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  • Be Grateful in the Midst of Pandemic

    This pandemic has brought many effects on the way we approach our daily lives. A year with considerable measures and social avenues being taken away from us just to reduce the spread of the virus has a various negative impact on everyone. However, there are still few good things that have come out in the midst of the pandemic and one of these is being grateful. A thankful appreciation for what a person receives, whether it is tangible or intangible and the acknowledgement of the goodness that their lives attain is the meaning of gratitude. According to research from positive psychology, the act of gratitude is strongly and consistently corresponding with greater happiness. Furthermore, according to Joshua Brown and Joel Wong of Berkeley’s Greater Good Magazine, there are many studies over the past decade that found people who consciously count their blessings to be happier and perhaps experienced less stress and less depression. Therefore, being grateful can bring improvements in our physical and mental health and this includes feeling or having more positive emotions, savor good experiences, improve overall health and well-being, and build strong relationships within ourselves and other people around us. In that case, here are few of the many things to be grateful for despite our situation today. 1. Waking up to see another day Be grateful that you get to see another day, another day to spend with your family and friends. Another day to see the beauty of all things despite the bad things currently happening. 2. Hearing good news In these times where all we can hear is the rapid increase of infection due to the virus and we miss out on some of the more positive news updates, hearing good news is one of the things we should be grateful for as this brings light and hope to our concerning situation. 3. The ability to connect with family and friends Amidst this Covid-19 crisis, social media is the source of communication for everyone. With this, different platforms were used as a great and helpful way to stay connected with our loved ones even while physically separated. We should be grateful that despite being apart from each other, we are still able to have access and spend time with them even if it is only virtual because we never know what tomorrow will bring. So, while there is a chance to communicate, well then make the most of it. 4. The special people who filled spots where your loved ones were missing Always remember that you still have people behind your back that can simply listen or take your mind off your loneliness. These special people hold you in their hearts and are willing to offer compassion, empathy, and other emotional support. 5. The fact that you are unconditionally loved and accepted These feelings are interconnected. You are not alone in these times. There are people who love you for who you are and for who you are going to be in the future and accept you for the things you can only offer. 6. People who pray for you every day, without you realizing it Prayer is considered to be the most powerful especially in this situation because it is the ultimate source of all. Let us be grateful and appreciate those people who extend their time and effort to include our safety and health in their prayers. 7. Your challenges We should not be only grateful for the positive things but rather find gratitude in the difficult situations you are put in as this could help you to really nail down what you have to be thankful for. REFERENCES The Impact of Gratitude on Mental Health. (2021, January 9). NAMI California. https://namica.org/blog/the-impact-of-gratitude-on-mental-health/ Dowling, D. (2016, June 22). 100 Reasons to be Grateful Today. Tiny Buddha. https://tinybuddha.com/blog/100-reasons-grateful-today/

  • “I’m Not Like Other Women”: Internalized Sexism among Women

    "I'm not like other women," the phrase that we'd often hear, which was a pretense to show men that we are not the stereotypical woman that men had created. Patriarchy, Misogyny, and Sexism Patriarchy is a term used to describe a set of political, social, and economic interactions and institutions that are founded on socially established gender imbalance between men and women. Men frequently dominate both political and economic life, and "femininity" attributes are frequently undervalued. Misogyny, on the other hand, is a form of hatred towards women that manifests itself in the objectification of women and the belief that women's only duty in society is to assist men. The view that one gender is physically and mentally inferior to the other is known as sexism. These three elements were important in knowing why women experience internalized sexism towards other women and themselves. Sexism is the systematic unequal treatment of women by men and by society. Internalized sexism has long been ingrained in male-dominated societies whereas these societies portray men as superior. There are women who are perpetuating sexist ideals against other women or towards themselves. However, these women are also a victim of the ideology as internalized sexism serves to enforce that women, on the whole, are subordinate or inferior to men. This idea that women are inferior are justifying the actions of violence, hatred, and aggression toward them (Rahmani, 2020). Women adopt misogynistic attitudes and apply them to themselves and other women after constantly witnessing social beliefs that diminish women's worth and abilities. Ambivalent Sexism Theory - a theoretical framework in which sexism is divided into two sub-components: Benevolent Sexism and Hostile Sexism Benevolent Sexism (Paternal or Caring Attitudes) - women are seen as pure, innocent, and fragile. Men's desire to protect women (paternalism) in exchange for a more submissive role for women is often expressed in these views that limit women's roles. Examples: Females' feminine-stereotyped characteristics are glorified and their counterparts were deemed unladylike Traditional gender roles are important in order for men and women to work together Hostile Sexism (Aggressive and Mistrusting Attitudes) - is defined as a hostile attitude against those who do not conform to standard gender stereotypes whereas women are seen as angry, deceitful, and manipulative. Examples: make fun of ladies who pursue careers in traditionally masculine fields like science or athletics. Women are seen as controlling men through seduction Given that the usual victim of these beliefs was themselves, it's difficult to believe that women themselves endorse sexist ideals and attitudes. Szymanski and Feltman (2014) stated that to avoid more adverse mental health outcomes, women tend to have this internalized sexism towards other women as a way to cope in a male-dominated society. Ryan and Connel (1989) support this by saying that the oppressed tend to internalize the prejudice and discrimination in society as their own to cope in such environments. Women learned to internalize and absorb the same values that victimized them as a byproduct of a patriarchal society that often enforces these sexist attitudes. To protect themselves in this environment, women are forced to either oppose inequality or embrace sexist ideals. REFERENCES: “6 Types of Sexism, Examples, and Their Impact.” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, 28 May 2021, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/types-of-sexism#ambivalent. Dictionary.com. “The Definition of Misogyny.” Www.dictionary.com, 2019, www.dictionary.com/browse/misogyny. Digitalcommons@usu, Digitalcommons@usu, and Audrianna Dehlin. Young Women’s Sexist Beliefs and Internalized Misogyny: Links Young Women’s Sexist Beliefs and Internalized Misogyny: Links with Psychosocial and Relational Functioning and Sociopolitical with Psychosocial and Relational Functioning and Sociopolitical Behavior Behavior. 2018. Fiske, Susan, and Michael North. “Benevolent Sexism - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.” Www.sciencedirect.com, 2015, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/benevolent-sexism#:~:text=For%20example%2C%20some%20people%20disparage. Accessed 29 Mar. 2022. Ryan, R. M., & Connell, J. P. (1989). Perceived locus of causality and internalization: Examining reasons for acting in two domains. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(5), 749. Szymanski, D. M., & Feltman, C. E. (2014). Experiencing and coping with sexually objectifying treatment: Internalization and resilience. Sex Roles, 71(3-4), 159–170.

