Category: Astronomy, Nature, & Wildlife

I love stargazing. That’s the primary reason why I go on camping adventures – to be able to gaze up at the sky at various altitudes without solid walls and a roof covering my view. The experience is humbling, in my opinion, because it allows me to remember how vast the universe is and that I’m merely one of its gazillion inhabitants.

Whenever I’m looking at the stars, I can’t help but think of the millions of individuals suffering from mental disorders and how it may benefit them too. Will it lessen their misery? Can it help strengthen their hold on reality? So, I tend to wonder, “Can an online psychiatrist recommend this activity to their patients?”

Before answering that, let’s check out the advantages of stargazing first.

Continue reading “Online Therapy 101: Can A Psychiatrist Recommend Stargazing To Patients?”

We always think that being emotional is a sign of weakness. We believe that others would jump right off when we show even a little of that soft side and take advantage of us. That is why we tend to hide our true feelings. We have this mentality that we think we need to show the world that we are strong despite being emotionally damaged. But there is entirely nothing wrong with that, though. In some fortunate instances, that strategy works fine, especially for those who want to focus on immediate emotional healing. However, the usual result of that forceful recovery process is going back to severe emotional turmoil.

Since most of us are driven by empathy and compassion, we always think about ourselves more delicately. That is why we want to project the idea of being “okay” as something stable. We want to feel better, so we continuously attempt to convince ourselves that we need to get better. That is good, actually. The more we want to regain ourselves, the more we become aware of what we should and should not do. But sometimes, the effort we put into stabilizing our emotional state is way too much that we condemn feeling the unwanted feelings.

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The In Denial Stage That Gets Us Really Bad

Usually, when we feel a little bit emotional about something, we often shrug it off. We are used to ignoring whatever it is that we do not understand. We somehow do not want to exaggerate ourour unpleasant feelings chose to forget about them. But the problem with that is it sticks with us. Deep inside, it gets rotten. And the more we lie to ourselves, the more it gives us this underlying pain.

When we are emotionally not okay, we often tell everyone the opposite. When someone asks, “How are you?” it is merely easy to respond, “I’m okay,” though we are not. But why is that? Of course, our intention is not to lie to others, but we find security while lying about our feelings somehow. Perhaps that is due to the belief that everything shall pass and that we should not make a big deal over a strange emotional issue. We think that soon enough, things will get back to the way it was. Besides, we believe that there is no point in burdening others with irrelevant things.

But the sad part about the habit of telling people that we are okay is the impossibility of these concerned individuals to lend a hand. The more we try and convince them that we are okay, the more they get used to seeing us in a strong and willful condition. And once they get that idea that we are capable and do not genuinely need any help, these people end up ignoring us. They will not bother to ask us anymore if we are okay. And that is what makes us sad, empty, and alone.

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The Emotional Vulnerability That Needs To Be Seen

When we are in a deep hole of emotional despair, we know that it is only a span of time before we eventually break down and shatter into pieces. We are aware that we need help and that we are crying so hard deep inside because others cannot see what we are going through. We know there is something wrong, and most of the time, we understand what is wrong. It is just that we are often afraid of uncertainties. We are not prepared for the consequences of our actions or behaviors. We are scared of others’ judgment towards our emotional inability.

But if we carefully think about it, expressing our thoughts and feelings often creates the same result. Meaning, regardless of hiding and lying about our sorrows, letting it out still gives us the same expectations. People either ignore us or give us attention. So in this matter, it provides us a definite answer to know which one we prefer – that is to express our feelings no matter what.

Since we usually emphasize leaning into the emotional discomfort, we often experience, it moves us away from finally accepting the imperfections of things. And that holds us in the idea that we should stay and get better no matter what. But apparently, being not okay is still okay. It conveys the concept that what we feel is what we should feel because it is real. We emotionally struggle not because we are weak but because we learn to accept ourselves with non-judgment, self-compassion, and self-love.

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Insight

Being emotionally capable does not mean we should be strong enough to control our emotions. Instead, it means we should understand how our emotions, in a way, affect us and others. Of course, it is not easy to stay emotionally unavailable all the time. But if we honor our emotional experience, our recovery will be all worth it.

 

Our generation today is crazy about the internet. Somehow at some point, everything that people do needs to be posted on the web. That brings us to Vlogging or the art of creating content that is in video format. It is a place where people talk about a particular subject,  discuss various opinions, show some clips about their lives, review a product and report a current event. It is a popular way of getting in touch with different people and gaining a huge social media connection. But the best part of vlogging is the number of cash vloggers earned in just a 5 to 30-minute video.

