Failed relationship has a profound impact on mental health of an individual. It drains the person emotionally. The deeper is the relationship, the deeper is the impact. Failed relationship is been described by the people as if they have been hit by boulder. They lose all their motivation to carry out any tasks. People go through surge of emotions like despair, self-blame, grieving, anger, denial and in some individuals, psychological disorder also manifests. It has been proven that deep sense of grief experienced by people can cause fluctuation in hormones secretion. For example: fight and flight hormone floods the body which causes increased heart rate and blood pressure. Thereby, causing stress in person which in turn has a severe impact on our immune system. There could be many reasons for failed relationships but if a relationship has hit rocks due to affair, it could lead to trauma for the other person. One may abstain from coming into relationship further or one may find difficulty in trusting which will have a huge impact on his/her future relationship. In order to cope up with grieve caused by failed relationship, some people choose alcohol or other substances that in turn cases dependency or addiction. In other words, there appears a drastic change in their body language due to failed relationships. Trauma that has resulted from affair can lead to heightened fear and anxiety, sleeplessness, flashbacks.

The pain experienced by the individual due to a failed relationship is as similar to physical pain which is indicated in the studies conducted in neuroscience. People often question themselves as to why their partner felt them. This intense feeling of rejection creates the hub for other psychological problems such as eating disorders, self- harm, adjustment disorder, negative body image. Hence, cognitive distortions manifest in our mind. Self-esteem also suffers due to failed relationships as individuals who have faced rejection will also develop tendencies of self-loathe. A study was conducted to see the effects of relationship dissolution on psychological well-being of an individual. The results showed that individuals who have gone through relationship dissolution reported anger and sadness and increased risk of developing major depressive disorders. The severity of mental issues will be more for the individual who are in relationship from long time than those who are in relationships for shorter periods. Further, if a person is in toxic relationship, the consequences of the failed relationship will be even more grave. Men are likely to suffer more due to failed relationships than women.

Men are likely to be dependent emotionally on their partners.  In 2007, study has contended that men are more likely to develop suicidal ideation and sleep problems than women.

In addition to this, it’s the timing which matters as well when someone broke up. It means sudden break up will hit harder than break up which are well-thought. Marisa Cohen, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology and co-founder of the self-awareness and bonding lab; a relationship science lab in New York has contended that bad break up can trigger mental health issues. According to her, there is a theory called diathesis stress model in which a person has a predisposition for the development of a disorder and life stressful events that are likely to surface and these environmental stressors serve as a catalyst. Individuals’ occupational, social life suffers as well as due to decreased mental health which arise due to failed relationship. Thus, ability to carry out basic tasks to function is seriously compromised.

These days people are seeking psychological help to deal with the aftereffects of failed relationship. Relationships have become necessities in today’s world. There could be many reasons one enters into a relationship. But when those relationship fails, it causes mental health issues to surface thereby affecting our well-being as a whole.

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Hypnosis is a very authentic procedure that can be employed as a therapeutic tool, despite numerous myths and misconceptions about it. It has been demonstrated that hypnosis offers therapeutic and medicinal advantages, particularly in the treatment of anxiety and pain. According to some of the research, even the symptoms of dementia may be lessened by hypnosis. According to one definition, hypnosis is “a waking state of awareness (or consciousness) in which a person’s attention is diverted from his or her immediate surroundings and is consumed by his/her conscious, subconscious, and unconscious mind. For the hypnosis to occur, the individual has to concentrate and immerse in their imagination. A hypnotic world is created by the physician and patient through the use of suggestions and their acceptance.

Our everyday ‘trance’ states include things like becoming immersed in a wonderful novel, driving down a familiar route without being aware of it, being in prayer or meditation, or engaging in a mindless or creative task. A state of trance can also be when we are in a ‘state of flow’. State of flow refers to being so passionately immersed in activities that we enjoy, like painting, reading, or writing, and completely lose the sense of time and location. Our conscious awareness of our surroundings and inner awareness exists on a continuum, thus even though one’s emphasis is mostly internal in these states, one does not lose all awareness of the outside world. One could think of hypnosis as a type of meditation that one can acquire to enter knowingly and purposefully for therapeutic reasons. Afterwards, suggestions are made vocally or visually with an eye toward the intended result. This could be done to control drug side effects, reduce anxiety by accessing tranquillity and relaxation, or alleviate pain or other symptoms. Hypnosis is typically a calming experience that can be quite beneficial for a patient who is tense or worried, depending on the recommendations made. The main advantages of hypnosis, however, are the enhanced power of encouragement and access to mind-body connections or unconscious thought processes. While hypnosis is not a therapy in itself, it can be a means of making therapy delivery easier, much like how a syringe makes medicine distribution possible.