  • “Babae ako, hindi Babae lang”

    Parenting is such a heavy responsibility to take. It consumes your time and energy especially for first time parents. However, it fills that empty space in your heart yearning for genuine happiness and contentment for the longest time. But what if being a parent leaves you raising your child alone? As a single mother or a single father — there’s nothing wrong about it, right? A study on solo parenting shows that women are mainly leading the number of being a single parent. A single mom’s life is truly struggling especially when it comes to mental health. Research has shown that mental health is one common problem that a single parent encounters. Some are at high risk with mood disorders, depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and especially stigma and judgment. Also, it has been studied that single mothers feel emotions such as stress, being disappointed in themselves, hopelessness and even rage when they can’t afford their child’s needs. Despite the mental health issues a single mother faces, still, I believe she chose and will always choose to continue with her life as someone who wants to provide for her kids, as someone who wants to be her children’s physical, mental, and emotional support, but most importantly — as someone who chose to be a mother. In fact, I see nothing wrong with someone being a single mother but what concerns me is how people still go for the stigma and judgment to attack someone. Single mothers are being looked down upon by some not knowing that they also act as the head of the household; that they struggle emotionally and mentally but still manage to cope up with the situation — that they are strong and brave women. This article wants to remind you that being a single mother is not a hindrance to check on yourself (well-being) from time to time as it helps you accept the situation and continue on with your life. March is the month where we celebrate women’s month and one way to celebrate it is to acknowledge and appreciate every woman who touched our soul and became a part of our lives. This includes mothers - whether single or married, sisters, grandmothers, best friends, teachers, mentors, and even acquaintances. Today, single mothers are the star of this piece. References: Lindholm, M. (2016 November 23). 8 Mental Health Challenges Single Moms Face. Retrieved fromhttps://www.talkspace.com/blog/8-mental-health-challenges-single-moms-face/. Subramaniam, M., Prasad, R. O., Abdin, E., Vaingankar, J. A., & Chong, S. A. (2014). Single mothers have a higher risk of mood disorders. Annals of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, 43(3), 145–151. Zakaria, S. M., Mat Lazim, N., & Hoesni, S. M. (2019). Life Challenges and Mental Health Issues of Single Mothers: A Systematic Examination. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering.

  • Why Being a Meme Creator Takes a Lot Out of You

    Often times when people try to be funny, they convey it with utmost intensity to what they perceive as “funny,” some specifics of humor is subjective and are said to be one of a kind if a person would possess humorous characteristics. While on the brighter side being funny comes with the adaptation of utilizing internet meme templates or captions called Memes. These online sensation templates, pictures, and/or videos come in different strategies on how it is delivered, mostly the popular medium is found on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, 9gag, and other networking sites that dwell with the term called “Soc-Med’’ as described by platform urban youth. Experiences of being a meme creator today seem from a potential background of how the recreation of captions, delivery, and trend-setting timing in a specific context is what makes a good meme creator standout. However, there are times that meme creators come to a point of discrimination, hate speech, and even death threats depending on the context and content of one’s meme published. Delivering memes on any social media platform might as well be an advantage and showcase how you as a potential meme creator would rise from what you consider as minimal. Based on my experiences, being funny and the creativity when it comes to meme templates could be considered a skill to apply in any given context that may arise, although take this with a grain of salt, being respectful has more consideration than being funny. REFERENCES: Marciszewski, M. (n.d.). The Problem of Modern Monetization of Memes: How Copyright Law Can Give Protection to Meme Creators. Retrieved January 16, 2021, Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/pipself/vol9/iss1/3/?fbclid=IwAR2Ak6s7HUgdR88f5wtrL dCiK_4ZZhVY3_Y3WsxztrTpMyqTk7ijhbxyZkA Milner, R. (2012). The world made meme: Discourse and identity in participatory media: Semantic scholar. Retrieved February 13, 2021, from https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-World-Made-Meme:-Discourse-and-Identity- in-Milner/b5a64f3a8eb34bd6e64524ee39aab85197acd346 Nissenbaum, A., & Shifman, L. (2018). Meme Templates as Expressive Repertoires in a Globalizing World: A Cross-Linguistic Study. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 23(5), 294–310. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmy016

