Melissa's Blog

It is not common to say that you are someone with high self-efficacy. It often comes with words like self-esteem and self-worth. However, self-efficacy is just as important, particularly in specific situations like job interviews or membership activities.

Self-efficacy refers to the belief we have in our ability to complete tasks, overcome challenges, or find solutions to problems. It is a major factor that can determine our potential for success in life. Self-efficacy is a more practical concept in contrast with self-worth and self-esteem. It looks into an individual’s actions and behaviors instead of how they view or value themselves.

Albert Bandura, a well-known psychologist, coined the term self-efficacy. He proposed the social cognitive theory and the Bobo doll experiment. Bandura states that a person’s motivation and well-being come from a sense of self-efficacy. You can develop and strengthen your sense of self-efficacy through the following sources of influence:

• Mastery Experiences

This is also known as performance outcomes. The state of a person’s self-efficacy is strongly reliant on this factor. The more successes you attain in life, the stronger your self-efficacy will be. Experiencing failures only weakens an already weak sense of self-efficacy. Successes must result from difficult obstacles or challenges to permanently benefit your self-efficacy.

• Vicarious Experiences

Seeing people similar to you succeed in what they do or what they try can also boost your self-efficacy. Through observation and vicarious learning, you can learn to understand and be confident about your ability to create or solve something. Seeing other people perform well and comparing their success to your potential is a significant factor in self-efficacy.

• Social Persuasion

This is also known as verbal persuasion. Receiving comments or feedback that speak of your ability to accomplish specific tasks boosts self-efficacy. Discouragement or negative statements, however, will result in the opposite effect. 

• Emotional States

This fourth factor refers to how you interpret, perceive, or understand certain things that affect you on an emotional or physiological level. It is your reaction that is important rather than the volume or intensity of a particular stimulus. Positive responses increase a person’s sense of self-efficacy. Adverse or harmful reactions may reduce it.

This article goes through the most frequently asked questions about self-efficacy related to psychological theories and applications.

What is self-efficacy theory in psychology?

Psychologist Albert Bandura described self-efficacy as individuals’ beliefs in their capacity to control their function and situations that impact their lives. A person’s sense of self-efficacy provides the basis for well-being, personal achievement, and motivation. 

What are the four ways one can develop self-efficacy?

Bandura documented the four primary sources of self-efficacy. These include social modeling, mastery experience, psychological responses, and social persuasion.

What are some examples of self-efficacy?

Below are two examples of self-efficacy:

• A confident student is capable of learning information and knowing that he will do excellent on an examination. 

• A woman who struggles to deal with her chronic diseases, yet she is confident that she will regain herself and improve her health by striving hard and following her doctor’s orders. 

What are the two types of self-efficacy?

Experts suggest that various self-efficacy types commonly embody one of two broad classifications or components of the concept of self-efficacy – a regulatory component and a task component. 

What is the difference between self-efficacy and self-confidence?

Suppose the word ‘confidence’ in this setting means possessing a strong belief in himself, whether in something negative or positive. In that case, self-efficacy implies that you have a solid and optimistic view that you have the skills and the capability to accomplish your goals. This difference is vital.

What are the key principles of self-efficacy theory?

The theory of self-efficacy states that people tend to perform activities to the point where they see themselves as competent. The four self-efficacy sources are vicarious experience, physiological and emotional states, performance accomplishments, and social persuasion.

Why is self-efficacy important?

Self-efficacy can play a vital role in how individuals deal with their nutrition, health, illnesses, and health psychology. For instance, possessing a solid sense of self-efficacy helps a person try his best to stop smoking and stick to his goals. 

Is Self Efficacy a skill?

Self-efficacy is a component of the self, which comprises a person’s abilities, attitudes, and cognitive skills. Hence, self-efficacy is a valuable part of a self-system. 

Is Self Efficacy a personality trait?

A person’s traits and qualities and self-efficacy function on distinct levels – personality traits may be considered defining an individual’s intrinsic character. In contrast, self-efficacy signifies how the individual deals with his behavior and interacts with his surroundings and circumstances. 

