Archive for the 'Mental Health' Category

Tips For Building SelfEsteem

Self-esteem is a personality ingredient that one has to have and if possible in great amounts. That is not to say that a person needs to be extremely sure of oneself to the point of arrogance; they just need enough amounts to be able to withstand the pressures of life and lead a contented existence.

It wouldn’t make much difference if self-esteem can be measured.

This is because there is really no specific amount of self-esteem that one can be prescribed with. Different persons need different amounts of self-esteem the same way that different dynamics or aspects of one person’s life require different doses of self-esteem. There is really no specific amount. In fact, different situations also demand different amounts of self-esteem.

Whatever the amounts that you need, there is no argument that one needs self-esteem. It is basically developed during the growing up years in the way we are treated by our parents and the people around us. Parental treatment and social group interaction play major roles in the development of self-esteem. But that is not to say that self-esteem will be a permanent fixture come adulthood. It can still be developed and enhanced, no matter what the age is.

Below are some tips in how to develop the self-esteem, techniques that can work across all ages. Read on and you might get a thing or two that you can apply in your own life or with other people.

Self-affirmation

There is a difference between self-love and narcissism. Although it is not recommended to become obsessed with one’s positive qualities, it is not wrong to once in a while acknowledge our achievements and talents. Self-affirmation is a great way to increase our self-esteem levels. Telling yourself that you are great in front of the mirror every morning may seem too much but it actually works in increasing one’s self-confidence.

Of course, you don’t have to take self-affirmation to the extreme if you don’t want to. Sometimes acknowledging the little achievements that you have done at the end of the day is enough to raise the rate of self-esteem.

Doing the things that you love

There is no aphrodisiac that would make you love yourself more than doing the things that you love. When you love what you are doing, you become happier and more enthusiastic. You will also become more interested in developing your skills, thereby improving yourself and allowing you to trust yourself more. Besides, if you are happy with what you are doing, you are more confident with your decisions and your actions.

Voicing out

There is something quite liberating with voicing out your own opinions and speaking your mind. Although there are some people who would try to put you down and argue with what you believe in; there are still people who will respect you for your thoughts. Acknowledging your thoughts and becoming comfortable with your thoughts will allow you to slowly trust yourself; thus increasing your self-esteem.

Accepting that you are not perfect

There is no perfect person in the world. Often, people develop low self esteem because they try so much to become perfect; but one thing that they have to learn is that they cannot become one because there is no perfect person. All they can be is the best that they can be.

3 Red Flags of Narcissism

1 Hes too good to be true.

In the beginning if he seems too good to be true, he probably is. Theres a reason for this old adage. When you meet a narcissist, he appears to be your prince in shining armor. He sweeps you off your feet and is incredibly charming. You are in disbelief that this man possesses all the qualities you have been looking for in a mate. Listen to your gut and trust it. Dont believe everything he tells you.

Narcissists have an uncanny ability to figure out what you want in a man and then project this ideal image back to you in order to win you over. Narcissists are great actors and that is precisely what they do when courting you. They act. They know exactly who you want them to be and play the part beautifully.

Because of his superior acting skills, he leads you to believe he’s your ‘soul mate’ and more caring and compassionate than any man you have ever met. He makes you feel as though he understands you like no man has or ever will. Youre unaware of the fact that he is playing a character of his own making and emulating emotions and feelings in order to win your affections. Idealization is at its peak, and the man appears “too good to be true.”

2 He talks only about himself

You are most likely dating a narcissist if 80% of the time, the conversation revolves around him. He gives you a lengthy auto-biography about his life, including his school days as star football quarterback. Most of what he tells you is a carefully constructed lie. He pauses occasionally to ask you a question about yourself only because he senses he needs to and then quickly finds a way to revert the conversation back to himself. He often refers to himself in the third person.

You will notice a narcissist easily becomes bored in a conversation unless the spotlight is on him. Hell get a glazed over look in his eyes when others are talking, but suddenly lights up when he gets to talk or the focus returns to him.