  • Mental Health: A Crucial State of Individuality

    The World Health Organization and the World Bank say disability is a public health threat. Physically disabled people have fewer opportunities to socialize. These restrictions violate universal human rights and threaten people's health and mental health. The Depression Scale (CES) is commonly used to examine mental health, whereas the Daily Living Scale assesses physical health. Ohrnberger et al. (2017). They show direct and indirect effects on all aspects of wellbeing. Prior mental health has a 10% impact on physical health, while previous physical health has an 8% impact on mental health. Depression and disability are connected. Stress from poverty, economic hardships, and lack of access to quality health care are all risk factors for mood disorders in people with disabilities. Thus according to existing research, depressed people are three times as likely as the general population. Following Jones et al. (2014), physical deficiency has various consequences on psychological suffering, and the effects vary depending on the gender, age, illness pathology, and length of the disease. Anxiety and sadness are caused by physical inability, albeit other circumstances may obscure the size of this influence. Assuming that anxiousness and sadness are brought on by a single incident, a series of events, or a combination of events. Consequently, mental health must be addressed in the treatment of persons with disabilities in order to ensure that all of the patients' requirements are satisfied as effectively as feasible in these circumstances. A study found that students during a pandemic were more likely to experience negative and positive stress, anxiety, eating disorders, and depression because they became more focused on the computer as a source of bad news, false information, prohibitions, and even the explosion of technology in the world (Ebrahim et al., 2013). To illustrate, anxiety and eating disorders are pervasive among college students today. First and foremost, fear expresses itself in the form of a deep sensation of sorrow, shivering, muscular stiffness, and sleep disruptions. Researchers state that there are official statistics, that more than half a million citizen in the country is affected by this ailment. At the age of 21, the indicators of this expanding condition may become more visible (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2017). An eating disorder such as bulimia, which is distinct from anxiety, can be defined as a pattern of episodes in which a patient consumes a large amount of food while simultaneously consuming a small amount of food. The result is that their weight and emotions are affected, which is particularly noticeable when engaging with others. They may appear to be different. People who are experiencing symptoms of a mental illness or problems with their mental health may experience a wide range of new emotions, a loss of interest, a lack of energy, difficulty engaging with others, and even weight loss. Think Health (Think Health, 2021). References: Anxiety disorders. NAMI. (2017). Retrieved February 9, 2022, from https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Anxiety-Disorders#:~:text=Anxiety%20disorders%20are%20the%20most,develop%20symptoms%20before%20age%2021. Ohrnberger, J., Fichera, E., & Sutton, M. (2017). The relationship between physical and mental health: A mediation analysis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953617306639 Jones, K. H., Jones, P. A., Middleton, R. M., Ford, D. V., Tuite-Dalton, K., Lockhart-Jones, Peng, J., Lyons, R.A., John, A., Noble, G.J. (2014). Physical Disability, Anxiety and Depression in People with MS: An Internet-Based Survey via the UK MS Register. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0104604#:~:text=The%20proportions%20of%20people%20experiencing,experienced%20at%20least%20mild%20depression. National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI. (2017). Retrieved February 9, 2022, from https://www.nami.org/press-media/press-releases/2017 Ebrahim S., Guyatt H. G., Walter D. S.,Bellman M., et al., (2013) Association of Psychotherapy with Disability Benefit Claim Closure among Patients Disabled Due to Depression.

