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Academic Pressure and Its Effect on The Mental Health of Students

Psychologs Magazine — Sat, 18 Mar 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Are you a pupil? What has your academic life been like so far? Do you feel burdened by academic pressure? There are a million students across the world who undergo extreme levels of stress because of academic pressure. There have been various studies that have been done on academic pressure and it has been found that academic pressure can have extremely negative effects on students. From a young age, we are taught that excelling in academics is very important.

Therefore, there has always been constant pressure to do well. In our society, we tend to place academic succession on an extremely high pedestal, and therefore, people place a lot of unnecessary high value on academic excellence. Although it is good to apply a little pressure on the students so that they do well in their studies and can make a successful career, it is often that the pressure is too much. Too much of anything is never good. The increased pressure put on the students by themselves as well as those around them can lead to extreme levels of stress and may lead to a decline in their physical and mental health.

The mental health of students is extremely bad in today’s time. We live in a time where everything is a competition and everyone is a competitor. Everybody has to defeat others to rise. However, there is another kind of competition where there is no winner in particular as the competition is never-ending. This adds extreme pressure on students to constantly do well which tends to drive them off the limits at the time. The pressures on students nowadays are from multiple sources.

It’s not just the parents and family members but also the educational institutes and society in general. Society plays a huge role in the pressure felt by students across the world today. Current times are not just full of competition but there is also a lack of job opportunities and a lack of space, possibly because of the increase in population. Today there are many new fields of study for students to choose from. However, this only adds to the burden of pressure felt by the students. Because despite the increase in the types of available workforce, there is still a surplus amount of educated unemployed people. There are multiple stories that one comes across daily wherein highly educated people to end up either in a very low-paying job, jobless, or even on the streets. This all adds more pressure on students to perform well in academics.

Multiple studies have been done in the domain of academic stress and pressures, their impact on mental health, and the well-being of students across the globe. These studies have had varied conclusions. But one finding that has been identified across multiple studies over a long period, throws light on the positive correlation between academic stress, parental pressure, and psychiatric problems. Academic stress is an emotional distress felt by most students in today’s time. A moderate level of stress felt toward academics could be good.However, the stress felt by the students today can in no way be considered moderate.

The students undergo extreme levels of stress on a day-to-day basis. Although academic stress is not a new concept, it has worsened with time. Earlier there was mostly exam tension and the stress felt by the students mostly revolved around the exam period. However, that’s not the case anymore. Students nowadays tend to undergo extreme levels of stress, not only during examinations but also during other times. The constant need to perform well is ingrained in their minds and is so deeply rooted that they are unable to break free and live in a constant state of stress and worry.

Today, the academic pressure on students has reached an intense level and the onset of COVID-19 has only made it worse. With the onset of a pandemic such as COVID-19, the entire education system went through a change. There were multiple changes made in the education system which brought a lot of difficulties for the students. The students were no longer able to attend classes because of the lockdown and had to attend online classes with no information about when their offline classes will resume.

Even exams were conducted in online mode. Although multiple people seemed to initially like the idea of online classes and it did open up a new path for education and communication, the students seemed to lack behind academically and eventually started to find it extremely hard to maintain their academic performance. This compromised their performance as well as caused the downfall of their mental health. Multiple factors came along with COVID-19 which greatly affected the education system and also affected the mental health of the students. Although many students were able to attend online classes and some even took the time and opportunity to take up various online courses that they otherwise were unable to do because of lack of time, there were also those students who had to give up their education altogether.

With classes taking place online, there was a need for devices that would facilitate that kind of education. This was not something that every individual had access to. Multiple students were from financially weaker backgrounds who either ended up falling behind, failing or even dropping out against their wishes. Many students may have been extremely good at academics and keen to study further, but had to let go.

Even the students who managed to study despite the Covid-19 pandemic had a lot of stress and pressures that affected their mental health. The transition from an online to offline mode and no physical communication with the outside world for a long time took a heavy toll on students. Many issues came along with the pandemic which included an increase in social anxiety, separation anxiety, and depression among others.Students also faced a hard time because of the decreased memory span after covid-19 pandemic The students had to adjust to an offline version of schooling and had to relearn to write things by hand instead of typing on their phones.

They also had to relearn how to do class presentations and give physical exams. There was a lot of pressure on students who had to transition from school to college. The shift from school to college is a huge step in the lives of students and is surrounded by feelings of extreme nervousness and stress. This stress was felt with higher intensity by those students who had to make the transition during and right after the pandemic. All of these accompanied by the pressure to do well, imposed on them by themselves as well as by others, made life harder for students. It has been reported that India has the world’s highest suicide rate among the youth and the various reasons, parental pressure for better academic performance is the major one. According to the National Crime Records Bureau or the NCRB, there is one student every hour who died by suicide.

In the quest for external validation of their worth through academic performance, students nowadays tend to drown in academic pressure and may undergo various kinds of mental disorders. There are various ways by which a student may be negatively affected by academic pressure both physically and mentally. There is an extreme level of stress felt by pupils today. Stress is known to diminish individual morale and can lead to various negative behaviours and mental disorders.

Excessive stress manifests itself differently in different individuals. some may face extreme physical changes wherein they lose their appetite, have frequent headaches, feel tired all the time and have gastrointestinal issues. Studies have found that there is a strong link between academic stress and the psychological and physical well-being of students. Stress also has extremely negative effects on the minds of the students and can lead to them undergoing imposter syndrome and other mental health issues that ironically end up lowering their performance. It has also been found through various studies that increased academic pressure often tends to push students towards unhealthy and deviant behavior which includes not only changes in their sleep cycles but also their intense indulgence in sexual activity and substance abuse.

