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Education and Resources
PTSD
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adulthood or childhood. Most survivors of trauma return to normal, given a bit of time.
People who suffer from PTSD often relive the experience through nightmares and flashbacks, have difficulty sleeping, and feel detached or estranged, and these symptoms can be severe enough and last long enough to significantly impair the person’s daily life.
PTSD is marked by clear biological changes as well as psychological symptoms. PTSD is complicated by the fact that people with PTSD often may develop additional disorders such as depression, substance abuse, problems of memory and cognition, and other problems of physical and mental health. The disorder is also associated with impairment of the person’s ability to function in social or family life, including occupational instability, marital problems and divorces, family discord, and difficulties in parenting.
PTSD can be treated. Early treatment is important and may help reduce long-term symptoms. Unfortunately, many people do not know that they have PTSD or do not seek treatment.
https://ptsdusa.org/
https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/
Mindfulness
Mindfulness encompasses two key ingredients: awareness and acceptance. Awareness is the knowledge and ability to focus attention on one’s inner processes and experiences, such as the experience of the present moment. Acceptance is the ability to observe and accept—rather than judge or avoid—those streams of thought.
What is the purpose of mindfulness?
The goal of mindfulness is to cultivate perspective on one’s consciousness and identity that can bring greater peace mentally and relationally. Mindfulness may also be used in mindfulness-based therapies, to address stress, anxiety, or pain, and simply to become more relaxed.
Mom's Mental Health Initiative
1 in 5 women experience postpartum depression, anxiety or another perinatal mental health disorder. We are here to connect to you to the right resources. Whether you need an amazing therapist, a provider who believes you, someone to prescribe medication, a local support group of moms who understand what you're going through, or education of what types of perinatal problems may occur, you are in the right place.
https://www.momsmentalhealthinitiative.org/
Mesothelioma and Grief and Loss
Grief is a natural response to loss. It’s the emotional suffering you feel when something or someone you love is taken away. Often, the pain of loss can feel overwhelming. You may experience all kinds of difficult and unexpected emotions, from shock or anger to disbelief, guilt, and profound sadness. The pain of grief can also disrupt your physical health, making it difficult to sleep, eat, or even think straight. These are normal reactions to loss—and the more significant the loss, the more intense your grief will be.
Coping with the loss of someone or something you love is one of life’s biggest challenges. You may associate grieving with the death of a loved one—which is often the cause of the most intense type of grief—but any loss can cause grief
A mesothelioma diagnosis can affect mental health. Many patients in cancer treatment struggle with depressed mood and anxiety. It’s never easy to lose someone you love. Losing a loved one to an aggressive cancer such as mesothelioma can be even more difficult, because a family member or close friend may be taken far too soon, bringing a sense of shock with feelings of grief, sadness and even depression.
About 30% of annual mesothelioma claims come from veterans. You might have a high risk of asbestos exposure if you served in military occupations from 1930 to 1980. Every branch of the military relied on asbestos. VA benefits are available to veterans with mesothelioma.
https://www.asbestos.com/support/mental-health/
https://www.asbestos.com/support/mesothelioma-grief-guide/
https://www.asbestos.com/veterans/
https://www.gorilaw.com/mesothelioma-in-seniors/
https://www.sokolovelaw.com/mesothelioma/veterans-mesothelioma/
Depression and Anxiety
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Depression
A person having a major depressive episode usually exhibits a low mood, which pervades all aspects of life, and an inability to experience pleasure in previously enjoyable activities. Depressed people may be preoccupied with—or ruminate over—thoughts and feelings of worthlessness, inappropriate guilt or regret, helplessness or hopelessness. In severe cases, depressed people may have symptoms of psychosis. These symptoms include delusions or, less commonly, hallucinations, usually unpleasant.
Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 any time of day. The Lifeline provides free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
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Anxiety
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.
Anxiety is not the same as fear, but they are often used interchangeably. Anxiety is considered a future-oriented, long-acting response broadly focused on a diffuse threat, whereas fear is an appropriate, present-oriented, and short-lived response to a clearly identifiable and specific threat.
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Symptoms: Panic, fear, and uneasiness; feelings of panic, doom, or danger, sleep problems; not being able to stay calm and still; cold, sweaty, numb, or tingling hands or feet; shortness of breath; hyperventilation; heart palpitations; dry mouth; nausea; tense muscles; dizziness; thinking about a problem over and over again and unable to stop (rumination); inability to concentrate; intensely or obsessively avoiding feared objects or places
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Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, interpret, demonstrate, control, evaluate, and use emotions to communicate with and relate to others effectively and constructively. This ability to express and control emotions is essential, but so is the ability to understand, interpret, and respond to the emotions of others.
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How Do I Know If I'm Emotionally Intelligent?
Some key signs and examples of emotional intelligence include:1
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An ability to identify and describe what people are feeling
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An awareness of personal strengths and limitations
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Self-confidence and self-acceptance
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The ability to let go of mistakes
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An ability to accept and embrace change
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A strong sense of curiosity, particularly about other people
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Feelings of empathy and concern for others
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Showing sensitivity to the feelings of other people
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Accepting responsibility for mistakes
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The ability to manage emotions in difficult situation
Effects of Sleep Deprivation
Chronic sleep deprivation causes harm to the very body that keeps you alive. Lack of sleep will culminate over time and produce life-altering diseases that might never be cured. The effects of not getting enough sleep include:
1. Immunodeficiency: Bad sleep hygiene has led to a weaker immune function that makes you vulnerable to diseases and poor reactions to vaccines.
2. Obesity: Research has demonstrated how people consume more food due to sleep insufficiency. It also means that a person remains lazy enough not to burn the excess fat received through overconsumption.
3. Diabetes: Sleep deficiency is also known to lower the body's ability to regulate and keep a check on blood sugar, which ultimately causes diseases like diabetes.
4. Hormonal abnormalities: The regulation of hormones is also affected by lack of sleep. These make people susceptible to various hormonal issues.
5. Pain: Sleep-deprived individuals stand a greater chance of suffering from pain or feeling it worse over time. It is a spiral where a person gets pain because of not sleeping and cannot sleep due to pain.
6. Mental health disorders: Insufficient sleep directly influences mental health and causes dire problems like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
7. Cardiovascular disease: This disease has also been diagnosed as a consequence of Sleep deprivation. It can cause heart attacks, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and strokes.
8. Impaired brain activity: Sleep inefficiency can also permanently affect the brain's ability to learn, memorize, concentrate, and make rational judgments. Your ability to comprehend time, space and coordination will deteriorate, making it hard to carry out everyday tasks.
Given the severity of these issues, it is no surprise that studies show that lack of sleep can also cause death. It might not be an immediate occurrence, but it would build over time. It will also bring the quality of life down, as one will no longer have the capability to act normally.
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