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Does Having a Mental Health Disorder Mean You Need Treatment?

Mental health is the membrane for doing the communication, learning, thinking, emotions, and self-esteem part. Mental health is also a primary key to personal, emotional well-being and contributing to community or society. So many people have a mental illness, but they are not showing and talking about it, despite having several mental health treatment options.

But mental illness is nothing to be regretful of, it is a medical condition just like diabetes and heart disease. And these mental issues can be treated very nicely and properly. So many professionals are understanding and expanding how the human brain works and treatments that provide people to control or manage these mental health conditions successfully.

Does having a mental health disorder mean you need treatment? — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Mental illness does not separate. It can affect anyone regardless of gender, age, social status, geography, religion, spirituality, ethnicity: background, or some other aspect of cultural identity. As there are many teens who go to teen mental health treatment for their cure. While mental illness can take place at any age group, three-fourths of this illness starts by age 24.

Mental illnesses have many forms. Some are mild and only interfere in limited ways with daily life, such as specific phobias (abnormal fears). Other mental conditions are so severe that a person may need care in a hospital.

Mental illnesses are conditions that affect your thinking, feeling, mood, and behavior. They may be occasional or long-lasting (chronic). They can also work on your ability and functions of day-to-day lifestyle. Do we need medical help if we have any mental disorders or illnesses? This is a very well-asked question, which may save many people’s lives.

Some Mental Health Disorders

Many different conditions are acknowledged as mental illnesses. The most general types include:

Anxiety disorders

People with anxiety disorders react to certain situations with concern and fear, as well as with physical signs of panic or anxiety, like sweating and rapid heartbeat. An anxiety disorder is diagnosed if the person’s comeback is not applicable for the situation, only if the person can not handle this type of response, if the person cannot control the answer, or if the anxiety alliance with normal functioning. Anxiety disorders involve generalized panic disorders, social anxiety, and specific phobias.

Mood disorders

These types of mood disorders are also known as affective disorders, involving the feeling of overly happy or head seek feelings of sadness or fluctuations from extreme sadness to extreme happiness and vice versa. The most common mood disorders are cyclothymic disorder, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Psychotic disorders

Psychotic disorders hold distorted thinking and awareness. There are two most common types of psychotic disorders, which firstly contain hallucinations- in which the experience of blare or images which are not real, like hearing the voices of someone and imagining the appearance of a person or an object. And secondly is delusions, in which there are some false fixed beliefs that the patients accept as actual incidents, despite evidence to the contrary. Schizophrenia is also an example of this psychotic disorder.

Eating disorders

This eating disorder includes extreme behaviors, emotions, and attitudes involving food and weight—some expected and binge eating disorders.

Impulse control and addiction disorders

People with drive control disorders are unable to endure impulses or appetite, to perform acts that could be harmful to others as well as for them also. Kleptomania (stealing), Pyromania (starting fires), and compulsive gambling are cases of impulse control disorders. Alcohol and drugs are familiar entities of addictions and substance abuse. Often, people with these disorders become so indulgent with the objects of their obsession that they begin to ignore their day-to-day work, relationships, and responsibilities.

(PTSD) Post-traumatic stress disorder

PTSD is a condition that can rise the terrifying and traumatic events, such as physical or sexual assault, a natural disaster, or the unexpected death of a loved one. People with PTSD often have frightening and lasting thoughts and memories of the event and tend to be emotionally anesthetized numb.

Types of Mental Health Treatment Options

Treatment for mental health disorders is appropriate for all humans, gender, and age. In addition, this treatment targets to reduce underlying causes, symptoms and make the condition manageable. It can be a combination of treatments because some people have better results with a comprehensive approach. Following a diagnosis of mental illness, there are various types of treatment options available at the present time. You can also have a word with your doctor to find a plan together.

But sometimes, this type of treatment plan depends on the diagnosis and seriousness of the illness. It is usually created to the individual’s needs and cannot be generalized. It is essential to consult a mental health professional before starting any form of treatment. Here are some standard mental health treatment which may help you to treat proper treatment in your illness;

Medications

There are various categories of medications that help to treat problems like anti-anxiety medications, mood-stabilizing, mental health disorders, and antipsychotic medications. Another potential benefit of medication in the recovery of mental disorders is that it may positively impact your mental illness. Because sometimes the consumption of any substance abuse can give you mental disorder so that medication can be an excellent option for mental health conditions.

At the same time, recovery from illness will assist you to stop the symptoms which are commonly taking place in changes in your relationships, sometimes the hormone levels in the body, and some negative emotions like some of your loved ones are facing this same disorder which includes anger, low self-worth, frustration, depression, etc. While counseling can help with handling these emotions, a holistic approach requires medication. People may try hardly any medications at different doses before finding something that’s right for them.

The Postpartum Depression Drug | Brexanolone (Zulresso) — .

Psychotherapy

This type of treatment provides the opportunity for you to talk about mental health issues within your feelings, experiences, ideas, and thoughts. Therapists in the first place act like neutral mediators and sounding boards, which helps to teach and learn the strategies and techniques to oversee the symptoms. Therapies are the best medicine for every disease or disorder, and psychotherapy and motivational enhancement therapy can play a significant role in recovering this illness. This type is best for the person who knows their level of symptoms and experience of their health issues. Therapy treatment can also be beneficial for addressing symptoms of psychological conditions, such as anxiety and depression.