Excessive levels of academic stress can result in an increased prevalence of psychological issues like depression, anxiety, nervousness, and stress-related disorders. The number of students suffering from these disorders is extremely high in today’s time and academic stress would also soon become a significant cause of rising mental health concerns in India. According to WHO, depression was ranked third among the global burden of diseases and is predicted to take over first place by 2030.

This shows that it is an extremely important issue and awareness needs to spread about how academic pressure is affecting the mental health of students. The students of today are the future of tomorrow and therefore necessary steps must be taken to improve the mental health status of the students. we need to recognize all the factors that play a role in increasing academic pressure among the students and learn how to deal with it effectively in a manner to reduce the burden on the shoulders of the students. We need to decrease the academic pressures felt by them to protect their physical and mental well-being.

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Depression: Symptoms, Causes, Types and Treatment

Psychologs Magazine — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 04:30:00 +0000

Everyone has a basic understanding of the term depression. Sentences like “I had such a bad day today, I feel depressed” or “That movie is so sad, it makes me depressed” are very common to come by. But, it is more serious than our understanding of it as regular sadness. Clinicians define it as severe feelings of depression that persist for two or more weeks.

What is Depression?

Organizations such as the American Psychiatric Association and World Health Organization define depression as a mental disorder characterized by severe feelings of sadness, irritability, emptiness, and hopelessness which hinder a person’s everyday activities and loss of interest in activities that a person once enjoyed. Such feelings must persist for two or more weeks for a person to be diagnosed with a depressive disorder.

Depression is one of the most serious but at the same time most common disorders. According to the World Health Organization, about 3.8% of the population of the world, which amounts to as many as 280 million people, battle it. It is usually characterized by feelings of sadness, irritability, emptiness, and hopelessness which hinder a person’s everyday activities.

Depression can affect anyone of any age, even the most popular of celebrities such as Deepika Padukone and Kurt Cobain, the most creative of personalities such as Vincent Van Gogh and Sylvia Plath, or even a high school student, as depicted in the series ‘13 Reasons Why.

However, women are more prone to develop depressive disorders than men due to many problems, such as the wage gap and financial dependence. However, due to social stereotypes, men are less likely to report symptoms of depression and seek help for the same, thus, depression in men might go undiagnosed.

Studies have shown that persons belonging to the LGBTQIA+ community and those belonging to a poor socioeconomic background are at an increased risk of developing depressive disorders due to the neglect and abuse by society they face. People who are diagnosed with a substance use disorder are also more susceptible to it.

Symptoms

Although symptoms of depressive disorder differ according to the type, some common ones include anhedonia (Loss of interest or pleasure in activities one previously found enjoyable or rewarding), poor concentration, reduced self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness, psychomotor agitation (increased motor activity due to restlessness such as fidgeting and pacing) or retardation (unusual slowing down of physical routine activities such as brushing, eating), disrupted sleep (both insomnia and hypersomnia), disrupted appetite and changes in weight, low energy and fatigue, thoughts of self-harm and suicidal ideation.

Causes

Depression is known to result from a complex interplay of social, psychological, and biological factors. Some known factors that contribute to the development of a depressive disorder are listed below:

Family Background: Depression is a heritable disorder, which means that if a person’s parents or grandparents have suffered from depression or another mood disorder, they are more likely to develop it.
Brain chemistry: One theory of depression claims that it stems from low levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine. The brain structure might also be related to depressive tendencies, some studies have indicated that depression might be caused by a less active frontal lobe, however, it is unclear if that happens before or after the onset of depression.
Trauma: External stressors, childhood trauma from abuse, and other negative life changes, such as the loss of a loved one or unemployment and poverty, also contribute to depression.
Physical Illnesses: Chronic illnesses and other medical conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, heart attack, Parkinson’s disease, and physical disabilities have been linked to the onset of depression. And in turn, it is known to further worsen these conditions.
Hormonal changes: Hormonal changes in a woman’s body and brain, especially during menstruation, menopause, and after giving birth, are known to cause depression.

Types

The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) categorizes depression under mood disorders. There are several types, described below:

Major Depression: Commonly referred to as MDD (Major Depressive Disorder), is the more severe form of depression in which a person’s depressive tendencies are all-consuming, and they find it hard to function and carry out even daily activities. A person diagnosed with MDD is unable to derive pleasure from activities they would otherwise enjoy. Sudden disruption of sleep schedule and appetite, rapid weight changes, extreme lack of self-worth, and constant suicidal thoughts are some of the symptoms associated with this disorder.
Persistent Depressive Disorder: Formerly known as ‘dysthymia’, this is a milder, although chronic form of depression. The diagnosis of this disorder is carried out if the patient has suffered from low-intensity but long-term depressive symptoms, usually for at least two years.
Bipolar Disorder: Bipolarity, hitherto known as manic-depressive disease, is characterized by cycles of mania (periods of high self-esteem, grandiose ideas, unusually high physical energy, increased seeking of pleasure and raised libido), and depression.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): This specific kind of depression comes and goes with the seasons, usually emerging in winter. It has been speculated that it is caused due to the alterations that occur in the body’s natural rhythms such as the eyes’ sensitivity to light, which take place in such weather.
Depression in Women: Two kinds of depressive disorders are exclusive to women. The first is PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder), a very severe form of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) in which hormonal changes cause drastic mood shifts that can disrupt daily life. The second is Perinatal Depression, more familiar as Postpartum Depression, which affects women who are pregnant or have recently given birth.