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The purpose of a vlog is to share thoughts, ideas, and experiences with an audience. Many vloggers are comminuted to influence people, especially the younger generations, to become more aware of themselves, the world they live in, and their purpose in life. But somehow, there are those influences or vloggers that are more focused on earning than creating valuable or useful content. There is nothing wrong with that, though, as long as people enjoy and love what they do. However, the damage is unnoticeable as some vlogs impact a wide audience’s mental, emotional, and behavioral aspects.

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Positive Influence 

A lot of people say that vlogging promotes positive influence as most people find some content informative. Vlogging can show a different side of the news as it does not rely on the mainstream media. There is a lot of information about almost everything, and people can easily get a direct answer to their questions. Vlogging sometimes holds direct access to the current situations, especially when done live.

Vlogging also helps people to do things conveniently. The best part of it is that they won’t have to waste some time trying to do something that somehow won’t work because vloggers can already show the results. Vlogging is also a source of useful instructions as most influencers share more easy-to-follow procedures such as baking, cooking, gardening, video gaming, drawing, dancing, singing, etc.

Aside from that, vlogging can be a great source of positivity due to the endless entertainment. It somehow takes away people’s anxiety and stress. That is because vlogging provides content that is often funny, engaging, and worthy to watch. Vloggers often share jokes, comedic clips, and pranks. These types of content all make sense when the audience wants some time to entertain themselves and take off their minds on something.

Another great thing about vlogging is its influence on people’s mental health. It somehow creates this community where they encourage people to share and express their feelings and emotions. Vlogging has its way of convincing people not to deal with their life issues alone. In some fortunate instances, vlogging takes care of people’s doubts and insecurities about themselves. There are helpful tips that vloggers provide that individuals can use freely. There are some vlogs that are inspirational and often promote a positive outlook in life.

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Negative Impact

Like everything else in the world, there are always two sides to the story. While vlogging seems to hold the power of influencing people with many things, it can also cause a negative impact. That is because some vloggers pay more attention to monetization, where they do not put any effort into sharing valuable information in their content. Usually, these vlogs are full of lies, and they focus more on fame or publicity. The videos rely on fake news and wrong information.

As vlogging gets praised for its video clip life hacks, there is always something about it that does not fit in. Vlogging instructional procedures always do not go well, especially when it is about how people deal with their everyday tasks. Of course, the main goal is to help an individual do things conveniently. But most of the time, vlog contents hide the truth. Some vloggers show that they claim are easy to do, but it is quite full of complicated processes in reality.

As many people can agree, the priority purpose of vlogging is to entertain. That makes it so inviting because some vlogs are way too engaging and funny to promote joy and happiness to their audience. However, there are those entertaining vlogs that encourage negative impacts such as bullying. Usually, content creators often leave insensitive remarks towards people’s physical appearance, disabilities, intellectual capacity, and status. Some content also promotes abuse as some pranks often lead to physical damage.

Lastly, vlogging is detrimental to mental health because of other people’s imposed perfect standard of life. The audience usually suffers from great emotional dilemma seeing those contents that make them feel sorry for themselves. Some vlog contents solely focus on showing off instead of inspiring others to be happy with what they have.

 

Usually, every time I feel sad, I automatically assume that what I am going through is part of the wrong decisions I make in life. When I do something out of my will, I always believe that it immediately results in emotional pain and agony. I always thought that I should always feel good about it when doing things because if I don’t, I will end up with misery and full of regrets.

But lately, I realized that my sadness is not at all related to my struggling decision-making process. The emotion I always felt for the past few weeks was something strange that I couldn’t even put in words. The sadness I felt came from nowhere. And even if I am believed to be in a good mood, the emotional torture pops up without warning.

So I tried self-diagnosing my mental health, and I began Googling some signs and symptoms of whatever type of sadness this may be. Honestly, I was a bit hesitant because I know some sources from the internet were unreliable. But I kept searching for results to validate this unwanted emotion that I have been struggling with for the past weeks. That is where I got hooked on depression.

I know depression is a mental health problem that a lot of people tend to deal with. I understand the complication it gives, especially in severe cases. However, I was not that prepared to accept that my perception of the little sadness I am experiencing is correlated to a psychological issue. I know I am okay, and I want to believe that I am going to be fine. Will that denial suffices what I am currently emotionally and mentally going through right now?

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What are the major causes of depression?

