Art therapy is an integrative treatment that uses artistic self-expression to improve mental health and well-being. The pandemic brought up many difficult-to-define feelings and emotions. Making art as a form of mental health treatment is a low-tech way to work through them. After World War II, this form of therapy was used with soldiers who suffered from "shell shock". Trauma is complicated to articulate into words, and art therapy can support and connect patients with nonverbal expression.

Art therapy

Therapists offer treatment in groups or one-on-one settings, and the therapy itself can take the form of unstructured doodling to more specific prompts and activities designed to help patients understand their emotions. Art therapy helps patients unlock their emotions and translate them into something real that they can share what they're going through. Art therapy is also a safer way to channel stress or other negative emotions.

The structure of art therapy

Research found that making art can:<ul><li>activate reward pathways in the brain,</li><li>reduce stress,</li><li>lower anxiety levels,</li><li>improve mood,</li><li>reduce pain,</li><li>improve patient's sense of control over their lives</li></ul> Making art is a hands-on process that requires total focus, which means it also offers a break from screentime while encouraging self-expression. But art therapy isn't a cure-all and may not be the right approach for everyone. Much of the research draws on the anecdotal experiences of clinicians and patients.

Benefits of art

With depression and anxiety on the rise during the pandemic, more professionals may adopt art therapy as a treatment

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

mentalhealth

Mental Health

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

How Making Art Helps Improve Mental Health

Mental health problems, such as cancer and diabetes, have serious consequences for the World's population.However, with increasing mental health dialogue as a goal, organizations need to provide significant support behind the right resources and tactics.Progressive business leaders understand that mental health affects the overall health of an organization, but some still struggle to get involved.

Introduction 

There are still many people who believe that mental health problems make a person weak. That is not true.People with mental health problems can succeed in their jobs and have things in their lives that they enjoy.Many of our most famous leaders have mental health problems. Abraham Lincoln,according to letters from friends, was one of them. Research also shows that Abraham Lincoln's sanity ran in his family.

Misconceptions About Mental Health

Here are some signals you need to know:• Withdrawal from others• Loss of interest in activities that previously seemed fun• Deteriorating Nork results, level of motivation and concentration• Difficulty making decisions or finding solutions to problems• Significant changes in mood, energy, or eating habits• substance abuse

How do you recognize mental stress?

This article provides helpful tips for leaders to help raise mental health awareness and advice on properly managing mental health situations in the workplace.

What Leaders Can Do To Improve Mental Health in the Workplace ?

If we, as leaders, want to help people with mental health, the first step is to talk about it.We must let people speak safely about this challenge.This means doing it normally and ending discrimination against people with mental health problems.

1. Create A Safe Environment

Leaders need to consider what benefits and resources are already available to employees Then, they need to see if they make sense and are appropriate for their employees.For example, a company may be concerned with preventing mental health problems and supporting people with these problems.

As a leader, you can strongly impact mental health issues.In many ways, you set the tone with your actions. The more you can normalize the problem, the greater the chance of increasing awareness and acceptance.You can also help by making wellbeing a topic of conversation and engaging in discussions about it yourself. Incorporating mental wellbeing questions into employee engagement surveys helps raise awareness in several ways.

3. Embed Prosperity in Your Leadership Culture 

Of course, as a leader, you can suffer from psychological problems and burnout. Focusing on your business and helping others understandably means ignoring your own needs. So don't just check with your boss and team; see yourself. Try to plan a few stopovers and find someone to talk to.If you don't look after your wellbeing, your ability to lead others can be seriously compromised. Your employees need reassurance in times of uncertainty - your mental health plays a huge role in providing that comfort.

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Leadership & Management

Mental Health 

Inspiration From Psychology's Best-Known ThinkersInspirational quotes can offer fresh insights and perspectives on problems that everyone faces at one time or another. If you are looking for some quotes that might help you feel motivated or energized, you might want to start by taking a closer look at these, from some of psychology's best-known thinkers.

