Emotions

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World Mental Health Day

When every region on this planet has an adequate amount of mental health facilities, therapists, and medicine to treat its citizens, perhaps we can then say we’re entering a phase of global health success!  Many people are living in war-torn areas, while others are dealing with natural disasters.  These calamities take a toll on a person’s mental health.  That is one reason why mental health experts are especially important for these global residents.

The References

The following resources have a wealth of information for individuals experiencing mental health conditions, for those providing emotional support to loved ones who’ve been diagnosed, and others without conditions who simply wish to become more knowledgeable regarding mental health sciences.  

The Importance Of Relaxing

The following nature video (Relaxing Tree, 2020) is a reminder that visiting parks and listening to the sounds of nature can become a vital ingredient in having and maintaining calmness for positive mental health.  It can become a method of getting away from it all periodically!

[VIDEO:  4K RELAXING NATURE SOUNDS – SHORT VIDEO CLIPS OF NATURE:  SOURCE:  RELAXING TREE, 2020]

Other forms of relaxation can involve meditating, engaging in yoga exercises, participating in arts such as sewing, crocheting, knitting, reading publications from favorite bookstores, and taking a walk after dinner, which can help reduce a few calories as an added benefit.  Listening to quiet music, cooking/baking, gardening, housework, painting, sculpting, coloring in a coloring book, landscaping, drawing, building furniture, writing in a spiral notebook about one’s feelings and experiences, and watching television are also forms of relaxation.  

A Person Should Never Label Oneself

An important aspect to remember is that just because a person is diagnosed with a mental health condition doesn’t suggest even remotely that they are a mental health condition.  What the diagnosis means is that it’s another one of life’s challenges.  

A Person Should Never Blame Themselves, Nor Compare Themselves

Some people will experience influenza and will suffer from symptoms temporarily.  It could be because they’re younger, have no prior history of respiratory issues, and lack a compromised immune system.  Conversely, other people may have a longer bout of the illness since they have a prior history of respiratory issues, they’re older, and already have a compromised immune system.  

In a similar vein, each person who is diagnosed with a mental health condition may have a different reason for their mental health condition.  For example, a person could be diagnosed with schizophrenia because they also have a form of Alzheimer’s Disease (i.e., comorbidity–more than one condition).  Another person is diagnosed with schizophrenia because they have a sibling (twin) or a parent who was diagnosed with the condition years earlier (i.e., genetics).  In taking the conversation in another direction, a person could be diagnosed with mild depression and needs medication temporarily because it began with becoming overwhelmed by life.  They experienced too many negative personal life events.  And then for another person diagnosed with depression, they may have to use prescriptions for the rest of their life because their brain chemistry has changed dramatically. 

The associations, the causations, the bottom-up (i.e., physical illness bringing on the mental health condition), and other explanations are too involved and nuanced for the “How did this person acquire a mental health condition?”  Thus, there can be any number of reasons why a person acquired a mental health difficulty, and it may not be a similar reason for other people with the same condition.  Also, there could be situations where there are no known current explanations why someone ended up with a mental health condition, because those reasons are waiting for scientific discovery.

Getting Rid Of Stigmas

In the constant struggle to remove the stigma that remains in society concerning mental health challenges, people with psychiatric issues need to remember that they are not alone.  Everyone has some form of mental health issue.  Some mental health issues are minor, others are large, while others are dealing with comorbidity.  Whatever the circumstance, everyone has something they’re dealing with.  A person needs to keep going and live their life to the best of their ability!

There Is No Room For Negativity

Anyone who would make comments that a person with a mental health condition needs to “Get over it” or some other form of mocking/psychological abuse is not someone who should be in anyone’s social circle during the adjustment and recovery phase, and that could be for a lifetime.  When a person is dealing with a psychiatric issue, they need supportive individuals who provide empathy and lots of encouragement.  Actually, the toxic entities could be individuals who contributed to the mental health condition.

A Mental Health Issue Is Not Necessarily Psychiatric, Requiring Medication

A psychiatric issue occurs when the brain chemistry has changed (i.e., an imbalance of a specific neurotransmitter) and a clinical therapist is required (i.e., psychiatrist).  For instance, a person diagnosed with schizophrenia has an imbalance of dopamine (an imbalance of dopamine is associated with schizophrenia).  Thus, medication is necessary to create a healthy brain chemistry.  Other people may have phobias (i.e., height, insects, certain animals, specific places, etc.), and a psychologist would be suggested for learning techniques in removing said phobias.  A psychologist is ideal when experiencing relationship difficulties.  A psychologist might be used for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help a client learn new thinking strategies in maneuvering life, along with achieving goals.

