advice

Advice and tips on managing mental health, maintaining a positive outlook and becoming your happiest self.

I Like Being Sad.
"You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness." This line from Gotye's song has resonated with me ever since I first heard it in 2012. There are times when I'm really happy and life is great, but there are always unpleasant memories that surface at any given time. I'm not depressed (I hope not) but I am sensitive. Most of my sadness stems from relationships with guys, gender norms we females have to live up to, and me constantly worrying about my future as a prospective software developer/software engineer. See? I still don't even know what I want to do exactly, hence the "/" between the two professions. I also get upset when I hear about current events such as the racism that spiraled as a result of the current political state in the U.S., poverty, pediatric cancer deaths/cancer in general, domestic abuse, violence, natural disasters, and plenty more. I am a lucky woman who has the best of things. I have an amazing family, supportive friends, a college education (still in progress), financial stability (family wise), a house, sufficient food to eat, and great health (knock on wood). There is a lot more gratefulness where that comes from.
By Ankita Upadhyay8 years ago in Psyche
Isolation Therapy for the Over-Empathic
Let me start by making one thing plain: If you grew up with siblings, friends, cousins and plenty of people your own age being kind to you, you won't relate. This is going out to the Only Child, the Friendless, the Bullied. This is for the kids who grew up learning a lot of solitary games, and knew how to have fun solo.
By SR James8 years ago in Psyche
Reaching Out for Help with Your Mental Health
Psychological difficulties are far from rare. In fact, it is estimated that approximately 1 in 4 people in the U.K. will experience a mental health issue each year. However, whilst the majority of us would seek medical attention for a broken leg, if and when we start struggling mentally, it's all too often a different story. Afraid of negative judgement and stigmatisation, we tend to suppress our problems in the hope that they'll eventually vanish. Up to the age of 15, I too was guilty of this. I had been suffering from distressing intrusive thoughts since the age of 8, but had never reached out for support, not knowing that around 94% of people experience a similar thing at least once in their lifetime, and petrified that I was simply evil and abnormal. Sometimes it seems easier to put on a brave face and carry on like nothing’s wrong rather than address the problem head on, and that’s exactly what I decided to do. Instead of telling someone what I was going through, I bottled up my painful emotions and damaging self-beliefs for years on end and fought my mind alone before finally reaching breaking point during the summer of 2014.
By Esther 💫8 years ago in Psyche
Self-Harm: The Silent Addiction
What comes to your mind when you think about Self-Harm (SH)? Do you know someone that self-harms, or knew someone that did, or have you yourself battled through the hell that is Self-Injury?
By Katie Roles8 years ago in Psyche
No Room to Complain
We wake up, we make my coffee, we plug in the music and think about how grateful we are to be alive, to have been given the chance to be able to wake. To be able to see, hear, smile, laugh, walk, talk, sing, pet our pets. Say good morning to our parents. Seeing the colors outside. There is so much for us to be grateful for as soon as we wake up. Why do we always catch ourselves complaining about the smallest things that some people don't even have?
By Emily Buehner8 years ago in Psyche
Empathy and How It Can Kill You
Hey, so I'm an empath living in a very emotional household and I realised something just recently. Whenever I have trouble with my own body, mind and spirit, it's usually to do with other people's issues and drama that I have absorbed.
By Charlemagne Griffin - Anker8 years ago in Psyche
Symptoms of Dyspraxia in Adults
There are different types of dyspraxia such as oral, global and physical. Someone with dyspraxia can have one or more of these. I have oral, global and physical dyspraxia. I wanted to write a post that could help other people with dyspraxia and that could help people understand dyspraxia. Dyspraxia affects people in different ways and symptoms can vary. I have listed symptoms which I have researched.
By Chloe Urquhart8 years ago in Psyche
Coping With Loneliness
Some days, I wake up and the clock just ticks on. Time goes by so slow and drags on, or so fast leaving me just how productive I really was during that day. My husband works and my daughter is out most of the time, so I am essentially home alone alot of the time.