Treatments

A person suffering from depression might think the world is bleak and empty, and life is not worth living, but it is not untreatable and various forms of effective help to battle it are available. Some of these options are discussed below:

Medication: There are a host of antidepressant medications available to help combat depression. These are usually known as SSRIs and SNRIs which both work on the principle of increasing the availability of neurotransmitters (serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain. Medication for bipolar disorder differs from other kinds of depression, mood stabilizers are utilized for the same.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy sessions are also beneficial in curing depression. Therapists trained in various kinds of therapy, such as Psychodynamic Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, can help one overcome depressive tendencies even in cases of MDD or Persistent Depression.
Light Therapy: Continual exposure to doses of white light is also known to regulate mood and improve depressive symptoms. It is particularly helpful in cases of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
Alternative Therapies and Remedies: Meditation helps reduce the effect that stress and anxiety have on a person by calming the brain. Acupuncture treatment is also known to assist in alleviating symptoms of depression in combination with medical treatment. Other lifestyle practices such as consistent exercise, avoiding alcohol, maintaining a healthy diet and sleep schedule and intake of vitamin and other nutrient supplements help with both preventing and reducing depression.

Conclusion

One of the most important factors in a person’s journey of battling depression is the presence of a strong support system. Family and peers, as well as society at large, must work on creating an environment free of stigma around depression so that a person suffering from it does not hesitate to seek help. Mental health practitioners must also create awareness about it. The key aspect in overcoming the challenge of depression is to find the right combination of treatments that work for you.

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What is Academic Validation?

Psychologs World — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 11:01:53 +0000

The Effects of Academic Validation

Validation is seen as a phenomenon where an individual’s work, success, ideas, and creativity are praised and thereby their worth and value are affirmed. The academic scenario bases a student’s worth based on their performance. The work and pressure students face while maintaining the standard of performance are often ignored or given a backseat. Sometimes this academic praise can become a student’s identity. This has an unhealthy consequence. Academic validation is when students relate their worth to their grades and academic results.

While assessing your exam grades and results to improve and to know your progress and not incorrect, when this assessment leads to basing one’s joy, identity, self-worth, self-esteem, etc on their grades, it can become problematic. When students start seeking constant validation from their educators and when lack of such validation brings distress and anxiety, an intervention is important.

This does not mean that academic validation in itself is a negative concept. In retrospect, academic validation has been defined as interactions between students and their educators and instructors to develop, facilitate a student and help them gain trust in their abilities and potential, and “help students trust their innate capacity to learn and to acquire confidence in being a college student” (Rendόn, 1994.)

Defining Academic Validation

Academic validation is when an individual comes to depend on their academic outcomes to get a sense of acknowledgement and appreciation. It can classified as a sort of pleasure, a good feeling but it diverges towards a noxious obsession, and academic validation can become a debilitation.

In the pursuit of academic success, students often find themselves navigating a delicate balance between genuine learning and the pressure for academic validation. Being good at academia and getting good grades is a positive and praiseworthy thing. Academic validation becomes negative when students overwork themselves and are buried in stress and anxiety because they want to constantly get that validation from their educators. This constant run behind validation ignores other important aspects of our life.

It is common to see that students who seek academic validation and actively work towards it end up being over-the-top perfectionists. This can hurt the students and they might stay up at night, neglect their social life, and work themselves to burnout. According to Inc. Magazine, “The problem is we end up making career choices to impress other people so we can feel that fleeting rush of validation. In the process, we lose sight of what makes us truly happy” (Vargaz-Gomez, 2022).

Why is it Crippling?

There are several reasons why the quest for academic validation can hurt one’s mental health.

A study that was conducted in 2020 revealed that 68.8% of students seemed to consider tests, exams, and any assessment of sorts to be anxiety-inducing and also contributing as a significant source of stress. The Stress in America report that is released by APA, has revealed that 87% of students (the majority of them being college-going students) have listed education and academics as one of the major sources of stress. Pascoe et. al, (2019) found that academic stress was related to depression, disturbance in sleep, being more prone to substance use, burnout and anxiety, and even depersonalization.

Impact on Mental Health:

Academic validation gives students constant pressure to excel. Students who seek academic validation constantly work towards meeting a certain standard of expectations that give them anxiety and stress. They constantly feel the need to maintain their high grades, meet academic standards, and have the pressure to excel. Even a slight mistake, bad grade, or failure causes a great amount of distress. Students who depend on academic validation start fearing failure. This fear may lead to perfectionism. The student sees it as their duty and feels compelled to meet unrealistic standards in the academic setting without facing any failure.

Read More: Imposter Syndrome

This impacts their mental well-being. Failure to achieve a good score is seen as a failure in life. Academic validation also leaves an imprint on an individual’s identity and self-worth. Challenges in academia may then be perceived as personal failures. Academic success becomes closely linked to self-worth and identity. Other aspects of the student’s life and their personality are ignored in favour of academic validation. Students also feel burnout as they constantly chase validation and have the pressure to excel. This burnout can have a severe negative impact on their mental health and well-being.

Tips to Overcome Dependence on Academic Validation

Focus on personal interest and passion for learning. Avoid solely relying on external validation.
View mistakes and challenges as essential components of the learning process. They promote resilience and growth. They also allow you to improve and be better than before.
Establish achievable goals that align with personal capabilities.
Recognize and celebrate accomplishments beyond traditional academic achievements. Your diverse skills and experiences need to be acknowledged and given credit as well. This will help in holistic development.
Make self-care a priority, seeking support when needed. Well-being is indeed important for overall success.

Summing Up

Studies show how academic pressure affects an individual in such a wide range. Academic validation that gives a student motivation to study and perform best is not crippling, rather it does become a matter of concern when it becomes a source of academic stress. The effect of academic validation on mental health is complex and is influenced by various factors. Essential steps should be taken to overcome dependence on academic validation.