How do you use the word efficacy?

Efficacy is the capacity of a person to do a task to an acceptable or anticipated degree. The word efficacy originates from the same root word as effectiveness, and it has frequently been used interchangeably. However, in the field of pharmacology, a distinction is now made between effectiveness and efficacy. 

How can I make my sense of self stronger?

You can build a stronger sense of self by:

• Defining your values. These, along with your personal beliefs, are the major aspects that make up your identity. 

• Spend quality time alone.

• Create a plan on how to accomplish your goals. 

• Practice making your own decisions. These decisions should primarily, if not always, mainly benefit your well-being and your health. 

How does self-efficacy affect behavior?

Self-efficacy refers to a person’s sense of control over his behavior and environment. It influences the time and work that one puts into something to change his behavior and the perseverance to move forward despite setbacks and obstacles that may challenge his motivation. 

How do you teach self-efficacy?

Below are some strategies that you can teach to those who need to improve on their self-efficacy:

• Focus on the person’s interests. 

• Use moderately challenging tasks. 

• Provide encouragement and motivation to the person concerned. 

• Encourage proper recognition.

• Allow the person to make his own decisions and choices.

What is the self-efficacy theory of motivation?

In the theory of self-efficacy, an individual’s beliefs become a principal, precise justification for motivation. Self-efficacy is the having trust that you can do a specific task or of attaining a particular goal. Remember that the belief or the faith and the goal or the action are specific. 

How is self-efficacy measured?

The new General Self-Efficacy Scale developed by a team headed by psychologist Gilad Chen is now being used to measure self-efficacy. It is a scale composed of eight items that assess and calculate how much a person believes they can attain their goals despite barriers and challenges. 

Conclusion

Self-efficacy is one of the most underrated concepts of psychology that people must learn more about. Understanding self-efficacy enables you to leverage moments, actions, and people in your lives that have affected you positively.

You can also look back and recall how specific kinds of encouragement, discouragement, or response have shaped you to become who you are today. In doing so, you would be able to rectify inevitable mistakes and develop better approaches moving forward.

It is vital to strengthen self-efficacy through challenges and difficulties in life. If you do not face any challenges, it will be easy for your high level of self-efficacy to plummet. 

High self-efficacy has multiple benefits to the day-to-day life of an individual. Resilience in the face of adverse circumstances and stressful situations is one such benefit. It should lead to better decision-making and life choices, even with your food consumption, exercise, and social interactions with others. 

There is a large body of evidence that indicates the relationship of self-efficacy with human accomplishments and positive well-being. These are important as they represent an optimistic outlook in life and a sense of self. These ultimately benefit you and the people who surround you.

Having a robust understanding of self-efficacy goes hand-in-hand with your willingness and perseverance to accomplish tasks and overcome hindrances in life, no matter how long or tiring it may be. 

People with a firm belief or sense of self-efficacy can indeed do greater things and be better people in life. There is no point or stage in life in which it is too late to work on self-efficacy. The best time to begin is now. Regardless of your pursuits in life, be it social, artistic, political, or scientific, higher self-efficacy will lead you to your full potential.

 It’s funny that I often find myself thinking about so many things that do not entirely concern me. I mean, I always have this “thing” on trying to solve other people’s problems regardless if that does not relate to me at any cost. I don’t know. I have this so-called “sense of passion” that I want to help people every time I think or believe they need help. Unfortunately, I always end up with frustrations, agitations, anxiety, and emotional stress because they somehow do not want me to get involved.

Of course, that is just insulting. I am trying to help, and that’s what matters, right? Unfortunately, people do not see it that way. They think of me as a nuisance and an annoying individual who’s about to make things worse every time. Honestly, I can’t blame them. As much as I want to mind my own business, I still have this delusion that I am needed, and I can be a bigger help. So when people ignore, neglect, and pushed me away, it gets to my nerves. It makes me feel so anxious that I keep thinking and asking myself why they are like that.