  • The rise of Internet Gaming Disorder during the pandemic in the Philippines

    The global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused detrimental changes in aspects of human life. The IATF or Inter-Agency Task Force strictly implemented various mandated policies for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, such as limiting people going outside their homes, constant lockdown to affected areas, restricting physical and social interactions, and implementing social distancing. However, the majority of the citizens have experienced a vulnerability to negative emotional distress and chronic stress, thus increasing prevalence during the pandemic, which may contribute to the increasing severity and development of mental health problems (Qiu et al., 2020). To ameliorate the tension that the people felt due to the policies enacted. In response to the ordinances and to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic's mental health consequences, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed engaging in activities such as playing video games and online games as a part of the #HealthyAtHome campaign (WHO, 2020). However, the potential long-term effects of such advice on the well-being of the youth, particularly among inordinate gamers, have serious health consequences and have been correlated to certain forms and intensity of excessive web usage, giving rise to the term "internet gaming addiction." The American Psychological Association (APA) recently incorporated internet gaming disorder (IGD) as a diagnostic entity in the DSM-5-TR, characterized by compulsive behaviors and ineffective control over recurring, continuous, and disorganized behavioral patterns. Addictive behaviors can lead to adverse health outcomes such as social relationship issues, difficulties with properly functioning roles and responsibilities, poor sleep, and mental conditions are all common. Several internet providers have emerged in this context to provide people with internet connections. However, the country's accessibility and affordability of internet connections may negatively affect the physical and psychological well-being of every individual residing in the Philippines. Moreover, according to the website Statistica (2020), roughly 70% of the population in the Philippines has internet access which may still increase due to the shift of classes and work in the remote and online learning settings. According to a recent inquiry by Labana et al. (2020) from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, approximately 29.9 million are classified as gamers in the country. The rise of this population has directly affected the increased prevalence of internet gaming disorder in the Philippines (Chia et al., 2020). The study also found a link between depression and the severity of internet gaming addiction. Furthermore, research on the determinants of the pandemic on children's and adolescents' psychological health revealed that these age groups are predisposed and vulnerable to developing psychological disorders (Wang et al., 2020). An upsurge in video gaming activities may be viewed as a means of coping to assist youth in dealing with the psychosocial burden associated with the COVID-19 (Liang et al., 2020). Though it is reasonable to expect youth to become more involved in video gaming activities, increased exposure may increase susceptibility to IGD. The adolescent years are well-known for being associated with an increased risk of developing a variety of psychotic symptoms, making it a vulnerable time frame for compulsive behavior such as IGD (Peeters et al., 2018). As a result, when subjected to COVID-19-related stress, there is an increasing probability that these individuals might choose a negative coping strategy without knowing that it may increase their susceptibility to the IGD through inordinate ill-administered gaming. As a result, mental healthcare providers must assist people, particularly young adults, in overcoming behavioral addictions. References: Addictive behaviours: Gaming disorder. (2020, October 22). World Health Organization. Retrieved February 9, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/addictive-behaviours-gaming-disorder Chia, D. X. Y., Ng, C. W. L., Kandasami, G., Seow, M. Y. L., Choo, C. C., Chew, P. K. H., Lee, C., & Zhang, M. W. B. (2020). Prevalence of Internet Addiction and Gaming Disorders in Southeast Asia: A Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072582 Internet Gaming. (2018b). American Psychological Association. Retrieved February 9, 2022, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/internet-gaming Labana, R. V., Hadjisaid, J. L., Imperial, A. R., Jumawid, K. E., Lupague, M. J. M., & Malicdem, D. C. (2020). Online Game Addiction and the Level of Depression Among Adolescents in Manila, Philippines. Central Asian Journal of Global Health. https://doi.org/10.5195/cajgh.2020.369 Liang, L., Ren, H., Cao, R., Hu, Y., Qin, Z., Li, C., & Mei, S. (2020). The Effect of COVID-19 on Youth Mental Health. Psychiatric Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-020-09744-3 Peeters, M., Koning, I., & van den Eijnden, R. (2018). Predicting Internet Gaming Disorder symptoms in young adolescents: A one-year follow-up study. Computers in Human Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.11.008 Qiu, J., Shen, B., Zhao, M., Wang, Z., Xie, B., & Xu, Y. (2020). A nationwide survey of psychological distress among Chinese people in the COVID-19 epidemic: implications and policy recommendations. General Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1136/gpsych-2020-100213 Statista. (2021, December 13). Internet user penetration Philippines 2017–2026. Retrieved February 9, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/975072/internet-penetration-rate-in-the-philippines/#:%7E:text=Internet%20user%20penetration%20Philippines%202017%2D2026&text=In%202020%2C%20about%2073%20percent,the%20population%20using%20the%20internet. World Health Organization (2020). #HealthyAtHome - Mental health. Retrieved February 8, 2022, from https://www.who.int/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---mental-health Wang, G., Zhang, Y., Zhao, J., Zhang, J., & Jiang, F. (2020). Mitigate the effects of home confinement on children during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Lancet. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(20)30547-x

  • Implications of Covid 19 in Mental Health

    Since the lockdown started last March 2020, depression and anxiety cases increased as countries implement nationwide lockdowns. This pandemic has suspended the lives of individuals around the world that caused severe effects on mental health. The sudden rapid changes in the daily routine of individuals, job loss, maintaining employment, covid testing, quarantine, and involuntary isolation may be linked to mental health symptoms. The early weeks of lockdown have put the students to attend classes virtually due to the closure of schools and universities, while the adults in the working class transitioned to working remotely due to the closure of offices and establishments, with that said, unemployment increased too. The policies with the lockdown may have caused the feeling of loneliness to individuals due to social distancing, limited to none in social gatherings, and isolation. With that said, an increase in loneliness and lesser social interactions are known as risk factors for acquiring mental disorders, including major depression and schizophrenia. While having too much concern about one’s health and the health of their loved ones, (especially if there are elderly involved) and the uncertainty of future careers, etc. may lead to anxiety, depression, and fear. During this pandemic, the “threat” is not only carried by an unknown known source, it can also be a threat to our mental health. It can be serious for those people who; 1) have direct/indirect contact with the virus or those people infected by the virus, 2) are already vulnerable to stressors including those people who are affected by mental health problems, 3) are health professionals/frontliners because they are exposed and more at risk with the virus, 4) and those people who follow the news and social media posts on internet platforms. In addition, Covid 19 also caused stigma and discrimination towards those individuals who tested positive, including their family members, as well as the health care workers who go home to their families. For us to reduce the risks of acquiring mental health problems, here are a few things that might help: Disregard stressful news on the internet or social media that came from uncontrolled and unofficial sources. This way we can limit stressful ‘fake news since this is considered one of the sources of it. Remember to rely on official information, but only limit your time reading through the news on social media or the internet. Increase communication with friends, family, and loved ones by doing video calls and/or group calls with them. This practice may reduce the feeling of loneliness. Maintain a routine, from waking up in the morning until your bedtime. It is also important to do some indoor activities at home every day and you can also plan your meals ahead. Focus on the benefits of this lockdown/quarantine period, always remind yourself that we are all doing this for the safety of ourselves and everyone around us and also to minimize casualties during this pandemic. If the effects of this isolation are becoming too invasive, ask for professional help. References: Liu, C., Zhang, E., Wong, G., Hyun, S., Hahm, H.. (2020) “Factors associated with depression, anxiety, and PTSD symptomatology during Covid 19 Pandemic: Clinical implications for U.S. young adult mental health”, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113172 Fiorillo, A., Gorwood, P., (2020) “The consequences of the Covid 19 pandemic on mental health and implications for clinical practice”, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.35