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Psychology Behind Growth Mindset

Psychologs Magazine — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 04:30:00 +0000

Let us consider two contrasting characters from the movie 3 Idiots. First, we have Chatur – the one who always wants to prove his academic excellence and goes by the ideology that intelligence is fixed, seeks constant validation from the principal and other staff, wants to be flawless and perfect all the time, very strongly believes that exams are indicative of true potential, and has an inflated feeling of superiority and self-esteem. Then, we have Rancho – the one who believes that efforts make you smart, that intelligence can be improved if worked upon, seeks challenges constantly, thrives on flaws and imperfections, sees failures as learning opportunities, is against the notion that exams are permanent indicators of potential and understands that abilities of people are merely due to practice, otherwise, everyone is just simply human.

If Carol Dweck, a professor from Stanford University and the author of the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, would look at these two characters, she would say that Chatur has a fixed mindset and Rancho has a growth mindset. But she would also say that mindset can be changed. Professor Virus is a classic example of mindset change. At the beginning of the movie, he is shown to have a very strong fixed mindset. However, after the incident of his daughter’s delivery, assisted by the “3 Idiots”, his mindset seems to have become more of a growth mindset.

So, What is a growth mindset?

A growth mindset is rooted in the belief that basic qualities can be cultivated through one’s efforts, strategies and additional help and support from others. Individuals with a growth mindset believe that their talents and abilities can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and feedback from others.

In her experiment, Dweck had two groups of children. To the first group, she gave a set of fairly easy puzzles, which they solved fast. To the second group, she gave a set of hard puzzles. The students did struggle to solve the puzzles, but despite their seemingly “failed” attempt to do so, they loved the challenge. The second group of children were learning through struggling and persevering, while the first group of children had it easy and did not learn much. From her findings, one could learn that the first group had a fixed mindset and the second had a growth mindset. Eventually, the second group of children showed a higher success rate in solving the puzzles and were open to learning, if they “failed” to do so. In addition to the higher success rate of those with a growth mindset, fostering this mindset bestows other numerous benefits.

Read More: The Psychology Behind Excellence

Growth mindset can help enhance mental health

Having a fixed mindset can make you more prone to mental health concerns such as depression and learned helplessness. Sounds contrary? I mean, you might ask “The ones with a growth mindset keep seeking challenges and so, they should feel miserable, right?” Actually yes, they do feel pretty miserable. But the more depressed they felt, the more action they took to confront their problems.

Growth mindset can help you develop your identity and embrace authenticity

Individuals with a fixed mindset see their actions as interconnected with their identity. For instance, if a person with a fixed mindset does not get recognized for their actions or if they “fail”, they tend to project their “failure” onto their identity and end up calling themselves a “failure”. As much as they internalize negative labels, they also tend to internalize positive labels. This gives them a sense of superiority among their peers (that is until they confront failure again!). When they confront failures, these individuals would want to lie about their abilities just to protect their self-esteem.

Individuals with a growth mindset are rooted in the belief that their efforts indicate success, and if they don’t “succeed”, they see it as a learning experience. These individuals do not internalize stereotypes, thereby not letting them affect their performance. Their growth mindset lets them use and develop their minds fully, despite being targets of negative labels (Think about Rancho here). As a result, they are more likely to embrace their uniqueness and use it to their best.

Read More: The Psychology of Discipline

Growth mindset can make individuals feel belonging

People with fixed mindsets consider other’s success as their failure, and as a threat to their self-esteem. These individuals usually practice downward comparison, wherein they compare their abilities, talents and performance with other individuals who are lower than them. On the other hand, individuals with a growth mindset engage in upward comparison, wherein they compare their abilities, talents and performance with superior individuals so that they can learn from them. In the process, they gain the connection of mentors and a wider professional network. Further, these individuals cherish other’s success and learn from it. Again, this would get them more friends, thereby widening their social network as well.

Growth mindset can lead to a better love life

Yes, you read that right. Let’s consider you like someone and you confessed. But sadly, they did not reciprocate your feelings. What would you do? Disappointment is a common response. But, what would you do after that? Do you let the experience scar you and prevent you from forming satisfying relationships in the future? Or, do you attempt to heal and move on? If you said yes to the first question, then you might have a fixed mindset. You might feel judged and permanently labelled by the rejection.

You might also end up inflicting pain or taking revenge on the person who rejected you. This is especially true in cases where the reasons for rejection are tied to identity, like body image for instance. But, if you said yes to the second question, you have a growth mindset. This mindset will give you the recipe for healing your rejection wound. This phase would help you understand, forgive, learn from the experience and move on. I know it’s hard, but hey, not everyone has to like everyone, isn’t it?

Let’s consider another scenario – the person you confessed to, also confessed back (Yay!!) You have been in a happy committed relationship for a few months now, but you realize that the “honeymoon” phase is starting to wear off. You start to notice the big and small flaws of your partner, and so does your partner. What do you do now? Do you think that your qualities and that of your partner are fixed and that you cannot change anything in the relationship? Or do you think that you and your partner are in the same team and can work on your flaws and strengthen your relationship?

If you answered yes to the first question, you guessed it right, you might have a fixed mindset. You might believe that the ideal relationship is instant, perfect and perpetually compatible. You might even say, if it requires work, it is not meant to be. But if you answered yes to the second question, you have a growth mindset. You believe that your tendencies and that of your partner can be developed. You see your relationship as a collaborative team, and therefore, you rise above the blame, understand the problem and try to fix it – together. As a result, you have a
a stronger, deeper connection.

Now that we have seen the benefits of fostering a growth mindset, you might ask how do I foster it? Here are the steps.

Start by accepting that it is normal to have both mindsets
Then, learn to recognize what triggers your fixed mindsets. It could be failures, criticism, deadlines, disagreements, or anything else.
Now that you understand what happens to you when your fixed-mindset “persona” is triggered. Give this “persona” a name. What does it take you to think, feel, and do? How does it affect those around you?
Educate your “persona” and invite it to join you on a growth-mindset journey. Gradually, you will learn to remain in a growth place despite the triggers.