Residential and Hospital Treatment

Some people may need a critical care unit of this intensive treatment at residential or hospital treatment facilities. These programs allow an overnight stay for all-out treatment. There are some daytime programs and sessions where people and patients can take part in some long and short treatment periods. This mental illness can be treated very well in these two extents, which significantly depends on your symptoms.

Support Groups

These types of groups play a significant role in someone’s life. You have to take care of your surroundings with whom you are talking and living around. These small things make a big difference in one’s mental illness. Group therapy is also a very successful treatment in the world of disorders. You can plan an adventure sport or a picnic. Talking and spending time with sober and healthy groups will divert the mind from another type of disorder, illness, or any type of addiction.

In Conclusion

As we see, many people in the world are facing the problem of mental disorders because of many reasons, but there is nothing to be frightened of; there are some treatments mentioned in the above article, which can help you recover from this addiction problem. And you can also live a sober and healthy life.

Author Bio

Monika Heft is a passionate blogger who explores the field of addiction recovery. With the help of her blogs, She provides information and knowledge about various types of addiction recovery. For more info visit https://evolvetreatment.com/

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Easy Ways For Moms to Practice Preventive Health Care

You’ve had so many appointments during your pregnancy that going to another one is the last thing you want to do. But now that the baby is here, you’ll need all the energy and strength you can muster. You can’t take care of anyone unless you take care of yourself first. Luckily, you can try these easy ways to practice preventive health care.

Easy Ways for Moms to Practice Preventative Health Care — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

See Your General Practitioner

Spend a day scheduling appointments and setting reminders as they get closer. When the reminders appear, you can arrange for child care or get ready to bring them with you. Don’t miss yearly checkups. They can screen for all kinds of things and catch them in time to treat them. Among these tests:

- Blood pressure
- Blood sugar
- Cholesterol
- Colon cancer
- Depression
- Genetic testing for breast or ovarian cancer
- Mammogram
- Osteoporosis
- Pap smear

If you notice other symptoms that seem to linger too long, get them checked out as soon as you can.

See a Therapist

Having a long talk with your oldest friend or your mother can prove incredibly therapeutic. But they aren’t trained professionals who can provide expert advice. When you’re raising kids, you may feel overwhelmed and alone. Your insurance plan may cover weekly visits to a mental health specialist. Take advantage of it. Even if you don’t have specific complaints or problems, a therapist knows how to listen for developing issues.

5 Tips for Tackling Back and Neck Pain During Breastfeeding — .

See a Chiropractor

Don’t take your spine for granted. After all, you ask a lot of it: you often pick up children, breastfeed, work long hours at a computer, or fall asleep with your neck in a weird position. Don’t wait to make an appointment until you’re in pain. A chiropractor can make small adjustments to ensure your spine stays aligned. They might also help with headaches or other aches and pains.

See a Dietician

Don’t feel like cooking? It’s easy to slip into bad habits like eating empty calories or forgoing meals. But you still need the nutrients you were so careful to ingest during pregnancy. Check in with an expert who can help you put together a manageable and balanced meal plan. It’s an easy way to practice preventive health care that will keep you on track and remind you that your child isn’t the only one who deserves to thrive.

Postpartum Appointment Tracker — The Postpartum Plan Workbook.

Author Bio

Christina Duron is a writer living in the Chicagoland area. Her passion for writing and mental health help create thought provoking and engaging pieces and hopes to use them to empower mothers and women to embrace the beauty of motherhood.

How to Make the Most of Each Day

There is a time in our lives when every day seems to us dark, we feel disappointed. We feel that joy and happiness are impossible to achieve. Rather than making the most of our day, we make poor usage of our time.

But how that can change? It isn’t easy at the start, but you should find a way to move away from unproductive living and love the life you are living to the fullest.

That doesn’t mean you should go on the extreme levels but you should follow patterns that allow you to see the good and hope in everything, to see the positive side of negative things that are happening, or to make the best choices for ourselves.

Below we prepared a list of tips that can help you make the most of each day.

How to Make the Most of Each Day — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Pay attention to what you do.

While this recommendation may sound obvious, taking this approach needs practice. But what this recommendation means? You shouldn’t allow distractions to interfere to you, you should pay attention to the moments. Be mindful in everything you do.

Don’t make hasty decisions.

When you have to take a tough decision, instead of avoiding it, you should imagine all the negative outcomes, involve yourself in the process, and make a decision based on the evidence.

You should eat right.

To make the most of each day you need fuel. This means you have to eat right; you have to get enough nutrition on your food choices. To eat well, also means, while you are eating, you should involve all your senses, like savor the taste, smell it, touch it and hear the sound of eating. You will notice that you not only be full of energy but you’ll be also more satisfied.

Warning Signs Your Body is Screaming for a Detox — .

Exercise. Exercise. Exercise.

If you are the type of person that goes every day to the gym, continue to do it. But, if you aren’t that person, you could just get exercise daily because as we all know it is good for your body and mind, it can help you for your next project and it can fuel you with a lot of energy. You can just, climb the stairs, swim, or have a walk – just throw away feelings of anxiety, sadness, and stress.

Make progress in achieving your goals.

Everyone has something they want to accomplish. Whatever it is, it’s important to make progress each day. This can help you be motivated. It is satisfying to know that you have done some work reaching your goals.

You make a mistake – you learn a lesson.

We all know that no one is perfect…and perfection shouldn’t be your goal. We all make mistakes. People, sometimes tend to make more mistakes than necessary. But you have to learn the lesson each mistake contains. If you learn to look for a lesson on every mistake, you will be more likely to view the mistakes as opportunities that can grow you.

