In our last blog post, we discussed the four divisions of our mind that play into our various states of internal conflict, taking a deeper look at the mind and body division and the left and right division. In the second part of this series, we will take a look at the second two divisions: New vs Old and Controlled vs Automatic.
While we may understand ourselves as existing as singular individuals, it often feels like our wants and needs are pitted against one another, as if there are in fact many individuals running the show behind the scenes. Maybe you are determined to be healthy and productive, but every night is a battle not to have dessert while binging Netflix. We somehow have varied and conflicting interests in our seemingly unified effort to achieve satisfaction and happiness. The truth is, we aren’t as holistic as we perceive ourselves. Taking a deeper look at our mind, we can understand it as divided in four distinct ways: Mind vs Body, Left vs Right, New vs Old, and Controlled vs Automatic. In this blog series, we will cover these four levels of division to explain our relentless experience of internal conflict and all its different manifestations of weakness and temptation. Let’s take a look at the first two:
Sometimes it is hard to figure out whether or not we are experiencing stress or anxiety. While both are emotional triggers, stress is typically caused by an external trigger such as meeting a work deadline, getting into an argument with a loved one or chronic illness. Mental and physical symptoms are also present when someone is under stress. Someone might feel irritable, angry, fatigue, muscle pain, difficulty sleeping and gastrointestinal concerns. However, with anxiety, a person experiences persistent, excessive worries that do not go away even when the stressor is removed
As adolescents and teenagers continue to experience higher rates of anxiety, the mental health condition seems to have become a normal part of growing up. Social anxiety in particular is impacting more young people. And social media maybe largely to blame.
Social anxiety is the intense fear or phobia of social and performance situations, or to put it simply, anxiety over face to face actions.
Why is that? It’s because social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat and even online gaming have taken the place of in-person gatherings. Behind a screen, teens can carefully construct their personas and compose their responses to their friends. When faced with in-person encounters, that sense of security goes away, which can leave them feeling anxious about how to interact with people…
Does your teen show signs of anxiety? Anxiety in teens has been on the rise for years. What is the cause for this increase? There is still no direct reason, however, there have been a lot of speculations. Of course genetics, brain chemistry, life events and personality play a role, but there are more thoughts as to why anxiety has been increasing.
Seeking out a mental health professional can quickly become a daunting task. With a quick search, you’ll find a lengthy list of options available. Mental health providers fall under three main categories: psychiatrists, psychologists, and licensed therapists, and within each of those categories are subcategories. While all of these options fall under the same umbrella of mental health services, they differ in important ways to address specific needs. We’ve broken down each type of mental health professional so you can pick the option best suited for you with confidence.
It is important to understand you are not alone in your feelings and it is normal to feel anxious. While no one has a magic remedy to the challenges that lay ahead, psychologists are sharing their advice on how to navigate our new normal and strategies to cope with the emerging fears and anxieties that might come with it:
So you’ve read the research on meditation and you’re ready to reduce your anxiety and stress, sharpen your focus and attention, and increase your compassion and self awareness. The experts say all you have to do is find some time in your day to sit and tune in to your breath. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, maybe not. Meditation itself is not always the challenge. Rather, incorporating this new practice into your routine and sticking with it long enough to achieve effective meditation is where things can get tricky. That’s why we’re here to help! Here are eight tips for developing a consistent meditation practice:
There is a widely conceived notion that the secret to happiness and success is finding our one true calling in life: our passion. This romanticized view of passion tells the tale of a person finding the perfect job, activity, or cause that immediately clicks for them and becomes their driving purpose and key to perpetual bliss. Why does it feel so hard then to find our passion?
Are you finding it difficult to remain motivated and accomplish tasks that have been on your to-do list for months? Are other people’s posts about their accomplishments on social media making you feel sad and defeated? Our minds are always working, it does not stop in times of uncertainty. During these difficult times, our brains are more likely to process “what-if” scenarios. These types of scenarios make it difficult to relax or remain calm. Our brain is processing two key thoughts:
