whats really lead him to social anxiety? he feel insecure abt his appearance? too fat? he thinks he is ugly? not rich? not as smart as other? just asking.

EEG Neurofeedback for Treating Psychiatric Disorders

Neurofeedback, also called electroencephalogram (EEG) biofeedback or neurotherapy, is an adjunctive treatment used for psychiatric conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, phobic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, depression and affective disorders, autism, and addictive disorders (Moore, 2000; Rosenfeld, 2000; Trudeau, 2000).

In an interview with Psychiatric Times, Siegfried Othmer, Ph.D., chief scientist at EEG Spectrum International Inc., described neurofeedback as neuroregulation in the time and frequency domains through the use of bioelectrical operant conditioning. Like repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), neurofeedback is an innovative form of electrotherapeutics that complements neurochemical interventions for mood disorders. "With the use of anticonvulsants as mood stabilizers," Othmer said, "we have seen a convergence of psychiatry and neurology in the field of pharmacology. Similarly, neurofeedback signals a convergence of psychiatry and neurology in bioelectrical approaches to treating affective disorders. By stabilizing the brain and rewarding it for holding particular states, neurofeedback acts as a natural anticonvulsant." The rationale for using neurofeedback therapeutically is that it corrects deficits in brain cerebral regulatory function related to arousal, attention, vigilance and affect (Othmer et al., 1999).

During neurofeedback sessions, patients learn to produce desirable brain wave patterns displayed on a computer screen by controlling the activity of a computerized game or task seen on a second screen. Increases in the amplitude of slow spindle activity are instantaneously rewarded. The reward corresponds to the earned score, similar to scores accumulated in a computer game (Othmer, 1999).

Neurofeedback represents a window of opportunity for assessing and shifting any given brain state (Manchester et al., 1998). The designated frequency band determines which brain state is rewarded (Othmer, 1999). Beta (15 Hz to 18 Hz) training usually produces a slightly upward shift in arousal levels, leading to increased wakefulness and attentiveness or to decreased depression. The sensorimotor rhythm (SMR) (12 Hz to 15 Hz) elicits a slightly downward shift in arousal. The SMR is associated with subjective feelings of relaxation, emotional calm and centeredness (Othmer, 1999). Combined left-side, ß-SMR and right-side - neurofeedback is often used to treat brain wave dysregulation associated with traumatic memories. Right-side training is also employed for social and emotional deficits such as conduct disorder, autism and reactive attachment disorder (Othmer, 2000; Othmer et al., 1999).

Assessment of Clinical Evidence

The efficacy of neurofeedback in the treatment of seizure and pseudoseizure disorders has been well documented in peer-reviewed literature for over 25 years (Lubar, 1997; Swingle, 1998). On the whole, however, clinical support for the effects of neurotherapy is limited and based primarily on case studies, rather than randomized, controlled, blinded studies. While Joel Lubar, Ph.D., professor of psychology at University of Tennessee in Knoxville, recognizes the shortage of randomized trials on neurofeedback, he told PT that matched-group studies conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki are more appropriate than controlled trials for studying hyperactivity. He noted that 1,500 groups worldwide currently use neurofeedback for psychiatric applications, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbidities. Since the 1970s, his team has investigated various interventions for treating hyperactivity in children and found EEG to be superior.

Lubar and his colleagues (1995) evaluated the effects of neurofeedback treatment on ADHD in 19 youth, ages 8 years to 19 years, under relatively controlled conditions. The subjects received one-hour sessions of ß brain wave training daily for up to 40 hours over a two- to three-month period. The goal of the therapy was to increase 16 Hz to 20 Hz (ß) activity while reducing the amplitude of brain waves (4 Hz to 8 Hz). Compared to pre-training results, post-training changes showed improvements in Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) scores, Attention Deficit Disorders Evaluation Scale (ADDES) behavior ratings and Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) performance. Twelve out of 18 subjects with pre-/post-TOVA scores had EEG-responsive improvements on an average of three of four possible scales. This change was comparable to pre-/post-medication differences in TOVA scores in youth with ADHD.

While TOVA scores typically return to baseline when the effects of pharmacotherapy wear off, the TOVA scores of the EEG-responsive subjects remained at the improved level. Significant post-test increases in IQ scores were observed in 10 EEG-responsive subjects who had been tested on the WISC-R two years earlier. Parental and teacher ratings of the children's behavior also improved following neurofeedback training. Thus, in the EEG-responsive youth, behavioral improvements corresponded with increased scores on TOVA and WISC-R. Lubar and his associates cautiously concluded that EEG neurofeedback training is a powerful adjunctive technique for treating ADHD when used as part of a multi-component therapeutic approach.

Additional research suggests that EEG neurofeedback may be an effective alternative to psychostimulants in the treatment of ADHD if medication is ineffective or has adverse effects or if patients are noncompliant (Rossiter and La Vaque, 1995). In one case study, a 36-year-old female diagnosed with ADHD, temporal seizure disorder and borderline personality disorder received 30 weekly sessions of SMR neurofeedback training and carbamazepine (Tegretol) (Hansen et al., 1996). The patient initially was reluctant to take carbamazepine but became compliant after starting neurofeedback training. However, because of the drug's side effects, she stopped, restarted and then again discontinued her medication. Following 17 sessions of neurofeedback, her quantitative EEG (QEEG) showed relative powers within normal ranges. Carbamazepine increased the favorable effect of neurofeedback on TOVA performance in the early phase of treatment. Although the subject's TOVA scores fluctuated as she went on and off carbamazepine, all four scales were normal months after she ceased taking carbamazepine. At that time, her TOVA performance showed no evidence of attentional deficit.