Unfortunately, when I get to feel a little anxious, I begin to lose control. I sometimes lose the sense of happiness, which by the way, makes me think of unnecessary things, particularly hurting myself. I know that is a bit scary. That is why I will share my mental health issue with you through these answered frequently asked questions.

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Can you get anxious for no reason?

Most individuals with anxiety have a lot of triggers. However, for some, their anxiety episodes can arise without any cause at all. Because of this, it is vital to learn and be familiar with all your anxiety triggers. Identifying them is a significant step in effectively dealing with them.

In my case, I often get anxious because I am thinking about getting one. I’m sure it is not yet a thing, but I feel like I can’t do anything when I am anxious.

How can I stop myself from feeling anxious for no reason?

If you’ve been feeling anxious over nothing, some tips might come in handy. It is important to remain in the present moment as anxiety is future-oriented. Double-check and challenge your negative thinking. If you can allow yourself some time, practice breathing in and out slowly. Also, check your posture and make sure that you are standing or sitting straight. Avoid consuming too much sugar and do something productive.

These might sound a bit easy to you, but to be honest, once you are anxious, these seemed to be “an easy thing to do” can get a little complicated and difficult. So I would remind you to stay connected with yourself and focus on what you want to emotionally and mentally achieve.

What causes anxiety all of a sudden?

It is still unclear what causes sudden anxiety or panic attacks, but specific factors may be possible contributors. These include major stressors and genetics. Panic attacks normally occur as a result of misconstruing anxiety’s physical symptoms.

If in case you get anxious for no reason, immediately divert your attention to other things. This tactic does not always work, though. You can at least buy yourself some time to think about the necessary action you have to take to get rid of your anxiety.

Why am I worrying for no reason?

Intermittent anxiety is normal at some point in our lives. You may be worried about things like money, family, or health issues. However, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder feel intensely concerned or feel tense about different things – even if there is nothing to worry about.

Is overthinking a sign of anxiety?

Overthinking is associated with psychological problems, such as anxiety and depression. It is highly possible that overthinking leads to mental health decline, and as this happens, the higher likelihood for you to overthink. It is a vicious cycle.

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How can I beat anxiety?

Try these when you want to get off your anxiety quickly.

• Exercise regularly. This is beneficial for both your physical and mental health.
• Spend quality time for yourself.
• Maintain a healthy and well-balanced diet.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol, as too much of these aggravate your anxiety symptoms.
• Get sufficient amounts of sleep every day.
• Practice deep breathing and meditation.
• Try your best to think positively.

How can I kill anxiety naturally?

Here are several strategies you can use when you are experiencing anxiety.

• Acknowledge the fact that you have anxiety.
• Do deep and slow breaths.
• Keep calm by closing your eyes.
• Be mindful of the things around you.
• Find something to concentrate on.
• Learn progressive muscle relaxation.
• Picture yourself happy and peaceful.

Can you get rid of anxiety forever?

Anxiety does not disappear permanently because it’s the same as any other emotion we have – happiness, sadness, love, anger, disappointment, etc. You can’t ever get rid of these emotions from your system, and you can’t eliminate anxiety forever as well.

What drugs get rid of anxiety?

The most widely recommended anti-anxiety medications for immediate relief are called benzodiazepines. These include clonazepam (Klonopin), alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium), among others.

What is the root of anxiety?

Several reasons could cause your anxiety, including environmental reasons like personal relationships or unemployment, past traumatic events, or medical illnesses. However, research suggests that even genetics can contribute to anxiety.

What vitamins help with anxiety?

Omega-3, magnesium, multivitamins, L-theanine, vitamin D, and vitamin B-complex have been proven to help alleviate anxiety.

How can I calm my anxiety fast?

To try to calm your mind instantly, try these:

• Take deep, gradual breaths
• Soak in your tub with warm water
• Listen to your favorite mellow or instrumental music.
• Learn mindfulness to concentrate on other things that are occurring in the present moment.
• Write down your feelings.

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What foods prevent anxiety?