Forgive.

Holding a grudge towards a relative, co-worker, neighbor, friend, or someone you know doesn’t make you feel well for your mental health and your well-being. It does long-term damage to your personality. Find a way to forgive everyone, even yourself. Forgiveness doesn’t mean you can excuse the behavior; however, it makes the negativity to be released, and allows you to move on with your life.

Be kind and generous toward others.

Making the most out of your life you have to give to others. You wondered how does give make you feel? Helping someone in need can boost your self-esteem and add more joy to your life.

Do what you love.

If you love to go to the movies, to spend time with your friends, to read or dance, just do it. Each day makes time to do what you love. This can help you relax, rest and be happy. By spending time doing what you love will help to restore balance yourself on the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You will feel refreshed and ready to move with your things to do.

This is Why Houseplants Have Become Some Popular During the Pandemic — .

Mind your spirituality.

If you want to relax yourself try meditation, yoga, or just walk in the woods – feed your soul. This can add a uniquely human aspect and can contribute to balance your harmony of the mind, body, and spirit.

Keep a clean space.

We all agree that maintaining our space – makes us feel better. We may not be perfectionists but we dislike clutter, dirty dishes, or things that require maintenance.

Get enough sleep.

We are human species – and our body needs sleep to function properly. If you just lay your head on the pillow doesn’t guarantee rest. Keep your bedroom cool, make sure there are no distracting lights, no noises, turn off your phone.

Get help if you need it.

Psychotherapy can help you sort out things when you are feeling unable to do so on your own. Counseling can help you realize your strength and can give you the insight to work on your weaknesses.

Look for ways to grow and live to the fullest. Make the most of your days!

Author Bio

I am Juliane Burton and I am a professional personal life coach. I want to support individuals who are in transition to create long-term sustainable change in their lives.

7 Reasons Why It’s Hard To Control Your COVID Anxiety

The novel coronavirus has a long list of terrifying effects that can lead to stress and anxiety. Though the coronavirus is a physical disease, it has quite a detrimental impact on our mental health as well, and unfortunately, not many people are talking about this. COVID anxiety is becoming a real and dangerous problem.

However, if we are going to take care of our mental health, we need to know why it is difficult to control our anxiety and stress during the pandemic, and I hope reading the rest of this post helps you out.

7 Reasons Why It's Hard to Control Your COVID Anxiety — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that I only work with companies and individuals that I trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Medical Uncertainty

COVID-19 is a new virus that we haven’t seen before, and that means that there are many uncertainties surrounding it. The virus is behaving quite weirdly, and it is difficult to understand who is safe.

For instance, experts believe that older people are more at risk from the virus, but there are several cases where young people have succumbed to it. In contrast, people in their nineties with underlying conditions have survived.

Similarly, experts say that if you recover from the virus, your body develops immunity against it, but several people have contracted the virus more than once.

Therefore, this medical uncertainty is one of the major reasons it can be difficult to manage COVID anxiety.

Financial Uncertainty

The coronavirus has caused a lot of financial problems as well. People are losing their jobs, and companies are going bankrupt, and this has created a very financially stressful situation.

People who can’t work because of the pandemic are uncertain when the lockdown is going to end, and they will be able to resume their work. People working online don’t know if they will have a job next month, and people who own businesses are uncertain whether their business will survive.

This financial uncertainty is another reason for lingering COVID anxiety.

Job Alternatives to Make a Career Switch and Get Hired in 2020 — .

Frightening Headlines

In normal situations, watching the news and staying updated is a good habit. However, during this pandemic, looking at the ever-worsening statistics does nothing but increase your stress.

Therefore, you shouldn’t keep up with how many cases are reported every day and how many people are dying. You should do your part to stop the spread of the virus, and after that, there isn’t much that you can do, so what’s the point of worrying yourself about the virus.

Unfamiliarity

Humans are generally afraid of change, and saying that the coronavirus has changed the way we live is an understatement. From distance learning to online jobs and the continuously changing safety guidelines, things are changing too fast because of the pandemic, and it is making it difficult for us to deal with stress and anxiety.

An effective way to deal with stress and anxiety is vaping. You should check out High Voltage Extracts refill cartridges to counter stress and feel less anxious.

Create a Powerful Morning Routine to Lower Anxiety — .

Lack of Structure

Ever since the pandemic started, our lives have been lacking some much-needed structure. We don’t have a schedule or routines, and this has a very negative impact on our mental health. Without a healthy routine, dealing with anxiety also becomes very challenging.

Therefore, even though you don’t have to go to work, you should create a healthy routine for yourself and follow it. This can help ease symptoms of COVID anxiety.

A Lack of Leadership

In a situation, like we are in now, the general public looks towards its elected officials and medical experts for guidance and leadership. However, with the nature of the virus, even our leaders are unable to provide us with steady support.

Medical experts are learning about the virus, and their statements are continuously changing. This lack of leadership from the people we look towards is another reason why dealing with COVID anxiety is so difficult.

Inability to Seek Support

Since we have to stay in our homes, for the most part, seeing support for anxiety and other mental issues has become quite difficult. People can’t go to support groups, getting therapist appointments is difficult, and above that, we can’t even hang out with our friends without risking getting infected.

Therefore, it is very challenging to deal with COVID anxiety, as there is a lack of emotional support. You should try to build a better bond with your family members and talk to them for emotional support.