See more at: http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/e...h.WQhm6Wm0.dpuf

Hi,

There are biological predispositions that often exist for depression and anxiety. However, new research has shown that medication is only mildly more effective than placebo in the treatment of these problems. In treating these conditions, EEG biofeedback may offer an alternative to invasive treatments such as medication, ECT, and intense levels of transcrancial magnetic stimulation. Hammond (2005) reviews the EEG biofeedback literature with these problems, finding particularly positive research support for the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Another method to help your depression and anxiety related issues is clinical hypnotherapy. Clinical hypnotherapy is a flourishing area of research that has so far demonstrated the usefulness of hypnosis in many domains, especially in the treatment of pain in the medical environment and during medical procedures. According to Bryant, there is no doubt that hypnosis can ameliorate established means of treating anxiety disorders. Moreover, as stated before, hypnosis is a very cost-effective method that could represent in some cases, a rapid, non-addictive and safe substitute to the use of medication, which is particularly important given the current increase in health care costs and adverse economic conditions. Another advantage of hypnotherapy is that it can be used easily outside the clinic under the form of self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is defined as the employment of hypnotic suggestions through self-talk or listening to a recording of hypnotic suggestions. Thus, self-hypnosis is a viable solution to help maintain the skills that were acquired during therapy.


In Malaysia, Brain entrainment (EEG biofeedback or neurofeedback) and clinical hypnotherapy both falls under the jurisdiction of the Association of Hypnotherapy Practitioners, Malaysia (AHPM) - clause 3(b).
You can find a registered neurotherapist/clinical hypnotherapist who regulated by governing body such as AHPM.

Source:
Hammond, D. C. (2005). Neurofeedback Treatment of Depression and Anxiety. Journal of Adult Development. doi:10.1007/s10804-005-7029-5
http://www.intechopen.com/books/new-insigh...s-pros-and-cons

This post has been edited by zeropoint9: Sep 13 2015, 10:31 PM

Science Says Pulling An All-Nighter Won’t Help You Pass That Test

College is a time for exploration.

Over the four years you’re there (for some, maybe a bit longer), you’ll discover what you’re truly passionate about.

You’ll meet new people — some of whom you’ll remain lifelong friends with. You’ll learn how to survive on your own, in a foreign place. But, most of all, you’ll find out more about yourself than you ever knew.

College forces you to push your own limits. Just when you thought you couldn’t survive without a source of income, you found new ways to utilize Ramen as a dinner ingredient.

At the bar, when you’re almost positive you’ve already drank too much alcohol, you’ll find a way to throw just one more back.

And when it comes to completing all of your academic requirements — regardless of how unrealistic that deadline might’ve once looked — you’ll usually find a way to get it done, by any means necessary.

And by any means necessary — I mean by staying up all night.

It’s far from a new concept. “All-nighters” have been pulled since the days of our parents, and I’m sure their parents, too. I mean, it’s simple math, really.

There are 24 hours in the day. When you slack off for weeks — or months — at a time, there are bound to come times when you’ll have to make use of every one of those hours on the clock.

The result? 24 to 48 consecutive hours spent in the library on the day(s) leading up to an important exam or deadline. And, for many, this technique is a very valuable one.

Like with many things in life, relying on all-nighters is a tradeoff. While spending any more than, say, three hours at a library may seem torturous to most college students, all-nighters allow you to take the foot off the gas for weeks at a clip in exchange for one or two excruciating nights.

In college, I was a big all-nighter guy. Personally, I’d get really into it — you know, showing up to the campus library late at night with an enormous thermos of coffee and a Snuggie on.

I didn’t try to avoid staying there all night — I took my punishment and understood this was the cost of not doing work during the months prior.

Honestly, it kept me motivated, in a funny way.

But, understandably, I wouldn’t expect this technique to work for all students. It’s more of an avant-garde method, one that’s specialized by the small sect of students who are both lazy and crafty enough to pull off such a stunt.

As always, however, science has a say on the subject and frankly, it’s probably not the one we all-nighter people wanted to accept.

According to Rachel Nuwer of Smithsonian, all-nighters “don’t work.” On the heels of a 2012 study conducted by UCLA researchers, it appears cramming for a test is not truly an efficient means of attacking your academic course load.

The study took 535 high school students (ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade, alike) and recorded their sleeping habits — and academic performance — over the course of two weeks.

As reported by Nuwer, “For nearly all of the students, the researchers found that, counterintuitively, more study time correlated with worse academic performance.”

That “additional study time,” however, didn’t come without a price. As Nuwer explains, for most of these students, additional study time will usually come at the expense of sleeping time.

In other words, students who study more aren’t necessarily clearing out parts of their days to do so — but tacking on hours late at night, instead.

According to Andrew J. Fuligni, one of the authors of the UCLA study, “No one is suggesting that students shouldn’t study,” but he maintains that, “an adequate amount of sleep is also critical for academic success. These results are consistent with emerging research suggesting that sleep deprivation impedes learning.”

In response, students are urged to take a more balanced approach to handling their workload.

In the long run, by setting aside as little as one hour each day to tend to your school work, you’ll probably be able to spare yourself the need for all-nighters — and then some.

College is all about habits. If you manage to set good habits early on, you’ll save yourself the trouble of having to break bad ones later down the road. All-nighters may get the job done, at least during dire times, but they’re not conducive to good work habits.

Although you might be able to get through college by overdosing on caffeine and depriving yourself of sleep, by the time you make it into the working world — it’s simply not realistic.

College is a time meant to teach you important lessons about not just yourself, but life.

If you take anything away from your all-nighters, let it be that moderation is key. Overdoing anything will probably not result in sustainable success.



Source:
http://elitedaily.com/life/all-nighters-dont-help/1209398/

Tips to identify your emotions

Emotions go unacknowledged and unidentified all the time, although not unfelt. This poses a problem in the long term in that due to this lack of awareness, our internal emotional compass becomes unreliable, leading us to make mistakes (i.e. emotion based decisions), unnecessarily fail , and inadvertently slowly pull ourselves further from the Self (i.e. becoming confused about who we are, identity issues, etc).

Keeping track of emotions and dealing with them as they occur is important in preventing mental health and emotional issues that might arise throughout life.

On average, children and adults alike are unfamiliar with their own feelings*, have a hard time identifying emotions, lack the vocabulary of emotions, and live life in a lot of pain and stuck, unable to understand why they feel the way they do or how to feel better.

It takes time and patience to train oneself to become familiar and aware of their emotions and deal with them as they come. It also takes a lot of stamina and courage to look your fears in the face and know that to maintain peace within yourself you must be able to determine what you’re feeling, how you came about feeling this way and where your attention needs to focus.