Foods known to help prevent or alleviate anxiety include dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, yogurt, chamomile, eggs, fish like salmon and mackerel, and nuts.

What is the best natural supplement for anxiety and depression?

Lemon balm, kava, lavender, valerian, and passionflower are commonly used natural supplements for anxiety.

 

We entirely understand the stress and what it physically, mentally, and emotionally gives us daily for most of us. But of course, the signs and symptoms, as well as their severity, vary from one person to another. So, no one can genuinely pinpoint the general effects of the mental health condition. Some may handle anxiety pretty well and manage to bounce back from a devastating situation, while others can’t seem to fight the battle and struggle with all life aspects.

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In most instances, experts believe that one of the proper ways to deal with and reduce anxiety is by focusing on something productive. It could be learning a new hobby, engaging in physical activities, or simply enjoying all sorts of arts. But often, even though there is a focus on stress reduction, the anxiety still kicks off. That is because of the factors that can contribute to the mental health condition such as genetics, environmental influence, current medication, chronic health diseases, relationship matters, and so on.

Here are some answers to the frequently asked questions that many people have to understand more about stressful anxiety.

Can anxiety last for months? 

Unfortunately, yes! While some anxiety moments are briefer and shorter than others, the mental health condition can last up to a few months and even for years. These anxiety feelings are more than just a stressful day at work or passing worries from daily duties. The excessive, persistent troubling, and hard-to-control anxiety that lasts for at least several months can turn into a generalized anxiety disorder.

In line with this, any possible symptoms should not be ignored. Even if you sometimes thought that a sudden change in mood and mental state is normal, you should still consult a doctor for a specific diagnosis. Because when you left anxiety untreated, it can take a toll on your life and soon ruin everything you have.

 Why do I have anxiety if I’m not stressed? 

Anxiety can come from various things, such as stressful situations at school, home, or work. It could also come from traumatic events or other environmental factors. Genetics and brain chemistry can also become factors.

Therefore, regardless if you are stressed or not, anxiety can still kick in, especially when there are triggers. There is no stopping anxiety from happening as it promotes alertness that prepares your mind and body for an unexpected situation. This automatic physiological reaction is what you call the “fight or flight response” that allows you to deal with stress and danger.

 How do I permanently stop anxiety? 

There is no way you can permanently stop anxiety since it is part of the human body’s system. However, there are natural ways you can stop its symptoms. These include staying physically active, getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, eating healthy foods, taking vitamins and other helpful supplements, practicing deep breathing, and quitting smoking and alcohol consumption.

As you can see, these are basically lifestyle changes. So when you are used to doing the opposite of these, you might want to consider changing your ways to help reduce your anxiety.

 Why can’t I stop worrying about everything? 

Occasional anxiety is acceptable because it is a normal part of life. There is worry about things like money, health, family, or relationship problems. However, with people diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the worry is different as it can escalate quickly into something unexpected. There is an extreme feeling of fear that affects everyday life.

But to be honest, worrying about everything is not something one is not doing. In fact, all people in the world have a list of worries and fears they want to get rid of. No one is exempted as everyone is battling with anxiety mildly or severely.

Does ignoring anxiety make it go away? 

No. anxiety may not be that bad at times, but that does not mean it should be ignored. If unfortunate things happen, it may lead to untreated anxiety disorders, which can have extremely negative consequences. It can impact a person’s entire daily life causing an inability to work, go to school, or have normal social relationships.

Therefore, never practice leaving your anxiety untreated. Make sure that you pay close attention to your mental and emotional needs.

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 What causes constant anxiety? 

Usually, stressful life situations trigger anxiety excessively and unnecessarily. That is due to its effect on the emotional aspect as people experience a death in the family, work and school stress, and ongoing battle with financial matters. It can also come from a stressful relationship or an excessive fear of death due to chronic conditions.

 What are the five emotional signs of stress? 

The five most common emotional signs of stress include racing thoughts or constant worry, feeling overwhelmed, irritability, anger, and extreme sadness.

