Culture and Psychology: Recent Episodes
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Tavana Inc. is a community based non-profit mental health organization, dedicated to enriching the lives of individuals and families seeking support to live healthier, with more awareness to focus on happiness, well-being, and success.
Older Age and the Need for Love and Care
Getting old is a natural process for every human being and due to better self care and medical advancement, individuals’ life has been extended and people live longer now. It is important to expand the elderly’s emotional experiences and be richer as well by positive causes.
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Giving care and Love Ourselves and Others
In order to stay healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally we need to be conscientious of our own well-being. As parents we usually have a hard time saying no to our children when they need us but we also need to have a balance when it comes to giving and helping your children and others.
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Art is an expression of emotions and extreme creativity. It is the voice we use to express our feelings such as our likes, dislikes, political ideas, social issues, and many other topics that affect our feelings and emotions. Many pieces of writings such as stories, poetry, and etc.
Limitations, strict rules, and constraints for the most part bring up creativity in people in a variety of ways to overcome those restrictions. This shows up in art, especially in forms of writing, such as poetry, short stories, novels, as well as paintings, drawing, and pieces of music.
Gate-control theory of pain is a mechanism in the spinal cord that mediates the perception of pain or in another word blocking the pain. Sometimes the pain can be a combination of psychological and physical. Taking medication helps but the cause of pain is more important to be determined and cured.
Retirement can be a difficult decision to make and may be perceived differently from a woman’s perception to a man’s perception. Part of an individual identity is their profession and what they do. Psychologists normally do not retire and rather see less and less patients.
There is a saying in Persian language that says, “Kareh Neeko Kardan Az Por Kardan Ast”, which means if you want to be good at something, you need to do it over and over. This is a good example for anything we want to become good at. This extends to sports, education, art, etc. Wanting to do a hubby or profession in the best possible way needs effort.
The major emotions in the Psychology world starts with the proposal of James Lange, a famous psychologist and that is when something causes physical reaction, we experience emotion. For example, when hiking, running into a bear, we first face physical reactions such as, fast heartbeat or difficulty breathing and then we realize what emotions we have.
Traveling is a wonderful experience but as we are moving to more security and carefulness traveling is becoming more difficult, especially traveling via air due to limited luggage and passing through security and the crowd. Traveling is now more for youngsters than older generations due to long walks in the airport...
The challenges that people go through in life based on personal goals, religious beliefs or professional reasons. There is a famous saying that somebody asked why you climbed mount Everest and the person said because it is there. Nature is a powerful force that draws people to places due to the connectedness and how it makes one humble and appreciative.
Some individuals tend to follow one or a few of the special family hobbies or interests due to continuous observations and practices. These include special cultural dances, cooking cultural foods, baking unique types of pastries and desserts, family arts and music, sports, and etc.
Culture gives us a sense of community, a sense of strength, togetherness, support, and identity. Culture makes our foundation of who we are in a broader sense and how we think, perceive, and interpret. Culture has so many components to it that without thinking we know them.
In the world there are many different nations with different languages, religions, beliefs, and cultures. There are some commonalities among them to mention a few are emotions, love and belongings, safety, health, etc. In our relationships with our significant others, family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc. we need to look at positives and what we have in common.
Family members suffering from addiction not only suffer because of this addiction but also every family member emotionally and psychologically is affected. This is an ongoing issue and it does not go away easily for the addicts themselves and for those who are in close relation with them. Alcoholism and drug addiction is a disease and a disorder.
Getting to know ourselves is an important part of having self-awareness. Asking questions gives one an idea of what might be important, what values worth standing for, and what role we wanted to play in society when we were choosing our profession.
Life is getting back into socializing and for some individuals is not as easy to reconnect and see friends, coworkers, or relatives. The Covid Epidemic during the last two years made changes in most people’s personal, professional, and social life. Many prefer to be back to the routine life like before but there are some who prefer to be away from socializing.
Research using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) has found a relationship between the early attachment experiences of parents and the attachment patterns of their children (van Ijzendoorn, 1997). There are different theories of attachment and the style of connecting to people as a baby that affects human being’s relationships in adulthood. Karen Horney
Research using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) has found a relationship between the early attachment experiences of parents and the attachment patterns of their children (van Ijzendoorn, 1997). There are different theories of attachment and the style of connecting to people as a baby that affects human being’s relationships in adulthood. Karen Horney
One of the issues with mental health is the taboo among many countries and cultures. In the U.S. with all the advancement in the field of psychology and the support to provide awareness, still this is not an easy topic to talk about. Many individuals are using the mental health services but are hesitant to reveal their usage of the services. May is the month of National Alliance for Mental Health Illness (NAMI).
One view of one’s self is self-esteem and the view of one’s ability is self-confidence. Something can happen and our self-esteem and self-confidence can be broken and shaken but also it can be rebuilt. Sometimes in sport this can happen, especially when there is so much pressure on the players.
Putting off things you need to do is an issue for many people. Even people who are very good planners are procrastinators. Being a good planner does not mean you don’t procrastinate or put it into action. Partly it could be emotion, hesitation, apprehension that cause the lagging and procrastination. A gap between planning, preparing, and executing.
Most individuals need to have a sense of community, a place where they belong to, friends who know them and they who know others, a place where they connect with others, where they meet and a place where they belong to and where it provides stability, meaning, and a sense of purpose.
How credit card companies pay out to different companies without you checking, and sometimes without you knowing you may have paid to several entertainment or other technical organizations by checking a box or responding “yes” to a question that puts you in a contract commitment annually.
The feedback shared from both the instructors and the learner. The learner specified how something that appeared to be easy, turned out to be serious and roughly difficult. The Golf sport actually has rules of its own and entails many requirements and rules from holding the golf club a certain way to hitting the ball another way.
People decorate their offices and workplaces differently and mostly based on their personal tastes. Some take it a step further and get professional help to ensure their decoration matches well with the purpose of their work. Many therapists’ offices are decorated to bring calmness and comfort.
How people behave and interact with each other is not always the same. In some cultures, due to the value and importance of work and professional successes, attention to time might be more important than taking time to interact during their work time….
There is a lot happening these days as a result of Covid 19 and the pandemic, both in personal and professional lives of individuals and families. Reconnecting and creating friendship are not as easy as it was prior to the pandemic and the issues with other variations of the Covid-19.
The two famous actors and celebrities, Chris Rock and Will Smith had a situation at the Oscar Award Ceremony. The very rare situation to happen in front of the world. Will Smith punched Chris on the face after Chris Rock joked about Will Smith’s wife, Jada Smith who has a disease called, Alopecia. It was a total loss of impulse control, punching, and using profanity.
Nowruz is considered as a day for good deeds and speaking good words, people clean and decorate their house, buy new clothes, and have traditional and homemade food spread with friends and family. Nowruz means “new day” in Persian and is the most important festival of the year in Iran. It is also celebrated in a number of other countries.
Psychological assessment may be conceptualized as a process of using psychological tests, clinical interviews, behavioral observations, and other assessment tools together with data on an individual’s cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral functioning for the purpose of description, classification, prediction, and intervention planning and monitoring.
