Victor Kuri

Archive for the ‘Mental Health’ Category

Mental health conditions are common in all nations of the world. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, about 26 percent of Americans aged over 18 years are diagnosed with a mental disorder every year. This equates to almost 60 million people. The NIMH has also found that about 6 percent of those, have been diagnosed with a serious mental condition, many of which may suffer from two or more mental conditions. Mental illness, has been found to be a major cause of disability amongst people, aged between 15 and 44 years in the US and Canada.

Of course, mental conditions are not confined to the adult person, as people of all ages and genders can be affected by the disorder. Many children and adolescents are diagnosed with mental health problems, and special care is needed to treat them adequately. Mental conditions that affect children are varied and may be of a temporary nature, however, specialized treatment should be sought to help reduce the chances of the disorder becoming long term. NIMH reports indicate that about 5 percent of children in North America suffer from bouts of depression. This figure increases to around 8 percent for the number of teenagers who are suffering from anxiety and depression.

Many teenagers are also affected by eating disorders, which can aggravate bouts of depression and lead to other problems such as, phobia, inhibition and learning difficulties. Teenage girls who may be suffering from anxiety or depression are susceptible to anorexia nervosa, a very serious eating disorder, which can lead to grave health concerns, even death. Mental conditions, such as these, need to be treated by mental health care professionals who can help young people to adjust to the circumstances that have brought about their disorders.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a most severe mental health condition that is more likely to affect young boys. Sufferers of ADHD need specialized professional care as well as added personal attention from their parents. A child suffering from ADHD will display little regard for authority and will engage in a range of continuous physical activities much to the detriment of his fellow students, teachers and parents. Treatment, provided by a mental health care professional, for this type of disorder, may include some form of medication.

Early diagnosis of mental health problems, is essential for the successful treatment of the conditions, and the prevention of long term effects that may result in a lasting disability.

Throughout the world’s population, mental disorders are quiet prevailing, and yet it remain greatly misunderstood by the people. Even for those who find themselves afflicted with even common mental disorders, discover that there is much to be learned about their particular illness, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery, which is different for everyone. For others, they keep themselves thinking happy thoughts, so that they don’t harm anyone else. In order to keep symptoms at quest other tend to have different combinations of treatments even though that chronic disease or mental disorders have varying levels of severeness.

A lot of people are affected by mental health disorders. These kind of illness can deeply intervene with the individuals ability to maintain healthy relationships and function in society in a normal way. It is necessary to seek help from a professional when mental disorder interrupt the person’s life and his family.

There is the best deal of information available online, such as the fifty-two most common mental health disorders, medications, news, recovery stories, links, diagnosis, symptoms, treatments, articles, support groups, and research from different agencies. The National Alliance on Mental Illness at http://www.nami.org is a good comprehensive site to find material regarding mental health disorders. Some other sites worthy of mention include http://www.mentalhealth.com, where visitors can select a topic to find information about mental health disorders and related issues. Women should check out http://www.ivillage.com for essential women’s health and wellness information. For more material on mental health disorders and links to relevant sites organized by groups of disorders, self help section, ask a therapist, depression tests, and compatibility quizzes visit http://www.planetpsych.com.

Complete relief of symptoms is impossible it’s because mental health disorders can be very weakening for several patients in many cases. It takes the right combination of medication, psychotherapy, and full participation from the patient, who must take responsibility and make positive choices. There are some good pharmaceuticals that are now available to people with mental health disorders, which has made it possible for them to lead a relatively “normal” life. In some older psychotic medications, the side effects were far worse than the symptoms which are not well controlled. In this case, electro shock therapy was usually recommended by the psychiatrist; just imagine “One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. We are thankful that modern technology and continued research of the brain and mental health disorders, has lead to great advances in this field, which have greatly improved patients’ quality of life.

It is difficult to a family having a loved one who has a mental illness especially if they are trying to deal with the situation on its own. It is important to the family to seek help for mental health disorders because the situation will most likely become worse if is untreated.

We should approach mental health disorders as any other illness. Conditions like bipolar disorder and major depression can be treated with interventions and medication. The unfortunate thing about the situation is that many people suffer through their conditions needlessly. Many believe that they just need to “snap out of it” and when they find that they are unable to do that they become even more impatient and dismayed. Having mental health disorders is much like having a sickness that can be treated with some medication and some therapy.

Having a diabetes a family member is highly unlikely that the illness would be ignored. For some reason mental health disorders are legitimate illnesses that require treatment. You shouldn’t ignore the sign of diabetes as well as the signs of mental illness.

We should not treated mental health disorder slightly. It is better to seek help than to suffer needlessly. Isn’t always easy to find information for a number of conditions. Sites like mentalhelp.net are designed to provide helpful information that can enlighten you as to whether or not you want to seek advice from a professional.