One of the easier ways to familiarize yourself with emotions and feelings is to simply become acquainted with the vocabulary. (Suggestion: print out a feeling list and make the conscious decision to ask yourself on a daily basis how you’re feeling and pick out the appropriate feeling/emotion from the list in front of you). Being able to properly identify your emotions will make the next step -of figuring out where those feelings are coming from and how to deal with them –easier.

If you spend a few moments each day focusing on how you’re feeling you will notice that other things might start to arise, such as being able to locate that particular feeling you’re experiencing in your body.

It’s important to focus on the identified body area and notice the thoughts emerging, or if you are more of a visual person, notice the emergent imagery.

Broadly, it is this internal process (awareness, identification, thought/imagery processing) that makes up what therapists refer to as “dealing with your emotions”. And while these are only a few steps and you might be tempted to look at it as a fairly simple process you must check your expectations, allow time and remain patient with yourself. There is no time limit (not a competition either) and some people process their emotions at a slower or faster rate than others.


Source:
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/unleash-crea...ntify-emotions/

Are You Hypnotizable?

Hypnosis has been practiced for hundreds of years, and has fascinated the public for nearly as long. Hypnosis involves a state of enhanced inner focus and can be a valuable tool for modulating pain, nausea, and other physical symptoms, decreasing anxiety, and influencing performance on cognitive task. Hypnosis is also frequently used to facilitate weight loss, improve confidence, and help break bad habits.

Who is Most Hypnotizable?

Milton H. Erikson said that most people could be hypnotized if the clinician was skillful enough. The current consensus is that about two-thirds of adults are hypnotizable, however, and that this trait is stable over time. A number of measures have been developed to assess hypnotizability, yet, these do not address the question of why one person may be more hypnotizable than another. Although many factors, including empathy, absorption, and expectation of benefit, have been postulated as predictive of hypnotizability, the evidence has been inconsistent.

Your Brain and Hypnosis

A study in the October 2012 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry has shed new light on what may differentiate those who do and do not respond well to hypnosis. The researchers hypothesized there would be greater functional communication between the executive and salience networks of the brain in people who are highly hypnotizable. Using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the team examined the brains of 24 participants as they rested in the scanner. Half of the participants were characterized as “high hypnotizable” and half as “low hypnotizable” based on their responses to the Hypnotic Induction Profile (HIP).

The executive-control network is involved in working memory, planning, decision-making, and paying attention. The salience network is involved in detecting, integrating, and filtering relevant information about our emotions as well as what is going on in the body. The salience network is thought to help us identify the most relevant internal and external stimuli, attend to these over less relevant stimuli, and thus generate the appropriate behavior in response.

What the team found was that those individuals who were considered highly hypnotizable had significantly greater functional connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlpc), and the left dlpc in particular (which is part of the executive control network), and the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (part of the salience network). Interestingly, there were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to brain structure, despite differences in function.

Why is This Important?

The authors concluded that these findings support the assertion that those who are highly hypnotizable have better coordination between brain areas that integrate "attention, emotion, action, and intention." Hypnosis can be a powerful tool for managing pain, anxiety, and other symptoms. The results of this study give greater credence to offering this treatment to those who are likely to benefit from hypnotic interventions. Finally, the data help to dispel the myth that hypnosis involves mind control by another, and suggest instead that hypnosis involves enhanced control over one’s focus and attention.

This study does not tell us whether those characterized as “low hypnotizable” might not still benefit to some degree from hypnosis. Furthermore, the study was relatively small, which limits the generalizability of the findings. The data presented here describe differences in brain functioning at rest rather than during hypnotic trance. Yet, the findings seem important nonetheless. The team is currently examining whether there will be observable differences in functional connectivity between the two groups while participants are engaged in hypnosis.

For more information:

Hoeft, F., Gabrieli, J. D. E., Whitfield-Gabrieli, S., Haas, B. W., Bammer, R., Menon, V., & Spiegel, D. (2012). Functional Brain Basis of Hypnotizability. Archives of General Psychiatry, 69(10), 1064-1072.

Menon, V. & • Uddin, L. Q. (2010). Saliency, switching, attention and control: a network model of insula function. Brain Struct Funct. Available online: http://stanford.edu/group/scsnl/cgi-bin/dr...all/publicati... (link is external).

American Society of Clinical Hypnosis: www.ASCH.net

Source:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-in...ou-hypnotizable

Anyone done a literature review on meditation?

What REALLY helps beat the misery of the menopause? Ditch yoga for hypnosis and don't just rely on HRT, new guidelines state
-Report by North American Menopause Society sorts fact from fiction
-Guidelines suggest exercise, yoga and herbal remedies are no good
-But researchers say hypnosis might combat some of the symptoms


Trendy therapies such as yoga and acupuncture do not help women beat the misery of menopause, experts say.
Herbal supplements are also unlikely to do much good – but hypnosis might combat some of the symptoms.
New guidelines on how to ease embarrassing and energy-sapping hot flushes warn that many of the remedies tried by millions simply do not work.

For other therapies, there is not enough evidence to say whether they do help, so women would be better fast-tracking to treatments with proven benefit, the US experts say.
And despite the widely held belief that alcohol and spicy food can trigger hot flushes, there is no data to support this, they add.
Hot flushes – the most common and most distressing symptom of the menopause – can disturb sleep, drain energy and cause embarrassment.

A single flush can last from a few seconds to an hour.
Hormone-replacement therapy is the main treatment, but is not suitable for all and many who could take it are put off by fears that it may trigger breast cancer.
Those who do start on it can suffer unpleasant side-effects, from headaches to heartburn, leading many women to search for alternatives.
However, with options ranging from Chinese herbal supplements and dietary advice to powerful anti-depressants and acupuncture, it is hard for them to know where to start.
Hypnosis is one of the few treatments backed by solid evidence that it works, the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) advises.

