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5 Reasons Why You Should Give Back

5 Reasons Why You Should Give Back

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Everyone knows that giving back is a nice thing to do because it is an act of selflessness that helps the community. We also know that giving feels good, even when it is done in small ways, such as dropping some change in a collection cup or tipping a little extra at a restaurant. However, what a lot of people don’t realize is that giving back can actually benefit both parties. Studies show that giving back can improve one’s overall health. It can also help increase one’s gratitude, promote social connection, advance one’s political career, and provide a sense of fulfillment.

5 Reasons Giving Back Can Help You

#1. In studies, giving back to the community has been proven to help improve both one’s mental and physical health. When you are having a meaningful connection with another person, you’re going to be letting go of the stress that may have been building up without you even knowing. This can help you feel lighter and can alleviate symptoms of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Giving back has also been linked to a hormone called oxytocin, which is associated with happiness, warmth, and euphoria. When you help someone else, you might experience symptoms related to oxytocin release for more than an hour afterward.

Giving back to the community can be beneficial to one’s physical health for several reasons. When someone is in a better state of mind, they will be more likely to make positive decisions regarding their health, whether that be through fitness or nutrition. Additionally, someone who regularly gives back will likely be staying more active, which can decrease their risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and other diseases related to an overly sedentary lifestyle.

#2. Giving back is a great way to remember to practice gratitude. Everyone has their own set of problems, and it can be easy to get stuck in a cycle of self-pity. However, when you give to the less fortunate, you are likely going to see that you have it better off than many people. Working with people who struggle to afford basic necessities like food, clothing, and shelter can remind you to be grateful for the more simple things in life. Working with someone who is sick, disabled, or terminally ill can make you grateful to be healthy, able-bodied, and alive. The more grateful an individual is, the more resilient they will be to stress, and the more likely they will be to experience strong mental health.

#3. When you give back to others, you’re going to be making strong, positive social connections, which can make you feel more connected to the community and can lead to long-lasting friendships. The friends you make along the way might even be able to support you in different ways in the future.

#4. While it might not be the main reason you choose to give back, helping others can actually help you career-wise in the future. Not only does volunteer work look great on a college application or resume, but the networking you do along the way may be able to help you score a job in the future.

#5. Do you ever feel as if you’re lacking purpose or don’t really know what your place is in the world? When you give back, you will experience a sense of fulfillment. It will remind you that you are an important member of the community and are capable of making positive changes in the world. This in turn can increase your sense of self-esteem.

Some Ideas of Ways to Give Back

Do you want to give back but don’t know where to start? Start thinking about what you are passionate about and go from there. Here are some ideas that may be a good fit for you:

  • Volunteer at a local animal shelter or donate some supplies that they need
  • Visit somebody in a nursing home that has no family left
  • Write a letter to a soldier thanking them for their service
  • Help serve a meal at a local soup kitchen
  • Donate canned goods and other supplies to a food pantry
  • Go through your closet and donate clothes you no longer wear to a homeless shelter
  • Help sponsor a family over the holidays
  • Donate school supplies that can be used by children who can’t afford any

Remember, you don’t necessarily need to donate lots of your time or money to still experience the benefits of giving back. Start small and don’t take on more than you can realistically manage and you will experience amazing results.

While giving back to the community is a selfless act, it can benefit both parties. When you help someone else, you experience a multitude of positive results, including better mental and physical health, a greater sense of gratitude for what you have, strong social connections, networking that can lead to professional growth, and a greater sense of self-purpose and fulfillment. Giving back doesn’t only make you feel good and helps strengthen the community, but it is a way of focusing on something positive and learning that you can make a positive difference in the world when you set your mind to it. Some examples of ways to give back include helping out at a soup kitchen, volunteering at an animal shelter, or donating food to those in need. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health disorder, our team at Achieve Concierge can help. Call (858) 221-0344 today to learn more. 

Supporting Friend's Struggling with Mental Illness

Supporting Friend’s Struggling with Mental Illness

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Mental illness continues to plague much of the nation, and unfortunately, many cases often go overlooked and undiagnosed. It can be hard to know how to support a friend who is struggling with mental illness, especially if it is not something you’ve personally experienced yourself. However, learning how to identify the signs of a mental health problem, how to effectively communicate with someone struggling with their mental health, and encouraging them to seek proper treatment is critical. In some cases, it can even be the difference between life and death.

