Author: webmaster

I bet you know what depression means. Generally, it is related to the unexplained negative thoughts and feelings that affect someone’s behavior. Depression represents sadness and loneliness. It relates to a non-stop emotional turmoil that leads to too much grief. People view depression as a crippling mental health condition that stays for longer periods.

In some cases, it creates intense pressure on an individual’s overall development that affects his goal, self-awareness, and social relationship with others. Yes, these are, in fact, true. Depression is entirely related to isolation, self-doubt, poor concentration, self-neglect, anger, anxiety, and emotional imbalance.

Source: pixabay.com

However, the condition is not limited to vulnerable individuals as it can also affect even those with an outgoing personality. The minority of people dealing with mental health problems also includes those individuals that are extroverts, cheerful and funny, goal-oriented, motivated, and socially active. Thus, it makes the whole situation quite impossible to determine. Sometimes, those who laugh and smile the most are actually the ones who are dealing with severe depressive episodes.

Therefore, depression affects all individuals regardless of their emotional and mental strength. There is no way you can determine the condition just by sticking with the negative signs. There are cases that even if someone tends to be happy all the time, there is no guarantee that what the individual physically shows entirely represents their emotional and mental health state.

If you’re still confused, here are some of the few frequently asked questions that might help you further understand depression from a different perspective.

What is the number 1 cause of depression?

Depression can come from many factors, including faulty mood regulation, the stress in life, financial strain, death or loss of someone you love, medication, chronic illnesses, genetic vulnerability, drugs, and alcohol abuse. In teen depression, factors may also vary. Some of the causes of their mental health problems negatively impact self-esteem, such as academic problems, peer problems, obesity, and long-term bullying. Also, situations like being a victim or witness of violence, such as physical or sexual abuse, contribute greatly.

 What happens with the brain during a depression?

Depression triggers the entrance of cortisol, which damages the amygdala, hippocampus, and dorsomedial thalamus. But with the three, the amygdala often receives a lot of damage since it is responsible for emotional responses. Depression causes the amygdala to enlarge and makes it more active. When this particular enlargement and activeness continue to happen, it causes hormonal imbalance, sleep disturbances, and activity level changes.

What color is associated with depression?

The color associated with depression is the shade of gray. This almost dark hue of black most likely represents an individual’s blank and cloudy mental state. Though the color grey also represents neutrality and balance, it still depicts an emotionless, dull, and empty state of mind. But in general, mental health awareness is represented by a green-colored ribbon. The green was the color used to label individuals who were considered psychologically unstable or insane, especially in the 1800s.

 What type of thinking is often linked to depression?

Negative thinking is often associated with depression. Perhaps that is due to the closed-minded mentality that often leaves no space for positive resolution and intervention. When bad things happen, people begin punishing themselves with thoughts such as I am a total failure, I am no good, or nothing ever goes my way, not knowing that these words can lead to feelings of despair and emptiness that lasts for a long period.

 What age group has the highest rate of depression?

The age group with the most significant rate of depression is individuals aged 18-25. The major depressive episode was reported higher among adult females at 8.7% than males at around 5.3%. These individuals, respectively, reported experiencing two or more symptoms of the mental illness.

 Is it possible to diagnose yourself with depression?

In some instances, a self-test can help you decide what to do whenever you are feeling blue. However, it doesn’t entirely mean that you can clinically conclude your condition based on what you have read, answered, watched, or searched on the internet. Only a mental health expert and professional can diagnose your condition based on the provided symptoms you experience. They are the only ones allowed to treat and prescribe you medication.

 What is the most reliable symptom of depression?

The most reliable symptoms of clinical depression often include uncontrolled feelings of sadness, emptiness, tearfulness, and hopelessness. Usually, you often experience angry outbursts, irritability, and frustration, even over small things. There is also the loss of interest or pleasure in most activities you usually like. With all these symptoms, it is important to understand that every individual suffers from depression differently. Thus, some of the signs might not apply to those who manage their mental health issue well.