There are a lot of known factors that cause depression. There are certain medications, genes conflict, age, and social status. However, in more recent data, some of the most common factors that leap causing depressive symptoms are physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, death or a loss of a loved one, traumatic childhood experience, and stressful major events.

What is the top cause of depression?

Honestly, there’s no particular cause of depression because every individual deal with everyday stress differently. Thus, the mental health condition can occur for various reasons as it involves many different triggers. For some individuals, a stressful life event, changes in the environment, bereavement, medical illness, divorce, job or money worries are the common reasons for their depression.

Why do I go from happy to sad so fast?

Sometimes, a sudden shift in emotion can mean something far more than meets the eye. In unfortunate cases, a sudden mood change is associated with bipolar disorder. With bipolar disorder, your emotions usually swing from extremely happy to extremely sad. But note that the mood changes associated with the mental illness usually occur only a few times a year.

What does it imply to be prone to depression?

Sometimes, you get prone to depression because of your personality. Certain personality traits, including neuroticism, pessimism, perfectionism, low self-esteem, and being self-critical, have been associated with a bigger inclination toward the mental health condition. Sometimes, these traits also get associated with series of anxiety and eating disorders.

Who is at higher risk of depression?

Major depression affects adults between the ages of 45 and 65. But in the recent study, those are in their mid-20s and 30s are now defining the curve. And sometimes, even the very young ones seem to be marking a higher risk for severe depression.

What are the risks of depression?

There are tons of reasons that can trigger depression, and some of them are part of everyday lives. There is conflict or disputes with family or friends that often lead to emotional upsets. There is also sexual, physical, or emotional abuse that can cause traumatic feelings. Sometimes, being neglected and judged can also cause severe emotional pain that leads to isolation and depressive episodes.

What happens in your brain during depression?

The amygdala or the part of the brain associated with emotional responses tends to enlarge due to the influx of cortisol triggered by depression. When it gets larger and more active, it causes changes in activity levels, sleep disturbances, hormonal imbalance, and brain inflammation.

Why do I get angry so easily?

Factors that can make you angry vary to some extent. However, some common anger triggers include personal problems. These can be missing a promotion at work, financial strain, or relationship difficulties. Usually, anger comes from a problem caused by another individual, such as canceling plans, bad traffic, non-agreeable opinions, and even personality differences.

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How do I prevent getting angry so easily?

When you are angry, there are a lot of things that you often miscalculate. So before complicating the situation with your negative words and possible bad behavior, you have to think before you speak. Never say something you’ll later regret. Once you’re calm, express your anger and explain why you feel that way. Don’t hold a grudge so you can identify possible solutions. Use humor to release tension and take a time out if you have to.

Does depression change your personality?

Unfortunately, there are instances that depression can affect your personality. However, self-reported personality traits do not change after a typical occurrence of extreme depression. Future investigations are required to conclude whether such change occurs, resulting in more severe, chronic, or recurrent episodes of depression.

How do you get rid of sadness?

There are some positive ways to deal with sadness. You can start by noticing how you feel and understand why you feel that way. That way, you can accept yourself despite not being okay. You can also try bouncing back from disappointments or failures and let things go when they don’t go your way. Don’t give up! Think positive and work on finding better solutions. Always put yourself in a healthy mood, surround yourself with good people and get support.

How do I not let my emotions control me?

Sometimes, your emotions can be too much, and they can become hard to handle. But don’t worry too much because some pointers can help you get started with emotional recovery. First, you need to look at the impact of your emotions and accept that intense emotions aren’t all bad. It would be significantly better if you could aim for regulation, not repression. Identify what you feel so you can know when to express yourself. Keep a food journal if you have to. Give yourself some space. Always take a deep breath.

What should you eat when sad?

Sometimes, when depressed, you tend to eat a lot to ease the emotional and mental burden. You know that food is sometimes a great stress-reliever as it can help make you feel better. Unfortunately, the foods people turn to have the opposite effect. Junk food makes you feel even worse. To avoid that, you need to consider eating foods high in Omega-3s such as fish, nuts, canola oil, flaxseed oil, and dark-green leafy vegetables.

Why can’t I express my emotions?

Expressing emotions is entirely not that easy. It takes a lot of mental, physical, and emotional strength to process what you want to say. But when that particular issue becomes another problem, then you need to get help. Because what you are going through might be a condition called Alexithymia. It is a state where you find it difficult to identify and express emotions. Fortunately, it is not a psychological disorder. However, it can greatly affect life as Alexithymia may cause problems in social situations and maintain relationships.

How can I express my emotions better?