6 Great Psychology Quotes

"I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail."This famous quote from Abraham Maslow is often known as the law of instrument or Maslow's hammer. Essentially, it suggests an over-reliance on a familiar or favorite tool. While such tools can sometimes be helpful, they can lead to approaching problems in ways that are not helpful or even destructive.In psychological terms, this might involve always relying on the same coping mechanisms, rather than looking for new solutions.

1. Maslow: Finding New Ways to Tackle Problems

"Everybody should do at least two things each day that he hates to do, just for practice."With this quote, psychologist and philosopher William James is saying life shouldn't always be about taking the easy road. Sometimes the greatest learning experiences are those brought on by adversity and challenge. It is during these times that you learn a great deal about yourself, your strengths, and your weaknesses.Sometimes it is important to do things even if you do not necessarily enjoy or want to engage in these activities.

2. James: Doing Hard Things Can Build Character

"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny."This quote from Albert Ellis is all about taking responsibility for your own life and choices. Clearly, there are aspects of your life that are outside of your control. While you might not be able to control all the things that happen to you or that you experience through your life, you can take charge of how you respond to these events.

3. Ellis: Taking Personal Responsibility for Your Life

"When I look at the world I'm pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic."Rogers's quote suggests that while focusing on news stories might make the world seem like a terrible place, focusing on individual people can help you maintain a more optimistic and realistic view of the world. Take a look at the people around you who can help boost you up. Focus on stories about inspirational people who are doing great things and making powerful contributions to society. As Carl Rogers suggests, the world is full of kind and generous people who can inspire great optimism.

4. Rogers: Maintaining a Sense of Optimism

"Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten."When people think of education, they tend to think of facts and figures learned in school. However, it is often the methods, principles, and inquiry process that lie behind knowledge that really matter.As B. F. Skinner says, the sum of our knowledge goes far beyond simple textbook learning. The learning process never ends, even long after the days of school are over. Never stop challenging yourself to explore new information, new ways of doing things, and different ways of thinking about the world.

5. Skinner: Learning That Lasts a Lifetime

"The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination."Have you ever been so focused on achieving a goal that you totally forget to enjoy the journey toward reaching that goal? Carl Rogers's quotation suggests that living a good life is all about the journey itself.Instead focus your attention on the everyday good things in your life. The things you learn, the family and friends you share your life with, and the things that bring you happiness are the greatest indicators of a happy, fulfilled life.

6. Rogers: Life Is a Direction, Not a Destination

These quotes from some of psychology's greatest thinkers offer insight into yourself. Explore what makes these 6 psychology quotes so great.

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Personal Development

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Motivation & Inspiration

6 Inspirational Psychology Quotes and Why They Are Great

Sometimes anxiety can seem like a daily struggle. The feelings that cause tension and stress can be overwhelming. However, by incorporating mindfulness exercises into your daily routine, you can take a proactive step towards finding some peace of mind. By using mindfulness exercises, you can eventually get to a point where you better regulate symptoms of anxiety. This way, you can prevent anxiety from getting out of control and having a grip on your life.

7 Mindfulness Exercises to Help You Cope with Anxiety

A part of mindfulness meditation is focusing on your breathing. Deep, steady breathing helps deliver more oxygen to your system and allows you to maintain focus. You can do this whenever you want to. Just breathe in deeply through the nose, hold for a moment, then exhale through the mouth.

Mindfulness Exercise #1:  Deep Breathing

In our daily lives, we are constantly being pulled in different stress-causing directions. Work and family are often two main culprits, but other sources could include financial issues or and illness. Just taking five to ten minutes a day to sit quietly can make a big difference. Find a quiet place in your home that offers privacy. Perhaps one that lets in natural light.

