Health Tips Article

Humans boast of psychological maturity, an ability that makes them stand apart from other species. This includes the ability to control our impulses and urges. But, some people have difficulty controlling their impulses and can’t resist the urge to do something harmful. These people are said to suffer from a psychological disorder known as Impulse control disorder. Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are common psychiatric conditions characterized by urges and behaviors that are excessive and harmful to oneself (or others). The affected individuals typically report significant impairment in social and occupational functioning. There are legal and financial difficulties as well depending on the nature of ICD.  Some popular ICD’s include addictions to alcohol or drugs, eating disorders, compulsive gambling, paraphilias (abnormal sexual behaviors), trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling), kleptomania (compulsive stealing), pyromania (repeated fire setting), and intermittent explosi...

Life gives you lemons and sometimes you can't make a lemonade, or have a tequila, or fling some dirt, or paint it black, or punch a wall. So this post will steer away from all motivational, inspirational ideas and give you mental techniques to combat anxiety, nervousness, and stress. Stress and anxiety is a fundamental fact about being human. We do feel stress, we do get anxious, we do get cranky. Be it a break-up, a proposal, a job interview, a moment of truth, an examination. It could even be a slow buildup of stress-induced anxiety such as approaching deadlines, financial crises, interpersonal fights, etc.  I'm sure you can list at least a 20 different ways you can experience some stress or anxiety. Do you want a way to reduce anxiety in those scenarios?  Sometimes anxiety is too much. And there lies the problem. We, humans, are capable of managing a fair deal of stress and anxiety, in fact, some of it helps us make wise decisions. It is when managing that anxiety and stres...

I'm glad that there is a lot of emphasis on mental health care today. Looking at the work counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and writers are doing, I'm confident that people are aware that mental health is a part of health that needs attention. How would YOU identify the people who need mental health help? What would you look for to spot indicators of poor mental health? Take a few seconds and think. Try answering this- How do you know if you have mental health issues? For this post, I won't get into why mental health is so important. I assume that most people are now aware that it is important. For me, the case is closed. Mental health care is important, and we all are in an era where mental health issues are no longer buried in shame (for many of us). People actively seek and offer help. Even though the acceptance of mental health problems isn't ideal today, it isn't half bad. Possible indicators of mental health problems.  In this article, I'll outlin...

The right way to talk with depressed people - 30 examples. In the previous article, I went through 15 sentences that you should not use while talking to depressed people . These sentences are commonly used and are pretty unhelpful. If you haven't read that, I recommend going through that as well. Perhaps right after this article. :) Before we get to the 30 sentences, I'll cover some general intentions that people should have while communicating with people experiencing a mood disorder or a depressive phase . Disclaimer: This is NOT a guide to therapy or clinical treatment. This is a guide to what individual non-professionals can do to help their depressed friends.  Let us assume that you are open to talking with depressed people first. And then, let me assume that you want to help them in any way you can. Highlights on what depression is:  Depression is a prolonged state of physical and mental low. Sleep and eating habits change. There is lack of motivation in many facets of ...

15 sentences to avoid when talking with people experiencing depression Lots of people around us could be depressed or suicidal. We often never know because there is a communication barrier. It's not easy figuring out what to say when someone tells you about their depression and thoughts of ending their life. Thinking of the right things to say to someone who is depressed or suicidal is very tricky. For starters, most people are afraid to say something useful because they fear to make it worse. What would you say if I come to you and tell you that 'I want to sleep and never wake up' or 'I don't feel like getting out of bed' or 'I want to just end my life and be done with it'. Or maybe the more obvious statement 'I am depressed'. What is Depression? It is mood disorder that persists for at least a few weeks and is characterized by lack of pleasure experiences, poor arousal, lack of interest in things that once interested you, and poor motivation. T...

What positive psychology tells us about happiness. We hear and use sentences like "I'm looking for happiness", "I'm searching for what makes me happy". There is even a movie called "The pursuit of happiness". What is wrong with those sentences? Happiness is not something you can find. It doesn't exist anywhere to be found. Happiness is not a destination. But it is not a journey either! Then there are times we ask ourselves - Can money buy happiness? Can love make me happy? Short answer: No. Slightly longer answer:   Yes, money can help facilitate behaviours and activities that you can engage in to create your happiness. Love can also facilitate. But love isn't the solution to happiness. There must be some answer to the question - 'what makes you happy?' I'll discuss this in the light of positive psychology research on happiness. There are some really robust strategies you should know about. Hold on for a sec. First things first...