Hypnosis can assist patients in believing in and experiencing what they might be able to accomplish, but it cannot make the impossible feasible. Since the beginning of human civilization, hypnotic states have been used for healing. But because they can be abused for so-called entertainment, and because hypnosis has been portrayed in the media as a mysterious, magical state that is ostensibly beyond the control of the hypnotized subject, many medical professionals are sceptical of it. However, recent developments in neuroscience have made it possible for us to start understanding what might be happening when someone enters a hypnotic state.

There is growing evidence that hypnosis can be used as a helpful tool to help patients and healthcare professionals manage a variety of conditions, particularly anxiety, and pain.

Brian Weiss in his book ‘Many Lives, Many Masters’ describes how he treated his patient with intense anxiety, phobias, and fear by regressing her to earlier stages of life. While no conventional method could cure her mental state, hypnosis served like a knight in shining armour to better her condition. What was most amusing about it was that she not only regressed to earlier stages of her current life but also deliver conscious instances from her previous lifetimes that caused her pain and trauma. The collective pain and trauma of her many previous lives had accumulated anxiety and phobias in her current life. The book vividly delivers past life experiences and after-death experiences through his patient’s consciousness. Dr. Brian Weiss, who is a conventional psychotherapist, was surprised and dubious when his patient started talking about past-life experiences that seemed to be the cause of her ongoing nightmares and panic episodes. But as she started receiving communications from “the space between lives,” which contained startling disclosures about Dr. Weiss’s family and his deceased son, he began to lose faith. He was able to heal the patient using past-life therapy and enter a new, more fulfilling stage of his profession. However, there are many critics of the claims of Dr Brian’s hypnotherapy sessions with his patient as well.

Three types of hypnosis are typically used. To create a hypnotic state, guided hypnosis employs instruments like music and recorded instructions. This kind of hypnosis is frequently used in websites and apps for mobile devices. Second, mental health experts who practice hypnotherapy, which is the use of hypnosis in psychotherapy, can cure illnesses like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders. Last but not least, Self-hypnosis is a process that happens when a person generates a hypnotic state for themselves. It is frequently used as a self-help strategy to manage stress or control discomfort. Self-hypnosis can be induced through a deep state of meditation. It can also be induced by activating a substance called Dimethyltryptamine or DMT in our brain which occurs at only three instances in our life, when we are born, when we are actively having a life-like dream, and before death. However, psychedelic substances like ayahuasca, LSD, magic mushrooms, and other psychedelics are also found to produce this trance state in us.

Hypnosis has the power to significantly modify perceptions, as proved by experiments conducted by scientist Ernest Hilgard. The participant’s arm was submerged in ice water after being told to refrain from feeling discomfort in the arm while under hypnosis. Non-hypnotized people had to take their arms out of the chilly water after a few seconds because of the pain, whereas hypnotized people could keep their arms in the water for a few minutes without feeling any discomfort. The left brain, which could be compared to our “conscious mind,” tends to be more prominent while we are normally awake. The brain has two cerebral hemispheres. The more intelligent, cognizant, and logical side of ourselves, communicates verbally. Our right brain becomes more dominant when we unwind or get absorbed in something. The right brain, which can be thought of as our “unconscious mind,” is the emotional and creative side of ourselves that expresses itself through symbols and imagery. Because words are not the right brain’s language, it is never easy to convince ourselves not to feel irritated or anxious. Yet, by employing metaphor or guided imagery, one can illustrate a point with words.

Hence, Hypnosis can lead people to access parts of their minds that their conscious state cannot access. It can regress to earlier states of life to retrieve forgotten memories that can unconsciously cause maladaptive behaviours, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Hypnosis is a way to gain confidence in oneself to know better about their abilities to heal.

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Gratitude is characterized by being appreciative and expressing appreciation for what we have. Exercising gratefulness is more vital than ever at a time when numerous of us are having a hard time conforming to a new normal.

In this article, we will try to unfold gratefulness and its impacts on our mental health.

Understanding Gratitude:

Gratitude is the heart-observed appreciation and recognition for the kindness, help, or positive gestures we admit from others or indeed from life itself. It involves honoring the good effects in our lives and admitting them with a sense of warmth and appreciation. Gratitude can be directed towards people, circumstances, nature, or truly oneself.
Kristin Francis, MD, a psychiatrist at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute claims that “Expressing gratefulness can favorably change your brain,”. She says “The brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which speedily boost your mood and give you a sensation of joy, pleasure, and well-being, are increased through it.”

