The Relationship Between Bipolar Disorder And Suicide
A psychiatric condition known as bipolar disorder causes mood swings that oscillate between euphoric highs (mania) and protracted lows (depression). In comparison to those without the illness, it is also linked to a higher rate of suicide thoughts and actions, according to study.
A review that was published in August 2019 in Medicina found that the suicide rate for those with bipolar disorder is 10 to 30 times greater than the general population. According to the same analysis, 20 to 60 percent of people with bipolar disorder attempt suicide at least once in their lives and 20 percent of them die by suicide.
Why Is Suicide More Common among People With Bipolar Disorder?
Individuals may experience deep grief, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in once-enjoyed activities during depressive episodes. These signs can raise the risk of suicide thoughts, together with potential functional impairment and disturbed sleep patterns.
Other potential symptoms of depressive episodes, include:
*Appetite changes, resulting in unintentional weight loss or gain
*Fatigue or lack of energy
*Slowed movements or restlessness
*Difficulty concentrating or making decisions.
Importantly, most deaths by suicide happen among people whose bipolar disorder is untreated. The longer bipolar disorder goes untreated, the higher the risk for suicide.
Other risk factors for suicide among those who have bipolar disorder include:
*Prior suicide attempts
*A family history of mental illness or prior suicide attempts
*A recent hospital discharge;
*A history of frequent prior hospitalisations;
*A recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder; *Coexisting mental or physical health issues;
*A history of substance use disorders;
*Bipolar disorder with a predominance of depressive episodes
*Being single, divorced, or having no children. *Living in social isolation.
*Unemployment
*Prior abuse, trauma, or adversity
Warning Signs of Suicidal Thoughts Among Bipolar Disorder Patients.
People with bipolar disorder and the general population both exhibit similar warning signals of suicide ideation. Typical red flags that someone is contemplating suicide include:
1. Talking about wanting to die
2. Expressing remorse or feeling like a burden to others
3. Feeling trapped, hopeless, empty, or as though there is no reason to live
4. Feeling irritated, nervous, or furious
5,Extreme grief or discomfort
6, Isolation from family and friends
7, Making final arrangements for loved ones or writing a will without apparent justification
8, Suffering from severe mood swings
9, Increasing their usage of drugs or alcohol, 10, Engaging in risky behaviours including hazardous driving
11, Sleeping more or less than usual
12, Making a plan or researching ways to die
Suicide Risk Management Strategies for Bipolar Patients.
1. Continue receiving treatment for bipolar disorder
The most popular evidence-based therapies for bipolar illness include:
a, Medication
Antipsychotics or mood stabilisers, for example, can help you balance your moods and lessen the symptoms of bipolar disorder both immediately and over time.
b, Psychotherapy
You can learn how to control triggers and challenging emotions and develop coping mechanisms for your bipolar symptoms by participating in psychotherapy, commonly referred to as "talk therapy," with a qualified mental health practitioner.
c, Hospitalisation
You might require psychiatric care in a hospital if you're acting dangerously, feeling suicidal right now, or start to experience psychosis.
d, Support Groups
You can connect with others experiencing similar difficulties in your life by joining a support group for people with bipolar disorder.
2. Restrict Access to Suicide-Related Tools.
In order to keep people safe, access to weapons like rifles that they might use to end their lives can be severely restricted. It has been demonstrated that removing access to guns can lower the likelihood of suicide.
3. Establish a Safety Plan With Your Therapist or Close Family Members.
A solid safety plan should contain actions that the individual chooses in advance they or a loved one will do if they feel suicidal, such as visiting an emergency room or knowing who to call in an emergency.
How to Get Urgent Help if You're Having Suicidal Thoughts
It's critical to know when and how to get assistance while facing a crisis. Family members should be aware of local mental health resources and emergency hotlines, and they should have a plan in place for how to get rapid professional help if necessary. Call 911 if you think someone you care about or yourself is in immediate danger of committing suicide. you can also access the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at any time by phoning or texting 988.
413
views
Signs You May Have An Inferiority Complex
The Warning Signs of an Inferiority Complex.
There's a good chance you've felt uncertain and self-conscious at some point. However, if your daily life is consistently impacted by a poor perception of yourself, you may be suffering from an inferiority complex.
The American Psychological Association describes the condition, which was first identified by the psychologist Alfred Adler in 1907, as a fundamental sense of inadequacy and insecurity that can result in behaviours ranging from withdrawal to excessive competition and aggression as a way to overcompensate.
A deep-seated conviction that one is essentially inadequate or inferior to others is referred to as an inferiority complex. People who continuously contrast themselves with others may feel like failures or unhappy people.
