Blogs
When we hear the word “self-harm,” we often think of self-inflicted physical wounds. However, negative thought patterns can cause just as much damage to our mental health and lead to serious problems in the long run. Emotional and physical self-harm can be similar in many ways, and often go hand-in-hand with each other.
There are lasting effects of mental health stigma that go beyond shame, silence, and the way we navigate the world. When thinking of stigma and its impacts, those are often the things that come up, but there are other lasting effects of mental health stigma as well, such as how we interact with people.
My sister used to make fun of me for the way I walked, talked, and dressed. Every small detail about me seemed to annoy her. My style was strange. My behavior around her friends was too weird. They were laughing at me, she explained, not with me.
With all of the changes that have been happening in the world, many people feel as though they have no control over anything. However, this is not true at all. Finding a healthy amount of inner power can lead to improved mental health and quality of life. Here are some ways to find and utilize your inner power.
You've probably been exposed to toxic positivity. You may have a friend who always seems overly happy, even when you know they are going through a hard time. While most of us strive to be happy and healthy, there can be too much of a good thing at play when positivity becomes toxic.
Yes, we're going to use a little bit of math on the blog today, but we're going to use it for an unusual task -- controlling anxiety. I can feel your incredulity all the way over here, but stick with me for a minute. Anxiety and math actually go hand in hand when we use probability to adjust how anxious we feel.
As a feminist, I think that all women are beautiful, except for me. I think I’m ugly. I think I’m ugly because I’m fat. I’m fat because of the medication I take for schizoaffective disorder. I think other fat women are beautiful and that beauty comes in all sizes, except in my case. Yes, I know that sounds contradictory. But think about it this way: How does it feel to be on medication that is supposed to help your mental health but makes you feel ugly, and makes you worry about getting health complications like type 2 diabetes?
We often think of fear and pain as distinct experiences, one physical and one emotional. Emotional pain, however, is just as real as physical injury, and when self-harming and anxiety are intertwined, they may form a vicious cycle from which it can be difficult to break free.
Nighttime anxiety can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. Somehow, anxiety can seem even louder during the night than it does during the day; perhaps because the world is quiet and you are trying to get some much-needed sleep. Nighttime worry is exhausting and can make you feel tired but wired the next day. It's natural to toss and turn, tangling with anxious thoughts and feelings, but doing so simply fuels them and makes them even more intrusive and obnoxious. Read on for a tip on how to handle nighttime anxiety and worrying at night.
Verbal abuse in relationships isn't acceptable, but I've often wondered if verbal abuse is forgivable. Throughout 15 years of brainstorming and therapy, I came to a conclusion — verbal abuse can be forgivable in some situations, however, the abuser has to work on himself, put in the necessary effort, and actually change.
Thank you for your comment. If you are unsure as to whether your antipsychotic is the best for you, please consult your doctor.
Take Care,
Elizabeth
Email me at jangaffud@gmail.com