The Impact of Expressing Gratitude on Mental Health:

1. Reduces Stress and makes you Feel Optimistic:

One of the most significant benefits of exercising gratefulness is its capability to reduce stress levels. When we concentrate on the positive aspects of our lives, it becomes demanding for negative feelings to take hold. Gratitude shifts our attention down from solicitude and fear, replacing them with passions of pleasure and peace, and ultimately helps us to feel optimistic about ourselves.

A study published in the journal” Psychiatry Research” set that those individuals who regularly expressed gratefulness felt lower levels of anxiety and depression. Grateful people tend to have better- coping mechanisms, which enable them to deal with stressful situations more effectively.

2. Promotes Positivity and Mindfulness:

Being fully present in the moment is a component of mindfulness, which is always associated with gratitude. We become more aware of the good things in our lives when we express our gratitude. This improved mindfulness urges us to be attentive to the integrity and beauty that are all around us in our daily lives. This heightened awareness inspires us to be mindful of the integrity and beauty that encompass our daily lives.

Being mindful and thankful can be powerful tools in the fight against rumination, which is a typical trait of depression and anxiety. We can release ourselves from destructive ways of thinking and find comfort in the present by focusing on and appreciating the present moment.

3. Boosts the Overall Well-Being and Emotional Adaptability:

Gratitude serves as a protective barrier against the psychological expenses associated with suffering. Admitting the benefits we’re grateful for, can help us retain a more positive view when we’re going through difficult times. This emotional flexibility helps us recover from setbacks more quickly and improves our general well-being.

Likewise, exercising gratefulness fosters a superior sense of relief, making it easier to navigate through tough times. It provides a perspective that allows us to see difficulties as opportunities for growth.

4. Strengthens Social and Personal Bonds:

Gratitude includes honoring the compassion of others as well as self-reflection. Expressing thankfulness toward friends, family, or associates can strengthen private and social bonds and enrich the quality of connections.

Also, gratefulness reduces the chances of taking others for granted, fostering a surrounding of mutual respect and trust. This can lead to healthier and more fulfilling connections, which, in turn, positively impact mental health.

5. Increases self-confidence and Motivation:

Gratitude is not only aimed outward; it can also be inside. When we admit our accomplishments and growth, we boost our self-regard and self-worth, which ultimately promotes our inner motivation to do better, as well. This self-appreciation contributes to a healthier self-image and superior self-confidence.

Similarly, gratefulness can help us silence our inner critic by fighting self-doubt with self-compassion. Honoring and celebrating our achievements, no matter how small, we become more flexible in the face of self-criticism.

Tips to Cultivate Gratitude in Oneself:

• Journaling: To start journaling, you do not need a locked journal. Write down many effects each day for which you’re thankful in a journal, your daily diary, or even on sticky notes.
• Self-appreciation: Practice listing five positive aspects about yourself each day. At first, it could be awkward or burdensome, but with practice, it’ll get simpler.
• Search for a “companion”: Find a spouse, child, or friend with whom to participate in your daily practice. Every week, set away a short window of time to express your gratefulness.
• Make someone feel special: If there’s someone in your life who you feel you” owe” happiness or success to, go see them in person and express your gratefulness. Or, if a friend or colleague has had an impact on your life, make sure they know it by thanking them and expressing your gratefulness.

Gratitude is an important restorative for mental health, furnishing a wealth of advantages that can change our lives. One cannot emphasize how important it is to lower stress, make emotional adaptability, strengthen interpersonal connections, encourage awareness, and boost self-esteem. We may unleash gratefulness’s enormous power and experience its profoundly awful goods on our mental health by incorporating it into our day-to-day routines.

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When kind lend their hand, many times they are mistaken as weak hearted. Their generosity and soft heartedness also makes them an easy target for others anger and frustrations.Just because someone is being kind does not they dont have ability to stand up for their self respect. They have a heart to help others but they are strong hearted to let go of anyone who treats them with disrespect.

Respect those people who are kind to you, they do not necessarily have a lot but they are strong enough to share even the little bit they have got. Kindness toward others even ourselves has been shown to help balance seesawing emotions, which we all have these days and even possibly improve some health outcomes. Yet, kindness may be more important than ever, especially when it comes to listening to people and hearing what causes them pain, anger, sadness often all at once- in an emotionally and politically challenging time unlike anything most of us have ever experienced.

Why is kindness important? Kindness is about empathy and understanding, about recognizing the plight of the person next to you and offering emotional support and advocacy in a moment of anger or despair. There is lots of evidence that our experienced, our choices, our habits, our practices go a long way to predict how empathetic we become.  I hope we can keep this level of concern for other people, and I hope to be able to return the favor.