An inferiority complex is characterised by emotions of inferiority, which can be real or imagined. If not addressed, they can deepen into feelings of inadequacy and result in a number of additional symptoms.
The signs of an inferiority complex are persistent and go beyond brief episodes of low self-esteem or self-doubt. Following are eight warning flags to watch out for if you believe that you or a close friend or family member may be experiencing an inferiority complex.
1. Feeling incomplete, unworthy, or insecure
Even while it's common to occasionally feel uncertain or less capable than others, people with inferiority complexes have these feelings all the time. It can be quite paralysing to a person because no matter what you do, it never feels like enough.
It may be an indication of an inferiority complex if you frequently feel inadequate or unworthy, regardless of who you're with or what you're doing.
2. Isolation and withdrawal from social situations.
To avoid being exposed to potential judgement or criticism, people with low self-esteem are more prone to completely shun social events. They may isolate themselves since they don't feel comfortable around other people and don't think they can compete with their peers.
3. Making Comparisons to Others.
A person with low self-esteem is likely to make negative comparisons to others, frequently focusing on the perceived positive traits and accomplishments of people around them.
An inferiority complex could be evident if you constantly evaluate yourself in comparison to others and come to the conclusion that you'll never measure up. It's also possible to criticise others in an effort to feel better about oneself.
4. Excessive Self-Deprecating Humour
Everyone occasionally makes fun of themselves, but those who suffer from inferiority complexes may do so to avoid criticism or to proactively admit their perceived flaws.
It is impossible to tell what is humorous and humanising and what is an attempt to hide low self-esteem. However, excessive self-deprecating humour is often not a good thing.
5. Difficulty Accepting Compliments "People with poor self-esteem may find it difficult to accept compliments or positive remarks. Instead of appreciating their own value, they can disregard [these statements] as untrue or blame other factors.
Depending on the individual, this may look differently. Sometimes people are just really modest and self-effacing, and they will flatly reject compliments. Other folks don't act in such a manner. Although they take the comment, they secretly feel fake since they believe that if they really know them, they wouldn't say that.
6. Sleep issues
An inferiority mentality may cause you to have sleep issues, though it's unclear why. Researchers discovered that more sleeplessness was linked to low self-esteem. The causes of insomnia are numerous and complicated. But if sleep is a problem for you, it can be worthwhile to investigate and build your self-esteem.
7. Superiority Complex
Superiority complex and inferiority complex frequently coexist despite being viewed as opposite diseases.
An overinflated sense of one's own skills and accomplishments is known as a superiority complex. They could exaggerate their accomplishments and make themselves look good. A superiority complex is a means for someone to run away from and overcompensate for feelings of inadequacy.
8. Perfectionist tendencies
It can be difficult to draw a connection between perfectionism and self-esteem because, in some cases, striving for improvement can be advantageous. Researchers discovered that higher levels of perfectionism, which are distressing and prevent people from completing tasks or achieving goals out of a fear of failing, are linked to lower levels of self-esteem.
Working on raising your self-esteem may help you change your behaviour to one that moves you ahead if perfectionism paralyses you.
15
views
Effects Of Skipping Dinner on Your Body.
Morepeopleareskippingdinnerduetofastingdietsandhecticschedules,butresearchindicatesthatdoingsohasdetrimentaleffectsonboththebodyandthemind. Whatyoushouldknowisasfollows.
The cliche that breakfast is the most significant meal of the day has been repeated countless times. Dinner is important, though. Despite being the day's final substantial meal, many individuals find that when their schedules get full of evening errands, events, and activities, dinner is the first thing that gets put off.
When you feel satisfied long into dinnertime after lunch, it can accidentally lead to skipping supper. Additionally, some people purposefully skip dinner in order to adhere to a time-limited eating window that ends in the mid-afternoon or to practise intermittent fasting, a popular diet that calls for fasting during predetermined times that frequently coincide with dinnertime.
But what happens to your body when you skip dinner, regardless of whether you're using it as part of a diet plan or just occasionally by accident?
The Value of Dinner
Dinner is more than just the third meal of the day. Additionally, it's your last chance of the day to provide your body with the calories and nutrition it needs to survive before you go to bed, which for most people is the longest period of time they go without meals in a 24-hour period. Additionally, it serves as a daily opportunity to reconnect with loved ones. Eating dinner together has been proved to boost academic achievement, improve nutrition, and reduce childhood obesity, according to decades of research on the advantages of family dinners.
In addition, individuals try to consume their vegetables at dinnertime.The 90% of Americans who don't consume the appropriate quantity of produce cannot afford to miss that chance. Compared to other meals, adults said they ate more calories at supper.
