give them the time and space to express themselves.

#3 Use memory cues

Photos and letters can help you jog memories. How about sitting together while checking out old pictures? This is soothing and therapeutic.

#4 Don’t correct or contradict

Refrain from quizzing them, even when you don’t agree with what they are saying. Try to stop yourself from correcting them.

#5 Respond with affection

People with dementia often feel anxious, confused, and unsure of themselves. Sometimes holding hands and responding with expressions of support and reassurance will put them at ease.

Through all these difficult moments, always remember that:

Those with dementia are still people, they still have stories, they still have character, and they are all unique, and they need to be treated as humans.

 

 

 

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Depression is Not a Sign of Weakness

 Do you often hear voices in your head, whispering things to you, or you feel irritable, suicidal, anxious and you have a hopeless outlook of your life? These are symptoms of depression.

It is not news that depression whispers bad things into your mind about your capabilities. You hear things like “You can’t even do anything right, your life is a mess, why don’t you have a family at this age, your mates are making progress, you are too fat, or you are ugly,” and every other statement that makes you feel particularly bad about yourself.

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If you are wondering why you keep feeling this way, no one knows what causes depression. It can occur due to a variety of reasons. It could be as a result of:

#1 Abuse

#2 Medications

#3 Death or loss of loved one

#4 Genetics

#5 Major life events

#6 Substance abuse

#7 Serious illnesses

 

Due to different symptoms of depression, it is a common assumption that depressed people are weak and not strong enough. What is worse is even people with depression blame themselves and feel their lack of strength is the reason they are depressed.

However, those who face depression are doing so with great strength, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Regardless of these factors, in life, everything negative, pressure and challenges is an opportunity for you to rise.

Stay positive and face life with hope and motivation.

 

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Adapting to new beginnings can sometimes feel a little rough, but in many ways, the beauty in enjoying your new beginning is the sense of adventure that comes from it.

 

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Rising From the Depths: How to Navigate Through Depression

 Depression is difficult to manage, especially because you feel ashamed and struggle to find calm within yourself. You see everyone happy, and you feel sad or guilty that you are not able to see yourself the way other people see you.

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However, you are not alone. Many people struggle with depression. Depression is a common mental illness. According to the stats, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression.

So how do you navigate through its symptoms and still live your best life:

#1 A good therapist goes hand in hand with medications

#2 Let go of major life expectations and do only the things you can do

#3 Don’t be too hard on yourself

#4 Give yourself credit every time you make progress, even when it looks small

#5 Always find joy in simple things

Irrespective of what life throws at you, you need to know that there is only one you on this planet, and you can be your own home and feel worthy of being happy with who you are.

 

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You have to allow self-kindness, tenderness, and the belief that you are worthy. It will take some time, but once you get there, there is no looking back. Always know that you are noble and great, courageous, determined, faithful and fearless.

That is who you are and who you have always been. And understanding these can change your life because this knowledge carries a confidence that cannot be duplicated any other way.

When life comes with its challenges, remember the words of Theodore Roosevelt:

“Courage is not having the strength to go on;

 it is going on even when you don’t have the strength.”

 

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

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If You are Self-Harming, Get in Here

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That feeling of calm you get after you self-harm is like being high, where everything in the world looks okay for a minute. If you are self-harming, I know you are tired. You are confused and scared, and you want it to stop. As painful and exhausting as the thought of hurting yourself might be, it is understandable that; when you feel as though you have no option, doing unthinkable things becomes a choice.

Do you know you are beautiful, strong, and amazing? Even though self-harm might give you relief for a moment, it does not fix the problem you are facing.

Most people who self-harm keep it away from other people. They put up a wall and prevent themselves from being loved, validated, seen, and understood.

Apply the following tips:

#1 Speak

Your voice is powerful. Please speak up. You are a fighter and a survivor.

 

#2 Your body is proof that you can heal

The scars on your body are the evidence of your healing. Since your body can heal, your mind can heal too.

 

#3 You are never alone

When it feels like loneliness wants to break you, you need to know you are not alone. The people who love you want to understand how you feel. Let them in! 

 

#4 There will be low moments, and that’s okay

There will be days you take some steps forward and some steps backward, but it’s all part of healing. Falling will make you stronger, more capable, and wiser.