Expressing your emotions take time and effort. You don’t just push yourself to let your feelings go because it can damage your mental health. Thus, it would help if you can find a way to be alone for some time. That way, you can allow yourself to cry, rave, rant, or curse negative things around. Permit yourself to express your feelings, and do not censor yourself.

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Final Thoughts

I have depression. I now understand that my sadness is not a typical emotion that I can shrug off at any time. And believe me, I know it will last for more than weeks or even months from now. But despite that genuinely unfortunate situation, I know I can still count on my will to get better. I may not recover faster than others, but I will not stop until I can guarantee that I am free from this mental health struggle.

 

Having anxiety can be the worse. There are too many things in your mind that you often cannot get rid of. You tend to feel uncomfortable and scared all the time. You don’t know why you always feel worried and frightened because sometimes there is just no reason for it. There are moments that you even deal with stressors differently, and you tend to become less aware of your thoughts and feelings. In some unfortunate cases, you experience panic attacks. You begin to encounter different physical manifestations that are often taking a toll on your daily function.

Fortunately, there are ways you can better manage anxiety. The common one is self-care. As long as you stick to a healthy lifestyle and manage to get through your stressors, you can stay healthy and active. Another thing is medication. You can reduce your anxiety through the help of medication prescribed by your doctor. Yes, there are times that medication alone does not work, but the idea of it reducing your anxiety symptoms is quite impressive. Then there’s therapy. It is the most effective treatment of all since specific methods design to help you with your mental health issue.

And speaking of therapy, it now works well with technology as it can be administered online. Thus, you can get anxiety help with guaranteed convenience. Let us try and understand more about it through these frequently asked questions.

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Why can anxiety be a good thing? 

Even though anxiety can cause so much trouble and may seem useless at times, it serves a purpose. These feelings are a part of the natural way of dealing with stress. It represents a built-in warning system known as the fight-or-flight response meant to alert and protect individuals from danger. Anxiety allows people to react faster, especially in emergencies.

Anxiety can be helpful in some ways. But if ever you happen to experience a different level of emotional imbalance, you should consult your therapist right away.

 What are the benefits of online therapy? 

Online therapy is beneficial because it eliminates the costs associated with travel time only to attend a therapy session. It also decreases absences in meetings due to sickness or other reasonable or unreasonable excuses. Online therapy also allows clients to participate in therapy regularly in a convenient way as possible.

 Is online therapy as effective? 

Yes. Online cognitive behavioral therapy is an acceptable, effective, and practical way of providing health care to individuals. That is according to a 2018 study published in the Journal of Psychological Disorders. The study initiate that online cognitive behavioral therapy or online CBT was as efficient as a face-to-face treatment for mental health conditions such as major depression, panic disorder, social anxiety disorders, and more.

 How do I overcome social media anxiety? 

Overcoming social media anxiety is entirely easy, especially if there is no addiction involved in it. You have to limit your exposure to social media intake in a structured way can be helpful. If it not entirely necessary to spend time on social media, then give it a break. Instead, make time for yourself and focus on the things that make you laugh or smile. Spend bonding moment with family. Go for walks outdoors on your breaks when possible. Any healthy distractions that will keep you busy will keep you away from social media anxiety.

 What’s a good job for someone with anxiety? 

Some of the best jobs for people with a social anxiety disorder include Accountant, Entrepreneur, Firefighter, Landscaper, Artist, Writer, House Painter, Computer Programmer, Pet Care Professional, Graphic Designer, Librarian, and Grounds Maintenance Worker.

Note that these are just recommendations. Depending on the severity of the person’s anxiety, these jobs may or may not work for him in some instances.

 Is a little anxiety good? 

A reasonable healthy amount of anxiety tends to provide a positive outcome since it provides survival value. Anxiety is considered good stress that keeps people motivated and excited about life. But be mindful, though, because too much excessive worry can immediately cause emotional and mental health conditions.

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 Is online counseling Safe? 

Though there are tons of benefits online counseling can give, people need to be cautious with the process. An online stipulation may not be suitable for inexperienced practitioners. And unless the online therapy is encrypted, people can benefit from the doubt of the possible danger of leaked private information.

But again, one should trust the process of communication. If online counseling can cut barriers at some point, then online counseling can still be a great option for those individuals who feel less open about their mental health condition.

 What are the disadvantages of online counseling? 

Disadvantages of online counseling include lack of visual and verbal cues and lack of physical presence. That is because of the less personal communication going on with each session between client and therapist. Another disadvantage is computer concerns that include equipment and internet service failures, and typing speed can limit the conveyance of information in chat-based sessions. Also, there can be an issue with privacy and confidentiality in a shared environment, and people may find it challenging to put complicated thoughts and emotions into written words.