  • Exploring Life Through Films: The Stigma Against Children with Learning Disabilities

    The story of Taare Zameen Par revolves around Ishaan and a teacher that opened a new world to him through compassion and limitless understanding. Ishaan is an eight-year-old child who has a hard time learning at the same pace as his peers due to his inability to read or write. The boy has his way of learning through his creative imagination, but not everyone— not even his parents— can see that. Growing up, I was privileged enough to encounter various professors with different teaching styles that resulted in them having a different impact on my life, different nevertheless positive. I used to question many of my professors' teaching styles and compare them to what I refer to as the "correct" teaching style. But just like how Ishaan's way of learning is different from mine, I realized that there was no one-size-fits-all for learning. At the start of the film, Ishaan's world was filled with wonders; he sees everything with rose-colored lenses. He would awe over small fish and delighted over air bubbles he would blow into his drink. Everything changed when Ishaan felt isolated from his family when he was sent to a boarding school. Ishaan became withdrawn and lonely because no one understood how different letters, numbers, and the world, in general, looked for him. If only from the start, his parents were knowledgeable enough about learning disabilities and the possibility of their child having one, Ishaan would not have experienced a lonely phase in his life. Children with learning disabilities are still stigmatized today; not every parent is open to labeling their children just because of the discrimination brought by them. However, we must always keep in mind that proper intervention, encouragement, and understanding of the children's needs are what the children truly deserve. Even Ishaan's parents were not accepting when the teacher, Ram, told them about Ishaan's condition. It is sad to think that up until today, discrimination against disabilities is still prevalent when in fact, this should be an era of inclusivity, an era of improving the quality of life of children with learning disabilities. In this world that is still full of discrimination, we should strive to be a person like Teacher Ram; after all, through my teacher's compassion, I could rise above my' dark days'. All it took for both Ishaan and I was patience and care that changed our perception. Ishaan was able to express himself more through art with Ram's facilitation. Throughout the movie, who knew that Ishaan, a child at the young age of 9 who was socially isolated, could produce such wonderful artworks. We must not underestimate the power of social support in the success of interventions. Different obstacles in life challenge everyone, and it is no different from the challenges experienced by children with learning disabilities, challenges that are not impossible to overcome. We must not look at learning disabilities as a barrier to greatness; rather, we should look at them simply as a hurdle that is very easy to overcome with proper knowledge and support. Film: Taare Zameen Par (Translated to: Stars on Earth) directed by Aamir Khan

