Why You Should Practice Self-Care

 

Why You Should Practice Self-Care

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Sam Owen said: “How we care for ourselves gives our brain messages that shape our self-worth, so we must care for ourselves in every way, every day.” This is why you should always practice self-care.

Self-care is an important way of relieving mental stress and building self-confidence. It is more than caring for your physical body; it also involves you paying adequate attention to your psychological and emotional well-being. The moment you are fine on the inside, everything on the outside would have to dance to the tune of what’s going on inside.

To adequately practice self-care, you should be aware of what satisfies your emotional needs; you should be aware of those things that you enjoy doing and those things that help you recuperate after a stressful day or activity. You have to understand yourself and how your body reacts amid crisis.

You should develop self-control in the face of any challenge and also, build your sense of worthiness. The moment your self-worth is thwarted, you cannot maintain your self-confidence, and ultimately, you lose your inner balance.

 

Self-care is comprehensive. It involves all things that help you maintain your health, reduce stress, and make you mentally fit.

Here are some germane reasons you should practice self-care:

·         It will help you boosts your self-esteem.

·         It will help you maintain healthy thoughts.

·         It will help you stay intrinsically motivated in the face of challenges.

·         It will boost your productivity and efficiency in all aspects of life.

·         It will help you maintain a good and healthy relationship with yourself and others.

Never allow anyone to make you feel like you are selfish when practicing self-care because self-care is not selfishness. When you do not practice self-care, you are actually robbing yourself and others around you of the joy of seeing the best version of you.

 

“It’s not selfish to love yourself, take care of yourself, and make your happiness a priority. It’s necessary.” – Mandy Hale

 

 GinMan Consulting is here to help you

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Treating PTSD

 

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Some of the assumptions about PTSD are that:

1. It is not treatable.

2. It affects only veterans.

3. It is a sign of weakness.

4. It will go after a long time.

5. Everyone with PTSD has the same symptoms.

All these assumptions are not accurate. Anyone can be affected by PTSD—children, teens, adults, and veterans. It will not go after a long time if it’s not treated, so it can be treated. The causes and symptoms vary in individuals, which is why you should go for treatment, and lastly, surviving a very terrible event is a sign of strength and not weakness.

If you have PTSD or you have a child or family member with PTSD, you need to understand that there are ways of getting treated—It’s not a death sentence.

Seeking Treatment for PTSD

Seeking treatment for PTSD has a huge impact on the health and quality of life of the person suffering from this disorder. Do not stay silent when you suspect symptoms of PTSD in you or your loved ones. Get the necessary help and treatment needed to combat this mental health condition.

PTSD treatment options include:

1. Medication

2. Group Therapy

3. Family Therapy

4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy                                                                     

5. Prolonged Exposure Therapy

6. EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

These treatments are very helpful. Taking medications will help you ease the tension you feel and improve your sleep pattern, while going for therapy will help you understand your thoughts, why you act the way you do and teach you coping mechanisms when you are faced with a challenging situation as a result of the PTSD symptoms. It is important you speak with your doctor about the different methods of treatment in order to apply the best one for you.

 

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Causes and Symptoms in Veterans and Children

 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Causes and Symptoms in Veterans and Children

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Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental illness that is not gender or age-biased. An adult or a child can be diagnosed with this mental health condition. This disorder is diagnosed in those who have witnessed some terrific or life-threatening events like military veterans and sexually abused children.

According to the National Center for PTSD, studies show that about 15% to 43% of girls and 14% to 43% of boys go through at least one trauma. Out of these children and teens who have had a trauma, 3% to 15% of girls and 1% to 6% of boys develop PTSD.

Also, according to the National Center of PTSD, about 11-20 out of every 100 veterans who served in OIF or OEF have PTSD in a given year; about 12 out of every 100 Gulf war veterans have PTSD in a given year.

PTSD is a mental illness that should not be overlooked. Knowing the causes and symptoms in veterans, children, and other people will help us relate with them better and know how to help them.

Causes of PTSD

1. War

2. Neglect

3. Sexual Abuse

4. Physical Abuse

5. Natural Disasters

6. Domestic Violence

7. Car or Fire Accident

8. Psychological Abuse

9. Witnessing the Loss of a Loved One

 

Symptoms of PTSD

1. Lack of Sleep

2. Hypervigilance

3. Self-Destruction

4. Severe Nightmares

5. Aggressive Behavior

6. Lack of Trust in Others

7. Difficulty in Concentrating

8. Inability to Express Affection

9. Panic Attacks when Reminded of the Trauma

10. Inability to Remember Details of what Happened

11. Physical Sensations Such as Pain, Sweating, Nausea, or Trembling

12. Vivid Flashbacks: Re-Living the Events as If It is Happening Right Now

 

Keep in mind that if you have PTSD or a loved one has it, it is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of strength. You survived the incident, and since you survived, you can overcome the trauma that came as a result of the incident.

 GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com

Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Health Disorder

 

Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Health Disorder

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Mental illness has always been a stigmatized issue around the globe. From being thought of as a moral punishment or an affliction from the devil, the ideologies surrounding mental illness have ranged wide. Most people with mental health disorders have been called names and their symptoms has been referred to as something they can control if only, they tried hard. The stigma around mental health rises out of fear and lack of understanding.

It causes patients to feel ashamed for something that is not in their control. Worst of all, stigma prevents people from seeking help. However, it is more damaging when you internalize that stigma and start believing those negative stereotypes people ascribe to you.