Kindness is not a cure , our challenges are far too serious but it is a way of being that can make a differnce to those around you. Right now, the biggest act of kindness any of us can do is simple , wear a mask to protect others (if not yourself) ,respect social distancing so we can all get back to work and life together again and listen really listen to those who are angry, depressed or in despair.

I believe that kindness is one of the most important virtues because it is an important basis in everyday life. It is a strong moral to have. Kindness can be giving a simple smile or helping someone cross the street, we can use this virtue in every situation. Every single person in the world has the ability to choose how they treat others. we should all choose to be kind.

Kindness cannot be directed toward one and with held from the other  without bad outcomes, we as person should treat everyone equally and not judge them by old acts or the acts of others, for example if a man steals a car , goes to a jail, realizes the errors of his ways, then once he becomes free everyone gives him the treatment of a thief. He can not get a job or place to live all of this. What do you think he will do? The only thing he can do, be a theif. If everyone would show him kindness he would be free from his personal error and realize the world  and even people are beautiful. Everyone deserves the right to be treated kindly but it is our choice to treat them that way. If kindness were a war strategy then every nation would be at peace. Wars would be ended through delegation, not bullets. In some situation kindness can be nearly impossible, but in the end it is the best option.

For me, kindness important to give, much more than to get , because it is not only gives another person the opportunity to feel better about themselves, it also gives me the ability to feel better about myself. So giving kindness to other, and myself, will always be rewarding. I believe kindness is a greatest gift.   I have learned that people will forget what yousaid, people will forget what you did , but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Showing kindness to others does not  necessarily mean doing something big for them. It can be anything s small a contribution as being polite or giving emotional support to someone. It can be anything like giving a smile to an old lady who sees people coming alone sitting in her balcony to your terrace every chirp. Such acts of kindness do not take much effort but it can make a big difference in the life of another person. You do not have to be millionaire to help and treat people around you. All you need for this is a good heart. Each one of us has something to give to the world. We should be kind to the people around us . We need to understand that if people are kind to each other, the world will become a better place.

What is the most common symptom in a people relationship? It is nothing but kindness. Nobody likes to befriend rude, arrogant, selfish and arrogant people. Everyone likes people who are humble, polite, kind and generous. We should be kind to people, but as it is said that the beginning is from home, therefore we should start with our near and dear  ones. Many people are generous and courteous towards their neighbours, friends and co-workers but they behave rudely to their family, parents, children and siblings. They scold them, do not pay much attention to them and often argue with them. Such people cannot be called kind. No matter how good they are towards outsiders or how much they donate. If they are not kind to the members of the house, they only put a mask on their face to maintain a good image. Infact they are desperate from inside and all their frustration descends upon the members of the house.

If a person is very kind at heart, he will be kind at home as well as outside. Being kind to people without expecting anything in return bringd inner peace and happiness. It makes life enjoyable. It is not difficult to behave in kind. Maintaining kindness on the people around us should be the ultimate goal of each one of us. Try it out and see why it can be one of the happiest experience in life.

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How does Body shaming manifest?

 Body shaming manifests in ways one is not even aware of.

1. Criticizing one’s own physical appearance or that of others.
2. Criticizing anyone’s physical appearance in front of them
3. Criticizing anyone’s physical appearance without their knowledge.

Why does Body shaming occur?

The very first reason is the society we live in and all the people who have to go with the set notion of society. Someone is too fat or thin, straight or curvy, but nobody is perfect. Although everyone is trying to accept as they are, the pressure from social media, peer makes everyone want to look in a certain way. Not only social media, the negative comments and provoking images can also cause people, usually teenagers and young adults to follow unhealthy habits to achieve their desired look. These undesirable habits can include something such as starving themselves or binge eating or even full-fledged eating disorders which can lead to self-harm, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, trauma and many other issues.

Mental health disorder related to body image:

BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a mental health disorder in which one can’t quit considering at least one saw deformities or blemishes in their appearance, an imperfection that seems minor or can’t be seen by others. However, one may feel so humiliated, embarrassed and on edge that they may avoid numerous social circumstances. At the point when one has Body Dysmorphic Disorder, they seriously centre on their appearance and body picture, over and over checking the mirror, preparing or looking for consolation, some of the time for a long time every day. Their apparent imperfection and the dreary practices cause them critical misery and affect their capacity to work in their everyday life.

Signs and Symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder

• Being very engrossed with an obvious defect in appearance that to others can’t be seen or seems minor
• A solid conviction that one has an imperfection in their appearance that makes them ugly or twisted
• The conviction that others take exceptional notice of their appearance in a negative manner or false them
• Participating in practices pointed towards fixing or concealing the apparent imperfection that is hard to oppose or control, for example, much of the time checking the mirror, prepping or skin picking
• Endeavouring to conceal apparent blemishes with styling, cosmetics or garments
• Continuously comparing one’s appearance with others
• As often as possible looking for consolation about their appearance from others
• Looking for corrective strategies with little fulfilment
• Avoiding social situations

How to overcome Body Shaming?