 Is self-help worth it? 

The main purpose of self-help is not to immediately remove signs and symptoms of mental health conditions but rather to satisfy the mind and body in finding and healing negative emotions. The definitive goal of self-help is to encourage you to build a better life without too many worries and fears.

Self-help can work if you put enough effort into trying your best to become physically, emotionally, and mentally better.

 What is the best online therapy site? 

Here are a few of the recommended online therapy sites you can consider. Betterhelp, Talkspace, Regain, Teen Counseling, Pride Counseling, Amwell, 7 Cups of Tea, and Doctor on Demand.

If you find these websites unhelpful, you can always venture out on others that offer the same online treatment process.

How do you get therapy if you can’t afford it? 

If you think you can’t afford therapy, you can first check with your insurance. You can also try a community mental health center or a training clinic and ask about discounted rates if there are any. In case you do not necessarily need therapy, you can start reading self-help books or attend support groups. Always make sure to Re-evaluate your expenses.

 Which is better, Talkspace or BetterHelp? 

Talkspace is one of the best choices for individuals who want more privacy and do not want to live in video sessions. It’s more economical and less hassle. BetterHelp, on the other hand, is an ideal option for those interested in talking to someone on live video conversations. Usually, this is administered by a health expert and licensed professionals. The flexibility, convenience, and anonymity of Betterhelp make it an appealing option.

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 Is social media bad for anxiety? 

Unfortunately, there is a strong association between heavy social media usage and an increased risk for mental health problems. Some of these are anxiety, depression, loneliness, self-harm, and having suicidal thoughts. In some ways, social media promote negative experiences to an individual already suffering mental and emotional health.

Thus, it is necessary to understand social media’s role in your life before concluding its effectiveness or damage to your overall wellbeing. Always remember that everything that is too much can be dangerous.

 Does deleting social media help with anxiety? 

Yes. There is no excellent way to cope with anxiety other than just deleting the entire apps that trigger them. Just not using Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook for a month can bring you a happier feeling. It makes you feel more present in life.

 Is Social Anxiety a mental illness?

Social anxiety disorder is considered a mental health condition that is most known as social phobia. It is an extreme fear of being watched by others. This fear can affect school, work, and other day-to-day activities. It can also impact relationships in difficult situations as it cannot sometimes keep up with social relationship demands.

 

Have you ever heard of TV gold? It’s a kind of show that you tend to fight tooth and nail for, especially when someone says that “it’s not that good.”

Well, in my case, that would be the iZombie. I had always been into musical, comedy, and family shows before it aired, and you wouldn’t have typically seen me watching anything paranormal. However, I got hooked on the zombie-filled show as soon as I saw Olivia “Liv” Moore try to deal with the zombie virus that she contracted through a scratch at a boat party.

If you must know, Liv is the heroin in iZombie. She had a beautiful love life and a promising career before the virus transmission happened, but it all went away when she realized she’s technically undead. Liv hid her new form from her loved ones to the extent that her mother and best friend were already at their wit’s end.

Liv only felt somewhat alive again when she started eating the brain of every dead person that came at the police morgue and helped solve their cases.

What Did It All Mean?

Many people in the real world had a comparable situation with Liv Moore. Instead of zombieism, their conditions came in the form of HIV, AIDS, leprosy, etc. But like Liv, they usually tried to hide their illness to everyone in fear of scaring others or getting stigmatized over something that they did not have control over.

Although Liv Moore’s life story was nothing but a make-believe one, it could still be inspiring for many folks suffering from frowned-upon conditions. She might have been depressed initially, but she found a way to make something out of her seemingly terrible fate. When the show ended, Liv became practically a legend who helped prolong terminally ill individuals’ lives.

What Can You Learn From Liv Moore?

A Dead End Might Not Always Be A Dead End

Putting yourself in the shoes of Liv Moore when she found out that she turned into a zombie would let you understand why she thought it was already a dead end. After all, the woman woke up inside a body bag and realized that she barely had a pulse. She also had to isolate herself from family and friends, assuming they might disown her after discovering the truth.

As mentioned above, though, Liv managed to work around her dilemma and created another path for herself as a crime solver. Yes, she had to eat the deceased victim’s brain first, and that’s gag-worthy for most non-zombies, but Liv had to do what she had to do. That’s the only way for her to glimpse into the dead person’s life before the crime.
Now, there’s no need for you to deal with deaths and murders to think like Liv Moore. Suppose your current dream is donezo, dream of something else. It’s not what you have imagined yourself doing for years, but you can learn to love and enjoy it.