 

Tips to Combat Stigma

1. You Are Not Alone

If you have a mental condition, remember that you are not alone, and many people experience mental illness. One in four U.S adults has a mental illness of some kind.

2. Get Treatment

You may be reluctant to admit you should get treated. Don’t allow the fear of stigma to prevent you from seeking help. Treatment provides relief and gives you overall wellness.

3. Find Support

Whatever you do, try to find support.  Stay connected to others; it could be your friends, family, or clergy. Seek support from organizations that provide educational and supportive resources for those who are affected by mental illness.

4. Speak Out

Start educating those around you about the realities of mental illness, including how rampant it is. Consider expressing yourself at events, letters, or on the internet. It will help instill courage in others facing similar challenges.

People’s judgment mostly stems from a lack of understanding. Learning to accept your condition while seeking support and treatment makes all the difference.

 

 

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

 

Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com

 

What You Should Know About Mental Illness Types and Symptoms

 

What You Should Know About Mental Illness Types and Symptoms

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Mental illness is a condition that has a negative effect on the way an individual thinks, feels, and behaves. Just like physical illness is used to describe different physical health problems, mental illness encompasses a wide range of mental health conditions. Mental illness is very common in the United States, and each year, one in five adults experience mental illness, and one in six American teenagers experience a mental illness.

 

Types of Mental Health Disorders

1. Anxiety Disorders

2. Bipolar and Related Disorders

3. Depressive Disorders

4. Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders

5. Dissociative Disorders

6. Elimination Disorders

7. Feeding and Eating Disorders

8. Neurocognitive Disorders

9. Neurodevelopmental Disorders

10. Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders

11. Personality Disorders

12. Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders etc.

 

Signs and Symptoms

We all experience peaks and valleys in our mental health. A bad experience such as the loss of a loved one might affect your psychological well-being. Each illness has its set of symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in children, teenagers, and adults can include:

#1 Uneasiness and Excessive Fear: Feeling scared, nervous, or panicked.

#2 Mood Swings: Indifference to situations, difficulty in expressing joy, deep sadness, hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts

#3 Sleep or Appetite Changes: Sleeping more or less and eating more or less than usual.  Noticeable weight loss and rapid weight gain.

#4 Difficulty in Thinking: It also includes the inability to process thoughts and concentrate on daily activities.

However, these symptoms don’t define you. Living with mental illness, whether it concerns you or a loved one, can be difficult. Help is available for you. You should know that you are not alone and getting treatment is key to relief from these symptoms and maintaining a healthy and beautiful life.

 

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

 

Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com

Common Triggers of Alcohol and Drug Use

 

Common Triggers of Alcohol and Drug Use

 

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Quitting drinking and drug use can be a challenging and difficult process. You didn’t develop the problem overnight, so overcoming your addiction will not happen overnight either. It is not uncommon to suffer a relapse. However, understanding what might trigger your relapse is one of the first steps towards prevention.

 

Here are four triggers you should watch out for:

1.Stress

Stress is one of the major triggers of alcohol abuse and drug use. And people who struggle with addiction always feel an increasing need to use alcohol and drugs when stressed, especially if it was their primary coping mechanism. Although you can’t eliminate everything from your life, you should avoid situations that cause you extreme stress.

 

2.People or Places Connected to Your Behavior

People and places who are part of your addictive lifestyle are potential triggers for relapse. It is best to avoid your drinking buddies and those who remind you of your former lifestyle.

 

3.Negative Emotions

People who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse need to have effective ways of managing negative feelings. Drugs and alcohol are used to provide temporary relief from negative feelings in your life, but you can’t rely on them again. Learn how to deal with uncomfortable feelings and emotions.

 

4.Seeing the Object of Your Addiction

Reminders of your previous lifestyle can cause a relapse while recovering.  A whiff of cannabis, watching people drink at bars are triggers you might see everywhere. It is normal for you to feel like going back, but recovering is not just about abstaining; it is about building a new life that is easier, desirable, and free of addiction.

 

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

 

Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com

Why You Should Stop Excessive Drinking

 

Why You Should Stop Excessive Drinking

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It is sometimes hard to know whether your habit of drinking or drug use is only casual and for recreation or whether it has become an addiction you can’t handle. What starts as weekend drinks with friends turns into a Monday to Thursday drinking, then every night, drinking at lunch, drinking alone, and on and on until one day you wake up, hungover, reaching for a cup of whiskey at 8 AM, and then it hits you: your life is no longer in your hands—it belongs to whiskey.

Many things could be causing your alcohol abuse. However, the consequences of alcohol addiction are grave and far-reaching. It is bad for your mental health, and it only offers temporary relief and won’t solve your problems. If you are still looking for why you need to stop drinking, here are more reasons to stop:

 

1.Health Problems

Alcohol abusers face a great risk of developing brain damage, heart diseases, liver diseases, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure. If you stop drinking, you will discover that your ability to process emotions and make decisions will improve.

 

2.Depressive Moods

Excessive use of drugs and alcohol causes negative and depressive moods in drinkers. Those who indulge are likely to engage in assaults and violence.

 

3.Financial Consequences

If you stop excessive drinking, not only will you save money on buying alcohol, you will also pay fewer fines and fees, zero accidents, and you will be more likely to keep your job.

 

There are more negative effects of alcohol abuse. However, every day is a good day to practice staying sober. Next time you want to grab that bottle of drink, remember:

“Alcohol won’t solve your problems; it only aggravates it.”

 

GinMan Consulting is here to help you

develop yourself and all that you deserve.

 

Visit us at www.ginmanconsulting.com