Art Therapy is a non-structured free association with no judgement about the client. The client expresses her/his art to lead the way. It is a language of self and a creative power that enables people to express the process and not make it. It will give a great insight to both a therapist and the client.
Poetry is an art that, like music, can bring different feelings and emotions to our heart and mind. There are many great poets in different cultures and languages whose poetry is filled with wisdom. In Persian language and culture there are worldwide known poets whose poetry has been translated in many languages.
Spirituality is one of the dimensions of a human being that is not scientifically based but it is based on the individual’s experiences. Love and compassion exist in the majority of people’s experiences which are abstract emotions that are not quantifiable.
Nostalgia is a bittersweet emotion that one can experience by a scene, a painting, a song, a music, a location, or etc. that takes the mind to memories of the past. Thinking back to past experiences that were not necessarily any better but emotionally memorable. Nostalgia is an emotion that all of a sudden appears without thinking about it and it is due to a trigger.
Having a good day means differently for different people due to their different experiences and their lifestyle. There is a wide range of perception and mindset when it comes to expectations of a good day. For some people having a day without shooting, burglary, fight, harshness, arguments sounds like a good day.
Communication is an important part of interaction in personal and professional relationships. The messages we relay to each other and the way we interpret and perceive the messages are very different from each other. Sometimes, silence can relay a deep and meaningful message and other times could be a sign of anger and negative emotions.
Sarcasm is generally a negative and painful part of an interaction with loved ones, coworkers, friends, and anyone in our life. The perpetrator usually has a person in mind to target. They often try to send their sarcastic message to the victim in public and in front of others. This usually ends up with an unpleasant conversation, silence, or embarrassment and withdrawal.
psychology is a part of behavioral science with numerous empirical scientific researches and statistical data about the antipsychotic biological roots of disorders and behaviors, environmental causes of behaviors, important theories of behaviors, behavior treatments, and the efficacy and effectiveness of the antipsychotic medications, atypical drugs, tricyclic meds, and the MAOI medications.
There are several types of listening and we mostly focus on the most common types. An active listening, a critical listening, an informative listening, an empathetic listening, and an appreciative listening. Each of these types have their own specification and definition that are different from another. An example of active listening is to be engaged in a conversation and ask questions for clarification.
Dating involves many aspects of a culture. Marriage ceremonies are also different in various cultures and they too carry many cultural backgrounds and traditions. Love language can be different and based on individuals’ experiences and personality type may be specific, for example, some prefer gifts in order to feel they are loved as opposed to individuals who like to receive an act of kindness, or….
Defining mindset is to know what kinds of mindset we possess. Do we have a growth mindset or fixed mindset? Do we know the difference? Do we know if we have a positive or negative mindset? Do we have this mindset based on our upbringing or is this mindset we have based on our own experiences and changes we made to our outlook to life? Is our culture affecting our mindset? Knowing these answers would help us to define what kind of mindset we have.
As psychological specialists work with individuals with mental health issues, most of the patients gradually become better and some go back to their previous real life. The caretakers who were fully involved in the processes of healing of their loved ones depending on the relationship with the patient will react to this situation. This is a very interesting phenomena to attend to from the psychological point of view. Some caretakers feel free and move on to their previous situation and there are others who might become worried and perhaps fearful of the future of their relationship.
The neuropsychology work with patients helps to identify their neurocognitive problems and issues with the brain injuries. Dr. Kathrine Kruser who is specialized in this field talks about the variety of ways she works with the patients and the different tests she uses as tools to be able to find out where the problem (s) lie (s) in the parts of the brain. These tests identify the effects of the injuries on the neurocognition and the severity of the damage.
We have witnessed individuals who have shown persistence in doing challenging behavior in order to enjoy and gain self-satisfaction. What causes such drive in some people? Do people are born with characteristics that dictate them? Are they putting themselves into hard work and challenging efforts to go against their nature and something this miss? This, of course, can be discussed from various points in psychological views.
There are people who put themselves into so much risk, danger, and extra work to do something very challenging and receive a lot of enjoyment by doing these and find themselves successful in completing these challenging tasks. What is it in a person psychologically that puts him or her into so much effort? Is it innate? Is it something to learn?
Many individuals take failure very seriously and rather than taking failure as an opportunity to learn they identify themselves with it and think in their mind that they are failures. There is another category of people who blame others for their mistakes and failure but there are others who accept where their shortcomings are and they evaluate, review, communicate to better understand the issues and work to make it work.
It is an important piece in the new year to start off the year for thinking about some strategies to go through the year. Think about people who have inspired you in life and find what has stuck to you about them as inspirational. People who are inspirational are not afraid to think big and they are open, humble, great listeners, inclusive, stable, and you feel comfortable around them.
Challenges and obstacles are part of life and sometimes it is difficult to find a creative way to deal with them. One of the solutions is to practice to breathe deeply and be present at the moments. It may sound difficult being mindful and positive at all times but with practice through patience, perseverance, acceptance, and hard work it is achievable.
Social status and masculinity are very important for men to continue to keep. Based on the research, achieving “real man” status is difficult and sometimes risky and dangerous and at the same time easy to lose. Women on the other hand don’t have as hard a time as men to achieve the status of “real woman”.
We are at the start of the year 2022 and it would be heartwarming to celebrate the new year with positive thoughts, attitude, and act of kindness. It is easy to make someone happy and it is easier to make someone miserable so watching our behavior and words towards each other is the most important aspect to consider when interacting with each other.
Year 2020 was smoother than previous year 2019 due to the availability of the Covid-19 Vaccines and the start of socializing. Offices and organizations started to open and their staff started attending their workplaces a couple of days per week. This by itself brought some positive feelings of getting back to normal to some extent. Small gatherings and visitations among friends and family members showed a sense of normalcy.
In order to be part of the legal and political decision making, an active citizen can voice his/her ideas by getting involved locally which would be at the county or city level and should communicate with the representatives in order to follow up any important issues at a city, state, or country level. It is not easy to continuously follow the issues but being passionate about the issue should pave the way.
In the USA, the judiciary court system uses a jury team from ordinary people who are citizens of America. This committee works alongside the lawyers and judges and their decision is very important since they are carefully chosen by the court system. The capability and independence of the jurors not to be manipulated by the other jurors are important qualities that if one doesn't have can easily be manipulated.
In general, education is important for personal growth, finding a better job, and experiencing different opportunities. Some cultures value education more than the others. When we expect a certain behavior from people, we often don't realize that our way of thinking might be different from the person we expect from.
Expectations trigger several emotions, including anger, sadness, surprise, disguised, fear, and happiness which are the 6 main emotions but there are over 60 other emotions that we experience in different situations. Anger is usually due to unfulfilled expectations and often we have expectations of any kind to happen from our loved ones, friends, coworkers, bosses, etc. and when it doesn't happen we experience anger, surprise, or any of the emotions.