The following is a video that talks about psychotherapy, which is a completely different brand of therapy altogether:

[VIDEO:  WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY?  SOURCE:  PSYCH HUB, 2020]

Family Members Becoming Involved In Their Loved Ones’ Journey

It cannot be emphasized enough that family members can make important contributions when a person is diagnosed with a psychiatric condition.  Members can provide a guardrail of sorts in making certain that individuals keep doctor’s appointments with therapists and take prescribed medications.  They can even attend these doctor appointments with their loved ones.  The person diagnosed with a psychiatric condition can believe that they have partners in gaining a positive quality of life.  In extreme cases, a family member may need to obtain conservatorship.  All of these suggestions can avoid potential tragic situations with law enforcement, which we hear all too often in the media.

Weight Gain From Medications Is A Possibility, Although…

People who are diagnosed with a psychiatric condition need to ask the therapist for prescriptions that have a much lower possibility of weight gain.  Many of these psychotropics and antidepressants (Bright Horizons Psychiatry, 2024) are not only responsible for a larger waistline, but also for the possibility of experiencing metabolic syndrome because of the additional weight gain (i.e., higher blood pressure, higher blood sugar leading to cardiovascular issues) (Cleveland Clinic, 2025).   Conversely, a psychotropic and antidepressant may not necessarily cause actual weight gain.  Taking these medications can result in a complete change to the body’s metabolism.  Some individuals can experience fatigue, water retention, hormonal changes, and other modifications without additional calories to their diet (Bright Horizons Psychiatry, 2024).

As an aside, imagine the middle-aged woman who was already experiencing metabolic syndrome because of weight gain from hormonal changes (menopause), and is now prescribed an antidepressant or psychotropic.  She will have to worry about even more weight gain difficulties, and unfortunately, could become a likely candidate for cardiovascular issues, and worse.

An Important No-No

If a person wants to go off their medication, that procedure needs to be done with the guidance of the therapist and gradually!  Waking up one morning and deciding to cease taking medication can send an individual spiraling out of control, and with tragic consequences to themselves and others.

Finally, dealing with a mental health condition, especially one that has altered the brain chemistry, is rough!  Having said that, once a person has gained clarity through doctor visits and taking medication, a person could use their condition and start anew with living their life instead of merely existing!  

Here’s wishing you good health, love, and lots of understanding!

Vikki

References

American Academy Of Neurology.  (2025).  Brain Health For All.  Retrieved From https://www.aan.com/

American Psychological Association. (2025).  We promote psychological science and knowledge to benefit society and improve lives.  Retrieved From apa.org

Behavioral Scientist.  (2025).  Health.  Retrieved From https://behavioralscientist.org/topics/health/

Better Health Channel.  (2022).  Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT).  Retrieved From https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/cognitive-behaviour-therapy

Bright Horizons Psychiatry. (2024).  Managing Weight Gain Caused By Psychiatric Medication.  Retrieved From https://brighthorizonspsychiatry.com/managing-weight-gain-caused-by-psychiatric-medication/

Cleveland Clinic.  (2025).  Metabolic Syndrome.  Retrieved From https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10783-metabolic-syndrome

deVries, L. P., van de Weijer, M. P., and Bartels, M.  (2022).  The Human Physiology Of Well-Being: A Systematic Review On The Association Between Neurotransmitters, Hormones, Inflammatory Markers, The Microbiome And Well-Being.  (Vol. 139). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104733  Retrieved From https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763422002226

Europe’s Journal Of Psychology.  (2025).  An Online-Only, Open-Access Journal For Scientific Inquiries Into A Wide Range Of Topics In Psychology – Free Of Charge For Authors And Readers.  Retrieved From https://ejop.psychopen.eu/index.php/ejop

Healthcare Communications Network.  (2025).  Psychiatry.  Retrieved From https://hcn.health/hcn-trends-story/category/psychiatry/

Healthline.  (2025).  Mental Well-Being.  Retrieved From https://www.healthline.com/mental-health

JAMA Network.  (2025).  Psychiatry.  Retrieved From https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry

MDPI.  (2025).  Journal Of Behavioral Sciences.  Retrieved From https://mdpi.com/journal/behavsci