Though these feelings are common, it is vital to note that these same emotions can warn other mental health problems. To be sure that these only reflect stress, consult a licensed professional for a diagnosis if symptoms persist.

 How long can anxiety last? 

Depending on the negative impact of the situation, anxiety attacks heighten within 10 minutes. It rarely lasts more than 30 minutes, and during that short time, the tendency of experiencing terror and persistent fear is at risk. It is so severe that it can make you feel like you are about to go crazy or lose control.

 Does stress cause anxiety? 

Unfortunately, yes. Stress is the number one triggering factor of anxiety. Therefore, it’s important to grasp the mental condition’s symptoms as early as possible to prevent the development of a mental illness.

 Does CBD help anxiety? 

Yes. Studies and research show that CBD helps a lot in treating different types of anxiety conditions. These include social phobia, general anxiety disorders (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), etc. Aside from that, CBD also has the potential to treat epilepsy as well as depression.

 What vitamins help with anxiety? 

Vitamin D, L-Theanine, magnesium, Ashwagandha, and valerian root help reduce anxiety. Also, consider taking vitamin supplements to fight stress. You can take Melatonin, Rhodiola Rosea, Glycine, Kava, and B complex vitamins.

 What to drink to calm nerves? 

The best drinks to calm your nerves and reduce your anxiety are Valerian Root Tea, Anti-Anxiety Smoothie, Tart Cherry Juice, Kava Tea, Peppermint Tea, Green Tea, and Warm Milk. Water and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Juice also help.

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 Is overthinking a sign of anxiety? 

Unfortunately, yes. Overthinking is linked to psychological problems, including depression and anxiety. Overthinking causes your mental health to decline as it discourages you from fighting whatever is going through with your emotional, physical, and mental health.

With this, you must pay attention to your thoughts and feelings. Avoid triggers that can cause you a series of uncontrolled worries. If it is already too late and you experience the negative signs and symptoms, check with your doctor right away.

 How can I beat anxiety? 

There are ways that you can beat anxiety. But it is vital to realize that not because some strategies work best with others, it does not guarantee to give the same beneficial results to you. Anxiety can flare up at any time, and in some worse cases, you might not be able to handle it on your own. Learn to identify your triggers and work your way through self-care. If in case it does not help, consult a medical professional immediately.

 What can you do when you can’t stop worrying?

Break free of excessive worry and learn to stop anxious thoughts immediately before they can escalate into something you are not supposed to experience. Try to determine the things you can control and identify your fears. Focus on your overall recovery and plan to manage your stress accordingly. It would be a great option if you learned to differentiate problem-solving from ruminating.

 

 

 

 

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We pursue creative hobbies like painting, writing, drawing, dancing, or acting merely because we love doing them. Instinctively, we do know that practicing creativity is healthy for us and our creative desires give us joy and fulfillment. But can we benefit mentally and emotionally from being creative? Indeed, art therapy makes us feel unburdened and happy at the end of the day, but what are other benefits that we can get from it? Can it help improve family wellness?

Often, people do creative activities as a form of recreation, while others do it as a livelihood. No matter which path you have taken to release your imaginations and your need to express your self-kempt emotions, it’s quite obvious that creating things is part of being human. We’ve been using art for centuries, owing from the vague marks of the hands and rough drawings of images on caves. We could say that our desire to use art is inherent. We had benefited from art over the years when we learned to make houses, cook food, draw blueprints, and even formulate medicines.

At times, however, we make things just to make it. Does this mean that sometimes art is useless? Regardless of this theory, several studies, particularly in the medical arena, have shown that almost all kinds of art forms are, in fact, beneficial for one’s physical, emotional, and mental health.

Below is a list of proven benefits that creative pursuit – dancing, drawing, writing, etc. – can provide us with. We strongly recommend that you incorporate creativity into your life as well.

Positive Impact On The Brain

Writing in the form of poetry or simply journaling can effectively help a person learn and memorize. But not if you intentionally type or write down the concepts that you want to recall – now, that won’t work. If learning efficiently is your purpose, experts suggest that you do it conventionally by using pen and paper.