To overcome body shaming, one can connect to people who promote body positivity. These people can help build up acceptance about one’s body image. Self-love and self-acceptance are also very important. For a person to be positive about their body image, accepting themselves is very important.

Everyone should have their own notion and idea of their ideal body image, that suits them well. Positive body does not only mean to attain a desirable figure but also to be healthy. Eating healthy food, keeping hydrated and exercising will also lead to one having a healthy and positive body. Lastly, one should not compare themselves to others. Everyone is unique in their own way, be it their physical appearance or as a person! Body positivity is accepting the body that you have and the changes it will go as time passes. Every part of you is beautiful and every part should be appreciated. Take care of yourself the way you wish to because at the end, you are you and you deserve everything, you are as important as any other person!

The post What Is Body Shaming And Its Effects On Mental Health? appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

Types of Loneliness:

A. Emotional isolation

It is the lack of significant connections. It can be experienced when you feel that no one is available to talk to about something going on in your life, even when you need someone to talk to. You may experience loneliness for the person who has left your life if your heart has been shattered.

Read: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

B. Social loneliness

A ‘perceived shortfall in the quality of social connections’ is social loneliness. If you don’t think you and your partner have any friends in common, take a beginner’s salsa, foxtrot, or rhumba dancing lesson. Join forces to perform voluntary work, such as constructing homes, stuffing envelopes, or bringing food to the sick and disabled.

C. Existential loneliness

A ‘sense of essential separateness from others and the greater universe’ is known as existential loneliness. Building and maintaining a strong support network is the long-term answer to emotional isolation. While finding a “soulmate” or creating an “instant friendship” is impossible, you can increase the likelihood of strengthening a friendship by interacting with friends and being open to suggesting get-togethers or meet-ups.

Read: 10 Signs of Having True Friendship

Health hazards associated with Loneliness:

Loneliness can have many harmful effects on your physical and emotional health. Health hazards linked to general social isolation as well as social isolation in youth, middle age, and old age comprising:

• Misuse of alcohol and drugs
• Modified brain activity
• Alzheimer’s disease development
• Antisocial conduct
• Stroke and cardiovascular disease
• Reduced learning and memory
• Suicide and sadness
• elevated levels of stress
• Making poor decisions

Strategies to Avoid and Get Rid of Loneliness:

You can get over being alone. Making a change does need intentional effort. Over time, implementing changes can lead to increased happiness, improved health, and the ability to positively influence those around you. Here are a few strategies to avoid being alone:

• Think about volunteering: engaging in another enjoyable activity, these circumstances offer fantastic chances to socialize, make new acquaintances, and meet new people.
• Assume the Best: Those who are lonely frequently anticipate rejection; try concentrating on having positive attitudes and thoughts in your social interactions instead.
• Focus on Enduring Pure Connections: One should always look forward to building strong connections. Always look for someone with similar traits so that it will help them build strong connections.
• Talk to Someone You Can Trust: Understandably, it’s difficult to talk or chat with someone about your feelings, you can either talk with a family member or a trustworthy friend. You can also consult a therapist to make yourself feel better.

Impact on Mental Health:

1. Physical Illness

Chronic stress brought on by loneliness may result in mild peripheral inflammation. Consequently, inflammatory disorders have been connected to low-grade peripheral inflammation. Diabetes, autoimmune conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular conditions like hypertension and coronary heart disease are examples of inflammatory diseases (HTN) Low-grade peripheral inflammation has been associated with many cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. Numerous research has demonstrated the connection between loneliness and physiological ageing, cancer, obesity, impaired hearing, and poor health.

2. Personality disorder

Schizoid personality disorder and borderline personality disorder are two of the several conditions linked to loneliness. Ignorance of isolation is thought to be a fundamental characteristic of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Moreover, loneliness exacerbates other BPD symptoms. The Need for Time Alone, Signaling the Need, Development of the Capacity to be Alone, The Holding Environment, and Internal Representation are the main theories of aloneness in BPD. Numerous theorists of psychoanalysis have proposed that emotional deprivation is a crucial factor in the emergence of schizoid personality disorder. Attachment distortion has been linked to a lack of contentment in interpersonal relationships as a result of emotional deprivation and an inability to achieve stability.