MedicalNewsToday.  (2025).  Mental Health.  Take Care Of Your Mental Well-Being With Evidenced-Backed Resources.  Retrieved From https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/mental-health

Miller, C. (2025).  Mental Health Disorders And Teen Substance Use.  Why It’s Especially Tempting – And Risky – For Kids With Emotional Or Behavioral Challenges.  Retrieved From https://childmind.org/article/mental-health-disorders-and-substance-use/

National Alliance On Mental Illness.  (2025).  Dissociative Disorders.  Retrieved From https://www.nami.org/about-mental-illness/mental-health-conditions/dissociative-disorders/

Neuroscience News.  (2025).  Latest Neuroscience News.  Retrieved From https://neurosciencenews.com/

NewScientist.  (2025).  Mind.  Retrieved From https://www.newscientist.com/subject/mind/

Psyche.  (2025).  Know Your Self.  Retrieved From https://psyche.co/

Psych Hub.  (2020, November 3).  What Is Psychotherapy?  [VIDEO].  Retrieved From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmHcB8aOlkI

Psychiatrist.  (2025).  Just Published.  Retrieved From https://www.psychiatrist.com/

Relaxing Tree.  (2020, October 10).  4K Relaxing Nature Sounds – Short Video Clips Of Nature.  [VIDEO].  Retrieved From https://youtu.be/nqye02H_H6I?si=iHaQAgPVoU025-mF

ScienceDaily.  (2025). Mind & Brain News.  Retrieved From https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/

Smithsonian Magazine.  (2025).  Science/Mind & Body.  Retrieved From smithsonianmag.com/category/mind-body

Taylor & Francis Online.  The Journal Of Social Psychology.  Latest Articles.  Retrieved From https://www.tandfonline.com/action/showAxaArticles?journalCode=vsoc20

The British Psychological Society.  (2025).  Explore Psychological Publications.  Retrieved From https://explore.bps.org.uk/

The Scientist.  (2025).  Exploring Life, Inspiring Innovation.  Retrieved From https://www.the-scientist.com/tag/psychology

Therapy In A Nutshell.  (2025).  No One Ever Taught You How To Regulate Your Emotions.  Let’s Change That Today.  Retrieved From https://therapyinanutshell.com/

Thompson, D.  (2025).  Industrial Chemical Linked To Parkinson’s Disease.  Retrieved From https://www.medicinenet.com/industrial_chemical_linked_to_parkinsons_disease/news.htm

Wiley Online Library.  (2025)  Psychiatry.  Retrieved From https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/doSearch?AllField=psychiatry

World Health Organization.  (2025).  Bipolar Disorder.  Retrieved From https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/bipolar-disorder

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Before The 9/11 Day Of Remembrance

Those who brought heartache and devastation to this country on that day years ago will not be psychologically categorized by this blogger.

They were people who worshipped evil.

Enough said!

As Americans, we live in an open society and should be able to have that at-home-in-the-world experience in our comings and goings in our daily routine, life.

Be that as it may, have we become more cautious, paying attention to our surroundings (taking mental notes) we would have ignored prior to that day?

Have we grown more suspicious (without intent!) of others, because of that day we are required to have a certain amount of documentation and information on our person to verify we are who we say that we are?

Did 9/11 set off an epidemic of mental health challenges for people because we saw from that day how fragile and temporary life truly is?

Are we still making attempts to live our best lives as best as we can?

Have we grown a resilience (macro/micro), or has our resilience grown stronger?

Finally, have we learned to ignore certain annoyances, trifles as it were, because they really are inconsequential in the main scheme of things?

These questions are rhetorical, but worth consideration.

September 11, 2001 was macabre and changed everyone.

If that day failed to change anyone in how they think about the American environment, enough said!

Vikki

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Good News About Depression! People Are Taking Ownership Of Their Mental Health Conditions

There’s been a disconnect for the longest time regarding when people had their initial symptoms for depression, and when they made a concerted effort to receive professional diagnosis and treatment (Dattani, 2022).

Members of the public may have feared being ostracized if others found out they suffered from a mental health condition (Community Reach Center, 2019). They may have thought their symptoms would miraculously disappear. To expand further, they may have been unaware of the procedures in obtaining mental health services, while others may not have had mental health services readily available in their locale (Community Reach Center, 2019).