Neighbors and neighborhoods are different as people and places are different. Some neighbors are cooperative, kind, helpful, and interactive and some are very passive and they are hardly seen. It is important to ask ourselves first if we are doing a good job as a neighbor than asking if the neighbor is doing a good job as a good neighbor.
There are 6 main emotions; happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disguised, and surprise. There are also 39 negative emotions and 22 positive known emotions. Most people talk about emotions when they are sad and being emotional usually is known as negative.
Charcuterie board is made of meat and cheeses and it takes its life of its own which is artistic and sort of a mosaic board that can be created by the taste and however we wish to do it. The creativity and the patterns are important and anyone interested in artistic work would enjoy working on their natural artistic part. flower arrangements are also another creativity that can be meditation when done with joy.
Creativity with food leftover and what we can make out of the turkey leftover after Thanksgiving. In Persian and Turkish culture, you can make "Koofteh" and in Mexican culture there is a special dish from turkey leftovers as well. During holidays, it is important to take a look at our relationships with each other, with money, with all aspects of life and just be thoughtful and appreciative to all we have in life.
There are different pressures in life that we experience such as peer, social, family, economical, work related, personal look, and many more. How can we deal with all these pressures on a daily basis? One advice is looking at life with a lens that looks for simplicity and appreciation.
The origin of Thanksgiving is from the year the pilgrim’s experienced success when they could finally harvest their crops (e.g., potatoes, yams, corns, and etc.), were able to raise healthy Turkeys, and could deal with the challenges of the weather and survive. Giving thanks and celebrating Thanksgiving goes back to those early years of first immigrants to the US.
There are different musical genres that we each like based on our taste, era, feelings, emotions, age, and situations we listen to. Music is very powerful and can affect our moods. When we hear happy music, we want to get up and dance and when we are sad, we tend to listen to a more melancholic type of music.
Different cultures perceive vulnerability differently. In American culture there is a sense that if you show vulnerability is a sign of weakness, therefore any time you ask a friend, colleague, or an acquaintance how they are doing, you would most hear: “great”, “wonderful”, “can’t be better”, and etc.
Empathy is something we can learn and cultivate by listening to people, asking questions, and becoming curious. It is important to put ourselves in the shoes of others in order to better understand them but in order to support them in a more helpful manner, it is best to not get involved in their emotions.
Losing is something that happens all the time in our everyday life. We want to do something but we don’t find time or we want to see someone that we like but we keep postponing and lose time. It is easy to lose many things, places we wanted to go and gradually we become master of losing but we need to keep this in mind that the most important part is to renew.
In majority of the jobs there are specific administration work that not only some people do not know how to do them, but also there are a good number of people who don’t enjoy doing them. The paperwork all together is considered the administration part a job and some people are good at them but some need help. This also include managing the employees.
In every culture there are certain rituals people follow. There are special days that is part of religion or cultural events that people from those cultures or religions celebrate. Wedding is one of those special events that in Persian culture is followed by majority of Iranians mainly due to its beauty, meaningfulness, and glory
When motivation is intrinsic, we tend to plan, work hard, and focus to get to what we want to achieve or accomplish. When the motivation is extrinsic, for example working hard to be promoted to a higher position because your parents will be very proud of you. The important part is that motivation that comes from inside has more meaning to it.
Weddings are the beginning of a chapter in couples’ life and an end to their single life. In life there is for the most part a beginning and an end and this does not mean a bad thing but actually in good terms it is a new beginning to something more exciting and newer. Life brings so many wanted and unwanted changes on our way and we need to accept them and move on.
There are stories of people in the food industry who tend to have more issues with alcohol or other drug use. One example is Anthony Bourdain, a famous chef who had a show on CNN for several years. He committed suicide due to depression which may have caused partly by his alcoholism. Alcohol abuse, aside from the nasty hangover, over time leads to depression, anxiety, and/or other mental issues.
The actors who play specific characters in the movies and in general in the entertainment industry now seem to be more diverse than in the past. The 2016 Broadway Show, called Hamilton that is about Alexander Hamilton, the United States’ Treasury Secretary who served under George Washington is a clear example of one. The three main characters of this show, Hamilton, Washington, and Burr are all African American playing these white men.
We all are guilty of not having time to do what we like to do, like going to the gym or reading a book. There is time for doing things we want to do and one reason is pure laziness but how do we overcome laziness or procrastination. One way is to prioritize what is most important and what is recreational. Create a list of “to do things” and start from small pieces of it and then increase, Like reading only a couple of pages of a book you like to read.
In a survey done by Dr. Vyse5 and his team, 50% or more of people have indicated that they have some superstitious rituals they follow. Some may have personal rituals and superstitions that keep them personal and don't share with anybody or just open up about them to close friends. Some of the athletes specifically have some rituals, like wearing a specific color of socks that they believe will bring them luck.
The young 38 year old talks about end of life due to her diagnosis with colon cancer level 4 and people keep asking her to think of her bucket list. Do we have one? Do we ever think of that? Would the emotional part of us come up more? Would we want to "suck out all the marrow of life" and do what we want to do or say?
Many organizations administer the personality test in order to hire the right person for the job but are the personality tests measuring what the organizations are looking for to hire the right candidate. Dr. Oswald, an Industrial Psychologist from Rice University indicates that most personality tests do not connect the pieces together to rely on the person to be the right employee.
Dreams are important to pay attention to because based on psychoanalysis and psychodynamic psychologists their meanings are about the dreamer thereofere the interpretation of dreams are vital to be done by knowledgeable psychologists. One of the suggestions is to write our dreams down so we can better remember the details of our dream. The meanings of dreams are about the dreamers themselves.
Laughter has different meanings in different situations, different cultures, within pairs, friends, and in different relationships. Dr. Sophie Scott, a neuroscientist, a researcher, and recently a comedian has done years of research with people and as a result she has expressed that laughter can tell a lot about people's relationships and that it is a signal device.
Empathy is a deeper level of understanding when it comes to human relations. Sympathy is a positive emotion but it is more on the surface. Empathy is to put ourselves in the place of people who are suffering and are in pain. Empathy towards one another is a factor of being a human.
The fire in Northern California has created a layer of uncertainty in our lives these days. On the one hand we hear some people after the Covid-19 epidemic deadly virus are becoming anxious to get out and travel and on the other hand we know many prefer to stay inside and avoid crowds. Children have now become the reason for the families worries with what we hear on the news.
Home seems to be a special place for almost everyone around the globe. It doesn’t matter how big or small, how extravagant or simple, what matters is how comfortable and relaxed we are when we are home. The appearance of the homes is different based on the location or culture but the feel of fulfilment and satisfaction of being home sounds similar when you talk to people with different cultures.
The nerve cells (neurons) are directly involved in mental processes and behavior. At birth, most of the brain neurons are present. Although neurons die at a rate of about 10,000 per day, because of their enormous quantity, less than 2% of the original supply is lost by the age of 70. The neurons have a different process internally and how they communicate with other cells outside of them.
Having a purpose is different than having a goal. Goals are more interpersonal achievements and accomplishments but purpose is more intrapersonal and includes more people, communities, and larger societies. There are three ways a purpose can be cultivated: a-by finding what we like to do in the future that benefits others. B-by waking up unexpectedly due to an accident or events that have happened to our loved ones or ourselves. C- looking up to a role model and wanting to be like him/her.
