Category: Online Counseling

As I was diagnosed with clinical depression, everything in my life rapidly changed. I became a different person in a short period, and it bothers me a lot. I was once active in social interactions too. But one day, things just went overboard, and I lose control over my emotional and mental health. At first, I thought it was normal, not until I figured out something was wrong with me. My full emotional and mental recovery journey was a mess, and everything was too overwhelming to handle alone.

Source: pixabay.com

Don’t get me wrong. I tried the best and worked on the things I could. I tried reducing my stress and anxiety by focusing on self-care, which was not easy, by the way. I tried getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, drinking enough water, exercising regularly, etc. Basically, I managed to get on a healthy lifestyle change. However, despite all my efforts and understandable self-awareness, I still was not able to deal with my depression.

My family and friends kept on asking what is the matter with me. I tend not to answer their questions. But not because I do not want to engage with them or express my thoughts and emotions, but because I, myself, could not fathom what is happening between my emotional and psychological health.

Fortunately, one day I just had enough. I told myself that I want to get better and return to my old self. … Read the rest...

Source: rawpixel.com

Does your monthly period put you in a pretty nervous mood? Then you’re not the only one. You may have heard a few things told about bloating and cramping, but the true hallmark of premenstrual syndrome is anxiety.

Anxiety can be seen in various forms, although it typically includes nervousness, exaggerated worrying, and tension. Premenstrual syndrome is characterized by a combination of both psychiatric and physical symptoms that present during the luteal stage of a woman’s cycle. This stage starts just after ovulation and ends when your period begins – usually persisting for about two weeks.

During this time, a lot of women have minor to moderate mood swings. However, if you are experiencing severe mood swings, this could signify a more grave condition known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD.

Continue reading and learn more about the reason why anxiety occurs prior to your period and how you can deal with it.

Why It Happens

Since the 21^st century, scientists have not found a clear answer as to the whys and hows of premenstrual conditions and symptoms. But most of them agree that PMS symptoms, which include anxiety, emerge as a response to altering levels of progesterone and estrogen. The volume of these reproductive hormones increase and decrease considerably in the luteal stage of menstruation. Essentially, the body gets ready for pregnancy by increasing the production of hormones following ovulation. However, if there … Read the rest...

Source: rawpixel.com

Each of us is quite acquainted with stress. We feel stress in different forms and levels daily. In little doses, stress could be a catalyst for our everyday activities. It is only when stress becomes too overwhelming, affecting our mental and physical states, that it poses a danger to us.

In small degrees, stressors could potentially help provide us with heightened energy and vigor, even assisting us in keeping us centered on the issue at hand. This form of stress is certainly beneficial. People may see the experience as feeling energized or wired. However, as the degree of pressure increases, stress subsequently exceeds our capacity to deal with it positively. When this happens, people describe themselves as being burned out or stressed out. But can stress really push us to have ourselves admitted to the hospital?

On the other hand, another topic that is of constant concern is depression. Depression is a usual and grave mental disorder that negatively impacts how a person feels, thinks, and acts. Luckily, like stress, there are ways to manage it. Depression presents unhappiness and a lack of interest in things that you used to love doing. It could also lead to a range of physical and emotional problems that can reduce your capacity to function at home and work. But when do you need to be hospitalized for depression?

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding depression, stress, and other conditions … Read the rest...

Stress can sometimes be beneficial to you. Stress helps your mind and body prepare for dangerous situations by activating all bodily functions for survival. It can also increase your energy and motivation when faced with deadlines and other non-life-threatening problems. Once the situation is over, your body returns to its normal state.

However, when stress becomes chronic, it becomes harmful to your body. The stressed and high-functioning state becomes your normal state. Before you know it, you’ve burned out like a light bulb left on for too long.

Stress And Its Causes

When you are stressed, your body releases stress hormones, namely, cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These hormones are all good in moderation because they enable your body’s fight-or-flight response. Stressors include demands related to school or work, sudden life changes, and traumatic events.

Cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, is the body’s alarm system that controls your mood, fear, and motivation. It also regulates your blood pressure, decreases inflammation, and governs your sleep cycle. On the other hand, adrenaline controls your emotions. It also increases heart rate, blood pressure, and expands air passages to your lungs. 

So what can chronic stress and increased levels of these hormones do to affect your health?

Effects Of Stress

The hormones released during stressful situations affect both your physical and mental health. The repercussions range from your nervous system to your immune system. The following are complications that are directly affected … Read the rest...