3. Stress and Immune system

Chronic stress as well as acute stress can be caused by loneliness. Researchers have recently conducted extensive studies on the psychosocial consequences of stress on the immune and neuroendocrine systems. It’s arguable whether loneliness counts as stress. Nonetheless, a wealth of research suggests that loneliness affects the immune system. There is evidence linking loneliness to compromised cellular immunity, as seen by increased antibody titers and decreased activity of natural killer (NK) cells. Furthermore, it has been discovered that middle-aged persons who experience loneliness have lesser increases in NK cell counts in response to acute stress brought on by different tasks.

Conclusion

Lonely people may feel alone and cut off from other people. It’s a complicated mental state that personality features, mental health issues, low self-esteem, and life transitions can bring on. Serious health effects of loneliness can also include physical issues and a decline in emotional well-being. Being alone or lacking in significant relationships can lead to feelings of loneliness, which is a complicated human emotion. Being ‘alone’ is not the same as being lonely. On the other hand, in today’s era, many people can still exist in a world where many people can live alone and not feel lonely which means they cannot come under the category of loneliness.

The post Loneliness: Types, Impact and Strategies for Coping appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

Read More: It’s time to discuss Mental health issues among Men

Stereotypes related to Men and Body Image:

It is critical to eliminate the myth that body image concerns are only experienced by women. The notions of society’s ideal male physique equate masculinity and attractiveness with certain body types. This stereotype puts a lot of pressure on males to comply, which has a big influence on their body image and self-perception.

Read More: Role of Media in Promoting Body Image Dissatisfaction

Men featured in different media channels, such as models or celebrities, frequently symbolise a certain ideal: well-defined muscles, a thin physique, and a sharp jawline. In publications, movies, and social media, this figure is depicted as the epitome of prosperity and appeal. Men have a tendency to internalise these ideals, resulting in major mental health issues.

Read More: The Psychology Behind Celebrity Obsession

Factors Influencing Male Body Image

1. The representation of an ideal male form in films, ads, and social media has a tremendous impact on men’s impressions of their own bodies. Exposure to information that primarily features finely muscular males without addressing variety might generate a sense of pressure to adhere to social expectations of obtaining a flawless figure.
2. Body image standards are usually reinforced when peers make remarks, comparisons, or jokes about one another’s physical appearance. Men’s self-perception is commonly influenced by social groups and they tend to follow the ideology of their group in order to fit in leading to negative consequences.
3. Past incidents, such as bullying, unfavourable comments, or body shaming, can significantly influence how a man sees and accepts himself. Internalisation of such occurrences will result in developing low self-esteem and negatively affect one’s self-perception.
4. Men’s opinions of their bodies are heavily impacted by underlying psychological issues such as anxiety, poor self-esteem, or painful events in the past. These factors may lead to an incorrect view of one’s physique and dissatisfaction with it.

According to a National Eating Disorders Association poll, 43% of males feel dissatisfied with their physique. This research emphasizes how frequent body image concerns are among guys.

Impacts of Body Image Issues on Men:

1. Males who have body image issues are more prone to feel anxious and have a risk of developing body dysmorphic disorder. Their mental health may deteriorate as a result of recurring feelings of inadequacy and sadness caused by the pressure to achieve society’s ideals of physical perfection.
2. Men who are unhappy with their bodies may take dramatic measures, resulting in disordered eating habits or the rid of development of eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa. These illnesses are commonly disregarded because of the stereotype that women are disproportionately affected.
3. Intimate relationship stress may be caused by fears stemming from body image concerns. When males experience worry or a sense of detachment, intimacy and emotional bonds may be influenced negatively. These worries may also keep people from making new relationships or drive them to retreat socially because of a lack of old self-esteem.
4. Dissatisfaction with one’s body due to poor self-esteem may make it difficult to participate in social situations fully and may limit their social ties. Regarding professional advancement and work performance, the urge to maintain a perfect image may influence confidence levels.
5. To acquire the best physique, some men may take extreme measures like steroids, excessive exercise, or the use of performance-enhancing chemicals. Injuries, hormonal imbalances, and long-term health problems are just a few of the primary health risks associated with these treatments.

Ways to promote body image positivity:

Summing Up

People’s feelings about themselves, their relationships, and their professional life are influenced by social expectations and unorthodox beauty standards, particularly when it comes to body image difficulties. To foster positive growth, it is critical to promote varied portrayals in media, encourage open conversations, and push for self-acceptance. We can create a more supportive environment in which individuals feel inspired to go beyond conventional conventions and embrace their individuality by questioning stereotypes and fostering inclusion. Recognizing and resolving body image issues in males is critical to building a culture that values diversity and paving the way for a more welcoming future.