  • Addressing Burnout and Languishing during this Pandemic

    Today's situation can stir up feelings like fear, anxiety, and stress, and sometimes we feel tired and languished. However, persistent or higher levels of stress can negatively impact our physical and even our mental health. Taking good care of our minds will always be necessary, but doing that during a pandemic may be hugely challenging. As a result of these feelings of anxiety and stress, we sometimes get tired and want to do nothing, watch our favorite movies, read books, and listen to songs. Sometimes, because of the pandemic, we feel exhausted, and we have no energy or motivation to do anything. But even though we experience this kind of feeling, we may still be able to be productive. Don't pressure yourself to complete a task or work that you don't enjoy. Slow down, be patient with yourself, and give yourself time to recover. On that not-so-good day of your life, don't even bother to compare your successes to others. Allow yourself to be. If you're thinking and feeling that way, it's probable that you do have excellent standards for yourself and are disappointed that you've never been able to meet those. Perhaps others, whether your family or those around you, have great expectations of you, and maybe you've been pushing yourself too hard. You may feel this way from time to time, and it's normal. It's normal because we are human beings, and we have expectations for how our lives should be. Sometimes, we have lost control and don't know how to deal with it. Even our situation today and witnessing the worst parts of society may be depressing, making us discouraged, unmotivated, and weary. We've been busy working too much, emphasizing our productivity, success, and outward achievement. But now, our body, energy, and mind tell us that we all need to surrender our weaknesses, slow things down, relax, take good care of our bodies and minds, and love ourselves. You must let go of your expectations and embrace that you, too, have flaws. It's both challenging and accessible at the same time. Surrender could be difficult, but it is also quite simple since all you should do is let go of all the negative thoughts in your head. Except for meditating regularly, no action is required. First and foremost, allow yourself to relax both physically and mentally. You have to remove any pressures you may have placed on yourself. Remove all of the 'shoulds' and exit in that trying moment. Stop putting any expectations on yourself; instead, strive to recognize and acknowledge your feelings of likely exhausted or drained. Let your body and mind loosen up and restore. Relax and allow your body and mind to mend and balance themselves. Secondly, show love to yourself. No matter what, be friendly and gentle with yourself. Practice giving unconditional love, which is when you offer yourself the love you deserve regardless of what is going on in your life. Accept yourself entirely as you are right now because unconditional love is accepting and understanding. Accept your unproductivity to avoid overthinking, which could induce stress. Nothing should be forced, and self-forgiveness should be learned. Allow yourself to forgive yourself for not always being yourself most of your life. Likewise, forgive yourself if you've been harsh with yourself. Keep in mind that wherever you are right now is normal and okay. Another strategy to keep your mind and body in good shape is altering your attention or shifting your focus. We are frequently depressed because we have been concentrating on inappropriate or unpleasant things. When you focus on what is hard, such as a headache caused by too much thinking and concern about your situation, you may feel compelled to give up because you perceive it to be a battle or challenge. That's why focusing on what is simple, such as breathing and meditation, makes it simpler to get through difficult times. So, instead of concentrating on difficult, try to focus on what is easy. Rather than focus on what is going wrong in your life, concentrate on what still has a chance to go well. Actively choose and be mindful of where you focus your attention since it is crucial and significantly impacts your wellbeing. If you'd like more help, speak with a trusted friend or family member. We all need a support system in our life, and if we don't have one, our mental health could suffer. Another option is to consider online therapy such as clinics that provide psychological services or professional counseling that could be easy to reach on social media such as Facebook. These clinics could assess your needs and match you with your licensed professional therapist. This option is straightforward since everything is done online and on your own time. If you want to nurture your mental health with professional counseling, try seeking help from mental health providers near you. When you're feeling down, the next bit of advice is to refrain from reading stuff that leaves you feeling bad. This contains information that makes you feel awful about yourself or causes you to compare yourself to others. Having free will, we individuals can choose behaviors that will produce a desirable outcome. Social media is full of toxicity, negativity, and pessimistic views in times like this. Hence, to be optimistic thinkers, we must avoid stress as much as possible. Attitudes and actions of other people on social media can affect us, so refraining from using social media like Facebook could help us to reduce our worries in life. Seeing disturbing or anxiety-inducing news causes our body to react with tension. It's good to be informed, but how you manage your social media and information intake can significantly impact your mood. Try and keep your access to the news about the outbreak to a minimum time. It's acceptable if it's challenging to have a positive attitude about something at times. Allow yourself to experience whatever emotions you're experiencing at the moment. You may also go into nature if you need one because being in nature can cure you mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. You will be reminded of the serenity and ease of nature, and here you may rekindle your sense of tranquillity that you cannot reach when you are at the lowest point of your life. Go for a walk outside, visit a park, or travel to the beach or mountains if you have the opportunity. Also, you can try having flowers and plants inside your house because it is believed that the energy of plants and flowers is therapeutic. Recognize that life occurs in cycles. Life, like the day, and the moon at night, follow a predictable process. As others have stated, the only constant in this world is changing. This only means that life will not be the same. Sometimes we feel like we're on top of the world, and other times we feel as low as the deepest part of the ocean. Embrace and acknowledge both the highs and lows, since without the lows, the highs would not exist, and vice versa. Always remember that everything will pass, that whatever you're going through right now will pass, and that you'll be able to conquer it. You may be going through a difficult time right now, but rest assured that it will not last forever if you help yourself. Stay patient and persevere as your situation and feelings will change. Start with small steps once you've given yourself some time to recover and are ready to take action. Break down your daily activities into the simplest and easiest actions possible. Begin with exercising or stretching for 2 to 5 minutes to improve your mood. We tend to set huge objectives for ourselves; however, when we don't achieve them, we feel like failures and worse. Do as much as you feel capable of, and pat yourself on the back for the minor victories you achieved that day. Regardless of how significant or little the effort is, it's still an effort. This can help you reduce stress and increase your energy to accomplish more. Finally, and most importantly, be grateful for everything. Make a list of all the tiny things you're thankful for in your life. Learn how to appreciate what is more important and acknowledge that there is always something to be grateful for each day. Be thankful because you're still healthy and free from sickness. Before the pandemic, many of us are focused on work, school, and other things. Even though we have a chance to spend time with our family, still, we refuse to do it due to the things we're focused on. Before, we tended to abuse ourselves at work and didn't give enough attention to our physical and mental health. But today, we realize that physical and psychological health is essential, and this pandemic somehow helped those workaholic people to at least rest their minds and body. We have the chance to bond with our family once again. This situation lets everyone realize that being with their loved ones is much more than money and a career. Express your love to your family and friends and treasure every moment with them because tomorrow is never promised. These ideas will benefit you since they serve as a gentle reminder that it's okay not to be okay when you feel like you're burnout, languished, or feel like you're tired physically and mentally. I believe you are concerned that if you do nothing, your life will stagnate. That, however, is not true. It's perfectly okay to allow yourself time to breathe and recuperate since we all need it now and then.