Additionally, writing music also promotes better brain function. If Albert Einstein had not been a genius physicist, he confessed that he would have become a great musician. This is further proven to be true by a study done in 2014 about participants who had musical training, like those who practiced using a musical instrument. At the end of the study, a majority of the participants who played instruments had increased connectivity between the two cerebral hemispheres.

 

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Enhanced Mental Well-Being

Science has time and again revealed that painting, drawing, and clay work is tools that can be used for individuals that experienced trauma. An article also described art as something that aids people in expressing how they feel about their encounters that are too hard to explain verbally. It also stated that self-expression might probably even help maintain or create a positive identity.

Expressive writing, on the other hand, which involves individuals to recount a situation and discuss how it has impacted their lives, has been shown to help those who have been traumatized and have enabled them to deal with their negative emotions. Like visual expression, this form of writing gives people the ability to take unpleasant situations that are difficult to alter and incorporate them into the story of their life, which eventually creates meaning for experiences that have left deep-seated scars. Examples of these are the loss of a loved one, sexual abuse, or a medical diagnosis.

Benefits To Physical Wellness

People who have jotted down their traumatic encounters have exhibited substantial improvements in different measures of physical wellness, a decrease in doctors’ appointments, and improved immune system functions. This was supported by a trial that entailed participants going through HIV treatment, which showed that expressive writing aided the participants in improving their immune systems.

The reason for this is not very clear, but those who reported their experiences regularly presented with a boosted CD4+ lymphocyte count.

Music Therapy

This is also another immune system booster. Music impacts our brains in complicated ways, activating the limbic system, and soothing one’s responses to stress. Experts Nobel and Stuckey state that listening to your favorite music may help regain one’s immune system functions partly through the hypothalamus and the amygdala, regions of the brain that are for hormonal and mood regulation.

Benefits of Dancing

Creativity could also be a mobile pursuit, the kind of mobility that provides its range of benefits. For example, a trial that focused on breast cancer survivors revealed that dancing helped promote better shoulder stability and function and positively affected their self-image. Also, dancing is an enjoyable means of keeping yourself fit and healthy.

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Studies on Zumba and hip-hop programs, improving one’s blood pressure and other vital signs, have encouraged many men and women to continue dancing as a form of keeping themselves physically and mentally fit.

Ultimately, if we can maintain or improve our physical and mental states by painting, journaling, playing the piano or guitar, or just dancing our problems away, then why not welcome more creativity and art into our lives?

 

 

 

In this pandemic spread of COVID-19, there are two kinds of fear you can see in people. One is the fear of getting sick. People understand the virus’s capability in damaging a person’s overall health. That is why they are afraid they might end up getting the diseases. There is also the fear of infecting someone they love because they do not like the idea of hospital pain and death. Second, there is the fear of financial instability and loss. Honestly, with the situation right now, that ends up being a more significant threat to people. But unfortunately, that only takes a small percentage.

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What people are dealing with right now that they cannot seem to notice is the emotional and mental problems. They assume that it is okay to feel bored, lonely, and isolated during this situation. They say they understand the purpose of social distancing, but the truth is, most cannot handle it anymore. Most of them want to be around people. So to manage this Coronavirus hysteria, here are some suggestions on what people can do.

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Establish Things You Can Control

First, people should accept that there are a lot of things they can’t control during this pandemic. As much as they want to believe that they can find better ways to deal in life, some will not sacrifice anything and make some adjustments. So in line with this, people must focus on establishing control over the things they can and not dwell on those things they cannot. An example of that is choosing the best way to keep themselves safe and away from the virus. People can simply wash their hands and avoid touching their faces. Honestly, these are natural things that people should never hyper-focus on, but regularly doing it is beneficial for everybody at this moment.

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Connect More With People

Humans are born interactive; that is why they are socially oriented. But since there is a social distancing protocol, they have to limit their connection with other people. Unfortunately, it causes sadness and loneliness. People should try to connect with others in creative ways to fight with the mental stress of physical distancing. With that, social media plays a big part. People can spend time with friends and family through chat, text messaging, and video calls. Honestly, with technology at the tip of everyone’s finger, they can easily manage social boredom.