Regardless of the explanations for not getting mental health services, a mental health condition is probably the most intrusive ailment a person could ever encounter because the brain controls the entire body. As a result, the longer depression goes untreated the greater the chances for a brain chemical imbalance.

The Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (2022) provides images [Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scans] of a brain under the influence of depression, and what a healthy brain looks like.

Consequently, the person who could have obtained early diagnosis and been placed on a psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) treatment program (World Health Organization, 2021, and National Alliance On Mental Health, 2017), now has to be placed on psychotropics because they waited too long to seek help.

Depression can shrink the brain (i.e., the brain is under assault from depression), which can interfere with the natural flow of neurotransmitters (Amiel, 2022) and (Davey, 2015).

As the years progress, more people are getting early diagnosis for symptoms associated with depression, and doing so in earlier periods of their lives (Dattani, 2022). This acceptance can be considered a brand of preventative treatment by health consumers: People who take an active role in maintaining good health, and taking steps in avoiding a current condition from becoming worse (Health Consumers NSW, 2019).

Vikki

References

Amiel, M., M. D. (2022). What Happens To The Brain During Depression? Retrieved From https://www.transformationstreatment.center/treatment/what-happens-to-the-brain-during-depression/#:~:text=Depression%20causes%20the%20hippocampus%20to,of%20cortisol%2C%20the%20amygdala%20enlarges.

Community Rearch Center. (2019). Why People Don’t Seek Treatment For Depression. Retrieved From https://www.communityreachcenter.org/news/why-people-dont-seek-treatment-for-depression/

Dattani, S. (2022). At What Age Do People Experience Depression For the First Time? Retrieved From https://ourworldindata.org/depression-age-of-onset#:~:text=As%20the%20data%20shows%2C%20on,later%2C%20at%2031%20years%20old.

Davey, M. L. (2015). Mental Health. Chronic Depression Shrinks Brain’s Memories And Emotions. Retrieved From https://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/30/chronic-depression-shrinks-brains-memories-and-emotions

Health Consumers NSW. (2019). Who Is A Health Consumer? and other definitions. Retrieved From https://www.hcnsw.org.au/consumers-toolkit/who-is-a-health-consumer-and-other-definitions/#:~:text=Health%20Consumers%20are%20people%20who,the%20service%20in%20the%20future.

Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research. (2022). PET Scan Of The Brain For Depression. Retrieved From https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pet-scan/multimedia/-pet-scan-of-the-brain-for-depression/img-20007400#:~:text=A%20PET%20scan%20can%20compare,brain%20activity%20due%20to%20depression.

National Alliance On Mental Health. (2017). Depression. About Mental Health. Retrieved From https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression

World Health Organization. (2021). Depression. Key Facts. Retrieved From https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression

