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COVID-19, The Brain, Cognitive Impairment

 

Is there a direct link to cognitive issues and COVID-19?  “COVID-19’s Effects On The Brain” (Zimmer, 2021) investigates what numerous patients are dealing with.

 

Vikki

 

Reference

Zimmer, K. (2021).  COVID-19’s Effects On The Brain. Retrieved From

COVID-19’s Effects on the Brain | The Scientist Magazine® (the-scientist.com)

 

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Traumatic Brain Injury, Future Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Diagnosis, The Necessary MRI Usage

“Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” is generally considered a “mental health” issue brought on by a traumatic event, creating a number of symptoms the individual may experience soon after that event.

Fortunately, according to the following literature, research is showing the potential to discover early PTSD in those who experienced brain injuries:  “Brain Imaging Predicts PTSD After Brain Injury” (Elsevier, 2020).

 

Vikki

Reference

Elsevier. (2020, December 29). Brain Imaging Predicts PTSD After Brain Injury.  Brain Volume Measurement May Provide Early Biomarker.  ScienceDaily.  Retrieved January 9, 2021 From http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201229080248.htm

 

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2020, Memories (Those Mental Representations) For Loved Ones Lost But Never Forgotten, Give Them Their Bragging Rights!

Honor them by talking about how wonderful they lead their life. Speak of the positive deeds they bestowed upon you and others. Address how they made your life more meaningful with their existence. Speak of their humor. Talk about the numerous events you attended with them. Express how they were a positive role model worth emulating. Describe their talents. Speak of how they encouraged your pursuits. Indicate the many ways they showed humanity towards you and other people. Discuss the celebrations you shared together.

You will do all of this through tears and a heavy heart, of course, but these conversations will keep their spirits alive and show your continued love for them because genuine love never dies. A smile will appear on your face because they were Yours!

Honoring is not a one-off, but a constant for the rest of your life.

These are the people worth bragging about and idolizing. And why shouldn’t you?! Without trying, by merely being themselves, they helped mold you into the good person you are today.

Wishing All Of You A Safe And Meaningful New Year!

Vikki

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The Latest Mental Health News

P. Verbanas:  Antipsychotics For Depression May Come With A Higher Death Risk

 

 

C. Fleiss:  PTSD Common Among Health Workers Even After A Year Of Pandemic: Study

 

 

R. Berman, Fact checked by J. Beake, Ph.D.:  How Dissociation Occurs In The Brain

 

 

C. Offord:  Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Depression Symptoms: Study

 

 

Z. Abrams:  Treating Bipolar Disorder In Kids And Teens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vikki

 

 

 

 

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The Anxiety Series, Part IV, Conclusion, That Self-Inflicted Disorder, Perfectionism

 

Reasonable, Healthy Thinking:

– A person has an everyday goal of having one’s attire pulled together, looking presentable;

– Wanting to live in a safer, cleaner neighborhood;

– Eye-balling job tasks more than a few instances before turning in completed assignment to the boss when proficiencies are of import, and

– Parents sending their children to better schools so that offspring can have a quality educational experience.

 

Unreasonable, Unhealthy Thinking:

– Anyone who is anybody wears these designer clothes;

– Wanting to live at a certain zip code where “important” people reside;

– Failing to turn in job assignment to the boss within the deadline because worker is proofing to the extreme, and

– Parents demanding offspring receive all A’s on report cards.

 

These are foolish and damaging thought patterns and behaviors, which will result with somebody experiencing a mental health disorder.

Tabaka (2017) has a narrative about how perfection can wreck an individual’s mental health, and how dissimilar these traits are in comparison to high-achieving people in, 8 Signs You’re A Perfectionist (And Why It’s Toxic To Your Mental Health).

 

Vikki

Reference

Tabaka, M. (2017).  8 Signs You’re A Perfectionist (And Why It’s Toxic To Your Mental Health).  Retrieved From https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/8-signs-youre-a-perfectionist-and-why-its-toxic-to-your-mental-health.html

 

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The Anxiety Series, Part III, Cognitive Dissonance

A person with two competing thoughts that cause psychological distress is an informal definition of cognitive dissonance.

The more formal definition, per Sarkis (2017) is:  “Cognitive dissonance is the feeling that something is not sitting right with you”, and “…having contradictory beliefs.”

Cognitive Dissonance. When You Are Confronted With Opposing Information, Your Brain Resists (Sarkis, 2017) has advice in combating that emotional discomfort that can create anxiety.

 

Vikki

Reference

Sarkis, S. A., Ph.D. (2017).  Cognitive Dissonance.  When You Are Confronted With Opposing Information, Your Brain Resists.  Retrieved From https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/here-there-and-everywhere/201709/cognitive-dissonance

 

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The Anxiety Series, Part II, Toxic Relationships

“A toxic relationship contaminates your self-esteem, your happiness and the way you see yourself and the world” (Young, 2019).

 

The toxicity could be with:

– Spouse;

– Partner;

– Relative;

– Co-worker, or

– Neighbor.

 

Also, the issue could be the corporate culture at work.  It was appealing initially, and then became miserable because of nonsensical policies instituted over the years.  Employees no longer believe hard, smart work is appreciated.  Thus, smart and talented workers are no longer appreciated.

Returning to when another person is creating a toxic relationship:  The person suffering needs to determine if a pattern of behavior exists to remove any doubts about what is actually occurring.

The toxicity goes well beyond having a personality clash with someone.  The person with the toxic personality can be hypercritical, argumentative unprovoked, and has a disturbed belief they should have authority over the target.

If allowed, the individual with a toxic personality will stifle one’s creativity, and suffocate a person’s emotional and mental good health.  Also, the target will no longer believe in their capabilities because the toxic individual took self-efficacy away from the target.

There are individuals who argue everyday with family members, spouses, partners, etc.  These individuals will say that is how all of them get along.  Be that as it may, what they fail to realize is arguing that often is damaging their health.  Also, each instance they speak to others outside of those relationships there is an argument-at-the-ready tone in their voice which can be an unpleasant experience, in particular for those with an easy-going personality.

Cory (n.d.) talks about how a toxic relationship can be a dangerous relationship in, Toxic Relationships:  What They Are And 8 Types Of Toxic Individuals.

 

 

Toxic Relationships

 

Finally, everyone has a right to view themselves in a positive light with healthy self-confidence.  Therefore, when an entity comes along with questionable intentions with the motive to damage someone in any form, that is an entity best left alone.

Listen to your intuition.  Observe patterns of behavior.  That vibe.  Don’t allow yourself in becoming victimized.

Stay safe!

 

 

Vikki

References

Cory, T. L., Ph.D. (n.d.).  Toxic Relationships:  What They Are And 8 Types Of Toxic Individuals.  Retrieved From https://www.healthscopemag.com/health-scope/toxic-relationships/

 

Young, K., Ph.D. (2019).  15 Signs Of A Toxic Relationship. Retrieved From https://www.heysigmund.com/toxic-relationship-15-signs/