Mindfulness Exercise #2:  Sitting Quietly

Do you inhale your food instead of truly tasting it? You can slow down and truly experience your meal by using mindfulness meditation at mealtimes. For instance:<ul><li>Take one bite of food at a time.</li><li> Slowly chew your food.</li><li>Be aware of how it tastes.</li><li>Take note of the texture.</li><li>By being more aware of your food, you can truly appreciate your meal.</li></ul>

Mindfulness Exercise #3:  Conscious Eating

Many of us just get through our day, unaware of the little details that make up our lives. Even in the office, a place where many of us spend so much of our lives, we may not be fully aware of our Rexburg surroundings. When taking a break, instead of staring at your computer, take a moment to sit back and observe what’s around. Don’t just look, use your sense of hearing and touch as well. Maybe you have always looked at wall, but didn’t notice the strokes of a paintbrush or the imperfections.

Mindfulness Exercise #4:  Being Observant of Your Surroundings

Use mindfulness meditation techniques, such as stretching or yoga, to become more observant of your body. You may not be aware of how stressed and tense different muscles are. This could also be contributing to your anxiety.

Mindfulness Exercise #5:  Being Observant of Your Body

It’s amazing how to notice how easy it is to have so many conversations throughout any given day, but not really listen. Listening is an art in itself. Oftentimes we may be tempted to jump in while someone else is talking. We want to get across what we are thinking, yet are not listening to the other person.

Mindfulness Exercise #6:  Really Listen

Really! Smiling helps us to relax. Humor and laughter can be great antidotes for coping with the absurdity of life, and the stress that often comes with it. Also, when we smile, we tend to feel more open and accepting of other people and situations.

Mindfulness Exercise #7:  Smile More

When we have more awareness we can have a better understanding of what causes anxiety, and take proactive steps that reduces the symptoms of anxiety.

Bottom Line on Mindfulness

“Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.”-Jon Kabat-Zinn “When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.”-Jack Kornfield ‘Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.”-Jack Kornfield

Mindfulness Quotes

mindfulness

Mindfulness

health

Health

meditation

Meditation

7 Mindfulness Exercises to Help You Cope with Anxiety | Integrated Counseling and Wellness

<ul><li>In neurology, patients with amputated limbs commonly experience phantom sensations of their missing arm or leg.</li><li>Patients with brain damage following strokes may deny obvious impairments such as being unable to move their hands or might even deny that the hand is theirs.</li><li>People with body dysmorphic disorder become fixated on believing some part of their body is hideously ugly.</li><li>Patients with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia tend to overestimate the width of their bodies.</li></ul>

People experience their bodies different to what it is

In one study, participants' hands were covered with a board and then asked to use a long baton to indicate the perceived location of the knuckle and tip of each finger. Perceptual maps of hand size and shape were constructed based on their judgements and then compared with the actual hand structure. These maps were massively distorted, showing overestimation of hand width and underestimation of finger length.

Distorted representations of the body appear to be a basic feature of mental life

One study that compared anorexia or bulimia patients with groups of healthy control participants found that anorexia or bulimia patients overestimated their waist width by 42 percent. Similar results have been found for several regions of the body, but the waist, hips, shoulders and face were most commonly measured. Healthy participants overestimated their bodies too. For example, one study found healthy adults overestimated the width of their waists by nearly 24 percent, the chest by 23 percent, and the hips by 13 percent.

The tendency to overestimate body width

Distortions of how people perceive their bodies are an exaggeration of a bias that seems to be a widespread, if not universal, feature. What factors might lead to these distortions becoming exaggerated is not well understood. Cultural factors could be involved such as the depiction of idealised bodies in mass media and lower ratings of social self-esteem. Body distortions, then, might be both a basic feature of mental life and can become a risk factor for mental health issues at an increased level.

Exaggeration of a bias

Body image distortions can be severe in anorexia nervosa and bulimia, but they’re also a normal feature of mental life

Body image distortions are a normal feature of mental life | Psyche Ideas

Think about the feeling of paranoia one has who's just driven a brand new, flawless car off the lot or has just started to use the latest, pristine iPhone straight from the box. When they inevitably get their first scratch, initial disappointment can soon give way to a broader feeling of relief and contentment.What's going on here? Why is that imperfection so good? There isn't a great word in the English language to describe this phenomenon. Instead, our best entry point for understanding the psychology of imperfection is visiting the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi.