2020 has been a very challenging year, and as it reaches its end, we are starting to see some slivers of hope. Though the pandemic isn’t over for now, and it will affect next year as well, knowing that we have battled through a year of it makes us more confident that we can handle it a little longer until the vaccine starts to be used. Just keep your anxiety in check by following the tips mentioned in this post, and hopefully, this pandemic will be over soon.

Author Bio

Josh Lees is a final year psychology student. He is a passionate writer and loves to research about mental and physical health. He has published many articles regarding different mental conditions. To find out more about his journey head over to https://kootenaybotanicals.com/.

12 Signs You Need To Consult A Psychiatrist

The term “mental health” unfortunately has a stigma associated with it, and is scary to most people. Mental illnesses are very common today. Many people need to consult a psychiatrist, but few recognize their needs and look for treatment. Recent research data finds that an estimated 20% of the world population today suffers from some kind of mental disorder like bipolar disorder, anxiety, or depression.

Most people don’t seek treatment for depression. There are various causes behind mental health issues such as chemical imbalances and stress. A proper psychiatric evaluation can help identify the problem, its causes, and the various treatment options that you need to rectify it. Science has made great new strides in the field of psychology and has brought better treatment options that could benefit everybody.

Many people with mental health issues refrain from seeking help out of embarrassment or not are quite sure about who to see. It is important to be able to find out and recognize when someone might need help. There are a number of signs that indicate a need for help. You may want to consult a psychiatrist to determine a treatment plan and you may have to undergo therapy a number of times to be fully cured.

12 Signs You Need to Consult a Psychiatrist — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that I only work with companies and individuals that I trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Inability to Control Emotions

People have moments or times when they are angry, sad, or irritated, and these are normal emotions to have these feelings in life. However, past cases find that they need to visit the Best Psychiatry Hospital or consult a psychiatrist to reap its benefits, if and when someone has excessive emotions that they find unable to get under control. A new triggering situation can be prevented by learning to effectively manage emotions.

Changes in Sleep Patterns

A lot can be said about a person’s mental health from their sleep quality and sleep time. People with mental health issues find themselves having trouble sleeping. They may wake up too many times throughout the night, feel trouble falling asleep or wake up too early. People with such issues do not often get the restorative sleep they need as they tend to spend less time in deep stages of sleep. A lack of proper sleep can make it difficult to cope with mental illness symptoms. Therefore, this results in the development of a constant negative feedback loop. Consult a psychiatrist at any time if you need help so you can be back to full health soon.

4 Ways to Improve Sleep for New Moms — .

Substance Abuse

People with mental health issues often turn to drugs and alcohol addiction to help cope with their illness. It is a red flag if someone needs it on a regular basis and does not find themselves happy without the help of drugs or alcohol, irrespective of whether it is to deal with stress or help relax. This also results in addiction issues. Start therapy immediately and get treatment for depression if you are battling substance addiction so you can be back to full health soon.

Changes in school or work performance

Another sign that spells out the need for a psychiatric test is if an adolescent is suddenly missing class frequently or struggling academically. This is also true for people (adults) who may begin to find it difficult to concentrate on work tasks or begin to miss deadlines many times. Consult a psychiatrist if you are encountering these symptoms.

Withdrawal from social situations

People suffering from excessive anxiety, grief, or severe depression may want to avoid social situations. This could be due to difficulties they feel and face in relating to others or the inability to control emotions. If you experience these kinds of symptoms you need to consult a psychiatrist and get yourself diagnosed.

Mood changes are a significant part of any illness dealing with psychology. They may include borderline personality disorders and other medical problems. Psychotherapy is the main way to deal with and treat mental disorders like personality disorders.

How to NOT feel isolation while in self isolation — .

Unexplained Physical Illnesses

Physical and mental health and illness are very closely related. Seeking help from a therapist or a psychiatrist after you find them is vital if you find yourself having recurring physical ailments without a specific cause. Symptoms typically include headaches, vague aches, and stomach pains. Therapists can slowly help you overcome these problems with the help of therapy.

Excessive Worry, Sadness, or Anxiety

Consult a psychiatrist or a therapist if you feel worried constantly or feel an excess of grief. It is also very crucial to get help when someone has suicidal thoughts. A lot of people today find the processing of new grief due to the loss of someone they love difficult. A therapist knows the psychology behind grief and will be able to help cope with the loss of someone you love through therapy. You need to search and consult a psychiatrist if you are struggling with grief today.

Temper Tantrums or Frequent Nightmares

If you find your child or a person having frequent nightmares or being unable to control tempers on a regular basis, it may be a telltale sign to consult a psychiatrist. Younger children often act emotions out behaviorally because talking about emotions is difficult for them. Bullying by friends at school could be a reason for this. If left untreated, this could result in personality disorders later in life. Have your children see a therapist or psychology doctor at the closest psychology center. You could find and have their school counselor or the Best Psychiatrist give them therapy, and get them properly diagnosed if they are exhibiting these signs today.

Relationships and family issues

Whether family, personal or work-related, relationships have their ups and downs. While relationships can be some of life’s best things, they can also be a source of problems and stress in life. An unfulfilling sex life /love life, a loss at work, irreconcilable differences, and other issues play a role here. Today, family therapy and couples therapy are known to help in these situations and get back to normal. Talking to a psychiatrist after you find them, whether in a group therapy setting or individual therapy, can help you get diagnosed and resolve issues that may form even in the strongest relationships in life. There is no shame in opening up to a doctor for psychiatric treatment today if you are a victim of sex violence or lead an unfulfilling sex life.