The stigma associated with mental illnesses as well as developmental disorders is falling by the wayside as we begin to understand the mental health disorders better. If people seek the necessary information and help they can lead happy, productive lives.

Know why mental health is important for every individual. Also know why mental health disorders are caused, what are their consequences and how can they be treated.

Many people avoid getting help for depression or other mental health disorders due to embarrassment or an outdated fear of being stigmatized. Economic Status or Legal Status are important aspects determining the standing of a human being. Being a social animal, a man’s standing in the society is determined by many things, including his mentally stability. This is where Mental Health is critical to a person and much the same way how he would spend time in earning money, time also needs to be spent to tend to any rough edges in his mental health. Seeking assistance when necessary is increasingly understood in our society as a wise and mature decision.

Let’s look at an example. An individual is so rich that he owns large areas of real estate in Florida. To add to his luxury he has his own charter fleet of helicopters. In spite of having an embarrassment of riches, he still continues to be alienated from the society. The only possible reason I can see is that the individual suffers from a mental health disorder. This can include depression, anxiety, personality disorders, etc. In fact, Howard Hughes cut himself off from everyone later in his life most likely due to untreated phobias and depression.

What are the causes of Mental Health Disorders?

Mental Health Disorders are caused due to a variety of reasons. An individual can experience a mental health disorder for the first time due to a tragic event, long term neglect or abuse, a genetic pre-disposition to depression, or even a brain disorder that is medical in nature. The results vary widely and may need a professional to help diagnose and treat, but the most common mental health issue is depression and is experienced by everyone at least once in their lifetime. Those with a genetic pre-disposition to depression or another affective disorder like bipolar disorder, will have multiple incidents and usually require some form of treatment.

What are the consequences of Mental Health Disorders?

The consequences of untreated mental health disorders can be extremely damaging for an individual. At every stage of depression, the individual continues to behave less like themselves. They become more sedentary, less social, thinking it difficult to think clearly and in extreme cases may develop paranoid ideas. In all these scenarios, society tends to keep away from these individuals when perhaps they need others most.

Who are affected by the Mental Health Disorder?

Almost everyone will experience some form of mental health issue during their lifetime. It may be common depression, alcohol or substance abuse, relationship problems, post-traumatic stress or perhaps a more serious chemical or brain disorder. Apart from the individual, the next set of people who are impacted by this are the care-givers and the family members of the individual.

How can a Mental Health Disorder be treated?

One of the most effective methods to treat a mental health disorder is to seek the consultation of a mental health professional or family doctor. Mental health therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and one’s family and social network play a big role in treating an individual suffering from a mental health disorder.

Mental Health cannot be compromised by any individual at any cost. One does not need to take drugs or medication to keep it fit and fine, but should be considered when prescribed by a professional as part of a treatment plan. Recognizing these issues early can speed up recovery as long as one takes steps to deal with their mental health like one would with their physical or financial health. Society has evolved to no longer stigmatize those who seek help and perhaps have come to respect their willingness to deal with these problems head on.

There is a saying among psychologists, that all people are born geniuses until something stops the genius and turns it to mush. One of the best ways to keep mental health is to make sure that the brain keeps functioning properly. If it is left to stagnate, then it can literally lose its ‘muscle’ and get ‘flabby.’ Just like the muscles of the body, the brain needs to work in order to work properly. The more stimuli it gets, the better it can develop its ‘muscles.’ Here are some ways to keep your mental health healthy and muscular.

Brains are always likened to computers by the unimaginative. The truth is, the computer was designed after the brain and there is no way that it can beat the brain’s mental functioning. The brain is like a sponge; it absorbs and assimilates all information, even if you are not aware of the information coming in. Once the information comes in, the brain automatically sorts through them and junks the inessentials and files them in the short term memory. The essential ones they get filed in the long term memory. However, because it is junked, it does not mean that it is totally deleted. Think of it as the recycle bin, but this time, the storage space is infinite, not limited to the number of gigabytes. Anything can pull out that memory no matter how small the stimulus is.

To keep the mental muscles firm and toned, do some mental activities. You will notice that the brain is much like writing. When in school or in the office, writing is second nature, you don’t need to think to write. But when the time comes when you get off writing totally for a long period of time, like a summer vacation, the first time you attempt to write nothing seems to go right, it is a little awkward at first. This is exactly how the brain is it needs its exercise through mental workouts (crossword puzzles, essay writing, reading politics, etc.)

The brain also needs a good steady diet. Brain food is in the form of reading and assimilation of information. One way to make the imaginative aspect of the mental muscles work is to let it work, imagine. If reading a book will stimulate the imagination, then read. If it takes to doing crafts to wake up the long unused muscles of creativity, then do some art.