It’s Okay To Reinvent Yourself Sometimes

Whenever Liv Moore ate a new dead individual’s brain, their personality and way of thinking typically mixed with hers. It was very confusing to the humans who ended up realizing her identity, but the self-reinvention somewhat worked in her favor. That’s especially true when she had to kill one of her ex-boyfriends who had gone full zombie mode and tried to eat her human friend’s brain. After that, she kept on eating a veteran’s brain to avoid breaking down or feeling anything.

While I would never recommend staying in denial forever, it’s okay to reinvent yourself sometimes. Take on a new identity and live as someone else for a day or two, for instance. Keep at it until you feel like facing your worries.

Love And Support Do Not Always Come From Blood Relations

Once you watch all five seasons of iZombie, you would see that many folks cared for Liv Moore. On top of the list was Major, the love of her life. Then, there were Peyton, Ravi, and Clive. She also ended up having orphaned kids, who loved her dearly.

As for her mother and brother, they did not want to do anything with Liv. They merely talked to her in the end to ask for help in getting out of the city. Then, there was a brief appearance of her absentee father, who turned out to be why people became zombies in the beginning.

Thus, it should be evident that your relatives were not the only ones that you could call “family.”

Final Thoughts

What would you have done if you had been dealt with the same hand as Liv Moore?

Not everyone was as kind or as level-headed as this character. It was easy to embrace zombieism and crack any human skull open, but Liv proved that zombies could be decent. More importantly, even individuals with irreversible conditions could find a happy ending, so there’s no reason for you to mope around all day long.

 

 

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Is laughter a vital part of your life? Do you think it can be a source of strength, connectedness, and togetherness for your family? Yes, I do!

 

I’ve always believed in humor and laughter as part of strengthening my family’s bond. For me, they are vital factors of a healthy, happy, and healthy family life. In fact, I regard these two as one of the five elements that build a genuinely thriving family – quality time, humor, prayer, family dinners, and conversations. Among the five, humor is the most convenient way to help families thrive. Why?

 

Simple. Laughter and humor create an environment of happiness and joy in the home. It improves family relationships, establishes connections, and creates wonderful memories. It cultivates love and closeness by encouraging all family members to have fun with each other’s company. Because the greatest humor is strongly based on truth and courses out of a profound reflection of life as it is, laughter also evokes transparency and goodness. It gets rid of the insincerity and breaks down the barriers. It helps develop openness, alleviates tensions, and provides a source of healing and forgiveness for each family member or, in any case, from person to person.

 

Consequently, a few hours of laughter in a day make the home a happy space to live in. If you have not tried it, I can tell you that there are many wonders that laughter has given my family and me. As one writer says, one can’t love somebody if we can’t laugh with them, and there is truly a whole lot of truth in that.

 

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Laughter improves physical health.

 

Studies have confirmed that those who possess a good sense of humor and make time to laugh have a lesser likelihood of having long-term mental and medical illnesses. They further stated that all the systems of the body benefit from having a hearty laugh. For instance, the respiratory and cardiovascular systems get such a great workout from 20 seconds of vigorous laughter compared to 3 minutes of rowing exercise! Additionally, laughing reduces overall muscle tension. Happy hormones are discharged into the bloodstream, producing the same emotions that experienced joggers refer to as a ‘runner’s high.’ Even the Bible testifies to this when it says that a happy heart is like good medicine.

 

Families who live to laugh and make happy moments are also not susceptible to suffer from anxiety and burnout. They have a greater chance of enjoying their lives. They also have a better mindset and embrace the fact that life has its ups and downs and consider it as a magnificent adventure that they will seize together. This is why humor helps us manage not only our failures but also our everyday struggles and even our losses. It’s been said that to possess a sense of humor and to know how to laugh is to understand and embrace the existence of human suffering.

 

If you want to turn your home into a place where walls echo with laughter and where your family can appreciate the fact that you are together, take heed of these simple pieces of advice.

 

• Find humor wherever you are. You may need to exert extra effort, but it’s all worth it. You’ll soon realize that life, in general, is filled with humor and a lot of things that are worth laughing about. It’s true what Art Linkletter says – we as a people are truly funny. So be on the lookout for the funny element in everyone and in every place you go. If it’s not there, make one for yourself.