Finally, once you are on the journey and have seen its benefits, it is always a blessing to promote learning among loved ones and witness them learn, grow and transform. Feel free to share this with your friends and family, if you find this useful!

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Clinomania: When You Are Not Able to Leave Your Bed

Psychologs Health — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 10:54:58 +0000

Everybody experiences moments of being completely unmotivated and feeling lethargic. Many people have a tendency to put off doing their work in favour of sleeping in. But occasionally, people experience such a powerful want to lie in bed all day that they are unable to resist it and end up doing so.

However, some people have a really difficult time getting out of bed. No amount of sleep is adequate for this terrible condition. They are unable to live a regular, healthy life as a result because, despite having previously slept for 12 or 13 hours, all they can concentrate on is getting another hour of sleep. This condition is referred to as clinomania or dysania.

An irrepressible urge to stay in bed is the primary symptom of the anxiety condition clinomania. Aside from other symptoms, this one causes discomfort and grief. In actuality, they all have a substantial negative impact on the sufferer’s life.

Clinomania and Depression

The word is derived from the Latin words “clin” (bed) and “mania” (loosely translated as “madness”). As is clear from the definition of the word “clinomania,” those who experience this condition have a strong and unnatural want to stay in bed, sometimes to the point of obsession or insanity. They have no motivation to get out of bed and accomplish anything. They are unmotivated and feel lethargic. Additionally, they believe that whatever they achieve will be worthwhile and that there is no use in trying. Clinomania frequently results from depression.

Psychologs eMagazine September 2021

When someone experiences depression, they may lose their hope for the future and feel unmotivated to engage with the world. They may spend a lot of time in bed, and struggle to focus their thoughts. Sometimes, they may even resist or become angry with those who try to encourage them to get up and do things. It’s important to seek help from a licensed psychologist if you or someone you know is struggling with clinomania, as this behaviour can contribute to long-term depression and other mental health issues.

Signs and Symptoms

Increasing the amount of time spent in bed
Have extreme trouble getting out of bed
They fluctuate in mood.
When they have to go out, they don’t have fun.
Everyone refers to them as insane, lazy, or procrastinators.
They give up on self-care.
They experience either insomnia or hypersomnia as a sleep condition.

Psychological Effects

A feeling of guilt: You spend a lot of time in bed, which is why they emerge. These emotions may even start to resemble thoughts of worthlessness. In other words, you feel inadequate and guilty for sleeping in your bed for so many hours.

A feeling of sadness: It’s a never-ending cycle. You get less interested in other things the longer you spend in bed. Being uninterested also causes you to spend more time in bed. All of this ultimately results in melancholy, apathy, and lack of drive.

A feeling of loneliness and incomprehension: You cease doing activities and engaging with others, which feeds the vicious cycle we already described. This ultimately results in increased emotions of indifference, confusion, and loneliness.

Social isolation: In the end, you isolate yourself from the outside world in your bed. This should serve as a clear indication that you have clinomania and should alert you to it.

How to Deal With It?

Maintain a regular sleeping pattern
Set up a restful environment for sleeping
Prior to going to bed, relax.
Get some sun and work out during the day.
Concentrating on the core issue/problem
acquire coping mechanisms
Adopt relaxation techniques
Take treatment.

Speak with your healthcare practitioner if your urge to stay in bed is having an impact on your health and well-being. Be careful to mention any other symptoms you may be having, such as exhaustion, a sad mood, or excessive daytime drowsiness. Your doctor will be able to assess your symptoms and decide on the best course of action.

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How a Lack of Vitamin D Could be Detrimental to Mental Health

Psychologs Magazine — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:13:22 +0000

How a lack of vitamin D could be detrimental to mental health

Many are aware of the connection between vitamin D and bone health, as well as how rickets, osteoporosis, and fractures are all made more likely by vitamin D insufficiency. An increasing body of research, however, demonstrates that its effects go beyond physical health and may also have an impact on mental health.

According to a senior psychiatrist, “Vitamin D is thought to be an important factor that influences symptoms of depression, depression and quality of life. There is a lot of documentation linking vitamin D deficiency to depression and perhaps other mental disorders.”

When depression is present, the link is stronger. Recent studies have revealed that people with depression also have low amounts of vitamin D in their blood. A comparable connection has been discovered in studies on vitamin D supplementation. For example, those participating in some trials reported reduced depressive symptoms after taking vitamin D supplements.

In particular, multiple studies have suggested a link between low vitamin D levels and postpartum depression. After giving birth, it is a particular kind of depression that impacts women. This vitamin has been linked comparably to patients with arthritis, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and stroke.

According to experts, a vitamin D deficiency can impair brain function and worsen signs of depression, irritability, anxiety, and other conditions. It should be mentioned that although vitamin D deficiency has been identified in patients with depression, the illness has not been linked to the deficiency.

What is the connection?
A connection may exist, but it has not yet been proven, and more study is required to confirm it. And even though a direct connection between vitamin D supplementation and anxiety or depression has not yet been proven, its involvement as an additional factor in the cause of psychiatric issues is undeniable.

According to several studies, low vitamin D levels are linked to higher amounts of anxiety and depression. It could also be a result of inadequate sun exposure because the UV rays from sunlight help the body make vitamin D and have a beneficial effect on mood. The same holds for the link between vitamin D and our mental wellness, according to experts. “Low vitamin D levels are associated with cognitive deterioration as well as a known negative effect on calcium metabolism.

