Stop Checking Your Phone In The Morning!

If you’re anything like me that means the moment you wake up you roll over, check your phone for notifications, and then somehow end up on Instagram for 20 minutes. For many people this is the first way we start our mornings, however this is a habit everyone should actively work on to break.

When waking up, our brain goes from delta waves (sleeping) to theta waves (daydreamy) then to alpha waves (awake/relaxed). Everytime you look at your phone right when you wake up the brain is forced to jump from delta waves to beta waves (alert/wide awake). This interrupts the natural flow our minds are conditioned to follow and results in more anxiety, stress, feelings of being overwhelmed, and makes people more easily distracted.

Checking emails, messages, missed calls, and social media right when you wake up sets the day up to be more stressful than it should be with a less relaxed mind. In result, people are less likely to complete tasks throughout the day and more likely to spend their time mindlessly scrolling due to increased distractibility. Not only that, but checking your phone first thing in the morning has been linked to depression and sleep disturbances. 

There are so many ways we can start our day off on a more positive note while letting our brain flow through its waves in its natural order. Habits such as making your bed, journaling, drinking a glass of water, reading a book, getting some sun, stretching and meditating, and creating a realistic to-do list sets up our day to be more productive and stress free. 

Bipolar 1 vs Bipolar 2: What’s the Difference?

Bipolar disorder features a period of unusually intense, elevated, or irritable moods that are alternated with or accompanied by one or more depressive episodes. This is a lifelong diagnosis with symptoms including restlessness, agitation, sleeplessness, pressured speech, racing thoughts, sexual disinhibitions, surges of enegry, and grandiose beliefs. Many individuals are only taught about bipolar one and bipolar two, however there are more than two types.

Bipolar one is characterized by periods of severe mood episodes during mania and then into an episode of depression. Bipolar two includes more mild forms of mood elevation from hypomania that alternate with severe depression. The third type of bipolar disorder, cyclothymic disorder, is when an individual experiences brief periods of hypomanic symptoms that alternate with shorter periods of depressive symptoms. In cyclothymic disorder, depressive symptoms don’t last as long as bipolar one or two. In addition, people can have “mixed features” of bipolar disorder in which they experience simultaneous symptoms of opposite moods during manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes. “Mixed features” symptoms include high energy, sleeplessness, and racing thoughts in addition to possible feelings of hopelessness and suicidal feelings. Lastly, rapid-cycling refers to when an individual has four or more mood episodes within the span of 12 months with episodes lasting for days to be considered distinct episodes. 

The prevalence of children diagnosed with any form of bipolar disorder is extremely rare, however the rate of which people are diagnosed increases after puberty. 60% of those diagnosed with bipolar one will have their first episode by the age of 19 and the majority receive a diagnosis as a teenager or in their early twenties. While bipolar disorder is a lifelong diagnosis, medication and psychotherapy help individuals struggling to live a healthier life.

Source: Webmd.com

National Coming Out Day

Since 1988, October 11th has become the National Coming Out Day which was founded by psychologists Richard Eichberg and gay rights activist Jean O’Leary. Eichberg and O’Leary founded this day to celebrate and raise awareness for the LGBT community and their fight during the civil rights movement. The reason for picking this day is to remember the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay rights that took place in 1987. The first march was in 1979 and the second march in 1987 had five times the amount of people fighting for LGBT rights. 

Every individual has an innate desire to be understood and accepted which is why understanding the intersections of cultural identities such as ethnicity and disability status among LGBT individuals is important for psychological wellbeing. Individuals within the community still face many hardships within the United States such as LGBT individuals are less insured and face greater food insecurity than non-LGBT people. In addition, LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience depression, harassment, and issues with academic performance. For these reasons we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community because while we have come far since 1988 there are rights that are still being fought for. 

When the LGBTQ+ community is able to share their stories and be heard it creates a greater understanding among those outside of the community. One of the main reasons hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals occurs is because the offender lacks acceptance or valuing of that person. Sexuality and gender is a spectrum that every person is entitled to explore and should only be accepted and understood instead of discriminated against. By celebrating National Coming Out Day and having an open conversation we are only bettering society. 