Recognizing the Signs of a Mental Health Disorder

There are a variety of different types of mental health disorders. Some common examples include anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, and bipolar disorder. The way that each person exhibits symptoms of a mental health disorder is different. If you think your loved one may be struggling with their mental health, there are some common signs you can look out for. They include:

  • Changes in eating habits
  • Trouble keeping up with personal or professional obligations
  • Decreased performance at work or school
  • Withdrawing from friends or family
  • No longer participating in or enjoying one’s hobbies
  • Sudden weight gain or loss
  • Inability to keep up with one’s personal hygiene
  • Engaging in excessive drug or alcohol use
  • Seeming chronically tired or lacking energy
  • Exhibiting sudden mood changes
  • Changes in sleeping habits
  • Changes in sex drive
  • Trouble coping with stress

If your loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, they may have a mental health problem and need professional treatment.

Learning How to Talk to Someone With a Mental Illness

It’s very important to know how to properly talk to someone with a mental health disorder because saying the wrong thing or taking the wrong tone can not only discourage them from seeking treatment but may even make their condition worse. The most important thing to remember when confronting your loved one is to make it clear that you’re coming from a place of love and compassion, not judgment. The following are some examples of good ways to open up the conversation:

  • I care about you and want to make sure you’re okay. Are you comfortable talking to me about what you’re going through?
  • I am here and want to listen. Can you tell me how you are feeling?
  • What can I do to help you during this time?
  • It seems like you are going through a difficult time, and I’m worried about you. I am here for you if you need me.
  • What can I do to help you get the assistance you need?
  • Are you open to getting some resources that can help you through this time?
  • I’m worried about your safety. Have you considered doing anything to hurt yourself or someone else?

It’s important to only approach the individual about their mental health status while they are in a safe, private environment and only when they feel comfortable discussing it. It’s also important to be straightforward and speak calmly. If the individual isn’t yet comfortable discussing their mental health, do not pressure them to open up, but revisit the topic at a different time.

Additional Ways to Support Someone With a Mental Illness

After you’ve approached your loved one about their mental illness and encouraged them to seek treatment, there are some additional steps you can take to support them and show them that you care. Some examples include:

  • Telling them that they are free to open up to you as much or as little as they want
  • Reminding them that there is help available for them if they want it
  • Offering to help out with household tasks or other things they may be struggling to keep up with
  • Express empathy and treat the individual with dignity and respect
  • Speak with other people that are close to the individual and make sure they are aware that their loved one is struggling
  • Invite the individual to social functions to ensure they don’t feel lonely or isolated from those that care about them
  • Remind the individual that you are not judging them and do not think any differently about them because of what they are going through

In some severe situations, a person who is struggling with a mental health problem may show signs that they are considering taking their own life. If you believe your loved one is suicidal, it is important to not leave their side and call 911 right away. They can be taken to the hospital and placed under 24/7 medical supervision to ensure that they don’t do anything to hurt themselves or anyone else.

Watching a friend struggle with a mental health disorder can be very painful, especially if the individual is not seeking out the help they need. Because mental illness is such a serious issue, it is important to be able to recognize the symptoms of it, understand how to discuss it with the individual, and how to encourage them to seek treatment. When approaching someone about their mental illness, it is important to come from a place of non-judgment and to ensure that the person knows that you care about them and have compassion for them. You can also support your loved one in other ways, such as inviting them to social functions and offering to help out with tasks they may be behind on. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health disorder, our team at Achieve Concierge can help. Call (858) 221-0344 today to learn more about our services. 

Dr. Shashita Inamdar

Dr. Shashita Inamdar on the One Girl At A Time Podcast

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The hosts of One Girl At A Time speak with Dr. Shashita Inamdar about mental health and some ways to relieve stress. The wondrous Dr. Inamdar is a licensed physician, and board-certified psychiatrist who has 20 years of expertise in diagnosing and managing various psychiatric disorders and gives us a professional and unique insight on mental health and provides some very helpful tips. Let’s work together to help remove the stigma that surrounds mental health.

One Girl At A Time is a teen podcast FOR girls BY girls WITH girls who talk about a variety of topics that girls deal with every day from leadership to social issues as well as have interviews with amazing women and girls. Created by the organization Mu Delta Alpha, One Girl At A Time is a platform specifically for girls to encourage voices that have yet not been heard. They bring their own table, chair, and voice to inspire and represent girls everywhere.