Irrational fears

Irrational fears can involve a lot of things, including the fear that someone is watching you or following you. It also includes the extreme fear of situations (eg – social situations, flying, etc.) and objects (eg- spiders, dogs, etc.). These fears can also become obsessive in nature, leading to feeling intrusive and persistent thoughts that create significant anxiety. Irrational fears almost always lead to extreme or irrational behavior. They can make a normal functioning life almost impossible and result in emotional paralysis. If you are experiencing irrational fears or any of the signs, consult a psychiatrist to talk to and start therapy today. Soon you can be back to full health.

Past or Recent Trauma

Trauma is life-changing and can take a very serious toll on your psyche. You will find unwanted images and memories are often branded into your brain that seemingly unrelated things can trigger. Flashbacks, nightmares, disturbing images, feeling severe anxiety, and deeply painful emotions are just a few of the ways feeling trauma can make life very challenging. Therapy is known to help in these situations and get back to normal.

Common types of trauma include being assaulted, almost dying in an accident, witnessing something graphically tragic, an abusive family life being in combat, surviving a horrific natural disaster, or being sexually or physically abused as an adult or child. This can result in tendencies of self-harm and substance addiction. Consult a psychiatrist or therapist for help immediately if you are having trouble processing grief and trauma, or if the signs above show up today.

6 Ways to Get Online Help for Postpartum Depression — .

Troubled Relationship with Food and Eating

Often combined with a distorted body image that is triggered by comments of friends and peers, this can be one of the signs of an eating disorder. Eating disorders can cause a whole world of problems for you. Not only do they unnecessarily consume a lot of your time and energy, but they can also fatally affect your health. Talking to a therapist will help you get back on your feet and benefit you in many ways.

Find the right help

The list above covers a broad range of signs of potential mental disorders today. Other things that should be considered seriously include unusual perceptual experiences, a long pattern of relationship difficulties, abusive behavior, low self-esteem, and problems in processing grief. While talking to friends and family is always encouraged, only a specialist in psychology will get you and be able to tell you what to do. There is no shame in seeking treatment from a professional about unfulfilled sex life or being a victim of sex assault. Speak up, find a therapist, and start therapy today. Soon you can be back to full health.

Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out

In recent times, there has been a lot of new development in the realm of mental health treatment. Science has made the accessibility of new treatment more affordable and faster. Find a local therapist today and build a therapy relationship that is communicative, open, and prosperous. Therapy is all about optimizing your mental health and helping you live life better. Think of therapy as a self-help science activity that will do wonders for your personality and make you ready to take on the world better and faster. Under therapist supervision, you will be able to get diagnosed for all sorts of psychological disorders.

Conclusion

Science and research data says the center of the problem behind many psychological illnesses lies in not being able to talk to one’s friends and family. Search and find therapy for every budget on this list. Talk to your family and friends and ask for help. New research tells us that personality can shift in response to therapy. Simply being able to get their problems out in open helps many people improve their mental clarity and improve their personality. A therapist can help you get the most out of life. Find the best psychiatric help center in your area, and consult with the best psychiatrists for depression treatment options.

Author Bio

Martin is a Content Writer and loves to blog about health-related articles particularly about health care. He enjoys learning and He specializes in guest blogging, blog publishing, and social media. He is an avid reader and loves writing impeccable content pertaining to health care.

I Tried Online Therapy for 30 Days and This is What Happened

Online therapy can be a great tool for busy moms.

For the past few months, I’ve been dealing with depression, despite being on anti-depressants. I assumed it was triggered by the chronic pain I have been experiencing since developing scar tissue adhesions following my hysterectomy for endometriosis. Having suffered from depression off and on since being diagnosed with postpartum depression many years ago, I didn’t want to let it get out of control. So I thought it was time to try out cognitive behavioral therapy via Online-Therapy.com.

Here’s a look at what my experience was like with online therapy.

I tried Online Therapy for 30 Days and this is what happened — *This is NOT a sponsored post but it does contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that I only recommend products that I love from companies that I trust. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. I am simply a mother who has been there and lived to tell the tale.

How Does Online Cognitive Behavior Therapy Work?

I have tried online therapy before, in the form of online talk therapy. That means that I’ve video chatted with a licensed therapist to discuss my thoughts and feelings. I’ve also done talk therapy in person, so online talk therapy wasn’t much different from that, aside from the convenience of it.

But cognitive behavior therapy at online-therapy.com is a completely different world. First of all, it’s not talk therapy. It’s a series of activities that you do in order to help reprogram your brain. The idea being that if you can change your way of thinking, you can change your behaviors and ultimately, your mood.

What to do if you think you have postpartum depression — .

Secondly, you do it all at your own pace. I decided to be more aggressive and try to complete all the sections in 30 days. This meant that I was logging on and completing at least one worksheet every couple of days. But there is no timeline, no deadlines, no schedules, no specific hours of availability. You can complete a worksheet in the middle of the night if you want to!

And finally, while you’re doing it all on your own, you’re never actually alone. You’re assigned one therapist to work with you throughout the entire process. As you complete sections and worksheets, your therapist will leave comments about what you’ve written. You can schedule a weekly live chat and you can email your therapist whenever you need to. Over the 30 days, I really did develop a bond with my therapist and looked forward to connecting with her during the weekly chats.

The Benefits of Working Solo

I’ve always been better working at my own pace. Some days I would complete an entire section with it’s corresponding worksheets, and other days I would just do part of a section and one worksheet. And while the worksheets are designed for self-reflection, I always looked forward to getting that notification that my therapist had responded to my answers. When it was time for our live chat session, I couldn’t wait to talk to her about some of the things we had worked on. She always had great input and feedback about the things I’d written in my worksheets.

