Tag: stress

4 Ways to Prevent the Most Common Stressful Situations During the Pandemic

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Self-isolating has many positive impacts on reducing the spread of COVID-19, but it also has several negative impacts on our mental and physical health. This is especially true for larger households. Are the stress and tension rising at home? With school happening in the dining room and conference calls in the living room, the lines between work and home are more blurred than ever. Here are a few ways to alleviate some common household stressors during the pandemic.

Make remote work more comfortable.

Parents and kids are both struggling with the new world of virtual learning. It can be frustrating when technology won’t work properly, especially when you need it to. You can keep the entire household calmer by proactively addressing common tech troubles ahead of time. For example, set computers to manually update and turn them all off at night. That can result in fewer random computer restarts, like in the middle of math class or your big presentation. 

Also, consider increasing your internet speeds to accommodate all users who will be on simultaneously, whether they’re working, doing schoolwork, or playing video games. You can combat lag and boost your internet speed by upgrading to 5G internet if it’s available in your location. 

Start meditating together.

Getting everyone in the family to do daily meditation can alter stress and tension in a variety of ways. Research shows that meditation reduces stress by lowering blood pressure, but it also relaxes your muscles — easing back, neck, and shoulder pain in the process. 

There are many benefits to meditation. For example, meditation can help your family empathize more with each other. We also suggest creating morning and evening routines that focus on meditation to improve energy levels.

Stay active and eat healthy.

It can be tough to stay motivated when you’re in self-isolation. But if COVID-19 is turning you into a couch potato, it’s likely doing the same for your kids. That can lead to unhealthy habits, sedentary lifestyles, and poor coping mechanisms.

Keep your family active by going on walks and doing online exercise classes together. There are plenty of free videos on YouTube you can follow or you can sign up for live virtual classes with a local gym — which also allows your local fitness professionals to stay afloat as a bonus. And be sure to eat healthy meals! Meal delivery services drop off gourmet vegetarian and vegan meals right at your door.

Practice an attitude of gratitude.

When you are proactively grateful, you stand a better chance of feeling less stress even in typically stressful situations. Gather your family around the dinner table and turn it into a conversation about gratitude, discussing the many ways we feel thankful for a valuable experience or lesson learned.

When your family practices gratitude, you help them build up a defense against depression, see new opportunities, feel optimistic, show more empathy, and boost feelings of self-worth. These are all ways to move through painful or tense situations of isolation and into feelings of support, unity, and camaraderie. 

Self-isolating with family can be a stressful time. In many ways, we’re going to look back on COVID-19 and see that, while in some ways we’ve been separated, we’ve also had more time together. Help your family reframe stressful situations into learning opportunities with positive outcomes. 

If you need someone to talk to or options for managing your own mental health, Shushan Khachatryan offers professional therapy to help you cope with life’s challenges. Call (818) 926-3030 to request an appointment. 

Author: Cheryl Conklin from Wellness Central

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Happy Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving, a widely celebrated day dedicated to acknowledging the goodness in our lives.

We stop to reflect on things and people we are thankful for. Being thankful is strongly linked with both mental and physical health. Thankfullnes can help relieve stress, depression and addictions, among other conditions. Various studies link counting one’s blessings to health. The simple act of expressing gratitude on a consistent basis has been shown to positively impact key areas in a person’s life. These areas include: relationships and connectedness, emotional well-being, and better physical and psychological health. Better psychological health means that people are more likely to engage in health-promoting activities and to seek medical help when it needed. Of course, it’s possible that mentally healthier people feel that they have more to be grateful for, which may explain some of their extra thankfulness.

Those who are struggling with mental health issues may find it difficult to find positivity in their lives.

The reality of Thanksgiving for some Americans is filled with family tension, arguments, sorrow and loss. Others face the stress of hosting, or the dread of being asked questions about their lives that they are not ready to answer. In a recent online poll conducted by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Read More

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Effects of Domestic Violence on Children

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Watch this short video to learn about the effects of domestic violence on children. Understand the signs and symptoms children may exhibit, what type of support they need, and how to prevent trauma.

 

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Symptoms of Depression

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Symptoms of Depression

Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms. Read below to learn about some signs of depression and so that you know when it’s time to seek help.

  • Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood
  • Feelings of hopelessness
  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed
  • Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
  • Insomnia, early morning awakening or oversleeping
  • Appetite and/or weight loss, or overeating and weight gain
  • Thoughts of death or suicide attempts
  • Restlessness, irritability
  • Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain

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Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. Just getting through the day can be overwhelming. But no matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. Understanding the signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression is the first step to overcoming the problem.

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Rise To The Challenges

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Hello,

I am a psychotherapist providing therapy to Individuals, Couples, Families, and Adolescents in Los Angeles area. I can help you cope with life’s challenges such as, death of a loved one, domestic violence, addiction, family/relationship problems, marital conflict, infertility, abuse, chronic illness, unemployment, etc..

My goal is to assist you in your journey of working towards your potential and improving your well-being, as well as build on your strengths and attain the personal growth you are committed to accomplishing. It is my passion to help individuals move from suffering and hardship to a place of happiness and comfort.

I provide a caring, safe and professional environment for my patients where everything is kept confidential. My experience and areas of specialty include but is not limited to the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship issues, addiction issues and, anger management.

If you feel that I may be a good fit for you, contact me to schedule a session by clicking on the link below. I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely Yours,

Shushan

Happiness

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/name/Shushan_Khachatryan_MFTI_Encino_California_210953

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Understanding Insomnia, its Symptoms, and Causes

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Do you struggle to get to sleep no matter how tired you are? Or do you wake up in the middle of the night and lie awake for hours, anxiously watching the clock? Insomnia is a common problem that takes a toll on your energy, mood, health, and ability to function during the day.

What is Insomnia?

People who have insomnia have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Insomnia is the inability to get the amount of sleep you need to wake up feeling rested and refreshed.

Symptoms

  • Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired
  • Waking up frequently during the night
  • Trouble getting back to sleep when awakened
  • Exhausting sleep
  • Relying on sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep
  • Waking up too early in the morning
  • Daytime drowsiness, fatigue, or irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating during the day

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Does Chronic Illness Cause Depression?

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Chronic illness affects the population worldwide and it is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States. It accounts for 70% of all deaths in the U.S., which is 1.7 million each year. More than 125 million Americans have at least one chronic illness and estimates that by the year 2020, 157 million Americans will have a chronic illness.

Examples of chronic illnesses include diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Many people with these illnesses become depressed. In fact, depression is one of the most common complications of chronic illness. It’s estimated that up to one-third of people with a serious medical condition have symptoms of depression.
The symptoms of depression are sometimes overlooked because they are overshadowed by the illness or dismissed as normal feelings of a person dealing with a chronic illness. Read More

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What is happiness?

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Happiness comes from balancing your mind, body, and spirit.

  • Exercise regularly
  • Don’t consume too much alcohol and junk food
  • Try to get enough sleep
  • Clear the heaviness from your mind through meditation, yoga or prayer.

It is also important to balance the time between colleagues and friends. If you only spend time with colleagues and miss out on the time with friends, then your social network is missing.

Similarly, if you spend every minute of your available time with your partner and disregard the importance of buddies, your social life will be impacted. Read More

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