3 He believes he is perfect and always right

One way to recognize a narcissist is to ask him in what ways he thinks he needs to grow or change. A healthy well-adjusted person will give you a list of things they can do to improve themselves. A narcissist, on the other hand, will tell you he has nothing to change. A narcissist believes he is perfect.

A narcissist believes he is always right. Ask him about past relationships and see how he responds. If its always the other persons fault when a relationship ends, you could be dealing with a narcissist. Healthy people can take accountability for their part in a failed relationship. A narcissist cannot. He is always right. If you question him about anything, he will respond with great hostility and perhaps even rage.

If you disagree with a narcissist, you will get a glimpse of his true colors.

5 New Medications for ADHD Overview

ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactive disorder, is a common behavioral/neurological disorder characterized by high variability of attention.

Occurring in about 5% of the population, ADHD creates a great deal of suffering as patients have different attentional and behavioral patterns than most people.

The accepted treatment for ADHD today is a combination of behavioral therapy, medication and exercise. Because incidence rates are so high, and because medication must be taken for a lifetime, innovation and development continue at a fast pace.

Currently more than 18 different varieties of stimulant medication are approved for ADHD.

5 Recent Medication Shifts

1.Guanfacine

2.Vyvanse

3.Strattera

4.Focalin

5.Daytrana

Guanfacine is a sedative that interacts with norepinephrine in a calming manner. It is a non-controlled substance that has shown significant symptom relief in trials as opposed to placebo groups. Trials have shown significant reduction in hyperactivity, increased attention and maturity. One study showed that almost 60% of treated patients were “much improved” or “very much improved.”

Guanfacine activates similar brain pathways to those activated on seeing something dangerous; this pathway may paradoxically have a calming effect in those with ADHD.

Importantly, it is not a stimulant, so will be less likely to have as serious side effects besides sedation. In one study, however, 5 out of 262 complained of shortness of breath and syncope. But generally, the medication is well tolerated.

Gaunfacine is not currently approved for ADHD despite various several-year studies, and is primarily used for various heart conditions.

Vyvanse is a very long release form of amphetamine. The exact chemical form is similar to that of dexedrine, which is itself part of the mixture used in Adderall. It is much less abusable than previous medications because it must be digested by the stomach to be released. Snorting it, then, will do little because it would still have to go through the digestive tract.

Strattera is a non-stimulant once daily medication. For someone with ADHD, that sentence is amazing because they might be used to taking powerful stimulants multiple times a day. Unfortunately, while clinical data does support Strattera, it generally seems to be less efficacious than stimulants, and is generally not a first-line option of treatment.

Focalin is dexmethylphenidate, or a variant of Ritalin. Importantly, it may pack more of a punch than traditional Ritalin, and is available as a long lasting medication.

Daytrana is the first and only patch treatment for ADHD. Besides for that, it’s pretty much traditional methylphenidate or Ritalin. Some complain that its onset of activity is too slow.

What do ADHD medications do?

In the majority of patients, they provide greater concentration, ability to regulate behavior, and increased productivity. Critics, however, point out that these medications would have similar effects when given to someone without ADHD.

Common side effects include insomnia, poor apetite, and nervousness. Because the stimulant medications are highly abusable, prescriptions must be carefully monitored and are at risk for theft or resale.

How serious are the side effects?

In an overview of more than 49 trials, every single trial with stimulant medication had incidences of mania or psychosis. By contrast, not one of the non-medicated people suffered from either.

What are the biological causes of ADHD?

It is highly likely that disregulation of dopamine, noradrenaline and nicitonic areas cause ADHD symptoms. It is because of different levels of these transmitters that people with ADHD self-medicate with caffeine, cigarettes and even stimulants like cocaine.

If you could just do one thing…

Make it exercise. There is no doubt that rigorous and routine exercise is an amazing cure for all sorts of psychiatric issues including depression. Best of all, team exercise allows ADHD traits to become a positive.