In the last 2019 memorial day event, I realized that the thing that ruins my daily mood is anxiety. I understand that it is a mental illness that requires a lot of patience and perseverance for someone to overcome. But lately, I noticed that my anxiety gave me an emotional and mental strength I never knew I had. It is why I came to the question if anxiety can be a good thing.
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Anxiety is the feeling of nervousness and worries from a forthcoming event or an uncertain outcome. There are many types of it, ranging from a social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, agoraphobia, selective mutism, PTSD, and a lot more. But despite that, there are some levels of anxiety that can help us in away. Anxiety can be motivating in some circumstances. It is sometimes what makes us get out of bed and think about our duties for the whole day. It can pump some of our adrenalin whenever there’s an immediate thing we have to do.
In some cases, it helps us manage our decisions better because we can think of things in both wrong and useful ways. Not only it stimulates the brain, but anxiety also keeps us safe. That is because the more anxious we get, the more we become aware of what is going on with our surroundings. That is why we pay attention to noise, people’s voices, and body language.
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In general, though anxiety is harmful and can cause devastation, small doses of it can help. Yes, it can be uncomfortable in some states because of the stress response. But using it to stimulate the fight-flight-freeze can activate the anterior insula. It is the brain’s function that predicts harm and makes you learn to avoid it. Thus, giving you enough time to think about your situations through.
The 2017 emotion conference emphasizes on how people should handle their anger. Though it is not that simple, there are still ways to do that. According to the speakers of the conference, managing anger is just a matter of emotional and mental health development. So how can individuals observe that?
Take Time To Think Before You Speak – One thing that people should focus on first is their thoughts. Uncontrolled anger can do a lot of damage, primarily when expressed in an outburst. So before the situation escalates into a conflict, one must take his time to collect all his thoughts before saying something.
Be Calm Before Expressing Anything – Well, frustration is an emotion that validates anger. Sometimes, expressing it can help in emotional growth. But experts suggest that when delivered incorrectly, it can move into a confrontational scenario. So to avoid that, one must stay calm. That way, he can express his concerns without the impression of hurting or trying to control others.
Pause For A While – There is no immediate resolution in controlling anger than a quick pause. Yes, not thinking or saying anything is the best way to kill the momentum of anger. It is not like a person who ignores the situation, though. It is more about taking a step back to realize the situation so one can handle it without getting angry or irritated.
Release Tension With Humor – Well, this one is not easy. When an individual is angry, he might not be able to think about good and funny stuff. However, when there is a chance to hop it in, it can defuse the tension.
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Seek Professional Help – Sometimes, anger issues are more complicated than you think. If you are having trouble controlling it, and you find yourself unable to shut it off, you might want to consider asking for professional advice.
REBT or Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy is interesting for psychological experts now because of its methods. With that, the program has been under extensive research by experts and the outcome of such studies has been favorable so far. REBT is an excellent program for people with specific mental health issues.
Many changes could happen in a marriage that will make you want to get a divorce. Deciding to go on separate ways is a challenging process, especially if you have been married for a long time already. Because of this, it is essential to explore all the available options first before finally leaving your spouse. At this point, it is significant to highlight the truth that divorce is not always the answer to marital woes. One of the critical steps that must be taken before the separation of a couple is to go through marriage counseling.
Nowadays, one can easily notice an increase in the demands for the services of a psychiatrist. Many individuals, especially parents, are starting to employ the services of this health professional. For these people, the assistance and help of the said medical doctor have played an integral part in their battles against mental illness. With the right treatment plan from a psychiatrist, the patient can improve his mental health and even recover from any related illness.
“A Psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in mental health issues and has specific training in medication for depression.” – Dr. Chantal Gagnon PhD LMHC
There are several areas of specialization for every psychiatrist in the United States. As much as possible, it is highly recommended to look for a health professional that is labeled as an expert in a particular field. For example, if the patient involved is still in his tender years, then a child psychiatrist must handle his case. Here are some of the tips and tricks that you must keep in mind to find the perfect child psychiatrist for your son or daughter:
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Read The Papers
The achievements of the top psychiatrists in the country are usually published in several journals, magazines or books. Be sure to read these materials so that you could find the best psychiatrist in town. However, take note that the more famous a child psychiatrist is, the more expensive his fees become. Do not worry because the cost of seeking professional help for your child will be worth it in the end. According to Kathryn Rudlin, LCSW “Experience and credentials are important, but it’s usually the personality of a therapist and the therapeutic rapport that develops between teen and therapist that is the most important factor of all.”