In reality, it has been discovered that vitamin D behaves more like a hormone in the body, playing a variety of roles in the brain and nervous system, among other organ systems,” the psychiatrist explains. Eat to live specifically addresses dementia, which results in forgetfulness, and vitamin D has a significant effect on both mental and brain health in addition to bone and muscle health.

in addition to supporting healthy bones, vitamin D is essential for normal brain growth and operation. According to research, a lack of vitamin D may raise the risk of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

People who already have mental health conditions may experience worsening symptoms from a lack of vitamin D; sunlight is still the major source of this vitamin. Understanding how vitamin D functions are essential given its influence on both physical and, more recently, emotional health.

Vitamin D receptors are found in our immune system, brain, heart, and bones. the vitamin is then carried to the liver and kidneys, where it is changed into an active hormone. Given its connection to calcium, it has a significant effect on bone health despite having been connected to depression, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and even schizophrenia. It’s critical to consume enough vitamin D as insufficient amounts can weaken and harm bones.

But it doesn’t end there. The chance of infections can also rise due to its deficiency. it also enhances immune function and anti-inflammatory processes. It functions as a hormone, and a nutrient, and aids in metabolism, which is how food is burned. It contributes in various ways to keeping hormonal balance.

since sunshine is the main source of vitamin D, people who do not spend enough time outside are more likely to become deficient in it. For instance, the elderly, who spend more time indoors due to a decline in mobility and an increased risk of falling, students getting ready for examinations, and anyone else who spends more time inside.

Additionally, a growing number of people use SPF to protect themselves from the sun’s harmful UV rays, but it is essential to spend at least 20 minutes in the early sun. Melanin’s function should also be mentioned in this. It is in charge of causing skin color. Your complexion will be darker the more melanin your body produces. The healthcare professional says that the pigment that “acts as a shield against sunlight can put them at risk for vitamin D deficiency.”

According to studies, Indians are more likely to suffer from vitamin D deficiencies because of things like skin pigmentation, societal customs that restrict sun exposure, and poor dietary habits. Therefore, it is advised to take supplements or get more sun to avoid deficiency and the health dangers that come with it. Obese people are at a higher risk, as are those with medical problems like malabsorption syndromes.

Even though sunlight is still the best source, there are other healthy alternatives. Fat seafood, egg yolk, and specific mushrooms, for instance. And after that, fortified meals. Foods that have been fortified with vitamin D in India are identified by the +F label. For instance, this mark can be found on some milk, cereal, and cooking oil products. These choices are available for vegetarians. These are offered as tablets, capsules, and liquid droplets. Vitamin D supplements should only be taken after consulting a physician because an excessive amount can be harmful.

To treat the deficiency, a healthy diet that includes vitamin D-rich foods like fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified dairy products can be helpful. Other vitamins and minerals, besides vitamin D, have also been connected to mental wellness. Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins help the brain produce chemicals that affect emotions and other cognitive functions. As a result, depression may be linked to low amounts of vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins like B-6 and folate.

Based on research on animals, a link between vitamin C and melancholy has also been discovered. But in this case, human trials are required. Magnesium and iron share a comparable relationship, but further study is required.

Given that vitamin D has a significant effect on one’s general health, it is preferable to avoid a deficiency. To achieve this, it’s critical to get enough sun exposure, eat foods high in vitamin D, and, if required, think about taking supplements.

The post How a Lack of Vitamin D Could be Detrimental to Mental Health appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

What is Diogenes Syndrome?

Psychologs Magazine News — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 04:30:00 +0000

What would you feel if you found out that there exists a mental disorder that causes the affected person to live in extreme squalor?

Diogenes syndrome or senile squalor syndrome consists of the person living in seriously unhygienic surroundings with extreme signs of self-neglect, personal hygiene, and isolation from society. They may also engage in extreme levels of hoarding and some of the affected people may display signs of catatonia. The name Diogenes syndrome is derived from the Greek philosopher Diogenes who was believed to be found living in a barrel. But historians quote him to be a minimalist who never showed any signs of extreme hoarding or unhygienic living.

Thus, this can be considered as an example of a misnomer. Diogenes syndrome is identified not as a specific disease, hence lacking actual recognition as a mental health disorder from ICD and DSM-5 to date. It is a neurobehavioral syndrome, nonetheless, necessitating a clinical diagnosis and treatments. The understanding of this illness is to date not fully developed. Although doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and others have been aware of it for several decades, little research has been done on the disorder’s symptoms or underlying causes. While the diagnosis of neurobehavioral illness has been made and verified, the precise relationship between the symptoms presented by the affected person and their neurological health or foundations has not yet been fully determined and tested by science.

Symptoms:

Some of the commonly displayed symptoms that can be identified to mark the onset or the existence of Diogenes’ syndrome are:

Rashes on the skin due to infestation of lice or pests
Unkempt hair
Malnutrition
Serious Dehydration
Body odour
Extreme levels of hoarding
Unhygienic surroundings
Unkempt and filthy home environment
Lack of shame about the filth
Hesitation to take help or medical support
High levels of self-neglect

Causes:

Diogenes syndrome can be divided into 2 categories: primary and secondary. Primary Diogenes syndrome can be defined as one that does not occur simultaneous to the onset of any other mental disorders while the latter’s diagnosis is coupled with that of any other mental disorder. Both categories account for about 50% of the diagnosed cases in the case registry.

Diogenes syndrome can also be triggered in an individual due to some personal tragedies or major life changes. Loss of a parent, spouse or any loved one in one’s life, and even major changes in one’s life like retirement or divorce can trigger these symptoms and can cause the affected person to lead a socially isolated life and develop hoarding symptoms. Medical conditions like stroke, arthritis, mobility problems, depression, substance abuse, dementia, etc. may also serve as risk factors that can kickstart the onset of the mentioned symptoms. Since the disorder is not yet classified as a major mental illness, the above-mentioned symptoms, since they also commonly belong to other mental illnesses like compulsive hoarding or even schizophrenia, are mostly checked and diagnosed for these disorders rather than exclusively for Diogenes’ disorder. As a result, Diogenes’ disorder is viewed as a collection of symptoms rather than a singular, unique condition.