Having a purpose is different than having a goal. Goals are more interpersonal achievements and accomplishments but purpose is more intrapersonal and includes more people, communities, and larger societies. There are three ways a purpose can be cultivated: a-by finding what we like to do in the future that benefits others. B-by waking up unexpectedly due to an accident or events that have happened to our loved ones or ourselves. C- looking up to a role model and wanting to be like him/her.
Immigrants usually go through many obstacles arriving in a new settlement and one of the primary issues is raising children in a culture that is new to them too. Language is an essential part of any culture. Immigrant parents sometimes don’t know what is the best option for the children on keeping their language and practices of their culture or letting children be immersed and raised in the new culture and language.
Humor is valued in some cultures. Jokes that make us laugh are healthy for our body and our mind. Unfortunately, sometimes jokes can be hurtful and rather than making us laugh, they irritate us and become bothersome, especially when they are said to make a negative point about a specific group of people or specific appearances or behaviors. While life for the most part brings challenges, when people get together, they usually want to enjoy their time and have fun
The famous gymnast was off of the competition due to a psychological issue called “twisties”, (the sudden inability for a gymnast to make the requisite spins, e.g., a web page) that is something similar to yips in golf (a sudden and unexplained loss of skills in experienced athletes, e.g., a web page), which happens during putting (to hit a golf ball softly with a club, e.g., a web page). It is crippling in sports. This is unconscious and it runs human beings, so the best is to work around it and at best do at a time of unconsciousness. Yung, Freud and other masters of psychology talk about the unconscious.
Our stomach is the center for our health. Since ancient times, most health-conscious individuals emphasize putting healthy nutrients in our body. Many psychologists believe in the connection between the mind and body. As we age, our gastrointestinal (GI) system ages too and cannot handle heavy and unhealthy foods, therefore it is an essential part of our health to prepare food that is light and easily digestible
There are different types of identity, self identity, ethnic identity, sexual identity, group identity, racial and cultural identities and more. These identities shift and change as we grow to different stages of our lives. Erikson has presented eight stages of identity and each stage has a specific duration and explanation that for the most part as a framework has been the base of psychological work but different culture and different genetics traits or environment affect the development of the stages and their duration.
Physiology and psychology affect each other's functions and they are interrelated. Many times in stressful situations due to the level of stress we experience different types of bodily symptoms and we start worrying about the possibility of having a severe disease. These thoughts and worries cause our mind to travel to many unwanted places that add more to our stress and sometimes we face extended sickness.
Individuals show up their true self in the group almost most of the time. Our role in the group shows up as we feel more comfortable and get to know the group members. There are individuals who have personal goals and therefore think of their own plans and work around it while they are in the group. There are also those who show up as leaders, doers, talkers, etc…
In the psychology world, fairness and unfairness are subjects of discussion in different situations. Life in general has many ups and downs or obstacles. We can either look at these ups and downs from the perception of “life is unfair” and drag about it or accept, work to resolve the resolvable issues, and move on. Many psychological issues are caused by distorted thinking over the thought that “life is unfair”.
People sometimes tend to not evaluate and view their comments or behavior as harmful or offensive and feel it is not their fault if someone got hurt or was offended by their comments or action. The most important issue in a relationship is realization of the hurt they have caused to make someone else upset. Just saying sorry is not enough, there is a process that goes with it.
What is racism and what we call racism? “Psychologists are studying the processes by which young children learn about race and how to prevent prejudice from taking root by Kirsten Weir from APA, June 2021.” Race doesn’t have meaning by itself. We give meaning to this by our belief, values, behaviors, and actions. Raising multicultural/militarism children starts from home and caregivers.
How everyone perceives life is different, as much as our emotions. Culture is an important part of perception of life in different situations. One thing can be considered to be universal is how we react towards the unwanted and unpleasant moments in life. Disappointment is a wide range, from small to large. Acceptance is one of the key points to be able to better overcome negative feelings and emotions.
Disappointment is one of the natural emotions in human beings. Not every day we get up and everything is to our favor. Obstacles and bumps on the way are in everyone’s life and we need to understand that comparing ourselves to others is a mistake because what we see in others is on the surface. Recognizing our emotions is important as much as understanding the reason behind our disappointments.
The new variance of covid 19 named, Delta is warning people to be aware and follow the protocol of wearing mask and social distancing when socializing with large groups of individuals and shopping in the stores. The World Health Organization announced recently that there are places still in lock down and travel bans therefore to be on the safe side it is best to continue following the safety of self and others.
Summer brings fun and more outings in the water due to the heat in most parts of the states. In Sacramento, California there are a couple of lakes and rivers that people use for boating, hanging out, or swimming. The safety of children and adults is very important to consider while enjoying time in the water. Psychological reactions are natural and if we know how we react, it is crucial to have a mental preparation and how to connect with the right sources.
There are incidents in each of our lives that have special marks. For example, meeting people accidentally that may have caused planting a completely different seed in our mind for our future academics or change of the field of work. It is always good to leave the doors open to opportunities and don’t say “NO” at the get-go. Let opportunities unfold and then decide.
There are important points in the life of each person that are important to be recognized and they are great reasons for celebration. For example, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, certain promotions, accomplishments, and achievements, etc... Some people are interested in celebrating events in life and some don’t.
Ownership, belonging and doing the work the way we would do for ourselves we can't go wrong. In today's world, as we are moving forward to the future, we are emphasizing more on how we get along, how we become good team members. When you are a good leader, you are a good member as well. There are behaviors we need to learn from early childhood.
We need to experience a variety of things in life. We need to train ourselves to be curious and explore new things to expand and stretch our life. The next step is risking to link and network. Networking helps in every part of the way, especially when we are open and expose ourselves to opportunities. We need to empty our bucket to be able to receive more and learn.
some sports known specific to certain cultures or race? Golf was known as a white male sport for a long time in the United States until Tiger Wood broke this image. In some cultures, the image a sport has in the minds of people is very different than what the actual sport entails. For example, golf in the mind of some individuals more of a socializing event than a sport.
This celebration has coincided with the Tavana nonprofit Organization's third annual establishment. Where we were and where we are now in terms of our radio shows and the topics and the issues we covered. A year of important events in regards to health, politics, and social issues. Summing up the fear, unknown, and many controversial issues of vaccination and changes in social interactions from last year to now.
Where do we get our values and our beliefs and when do we change them? A person’s values and beliefs are the foundation of who we are as a person. We learn and grasp every single way of life throughout our childhood and when we start going to school, we start noticing the differences in the way our peers do things. Our actual social life begins when we enter the workforce.
We each have rules or guides in our lives that affect our goals and the way and style we choose for our lives but sometimes we don’t even realize these guides and principles unless we stop and think about them. The foundation of the guiding principles and concepts start in early childhood and parents are the most influential people in a child’s life.
