BETSHY

Category: Mental Health

  • Motivation to Tidy Up Your Home Environment

    Motivation to Tidy Up Your Home Environment

    A messy home can have a negative impact on your overall well-being. Moreover, a messy lifestyle is not a permanent condition. By recognising the negative impacts and taking small steps toward tidiness, you can create a more organised and enjoyable living space. Tidying up your home can have a significant positive impact on your physical and mental well-being. Start by decluttering, establishing daily cleaning habits, and finding storage solutions that suit your needs. Here are some motivations to inspire you to tidy up:

    1. Clean, Safe and Inviting Space: A tidy home is more welcoming and visually appealing. When your living space is clean and organized, it becomes a sanctuary where you can relax, unwind, and enjoy spending time.
    2. Improved Physical Health: Clutter can make it difficult to move around the house safely and can even pose hazards such as tripping or falling. Keeping your home tidy reduces the risk of accidents and injuries.
    3. Enhanced Mental Well-being: A cluttered environment can lead to increased stress and anxiety. Tidying up your home helps create a sense of order and tranquillity, promoting better mental health and overall well-being.
    4. Increased Productivity: When your home is messy, it can be challenging to find things when you need them. By organising your living space, you’ll save time and energy searching for misplaced items, allowing you to be more productive in your daily activities.
    5. Improved Mental Clarity: A cluttered home can lead to a cluttered mind. Tidying up can help clear your thoughts and provide a fresh perspective. A clean and organized space allows for better mental clarity, creativity, and a more positive outlook on life.
    6. Better Focus and Concentration: Clutter can be distracting, making it difficult to concentrate on tasks. Clearing the clutter and creating an organized environment can help improve focus and concentration, leading to increased efficiency in work or study.
    7. Reduced Stress: Living in a clutter-free environment can help reduce stress levels. You’ll experience less mental clutter and feel more at peace in your surroundings.
    8. Positive Vibes: A clean and organized home creates a more inviting and positive atmosphere. It can uplift your mood and make you feel happier and more comfortable in your own space.
    9. Healthy Living Environment: Cluttered areas can harbour dust, allergens, and germs, which can negatively affect air quality and your health. Regular cleaning and tidying up help maintain a healthier living environment for you and your family.
    10. Sense of Accomplishment: Tidying up your home provides a sense of accomplishment and pride. It’s a tangible way to take control of your surroundings and create a space that reflects your personal style and values. The satisfaction you gain from a well-organized home can boost your overall well-being.

    Remember, tidying up doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small, tackle one area at a time, and break tasks into manageable chunks. Set realistic goals, create systems for maintaining order, and involve others in the process. Enjoy the journey of transforming your home into a haven of peace and harmony.

  • How to Stay Motivated to Achieve Goals

    How to Stay Motivated to Achieve Goals

    Mental processes and thoughts drive our motivation, and achieving goals requires consistent motivation. There are days in which I feel like doing absolutely nothing productive. It is in days like these that I take the chance to plan ahead and analyse what I want to achieve. So in a way, even my non-productive days are used to do something useful.

    To interpret information, beliefs and expectations, and how we mentally evaluate the potential outcomes of our actions. Understanding these aspects can help us become more aware of the thought processes and mental factors that drive our motivation. By cultivating positive cognitive patterns, setting meaningful goals, and building self-belief, we can enhance our motivation and increase our chances of achieving success. Here are some strategies to stay motivated:

    1. Set Meaningful Goals: Start by setting goals that truly matter to you. When you are passionate about what you want to achieve, you’ll naturally be more motivated to work towards them. Make sure your goals are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound).
    2. Create a Vision Board: Visualize your goals by creating a vision board. Cut out pictures, quotes, and images that represent your aspirations and display them where you can see them daily. This will help you stay focused and motivated. Take some time to plan and strategise your vision.
    3. Remind Yourself that you are doing this because you want to, not because you have to.
    4. Break It Down: Break your goals into smaller, manageable tasks. By breaking them down, you can tackle them one step at a time, which makes the process less overwhelming and more achievable.
    5. Track Your Progress: Keep track of your progress. Celebrate your milestones along the way. It’s important to acknowledge and reward yourself for the progress you make. This positive reinforcement will fuel your motivation further.
    6. Keep a Task List: Use apps such as Trello to visually and digitally organised your work.
    7. Find Your “Why”: Find a deep-rooted reason behind your goals. Understanding the purpose and significance of what you’re striving for will provide you with a powerful source of motivation.
    8. Visualise Success: Take some time each day to visualize yourself achieving your goals. Imagine the emotions, the sense of accomplishment, and the impact it will have on your life. This visualisation technique will strengthen your motivation.
    9. Stay Accountable: Share your goals with a trusted friend, family member, or mentor who can hold you accountable. By having someone to support and encourage you, you’ll be more motivated to stay on track.
    10. Embrace Challenges: Challenges are inevitable on the path to success. Instead of getting discouraged, view them as opportunities for growth and self-improvement. Overcoming challenges will make achieving your goals even more rewarding.
    11. Seek Inspiration: Surround yourself with inspiring people and stories. Read books, listen to podcasts, or watch documentaries related to your goals. Learning from others who have achieved similar feats can reignite your motivation.
    12. Make Sure Your Work Space is Optimised for creativity and fun. For example, have a gaming console in the office.
    13. Take Care of Yourself: Lastly, prioritise self-care . Make sure you’re getting enough rest, exercise, and nourishment. Taking care of your physical and mental well-being will keep your motivation levels high.

    Stay committed, stay focused, and remember that your goals are within reach. With unwavering motivation and persistence, you can achieve anything you set your mind to!

  • Traumatic Growth: How to Make the Best of a Break Up

    Traumatic Growth: How to Make the Best of a Break Up

    Break-ups can be incredibly tough. All break ups suck, hurt to a point, and often come with a mix of emotions such as sadness, anger, confusion, and even relief. However, channelling the energy of such situations can be productive. There are ways to sublimate the painful aspects of breaking up. For instance, traumatic growth refers to positive psychological changes that individuals experience after going through a traumatic event, such as a break-up. It’s important to give yourself time to heal and process your emotions. Here are a few suggestions to help you navigate through this period:

    1. Allow yourself to grieve: It’s normal to experience a range of emotions after a break-up. Don’t suppress them; instead, allow yourself to feel and express them in a healthy way.
    2. Seek support: Reach out to friends and family members who can provide a listening ear and offer support. Surrounding yourself with loved ones can help during this challenging time.
    3. Take care of yourself: Focus on self-care activities that make you feel good. Exercise, eat well, get enough sleep, and engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
    4. Reflect but don’t dwell: Take time to reflect on the relationship and the lessons learned. However, it’s important not to dwell on the past or constantly replay events in your mind. Instead, focus on your growth and the future ahead.
    5. Set boundaries: If necessary, establish boundaries with your ex-partner to allow yourself the space and time to heal. This may include limiting contact or even unfollowing/blocking them on social media.
    6. Give yourself time: Healing takes time, and it’s different for everyone. Be patient with yourself and avoid rushing into a new relationship before you’re ready.
    7. Focus on new opportunities: Break-ups can open doors to new opportunities and experiences that wouldn’t have been possible within the confines of the previous relationship. It allows individuals to explore new interests, meet new people, and pursue personal goals, leading to personal growth and fulfilment.
    8. Try new perspectives: Break-ups can shift our perspectives and help us see things from a different angle. It challenges our assumptions and beliefs about relationships, allowing for personal growth and an enhanced understanding of what we want and need in future relationships.
    9. Create art inspired by your feelings: Break-ups can provide the necessary energy to write prose, music, or engage in visual arts. This boost in creativity can be used to express yourself in unique ways, and to promote your artistic side.
    10. Try a new look: Break-ups can leave people feeling self-conscious about their appearance. A good way to make the best of it, is to get a make-over to boost confidence levels and to enjoy the most out of single life.