‘From 50 to 80 per cent of women approaching menopause try non-hormonal therapies for hot flushes.
'Many don’t really work and sticking with them can just prolong the misery,’ it says.
‘With little guidance on what does work, many women just experiment with products or suffer.’
NAMS asked a panel of experts to review medical literature on the topic.
They found solid evidence of the effectiveness of hypnosis and cognitive behavioural therapy – including counselling, sleep advice and relaxation techniques.
In one study, women who had hypnosis five times a week had a dramatic reduction in the number and severity of hot flushes.

The guidelines also recommend some prescription drugs, including the anti-depressant Seroxat and the epilepsy drug gabapentin.
However, herbal supplements, including popular black cohosh tablets, evening primrose oil and ginseng, are unlikely to work, NAMS says.
Exercise, yoga, acupuncture and chiropractic also lack evidence that they give relief.
Dr Janet Carpenter, who led the panel, said: ‘Many women try one thing after another and it is months before they stumble on something that truly works.
'This information will be critical in maximising the selection of the most effective therapies.’
Charles Kingsland, of the Hewitt Fertility Centre at Liverpool Women’s Hospital, said HRT was the most effective treatment, although the placebo effect – the mere belief that something will work – means other options appear helpful to start with.
‘What you have to be careful of are the things that may be harmful, not only to your health but to your pocket,’ he said.
‘In the menopause, general well-being is essential. Exercise the body and mind.
‘So many women in my menopause clinic have such low self-esteem, sometimes I think that’s often the worst thing. That’s where all the psychotherapy stuff comes in.’




Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-...l#ixzz3mrAFUS1H


This post has been edited by zeropoint9: Sep 26 2015, 10:56 PM

How to strengthern up mental health?

Mindful Topic: Emotional Support for Motherhood By me (Hiro Koo)

“I am so worried about my baby! I don’t know whether I can be a good mother,” a pregnant lady told her husband. Indeed, the process of pregnancy can be stressful and it is one of the major life changing events.

It is quite difficult for the gentlemen to understand the feelings throughout the whole pregnancy process - they might feel some differences but not as strong and direct as one who is pregnant. Thus, conflict between husband and wife is always an issue during pregnancy. Due to hormone secretion and body image changes, a pregnant woman can easily encounter problems with mood swings.
Mothers-to-be may need to overcome quite a number of problems such as changes in quality and quantity of sleep as well as anxiety issues. Research shows that people with sleep deprivation have higher chances of enhanced impulsivity to negative stimuli (Anderson & Platten, 2010) or even other issues related to memory deprivation and executive functioning (Fortier-Brochu, Beaulieu-Bonneau, Ivers, & Morin, 2010). Thus, a pregnant woman without good sleep may think irrationally and tend to be disorganised.

Emotional support is very important during this stage. Hence, as an intimate partner or close friends and family, we would need to provide sufficient emotional support throughout the whole pregnancy process. Some issues that most pregnant women may encounter are further discussed below.
Motherhood Above Fear and Anxiety 2 of 3
Fear and Anxiety

Anxiety is a common issue that most pregnant women need to overcome. She may worry about the condition of her baby, her husband, her competency to be a mother, the labour and delivery procedure, her work status, any unresolved tasks and more. People who tend to think too much ahead are more likely to experience anxious feelings. However, it is quite difficult to control our thoughts. In fact, the more you try to restrict yourself from having certain thoughts, you will end up thinking it over and over again. For example, when one says, “Don’t think of an elephant”, your brain will definitely receive this command and process it before setting a filter in front, where you will then end up with a big fat elephant on your mind.
What we can do is to merely live in the present and enjoy the moment. Self-hypnosis is a proven technique to reduce pain intensity and to cope with anxiety. Hence, a pregnant woman should equip herself with a personalised self-hypnosis method from a licensed Clinical Hypnotherapist registered with the Association of Hypnotherapy Practitioner Malaysia (AHPM).
Sleep Issue

How well do you sleep? Or how often do you sleep? People with anxiety problems can never fall asleep easily. When you worry excessively and are anxious, your fast brainwaves become dominant which leads to sleep problems, where you would spend lesser time in sleep even when you feel tired. If your slow brainwaves activities cannot increase during bedtime, it may even lead to bad sleep quality. People who lack sleep might experience depression (Watson et al., 2014). Sleep deprivation also can lead to memory problems (Fortier-Brochu, Beaulieu-Bonneau, Ivers, & Morin, 2010), irrational thoughts, impulsivity and problems coping with stress (Anderson & Platten, 2010). You will then become more vulnerable to stressors. Hypnotherapy has been proven to help sleep-related issues and increase the amount and duration of slow wave sleep effectively (Cordi, Schlarb, & Rasch, 2014). Hence, seeing a licensed Clinical Hypnotherapist is essential to assure better sleep quality and quantity throughout your pregnancy.
Motherhood Above Mood Swings 3 of 3
Mood Swings

Quite a number of pregnant women experience mood swings which can be very apparent to those around them. She may tend to act irrationally when it comes to decision-making or planning. Additionally, her mood swings might affect those around her. Emotional support by providing an attentive listening ear and showing empathy is what she needs at this point. A pregnant woman usually needs someone who is able to provide non-judgmental support. A good listener could be anyone, such as close friends, siblings, family, partner or even a counsellor or psychologist.
A scientifically-proven, safe, and non-invasive method, known as the “Brain Traner”, is found to overcome mood swings effectively. It can enhance the functions of the different parts of the brain. In this case, by training the prefrontal lobe area (near our forehead), logical and analytical thinking as well as mood regulation functions can be significantly improved. Research also found that EEG biofeedback therapy (brain trainer) showed better improvement, compared to a group using psychotherapy, in mood-related issues (Linden, 2014). The gaming component of brain trainer proves a lot more interesting than conventional psychotherapy as they can objectively monitor changes in their own brainwaves throughout the training course.
Body Image

For the first time mother, changes in her appearance may lead to different thoughts, while some are refreshing and new, some other thoughts may be stressful. For example, one could have lower self-esteem and become more suspicious. This is linked closely to one’s perceived level of attractiveness and worries about appearance. In this case, one should turn to one’s partner for positive affirmation. On the other hand, working up a weight-loss plan together with your partner might be another good idea to get a sense of security and support. Enrolling in a Hypno-Band weight loss programme may help to work both the mind and body, which is a long-term solution to weight problems. You could also approach a licensed Clinical Hypnotherapist who could help in weight loss.