There are 4 main important types of memory: short-term memory, long-term memory also known for working memory which is very short, and long-term memory is either explicit which is a conscious memory and implicit which is unconscious. The Explicit memory is either episodic (events that happen to us) or semantic (general knowledge of the world). The implicit memory is either priming or procedural (driving, riding a bike)
There are many kinds of Phobias from phobias of cooking to more serious ones. Most phobias are treatable and CBT is a kind of therapy that would best fit for treatment of phobia. There are twelve most common phobias: Arachnophobia (fear of spiders, Ophidiophobia, fear of snakes, acrophobia, fear of heights, aerophobia, fear of flying, Cynophobia, fear of dogs,…
Being a mentor is a very important job. A valuable mentor is knowledgeable and skilled on the field he/she mentors people. Someone who people trust and approach easily. A to go to person for questions and answers. A good mentor listens, tries to understand, and works with his/her mentee to provide support.
The imposter phenomenon is something we all are facing as a human being. “Faking to make it” is real in many cases. We know that there are many times in each of our lives that we go through feeling of imposter. A feeling that we are unclear of being good enough for what we are doing or responsible for. We question ourselves inside and put a mask to conceal our feelings. Isn’t this true for everyone? Aren’t we all experiencing this feeling one way or another?
Technology in Education opened its way through education for more than decays in the United States. The advancement of the technology and the multiple ways it has been incorporated in schools’ curriculum from preschool all the way up to colleges and universities within such a short time is extraordinary. The independent study programs gradually found their place in districts and now there are many charter schools fully operated online.
Technology is a great tool and provides various positive ways in many regards, such as saving time when using appropriate programs, and being connected through different platforms with friends, relatives, and others. There are countless benefits in technology, but there are also several negative aspects of technology, such as media and some of the posts that can emotionally and psychologically affect many, especially youngsters.
During Covid-19 pandemic, sport events were either canceled or postponed. Sports are part of cultures in most places around the world. People become emotionally connected to a team or a player. Winning and losing are part of the life of players and leagues and coaches although train their players to win but teach their players sportsmanship as well
Some people have lost their jobs during Covid and some used their creativity and created their dream jobs. We often learn from our early experiences in life and at work places. When we look back, we probably won’t react the way we did at our first jobs
Music is soothing and like any kind of art is very creative. There are all kinds of genres of music and individuals have various types of interest in the choice of music. The era when rap music became the choice of many youngsters around the world, more traditional and conservative parents were against it and many did not like the lyrics. Soon rap and hip-hop music opened their way to the industry and many musicians in this field received awards.
This is a conversation about the differences between obsession, infatuation, and love. What and how love is understood, perceived, and expressed is different and not every individual in different age group experiences love the same. The story of Thelma, an old woman who was obsessed with her young therapist is an example of how one can fall into a life that can be painful and unrealistic.
Human beings are somewhat similar when it comes to connection, relationships, rejection, and so many issues relating to emotions and feelings. We naturally think of our behavior and what we did wrong when we are rejected and usually, we don’t take rejection easy. It is not easy for many people to open themselves and put themselves out there when dating and putting efforts to find a compatible partner.
What is like to be rejected in a relationship? Rejection can be a difficult issue to deal with emotionally for both men and women. It is sometimes hurtful when individuals experience rejection therefore, they may have a hard time to get into another relationship further in their lives. Women usually see men as emotionally stronger when it comes to dealing with rejection but men in their sincerity admit otherwise and say it is just the ego and the behavior but not their true emotions and feelings.
As we age, our body is changing, therefore we need to be careful on how to use our body when doing activities, exercises, and playing sports. Our mind usually motivates us to do more but we need to control the way we choose our activities and try to be careful what kinds of pressure we are putting on our bodies. Aging decreases our fluid intelligence but increases our crystalized intelligence.
It was Adolph Adler who was the first theorist of the birth order. Based on that theory the research shows that the first born or the second born play different roles in the family. There is much research in the field of psychology that goes in different directions on that but there are so many factors to consider when discussing the order of children in the families.
Group therapy is part of psychological treatments and sometimes psychologists recommend it in addition to individual therapy. In group therapy individuals learn to cope with the members of the group and the dynamics of the groups can be very effective in many cases for individuals who discover solutions to their psychological issues.
Life is full of positivity that we take for granted rather than being grateful for having them. During the pandemic, we each experienced how our lives changed overnight and how we lost many things that we never thought were important in our lives. Our emotions and our behaviors are affected by the negative events; therefore, we forget to recall the positive events.
Socializing is becoming a concern for some individuals who still carry the fear of Covid 19 pandemic. There is a wide range of behaviors about socializing after the vaccination. Some are slowly getting back to somewhat a normal life and are visiting friends and families wherever feels safe. Others still have the fear of taking off masks and getting any kinds of germs, bacteria, or viruses.
There are many unacceptable behaviors by white Americans toward the Asian-Americans due to the Coronavirus and the rumors that the virus came from China. Several older Asians have been the victims of the violence This is happening while many other minorities are going through similar situations. It hasn’t been long ago that Black Life Matters movement started due to the growing number of blacks being killed by police officers.
Nowruz is celebrated around the world by Persians and Zoroastrians for 3,000 years. The history of Nowruz celebration by Iranians and Zoroastrians has had specific traditions followed each year. The two weeks of Nowruz holidays are included in relatives and friend’s visitation and gatherings. Sizeh-Beh-Dar is a friends and family gathering picnic on the 13th day of Nowruz Dreams and the meaning of the dreams which are connected to our past and our subconscious.
Nowruz starts at the beginning of the spring when the day and night are approximately equal and it’s when the earth’s equator passes the center of the sun’s disk. Nowruz is nationally celebrated. Nowruz table is of items each starting with the letter “s”: Serkeh (vinegar), Sabzeh (germinated wheat, lentil, or other seeds), Senjed (silverberry), Somagh (somaq), Seer (garlic), Samanu (wheat pudding), sekeh (coins), and Seeb (apple). The flowers, like Sonbol (hyacinth), candles, mirror, and goldfish are also part of the display.
Dr. Glaser and Mrs. Glaser have trained many managers and leaders on the topic and contents of the Conversational IQ (C-IQ). When in conversations we use negative words, we are creating the cortisol hormones which is a toxic hormone and when we use positive words in our conversations with others, we create the oxytocin hormones (the happiness hormone) in our own body. Both situations would affect others as much as affect us more or less.
This past Monday, March 8, 21 was the International Women's Day and globally this day is celebrated. The Women's movement has been going on for more than 100 years. Women have been marching for their rights over all these years on different occasions but still globally there are many concerns and important issues that women are trying to confront such as the continuous violence against them.
Being positive helps a great degree in creating a happier life. The research has shown that happiness and being positive supports a physical and healthier mind. The work of positive Psychology is establishing a foundation for positivity in every aspect of an individual’s life. Counting one’s blessing is a valuable reminder to appreciate life more and prevent the thoughts to go in a negative direction.