For those who feel that they are getting old and their mental muscles are getting a little flabby, there is such a thing as education. Simply because one is of retirement age does not mean that the brain still cannot have a workout. Anyway, getting an education at a mature age makes one feel younger and more agile.

The brain is like a muscle, it needs food, a good steady dose of nutrition and a good workout. When stagnant, it can start to suffocate on its own mushiness and needs to sweat a little bit. Give your brain a mental workout and make sure that you are alert at all times because when the brain wakes up after a long sleep, it can just be very active.

For Asians living in the UK, there are growing stresses and strains which are leading to mental health problems. Previous articles I have written discuss the prevalence of such mental health problems. In this article, I would like to share some thoughts about the sources of stress and strain.

Migration
The process of migration has often been associated with emotional difficulties. Arguments have been made to suggest that migration is an inherently stressful process – the so called ‘stress hypothesis’- or that individuals who move to settle in another part of the world do so because they are somehow unstable – the ‘selection hypothesis’. The former argument seems to hold greater face validity. Whilst immigrants may be moving away from communities who cannot support them, it is more likely that positive selection is at work. After all, migration is a major upheaval requiring a certain ambition and inner resolve.

On arrival in their host countries, immigrants may suffer financial restraints, and stresses which accompany the adjustment to a new language and culture. This may be described as a culture shock, with associated difficulties in terms of social isolation, where immigrants have often moved away from known social networks. The racialised patterning of welfare state provision for immigrants is another factor. Colonial migrant labour was facilitated in the post war era, and these minority groups were concentrated spatially and socially in a manner which affected access to resources such as housing and education.

Conflicts of value systems

Whilst it is helpful to reflect on the difficulties inherent in migration, it is important to note that the majority of Asian Indians living in the UK have been resident for at least two decades if not longer. Whilst some of the early difficulties in resettlement may have had their impact, there are a second wave of problems in the social and family sphere. Second and third generation children who have been born and raised within a different world to their parents are frequently deviating from traditional norms. Kinship is seen to be integral to social organisation, and such violation of social rules is felt to reflect badly on whole families and groups. A rejection of traditional values may be seen, by extension, as a rejection of parents themselves. Traditional Asian Indian values encompass generational interdependence, conformity, obligation and shame. There is a conflict here with more Western ideals of individualism, independence and self-sufficiency. These issues are highlighted in a 1991 survey of 200 Asians randomly selected from 1000 names on the electoral register in Haringey (UK) – over a third of respondents had concerns related to the upbringing, education and values being imbibed by their children (Beliappa, 1991).

Anecdotally, Asian parents have been known to talk about the fact that they moved to England for economic prosperity, and for better opportunities for themselves and their children. However, whilst financial stability and standards of living have risen, the parents feel they have lost more than they have gained. In other words, their children have undergone a cultural transformation which has driven a wedge between them and their parents. Whilst these parents speak of returning to their homelands to rekindle their old way of life, and reconnect with their heritage, they find that India and Pakistan have moved on. Their memories are so far removed from the current reality, that they would be strangers if they were ever to return. For some, this sense of loss leads to despair, and despair leads to depression. After all, having worked so hard all their lives to create stability and wealth, what is left for these first generation migrants when they retire? The need to plan for this difficult period in their lives is both an individual and state level responsibility. As further articles in this series will show, there are currently too many barriers between Asian’s with mental health problems, and services who may be able to support them with their needs.

No longer are exotic dancer only profession, on stage entertainers. You can learn to dance like the professionals, with fun moves, energy, sensuality as you tone your butt, hips, thighs, arms and especially your stomach.

Dancing is the number one fitness craze in America right now, with Zumba leading the way. Dance yourself fit and have fun in the process. I have been going to Zumba classes for about nine months now and absolutely love it. Exercise has never been so fun. You forget you are doing it for fitness and the hour flies. I have never exercised before in my life and wished it could last longer. The music is upbeat, happy, energetic, you just can’t help moving and having fun. Women are flocking to classes by the dozens. Our class got so big it had to be split three time and still they come, it is fantastic.

What about a little more exotic dance than Zumba? There are fitness instructors that teach belly dancing, pole dancing and the art of the tease for private entertainment for just your man. These teachers come to Dallas bachelorette parties for a hilarious night of dance and fun. What better way to send someone off to married land than with some exotic dance instruction? Have fun and enjoy dancing your way to a great marriage, great health and great friends. Start at any level and find what is comfortable for you. There is no right or wrong way to dance, it is as personal and individual as there are women willing to try. Have fun, get more energy and learn steps to tighten and tone your whole body along with learning the art of pleasing your man.