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Keep A More Structured Day

Some people are okay with the idea of working from home. However, there are those people who lack the emotional and mental strength to deal with work separation. Some of them feel there is no reason for living without their list of things to do. If this is the case, it is better that people should go with the motion of setting up a start and stop time for their entire daily tasks. If it is possible, people should consider making an effort to separate their work and personal space. They should understand that even though being busy serves as a great distraction from the pandemic anxiety, it is still essential that they spend time doing nothing from time to time.

There are a lot of uncertainties during this pandemic. So it is vital that people must take care of themselves no matter what. The struggle is not easy, and the adjustments people will make may not be suitable for others. However, keeping the mental and emotional state can be advantageous is a lot of ways. People should not over-focus on things that don’t entirely matter and pay attention to those things that require necessary actions.

Things get pretty stressful now that the world experiences a crisis. In times like this, where the global health issue is about the Coronavirus, social distancing becomes entirely essential. It is the only available strategy that helps flatten the curve and slows down the spread of the virus. However, if we are not careful, our only chance of not getting infected can also take a toll on our mental health. With that, let us try to understand how social distancing can be dangerous to our mental stability and know how we can help ourselves in managing it.

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It Promotes Loneliness And Sadness

The combination of social distancing and anxiety can cause a negative effect. That is if we suffer from a pre-existing mental illness. Practicing social distancing for an extended period can influence the adverse impact of social isolation, precisely our feeling of sadness or loneliness. Sadness and loneliness are known not only in increasing different levels of depression and anxiety; it can also lead to a decrease in our immune system’s function. So to avoid loneliness and sadness, we have to make use of the available outlets. We must digitally check-in with friends and family so we can keep ourselves emotionally and mentally connected with people despite the social distancing protocol. We can send a text, start a video chat, or make a phone call. Any means are okay as long as we keep connected.

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It Causes Boredom

The boredom caused by social distancing affects mental health in an unnoticeable way. That is due to the limited amount of ideas of what we can do each day. And ever since the social distancing protocol started, all of us feel that days and nights begin to feel more prolonged than usual. It promotes the lack of sufficient engagement with our surroundings, which makes us feel irritated and annoyed all the time. It adds to our stress because we somehow think we are locked up in a situation we cannot control. That explains why even if we already completed some of the tasks we listed, we still get bored. To fight boredom, we need to come up with new ideas and hobbies. There are a lot of things we can do, such as reading, writing, dancing, and learning new things. Anything that can keep our minds stimulated is an excellent way to reduce boredom.

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Its Uncertainty Brings Stress And Panic

Social distancing is the one responsible for our interrupted routines. It limits us from doing certain things because of the idea of not getting infected. However, for some of us, it adds to stress and panic due to its uncertainties. These include the difficulty of our job and financial status. A lot of us are struggling to make ends meet even before this outbreak. And now that there’s a strict requirement for social distancing, the fear of not being able to work and support our family is draining our mental health. That is the reason why we feel a lot of unexplained emotional and psychological burden. To cope with this, we must engage and establish a new routine we can adapt at home. Yes, it might take us a while to get used to the new set of habits. But it will soon help us become more focused on being grounded and productive.

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It is undoubtedly the most stressful time for all of us. But we have to recognize that in a pandemic time like this, practicing self-care is crucial. We need to acknowledge that we are more susceptible to different kinds of stress right now, and the only way we can stay positive is by keeping our mental health better. An easy and convenient way to do this is by subscribing to an online therapist from BetterHelp. With just a click of the app from your smartphone, you are able to connect with a professional counselor who is trained in tackling various mental health conditions, including stress and anxiety. Check out some of the clients’ reviews here to have a clearer perspective of how it works. Good luck!