 What are the risk factors of depression?

Some of the risk factors linked to depression include genetics. When a family member used to have depression, it is more likely that you will also have it. Also, death or loss of someone you love, conflict, medication, drug and alcohol abuse, and financial strain increases the mental health condition’s risk. Other risk factors like physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual abuse can also trigger and increase the severity of depression.

Source: pixabay.com

 Can your mind create symptoms?

Yes. Your mind can manifest physical symptoms and can make it worse too. That is called psychosomatic. Though many individuals believe that psychosomatic symptoms are unreliable, these are considered real and can have a psychological cause.

 What are the nine types of depression?

The most common types of depression are manic depression or bipolar disorder, persistent depression, Depressive psychosis, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, seasonal depression, situational depression, perinatal depression, and major depression.

 What are the five signs of mental illness?

The five notable indications of mental illness are excessive paranoia, worry, or anxiety. There is also irritability, long-lasting sadness, extreme moods, eating or sleeping patterns changes, and social withdrawal. In some instances, people experience significant tiredness, low energy, or problems sleeping.

 How can I test my mental health?

The first step to test your mental health is to recognize the signs and symptoms. If there is a change in the pattern of thoughts, feelings, and behavior, visit a doctor or mental health professional. You can also consider online screening. It is also considered the most convenient way to learn whether you are enduring the indications of a psychological issue such as anxiety and depression.

 Why is Googling symptoms a bad idea?

Googling your mental health symptoms can sometimes help. However, self-diagnosing your symptoms using tons of information from the internet can mask a potentially dangerous disease. Because in addition to incorrect diagnoses, there are instances that some of the recommendations can make your symptoms worse. It is best to consult professional medical experts if you think you might be having a health issue.

 How can you tell if someone is mentally ill?

Each illness has its symptoms, and individuals experience them differently. But common symptoms of mental illness in adolescents and adults can be general. These include excessive worrying or fear, confused thinking, feeling excessively sad or low, or problems learning and analyzing.

 How do I get better mentally?

You can always feel better when you talk about and deal with your problems. If you can’t, you can always ask for help. Never allow yourself to feel alone. Get in touch with people, take a break from stress, and care for yourself. Remember that some of these tips might work well with others and not with you. With that, you have to find a way to broaden your wellness option and learn coping skills applicable to your physical, mental, and emotional ability.

Source: pixabay.com

Takeaway

Depression is a serious condition that you should address immediately. Of course, there are chances that the signs and symptoms may come extremely indistinguishable. But one should not stop taking care of his or her mental state. It would be the best option to learn more about the sudden emotional and mental changes.

Source: rawpixel.com

As opposed to what most of us think, bullying is not something that can suddenly go away, like a rash, an exam, or a problem solved. As a matter of fact, it persists throughout the adult years and is evident in almost all aspects and situations. Apart from the popularized topics of online bullying, sibling bullying, and school bullying, the infamous act of bullying is also evident within families and even among adults. And most often, family bullying occurs merely due to the bully having never learned how to connect with the rest healthily. Also, it sometimes happens because the bully member of the family wants to control and handle different kinds of situations. If, like me, someone in the family is a bully, here are several strategies that you can try to keep matters under control.

Always confide in someone you can trust.

If and when you need to spill the beans on what happened to you, do it with someone that you feel close with, someone you have been confiding your innermost feelings with for quite some time. It can be your sister, brother, or close friend. The key is to keep away from the useless chatter. Find someone supportive of you and genuinely cares about you. Some individuals go straight to their family members rather than their friend, but be cautious when you do so. As most, if not all of us, may have experienced, family members might have the urge to resolve the issue and end up worsening it immediately.

What’s important is that you confide in someone who can be trusted not to say anything when they don’t need to in the first place. He or she needs to be someone who will not make things even more difficult for you. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that you should keep mum about it when you are bullied, but confiding about it to one person can tremendously help in making you feel less alone and anxious. Ultimately, having someone who can listen to whatever you might say and keeping you levelheaded in the process is undoubtedly one of the best things that you need. So choose the right person to trust in.