While it was reassuring that my therapist was always there for me, I also felt empowered that I was taking control of my own thoughts and emotions. The worksheets really made me think. I was responsible for examining my own negative behaviors and how I responded to certain triggers. Taking ownership of my reactions to common situations made me want to change my behaviors even more.

Towards the last few sections, I became much more efficient at recognizing my negative thoughts and behaviors and how to replace them with positive ones, or healthier negative ones. At the time, I found some of the worksheets to be repetitive, but now I see that was done on purpose. Having to recall certain thoughts and behaviors over and over meant finding out which ones affected me the most.

One Year Postpartum & Still Depressed — .

The Online Therapy Toolbox

The sections and worksheets are just one part of the cognitive behavior therapy process. In order to get the most out of therapy, I needed to make some life changes.

Yoga and meditation was something I have been wanting to incorporate into my daily life for a while now. In the online therapy toolbox, there are a series of yoga videos that I can access at any time, and they include both short workouts and longer ones.

The online journal was another great tool available 24/7. As a writer, journaling has been something I’ve started and stopped several times throughout my life. But the online therapy journal isn’t just a blank page for me to write in all my thoughts, instead there were specific questions I needed to answer each day to get me thinking about how I wanted to feel. This made it easy for me to set goals each morning and be accountable for achieving those goals each evening.

The action plan was a place where I was really accountable for making progress. As I went through the online therapy course, I scheduled specific activities to help me get better. Things like yoga, exercise, socializing events and health appointments. As I completed each activity on my action plan, I checked off that it was done and it was added to my “ta-da” list (instead of a to-do list). Seeing all the actions I had completed towards improving my mental health gave me a sense of accomplishment.

Getting a Diagnosis

As I go through and complete the worksheets, my therapist reads all of my answers. She leaves a comment within 24 hours and I can reply if I want to. She was able to divulge certain things from my answers that I didn’t immediately see. Together, we came to the conclusion that I was suffering from some trauma related to my hysterectomy. I realized that I hadn’t grieved for the loss of my uterus in the right way and therefore, every time I felt pelvic pain, I was reminded of that loss.

Following that revelation, I began to work on activities to help me grieve. I started to write about the loss and allow myself to feel the emptiness, even cry about it. I now have an answer as to why the pain causes me to be depressed, and I have an action plan in place on how to replace that depression with something more positive.

Was 30 Days of Therapy Enough?

The thing about cognitive behavior therapy is that it’s not something someone else does for you. It’s something you learn to do yourself. It’s not like getting a massage, it’s more like learning how to drive. Once you learn how to change your thinking, it’s something you need to continue to do regularly. And the more you practice, the better and more confident you will get.

Online-therapy.com offers a course in cognitive behavior therapy. How long it takes you to complete the course is up to you. I managed to complete the entire course in 30 days but that doesn’t signal the end of my therapy. I now need to take everything I’ve learned and put into practice in my every day life.

Others may need longer than 30 days to complete the course and may want additional therapist support along the way. Thankfully, sessions are billed monthly and you can stop at any time with the click of one button. And you’ll still have access to your toolbox even after the subscription ends, so you can continue with the yoga and meditation, journal entries and action plan.

In Conclusion

This was the right form of therapy for me because I find it easier to write out my emotions than to voice them. I was also in a place where I wanted to get better, and I wanted to take ownership of my own mind and moods. Those things were key to getting the most out of the online therapy experience.

If you’re not quite ready to do it on your own, consider the package that allows two live chats a week instead of one, so that you have that additional support. Online-therapy.com costs less than traditional talk therapy because you’re not paying for someone else’s time by the hour. I put off doing it for a long time because of the cost associated with it. But eventually I needed to prioritize my own mental health, no matter the cost.

So whatever your struggle is, I urge you to consider this option. You may not find a diagnosis or the root cause of your mental health issues in just 30 days, and you definitely don’t need to. For many people, mental health disorders are a lifelong battle. You may need to do multiple rounds of therapy or try a combination of treatment options to find relief. But if you’re interested in learning how to take control of your own mind and moods, then cognitive behavior therapy might be for you.

Click here to sign up for Online-Therapy.com and get 20% off your first month.

The Danger of the “Fake it ‘Till You Make it” Advice for Postpartum Depression

Moms have to deal with all kinds of advice when it comes to being a parent.

Many mothers with postpartum depression are told to “fake it ’till you make it” which is a common psychotherapy practice. And in many cases, it’s a great way of building up a person’s confidence and self esteem. But it’s not always the best course of action and can actually be more dangerous than good. There’s a reason why this advice is best given by a licensed therapist and not just anyone on the street.

Here’s some more information about why the “fake it ’till you make it” advice isn’t always best for managing postpartum depression.

The Danger of the Fake It Till You Make It Advice for Postpartum Depression — *This post contains affiliate and/or paid links which means that if you click on one of these links and buy a product, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Rest assured that I only recommend products that I love from companies that I trust. Furthermore, I am not a medical professional and nothing in this post should be taken as medical advice. I am simply a mother who has been there and lived to tell the tale.

What does “fake it ’till you make it” really mean?

It’s all about pretending. Let’s say a new mother is struggling to bond with her baby or feel any emotions other than sadness and despair. She may be given the advice to “fake it ’till you make it.” What it means is that she should pretend to be happy. She should smile and cuddle with her baby as often as possible. The theory is that acting happy will convince her brain that she actually is happy until eventually she’s not depressed anymore.