Currently, in the state of California many people have been vaccinated and many more will be vaccinated soon. The cultural change that Covid19 caused to happen in the life of the majority of people globally, seems not to go away for a while. Even with the Covid 19 vaccination, it is hard to believe life will be back to the way it was before Covid. The change after a year being in quarantining, masking, and social distancing would be difficult to go back to normal.
The new conversation on Coronavirus is that we must follow the rule of wearing masks and social distancing until year 2022. The vaccines brought great hope to people all over the world and many thought the vaccines would completely take us back to the past. The news from the epidemiologists and scientists say that we are still not fully safe even if we are vaccinated. Mainly due to the fact that there are so many unknowns regarding the new mutation of the virus
The people with mental or physical disabilities are everywhere and in every society. Are they getting what they need? Is the law protecting them? Do we as psychologists have enough training to fully know what they go through and how they feel? Are there areas missing in the societies in regard to taking care of the people with disabilities. In the field of education, teachers in America are required to take courses to be able to understand and work with students with special needs
The identity of human beings starts at birth, when they are identified as a girl or as a boy. A child’s name is another important part of his/her identity that based on necessity it might change throughout life. The sexual identity may change too and this does not mean that one’s sexual identity stays the same as their birth identity. People evolve in sexual identity from when they realize something might not be right therefore, they start exploring their sexual identity.
The LGBTQ+ are abbreviations of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Queer, and plus is the associates that are straight but they are supportive of the LGBTQ. The emotional challenges this community face and go through in the society has been shown in comparison with the general public and it is eye opening and heartbreaking. These minority groups have gone through completely different eras, when at one point the same gender intimate relationship was accepted to when their lives were in danger.
There are different ways to look at the romantic relationship and the expectations are varied too. Meeting the right person and the right match is not easy on the one hand and, on the other hand, easy now that there is an opportunity to meet online. Individuals will meet their date online and with the Coronavirus situation now is different and sounds even safer to first see each other online and when both are ready to meet, they can start with casual and simple activity such as a picnic or a walk…
Metacognition is the process above and beyond cognition. It is learning how to learn and thinking how to think. Through this process one can evaluate the learning that is taking place. Also, monitor and internally observe how all this is happening. People have different ways of learning and remembering what they have learned. As there are different learning styles, there are also teaching methodology and different strategies to teach
It is easy to fall into disliking people based on the way they behave or believe. It is important to build skills in order to put the positive thinking into action. It may sound very difficult at first, just like when you want to start to roll a wheel. It is hard but when it rolls, it becomes easier and soon it will be a habit. There are tools to use in becoming skillful in positive thinking and behaving.
The vaccination is going on and still there are people who doubt the efficacy of the vaccine and/or question the need for it. Some think it is for getting into your brain and have complete control over your life. The science is about facts and about research and results. Those who still are into the conspiracy theory and not believing that it is saving lives to be vaccinated and get the virus under control.
In today's society it is very difficult to freely speak about issues because it is easy to offend someone within a specific group or separate from the group. We are living in an era where gender inequality, race, political ideas, ethnicity, sexual minorities, micro regression and many more diverse groups exist in our society and these issues are all causing hurt or anger one way or another.
Today, the governor announced that working from home will be limited moving forward. Life will not be the same after Coronavirus, at least for a while until the virus completely goes away and most people are vaccinated. The fear of contracting any kind of virus will stay with people due to the fear people experienced for the last 10 months.
Martin Luther king Jr. was definitely strong in emotional intelligence and what he wrote in jail will ever mark his wisdom in leadership. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”, was one of his highlights he voiced. What social psychologists need to do is develop emotional intelligence in society and for leaders. In schools or other educational institutions when a reform happens, it is upon the teachers and administrators to implement those programs that create enthusiasm in children to get to where they desire to get.
The unique atmosphere of President Joe Biden's inauguration has created fear, worry, and for some the question of what is going to happen and if things all go well, what would be the future of the presidency. There are definitely two groups against each other, one with the intent to change the result of the election and the other who are happy that after four years of lies and conspiracy they finally have their representative.
In todays’ situation, there is more time in hands and it is more convenient to do the shopping online. When considering shopping online, stop, think, and have a mental evaluation if those items are needed or are just wanted. As we try to regulate our emotions, shopping and desire to shop needs to be regulated as well. Consider comparing the prices, qualities, and checking the reviews in becoming a smart shopper.
More than any time in the U.S. history there is a political divide among individuals. Civility in politics needs to be implemented and people need to consider listening to each other to understand each other's views rather than standing against one another. Establishing relationships are the first steps and having a simple conversation as a starting point helps, like the conversations we normally have at a kitchen table. There are common sense topics and issues that can bring people together.
how health at any point in life is important and one of the top concerns for every individual who cares about his/her well-being. The telehealth had its presence more than any time and psychologist who didn’t have the experience working online, had to start using online sessions. The role of psychologists in public health more than any time is necessary. As much we talk about physical health, we should talk about mental health too.
Is feeling happy good or right. All other emotions are important to be welcome. Sadness can be as good as other emotions at its own place and of course if it lags and takes two weeks, it is then that we should get help but in general all emotions like anger, fear, joy, disguise, surprise, and sadness are main emotions that any human being has experienced from early in life.
This new year we are happy to have the excitement of having several vaccines out from the respected and reliable world known Science based organization. The weather soon will be suitable to be out and about and if we are vaccinated, we know that we will have a better situation with our socializing. Life will be different in all aspects and this time for better.
2020 was a challenging and very different year. For the most part people usually start the new year positively with a few goals. 2020 started that way for many of us but in March suddenly we faced the challenge of staying home and worrying about our health. Challenges at first seem difficult to deal with but as we experience life, we realize that there are many inventions, explorations, and new ideas that reform the way we live. 2020 brought good and exciting changes with it.
Biopsychosocial roots of addiction, a chronic disorder. There are various issues influencing addiction's development and its maintenance. Genes have effects on the degree of reward that an individual experiences when initially using drugs or engages in certain behavior such as gambling (APA Journal Article). There are psychological potential influences such as stress, history of trauma, etc. Social influence such as family or friends use of alcohol or substances. The environment factors are the low cost and accessibility.
during holidays and in celebrations usually in the United States, families or individuals drink as part of the socializing. Younger people, especially since they are prevented by law to publicly drink until age 21, are more eager to drink when they turn 21. Peer pressure is a cause for some young boys or girls to drink. This sometimes increases drinking problems early on. People who care so much about being accepted tend to do things against their will.
one of the issues around the vaccination is the conspiracy theory about the vaccine and some people feeling uncomfortable injecting it. The problem then is the safety of those who reject to be vaccinated. There are many unknown questions, especially whether the government employees or any other employees would be mandated to be vaccinated. Wearing masks will continue for another year until the government can completely protect every one’s safety.
The Coronavirus Vaccine and its importance to fight the disease: The Coronavirus is getting worse and many people have contracted the virus with different symptoms. Some struggle to get over the hurdle of the disease while the rest are waiting for the vaccine to come out the worry. Many single women have hit hard as an outcome of the Coronavirus. Having children at home without support has made them quit their job and become a stay home mom to better support their family.