Reducing the Stigma of Schizophrenia

Reducing the Stigma of Schizophrenia

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The stigmatization surrounding mental illness began over 100 years ago, before psychological and social sciences became research fields. There are all different types of stigma — such as public stigma, social stigma, and label avoidance — although any kind of stigma is likely to cause harmful effects. Stigma not only produces feelings of defeat for those struggling with their mental health but also produces false beliefs and emotions toward the stigmatized person.

What Is Stigma?

Stigma involves negative attitudes or discriminatory behavior toward someone based on a certain component of their identity. Stigmas are stereotypes that cause certain individuals to experience greater disadvantages in their own life.

Stigmas typically develop from a combination of a lack of awareness, lack of education, or lack of perception. People create stigmas from their own subjective observations without having enough understanding about their own life experiences to accurately explain their opinion.

When someone makes a negative remark about mental illness or mental health treatment, they are engaging in discrimination as an effect of stigma. Sometimes, stigmas happen to be more subtle, such as someone avoiding a person with mental illness because they assume that the person is unstable or dangerous. Stigmas cause extreme damage to our understanding of the world around us, and especially to our own self-esteem and self-worth.

What Is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious mental condition that interferes with all aspects of a person’s ability to function. It affects how a person thinks, feels, behaves, and relates to others. Most individuals that have schizophrenia experience a lost sense of reality, which can cause intense distress for not only the individual but also for their loved ones.

Schizophrenia is often diagnosed between late teens years into early adulthood. It is more prevalent in males, and symptoms typically emerge earlier in males.

Schizophrenia has been associated with negative stigma because the condition is characterized by:

  • Psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder
  • Negative symptoms, such as loss of motivation, social withdrawal, inability or difficulty showing emotions, or reduced speaking
  • Cognitive symptoms, such as difficulty with attention, concentration, decision-making, or memory

Schizophrenia, alongside all mental health conditions, is a brain illness. This causes disruptions in typical thought and behavior patterns. For example, a person with schizophrenia may hear voices when no one is around or believe that someone is trying to hurt them even though there is no reason to believe that.

The condition of schizophrenia ranges in intensity and severity. For instance, some people have mild schizophrenia and learn how to challenge their false delusions. Typically, you would never guess that these people are dealing with internal struggles of schizophrenia, as these individuals come off as “normal.” Severe cases of schizophrenia can make it nearly impossible for a person to keep a job or take care of themselves.

Addressing the Schizophrenia Stigma

When a person does not understand the true nature of schizophrenia, they come to stigmatize it. Some stigmas include:

  • The idea that these individuals are violent or dangerous
  • The idea that these individuals are flawed, especially for those that believe the stigmas said about their own condition
  • The idea that these individuals will not respond to treatment
  • The idea that these individuals are unable to have intimate social relationships

Stigma causes numerous harmful effects. The most significant impact that stigma has on those with schizophrenia is that such harmful ideology can, and does, trigger relapse in those working their way in their recovery journey. Stigma can also worsen symptoms entirely, especially if someone is already struggling with the thoughts in their own mind. What is said in society or on social media about mental health, especially in regard to schizophrenia, sticks in the minds of people that are directly affected by the condition.

Stigma also keeps individuals from seeking out or accessing treatment during the times that they may need it most. They fear the diagnosis and fear the recovery battle merely because of the harmful, false stigmas that develop from lack of awareness and education.

How to Work Through Stigma

It is essential that communities continue to work to disassemble the stigmas surrounding mental illness. Psychoeducation of mental illness conditions should be encouraged, as valuable, online resources to help us learn are at the tips of our fingers. Mental health education is something that should be discussed regularly, not only when someone is struggling. These actions can help to reframe how individuals understand mental health and stigma in general.

Statistics regarding the prevalence of mental illness should be highlighted regularly, as nearly one in five adults are struggling with mental illness at any given time. Teaching both kids and adults about mental health and illness can raise awareness and increase comprehension of conditions without stereotypes ever being curated. It is essential that society and media work to challenge stigmas and make this world as inclusive as it can be for individuals of any identity.