There’s A Particular Value That Comes With Imperfection

Wabi-sabi is a philosophy and aesthetic that centers around an appreciation of imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. It’s a complex concept, deeply embedded within Japanese culture, and does not admit to an easy, concrete definition. As Taro Gold described in his book, Living wabi-sabi, it's an inherently elusive term. He writes, “Ask people on a Tokyo street to describe wabi-sabi, they will likely give you a polite shrug and explain that wabi-sabi is simply unexplainable.”If we had to try and force a definition for wabi-sabi, it would be something like “the beauty of imperfection.

The Concept Of Wabi-sabi

The most classic example of wabi-sabi is kintsugi, the centuries-old Japanese art of repairing tea bowls. Typically, gluing the pieces of broken pottery back together again means using an invisible adhesive and then painting over the cracks to make them look new again. Kintsugi takes the opposite approach. Instead of trying to hide the imperfection, it highlights it. The craft uses a gold lacquer adhesive to adhere the broken pieces together.

Kintsugi

The technique of Kintsugi accentuates the so-called defects, making them the pottery’s most stunning and visually salient aspect. The approach celebrates each artifact by emphasizing and appreciating its imperfection.

Flaunting Flaws

One of the critical characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic is an appreciation of nature and, more generally, for the natural beauty that exists outside of deliberate, human creation. Humans naturally impose their standards of value and perfection on the world and, in doing so, meddle with a natural organization of beauty best left alone.Wabi-sabi creations often result from a flow of naturally occurring elements, as opposed to manipulating the raw materials to the artist's will. Thus, the artist is seen as a conduit, not an independent creator.

The Connection Between Wabi-Sabi and Nature

In any discipline, “perfect” is the ultimate achievement. From getting the perfect score on a test to planning the perfect evening for a significant other, rising to the level of complete optimization is highly motivating.Clearly, though, it comes with challenges. That these ideals are rarely achieved is not the issue. The true difficulty comes when it is achieved. Its attainment comes with the immediate pressure to maintain it. Anything that rises to this lofty, unblemished position, almost by definition, has nowhere to go but down.

The Challenging Psychology of Perfection

The concept of wabi-sabi provides an alternative perspective that comes some way in helping grapple with this. It recognizes that everything is in constant flux. Any attainment of static perfection is artificial, and its pursuit will inevitably lead to dissatisfaction. Instead, an acceptance, and even a celebration, of imperfection can liberate us from this self-imposed strain.

Celebration And Liberation

“Sometimes strings break. And when a string breaks at the beginning of the performance, I think I’m in heaven.After the string breaks, everybody gasps. You go backstage and put on the new string.And because something untoward has happened, for the rest of the evening, you can do no wrong.”

“Nothing lasts, nothing is finished, nothing is perfect.” There’s a certain levity that comes from things going slightly wrong. Or, put another way, there’s a particular value that comes with imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness: 侘寂

How an ancient Japanese concept can help set us free.

Wabi-Sabi And The Psychology Of Imperfection

Grief is universal. At some point, everyone will have at least one encounter with grief. It may be from the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the end of a relationship, or any other change that alters life as you know it.Grief is also very personal. It’s not very neat or linear. It doesn’t follow any timelines or schedules. You may cry, become angry, withdraw, or feel empty. None of these things are unusual or wrong.Everyone grieves differently, but there are some commonalities in the stages and the order of feelings experienced during grief.

The Stages of Grief: What Do You Need to Know?

In 1969, a psychiatrist named Elizabeth Kübler-Ross wrote a book “On Death and Dying” that grief could be divided into five stages. Her observations came from years of working with terminally ill individuals.Her theory of grief became known as the Kübler-Ross model. While it was originally devised for people who were ill, these stages of grief have been adapted for other experiences with loss, too.The five stages of grief may be the most widely known, but it’s far from the only popular stages of grief theory. Others exist as well, including ones with seven stages and ones with just two.