Treatment

Since most people affected and suffering from extreme levels of disorders may be indifferent to the idea of treatment or medical support or maybe even hesitant about seeking professional help, treating this bunch of people can never be an easy task. Living in such filthy and unhygienic conditions can not only bring huge turmoil to the mental and emotional health, it can also put them at risk of developing physical illnesses that could turn life-threatening. The development or onset of any resultant physical illnesses must be initially done to ensure that their bodily processes are not affected. If there exists any such discrepancy, it should be ensured that those are cleared first with adequate treatment.

If they are found to be stable and capable enough to follow these instructions by themselves, behavioural therapies can be suggested and implemented. Since most of these patients may also develop anxiety and even depression along with these problematic symptoms, treatment methods should be inclusive to treat these as well. They must be suggested to receive inpatient treatment for effective recovery. They can also be suggested or referred to take part in group therapy or support groups as this may help them cope with social situations especially when they suffer from social isolation and self-neglect symptoms.

Existing Literature

Even though there exists a huge dearth of scientific research pointing towards the actual root causes of the disorder and its biological groundwork, some recent publications can help us delve deep into the possible precautions or lifestyle changes one should undertake to avoid falling prey to the disorder. The Hoarder in You: How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life is a book written by Dr Robin Zasio in November 2012. Dr. Zasio is a psychologist whose major area of study and intervention remains hoarding disorders. The book explains various useful tips and techniques to curb hoarding tendencies and goes into additional detail on how to manage compulsive feelings that lead to the hoarding of needless items. This advice and strategies can be implemented when one is found to slip into the disorder as they are relevant to hoarding habits and self-neglect symptoms exhibited during the disorder.

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Psychology Behind Fear and Its Impact on People

Psychologs Magazine — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 14:40:00 +0000

Fear is a primary human emotion that occurs whenever we feel the presence of any danger or threat around us. It affects both physiological and psychological factors. There are many instances in our day-to-day life when we feel fear like getting late to a class, or not being able to pass an exam. It can also be the reason for many psychological disorders like developing phobias, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.

What could be the psychological reason for fear?

How does evolution affect fears?

If we ask someone what they fear more about a tsunami or lions? Many people would say that lion. But what makes us say that? For this evolutionary psychology could be the reason behind this. It is our ancestor’s fear that shaped today’s behaviour. Ever since the human race came its existence, one of the famous biologists, Charles Darwin gave a theory of natural selection. Many psychologists also agree on the fact that this theory helps a lot in understanding the mental processes that have evolved over a period of time.

It has played an important role in human survival as it leads to the prevention of many life-threatening situations. Fight or flight is the response to the evolution of fear. This physiological reaction occurs when there is a stressful situation. The dangers that may faced by our ancestors led to phobias particularly like like fear of heights, fear of snakes, and fear of darkness.

How do conditioning and learning fear affect fear?

As we know it can be a result of traumatic incidents that happened to someone in their life. Classical conditioning plays a very important role in understanding how it is acquired through conditioning. Whenever a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with fear-inducing stimuli, it leads to the development of various phobias. Many other factors of learning and conditioning affect fear.

External factors: many external factors like the culture a person grows in, the kind of relationships he shares with others, individual upbringing, and the kind of environment one faces at home contribute to the development of fear in a person.
Biological factor: certain biological factors like genetics, brain structures, and neurochemicals play an important for an individual’s facing and responding to this fear conditioning.
Individual experiences: the types a person faces in his life like personal experiences and any trauma that they may experience in their life may influence the fear.

How do cognitive factors affect fear?

When it comes to cognitive factors, our mental processes, and perception do play a role in understanding it. How we interpret the potential threats from the dangers, greatly impacts the fear responses. Sometimes by understanding these fear-influenced situations, we can gain some control over all these situations in the future.

Other cognitive processes like attention also influence our fear. Like whenever we pay our attention to negative stimuli directly we will tend to develop fear within ourselves. However, if we shift our attention to neutral stimuli, the intensity of these fear-inducing stimuli will automatically decrease.

How do our minds respond to these fearful emotions?

Since our emotions play a crucial role in our lives and help to understand our feelings. Emotions can be anger, love, fear, etc. Fearful emotions can be dangerous for individuals as they can range from very mild anxiety to extremely terrifying fears that can influence one’s daily life.

1) The physiological response

It is very important to understand that fear is physical. Our body starts alerting our nervous system as soon as we feel fear around us.

Releasing of stress hormones: Many hormones start releasing like adrenaline and cortisol, which begin sharpening our system and start providing the energy to deal with threats. Some of the physical activities that happen are our heart starts increasing, start breather at a very fast rate.
Arousal of mind: Our body also becomes hyper-alert, and focus gets increased to eventually deal with the potential threat.

2) The cognitive response

As cognition mainly possesses our mental processes, our mind’s response to fear may result in difficulty in decision-making, and problem-solving that eventually leads to making a very irrational decision.

Irrational thinking and difficulty in solving problems: It can also lead to distorted thought processes and cause us to interpret negative thoughts about situations a person faces.
Activation of the amygdala: Another important response could be the activation of the amygdala. Though it is a small part of your brain it plays a big part. It detects the dangers and activates response to fear.