 

• Don’t take things very seriously. It’s usually difficult to see the insignificance of our existence when you look at the bigger picture, right? We most often think that the trials we go through are larger than life, and we must face them seriously so we can solve them. In the process, we have allowed our petty arguments and issues to overshadow our whole lives. Let’s not continue that. Try to relax and take one step backward before confronting a trial so you can see the bigger picture. What you’re facing is only one in a million. Don’t fret over it all; it will consume you.

 

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• Commit to laugh even if you don’t want to. It’s exactly when you’ve had a really bad day that a good belly laugh is mostly needed. During these times, a little bit of humor lightens the burden and reduces the tension. And it will certainly keep the family together.

 

• Find out what tickles your partner or your kids. When you notice that your children are bursting with laughter, be attentive, and find out what caused it. Study each of their personalities so that you can differentiate cynicism from clowning. Observe them regularly and concentrate on their humor styles. Learn to identify each of your children’s roles in the family, including your partner’s. Knowing these things will guide you in maintaining the equilibrium between sensitivity and humor.

 

 

Perhaps you already know that loneliness is one of the universal emotions anyone one of us has. In a time like this that we need to face an invisible enemy, we can’t help but think about all the list of things we want answers. Unfortunately, with all the ongoing battle of facing reality and attaching it to the instant adjustment we need to deal with, we become mentally and emotionally vulnerable. Sometimes, even if we think we can manage, the situation tells us we can’t.

Loneliness is not something we desire. However, we know we need it at some point. It gives us an opportunity to reflect on ourselves and think about what we can do in this situation. It is a feeling that makes us realize our capabilities, worth, and overall balance. So in this time of crisis, what are the things that can make us lonely? Here are some of the few you might want to check out.

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Not Knowing How To Connect With people

In this global health crisis, some of us are thanking the situation for demanding a social distancing protocol. That is because some of us do not know how to connect with people, and this is the exact moment that excuses us from connecting with others. However, loneliness becomes attached to the idea because we all crave closeness and relationships, especially at this time of the pandemic. And without anyone by our side, we feel alone and lonely. From there, we choose to be more isolated and distant.

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Scared Of Temporary Intimacy

One of the reasons why right now is not the right moment to engage in a new relationship is because of the fear of temporary intimacy. A lot of us are afraid that when we invest feelings for someone, it won’t last. That even if we feel something for that person, it’s not going to support a lasting commitment due to the thought that one day when all these are over, things will go back to the way they were. With that, part of our loneliness is the challenge of letting people into our lives. There is an emotional fear of vulnerability that we don’t want others to see.

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There Are A Lot Of Change

We are in a situation that we know adjustment is a must. We understand that the only way to survive this pandemic is for us to follow safety protocols. That is, even if it means sacrificing the things that we are used to doing. But with all the challenges and emotional burden of complying and doing what you are not supposed to, it gives this sense of loneliness. There is this part of us that tells us we can’t do anything but to adapt to the idea of a new normal. There is the pressure of uncertainty, and that is something we know we don’t like. From there, we get confused, heartbroken, and lost.

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Losing Touch Of One’s Self

One thing that we can all hate about this global health crisis is the idea of losing ourselves. There is an emotional turmoil that buildup at the back of our minds because we can no longer do what we want to. Somehow we feel that this situation is changing us only to damage us in the long run. With that, we become unaware of ourselves because we have to consider restrictions. That even if other people suggest that we should widen our horizons and learn new things, we can’t because we don’t want to. Over time, we forget what we truly want, and that brings us to a deep sense of loneliness.

People randomly complain about the adverse effects of Coronavirus. I guess I can’t blame them for that. It causes a lot of struggle, and until now, it continues to make more lives miserable. People face lots of physical, emotional, and mental heartaches, and there is no exemption. Aside from that, no one knows when all of this would end. But with all due respect to those people who hate the situation, there are still good things attached to this phenomenon.

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Family Bonding

Due to the outbreak, all countries are on lockdown. The purpose of that is to prevent the virus from spreading. So since all people are stuck in their homes, they get to spend more time with their families. It offers them the opportunity to bond and create memories together despite the challenges they experience. The lockdown allows people to appreciate and value the most valuable persons in their lives. Though, I understand that not all individuals seem to look at this as an opportunity. However, the idea of spending time and keeping the family safe and intact is what truly matters at this moment of crisis.