Evening meal times differ greatly between households. An infographic based on data from the American Time Use Survey shows that Americans typically eat supper between 5:07 and 8:19 p.m. 6:19 p.m. is the busiest time for dinner. Where Americans eat seems to be more consistent: The IFT estimates that 8 out of 10 dinners are consumed at home. There are a variety of items on the menu, however there are some common themes. For instance, 70% of millennials claim that chicken is a staple of their nightly dinners.
What Happens If You Don't Eat Dinner?
Every time you eat, or don't eat, it sets off a chain of events in your body. Since changing a daily eating habit throws off circadian rhythms, the 24-hour cycle that controls many biological systems, even slight changes in regular mealtimes might make it more difficult to control your appetite.
Skipping dinner might cause short-term blood sugar swings that may leave you feeling jittery or low on energy. Your body may feel more stressed as a result. Sleeping difficulties may result from it.
Episodes of high or low blood sugar brought on by skipping can be harmful for diabetics.
Those who don't have diabetes or other health issues ought to be able to occasionally miss meals without experiencing any harmful effects. If you haven't had an evening meal and it's becoming late, it might even be preferable to skip dinner because late-night eating may increase your risk for obesity, decrease leptin, the hormone that indicates fullness, and cause you to feel more hungry than usual.
Skipping meals can also do a number on your mental health. Older adults who skipped meals were more likely to experiencedepression, anxiety, andinsomniasymptoms than those who didn't.
Do You Need to Skip Dinner?
It's okay to skip dinner occasionally if you had a late lunch, some happy hour snacks, or you didn't get a chance to eat until almost time for bed.
But take note, when you skip meals, you reduce your chances of getting the nourishment and energy you require, so the meals you do consume must be carefully scheduled.
It is advised to speak with a licenced dietitian to ensure that a two-meal-a-day or intermittent fasting programme is sufficient to meet your nutritional needs if you often skip dinner due to shift work, a constrained eating window, or any other reason.
Summary
There's a good reason why eating three regular meals a day is so widely accepted. According to study, Americans who eat three meals a day enjoy a higher-quality diet than those who skip a meal. According to the USDA, skipping supper will lessen the quality of your diet than skipping breakfast or lunch if you occasionally find yourself needing to skip a meal. Simply avoid making it a habit.
11
views
Do Women Need to Douche?
Experts claim that it is not required. Why then do so many women continue this illustrious tradition?
Douche, which is French for "to wash" or "to soak," describes the act of washing or rinsing the vagina with water or another fluid. According to Fatima Daoud Yilmaz, MD, an ob-gyn at Stony Brook Medicine in New York, vaginal douches were first made in large quantities in the 1800s, but douching was a common practise even before then.
Can some women benefit from douching in certain circumstances?
Dr. Daoud Yilmaz claims that there isn't any at all. No woman should ever feel the need to douch. There is no medical justification to douche, she claims.
Douching Is Not Only Unnecessary, But Can Also Do More Harm Than Good Douching Leaves the Vagina Vulnerable to Unhealthy Bacteria, Viruses, and Yeast.
The vagina is a self-cleaning organ. A tiny amount of mucus is produced by the cervix and the vaginal walls, which is used to expel menstrual blood, old cells, and other waste.
Numerous douching products cause the vagina's pH to change to excessively high levels of acidity, which can make the vagina more susceptible to harmful germs, viruses, and yeast.
Debunking the Most Common Douching Myths
Why then do some females continue to douche? According to experts, it might be because a few douching misconceptions have gained traction. Among these lies are:
1 Douching is a sanitary component of a woman's typical cleansing routine. Once more, no. According to Daoud Yilmaz, the vagina is made to clean itself. Douching will wash away menstrual blood and other debris, but it also alters the pH of the vagina, making it susceptible to infection.
2 A douche is required to remove a vagina's odour. Every vagina secretes discharge and has a mild odour that can change from month to month. That is acceptable and natural.
The vulva and vagina shouldn't smell like vanilla or whatever the aisle selling feminine care products tells you it should.
The CDC advises that an odd vaginal odour could be a sign of a bacterial illness, bladder infection, or sexually transmitted infection (STI). People to seek medical assistance if they suspect something is amiss rather than covering it up with feminine products, douching, or deodorants.
3 Douching can help protect from becoming pregnant or contracting STDs. Douching does not remove semen from the vagina or stop pregnancy. However, the Office for Women's Health (OWH) reports that douching has been connected to infertility and is associated with a higher risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Additionally, douching does not shield against STDs. In fact, according to the OWH, it can raise your chance of contracting a STI, including HIV.