Source: rawpixel.com

Don’t get too emotional.

When you are trying to deal with bullying in the family, stay composed and don’t show frustration or rage. If you can’t control the bully, you can indeed control your actions. Keep your calm, and do not in any way, interact with the bully. On the contrary, do some journaling about the events that have happened so far, remembering to include vital information, such as dates and places. This will help you find any behavioral patterns.

Set Limitations.

When we’re talking about a family bully, it is crucial that we set clear limitations between the two of you. For example, if your partner’s brother never stops insulting what you do or say to the point of embarrassment, tell her straight out that you don’t like what he’s doing and that you would like for it to stop. If he keeps doing it, then you always have the option not to invite him over your place even though the rest of the family is invited. You need to set rules and restrictions to keep respect. If this happens to you with other family members as well, you need to do the same – keep your contact with them to a minimum. You don’t need to tolerate their behaviors just because they’re family.

Decide for yourself.

When someone bullies you, you always have a choice, and you always have to make a decision. You can try to forget about it, allow the bully to continue disrespecting you, ignore the bully, or respond with an act of subtle but sweet revenge. Whatever you do, please do not give in to what he wants by reacting negatively at the expense of your self-respect and dignity. Be composed. Don’t behave the way he does. You have the last say about what you should do. Decide wisely.

Maintain or increase your confidence.

Bullies – whether in the family or not – know how to choose whom they can control and influence. Don’t let him know you’re anxious (if you are) and avoid showing defeat or insecurity. When you stand up for yourself and show strength and confidence, you are one step ahead of the person bullying you. Most importantly, be respectful and keep the bully from bullying, even your mind.

Source: rawpixel.com

Take a break from everything.

Living life with a bully in the family could be exhausting and daunting at the same time. Commit to giving yourself time to relax and take a break from all the thinking. Take a hike. Go beaching with your friends. Visit the spa. Or enjoy the silence in a place where you will feel peaceful and happy. Whatever you do, make sure that will help you take out a portion of negativity from you every time you have that break.

Ultimately, if bullying in the family harms your mental and emotional health, consider seeking professional help from someone who is experienced and qualified in tackling family issues.

Bullying is a widespread problem, and it can take a toll on an individual’s self-confidence as well as physical and emotional aspects. In this time of the pandemic, a lot of people are suffering from bullying, especially those people that have a related Coronavirus issue. Since most individuals want to blame a specific race, the emotional, physical, and mental abuse heightens. So what do you do if ever you belong to the ones who are being bullied? Here are some ways that can help you protect yourself from harm, boost your self-confidence, and find help.

pexels.com

Remember That Bullying Is Not Your Fault

Honestly, there are multitudes of reasons why bullies bully other people, and these have nothing to do with you. Most likely, it has a lot to do with their personal issues. Some bullies are emotionally and mentally struggling that they often find bullying an outlet to get rid of their suffering. So if you are being bullied, always remember that it is not your fault. Do not think of yourself as a loser based on your bullies’ description of you. You will only end up viewing an inaccurate portrait of who you are. If you want to fight the negative effect of your bullies torment, you need to work on appreciating the unique qualities that can make you stand out from the crowd.

pexels.com

Surround Yourself With People Who Care About You

Bullies often target individuals who they know are vulnerable and alone. That is why you need to build an army and surround yourself with people that can protect and care for you. These individuals should accept you for who you are. When you are with the right set of friends, who are willing to stand up for you, bullies will have a hard time finding reasons to hurt you. It is essential that you feel safe and secured around people. It will help you maintain a better environment that can boost your self-esteem. So always remember to stick with your friends.

pexels.com

Ignore The Bullies And Never Associate With Them

Ignoring bullies is one of the recommended things that you should follow. It is an anti-bully tactic that works best for a lot of situations. Understand that most of the time bullies bully you because they want to get reactions. They need to validate their capabilities because they know inside them; they are incapable of a lot of things. They rely on bullying because they want to cover or hide their weaknesses. They seek attention because they do not often receive the kind that builds their emotional and mental well-being. So next time you encounter bullies, ignore them. The second you feel overwhelmed and unsafe, find a way to remove yourself from the situation. Because if they don’t receive any response, they will eventually get bored and move on.