All retrieved from:
https://www.purelyb.com/be-well/get-informe...-for-motherhood

Hi,

You can try EEG biofeedback to improve your brain function, nutritional therapy for strengthen your mental health, or consult a mental health practitioner.

Here’s a remarkable TEDx talk that’s well worth sharing!
The surprisingly dramatic role of nutrition in mental health
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dqXHHCc5lA
Nutrition researcher Dr. Julia Rucklidge, a Clinical Psychologist at the University of Canterbury, NZ gives compelling evidence for the critical role of nutrition in mental health and explains why this knowledge will revolutionize the way our society treats ‘mental illness’!

For more than a decade, Dr. Rucklidge has played a key role in forefront nutrition-mental health research, including extensive research using products formulated by Hardy Nutritionals® Founder David Hardy. A recent scientific article in BMC Psychiatry noted that there is “more published and ongoing research on [Hardy’s] formula for mental health than on any other complex formula anywhere in the world.”

Dr. Rucklidge recently published a double blind study in the British Journal of Psychiatry which showed that those taking Hardy’s nutrient formula experienced “statistically robust improvements” over those taking placebo. For example, the adult participants taking the nutrients reported more than double the improvement in ADHD symptoms (including attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity), compared with participants taking placebo. Dr. Rucklidge is currently conducting a double-blind study using Hardy’s newest formulation, Daily Essential Nutrients, in children diagnosed with ADHD.

Men Never Cry: Depression in Men and Why It’s Hard To Ask For Help
Depression is real. Even more so in men. It is said that men suffer from the worst forms of depression. This is more likely to be true because, unlike women, men don’t like to talk about it. Being sad and depressed is almost a taboo for men around the world. When depressed, a man is more likely to get angry, irritated and frustrated instead of showing the sadness and tackling the problem or talking about it. Most of the time, men channel the sadness and depression out through reckless and violent behavior or try to fix it using liquor and other forms of drug, instead of coming face-to-face with the problem.

Depression is a form of illness which causes continuous feelings of sadness that shadow over a person. It also causes a loss of interest and appetite. The thing is that a lot of people out there still believe that depression is not a real problem. But it is and it gets worse if not fixed in early stages. Depressed people have a tendency to harm themselves, and the people around them, both physically and mentally.

Men are three times more likely to kill themselves than women.

The main problem lies in the social stigma that men don’t cry, or rather men SHOULDN’T cry! While crying and reaching out helps in these situations, men around the world are taught to not do so, as it will be UNMANLY! Even though crying helps to prevent sadness. Research suggests that on average men cry fewer times a year than women. It also states that crying relives us from stress and anxiety. It helps reduce distress and tension and also lowers blood pressure. While the world treats crying as girly, we forget that it only means that we are human and we have emotions.

Recognizing the problem

The first step to resolve any problem is to recognize that problem. It is imperative to start acknowledging that depression is not just a teenage or feminine problem. Men often suffer from depression and clinical depression can lead to dangerous life choices, such as suicide and drug abuse. General consciousness of the fact that depression is a common problem that remains unaddressed would be the first step towards resolving it.

Starting a Conversation

At times it is really hard to figure out how bad the situation is, especially when it comes to men. While women tend to be more talkative and share and talk about what is bothering them, men tend to keep emotions to themselves and keep the signs of depression repressed.

In these situations, talking in numbers is the only way to figure out how bad it is. Asking someone to rate the sadness level might help. For example you can ask, how happy is he on a scale of 0 to 10, 0 being the “The lowest I could ever be” and 10 being “I love my life.”

Even if someone doesn’t say they are at 0, but answers that they are at less than 5, it’s an indication that things might be really bad. But the first step is to make the person realize that there is a problem. Most of the time guys avoid the situation and don’t dig deep and eventually things start to get worse.

While women focus on both understanding and solving the problem, men tend to start fixing it before they even understand what depression really is. In general, men don’t like talking or they don’t want to go through the whole process. Rather they move to the more practical steps and focus more on improving habits, such as eating right, exercising, getting proper sleep etc.

Suicide Tendencies and Drug Abuse

Men start drinking or abusing drugs when depressed, and this is one of the main reasons why it is harder to help them recover. Suicidal tendencies get stronger when you are not in your senses and you cannot express your emotions.

Choosing alcohol or any kind of drug is the worst decision one can make, both for himself and the people around him. Misuse of drugs to help oneself to forget the bad things will eventually cause worse problems in life. Facing problems is the only way to get rid of them. Running away from them is not. When you see someone trying to do something reckless, know that they are either seeking thrills or are trying to run away from distress.


Source:
http://blogs.psychcentral.com/sober-life/2...o-ask-for-help/

5 Ways to Handle Criticism Better

“Hey, do you have a moment to chat in my office?”

No matter the context, those words can strike fear in the hearts of even the most confident top performer. And sure enough, no matter how well you do at your job, receiving negative feedback from your boss, a client, or even your direct reports can be hard to swallow.


Throughout your career, you’ll always be given feedback in some form or another, and it will likely highlight both what you do well and what you should improve on. It’s a key part of professional growth and, when given correctly and with good intentions, it can be extremely valuable for advancing your career.

That’s not to say, though, that it can’t be extremely uncomfortable or even upsetting: You put your all into your career and take pride in your work, so when it’s criticized, it can really sting your pride.

Regardless of the nature of the feedback, the way you receive and respond to it will go a long way in being seen as a confident, competent, professional (or not). As you work to evaluate the feedback you’ve been given and implement it moving forward, here are some reactions to be sure to avoid if you want to dig yourself out and emerge with strength and poise.