4 A bacterial infection may be treated with douching. Douching, as previously mentioned, can cause vaginal infections to migrate deeper into your pelvis. Douching disturbs the typical vaginal environment, which could make it more challenging for your doctor to locate and treat your illness.
Frequently, underlying medical issues and lifestyle decisions can also cause illnesses like bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. In addition to douching, these may also include uncontrolled diabetes, recent antibiotic usage, regular use of knickers, spermicide use, and the wearing of tight synthetic pants, which can foster conditions that bacteria adore.
Cleaning Your Vagina
According to Daoud Yilmaz, women should never attempt to clean their vagina. She advises women to seek medical assistance if they notice anything out of the ordinary, including an odd odour, fresh discharge, pain, abnormal bleeding, or itching.
"I would advise using only lukewarm water to wipe the vulva (the external portion of the female genitalia). When menstruating, working exercise, or having sex, for example, more than just water may be required, she adds.
According to Daoud Yilmaz, in such circumstances, it is okay to apply a mild, undyed, basic soap without any fragrance topically on an as-needed basis. However, those with sensitive skin may find this to be too harsh.
659
views
The Benefits of Green Tea and the Dangers of Excess.4
Green tea is one of the most popular varieties, and not just because people like the flavour. One of the healthiest drinks on the market, green tea is highly regarded and has recently attained superdrink status. Because brewed green tea is mostly water, it lacks the typical macronutrients included in other foods and beverages. Unsweetened tea has no calories and contains no fat, carbs, or protein. Its reputation for being healthful comes from substances called catechins. A review found that these catechins had anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and even anti-cancer properties. They are also thought to offer probiotic
advantages.
What Potential Health Advantages Could Green Tea Possess?
The advantages of green tea may include:
1 Greater Mental Acuity During lengthy, demanding cognitive tasks.
A review indicated that caffeine, especially the quantity in matcha, increased alertness, arousal, and vigour.
2 Defence Against Cardiovascular Disease Antioxidants included in green tea may help control cholesterol levels and lower high blood pressure (hypertension), hence lowering the risk of heart disease. According to a Japanese study, those who drank five or more cups of green tea daily had a 26 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease over the course of seven years than those who drank just one cup.
3 Reduce Cholesterol
According to a comprehensive review and meta-analysis, drinking green tea reduces LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels in persons of all body weights.
4 To prevent cancer
Some scientists think catechins can inhibit the free radicals that cause cancer. However, the National Cancer Institute states that there isn't enough evidence to support the claim that drinking green tea can prevent cancer.
5 Lower Diabetes Risk
Daily green tea consumption was linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and a lower risk of all causes of mortality in diabetes patients in a study including half a million Chinese individuals.
What Adverse Reactions Could Too Much Green Tea Have?
Green tea has numerous benefits that have been established to be healthy and safe, but like with any food or beverage, there can be too much of a good thing. Green tea contains caffeine, thus consuming too much of it might induce the typical side effects of caffeine overuse, including jitteriness and difficulty falling asleep.Consuming strong extracts of green tea can potentially have a negative impact on the liver. According to a study, women who consumed a high quantity of green tea extract daily—the equivalent of five cups of brewed tea—developed elevated levels of liver enzymes, which may point to damaged liver cells.
Summary
Numerous studies support the health benefits of green tea, a plant-based beverage that has been used medicinally for millennia. It is a popular beverage as well as an ingredient to add to other cuisines and wellness products due to its high concentration of antioxidants and adaptability. However, because it includes caffeine, it's crucial to utilise supplements and extracts with caution and only in the approved dosages.
24
views
5 Ways To Stay Productive If Your Depression Is Getting In The way
Some depressed individuals may experience symptoms like exhaustion and a lack of drive that make even seemingly straightforward chores seem impossible.
Here's why using techniques like getting enough sunlight during the day, asking your doctor to change the scheduling of your antidepressants, and making a list of the things you need to have in stock at home can help you stay productive and get things done.
In the entire world, depression is the main factor in disability. Depending on how severe a person's depression is, it can drastically impair their capacity to carry out even seemingly simple chores at home and at work.
According to Rebecca Brendel, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School in Boston and the immediate past president of the American Psychiatric Association, "There are a number of various reasons why it's difficult for many people with depression to get things done." "So many of them have to do with the actual physical and mental signs of depression.
Elspeth Ritchie, MD, the chair of psychiatry at MedStar Washington Hospital Centre in Washington, DC, notes that in addition to having a depressed or melancholy attitude, depression frequently comes with symptoms including trouble falling asleep, oversleeping, exhaustion, or a lack of ambition.