I know, right? It sounds ridiculous.

But believe it or not, there is some merit behind this advice. It falls into the same category of things like positive affirmations, self help books, pep talks, or other self esteem building activities. They all work by building up our confidence and helping us to feel positive, empowered and worthy. The “fake it ’till you make it” advice basically says that if you want to be happy, you have to do what happy people do.

11 Things Moms Do That Can Harm Their Mental Health — .

Why it’s not the best advice for postpartum depression.

While the practice of “faking it ’till you make it” does work for many people, it’s not the best thing to say to a woman suffering from postpartum depression. First of all, it’s dismissive. Telling a new mother simply to “fake it ’till you make it” is kind of like a slap in the face. It can leave her feeling ignored and neglected and makes light of her suffering. Postpartum depression is a major mental health disorder and being told to “fake it till you make it” treats it as no big deal.

The “fake it ’till you make it” advice is often misunderstood.

It’s not at all about faking a state of happiness in front of other people. But this happens too often, especially among mothers. When someone asks us how we feel following the birth of our child, we hide all of our pain and suffering and fake a smile.

Instead, the “fake it ’till you make it” advice should be focused inwards.

The idea is for mothers to act happy in order to train their own minds and not to convince anyone else. Smiling in the mirror or dancing and singing to music when no one else is around are ways that we can fake a state of happiness for ourselves and no one else.

“Faking it” can also make it difficult to gauge whether or not your condition is getting better or worse.

The lines between real and fake can start to become blurred. This makes it difficult to tell whether the symptoms of postpartum depression are truly improving or not. If you’re planning to “fake it ’till you make it” you still need to be honest about how you are feeling in order to determine if it’s working.

Meditation Tips for People Who Hate to Meditate — .

What to try instead.

Boosting your confidence and re-training your brain to focus on the positive are both very important for healing from postpartum depression. But there are lots of ways to do it.

Without the help of a trained therapist, it can be all too easy for a mother to get stuck in this “fake” world. Postpartum depression already has a way of isolating us from the outside world and keeping us apart from our loved ones. When it comes to mental illness, things can get out of control without warning if left untreated. If you’re considering using the “fake it ’till you make it” method for boosting your confidence, do so with caution and preferably with the help and support of a medical professional.

6 Ways to Get Online Help for Postpartum Depression

Too many mothers with postpartum depression or anxiety put off seeking help or getting the care they need.

One reason for this is because they just don’t know where to go or who to talk to. And even if they did know, the idea of leaving the house for appointments can be both inconvenient and terrifying. The good news is that, thanks to modern technology, there are many ways for a mother to get online help for postpartum depression from the comfort of her own home. Not only is it convenient, but it makes it easier to find the right person to speak to. Instead of having to rely on resources available locally, women now have access to an international panel of experts.

Here are a few different ways that mothers can access online help for postpartum depression.

1. Try Online Therapy

One of the best ways for moms to get help for postpartum depression is by speaking to a therapist. But it’s also something that many women avoid doing for several reasons:

It’s tough to arrange for childcare during appointments, especially with a brand new or exclusively breastfed baby.
There is a lot of stigma around “going to therapy” that may deter a mother from choosing to do it in public.
With so many horror stories of mothers being treated like criminals, they may avoid speaking to someone without knowing how that person will react first.
Finding the right therapist can be difficult. It sometimes requires a referral from a doctor, which can delay the process.
Having to make phone calls to set up appointments, get dressed to go out, interact with others socially and feel judged by everyone along the way is an exhausting task for mothers with postpartum depression.
Mothers don’t always feel at their worst between 9 – 5, Monday to Friday. Some therapists might offer an emergency number to call but that would mean inconveniencing someone and mothers aren’t usually down for doing that, no matter how bad it gets.

Signing up for online therapy can solve so many of these problems. Online therapy is convenient, affordable and private. There are several different companies that offer online therapy, ranging from traditional therapy sessions to something more interactive. Here’s a review of some of the best online therapy apps and sites from Consumers Advocate. Or check out my recommendations below.

Online-Therapy allows you to work on cognitive behavior therapy at your own pace. You complete various reading sections and worksheets, like chapters in a text book. Your therapist guides you along the way, providing feedback on your answers and offers support via live chat or e-mail. You also get a variety of other tools and resources at your disposal, 24/7. You can access an online forum for therapy members, yoga and meditation videos, workbooks and more. You get so much more than just a therapy session, and you can do it all right from home. [Read more about my experience here]

BetterHelp is a popular online therapy company that works hard to match you with the right counselor. You can complete the online questionnaire as the very first step so that your therapist will have some information about your condition ahead of time.

eVideo Counselor is another great option for moms suffering from postpartum depression. Through their sessions, you can video chat directly with a licensed and HIPAA compliant therapist. You schedule your appointments just like any other therapist office but speak to your therapist using your computer or cell phone. The sessions are much more like traditional therapy sessions and your therapist can send their notes to your doctor for followup.

2. Make a Phone Call

Sometimes, when you are having a really bad day, you just need to talk to someone who understands. A helpline is designed specifically for that purpose. While not technically considered online help for postpartum depression, it’s still something that you can do from the comfort of your own home and have access to 24/7.

If you are having suicidal thoughts and need to speak to someone urgently:

In the US:

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8225

In Canada:

Call the National Crisis Services Canada Number 1-833-456-4566 and you will be connected with the closest provincial crisis center to your location.