Stigma continues to enforce negative beliefs and attitudes about a person, specifically regarding certain identity traits or characteristics. Stigma leads to discrimination and harmful perceptions, especially for those that struggle with mental health. One of the most stigmatized mental health conditions is schizophrenia, characterized by a lost sense of reality that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People have come to stigmatize schizophrenia because they lack education, awareness, and a general understanding of the condition. It is crucial that these stigmas continue to be challenged so that people that are struggling can get the help that they need, or avoid relapse for those in recovery. Achieve Concierge understands how harmful stigmas can be in mental health recovery. Our compassionate community works together to challenge these stigmas so that our clients will feel safe, loved, and supported. We treat more than your diagnosis. For more information, call (858) 221-0344. 

How Our Five Senses Affect Our Mental Health

How Our Five Senses Affect Our Mental Health

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Effective treatments for mental illnesses typically take place in a treatment center. Some centers require clients to attend therapy multiple times over the course of the day, while others require clients to attend weekly sessions. No matter how often treatment is, it can take weeks to months to experience newfound mental clarity.

For those that struggle on a daily basis with mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, it can be hard to continue treatment knowing that results take time. While a person goes through treatment, it is essential that they are taught mindfulness tools to help them cope with present distress. That way, they are able to find peace in the present moment, which helps them to stay engaged with long-term treatment sessions.

What Is Mindfulness?

In simple terms, mindfulness is awareness. Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware in a given moment, specifically with acceptance and non-judgment. There are many common forms of mindfulness, such as meditation or deep breathing, that are readily available for the times you may need it most.

Mindfulness requires you to be intensely observant of your sensations, thoughts, and feelings. Anxiety, for example, causes a person to spend too much time reflecting on the past or worrying about the future. Anxiety takes a person away from their present-moment experience. Practicing mindfulness can help you to direct your energy and attention to the moment that lies in front of you.

Your Five Senses and Your Mental Health

Our five senses help us to stay in tune with what is happening around us. Our mind is often trying to interpret things that our senses are trying to tell us, especially identifying how they contribute to our wellbeing. By understanding how to address each of your five senses, you will be better able to connect to your mental health and the world around you.

  • Sight – Your visual field can significantly impact how you feel. If your workspace is messy, you are likely to feel more anxious than if your workspace is organized. Bright, vibrant colors tend to bring about a more positive mood than dull or grey colors. You can even consider the power of a smile — when someone smiles at you, you are likely to experience a burst of energy.
  • Smell – Soft, pleasing smells can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. Certain fragrances, such as lavender, are known to also alleviate feelings of distress and promote better sleep. Every smell has a different effect on your mood.
  • Sound – We are constantly experiencing the power of sound. Loud, unexpected sounds are frightening, while acoustic or soft instrumental music is pleasing to the ear. The type of music that you choose to listen to during a workout, for example, can help to boost your energy as well.
  • Touch – If physical touch is your love language, you would understand the importance of touch in mental health. Feeling the warmth of the sun or taking a warm shower can significantly boost your mood.
  • Taste – Eating favorable foods always seems to bring about pleasure. Eating something you may not like may cause quite the opposite effect. Taste produces a significant effect on our mood, emotions, and behaviors.

Knowing how your five senses can affect your mood might encourage you to reflect on your own interpretations of your senses. For example, you might want to identify your favorite sights, smells, sounds, touches, and tastes so that when you feel stressed or anxious, you will be able to identify healthy responses to alleviate your stress.

Using Your Five Senses to Engage With Mindfulness

There are endless grounding exercises available to you anywhere at any time. These exercises reduce feelings of stress and anxiety while allowing you to experience pleasure from the present moment.

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed, try to work through the following exercises to connect you to your environment:

  • 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 – This exercise requires you to name five things you can see, four things you can physically feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. This exercise helps you to shift the focus of your anxious mind away from the thoughts that may be causing you to feel anxious. Repeated use of this exercise can help you to reframe negative or harmful thought patterns.
  • Mindful meditation – This exercise requires you to close your eyes and sit in a comfortable position. As you consciously bring attention to your breath, bring awareness to the sensations that you are experiencing in your environment. If you experience outside thoughts, visualize yourself attaching your thoughts to a cloud and letting them float away.

Your five senses play an essential part in your mental health. They help you to interpret thoughts and feelings about your surrounding environment and contribute to how you understand feelings of wellbeing. When mindfulness is combined with a conscious evaluation of our senses, a stressed mind can find clarity and peace in the present moment. It is important that people become aware of useful grounding techniques that can be applied anywhere at any time so that they can experience a sound mind. Achieve Concierge offers comprehensive mental wellness programs for those struggling with mental health problems. We specialize in treating various mental health conditions and believe that our expertise leads our clients to experience long-term mental wellness. We understand the toll that anxiety and depressive disorders can have on mental wellness, and believe that everyone deserves to experience clarity. For more information on the treatment therapy options we offer, call us at (858) 221-0344.