Are there 5 or 7 stages of grief?

·       Denial·       Anger·       Bargaining·       Depression·       acceptance

The 5 stages of grief

Grief is an overwhelming emotion. It’s not unusual to respond to the strong and often sudden feelings by pretending the loss or change isn’t happening.Denying it gives you time to more gradually absorb the news and begin to process it. This is a common defense mechanism and helps numb you to the intensity of the situation.As you move out of the denial stage, however, the emotions you’ve been hiding will begin to rise. You’ll be confronted with a lot of sorrow you’ve denied. That is also part of the journey of grief, but it can be difficult.

Stage 1: Denial

Where denial may be considered a coping mechanism, anger is a masking effect. Anger is hiding many of the emotions and pain that you carry.This anger may be redirected at other people, such as the person who died, your ex, or your old boss. You may even aim your anger at inanimate objects. While your rational brain knows the object of your anger isn’t to blame, your feelings in that moment are too intense to act according to that.Anger may mask itself in feelings like bitterness or resentment. It may not be clear-cut fury or rage.

Stage 2: Anger

During grief, you may feel vulnerable and helpless. In those moments of intense emotions, it’s not uncommon to look for ways to regain control or to want to feel like you can affect the outcome of an event. In the bargaining stage of grief, you may find yourself creating a lot of “what if” and “if only” statements.It’s also not uncommon for religious individuals to try to make a deal or promise to God or a higher power in return for healing or relief from the grief and pain. Bargaining is a line of defense against the emotions of grief. It helps you postpone the sadness, confusion, or hurt.

Stage 3: Bargaining

Whereas anger and bargaining can feel very active, depression may feel like a quiet stage of grief.In the early stages of loss, you may be running from the emotions, trying to stay a step ahead of them. By this point, however, you may be able to embrace and work through them in a more healthful manner. You may also choose to isolate yourself from others in order to fully cope with the loss.That doesn’t mean, however, that depression is easy or well defined. Like the other stages of grief, depression can be difficult and messy. It can feel overwhelming. You may feel foggy, heavy, and confused.

Stage 4: Depression

Acceptance is not necessarily a happy or uplifting stage of grief. It doesn’t mean you’ve moved past the grief or loss. It does, however, mean that you’ve accepted it and have come to understand what it means in your life now.You may feel very different in this stage. That’s entirely expected. You’ve had a major change in your life, and that upends the way you feel about many things.Look to acceptance as a way to see that there may be more good days than bad. There may still be bad — and that’s OK.

Stage 5: Acceptance

The seven stages of grief are another popular model for explaining the many complicated experiences of loss. These seven stages include:·       Shock and denial·       Pain and guilt·       Anger and bargaining·       Depression·       The upward turn·       Reconstruction and working through·       Acceptance and hope

The 7 stages of grief

This is a state of disbelief and numbed feelings.

Shock and denial:

You may feel that the loss is unbearable and that you’re making other people’s lives harder because of your feelings and needs.

Pain and guilt:

You may lash out, telling God or a higher power that you’ll do anything they ask if they’ll only grant you relief from these feelings or this situation.

Anger and bargaining:

This may be a period of isolation and loneliness during which you process and reflect on the loss.

Depression:

At this point, the stages of grief like anger and pain have died down, and you’re left in a more calm and relaxed state.

The upward turn:

You can begin to put pieces of your life back together and move forward.

Reconstruction and working through:

There’s no one stage that’s universally considered to be the hardest to endure. Grief is a very individual experience. The toughest stage of grief varies from person to person and even from situation to situation.Grief is different for every person. There’s no exact time frame to adhere to. You may remain in one of the stages of grief for months but skip other stages entirely.Additionally, not everyone will experience all stages of grief, and you may not go through them in order. For example, you may begin coping with loss in the bargaining stage and find yourself in anger or denial next.