  • Hard gets even harder: Mental health of people with pre-existing conditions during COVID-19

    The Coronavirus disease attacks our immune system where people who got infected experience mild to moderate respiratory illnesses and some recover without major clinical treatment. But the virus does not only attack the immune system of a person but rather the anxiety associated with this affects one’s mental condition as anxiety seems to increase with people who experience flu-like symptoms during the pandemic (Chatterjee, Barikar C, & Mukherjee, 2020). People who have pre-existing mental health disorders before the onset of COVID-19 are experiencing increased severity of their symptoms as the impact of COVID-19 precipitates feelings of fear, anxiety, panic, loneliness, and guilt. As the implementation of quarantine starts in order to lessen the spread of the virus, people are forced to stay, work, and study at home creating small spaces for everyone at home. This adds to the anxiety of people who are used to managing their mental health conditions outside their houses. People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder may be at higher risk because with the scare of transmitting or getting the virus, it is necessary to properly wash hands and it can be crucial for them and might increase their contamination obsession and sanitary compulsions. While people with Depressive Disorders might experience an increase in their cortisol level because of changes in social rhythm, daily routine, and stress within the environment which results in aggravation of depressive symptoms. Moreover, for people with mental health conditions, the stress and anxiety brought by the pandemic are really evident and life-changing which may lead to other serious problems like PTSD or even lead to suicidal ideation and attempts as it is much harder for them to control and manage their emotions and actions. Given this situation, it is much harder for them to function in their everyday living compared to their normal routine in which they might have coping strategies. Access to their mental health care provider or practitioners might also be affected by the pandemic therefore, their pre-existing mental health condition could worsen at any time without a proper and immediate response. One of the platforms that can be utilized to eliminate these problems in terms of accessibility is imposing and improving teleconsultation in which they are provided with healthcare services and essential drugs to ensure that their mental health condition will not get worse during the pandemic. In addition, giving importance to mental health professionals, counselors, practitioners, and other mental health advocates is important to maintain their well-being in order to comprehensively help and serve those people who need a helping hand in terms of their condition. Moreover, being aware and showing empathy is one of the best ways to help ourselves and people with mental health problems as they need support and understanding more often during this time when their struggle with mental health deteriorates even more. References: Chatterjee, S. S., Barikar C, M., & Mukherjee, A. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on pre-existing mental health problems. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, 102071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102071 COVID 19 and its mental health consequences. (2021). Retrieved September 28, 2021, from Journal of Mental Health website: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638237.2020.1757052 Sergeant, A., van Reekum, E. A., Sanger, N., Dufort, A., Rosic, T., Sanger, S., … Samaan, Z. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 and other pandemics and epidemics on people with pre-existing mental disorders: a systematic review protocol and suggestions for clinical care. BMJ Open, 10(9), e040229. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040229

  • The effectiveness of Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy in children with Autism Spectrum

    Have you ever heard about Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy? If not here’s an overview. Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy or ABA Therapy is a scientific discipline involved with the analysis of learning theory principles and the systematic application of this technology to modify socially significant behavior It employs behavior modification to change bad behavior into positive behavior. The goal of ABA is to improve behavior. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder struggle to engage with others. They also have difficulty interpreting other people's thoughts or feelings; making faces may be meaningless to them at times. A child with Autism Spectrum Disorder has poor eye contact, despite the fact that the majority of them are aware of where they belong. They have issues with posture and signals as well. Many of them have stereotyped movements in particular body parts, and they frequently engage in disruptive behavior. Apart from that, these children engage in self-destructive behavior. Many clinicians have spent years searching for the most effective treatment and intervention for children with autism. They discovered that children with Autism and other developmental problems benefit greatly from Applied Behavioral analysis. Having access to this form of therapy will help a kid with autism or another developmental condition in improving their attention, compliance, social skills, and other aspects of their development. Many psychological studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA Therapy), and it has been discovered that in order for ABA Therapy to be effective, a trained therapist and an effective intervention program must be implemented. The use of other techniques such as Functional Behavioral Analysis and identifying disruptive and passive behavior may also be advantageous. This ABA therapy can significantly enhance the daily lives of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Finally, this type of therapy imposes Operant Conditioning, which considerably helps the child's improvement. References: Rafiee, Sheida & Khanjani, Zaynab. (2020). The Effectiveness of Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy on Eye Contact Enhancement, Stereotypical Behaviors and Reduction of Behavioral Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum. Revista Gestão & Tecnologia. 20. 98-122. 10.20397/2177-6652/2020.v20i2.1651.

  • Man’s Best friend: Does Pet Ownership Benefit College Students?