pexels.com

Find Someone To Talk To And Speak Out

If you experience bullying, you need to speak out. Find the right persons to talk to if you feel unhappy, unsafe, and uncomfortable with the situation. Seek for someone who you can trust. These can be your close friends, a parent, a teacher, or a guidance counselor. You need to open up and tell them what is going on. You are not the only one coping and experiencing an unfortunate case of bullying, so you need to be brave enough to share your experience so others can know and do something about it. Always remember that there are people out there who are willing to help and support you. You need to extend an arm and reach out for their help and support.

I had trouble deciding whether I should attend the 2017 General Health Conference or not. Although all the topics the panelists were supposed to cover enticed me, I was not fond of some people who were to go to the same event. They were arrogant and insensitive, always acting like they were smarter or better than you. A bunch of Know-It-Alls, as people might say.

But then, a friend gave me food for thought: “You cannot fight fire with fire.” That’s how I decided to do the following:

Keep Your Cool

The first thing you should do is to chill. I know how frustrating it must be to talk to a Mr. or Ms. Know-It-All or at least be near them. But you cannot lose your cool around such people because: 1) it won’t affect them at all, and 2) they are not worthy of any attention. 

Stop Trying To Prove Them Wrong

It is ridiculous how some people get upset whenever Know-It-All talks and then try to argue with them. It would be best if you never do that since it entails that you are stooping down to their level. Besides, they typically cannot accept the truth from others, so your efforts may be futile. 

Avoid Them If You Can

The best advice that I can give you is to keep your distance from everyone who claims to know everything. If they try to engage you, excuse yourself politely or come up with a believable alibi. It is not that you are afraid of getting one-upped by them; you merely want to avoid stress and impending conflicts, especially if you are not in the mood for games.

Final Thoughts

All of us are acquainted with a certain Mr. or Ms. Know-It-All; no one is lucky enough not to meet at least one in this lifetime. If you are at wit’s end while thinking of how to handle them, remember everything mentioned above. Good luck!

“I am a bully.” That’s what I realized when I attended the 2019 Bullying Prevention Event some time ago.

I merely went to that conference to avoid needing to take my final exams for my Humanities subject. I did not expect to come to that realization. But when I accepted it, I looked for ways to get rid of my bullying habits.

Here’s what I gathered.

Know All The Signs

From the get-go, you should learn about the different signs of bullying. Conduct online research or attend seminars as I have — do anything that will allow the information to sink in your brain. This way, you can no longer say that you don’t know that you are already bullying someone. 

Catch Yourself In The Act

A lot of former bullies can tell you that the urge to talk smack about someone will always be there. Though they may have pushed it at the back of their minds, it is still there. 

What often helps these people from reverting to their old ways is their self-awareness. They catch themselves as they are about to say something they cannot take back. No harm is done.

Focus On Everyone’s Positive Sides

Everyone has a perception of what’s right or wrong. The only difference between bullies and non-bullies is that the former mainly focuses on the negative things they see. They do not give the center of their judgment the benefit of the doubt.

If you want to get rid of your bullying habits, you will need to look for the positive side of the folks around you. It is okay to be aware of their adverse side—that will keep you safe from awful people—but try to see them in a better light.

Final Thoughts

A year already passed since I realized that I was a bully to my friends, siblings, and even strangers. It wasn’t my best day, but I was grateful to know about it before I could hurt someone deeply. Now, I try to see the goodness in everyone daily and use positive words when I talk to others. My resolve is still not perfect, but I believe I’m getting there.

In case you have bullying habits, I hope you overcome them soon, too. Good luck!