Job searching can be challenging sometimes and it can be psychologically draining, especially during this time as Coronavirus pandemic is getting worse and some businesses are closing therefore the demand is higher and the offers are less. some jobs are not in the job search. Some tips and tricks when you apply for a job and when you participate in the interview for a job.
the work we do, the situation we are in, the household and children we take care of, the relationship we are in, and many other parts of life might make us super tired and extremely fatigued and exhausted to a point we feel physically and mentally drained. This is the time we have to be alarmed not to let it continue otherwise it will take us down and it would be hard to get out fast and easy. There are ways to prevent burn out and there are ways to deal with burnout.
The truth is that we were all created unique. And the exceptionally successful and talented people of the world differ from the rest in only one respect. Their uniqueness, their individuality, was encouraged and developed, not inhibited and suppressed. Can we see ourselves as others see us? Can we control our lives and our destiny? From TM to Zen, from Shamanism to the Nembutsu rituals of Buddhism, the essential ingredient is always some self-hypnosis.
The Coronavirus and the widespread of the Covid 19 across the U. S. and many places in the world. More than any time it is crucial to follow the safety precautions and the health protocols in order to pass through this difficult time. The holidays and not being able to gather with family members, the economic uncertainty and financial crises has raised the mental health issues in many cases, such as alcohol abuse to a 1000% higher.
Older adults have more control over their aging than they think. For many getting older is rewarding-adults tend to experience more well-being, life satisfaction and emotional stability as they age and growing body of research shows that a healthy lifestyle can slow and even reverse cognitive and physical decline. But most people still hold negative views of aging. Ageism, like any isms that in this culture exist and it is a difficult task to change the stereotype in a society that it is rooted for centuries.
The importance of writing: Writing is a great way to help the mind to release the pressure of trying to remember things. This piece of unorganized information in the brain can create chaos which is hard to deal with. People with anxiety and depression can write their distorted thinking down on a piece of paper and on the other side write the same thought but in positive forms so it is easy to see how the mind can see things differently.
Two big things that are uncertain at this point. The president elect that has not been conceded yet and many issues around that and the covid19 and the spread of the virus is overwhelming. The uncertainty that I would get the virus and if I get would I die. The fear of getting the covid-19 can make it even worse. People handle the fear differently. Some become aggressive and some deal with it differently.
Political psychology is a branch of social psychology and a part of human behavior. Understanding the attitude and behavior in political issues helps individuals to watch their emotions and put themselves in the other group or individual’s place when conversing or discussing issues. Ego comes in between sometimes when someone attacks our behavior. We have to understand and know that attacking the ego is not attacking the person.
This election is getting close to the final results and it is important to build tolerance, patience, and acceptance to deal with the results. The principle of media consuming the issues that attract people but don’t have much value to them. The children don’t have the experience to realize what is real, right, or what can do to their mind. As we care about the nutrients and take care of our bodies, we need to feed our soul and spirit.
As we get closer to the election and soon the outcome of the election, we will face more angry, anxious, hostile, and sad people from the opposite side. The best to face with the unwanted results is to think logically, be centered, and accept the results graciously. Things that are in our is staying active in groups that try to make positive changes.
Habits are difficult to change due to their power. We need to recognize and analyze them. The key is to break down the broad behavior and see if you want those elements of behavior. Little-by-little, the mind becomes more aware and more determined to wanting to change the habit/behavior. The steps of change are pre-contemplation, contemplation preparation, action, and maintenance.
It is important to have hobbies in life. Hubbies keep us busy in a positive and productive way. Start thinking of learning something new. Learning at any age is helpful to get our mind off of other worrisome issues we are dealing with now a day. There are inside and outside activities as hubbies. We can try to do different things to find what we like the best to keep as our continuous hubbies. Learning helps with the hormones that are beneficial for our physical and mental health.
During this crucial time of presidential election, many of us are worried, fearful, and anxious about the results of the election. Many of us have values and beliefs that are very important to us and the results of this election may sabotage them due to the changes that may occur. The emotional reaction to an unwanted change may be fear, anxiety, depression, and other psychological issues, therefore we explain how it is possible to overcome these mental reactions.
How to deal with grief and overcome the depression. The process of grief is denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Mr. Shajarian, the legend of the past 100 years history of the Persian Traditional Music and the highest-level traditional singer based on the expert’s opinion passed away on Thursday October 10, 2020. He was in the hearts and souls of the entire population of Iran and the Iranians living all over the world. The news was devastating and the emotions were tremendous. Finding friends, groups, and individuals whom you can share your grief is helpful and calming.
It is easy to find a therapist through websites, google search, word of mouth, referrals, and other ways but finding a good therapist needs some questioning from a patient’s part based on knowing their own style. It is important for a therapist to create space for the patients to comfortably talk and open up to the therapist. In today’s time with pandemic and online sessions, it might be easier for some but not for all.
Therapy can be a stigma towards the mental health issues. In different cultures, many individuals don’t even want to talk about needing to talk to someone professional in the field of therapy and psychology. In some cultures, therapy is only for people who are not in a normal state of mind. Recently, due to many open psychology conversations, interviews and radio or TV shows, more people are opening up to going to a therapist.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, the world went through a shock, life losses, damages from small to losing jobs and having financial hardships. Then came the weather condition with the heat which was record breaking in the last 100 years. Lastly, Californians dealt with the fire and hazardous air quality that made majority of people staying home. Coping skills are set of skills to help us deal with stress. Physical coping skills are various types of activities and exercises and nonphysical skills are writing journal, playing music, and talking to a trusted person to let your emotions out.
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is when an individual has faced with a traumatic situation like an accident, witnessing someone being attacked or being attacked, and so many other unpleasant events that cause flashback, insomnia, nightmares, heart race, sweating, other somatic symptoms. The best treatments for PTSD are CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), desensitization, in vivo or exposure therapy, Talk Therapy, Patient Center Therapy, and sometimes prolonged treatments may be needed where slowly with the help of an experienced therapist the negative effects of the trauma can go away.
Individual performance is mainly based on the inner desire who we want to be so it is partly innate and partly based on the way we have been raised. We may appear different in various settings due to the occasion we are in but generally, performance is to do with who we are as a person, how we view the world, and what is the meaning of life for us. Goal setting is very important in an individual performance. There are two kinds of goals: short goals and long goals.
Phobias are the reaction we show due to fear of something and it is to do with our distorted thinking. There are several factors contributing to the phobias. The most widely agreed upon are genetics and environment. Some of the phobias develop during childhood if we live in a household that someone close to the child has a phobia and shows reaction in front of the child. Other cause of phobia can be due to a long-term use of medication. Sometimes, brain damage, alcohol or substance abuse, and depression can cause phobias.
Games bring the family and love ones closer together. Children, when they are younger love to play with adults, especially with their parents. Learning happens during game playing and the learning can be simple life lessons, mannerisms, behaviors, educational, and more. There are all sorts of games that don’t need to be fancy or expensive. Some games are for a bigger group of people, especially at picnics or large gatherings and some are more intimate and can be played with just two, or a small group of three or four people.