Analysis of Stages of Grief Theory - 1

Avoiding, ignoring, or denying yourself the ability to express your grief may help you dissociate from the pain of the loss you’re going through. But holding it in won’t make it disappear. And you can’t avoid grief forever.Over time, unresolved grief can turn into physical or emotional manifestations that affect your health.In order to heal from a loss and move on, you have to address it. If you’re having trouble processing grief, consider seeking out counseling to help you through it.Grief is a natural emotion to experience when going through a loss.

Analysis of Stages of Grief Theory - 2

While everyone experiences grief differently, identifying the various stages of grief can help you anticipate and comprehend some of the reactions you may experience throughout the grieving process. It can also help you understand your needs when grieving and find ways to have them met.Understanding the grieving process can ultimately help you work toward acceptance and healing.

Analysis of Stages of Grief Theory - 3

The key to understanding grief is realizing that no one experiences the same thing. Grief is very personal, and you may feel something different every time. You may need several weeks, or grief may be years long.If you decide you need help coping with the feelings and changes, a mental health professional is a good resource for vetting your feelings and finding a sense of assurance in these very heavy and weighty emotions.

The takeaway

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”-Winnie the Pooh

Grief Quote

The Stages of Grief: What You Need To Know

While everyone experiences grief differently, here’s a rough estimation of what to expect when going through a difficult life event.

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Love & Relationships

The Stages of Grief: How to Understand Your Feelings

If you or someone you know has taken shrooms and wants to sober up, there are a few things you can do.<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">drink plenty of fluids. This will help to flush the drug out of your system.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">try to relax. Psilocybin can cause anxiety and panic attacks, so stay calm.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">eat some food. This will help to raise your blood sugar levels and will also help to soak up any excess psilocybin in your system.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">if you start to feel nauseous, try lying down and focusing on your breath. deep.</li><li class="ql-align-justify">hallucinations, try to remind yourself that they are not real</li></ol>To learn more about <a href="https://welevelup.com/rehab/how-to-sober-up-from-shrooms/?utm_source=june&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gp&utm_id=guestposting&utm_term=Guest+Posting">how to sober up off shrooms</a>

How To Sober Up Off Shrooms

Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life with a comfortable and 1st class treatment aside from tips on how to sober up from shrooms. Call today to speak with one of We Level Up treatment specialists.

How to sober up from shrooms? If you're seeking help for yourself or a loved one, contact We Level Up today for a confidential consultation.

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Science & Nature

How To Sober Up From Shrooms? 1st Class Drug Abuse Detox

A common question that we ask ourselves is "How come when I wholeheartedly intend X to happen, I still get the opposite of X?"﻿For example… How come when I intend wealth, I’m still poor? How come when I intend a new relationship, I’m still alone? How come when I intend a new career, I’m still stuck in the old one?

A common question about intention-manifestation

Intention-manifestation always works. When it seems like it isn’t working, the reason is that while you’re correctly putting out the intention for what you want, you’re also putting out the intention to continue manifesting what you don’t want. And you’re probably doing a lot more of the latter than the former, so if your situation changes at all, it will happen very slowly. Due to the slow change, most people give up on their positive intentions long before they have a chance to manifest.

Intention-manifestation "always" works

If you’re in a situation you don’t want to be in, and you observe it or notice it, you’re thinking about it. That means you’re intending its continuation.

<ol><li>All thought is creative. Every thought is an intention, including your perceptions. Observation is active creation, not passive witnessing. There’s no such thing as observation without creation.</li><li>100% responsibility. You’re 100% responsible for everything that exists in your reality. If you perceive it, you created it.</li><li>Only the present is real. You only have power in this present moment; the past and future are merely projections you’re creating right now.</li><li>No denial. You cannot uncreate what you’ve already manifested. Once something has manifested in your reality, it’s too late to uncreate it. </li></ol>

Rules of intention-manifestation

The key is that when you observe your current reality, you always observe with a bias. Your bias is rooted in your beliefs, but let’s simplify that model to just three general biases: positive, negative, or neutral. All observation can be assigned one of these three bias values.Assuming you intend your situation to improve, which of these three observational biases makes the most sense? Clearly the positive one bias is the way to go.