With all the media information we receive, we are aware that the Coronavirus comes from a specific country. We understand the danger it gives us because of the unusual and first-ever strict global safety measures we have to follow. Admit it. We know the situation, but not all of us are considerate enough to make significant sacrifices and adjustments. Perhaps that is because not everybody is capable of making some life changes. So due to the complicated and exhausting effects of this threatening situation, we look for things, or rather persons, to blame.

Since there is a global lockdown, people are spending most of their time on social media platforms. It is people’s way of entertaining themselves and getting sorts of information at the same time. But we can’t help but notice all the cyberbullying across all nations pin-pointing the whole phenomena to the Chinese community. We sometimes see comments and posts, such as “Chinese people are disgusting because they eat all types of animals.” Others point out that the spread of the virus won’t be a thing if Chinese people did not consider eating bats at their tables. Well, to be honest, there might be truth to this. However, the unacceptable part is the way how everybody is treating and generalizing the Chinese community.

From Cyber Bullying To Racism

After the Coronavirus outbreak, more and more people are tuned into cyberbullying. All their hatreds and anger reflect their comments on a specific post on social media. There is no stopping their emotional agony because the situation is getting worse every day. But as the virus spread, cyberbullying opens a new door for another attack – racism. The virus outbreak becomes a curse to the Chinese community because they are now threatened, judged, hated, and discriminated. In some worst cases, they are physically, emotionally, and mentally harmed.

Sadly, there are instances that most of us will even disregard friendship due to the idea that we have to blame someone for this unfortunate situation. We get so immature to see that the hate-infect we do to others is more damaging and unpleasant than this health crisis. We think that what we are doing is appropriate because we have to get the validation that this pandemic requires the general Chinese community’s formal apology. We get too selfish not to think that these people are also suffering from a health crisis. And now, they also need to be afraid of being themselves because we keep on implying that everything we have to sacrifice is all due to their allegedly disgusting habits.

Another heartbreaking truth is that no one of us is more than willing to defend them from others. We are not capable of saying “sorry” because we do not care about their feelings. We believe that bullying them on social media platforms is okay since we can’t personally tell it to their faces. We feel entitled to say whatever rude things we want to say to them because we have this ideology that they deserve it.

The thing with how we see this pandemic is depressing. Most of us are incapable of understanding what others feel because we are too focused only on what we are experiencing. It is not every Chinese’s’ fault that we end up in this current situation. Nobody wants this to happen, and no one wishes for this to extend for more extended periods. Try to think about it. Let us allow ourselves to be more compassionate and understanding, despite this exhausting situation. Let’s stop cyberbullying and racism because, at this stage of the crisis, we all need each other.

Attending the 2017 Awareness on Bullying Conference has confirmed an idea in my head for years. Not all bullies are aware of how awful their behavior is towards other people. In their mind, their words and actions can help the victim become better at some point.
Despite that, everyone around bullies knows that the opposite of that is the truth. Bullying helps no one—not even the bullies themselves. It can hurt people, to the extent that they want to halt all their activities and stay cooped up in their room. Some even choose death instead of hearing another word from the bullies.

Now, if you don’t know if you are a bully, here are some telltale signs for you.
You Get In Trouble A Lot Due To Your Behavior
Whether you are at school or work, the leading authorities always want to have a chat with you regarding complaints about your behavior. You need not believe it if it has only happened once. However, considering you get summoned almost every week or month, perhaps you need to accept that something’s wrong with your actions.
You Hardly Have Real Friends
I feel the need to emphasize “real friends” because bullies tend to have a group of people backing them up. Often, though, they merely hang around in hopes of not getting bullied like others. If you get into an accident, and no one wants to come to your aid, that’s a sign that your close connections are bogus.

You Love Finding And Talking About Someone’s Weaknesses
Bullies cannot survive a day without saying something mean about someone. It does not even need to happen in person at times. You see it in people who open their social media account, browse through others’ feeds, and criticize them aloud. If you enjoy doing things like that, know that it’s a sign of bullying.

There is a thin line between constructive criticism and bullying. Aim to stay on the former’s side to avoid hurting anybody.