Source: APA.org, Williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu

Mental Illness Awareness Week

Mental Illness Awareness Week occurs during the first week of October with each day focusing on a specific topic. Stigma, medication, therapy, disclosing, and caregiving are the topics discussed so that people can become further educated on the aspects of these topics. 

Mental illness has become a serious health concern in the United States and by talking about what people are going through we can further raise awareness. Somebody that you know or love experiences a mental illness each year because one in five adults are diagnosed with a mental illness each year. In addition, one in six children between the ages of six and seventeen are diagnosed with a mental health disorder annually. If you as an individual have never experienced a mental illness it is still vital to become informed for those we love and society as a whole. 

In the United States alone each year 48 million people are diagnosed with anxiety disorders, 1.5 million people with schizophrenia, 9 million people with posttraumatic stress disorder, and 3 million people with obsessive compulsive disorder. However, only about half of those diagnosed will receive treatment leaving the other half untreated and in need. Mental illness needs to be treated as the health concern that it is with treatment available to any individual in need of assistance. 

If you or a loved one is seeking support or information on anything related to mental health, contact the NAMI HelpLine for additional help. This HelpLine is free and offers information, referrals, support for anyone living with a mental health condition as well as their family and caregivers. You can also call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “HelpLine” to 62640. 

Source: NAMI.org

Impacts of Unresolved Trauma

While addressing unresolved trauma can be a scary thought, one should consider the impact of not addressing their trauma adequately. For many, the idea of speaking with a therapist about their unresolved trauma seems like an impossible thing to do, however it will only benefit our lives in the best way possible.

When we as humans do not heal from or acknowledge our trauma it is kept within the body and has a significant impact on our day to day functioning. You may be thinking to yourself this is untrue, however science has proven the body remembers trauma. Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, PTSD, and addiction are a few of the more known results of unresolved trauma.

There are a plethora of responses the body will endure if trauma is continually disregarded. Sleeping too much or too little, eating disorders, becoming detached from those we love, feelings of deep shame, and unexplained fears can develop as well. In addition, hyper vigilance, suicidal ideation, self-harm, feelings of extreme anger, and dissociation can occur as well.

Do not let the fear of speaking with a therapist about your trauma impact your daily life and relationships with those that you love. Learn the proper tools to live life to its fullest potential while healing here at Perspectives Anew Therapy. Life is worth living and enjoying, and we are here to help you be the healthiest, happiest version of yourself.

Suicide Prevention

With September being Suicide Prevention Month, it’s important to talk about the factors that increase the risk of suicide in order to enhance resilience as well as educate the public on suicide in the United States.

There are many factors that put one at an increased risk for suicide on mutliple levels. Individual risk factors include a history of depression, victimization, financial difficulties, and chronic pain. Relationship risk factors can include loss of relationships or intimate partner violence, while community risk factors include a lack of healthcare, a history of trauma, and discrimination. Lastly, societal risk factors include feeling a sense of shame for seeking help and access to means of suicide when at risk. 

Many individuals believe that suicide is not an issue in the United States, however it is a leading cause of death and has become a serious public health concern. Because of this, it’s important to address the rate of which suicide is committed in the United States because if we do not talk about it the numbers will only continue to grow. Individuals struggling with suicidal ideation or tendencies deserve to be informed on the tools they can utilize to help them overcome this battle. 

Anyone who is struggling with suicidal ideation or tendencies should immediately seek help from a therapist and confide in someone they love and trust. If one believes they are in immediate danger to themselves, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 which is available 24/7. If someone close to you has confided they are suicidal, make sure you are listening while being sympathetic as well as taking them seriously. Those at risk for committing suicide do not need to be blamed or argued with, instead be a helping hand through this extremely hard time they are enduring. 

Everyone deserves to live a happy and healthy life, nobody should ever endure pain alone. If you are struggling with suicidal ideation or tendencies, call 988 for help and get set up with a therapist today. Life is worth living, and we are committed to helping you grow in every area of your life.