All observation is creatively biased

This is precisely why a positive mental attitude is effective. Attitude is absolutely critical. If you spend time focusing on your positive intentions, but you also observe your present situation in either a neutral or negative way, you’re wasting your time.This is why you don’t get thin by harboring thoughts like, “I hate being fat.” Instead, you must acknowledge your present overweight body while latching onto the hope that your momentum is headed towards your goal weight.

Why a positive attitude is critical

You’ll achieve your goals if you observe your present reality with a positive momentum in the direction of your goals. But if you set a goal and observe your present situation with a negative or neutral bias, then your goals have no power to induce change.

How to reach your goals

I think that this article is a great read for anyone trying to understand why they find it difficult to change their current situation for the best.

Creative Observation – Steve Pavlina

If you’ve never experienced clinical depression, it is hard to understand what it is like. Well-intentioned people will say things like, “just think positive,” or “just snap out of it.” Though they may not say it out loud, some people think a person with depression is just being lazy, or just trying to get attention. However, major depressive disorder is a serious psychological condition.

Depression: Saying "Be Positive" Doesn't Help

<ul><li>Depression is the second most common mental health issue (behind anxiety) and affects almost all human beings on the planet.</li><li>Everyone has ups and downs, but clinical depression is debilitating, affecting the ability to do even the most simple daily tasks.</li><li>Serious depression literally changes your brain and how it perceives in three ways:</li><li>You develop a negative view of yourself (I am worthless)</li><li>A person with depression believes they are terrible people, they cannot do anything right, and they are inherently flawed. This is why suicide starts to become an attractive option.</li></ul>

Understanding Clinical Depression

<ul><li>Encourage them to seek professional help: Since depression makes people think things will never get better, they often don't bother to seek help.</li><li>Help them get moving: The most important thing in the treatment of depression is "behavioural activation," which basically means to get moving-both literally (as in exercising or just getting out of the house) and metaphorically (in moving toward something you value, like family, career, or spirituality).</li><li>Offer validation and encouragement: People with depression tend to think very negatively, so avoid the temptation to argue with them.</li></ul>

What You Can Do to Help

<a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4684-5122-1_13">Numerous</a> <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2016-37833-001">studies</a> have shown that social support helps prevent and moderate the effects of depression. Since a big problem with depression is getting lost in the negative thoughts in your own mind, being around other people helps to refocus the mind on more important things, and can remind the person that they are so much more than their depression.

Foster Social Support

People with depression can be very challenging to be around, even for the most loving and well-intentioned person. Since these disorders hijack people’s thinking patterns, their ongoing negativity and pessimism can be hard to deal with. Progress can also be very slow for someone with depression. Even with professional help, it may take weeks or months to show improvement, so great patience is required.

Take Care Of Yourself

Knowing how depression works can help you better support loved ones who are struggling.

Five Ways to Help Someone With Depression

Find 100+ Mental Health Tips & Facts - Curated from sources like Books, Podcasts, Articles - Insights by Real Users looking to share Insights on Mental Health

How Making Art Helps Improve Mental Health

Mental Health

6 Inspirational Psychology Quotes and Why They Are Great

7 Mindfulness Exercises to Help You Cope with Anxiety | Integrated Counseling and Wellness

Body image distortions are a normal feature of mental life | Psyche Ideas

Wabi-Sabi And The Psychology Of Imperfection

The Stages of Grief: How to Understand Your Feelings

How To Sober Up From Shrooms? 1st Class Drug Abuse Detox

Creative Observation – Steve Pavlina

Five Ways to Help Someone With Depression

It's time to Read like a Pro.

It's time to
Read like a Pro.