Facing the Fear of Admitting You Need Help

Facing the Fear of Admitting You Need Help

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Struggling with mental health can be crippling. When you struggle alone, though, you are worsening the severity of your symptoms and of your distress. The stigma that surrounds mental health may be the culprit of your fear, or perhaps you fear that you will seem weak to your friends or family by admitting you need help.

It indeed takes a lot of courage to admit that you need help, regardless of the situation. Although it can be hard, there are greater downsides when trying to figure out your mental health alone. The clarity and peace of mind that you seek is not far away, but it will require you to face your fear of admitting that you need help.

Addressing the Mental Health Stigma

The stigmatization and discrimination shown toward people with mental illness began hundreds of years ago, when psychology and social sciences were significantly underdeveloped. Today, we can see that there has been remarkable progress made in the study of these fields, especially in regard to mental health treatment.

Nearly one in five U.S. adults are living with a mental illness at any given time. The term “mental illness” classifies any and all conditions, which range in severity from mild, to moderate, to severe. Consider this statistic to only acknowledge the people that have received a diagnosis or begun to get the treatment that they need to heal. The statistic of people that are suffering from mental health distress on a daily basis, and do not receive a diagnosis or treatment, is much greater. Knowing the prevalence of mental illness in society today may help shed light on how common mental distress truly is.

Accepting When You Need Help

There are various situations that can occur to help you realize when or why you need to reach out and ask for help. If you struggle with low self-esteem, which seems to be a common characteristic of many mental illness conditions, it may be especially difficult to ask or accept help from others.

In order to be able to ask or accept help, you will need to do some internal reflection work. Consider asking yourself these questions:

  • What am I struggling with?
  • How long have I been struggling?
  • Does anyone know I am struggling?
  • Am I engaging in self-harm or suicidal ideation?

In any type of recovery journey, the first step to healing is to admit a loss of self-control and powerlessness. This means you are admitting that your mental distress, or the symptoms associated with it, are taking power over you and your life. In this, you are already realizing that you have lost control.

Asking and accepting help requires you to be vulnerable, and to especially give up control. If you believe that doing so is a sign of weakness, or that you are relying too much on others to help you, you are falling into the pit of mental health stigma. None of us are meant to know all of the answers — there are too many answers to possibly know!

Vulnerability is the opposite of weakness. Being vulnerable requires strength and courage, just like admitting you need help. When we learn to be vulnerable with ourselves, we no longer judge others for being vulnerable as well. Vulnerability connects us deeper with the present moment and allows us to be the most authentic version of ourselves.

Facing Your Fear

You might already know the power in vulnerability, but you are still struggling with facing your fear. In order to face your fear, you must identify your fear.

The first fear we mentioned is the fear of accepting that you have lost control. Another fear you may experience is the fear of being perceived as needy. The thing is, we all have needs. Needs keep us motivated and engaged with our life experience. Our needs change and develop over time. At this phase of your life, if you have greater mental health needs, you must address them before they become severe.

Another fear you may consider is the fear of not getting adequate help after admitting that you need it. Luckily, the field of mental health treatment is vast. Treatment centers are available all over, with many different therapy programs and treatment options available to help you work through your mental health distress.

Facing the fear of admitting you need help will not only help you to get the help that you need, but it also gives an opportunity for someone to help you that genuinely wants to help. If your close friend or family member was honest with you about their struggles, wouldn’t you want to help and support them? Believe that you deserve mental clarity. Start by talking with a close relative or friend about your struggles and see what guidance they are able to offer you.

Facing your fear of admitting you need help can be an overwhelming thought. With the high prevalence of mental health illnesses, it is essential to highlight how common mental distress truly is in society today. Accept that you need help by realizing that you will not be able to heal on your own. Instead of staying in the same place on your healing journey, reach out for help so that you are able to face your fear and grow beyond it. Achieve Concierge is a mental health treatment center that prides itself on holistic and well-informed care. We provide comprehensive and compassionate care for individuals of all ages who are struggling with emotional and behavioral health issues. We believe that it is crucial to address all aspects of an individual — biological, psychological, and social — to achieve long-lasting recovery from mental health distress. For more information, call us at (858) 221-0344.