Endnotes

  1. Solmi, M., Radua, J., Olivola, M., Croce, E., Soardo, L., Salazar de Pablo, G., Il Shin, J., Kirkbride, J. B., Jones, P., Kim, J. H., Kim, J. Y., Carvalho, A. F., Seeman, M. V., Correll, C. U., & Fusar-Poli, P. (2021). Age at onset of mental disorders worldwide: Large-scale meta-analysis of 192 epidemiological studies. Molecular Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-021-01161-7
    The studies included in this meta-analysis measured this age in different ways. Some studies looked at the age when symptoms of the disorder began, some looked at when they were first diagnosed, and others looked at when they first received treatment for the disorder or were first hospitalized for it. The median age of onset for some disorders, such as substance use disorders, mood disorders and anxiety disorders was earlier when it was measured by first symptoms than when it was measured by first diagnosis or first hospitalization.
  2. Medici, C. R., Videbech, P., Gustafsson, L. N., & Munk-Jørgensen, P. (2015). Mortality and secular trend in the incidence of bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 183, 39–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2015.04.032
    Mauz, E., & Jacobi, F. (2008). Psychische Störungen und soziale Ungleichheit im Geburtskohortenvergleich. Psychiatrische Praxis, 35(07), 343-352. https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-2008-1067557
    Scott, J., Etain, B., Azorin, J. M., & Bellivier, F. (2018). Secular trends in the age at onset of bipolar I disorder – Support for birth cohort effects from international, multi-centre clinical observational studies. European Psychiatry, 52, 61–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.04.002
    Plana‐Ripoll, O., Momen, N. C., McGrath, J. J., Wimberley, T., Brikell, I., Schendel, D., Thygesen, M., Weye, N., Pedersen, C. B., Mors, O., Mortensen, P. B., & Dalsgaard, S. (2022). Temporal changes in sex‐ and age‐specific incidence profiles of mental disorders—A nationwide study from 1970 to 2016. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, acps.13410. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13410
  3. Plana‐Ripoll, O., Momen, N. C., McGrath, J. J., Wimberley, T., Brikell, I., Schendel, D., Thygesen, M., Weye, N., Pedersen, C. B., Mors, O., Mortensen, P. B., & Dalsgaard, S. (2022). Temporal changes in sex‐ and age‐specific incidence profiles of mental disorders—A nationwide study from 1970 to 2016. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, acps.13410. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13410
  4. Schomerus, G., Schwahn, C., Holzinger, A., Corrigan, P. W., Grabe, H. J., Carta, M. G., & Angermeyer, M. C. (2012). Evolution of public attitudes about mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis: Evolution of public attitudes. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 125(6), 440–452. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2012.01826.x
    Angermeyer, M. C., Matschinger, H., & Schomerus, G. (2013). Attitudes towards psychiatric treatment and people with mental illness: changes over two decades. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 203(2), 146-151.
  5. While 0.4% of children and adolescents were in contact with a psychiatric department in 2001, that figure was 3.3% in 2018. The Danish Health Data Authority. (2019) Key numbers about health care in Denmark (in Danish). https://sundhedsdatastyrelsen.dk/da/tal-og-analyser/analyser-og-rapporter/sundhedsvaesenet/noegletal-om-sundhedsvaesenet
    ​​Schmidt, M., Schmidt, S. A. J., Adelborg, K., Sundbøll, J., Laugesen, K., Ehrenstein, V., & Sørensen, H. T. (2019). The Danish health care system and epidemiological research: From health care contacts to database records. Clinical Epidemiology, Volume 11, 563–591. https://doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S179083
  6. Babatunde, G. B., van Rensburg, A. J., Bhana, A., & Petersen, I. (2021). Barriers and Facilitators to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in Low-and-Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review. Global Social Welfare, 8(1), 29–46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40609-019-00158-z
    Kieling, C., Baker-Henningham, H., Belfer, M., Conti, G., Ertem, I., Omigbodun, O., Rohde, L. A., Srinath, S., Ulkuer, N., & Rahman, A. (2011). Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: Evidence for action. The Lancet, 378(9801), 1515–1525. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60827-1
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September is Self-Awareness Month

“Self awareness is having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions” (Pathway to Happiness, 2017).  Also, the concept provides us the ability to gain comprehension about others, their perceptions of us, our dispositions and interactions with them (Pathway to Happiness).

The following is an excellent resource on self awareness:

[Video] Roy Baumeister – What is Self Awareness?

 

Vikki

 

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On Time Management, A Spiritual Message

The day will come when all of us will reflect on our lives.  As is the case, most reflections are performed brutally honest.  The following are important issues to consider:

  • Did we engage in the practice of lifting up others, or did we tear them down?
  • Will our nickname be called Peacemaker, or Instigator–always searching for problems to ignite?
  • Will we have the ability to describe ourselves long-tempered/even-tempered, or as individuals who should have entered anger management therapy long ago?
  • Are we positive role models worth emulating, or something else entirely?
  • In conflicts, and where appropriate, did we offer kindness (i.e., humor/ignoring/remaining silent) to defuse unpleasant situations, or were we always at the ready to argue, swing a punch?
  • Did we harbor intelligence, or a limited mind based upon disparaging comments spewed at others (and about others) on a regular basis?
  • Were we inclusive because we like people, or engage in anti-semitism, bigotry, prejudice, racism, homophobia predicated on self-hatred?
  • Did our attitudes and behaviors bring good people around us, or did good people run/scatter/perform u-turns to escape from us because of our foul attitudes and behaviors?
  • Did envy and a jealous nature live beneath us, or will these attributes have front-row chairs in our hearts and minds?
  • Shall we have understood that life pertained to long-term self-improvement, or utter such nonsense that we are examples of perfection itself?
  • Will we say that love, compassion for others have been the hallmark of our lives, or that we lived a life of selfishness?  Can we say we were spending our lives making numerous attempts to become people our Heavenly Father can be proud of?

May everyone have peace, happiness, love, an abundance of life, and positive reflection on that special day.

 

Vikki