References +

Read More Articles From Psychologs

• The Psychology Behind Masculinity
• Breaking the Silence: Ways to Boost Men’s Mental Health to Overcome Vulnerability
• The Psychology behind Hormonal changes
• Raising Boys in the 21st Century
• BIG BOYS DON’T CRY: Wearing Emotions Close to the Surface

The post The Honest Truth about Men’s Body Image Issues appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

Read More: Strategies for Finding Joy in Solo Holidays Moments

It disrupts the routine and introduces novelty to the brain which improves cognition and helps reactivate reward circuits. Travel is a very healthy expression of a person’s need to escape, experience radically different things than their day-to-day life can offer them and create memories for a lifetime. It has the ability to expand our minds in a way we never realised was possible. By travelling and interacting with the world around, one can find new passion and purpose for life.

Facing difficulties in an unfamiliar environment, among new people forces one to learn and adapt to a life that is out of comfort zone. The more challenges one faces during travelling, the better one get at overcoming them, eventually becoming more resilient, mentally and emotionally grown up. Experimental travelling simply re-evaluates and reinvents one’s life. Whether it is sightseeing or clicking pictures or just exploring a destination by foot, travelling reduces stress majorly. It has the ability to expand the mind in ways we never realised were possible.

Read More: Hodophobia: Are You Scared of Travelling?

Studies have shown that people are at their happiest when they have a vacation planned because they expect to have a positive experience. Having a vacation planned can lead to a more positive outlook on your health and general quality of life.

People also use travelling as a form of escape from their daily hectic problems. Being distracted from those stresses and commitments of daily living is vital, so that, you can have that personal check-in, to ensure that you are still on track with what you consider a happy and meaningful life. Traveling is not always about seeing new places, but rather escaping the old ones which may have a negative impact on our lives.

Taking a break from the daily hustle and bustle is essential for a person’s mind to relax, recharge and rejuvenate. It promotes happiness and helps to take your mind off stressful situations.

Exploring new places can also give you a fresh start if you are recovering from a major transition in your life. Travelling gives you the opportunity to step away from the daily grind, allows you to come back home with a broader view of the world and leaves you feeling absolutely empowered.

The new events and experiences help rewire your brain, hence boosting your mood and self-confidence. People find purpose in life and experience self-growth while they are travelling as it gives them first-hand experience of new people and new places.

Read More: Are You a Traveller? Know the Different Sides of Travelling

According to psychological research, humans are curious by nature, and travel lends itself to new experiences to grow. Experiences are precious to us and collecting them can be revitalising. For some people spending money on experiences makes them happier than spending money on material goods. And, because so many of us are getting out there and exploring different places, hearing each other’s stories can fuel the desire even more.

When you grow old and look back at your life, you will realise how much you have learned from all those travelling experiences. All these classic travelling experiences can seem daunting at first, but one realises just how good they have been for oneself when one finds a small problem in their day-to-day situations much easier to handle than before.

Stepping out of the comfort zone now and again is vital for personal development. By being stretched in different ways we learn about who we are and it strengthens the ‘openness’ dimension of our personality. It also gives us a chance to feel proud of ourselves for achieving something out of the ordinary and makes us modest by seeing what a tiny place he or she occupies in this large universe.

The new adaptation and development in our personality help us improve our emotional stability by being less emotionally reactive to day-to-day challenges. Since our brain is sensitive to changes, new environments and experiences, travelling also impacts are creative ability and broadens our perspective towards life. Having a creative outlook is a great way to practice mindfulness.

Read More: How Travelling Beneficial For Mental Health?  

Travelling is all about inserting something new and exciting into your life, trying to learn from the experience and implementing the learning into your day-to-day workings for a peaceful, exciting and a much happier life.

Travelling does not have to mean a month-long vacation in a foreign country or to an exotic place for that matter. Even going on a trip for a few days to a nearby place can help put you in a more relaxed state of mind. If going on a trip to somewhere far seems like a lot of effort and time consuming, one can always take a short break and be a tourist in his or her own city as it acts like a circuit breaker and gets you out of the cycle of work and stress.

We are designed to thrive and in order to do that, growth is necessary. It’s very hard to grow if you don’t step outside of your comfort zone now and again. So, on a purely superficial level, it’s just a great way to recharge our batteries and have a bit of fun. Travel is also an endless source of inspiration, which can be emotionally healing in its own way, help to get out of the ‘mental blocks’, untangle the knots in your head and restore sanity. That’s why travelling is considered as a form of self-healing.

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The experts claim that bad lifestyles can cause certain health issues for women all around the world. The researchers discovered that an inactive and desk-bound lifestyle is one of the core factors behind lifestyle disorders. According to the survey, approximately 10 hours per day are spent using a laptop, mobile device, or television by 25.5 percent of the participants. Ten of the participants have bone-related ailments and compared to 12 percent who have conditions such as diabetes, obesity, PCOD, and thyroid.