Don’t get defensive.
During a feedback conversation, chances are you’re feeling somewhere between mildly to extremely defensive. This is a totally natural reaction, but it can also come off as immature, so it’s best to try to control it as much as possible.
Try to avoid accusatory or subjective language like “it’s not fair” or “it always seems like,” and instead, focus on making “I” statements that show you take responsibility for your actions and their outcomes. For example, say you owed your boss a final version of a report by noon. You had asked the intern to print and bind it, but he misunderstood your instructions and was late delivering the hard copy. Your boss does not care that the intern messed up; all she knows is that you were late in delivering her the final version. Claim responsibility for that, and consider how you can improve for the future (e.g., “I know the report was late, and I will make sure to set up the proper systems and guidelines to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future”).

Don’t over-apologize.
On the flip side, don’t go overboard. If the feedback is based on a specific mistake, misunderstanding, or behavior, apologize once, and that’s it. Make it count. Your apology should be sincere, concise, and show that you understand the problem and how avoid it in the future. Your boss will appreciate this and most likely want to move on — she has no interest in telling you “it’s OK” five times a day as you beg for forgiveness or promise to improve upon things in the future.

Don’t react on impulse.
Received a piece of really tough, or even truly unwarranted feedback? Although it’s tempting to react immediately, your emotions are at their peak in the heat of the moment. It’s essential that you take a deep breath and give yourself some physical space to absorb the comments and clear your head before responding one way or another. The person giving you the feedback may want to discuss it then and there, but you’re usually better off respectfully saying something like, “I really appreciate hearing your concerns. I’d like to take some time to collect my thoughts so that I can better respond to what I’ve heard.” Then, remove yourself physically from the space — a walk outside is always a good idea — to allow yourself some space to calm your mind.

Don’t miss the chance to clarify.
After you’ve had the opportunity to clear your head, go back and think about the main points your boss conveyed. Do they pretty much make sense, or is there anything that came totally out of left field? If so, can you go back and revisit the surprising feedback with your boss in the name of getting a better understanding of what you need to work on?
It’s never a bad idea to circle back with him or her after a few days or weeks and say something like, “Based on my evaluation, here are the three major points I understand I need to improve on, and here is what I understand that I do well and should continue to do. There is one point you mentioned that concerns me a bit, and here’s why.” The person giving you the feedback will appreciate that you’ve taken the time to analyze it and that you are crystal clear on the steps you should take to improve in the future.

Don’t dwell on it.
Particularly if the negative feedback caught you by surprise, pointed to a flaw that makes you self-conscious, or was of a personal nature (your tendency to use filler words in presentations, for example), chances are you’re going to feel bad about it. That’s totally normal. But while you should allow yourself a period of time to work through the feelings it stirs up, you should also commit to letting them go.
Try to remember that you are not your job, and your colleagues’ assessment of your professional performance does not correlate to your value as a human being. While it may be tempting to text your closest co-worker saying, “I need some stiff drinks, stat,” engaging in destructive behavior will get you nowhere. Listen to music, exercise, cuddle your cat — whatever you need to do to feel better without leaving yourself worse off in the long run.

As you look to the future and work to incorporate feedback in the name of professional development, focus on the positive. Look to the joint progress you, your colleagues, and clients are making toward achieving your mutual goals rather than things that went wrong in the past.

Less-than-glowing feedback is a fact of life, but it can still really bring you down. By knowing some ways not to react, both outwardly and for yourself, you’ll be able to recover more quickly and shine like the competent professional you are.

Finally, remember that you’re not alone. Everyone out there has been there, too.


Source:
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2015...iticism-better/

The 7 Habits of Truly Genuine People

We tend to value "genuine" people and think poorly of those whom we perceive as being "fake"—but why is that? After all, what motivates "fakeness" is an effort to appear more appealing or impressive, so shouldn’t we find people who care about our opinions more appealing than those who, by definition, do their own thing regardless of what we think?

Well, no, we shouldn’t—and for three basic reasons:

We are much more likely to trust a genuine person than a fake one because we believe those who are true to themselves are also likely to be truer and more honest with us.
We often associate genuineness with appealing traits, such as strength of character and emotional resilience—and correctly so, as being true to yourself takes confidence, tenacity, and often even bravery.
We are attracted to uniqueness and individuality, qualities genuine people usually have in spades.
Many journeys of self-improvement and self-discovery involve efforts to live a more authentic life. Adopting the following seven habits can help you become a more genuine person—however, balance is important. Overdoing any of these might do more harm than good so be sure to set moderate, not extreme, goals when it comes to working on them.

1. Genuine people speak their mind. This is actually a two-step habit. Genuine people take time to figure out their own opinions and perspectives about things, and they are not shy about sharing their thought-out opinions with others. The manner in which they share their opinions also matters: Genuine people are comfortable presenting their ideas without expecting or needing to convince others they are right. One thing that helps them get in touch with their true opinions and perspectives is...

2. Genuine people respond to internal expectations, not external ones. Genuine people spend time thinking about and exploring their own beliefs, ideals, standards, and expectations because they rely on the answers to these questions to give them direction and purpose in life. Of course, identifying your own ideas and beliefs is not necessarily easy, since they can easily conflict with the beliefs and standards of the families, communities, and cultures in which you were raised. Indeed, being authentic is often associated with being brave because you're then likely to do the following...

3. Genuine people forge their own paths. Being authentic is not just about what you think or say but what you do and how you are in the world. Being guided by an internal compass means not having to follow the conventional or typical routes others take to achieve their goals. Therefore, genuine people search for and discover their own unique way of pursuing their passions and purpose, often forging an entirely new path as they do. The risk of forging a new and unproven path is that not all your efforts will be successful. However...

4. Genuine people are not threatened by failure. The reason most people follow conventional routes is they are supposedly "proven" and "safer," and therefore more likely to yield success. On the other hand, taking the road less (or never) travelled is risky and can lead to failure. Yet, genuine people do so because they are not threatened by the idea of failing. In fact, they view failure as an integral part of their journey, a source of learning, and an enriching experience from which they can grow. Because they find failures instructive rather than threatening...

5. Genuine people can admit their faults. To be true to your feelings and opinions you must first be honest with yourself about your thoughts, beliefs, and behavior—which means confronting the bad along with the good. As such, genuine people are likely to recognize their faults and shortcomings, to accept them, and to take responsibility for their actions as a result. Indeed, their general ability to own their faults, mistakes, and failures extends beyond how they see themselves such that...