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Healing Earth

Honestly, for sure, some people love the idea of this pandemic lockdown. Not because they benefit from it or anything. But because these people know how important this specific rule is for the benefit of the Earth. Yes, in a short period, the world gets to heal itself. It breathes again, and the clean oceans and clear blue skies are the pieces of evidence. The Earth is somehow free from all the damages that people put it through all these centuries. I guess we can all agree that the reason why the planet is dying is that humans take so much from it. And that even if all humans vanish from the Earth, it should still manage to get by and reborn itself.

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Reflection

One thing great about this lockdown is the opportunity for everyone to reflect on their actions. The lockdown is only part of the safety measures that come from the outbreak. It is merely a consideration that all governments had to take to secure the lives of millions of people. But in a more profound sense, it reminds everyone of the people’s incapability to recognize bad and good decisions. Because if no one tried to ruin the balance of the ecosystem, the world would not suffer from this pandemic. If only other people respect and understand boundaries among other creatures, perhaps people will not be counting infected and dead loved ones.

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Realization

Another aspect we should be thankful for this lockdown is the realization it gives to everybody. This particular moment allows people to see that uncertainty is always one step ahead. Therefore, the importance of preparation is an asset. Yes, no one expected this to happen. But the possibility of this virus infection becoming a pandemic is already visible from the start. Therefore, the mentality of people not doing something because the problem doesn’t require significant importance is not helpful. Perhaps people are used to ignoring small situations and would start to blame everyone when that particular problem gets worse.

See, this lockdown may cause everyone a mental and emotional breakdown, but there is always the good side of everything. Maybe if people focus more on looking at more important things, they might be able to manage their overall wellbeing. So instead of complaining more and more about this pandemic, we might as well we do our best to make life worth living. Yes, there are limitations to that. But we are humans, and we are creative enough to find ways.

Photography as a Form of Therapy

Most mental health institutions are now acknowledging the benefits of photography as a form of therapy. The therapeutic effect of photography brings calmness and healing that benefits a person’s mental condition. Photography also produces a positive change in an individual’s life perception as photography gives a sense of interactive societal involvement.

The type of photography that does not require any professional skills is called therapeutic photography. It allows a person to focus on valuable things in life such as nature, scenery, different objects, technology, the beauty of a person, and diverse culture. The different ways a person perceives a photographic subject in both inner and outer landscape is essential. The little things captured in the film can become symbolic that an individual can share his appreciation in the various creations of life. Therefore, the more he values what’s around him, the less he can develop a mental health condition.

Appreciating The Beauty Of The World Through Photography

There is a different perspective that is presented when a person tries to search for the simplicity of the things around him. Since photography is a form of art, the relationship between a photographer and his photo can bring a clear understanding of what he sees in life.

Photography Improves Creativity And Self-Expression

The art of photography is useful in maintaining a healthy development. The masterpieces from different forms of life and most valuable objects can give excitement to a person that tries to come up with something fresh and creative out of his ideas.

Photography Gives A Person A Different Perspective

Another thing that a person can benefit from photography is the act of being outside. He won’t be able to develop specific mental conditions when he allows himself to go out into the world and explore great things. Photography will make him appreciate everything that the eye can see.

Photography Uplifts A Person’s Spirit

His mindfulness will increase and he becomes more open to what he can expect from the world. The captured photos somehow contribute to making a person feel happy and satisfied. Photography also helps in lifting one’s spiritual mood. It assists in reconnecting a person’s psychological positivity and self-disciplined behavior.

Photography Gives Satisfying Happiness

A picture can say a thousand words, and it also gives you a moment to think about the experience you have while taking it. Most people use it as a way of profoundly understanding themselves and knowing the things that genuinely makes them happy. Often, a photo of a loved one can become a good source of happiness.

Photography Can Help In Self-Reflection

Photography is often described as a way of self-expression. It can be a source of non-verbal communication that allows both thoughts and feelings to emerge. Photography helps a person express himself by entering and showing the positive side of his life. It also strengthens a person’s self-esteem and confidence.

Therapeutic photography is indeed a fantastic way to help people get over their problems (especially those who are having issues with mental health conditions). Photography is a wonderful source of healing and self-rejuvenation.

Here are some words from therapists and counselors:

• “Think of your treatment plan as a roadmap with identified benchmarks along the way, guiding the therapy process.” – Robyn Huntely, LMFT
• “There are times that seeking a specialist may be of benefit.” – Joanne Ketch, LPC, LMFT
• “Kudos to anyone who is going to therapy because they want to break generational patterns of trauma and dysfunction.” – Carolyn Ferreira, PSYD

Find out about therapies you can access online by visiting

https://www.betterhelp.com/start/. Here, you can learn more pertaining to several counseling services for a particular mental health issue.