    Remember, break-ups are a natural part of life, and while they may be painful, they can also be opportunities for personal development. You will get through this difficult time, and brighter days lie ahead. While break-ups can be difficult and painful, they can also provide an opportunity for personal growth and development. With time, reflection, and self-care, you can emerge from this experience stronger and more resilient.

  • The Problem of Self-Neglect in Mental Illness, and its Effects

    The Problem of Self-Neglect in Mental Illness, and its Effects

    Self-care is an aspect of daily life very much taken for granted by the great majority. They self-care on a daily basis and give little to no thought about the mechanics of such. However, for some people suffering with mental illness, self-care can be daunting and a real struggle, with much thought invested in planning and executing those daily tasks (e.g. taking a shower) which are easy to manage for other people. This leads them to develop self-neglect.

    I’ve been researching mental health for ages, and it is still quite a mystery to me why some people end up unfortunately losing such ability to take care of themselves. One thing I’ve noticed is that it is related to motivation and volition; and it is an essential aspect of maintaining physical and mental well-being. It involves taking deliberate actions to nurture and care for oneself. Some self-care practices include physical exercise, taking showers/baths, cutting one’s finger and toe nails, tidying up one’s environment, healthy eating, quality sleep, relaxation techniques, hobbies and leisure activities, setting boundaries, and maintaining social connections

    Self-neglect can be a serious concern, especially when it is associated with mental illness. It refers to a lack of self-care and disregard for one’s well-being. When someone is experiencing mental illness, it can be challenging to prioritise self-care. However, taking care of oneself is crucial for managing mental health conditions as lack of self-care can have negative consequences on both your physical and mental well-being. It often occurs when we neglect to prioritise our own needs and fail to engage in activities that promote self-nurturing. Here are some potential effects of self-neglect:

    1. Physical Health Issues: When you neglect self-care, your physical health can suffer. Lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and inadequate sleep can lead to various health problems, including weight gain, weakened immune system, cardiovascular issues, and chronic fatigue.
    2. Mental Health Challenges: Neglecting self-care can exacerbate existing mental health conditions or contribute to the development of new ones. It can increase stress levels, lead to burnout, and trigger symptoms of anxiety and depression.
    3. Emotional Instability: Without proper self-care, emotional stability can be compromised. Neglecting self-care may lead to heightened irritability, mood swings, emotional exhaustion, and difficulty managing emotions.
    4. Impaired Decision-Making Abilities: Self-neglect can diminish cognitive functioning, making it harder to think clearly, concentrate, and make sound decisions. This can have a negative impact on various areas of life, including work, relationships, and personal goals.
    5. Decreased Productivity: When self-care is neglected, productivity levels tend to decline. Inadequate rest and relaxation can lead to decreased motivation, difficulty focusing, and diminished performance in daily tasks.
    6. Strained Relationships: Neglecting self-care may result in increased stress, irritability, and a decreased ability to effectively communicate and connect with others. This can strain relationships and lead to feelings of isolation.

    It is crucial to prioritise self-care and make it a daily practice. By taking deliberate actions to care for yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally, you can improve your overall well-being and lead a more fulfilling life. Remember, self-care is not selfish; it is necessary for your health and happiness.

  • What’s it Like Living With Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

    What’s it Like Living With Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)?

    All the time, permanently… I live in an unstable emotional state. This is exhausting. I experience a lot on a daily basis. I feel constantly fatigued and tired too. While there is no known cure for this tribulation, it is possible to manage the symptoms and improve overall well-being.

    Borderline personality disorder (BPD), also known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) is a chronic mental illness characterised by instability in emotions, relationships, and self-image. People with BPD often experience intense and fluctuating emotions, have difficulty regulating their emotions, and struggle with impulsive behaviours. It is important to note that BPD is a complex disorder and can manifest differently in each individual. For more in-depth definitions and descriptions, please read my academic article “Women Who Are Mad”.