6. Genuine people are not judgmental of others. Being honest about their own faults and embracing individuality and differences leads genuine people to be less judgmental and more accepting of the people around them. Their fundamental assumptions about human complexity and their reluctance to view people via the lens of bias or preconceived expectations allows them a purer perspective that usually leads to direct and honest interactions and relationships. And all of the habits listed above stem from one core psychological characteristic of genuine people...

7. Genuine people have solid self-esteem. Having solid self-esteem means having stable self-esteem that is neither too high nor too low. (Narcissists, for example, have high but brittle self-esteem.) As a result, genuine people can tolerate and absorb failure and criticism, admit their faults, and be accepting of others because they are not threatened by imperfection. Indeed, having solid self-esteem means, by definition, that you can absorb both negative and positive feedback and acknowledge aspects of your character that might need work or improvement without diminishing your overall sense of self-worth.


Source：
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-sq...campaign=FBPost

Can hypnosis be used to make someone do something against his or her own will? This question has been the source of great controversy. I served as a consultant about hypnosis to Woody Allen’s film, The Curse of the Jade Scorpion, in which the character of Voltan uses hypnosis to get others to steal for him without recalling the event.

So, can hypnosis be used for mind control?

There has certainly been a lot of research on the subject. The CIA and KGB have both experimented with hypnosis to create the perfect spy or even an assassin. But while I have read many stories about these experiments, I've never seen any proof of their success. Much may be possible in the dark and sinister underworld of spies and madmen, but university research on the possibilities has always been limited by ethics.

Could you be hypnotized and forced to do something illegal or diabolical? The general answer is that you cannot. There is a possibility, however, that if one had unlimited resources of money, power, and time, devious plans could be designed: There really were many secret experimental programs like "MK-Ultra" that used hypnosis and drugs to push mind-control to its limits. Is it possible that your friendly neighbor could have been implanted with a program to suddenly become a killer when "triggered" by the right signal?

What has been documented is that if you found a subject whose personality was deviant to begin with and wanted to direct their minds to do something extreme like plant a bomb or commit an assassination, you may be able to guide him or her to do it—with or without hypnosis. The hypnotic trance is a state of awareness that makes a person more easily persuaded. But the art of persuasion relies on many factors. To convince a normal person to become a killer is extremely unlikely. But if you are able to use coercion—such as kidnapping and threatening the life of their child—a person could very well be able to do anything to protect their offspring. Similarly, it may be possible to convince a person that something horrific will happen unless they follow your instructions precisely. Hypnosis could be used to plant such images, feelings, and stories in an innocent person who may then give in to the pressure and commit an attack they would otherwise never consider.

You may have read in the spy novels about nefarious masterminds who use so-called “mind-control” techniques to program innocents to do their bidding like so many robots. And again, while this is unlikely, evildoers may be able to recruit the types of individual whose personality already is ready, if not eager, for violence, which could presumably include combat veterans who killed many enemy combatants in active duty. Perhaps this person also has strong philosophical leanings that following orders is correct, regardless of the consequences. If such a person volunteers for a covert project and enough time is spent applying all sorts of techniques to "reprogram" the subject, anything may be possible. Hypnosis could be used to promote a more complete mind reprogramming and solidify a specific plan with great detail—and create a hypnotized walking time-bomb.

Fortunately, there are not many people who are eager or willing to volunteer for such an experiment. There are also, however, many fanatics who do not need any additional persuasion to become assassins. We all know the madness of martyrs who become suicide bombers in the name of fanatical belief. We need hardly worry about someone using hypnosis to reprogram an individual to become a killer; there are enough individuals already eagerly seeking opportunities to inflict harm.

You cannot be programmed to become killer without your knowledge. Hypnosis can be persuasive, but does not give the hypnotist control over your mind, morality, or judgment. So do not fear hypnosis—it should continue to develop as an effective technique to promote desired change in behavior, thinking, and emotions (without shifting to mind-control). It's a powerful tool and we should use it for beneficial purposes, not evil intentions. \


All retrieved from:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hypnos...campaign=FBPost

Detecting Signs of Hypomania

One of the hardest aspects of bipolar disorder is getting the diagnosis in the first place. There is an average of 10 years between when a person first shows signs of bipolar disorder to the point when they receive a diagnosis and begin treatment. Part of what makes this difficult is that patients are typically wrongly diagnosed with major depressive disorder. This is because most people will seek treatment for their depressive symptoms rather than any manic symptoms, especially if they see the manic/hypomanic symptoms as positive. There is also the complication that some may not even recognize symptoms as hypomanic and either won’t report them to their doctor as such or won’t recognize them at all. Several tools have been developed for physicians to better suss out whether or not their patient may be experiencing hypomanic symptoms.

These tools are often surveys that patients can fill out either on their own or in the office. They aim to help the patient recall their behavior overall as well as in the moment that they’re seeking treatment. Once the surveys are scored, physicians can use them as a guide to whether or not the patient may have bipolar disorder. One of these surveys is used to detect hypomania in particular. It’s called the HCL-32. It consists of 32 specific yes/no questions about “hyper” or “high” behavior bookended with a few general questions about how the patient feels without the use of drugs or alcohol.

Please try to remember a period when you were in a “high” or “hyper” state. How did you feel then? Answer “yes” or “no.”

I need less sleep.
I feel more energetic and active.
I am more self-confident.
I enjoy my work more.
I am more sociable (make more phone calls, go out more).
I want to travel and/or do travel more.
I tend to drive faster or take more risks when driving.
I spend more money/too much money.
I take more risks in my daily life (in my work and/or other activities).
I am physically more active (sports, etc.).
I plan more activities or projects.
I have more ideas; I am more creative.
I am less shy or inhibited.
I wear more colorful and more extravagant clothes/makeup.
I want to meet or actually do meet more people.
I am more interested in sex, and/or have increased sexual desire.
I am more flirtatious and/or am more sexually active.
I talk more.
I think faster.
I make more jokes or puns when I am talking.
I am more easily distracted.
I engage in lots of new things.
My thoughts jump from topic to topic.
I do things more quickly and/or more easily.
I am more impatient and/or get irritable more easily.
I can be exhausting or irritating to others.
I get into more quarrels.
My mood is higher, more optimistic.
I drink more coffee.
I smoke more cigarettes.
I drink more alcohol.
I take more drugs (sedatives, anxiolytics, stimulants…)
Generally, a score of 14 or more “yes” answers means the patient could be experiencing hypomania. It does not automatically mean that a person has bipolar disorder if they score 14 or higher. A psychiatry specialist takes this information along with other signs or symptoms before a diagnosis is made.