Another worrying statistic is that 36.2% of the participants consume junk food and fast food. Women’s depression may be influenced by eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia. Women are more likely than men to experience depression and vice versa. Although natural hormonal changes alone are not usually the cause of sadness. But they can occur at any stage of life and are occasionally linked to it. Depressive symptoms may also develop as a result of other circumstances, such as difficult life events or cultural influences.

Participants in the survey ranged in age from 15 to 60 and came from a variety of Indian cities. It includes Ahmadabad, Bahadurgarh, Dehradun, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Noida, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Sonipat. Interestingly, 36.2% of participants said they liked yoga, whereas the same amount of women said they preferred walking. 14.9% of the female participants preferred dancing to any other type of exercise.

Health issues among women are on the rise right now but some of this can be traced to women’s lifestyle decisions. Men do not have to worry about several health issues that affect women, such as menopause, osteoporosis, and everything in between. Women frequently put the needs of their children above their own, neglecting their health in the process. For working women who are striving to juggle their work and home duties, this tendency can be particularly difficult.

Due to this, women may have irregular eating habits, skip meals, get little sleep, feel more stressed and anxious, engage in less physical activity, develop addictive behaviors, and have unsatisfying relationships. All of which can increase the risk of developing chronic or non-communicable diseases. According to the survey, just 17% of women seek medical attention for lifestyle disorders, even though 22% of women suffer from them. It is vital that individuals seek holistic treatment for their concerns, cut down on screen time and junk food, and indulge more in yoga, meditation & nutritious eating.

The majority of women, or 87.2%, in the survey, think that alternative treatments like yoga, meditation, and naturopathy can help them feel better. Natural medicine places a greater emphasis on educating women about the steps that must be taken to make long-lasting changes, restore the body’s right balance, and foster healing as opposed to modern medicine’s quick fix, which frequently only provides temporary comfort.

Through disciplined exercises and focused breathing, yoga can also improve endurance while easing muscle tension, and increasing flexibility, strength, and balance. The researchers emphasized that yoga can improve concentration and reduce stress by including appropriate poses (asanas), breath work, and meditation.

By incorporating yoga and naturopathy into their daily routines consistently over an extended length of time, women can retain good health. Women can maintain their health by practicing yoga regularly and by living a healthy lifestyle and eating habits. Yoga and naturopathy are key components in sustaining women’s excellent health throughout their life. It includes premarital counseling, family planning, prenatal care, birth support, and pre and postnatal care. These practices have proven to be vital in promoting women’s health and well-being at every stage of life.

The post Mental Health Issues and Lifestyle Disorders Affect One-Third of Women appeared first on Psychologs Magazine | Mental Health Magazine | Psychology Magazine | Self-Help Magazine.

he 49th NACIACP 2023 conducted by IACP (Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists) is taking place from 10th to 12th Feb 2023, at the SGT University, Gurgaon. The theme for which is recent challenges in psychotherapy and supervision. Authors are invited to submit their abstracts for pre-conference workshops and symposiums, and there are free paper/poster sessions. Dr. Vikas Khanna who is the head of the department of clinical psychology is the organizing secretary. The sub-theme for the conference is as follows:

• Development is Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health
• School Mental Health
• Advances in Substance Abuse Management
• Dimensions of Supervision in clinical psychological practice
• Addressing gender issues
• Perspectives in community mental health
• Psychosocial disability and rehabilitation
• Clinical Psychology at the workplace
• Behavioral Addictions
• Challenges in online/tele counseling
• Neuropsychology and its applications

All abstracts accepted for the conference will be published in the conference proceedings. The following details have been laid down regarding the abstract such as it should be typed in the English language with a font size of 12, the font type should be times new roman, line spacing 1.5, the word limit 150-200, and in MS word format. The following format has been laid mandatory for the abstract submission which is it should have the title of study, names of authors, co-authors designation, qualifications and institutional affiliations, contact details, aim, methodology, a summary of results, conclusions, and 3-5 keywords. The same format is also applicable for the free paper/poster presentations additionally that you have to specify the name of the presenter. 

Anyone can become a delegate at the conference if they are a member of IACP or not. The members have to pay less than non-members whereas students will get subsequent discounts.To avail their concessions, students have to get a bonafide certificate from the head of their institute. Senior citizens above the age of 60 years who are IACP members can also register for the conference. The fee for registering increases in charges after 1st January 2023. There is early bird registration which will be available till 10th November which offers a discount on registration. There is on-spot registration also available, which will cost a little more. For registering, please visit the official website which has all the necessary information- https://iacp.in/naciacp-2023/. There will be scientific stalls set up, and an opening and closing ceremony will take place. Lunch will be served along with the banquet.

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