Internationally:

On the Befrienders Worldwide website, you can search for suicide helplines by country. The website is also available in different languages and provides resources and information about mental health.

For general information, support and resources:

Call the Postpartum Support International’s Helpline 1-800-944-4773 (4PPD). It’s a messaging system so you would have to leave a message and then someone would get back to you as soon as possible. It is NOT meant for emergencies, but rather, to find out where and how to get help.

3. Send a Text Message

Texting is a newer way that moms can get online help for postpartum depression and many support groups are making this an option. It is so much easier for a mother battling a mental illness to send a text message when she’s overwhelmed with thoughts and feelings, rather than speak to someone over the phone or face to face.

In the US:

Text HOME to 741741 for any type of crisis and a trained counselor from the Crisis Text Line will respond 24/7.

In Canada:

Text HOME to 686868 to access the Crisis Text Line in Canada. This text line is managed by volunteers and is a division of the Kids Help Phone.

Text Crisis Services Canada at 45645 anytime between 5 pm and 1 am and get a response from someone at the crisis center. A live chat option is also available on their website (also between 5 pm and 1 am).

You can also text the Postpartum Support International’s Warmline at 503-894-9453 for information and to get support and resources close to where you live.

Many local support groups also offer their own text line, so make sure to find out what they are and store them in your phone for emergencies.

Get this FREE printable PDF Quick Reference Guide of National Crisis Support Numbers in the Running in Triangles Free Resource Library, available exclusively to subscribers of the Postpartum Depression Survival Guide. Click here to subscribe.

4. Join a Facebook Support Group

Facebook support groups are a great way to get online help for postpartum depression. Not only will you be able to find some posts that you relate to, but you’ll see that you’re not alone in your struggles.

If you’re not big on communicating with strangers, it helps just to read some of the posts and comments. If you have a particular question, you can search for it in the group and see if someone else has already asked about it. It’s a great resource to get peer support and advice for postpartum depression and anxiety.

Some of the groups that I’m in and would recommend:

Postpartum Support International – Group Size: Large (8,000 + Members).

If you have a question about treatment options, symptoms, previous experiences – this is the place to go to get your questions answered. PSI’s support group is a mix of health care professionals, therapists, sufferers and survivors. If you have a question about anything related to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, you will find it here.

Momma’s Postpartum Depression Support Group – Group Size: Medium (4,000 + Members).

This group is a very supportive one and the perfect place to go and vent about what you’re feeling. If you just need someone to talk to or share your story with someone who will understand, then the women in this group are here for you.

Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Support Group – Group Size: Small (3,000 + Members).

What I love about this smaller group is that you really get the chance to connect with other members. If you’re seeking more than just a sounding board, and hoping to make friends and build a support system to help you through this difficult time, then consider joining this group.

Everything You Need to Know About Postpartum Anxiety — .

5. Hire a Postpartum Doula

A postpartum doula is someone who comes to your house after you have a baby specifically to help you out. They are not like a nanny, in that, they are there to support you and not simply to take care of the baby and the house. They are trained to recognize the early symptoms of a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder and can direct you where to get help. Most can be hired to work a night shift so that you can get the sleep you desperately need. I consider this a form of online help for postpartum depression because searching various websites is generally the best way to find the right doula for you.

There are several websites you can use to find a doula in your area:

DONA International

One of the most widely recognized doula certification organizations – you can search their database for a postpartum doula near you!

ICEA (International Childbirth Education Association)

A non-profit organization that supports doulas and other professional childbirth educators. Their list includes both certified and non-certified doulas.

Doula Match

You can search a database of over 10,000 doulas in Canada and the US and the best part is that you can enter the dates when you would need their services to make sure that they are available before contacting them.

6. Download an App

There are so many apps available to help with almost any kind of problem you’re experiencing. Online help for postpartum depression in the form of an app is so convenient and always at your fingertips. Instead of scrolling through social media on your phone, download a meditation or self care app to use regularly instead.

Mom Genes Fight PPD

This is part of an important research study but the app provides resources for women with postpartum depression. Read more about it on the Mom Genes Fight PPD website.

MGHPDS (Massachusetts General Hospital Perinatal Depression Scale)

This is a good one for new moms who are concerned about developing postpartum depression or anxiety. It contains questionnaires to assess your mood and stress level and will remind you to take them again every few weeks so that you can document any changes. The questions are similar to those used by medical professionals to check for maternal mood disorders.

Virtual Hope Box

This app was originally designed by the military to help patients coping with PTSD. It’s recommended by therapists as a supplement to treatment for stress and anxiety disorders, but it can be a great tool for a mother battling postpartum depression. You have the ability to add happy photos or video memories, favorite songs and quotes and access tools for coping with stress and anxiety.

Headspace

Practicing meditation and mindfulness are great ways to help with postpartum depression and anxiety. This popular meditation app is easy to use and has sessions ranging from 1 minute up to 10 minutes. It’s perfect for a busy mom with only a few minutes to spare.

14 Ways to Help A Mother with Postpartum Depression — .

Online help for postpartum depression should never be a replacement for help from a medical professional. Always make sure that your doctor knows what you are feeling.

But also, get educated. Know who to call and how to take care of yourself.

When my battle with postpartum depression began, 6 years ago, I didn’t even have a smartphone. Aside from a few brochures that I was given in my doctor’s office, I had very little information about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Now, almost anyone can access online help for postpartum depression. There is so much more information for struggling mothers, that it would be a shame to let it all go to waste.