3) The behavioural responses

Socially withdrawing: Fear can interrupt our daily life activities and sometimes also lead people to isolate themselves, and can lead to disabling one growth.
Developing avoidance behaviour: Another response could be developing avoidance behaviour in life. Sometimes people who have a stage fear might start avoiding all those activities that influence stage performance, and this will hinder their personal growth and miss out on some life-changing opportunities in life.

Coping with fear

We need to come out of the shell of fear. So that we can understand our potential and gain control over our fears. Therefore, there are many techniques, and strategies through which one can cope with their fears.

Shifting your mind towards peacefulness: Change in the negative thoughts and understanding the fact that some emotions cannot be prevented lead your mind towards peacefulness.
Self-care: Taking care of your health can also help to cope with your fear. Eating healthy, sleeping well and a walk could make changes.
Exposure therapy: Continuous exposure to our feature will eventually decrease the intensity of the fear and can promote adaptability.
Spending time with family: Spending time with your family and telling them about your fears would help in many ways
Spending time with your family and telling them about your fears would help in many ways

Read these books to overcome fear:

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10 Common Myths around Psychology you didn’t know

Psychologs Magazine — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:30:00 +0000

Myth, also known as a misconception or a widely believed false thought can exist in various areas of life. Sometimes these misconceptions are so popular and used as the most common narrative that it becomes difficult to distinguish them from truth. They become a part and parcel of everyday life. Such myths exist in psychology as well. If you are not well-versed with the subject, then it is likely that you believe in these narratives too. Today, we will delve into these false narratives and try to separate the myths from the facts. With this article, you will gain a clear understanding of what psychology is as a field.

Read : 15 Women psychologists Who made their contribution to the field

Details

The Psychology of Pride and Its Positive Side

Parvathy Viswanath — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 08:17:44 +0000

Positive psychology formulates pride as a positive emotion. Yet pride is not a constructively portrayed emotion among individuals. Pride is regarded as a manifestation of ego and hubris. In previous research, pride is often considered a selfish emotion and thus is stigmatized in society attributing an egotistic and arrogant personality to those who are high on pride. Thus individuals tend to suppress their pride emotion in order to be included and accepted among others. Psychological research also seems to ignore pride as a matter of study due to these cultural stereotypes. People fundamentally see pride as a positive emotion that strongly influences our self-esteem and positive outlook.

What is Pride?

As explained by Lewin in his cognitive appraisal theory, an individual feels pride whenever he or she believes that their performance has exceeded their goals and expectations as well as met a certain standard of excellence. Pride is classified into authentic and hubristic types. Authentic pride boosts self-confidence, while narcissistic traits are associated with hubristic pride. This article is an attempt to identify the major outcomes of authentic pride in one’s own accomplishments and its association with overall psychological well-being.

Pride as a Motivator

A study conducted in 2008 by Williams and Desteno proved that pride can act as a motivator in sustaining our perseverance. Pride can act as an excellent goal directing emotion and thus encourage us to stick to our tasks and to overcome any challenges faced in between. Pride also has a significant influence on social anxiety. Cohen and Huppert in 2018 identified that pride is negatively correlated with social anxiety and has more impact than global positive affect. In 2000, Gilbert proved that feeling pride in achievements decreases social anxiety even in depressed individuals. Pride can also reduce inferiority feelings in such individuals.

Depression

Thus depression tends to lower with increased pride. However, the research also indicated that depressed individuals tend to attribute their success to external sources and feel inferior to themselves. They are afraid of pride because of fear of social isolation. They also might be apprehensive about the future and fear of failure might deflate their pride.

Self Awareness

Thus the research suggests that boosting one’s perceptions about social status is necessary in such instances. Pride can also increase our self-respect and thereby reduce any kind of shame or guilt associated with life experiences. Since shame and guilt are potential unconscious triggers of many psychological issues, pride can positively impact our mental health.

Social Acceptance

Saito et al. found, in their 2019 research, that pride positively influenced the impression formation of others, including ratings of their competence and attractiveness. Apart from self-awareness, this study revealed the broader impact of pride on social perceptions.

Thus pride could play a crucial role in awareness and acceptance not only of oneself but also of others. Research has also studied how pride can influence one’s group identification.

Salice and Sanchez in 2016 pointed out that we feel and express pride based on how our community perceives it as an emotion. Also, our collectivistic orientation makes pride a hetero-induced emotion. Apart from one’s own achievements, we often feel pride for the accomplishment of someone dear to us as well.

Pride Perceived as a Negative Emotion

The majority of people feel inferior and worthless because they don’t accept themselves. It is thus necessary to realise our own potential and find confidence in ourselves. It is this lack of pride that makes many of us withdrawn and afraid to take up obligations. On the other hand, there are few people who though feel pride in themselves are scared to express their emotions. Society ostracizes and labels individuals as boastful if they talk about their own achievements.

It has even become ornamental among laymen to diagnose them with narcissistic symptoms. People often believe it’s morally wrong to feel or express pride in oneself, acting as if they’re indifferent to their achievements. Lack of pride in both these instances can bring down one’s self-esteem and feelings of worthiness.

Thus absence of pride, if not regulated, can lead to depression, social phobia, and other such emotional problems in one’s social life. Furthermore, research by Stanculescu in 2012 revealed that authentic pride have a mediating effect on self-esteem and positive affect and thus boosting pride, especially among students, is necessary to inflate their self-awareness, self-acceptance, goal-directed satisfaction, and overall subjective well-being.

Conclusion

However, the positive and negative aspects of pride are still debatable in the research fraternity, leaving a huge gap for further exploration. As mentioned earlier, individuals fear social exclusion and refrain from expressing pride due to cultural constraints. Also if not controlled and used to exploit others with self self-inflated superiority complex and narcissism, pride can be hubris as well. Thus to what extent is pride a positive emotion and what manifests it as a negative emotion is still an open question in psychology.

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