Ask For Recommendations
One of the challenges of a patient-doctor relationship is the development of trust and confidence. Some individuals find it difficult to believe the diagnosis and treatment plans of a particular doctor. If you are one of them, then do not worry because what you are feeling is only typical. Sometimes, it is difficult to entrust the case of your kid’s mental health to a doctor. To lessen this problem, try to ask around for referrals from friends, family members or workmates. This way, you would be able to decrease the fears that you have in mind.
Check The Website First
When it comes to searching for a child doctor, another smart idea is to look at the available website of the psychiatrist first. As much as possible, do not rush into completing the searching process. Try to research the qualifications, years of practice, training attended and other essential information about the doctor. With the recent developments in the field of technology, it is now easy to do this. All that needs to be done is to go online and look for the website of the psychiatrist or the clinic or hospital where he works.
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Once you have chosen a child psychiatrist for the child, the next step to take is to set an appointment. The first meeting is the consultation process wherein the doctor will examine your kid’s condition. Be prepared to answer some questions. Make it a top priority to provide truthful answers so that there will be no errors in the diagnosis of your child’s mental condition. After that, the doctor will study the available data before giving out his findings and the proposed treatment plan. Remember, “Early intervention and treatment can make a difference in your child’s lives and future.” Andrea Vargas LMHC said.
There are a lot of emerging theories and methods that are to be exploited by psychiatric therapy and counseling. Experts continuously study and observe to develop new approaches to psychotherapy to increase efficacy and prevent relapse.
Earlier forms of therapy are behavioral and psychodynamic therapy which focused on the subconscious mental life of a client. Around 1950, another type of therapy was introduced, the humanistic therapy, which focuses on what is on the surface.
“Psychodynamic therapy is often used in the treatment of mental health conditions, including, depression, eating disorders and anxiety disorders” –Hannah Goodman, LMHC
In psychology, several counseling methods and therapies have emerged, all of which have been developed to address people’s mental health issues. However, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy is something more; it aims to help clients to control their emotions, stress, and even behaviors.
Is this type of conversation familiar and regular between you and your husband?
Woman: What is this? (Her face looks annoyed and disgusted, rolled into one. In her mind, he is so lazy and doesn’t care to help around the house.)
Man: You said I needed to do the dishes and so, I did. (He was raising his eyebrows, and his voice is slightly elevated too. The husband thinks that his wife is so demanding. He also feels that she is always finding fault in him.)
Woman: Yes, I did. And that meant, you also clean the surrounding area, you know. Since you eat here, you cook here too, and well, you live here too, right? It doesn’t mean that because I’m the woman, you expect me to cook and clean for you. I work 10 hours a day like you do! (Now, she’s beginning to get angry.)
Man: Hey, you said, “do the dishes” and that’s what I did. You didn’t say clean the whole kitchen. I always do what you say because “you’re” the boss. Whatever you command MUST happen at once. (He is sarcastic.)
Woman: Are you insulting me?
Man: Oh no, I’m not. I can’t do that to you, you know.
And so, the fight ensues. Is this happening to you? Well, if it does, then, your marriage is about to crumble and near its downward spiral.
“Couples often feel that they know and understand their partner, and are compatible on most issues. However, this is a mistake.” –Dr. Chantal Gagnon PhD LMHC
Are you ready to get a divorce? Do you want to separate from your husband or wife? The real question here is – why do you find ways to hurt your spouse? Are you not head over heels in love with him or her just a few years ago?
A successful marriage does not happen overnight. You cannot expect a person to fall in love with you right away. There has to be a process of getting to know each other and discovering each other’s strengths or weaknesses. This is the primary reason why relationship experts require two persons to go on several dates first before deciding to get married. Failure to follow this could lead to marital problems and eventually in divorce.