OCD is abbreviation for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. This disorder shows up in different ways but it is a big umbrella over other psychological issues as well. The obsession part are the recurrence thoughts and impulses that are intrusive and can cause anxiety. The compulsive part is the behavior and the action the person feels compelled to perform in order to response to the obsession. OCD can appear early in life but most common seen is during adolescence.
Genogram is a tool for mapping family patterns and it has been more than three decades that is widely used among healthcare professionals. Genogram is used in genealogy, medicine, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing, and even in law and business. It allows the healthcare professionals to map the family structure and find the relationships and functions to better understand the patterns that has evolved throughout time. In medical, psychological and other fields, genogram is used to better support the individuals seeking help.
Genogram is a tool for mapping family patterns and it has been more than three decades that is widely used among healthcare professionals. Genogram is used in genealogy, medicine, psychology, social work, counseling, nursing, and even in law and business. It allows the healthcare professionals to map the family structure and find the relationships and functions to better understand the patterns that has evolved throughout time. In medical, psychological and other fields, genogram is used to better support the individuals seeking help.
Hoarding is classified as an anxiety disorder and it occurs when an individual has a hard time to throw away materials in possessions. Between two to five percent of people in the U.S. suffer from this disorder. Generally speaking, behaviors consistent with hoarding develop early in life, yet people don’t tend to seek treatment until their fifties. Genetic factors contribute to those who are compulsive hoarders, and in situations in which there is a strong family history, it is likely that this predisposition is contributing to the hoarding behavior.
Immigration can be a very different experience for every individual. Learning a new language and culture, starting a new life, building one’s carrier from scratch cause anxiety. Raising children in a new culture that parents themselves are not familiar or comfortable with create fear and worriedness. An individual’s culture and heritage is his or her identity that needs to valued and kept. Names meaning attached to them and there is a story behind them.
Fire in California added to the Coronavirus stress and complaint these days and it is wise to be prepared for emergency situation. Families who have older people or children at home need to be prepared and wrap necessary items that helps survive for a few days. Medicine, water, hygiene items, warm clothing, blankets, comfortable shoes, and some snacks and food that can keep the family alive for a few days to a week. Storing these on the trunk of the car helps to have peace of mind.
Everyone in life is considered to be a leader! A housewife is a leader, a student is a leader, a worker is leader, and etc. We often associate courage with heroic acts or spontaneous reactions that are bigger than life but someone going through hardship and managing it with grace and acceptance is a courageous leader. Courage and leadership go hand-in-hand. The most successful leaders can handle difficult conversations.
Change is inevitable and needs to be looked at as an opportunity and a positive happening. Age is an obvious inevitable life factor that everyone is experiencing. Change, mostly brings excitement and opens doors to opportunities that we may not have thought of. Being open to change helps us to pass through life events with deeper understanding and acceptance. Acceptance is the key to deal with change positively.
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety Disorder, and Panic Attack are all caused by stress over time. There are a family trait and the environmental factors involved in anxiety. There are ways to reduce the symptoms for anxiety and panic attacks, such as deep breathing, mindfulness activities, focusing on a pleasant memory from past can be helpful but many times prescription drugs might be the answer because the person needs to be calm first to be able to do helpful steps to release the stress.
During pandemic, some parents and adults are working online from home and some schools are closed entirely or partly, therefore children need to be online too. This situation has created stress for both adults and children. Parents can organize the day so while they take care of their own work responsibilities, they monitor their children’s online work, support them with their school work and provide a daily schedule that provides opportunity for fun while keeping the boundaries.
There are various types of digital games in the market and children know what games are new and what games will be coming to the market. Choosing games that are not violent and stress creators need to be considered. Violent games create anxiety, irritation, violent behavior, and nightmare. Timing and duration for the game playing needs to be discussed and monitored. When rules are created, they need to be implemented and followed. This would teach children once there is a rule, there is consistency and persistency to follow them.
There is a connection between how the children feel and how they behave. When children feel right, they behave right. Parents can help children feel right by accepting their feelings. What best helps for parents to know how to act or react towards children is to put themselves into their shoes. When children are tired, hot, board, they react by crying, nagging, or acting odd. Parents need to tune in to what children might be experiencing.
There are two kinds of mindset. One that is positive and sees room for opportunity and growth, they are the growth mindset individuals. The other that doesn’t want to learn, complains, and does not look at life as a opportunity, they are the fixed mindset individuals. It is not easy to change our perspectives of life overnight, but it is possible to do it with understanding what entails to be positive and what entails to be negative.
We are living at a time of our life that the world is getting smaller and people are moving around and settling in different places. This has created diversity in majority of the societies around the world. Culture is an integral part of a person that needs to be celebrated and welcome. Culture is one’s language, food, traditions, rituals, religion, and etc. Being open to accept and learn about different cultures is enriching and valuable.
There is always a time in life that children or adults need to choose between two or several things. Some individuals know what they want and it is easy for them to make up their mind but for some who decision making does not come easy. The way we have been raised has a part in this. As parents we need to provide opportunity for the children to be part of the family decision making. There is also choice between pleasure and pain and many of our decisions are included in that.
Communication is a skill and a way to connect with others. There are nonverbal and verbal communications. Depending on how we have been raised or learned from our parents we communicate unless we become aware of our style of communication and wanting to change it or improve it. There are different styles of communication and based on each person’s style we can use the right approach to more effectively connect and have better relationship with others.
Communication is a skill and a way to connect with others. There are nonverbal and verbal communications. Depending on how we have been raised or learned from our parents we communicate unless we become aware of our style of communication and wanting to change it or improve it. There are different styles of communication and based on each person’s style we can use the right approach to more effectively connect and have better relationship with others.
Pets are recommended by mental health professional for children and adults with depression, anxiety, and other diseases. They help them to get up on time, take care of their needs and enjoy their company. Pets usually have compassion, love, and care towards their care givers which creates a mutual feeling for their owner too. Children play with pets and learn to live harmoniously with animals.
Children need to be taken seriously. How we talk to children is important. Asking right questions help children to speak of their emotions. There are different scenarios of different ways parents communicate with their children that creates different outcome. How to talk to children so they listen to us and how to listen to children so they talk to us. Parents can create situations where children can share their emotions.
Stress is a natural reaction that our body shows towards un wanted and unpleasant event. Parents can create a normalized life for themselves and their children if they control their emotions. Parents interaction and their responses to children can help them understand better what is going on and how together we can stay safe, happy, and calm. Keeping children busy in a positive and productive manner is important. Children are smart and carefully listen and follow the adults’ conversation, therefore it is best not to hide anything from them but speak to them in a language that comforting and is real.
The Coronavirus pandemic was an unpresented phenomenon that hit almost the entire planet earth. Some places more and some less. This shocking worrisome happening created anxiety and stress for many people. Individuals each reacted differently and overall everyone went through similar phases. The adult’s role at home is extremely important during this difficult time to teach children to stay calm and do their best to stay safe. The first and most important piece is teaching everyone at home to follow a protocol for keeping the hygiene intact, especially around the kitchen and where the food is.