    As students advance to higher education, specifically college, one can expect their anxiety levels to rise. This increase in anxiety can result from the college level being more demanding when it comes to tasks and other significant life changes that go side by side during this age of development. For this reason, a student entering college for the first time is likely to face adversity. This stage of development requires a good deal of adjustment that may eventually lead to added stress. This stress may be due to different factors like dealing with new instructors, the heavy reliance on time management skills the student may still lack, living away from home, and taking responsibility for oneself when living alone. Though eustress, also known as good stress, can increase performance, distress or overwhelming stress may lead to lower academic performance and even physical and psychological problems later on. In the Philippines, some college-level students were found to have a high adversity quotient, the quantifiable score of a person's ability to deal with. Given the high adversity quotient, these students struggle with rigorous and challenging tasks and have difficulty coping with the stress that comes with it. As such, there is a need for an effective and accessible coping mechanism for students, mainly since an individual's coping strategies may lessen the adverse effects and other internalizing symptoms from mental health problems. Additionally, utilizing a proper coping strategy may buffer the damaging effects of stress by negatively influencing academic performance. Though coping strategies vary per individual, some common ways college students deal with distress are exercising, talking to a friend, finding a hobby, listening to music, sleeping, relying on drugs and alcohol, eating, dieting, smoking, and reading. Coping strategies are not categorical in which individuals limit themselves to one coping strategy for the rest of their lives. Instead, an individual uses a combination of different coping strategies. Common coping strategies that Filipino adolescents use include drawing emotional or instrumental support from relatives and friends. Though it is possible to learn healthier coping strategies, some result in maladaptive coping strategies such as substance abuse. Besides the previously mentioned coping strategies, an individual may opt to use a vast range of options. Commonly believed, having animal companions at home helps deal with the stressors brought by stressful environmental demands. Through the years, society has been more accepting of animals as part of their families. Even local malls have been more accepting of pets, which is evident in the facilities built specifically for their visitors' animal companions. There are many studies regarding animal companionship and its effect on different aspects of human behavior. Many believe that there is a high association between pet attachment strength and a feeling of social support received by an individual, affecting their well-being and academic performance. Other positive feelings of empathy, care, trust, cooperation, responsibility, and alike are also associated with having a pet. As it is common for children to grow up with pets in the household, growing up with a pet encourages prosocial human behavior, reducing aggression, positive relationships with others, and overall better well-being. In the context of college students having pets as a coping strategy, interacting with pets can reduce stress, depression, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness, as apparent by the lessened negative physical symptoms. College students who interact with dogs find an increase in positive mood and anxiety reduction. However, although having a pet provides comfort for some college students, others reported that internalizing symptoms are more evident in individuals who grew up with an animal companion. But we should acknowledge that different outcomes with other studies depend on individual factors such as gender, culture, and closeness with the pet. References: Barker, S.B., Schubert, C.M., Barker, R.T., Kuo, S.I., Kendler, K.S. & Dick, D.M. (2020). The relationship between pet ownership, social support, and internalizing symptoms in students from the first to fourth year of college. Applied Developmental Science, 24(3), 279-293. doi: 10.1080/10888691.2018.1476148 De Leon, J., & Balila, E. (2015). Filipino adolescents’ coping strategies: A confirmatory factor analysis. University Research Journal, 18(2), 73-81. http://www.aup.edu.ph/alumni/wp-content/uploads/Vol-19-No-1-Research-Journal-Jan-2016-1.pdf#page=79 Firmin M.W., Brink, J.E., Firmin R.L., Grigsby, M.E., & Trudel, J.F. (2016). Qualitative perspectives of an alternative therapy program. Alternative and Complementary Therapies. 204-213. http://doi.org/10.1089/act.2016.29073.mw Hawkins, R.D., & Williams, J.M. (2017). Childhood attachment to pets: Associations between pet attachment, attitudes to animals, compassion, and humane behaviour. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 14, 490. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14050490 Koukourikos, K., Georgopoulou, A., Kourkouta, L., & Tsaloglidou, A. (2019). Benefits of animal assisted therapy in mental health. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 12(3), 1898-1905. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Benefits-of-Animal-Assisted-Therapy-in-Mental-Koukourikos-Kourkouta/c152532afdd8d14f269d9b894cc6c91b0105f45c#citing-papers Meehan M., Massavelli B. & Pachana N. (2017). Using attachment theory and social support theory to examine and measure pets as sources of social support and attachment figures. Anthrozoös, 30:2, 273-289. doi: 10.1080/08927936.2017.1311050 Picard, M. J. (2015). Study of the effect of dogs on college students' mood and anxiety. Honors Thesis University of Maine, 233. https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/233 Saile, P. J., Daan, J. A., Briones, E. B., Tabotabo, J. E., Ramo, C. M., & Canini, N. D. (2017). Stress, coping strategies, and academic performance of maritime students. Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies, 6(1), 74-92. https://multidisciplinaryjournal.com/pdf/130.pdf Thelwell, E. R. (2019). Paws for thought: A controlled study investigating the benefits of interacting with a house-trained dog on university students' mood and anxiety. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100846 Vinas, D. D., & Aquino-Malabanan, M. (2015). Adversity quotient and coping strategies of college students in Lyceum of the Philippines University. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Arts and Sciences, 2(3), 68-72. http://research.lpubatangas.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/APJEAS-2015-2.3-11-Adversity-Quotient-and-Coping-Strategies-of-College-Students.pdf

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