 

#5 Don’t give up

Your story is important. Don’t give up. Your story will heal others and give them a reason to be hopeful.

 

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Through it all, you are still always you:

beautiful and bruised.

Life is good only when you give it a trial.

 

 GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com

 

Kill Your Problems, Not Yourself

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By the time you finish reading this, two or three people would have committed suicide. In fact, according to WHO, every 40 seconds, someone commits suicide, and close to 800,000 people die by suicide each year. These stats are alarming. There are a lot of people out there who are desperate and tethering on the edge of life, not sure whether they should stick around or not.

Suicidal thoughts are not spontaneous; a lot of symptoms serve as potential warning signs for suicide.

The symptoms include the following:

#1 Excessive sadness and moodiness

#2 Withdrawal

#3 Hopelessness

#4 Dangerous or self-harmful behavior

#5 Talking about suicide

#6 Shame

#7 Sleep problems

#8 Recent trauma or life crisis

 

 

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Even though I am not in your shoes right now, you need to keep on swinging because life has its ups and downs. You need to stick around because tomorrow is full of possibilities. You might feel like the only way out of your pain is to stop your pulse, but this is just a fantasy. Swallowing those pills, or firing that gun will only result in more pain.

Give yourself a chance to hope, to dream, and to love because you deserve it. If you stick around, you will be able to love, grow, find your calling, and feel gratitude once again. The best thing is sharing your problems and finding a solution to them.

Whenever you feel like giving up, remember the reason you held on for so long. Life is worth living. Give it a chance!

  

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

 Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com

 

How Bullying Affects Mental Health

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Mental health is a topical subject. Even though many people are ignorant about it, conversations about it are coming up both online and offline. One question that keeps coming is;

“Can bullying affect mental health?” Of course, it can!

Imagine being a victim every day. Whether it is for seven months or seven years or anything in between, frequent abuse is not something anyone can forget or get over quickly.

For most people, it stays with them for a long time, causing a ripple effect of low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and lack of self-confidence.

You cannot underestimate the effects of bullying on emotional and mental well-being. These effects stay for a very long time. If you are being bullied, please speak out. If you are bullying someone, you need to stop now.

 

Proactive Actions Against Bullying

Take note of the following tips. They’ll help you against bullying:

#1 Phrases like ‘toughen up’ does not work anymore. It is insensitive.

#2 Honest and open conversations about bullying should be routine.

#3 Write powerful affirmations and quotes for yourself, and put them in conspicuous places and use them to encourage yourself every day.

#4 Establish a strong support system with your loved ones.

#5 Bullying is not okay! It is not a normal thing.

#6 Always know you are not alone.

#7 Don’t be a bystander if you see someone being bullied, step in, and speak up assertively so you can overcome bullying.

#8 Seek help.

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If you are still suffering from the effects of bullying, please slow down. Don’t allow others to hurry your healing. It is a process. It may take years, occasionally even a lifetime and that’s okay.

 

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

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You Are More Powerful Than You Think

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You need to remind your kids every day that they are more powerful than they think. The effects of bullying leave kids feeling confused, helpless, and vulnerable. Aside from teaching your kids how to be assertive, you also need to build their self-confidence and help them improve their social skills. Let them know there are proactive actions against bullying, and no one should intimidate them.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

Use these tips to train your kids:

#1 Ignore…

There is no need to care so much about people who doubt you or try to intimidate you. Not reacting when someone does something hurtful is an effective response to bullying. Teach your kids to ignore and keep their head high when someone tries to bully them.

#2 They should stand up for themselves…

Do you know some bullies look for victims that will not say anything at all? But if your kid is assertive, strong, and confident, no bully will walk over them.

#3 Avoid hotspots…

At times, all it takes to overcome bullying is to stay away from places where bullies hang out. The hotspots include locker rooms, vacant hallways, bathrooms, and back of the bus.

#4 Report to an adult…

Kids are vulnerable, and they keep quiet when things like this happen. Be open with your kids. Understand their fears and let them know you have their best interests at heart.

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The greatest gift a parent can give their children is to empower them and foster core values like respect, kindness, compassion, and self-worth.

 

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

 

Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com