Mental health: expert advice on how to deal with anxiety and depression
Why don’t men seek help when they are affected by depression?
A study by the charity Mental Health Foundation found that men with depression were less likely than women to seek help.
credit: third party image referenceIn addition, when depression worsens, they are more likely to seek hospital admissions instead of visiting their family doctor in the early stages.
"There are still stereotypes and some men still don't think anyone should complain if you're having a hard time," says Ann John, a professor of medicine at Swansea University. - New ways of talking to men are being developed, for example through Men's Shed or at the hairdresser's.
However, it seems that men are still very ashamed to admit that they have depression, so we must help reduce this stigma and create more online opportunities to speak out, because this is where young people express themselves. Fortunately, more and more people that others are trying to match, such as boxer Tyson Fury or footballer Rio Ferdinand, are talking loudly about the difficulties they are experiencing. ”
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According to the Mental Health Foundation, only half of the young people surveyed knew exactly where to turn if they needed help, and a similar number said they felt comfortable enough talking about their feelings and emotions with other people.
“It is very important to ensure that children from an early age feel comfortable talking about their feelings. Otherwise, it may take more than a year for them to apply for help, ”explains the foundation.
How to help a self-harming person?
According to experts, self-harm usually manifests itself as a means of relieving tension caused by anxious thoughts and feelings. It can temporarily alleviate emotional pain, but the underlying causes of that pain do not go away.
"Self-harm is very stigmatizing, and many people hide it," said Professor John, who wrote the Welsh Government's guidelines on the subject. - The reasons for doing so may vary. It can be a means of dealing with anxiety, but it can also be an expression of anxiety itself or an attempt to show that help is needed.
When one learns that a person is harming himself, the most important thing is to show compassion and in no way attack condemnation. Sometimes people want to solve all the problems in one consultation, but this is not possible. Ongoing work is needed. "
"It is possible to help a person who is harming themselves by communicating sincerely with him and helping to find the right follow-up help," says a spokesman for the Mental Health Foundation. - Try not to force another person to change and do not start explaining that by injuring yourself, he wants more attention. It's important to keep in mind that while self-harm is associated with an increased risk of suicide, it's two different things, and many self-harming people don't think about suicide at all. "
What effect does technology have on the psyche?
"A young man who had previously been bullied at school had at least some respite when he returned home, but now he doesn't even have it," says Fay Short, a professor of psychotherapy at Bangor University. - Nowadays, anyone with a smartphone is 100 percent full time. logged in. No chance to escape anywhere.
The same goes for the working people - they take work to their home environment, check their e-mail in the evenings and on weekends, and, in fact, feel as if they are constantly on call. It causes a lot of mental health problems because people get tired, and for those who feel anxious about work, such things can only make the situation worse. ”
According to the professor, one of the ways to combat this is to completely "disconnect" and spend time with yourself and friends without using a mobile phone.
Why do I feel anxious?
According to Anxiety UK, as many as 13% Young people aged 16-19 feel anxious, but in the 20-24 age group this figure jumps to as high as 16 percent.
This can occur when a person regularly experiences disproportionate pressure, anxiety, or fear on a particular issue.
"If a person is anxious, they need a plan to calm down, which can be a playlist or a crossword puzzle," Professor John advises.
According to experts, anxiety is an initial reaction - basically a "beat or run" reflex, which triggers the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.
Their effects can be manifested by physical reactions such as a fast heartbeat or sweaty palms.
According to Professor A. John, it turns out there is no need to blame social media for the increased levels of anxiety in teens. "Research shows that we can't blame social networks for this, because they also have a positive effect, such as reducing marginalization in certain groups," she said, adding that young people are often worried about pre-exam stress or climate change.
According to Mind Cymru, to reduce the anxiety you experience, it is advisable to write down things that worry you or talk to someone you trust.
credit: third party image reference"Sleep and physical activity have a positive effect on mental health, and breathing exercises are also recommended," said a spokesman for the organization.
Is mourning a mental problem?
"I don't want to say that mourning isn't a serious enough condition to cause a lot of suffering, but I also don't want to call it a mental problem, thus attributing it to medical conditions," says Professor F. Short. - Failure is a natural, loss-related process.
It does not have to be the loss of a person, it is possible to mourn and lose a beloved pet. Or the loss of some other things, such as a job or health and ability, an illness, or a disability. Poor mood and sadness are a natural state of mourning, but other emotions can also occur - anger, confusion, guilt. It is not necessary to use sedatives at all during mourning. Sometimes a conversation with a friend or a visit to a psychotherapist helps to experience these feelings. ”
Why do harassment seekers intimidate others?
“People these days recognize bullying very quickly and understand its long-term consequences, so it’s very interesting to understand from this question that people are also interested in why some individuals seek harassment. This shows that people are looking at this problem much more complicatedly, says Professor A. John.
- Electronic bullying is becoming an increasing problem, but not only victims but also bullies are vulnerable. For example, research shows that cyberbullyingers often bully themselves and do not have good mental health. In addition, social media has enabled people to behave in ways they may never have thought. "
According to the Mental Health Foundation, schools should provide assistance to both victims of bullying and their organizers.
"These could include educating children and their parents, developing social and communication skills, developing empathy and training in the responsible use of technology, as well as more specific support for children who have experienced bullying," the spokeswoman said.