Having coping mechanisms if your depression is interfering with your ability to be productive is advised. You can accomplish your goals by using these five tactics.
1. Divide tasks into manageable portions.
The likelihood that you will complete difficult tasks increases when you work with a therapist to develop coping mechanisms, according to Ritchie. One such tactic is to divide a major task into several smaller ones. If you are working on a project that seems overwhelming, think about dividing it up into smaller, more doable chores that you can finish over the week.
2. Discuss changing your medication with your doctor.
Ritchie advises speaking with your doctor about whether you might try taking the medication closer to bedtime so that you're more likely to feel awake during the day when you're at work if you take your antidepressant in the morning and discover that you get drowsy throughout the day.
If it doesn't work, ask your doctor to change your antidepressant's dosage or prescribe you one that might not make you feel as exhausted.
3. Request support from family and friends
Asking for and accepting help is crucial for those who are depressed because it gives you the motivation you need to complete your chores and enjoy life while also giving you access to basic requirements support. Choose a friend or family member you can call on for assistance with chores like cooking, cleaning, or running errands.
4. Gain an advantage When Practical.
Consider getting a head start on something you know might be challenging if the prospect of starting is tough for you. Make some of the required preparations in advance so that you are prepared when a task needs to be completed.
The night before, plan out your day and prepare as much as you can. Do you need dry cleaning for your garments this weekend? As soon as you remember, put them in a bag near the door so you can collect them the next time you go outside.
5. Benefit from the Sun's Energy
There is proof that exposure to natural sunlight can be energising and mood-boosting for everyone, even those who suffer from depression, especially in the winter when there are less daylight hours. When you know you'll need it, try to take use of the sun's vitality, whether it helps you get motivated to get out first thing in the morning or if you need a boost during the day. If you live in a place with little natural sunlight, you might also consider utilising a light box, a gadget made to replicate sunlight. There is evidence that using light boxes can help persons with depression feel better.
439
views
6 Powerful Benefits Of Music Therapy
With the help of a licenced music therapist, music therapy is the scientifically supported use of music for physical or mental well-being enhancement.Music therapy techniques include singing, improvisation, making music alone or with a group, listening to music to trigger emotions, and more. There is also a tonne of research describing the possible advantages of music therapy in settings related to health and sickness. Here are six with strong supporting scientific research:
1. Could Support Treatment for Dementia
The emotional connection to music is huge, especially for those living with dementia," claims Krings. As a component of dementia care, music therapy may be used to foster relationships and meaningful peer interaction, lessen the depression and anxiety that are frequent in dementia patients, and ease some signs of disease progression.
2. Could lessen anxiety and depression
Consider the impact a single song may have on your mood. Along with other types of therapy, music therapy can be a complementing component of a mental health care strategy. In this situation, music serves as a reminder of who we are and where our ideals come from.
3. Could Reduce Stress
Consider the emotions you have while listening to your favourite music. Happy? At ease? slightly lighter? Your stress levels can significantly change when you listen to music on its own (not as part of music therapy).
4. May Enhance Functioning in Parkinson's Patients
According to the Parkinson's Foundation, Parkinson's disease is a degenerative neurological illness that affects movement and coordination. According to a systematic review, music therapy may be used as an additional treatment for Parkinson's disease. It has a number of potential advantages, including improved motor function, communication, swallowing, and breathing, as well as quality of life and mood. Group singing is a music therapy tool that may help to improve breathing, swallowing, and vocal abilities.
5. Could Aid Cancer Patients in Handling Treatment
Being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment may be quite taxing on the body and mind. Some of the load may be reduced through music therapy.
6. Could lessen suffering at the end of life
For a hospice patient who is preparing for death, music therapy can be used in a variety of ways. When a patient is grieving, music can be there to support them and act as a coping strategy, or it can be a happy, active time of music-making with the patient and their families.
16
views
Processed Pork Belly (Bacon )
Bacon is a processed meat that, despite its delicious flavour, has been related to a number of harmful illnesses.
Bacon may be your favourite food, but because it contains a lot of saturated fat and sodium, your heart may disagree.
Bacon is not what most experts would consider a healthy food because it is processed meat. In fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) classified bacon and other processed meats as class one carcinogens, joining asbestos and tobacco in the list of chemicals proven to cause cancer.
2
views
Self-care
Self-care can have a positive effect on your health and outlook, but it requires a commitment or intention to invest in your well-being.
2
views
7 Tips to Sleep Better With Menopause
Insomnia and sleep disruptions from hot flashes are common in women going through menopause. Here's what you need to get the sleep you deserve.
amzn.to/48kDg51
7
views