By Carol Ann Townend8 years ago in Psyche
Night Shadows
At night is when the demons come out. Distractions during the day may keep them at bay, but at night is when the attempted slaughter of my mind occurs. Millions of unnecessary thoughts circle around and around. It will usually start off with thinking of something that may have happened earlier that day. With that it will continue to escalate further and further into a tornado. One thought goes to another which goes to another. It will finally come to the point where you don't think this life is worth it anymore. Sometimes you'll wish it was a bit easier. Unfortunately, it comes to the realization that it won't ever be. In that scenario, that's when the suicidal thoughts start sneaking in. Many images pass through the mind like a reel from a movie. Different scenarios occur of how I would do it. How it would happen. What people would think when it happened. It constantly goes all around my mind driving me crazy. The scary thing is if these thoughts will remain in my mind forever. Will it ever get better? Will it get worse? Will I be able to handle this if it gets worse. All of these unknowns can create worries that will start the cycle all over again until I pass out from exhaustion. During these episodes I try to think of positivity in my life that most people don't have. I'm aware that my life isn't as horrible as my mind tells me it is. It's really just getting past the superiority of my mind. It's something that is a constant battle. Fighting my brain with my heart. Some nights you win and some nights you lose. The real thing that keeps me here on Earth is the unknown. Also the love that I am fortunate enough to have from another person. If I left what would be next? What if there isn't an afterlife? What if there truly is nothing? Do I really want to waste the life I have for nothing? I try to understand the truth, that this is all in my mind. I try to realize that things in life can always get better. Even if there are bad times there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if it's so dark to see it, the light is there. You just can't give up trying to look for it. The world is full of hardships that we must all overcome. No matter how hopeless it may seem, if you work hard enough nothing is impossible. It's foolish to think that things will just go away. It's also silly to think things will get better without working hard to get somewhere. Never underestimate the tools you already have as well. Love is a powerful motivator in life. Love can make the impossible feel possible. I don't mean fake love either. I mean actual true love. You may not believe it's real or that it doesn't exist. For the longest time I thought true love was just a manufactured story of two people. Trust when I tell you that it's real and it is powerful. The motivation that come from love bring hope into your world. Unfortunately the bad thoughts are still there trying to haunt you, but having something like love to offset it is one of the greatest weapons you can have. Always remember that you'll never find what you're looking for in life by looking for it. Be patient and time will provide the answer and reward youve been seeking. It comes at the least expected times in our life because this is how our world works. Unknown futures all around us.
By Jude Augustine8 years ago in Psyche
How to Lead a 'Normal' Life With Depression and Anxiety
A few years ago, before I was "allowed" to speak about my mental health, things were at their worst. I was 17, going through college and just learning about the world. I was severely anxious and at the time I'd only just learned what anxiety was. The thing about depression is that it's not just sadness, it can be a symptom for some people, but it can manifest in rage, antisocial behaviour, sleeping or not sleeping, eating too much or not eating at all, it's a really subjective illness and it's different for a lot of people. I had trouble coping with friendships and relationships, jealousy, fear and anger consumed my mind. Amidst all the episodes you can have it can be hard to navigate through everyday life, I remember it being like a thick fog with no chance of clearing. So I've compiled a list of things that helped me and hopefully will help you.
By Ruby-Jessica Smith8 years ago in Psyche
5 Practices That Can Improve Your Mental Health
After being diagnosed with a major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern, my therapist suggested scheduling an appointment with a psychiatrist to explore the possibility of going on medication. I reflected on the struggles of everyone I knew personally who had taken medication for depression and decided to try every possible treatment before embarking on the long and sometimes very difficult journey that is finding the correct antidepressant.
By Leticia Gabbi8 years ago in Psyche
Inside the Deep Hold of the Mind
My mind it's a rather curious thing. Constant interactions with myself. This might make me sound crazy. Don't ponder on it too much, because I am crazy. I've come to terms with my mental illness these past few years. Just because I have a better grasp on how to control my mental illness does not mean I'm not crazy. If you were to look inside my mind and see the thousands of things that I think about on a daily basis, you too would agree with me. One good thing I can say about having these mental illnesses is that it has made me the person I am today. If anything it is made me become a stronger human being and much more patient and understanding.
By Jude Augustine8 years ago in Psyche