 

 

Are you aware that there are several kinds of anxiety disorders? In this article, we are going to present to you these various classifications as well as a short description of each type. We believe that knowing these matters can help you become more sensitive to people with anxiety. “Many people believe that anxiety isn’t something worth assessing,” psychiatrist Dr. Allison Baker says. “But it’s important to treat anxiety, especially in children and teens. If untreated, it can be associated with an increased risk of depression.”

 

If you are the one who has this type of disorder, then make sure to read the rest of this article so that you will know how to deal with your anxiety in the best manner possible:

 

Continue reading “What Are The Types Of Anxiety Disorders?”

 

 

Going through the process of recovery from a broken relationship can take time. You will have to exert an amount of effort to be able to feel that your life is giving you enough reasons not to give up. Though some circumstances are surprisingly hard to fix and adjustments are not that easy to handle, you can always find a better way of keeping your emotional and psychological aspect healthy as possible. So how can you fight stress and depression after ending a toxic relationship? Well, consider trying art therapy.

 

 

The Contribution Of Art Therapy On Our Health

Art is a good source of mental enhancement because it reaches the part of our brain that allows us to maximize its use to contribute to our overall well-being. It also creates a connection between our psychological, behavioral, physical, and emotional states that are useful in determining our capabilities in handling specific situations. Also, the process of art therapy supports our personality development because it helps in the series of quality decision making, responsible self-evaluation, and problem-solving.

“The patient uses and makes art to convey their feelings at that moment or relating to experience or past situation,” Wayne Jonas, M.D., says. He explains further, “When people are experiencing intense, complex, or confusing emotions, the use of art in a therapeutic setting can help them learn about, manage, and communicate their feelings in ways that language cannot always accomplish.”

How Art Therapy Helps In Mental Illness

The process of art therapy helps us to alter our perspectives where we tend to create plausible responses that are applicable in certain nerve-racking situations. It enhances our imagination and creativity that are beneficial in attaining developmental growth. In fact, working on art gives us boosting brain energy to fight stress and anxiety.

According to Cathy Malchiodi, Ph.D., LPCC, LPAT, ATR-BC, REAT, “Art expression often becomes a pathway for transforming feelings and perceptions into a new life story and, as a result, creating a new sense of self.”

In line with that, seeing a visual representation of what we’re going through and applying physical skills in showing our ideas and emotions are a better way of developing stronger and healthier well-being. Art therapy gives us a space to allow difficult emotional issues to formulate its solutions in our brain to be able to keep us safe from distractions and possible mental health conditions.

 

Why Art Matters

Art matters because it represents a different view of our struggles in life. It makes us believe that our existence matters and that we have a connection with health and nature. It somehow helps in creating positive solutions on our current damaged psychological and emotional state that can affect our behavioral aspects as well. In fact, when we let the art speak for us, we tend to appreciate life along with the complexity it gives to us. We somehow learn to value the things that we no longer have control with and see ourselves as an individual who can work with imagination and creativity.

Art is a form of self-expression, and when we are in a state of depression, it’s more comforting to draw, paint, or mold something out of our deep thoughts. Sometimes, we even create a masterpiece coming from different ideas and tend to incorporate our emotions into the piece we are trying to produce. The process makes us feel happy, satisfied, contented, and aware of ourselves and that creates a massive contribution to keeping our mental state intact.

“No matter when or where the artwork is created (or appreciated), we should keep in mind that art always tells a story,” Arthur P. Shimamura Ph.D., professor emeritus of Psychology at the University of California, wrote. “That story may be intended for us to be taken by its beauty, but it may instead force us to elicit other feelings, such as anger, surprise, or disgust.”

 

Depression and all types of mental illness are inevitable at some point in our life. However, when we try to learn to appreciate doing things that can make us happy; perhaps all those mental conditions won’t be available.

However, if these unpleasant mental and emotional problems still persist despite various attempts at self-healing, try reaching out to a credible, experienced, and compassionate therapist from BetterHelp. You will get matched with someone who is specialized in providing thorough information about depression and several strategies on how to manage the challenges that you are confronted with daily because of it. Learn the different ways that therapy can be done by reading this. If you are interested, you can always get started today!