As a family member, stress is a normal part of life. We are not only trying to get along with one person but to multiple people at once. As you encounter different situations apart, it can be overwhelming to face all these things at once, when at home.

The fact that family members have their unique perception can cause arguments and fights from time to time. There are also events that we can’t control, such as death or financial issues.

Stressful family situations can range from seemingly small events to a full-blown crisis. Plus, different people cope with stressful situations very differently. Our unique personal coping mechanisms can lead to even more stress responses from other family members. Unmanaged stress can result in negative physical, mental, and emotional consequences. Worse, it can even transgress to chronic stress.

It is essential to recognize the critical signs of stress and identify potential stressors. For older members of the family, it is crucial to watch out for developing stressors in children. The residual effects of stress can affect children’s critical development stages.

Ways Of Dealing With Stressful Family Situations

There are prevailing life situations that commonly fall as stressful family situations. Here are some examples of stressful family situations and how you can handle it properly. Remember, it is vital to figure out what stress management tool would work best for your family. While there is no perfect and absolute way to deal … Read the rest...

Since we are already in the computer age, I have never imagined experiencing a global health crisis. After all, pharmaceutical companies always boast about their newly invented drugs that can help with this or that disease. There is also a vaccine for almost everything, which boosts your immunity against illnesses. So, the fact that a coronavirus has already taken so many lives has shocked me.

Once I have gotten over the surprise, though, I realize that the pandemic is a good way to test your relationship with others as it allows you to know the following:

Who Is Willing To Help You At Any Cost?

Even though most people have gone into quarantine because of the coronavirus outbreak, we can still buy food and other supplies. However, many are immunocompromised, and so they tend to fear going out. Others are required to do self-isolation, especially if they have arrived from a country with known COVID-19 cases.

Whichever situation you find yourself in, you need help from your friends and family to obtain your essentials. Giving you a call is not enough at this point. You don’t have to greet each other and risk the virus spread, but they can drop the supplies you need by the steps or front door. If anyone does that, then you know that you are genuinely cared for.  

Who Does Not Mind Putting You In Danger?

I initially found it sweet that Kristen Bell… Read the rest...

When the news about the statewide quarantine reached me, I had two choices. I could either fly to my parents’ farm in Minnesota or stay here in New York. I ended up choosing the latter because the internet was essential for my work, and there was hardly any signal at the farm.

Despite making that choice by myself, I could not help but feel stressed about quarantining alone. I was not allowed to order food often; the laundry shop was also closed. Still, I had to tap my face several times and remind myself that stress would not do me good, especially now. So, I did the following instead:

Start An Aquaponics Herb Garden

The most stress-relieving activity in my book is tending to a garden. I used to do that in my parents’ backyard and plant vegetables there. However, since I live in a small apartment in the city, the best thing I can do is start an aquaponics herb garden.

This project is genuinely easy; all you need are a few mason jars, water, and seedlings. It is especially useful these days, given that you are not supposed to go out only to buy basil or thyme. With an herb garden of your own, you will be able to get by without buying herbs even after the lockdown.

Subscribe To A Video-Streaming Platform

Being an old-school individual, the first week of my quarantine passed with me playing … Read the rest...

As part of the  2017 Michigan Stress Relief Week, they gave free massages and desserts to all students to help them relieve their stress, relax, and refresh. This event is an excellent initiative since massage therapy is known to help those who suffer from stress find a way to unwind and prioritize their health and wellness. Moreover, students experience much stress due to their deadlines, research, and exams. But how does massage therapy help people reduce their stress?

Nowadays, massage therapy is offered almost everywhere. Gone are the times when massages are only available through luxury spas and health clubs. Whether you are in airports, clinics, hospitals, or malls, people who seek massages can get soothing treatment quickly. A session of massage therapy usually goes on for about 50 minutes. It uses low and subtle lighting in the room to help create a comforting and relaxing environment. It also utilizes the power of music to support the soothing atmosphere. 

Massage strokes and manipulates your skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments to release tension and pain. A massage therapist can use a variety of techniques for a session, and it may range from light stroking to deep pressure. There are more than 80 types of massage therapies in the world. You can discuss your preferred treatment with your therapist.

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy has a couple of benefits, including the following:

• Allows people to respond better to medical procedures

Most of us face more than what we can chew every day – challenges, untoward incidents at home or work, daily obligations – and all these can take a toll on our lives and cause unnecessary stress. When these pressures continue and extend up to a month, it is called acute stress disorder.… Read the rest...