Hey there, I had been experiencing OCD for quite some long time now since 2009. I didn't know what it was in back then until few years back I started to do some research on it. For the first time, I tried to type in whatever problems that I was facing and It turned out to be OCD. I was quite surprised that I was not the only one facing it but many many peoples out there are suffering the same thing as I am now. Of course the problems may be vary from a person to person.

At the very first time of experiencing OCD, I thought that I was a very weird person I kept repeating the things that I do. Even like touching something I repeated at least twice until I feel comfortable then I stop. This happened the same with my foot steps I kept walking on the spots that OCD calls me to repeat over and over again.

It is very hard to overcome those thoughts, if I don't do what OCD calls me to do then I will have a repetitive thoughts about something bad is going to happen to me or a person close to me.

After been knowing that it was the OCD that I was experiencing, the repetition of touching something and stepping on some spots have been greatly reduced but I'm still experiencing a little bit right now. But after that, other OCD problems risen.

But the major problem now with the OCD that I have been facing right Now is that my mind always try to create fake thoughts or events inside my mind that bothers me a lot. Then I have to like repeat or recall what I have done in the past in order to convince my self that those thoughts are unreal and fake.

Example that I have been facing now is whenever I close a bathroom door and unlock it after I have done my shower, in the midst of unlocking the door, all the thoughts will appear in my mind saying that I have not closed the door and I have to do something like keep on checking the door lock to see whether I have locked it or not. Even though I'm 100% sure that I have locked the door but still the OCD wants to find troubles with me. If I tried to unlock the door without thinking too much it just wouldn't worked. Cause it will create a fake thoughts in my mind again saying that I have not locked the door and I opened the door while I was showering. Damn it just damn it!!!

I just don't know what to do but kept on repeating every actions in order to convince my self and also to prevent OCD from creating fake events inside my mind. I just hate OCD so much I felt like OCD had been consuming most of my time just by repeating unnecessary actions and thoughts.

I hope there is someone that I can go to, to talk about my problem.

This post has been edited by funny duck: Nov 8 2015, 07:51 PM

Hi, thanks for sharing your story.
Our brain comprises millions of electrochemical events, almost all of which are outside of conscious awareness.
The mind has a mind of its own. Sometimes bringing up things you don't like and chaotic.
You can't order your mind around but you can listen to it and then decide what you will do.


I will recommend you to see a psychiatrist first, and then see a licensed clinical hypnotherapist, counselor or clinical psychologist to talk about your problem.
Or
You can see a licensed clinical hypnotherapist, counselor or clinical psychologist if you prefer non drug approach.

What is PoTS?
Postural = position of the body
Tachycardia = increased heart rate
Syndrome = a combination of symptoms

Postural tachycardia syndrome is an abnormality of the functioning of the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. To be diagnosed with PoTS, an individual must experience a group of symptoms in the upright position (usually standing) that are relieved by lying down. A persistent increase in heart rate of 30 beats per minute (40 bpm if under 19 years of age) should be recorded within ten minutes of standing. Blood pressure (BP) does not always drop in PoTS.
Patients can be very disabled by their symptoms. Fortunately, for many patients, symptoms will improve with a combination of life style changes and medication. However some will have problems over many years.
Many health care professionals do not know that PoTS exists and so may not think of the diagnosis. If you think you may have this condition, it may help to take a printout of information from this website to your appointment.


The Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) is an abnormality of the autonomic nervous system (sometimes called ‘dysautonomia’). The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is in charge of all bodily functions that we don’t have to think about, such as:
Heart rate and blood pressure regulation
Digestion
Bladder control
Sweating
Stress response
The sympathetic nervous system is part of the autonomic nervous system. It produces the ‘fight or flight’ or ‘stress’ response. When activated, a chemical called norepinephrine is released. Amongst other things, this causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.


Treatment for PoTs in Malaysia?
The Autonomic Nervous System has two branches, the Sympathetic and the Parasympathetic, which regulate the involuntary processes of the body, the viscera, and sense organs, glands and blood vessels. In evolutionary terms it is older than the CNS and its anatomical circuitry is broadly dispersed, creating a general response, quite unlike the highly specific pathways and response of the CNS. This generalised, widely distributed structure enables it to mediate overall changes in state; it is part of the limbic system which has also been known as the mammalian or emotional brain.

When a person looks at the world, he or she is confronted with an overwhelming amount of sensory information—sights, sounds, smells, and so on. After being processed in the brain's sensory areas, the information is relayed to the amygdala, which acts as a portal to the emotion-regulating limbic system. Using input from the individual's stored knowledge, the amygdala determines how the person should respond emotionally—for example, with fear (at the sight of a burglar), lust (on seeing a lover) or indifference (when facing something trivial). Messages cascade from the amygdala to the rest of the limbic system and eventually reach the autonomic nervous system, which prepares the body for action. If the person is confronting a burglar, for example, his heart rate will rise and his body will sweat to dissipate the heat from muscular exertion. The autonomic arousal, in turn, feeds back into the brain, amplifying the emotional response. Over time, the amygdala creates a salience landscape, a map that details the emotional significance of everything in the individual's environment.

Recent brain research indicates that it is possible to talk to the amygdala, a key part of the brain that deals with certain emotions. The inner mind is concerned with emotion, imagination and memory as well as the autonomic nervous system which automatically controls our internal organs. By talking to the amygdala, an experienced clinical hypnotherapist can relax the autonomic nervous system shutting down, or curtailing the trigger that sets off secretion of the adrenal and pituitary glands. This gives the body an opportunity to rebuild its immune system in many chronic illnesses.
By using the technique of neuro-h