    My emotions are always incredibly intense. The roller coaster is very real in my routine; with only some elements present with great stability such as my lack of care towards myself and my constant confusion in regards to who I am. Furthermore, I experience feelings of depression almost every day, and continually feel stuck in a self-neglecting dynamic. Clinically, I am unwell; and knowing that there isn’t a magic cure for how I feel demotivates me. I want to feel better. As a matter of fact, I want to be normal.

    Yet, every day reminds me of my abnormality. Some might perceive my personality as ‘eccentric’; nevertheless, I see it as simply dysfunctional. My every day is heavy and sometimes foggy. I never know who I am, my identity confuses me. I still hope that one day I will be okay, and that I won’t suffer as much as I currently do.

    Being diagnosed with BPD was something I did not process to begin with until many years later. The longer it gets, the more I comprehend my disorder. And the more frustrated I feel at not being able to feel better immediately, or later. Simply, it is like living with a chronic pain condition. You can only learn to live with it, cope with it, and ease the symptoms if you are lucky.

    Recovery from BPD is a gradual process, and it requires patience, perseverance, and commitment. With the right treatment and support, many individuals with BPD are able to lead fulfilling lives and experience a reduction in symptoms. It’s essential to remember that seeking help is a crucial step towards managing BPD and improving overall mental health. I hope that by taking these steps, I can live normally one day.

  • Introduction to Death Anxiety

    Introduction to Death Anxiety

    What happens when we die? This video introduces the concept of death anxiety, a psychoanalytical description of the fear of death experienced at least unconsciously by all.

  • Do Mental Health Diagnoses Perpetuate Pathology?

    Do Mental Health Diagnoses Perpetuate Pathology?

    The world is full of mental health diagnoses, and each day these are becoming more common as more people get diagnosed with a condition affecting their daily life. Nevertheless, little attention is given to how the system of psychiatric nomenclatures goes on to perpetuate the very pathologies they claim to treat. 

    psychosis
    psychosis

    A person might think they are normal, until they are told they are not. That is, until a diagnosis is given which reinforces the very patterns of behaviours which the clinician is attempting to treat or make absent. As a matter of fact, it isn’t until people are given diagnoses that they begin to identify with specific sets of behaviour. In a way, the clinician prescribes such sets of behaviours when they— often forcibly— attribute a label to a human being who might just be having a hard time. 

    People have rough times, and sometimes during such rough times, people might act in ways which are out of character; that is, unusual patterns of behaviour which express distress. Nonetheless, the average diagnosis will limit a person’s personality to a criteria which can indeed narrow a person’s imagination and hamper their very dreams. 

    Is the system creating individuals who are different by labelling them when they are teenagers? Psychology shows us that teenagers are still in major developmental stages where personality and character, among many other traits, become more defined. A label can really throw a teenager off that trajectory and influence their identity to a point in which the human being might feel that all they are is what the label prescribes. 

    For instance, the diagnoses of personality disorder have somehow made it through so scientific rigour; yet, even the concept of it begins to disintegrate in psychiatric nomenclatures such as the ICD-11. Clinicians can at times forget that behind every label given, there is a human being with a complex life of his or her own. They, thus, enslave an individual to a pattern regardless of the consequences this may have on their general wellbeing. 

    As someone who has been labelled, I can tell that being ‘marked’ as disordered since I was a teenager affected my identity. It simply affected me more than I could express. It attempted to wash away the uniqueness of my personality, and it tried to box me into a criteria that I did not even fully meet. Now that I am in my thirties, I have come to analyse how the iatrogenic effects affected my development, and I can honestly say that sometimes I think I would have been better off away from the system and not being diagnosed in the first place. 

    I was only 17 years old when I was labelled. At such an age, I was still forming ‘me’, and being given such a set of criteria only added elements which perhaps might never have appeared if it was not for the neoliberal touch of intervention. But I am not the only one, and apart from everything mentioned already, stigma is also a definite cause for distress in labelled individuals. What for the clinician might be a random job at the office, can become a devastating, life-changing event for the human being being subjugated to an external opinion about their internal functioning. In a way, the clinician creates the pathology by giving a label.