Mental Health and Work

I want to talk about how my mental health affects my ability to function at work. I only work Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Of course working three days out of the week doesn’t seem that bad, but it can be exhausting. I feel like its too much. Before going back to work, I start to have a panic attack. Leaving my safe place (my home) and going to a different environment triggers me into panic mode. My job can be overwhelming sometimes, especially during stressful situations. The thoughts of going back to work makes me sick to the stomach. Everything that is going on in my personal life, working part-time and going to school full-time it can be stressful. I get depressed and my anxiety goes through the roof. It affects my ability to focus on customers needs and be able to do my job correctly. When I’m at work I don’t talk as much. I get in deep depression, my mind is somewhere else, like in a dark place…zone out. I tend to lash out at my coworkers and customers. I don’t think its right and its not fair to them because they didn’t do anything wrong. Some times I think its best for me to stay quite. In the mist of a busy day, I have to deal with rude, demanding, unhappy customers.

So, I came up with some coping strategies that helps me to get through my work day:

I talked to my department manager to let her know about what was going on with me mentally and how it affects my ability to work. It was important for me to make sure that she has a clear understanding and be aware about my mental health. Come with a plan to help, me have a stress free working environment.
When I’m feeling overwhelmed or having a panic attack, I ask to take a 15 minute break to calm down.
I always have water with me. To keep me hydrated throughout the day.
Breathing techniques to help me relax. I listen to music or read a book during my lunch break.

What would you like to add?

May 12, 2021 0

Late Night Thoughts part 5.

My depression has been draining me mentally. Its been hard for me to function at school and at work. I find it difficult to do easy task. Like taking a shower, cooking , doing homework and cleaning. When I’m in deep depression, I want to be alone instead of being around people. I have been so emotional and try my best to fake it so people wouldn’t ask questions. I feel like a toxic mess and unwanted, but that is not true. I’m stronger than my depression. Its okay to not be okay. Its important to take care of myself and be kind to my mind.

December 29, 2020 0

Late Night Thoughts pt.4

Sometimes I feel like I’m not enough. Sometimes I feel like I’m too much. I’ve always had this feeling thay I’m too toxic for people. My anxiety and depression makes me feel and think people don’t want to be around me because I’m too emotional or I’m a burden to them. What do I do? I end up pushing them away because I start to believe what that voice is saying is true.

December 13, 2020 2

Mental Health Check-In

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. I hope everyone is doing well. I haven’t posted anything on here in months. I been busy since the semester started back in August and also working. I wanted to share with you guys about how I been with my mental health. To be honest its been its been an emotional roller coaster. My depression and anxiety has gotten worse. Trying to balance school, work and my personal life, its been difficult for me. These couple of weeks was challenging. I’ve had multiple mental breakdowns that has caused me to shutdown and want to be alone. I’m trying my best to get through this battle, but its so hard. I just need to push the pause button to figure out what I need to do to get myself together mentally.

December 10, 2020 0

My Depression Thoughts

I don’t think people understand behind my smile and laughter is a lost soul searching for happiness…searching for a way out. My depression makes me feel numb, emotionless, confused & invisible. I’m not sure how else to explain it. I wish this feeling would go away.

September 25, 2020 0

My Loud Thoughts

I don’t like to be alone with my thoughts.

My thoughts in my head are so loud. I can’t think, focus, or function because they won’t quiet down. These pass few weeks has been weird. I have become more distant, angry, irritated, and not caring about anything. My energy is low, my vibe is off and people are staring to notice. The question I get asked is “Are you okay?” I reply back with a smile on my face “Yes! I’m good.” Of course I’m not telling the truth. I’m telling people I’m good, everything is going great but my thoughts are so loud…screaming at me “You are not okay! You are a hot mess!” Haha Is that true!? Am I a hot mess? The more I start to listen to those thoughts, the more I start to believe it. UGH! I just want to escape…escape from my loud thoughts.

August 18, 2020 0

Different Types of Trauma and Coping Strategies

!POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING!

Hello everyone, welcome back to my blog. I want to talk about trauma. I know it can be a subject that people don’t like to discuss. I use to be that way but, I think talking about it is part of our healing process. I want to share some information about about different types of trauma, coping strategies and more detail about trauma.

Trauma is a deeply disturbing or threatening event. It is normal to feel distressed and overwhelmed. Response to trauma may be embodied by an acute stress reaction. Which is a short lived condition that develops following a traumatic event.

Signs of Trauma

Anxiety of fear of danger to self or loved ones, being alone, being in other frightening situation, having a similar event happen again.

Avoidance of situations or thoughts that remind you of the traumatic event.

Flashbacks where images of the traumatic event come into your mind suddenly for no apparent reason, or where you mentally re-experience the event.

Anger or irritability at what has happened, at the senselessness of it all, at what caused the event to happen, often asking “Why me?”

Acute Stress Reactions

Being agitated or over-active, anxiety symptoms, feeling disorientated and feeling depressed.

P.T.S.D

Nightmares about the trauma and disturbed sleep.

Avoiding things, thoughts and feeling that reminds you of the traumatic event.

Withdrawal from your friends and family.

Having depressed or irritable moody and getting angry easily.

Coping with symptoms of trauma

If you feel uncomfortable, scared, or anxious, take some long, slow breathes and remind yourself that you are safe, and that the trauma is over.

Make sure that you are doing things that are relaxing and enjoyable, be kind to yourself.

Make sure you are with people. Don’t go home to an empty house, ask a friend or relative to stay with you.

Their are three types of trauma, acute, chronic, or complex. Acute trauma results comes from a single incident. Chronic trauma is repeated and prolonged such as domestic violence or abuse. Complex trauma is exposure to varied and multiple traumatic events, often of an invasive interpersonal nature.

Psychological Trauma is considered a mental trauma. It is a damage to the mind that occurs as a result of a distressing event.

Initial reactions to trauma can include exhaustion, confusion, sadness, anxiety, agitation, numbness, dissociation, confusion, physical arousal, and blunted affect most responses are normal in that they affect most survivors and are socially acceptable, psychologically effective and self-limited.

After my mother died from cancer when I was 12 years old, I felt like my whole world got turned upside down. Dealing with trauma affected me mentally because I was young and didn’t understand what was going on in my life. As an adult its much harder for me now. I thought it would be best to take the steps of healing to help me mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually

August 11, 2020 0

Social Media and Mental Health

“Social media is becoming too much for me.”

!Possible Trigger Warning!

Recently, I had deleted Facebook from my phone and I spend limited time on my personal Instagram page. I know some people my think that having social media is not that bad but, for me it’s really mentally and physically exhausting. As I’m scrolling down my timeline on Facebook and Instagram. I find myself comparing my life to others. This may sound silly but sometimes I feel like the people have on social media their life is better than mine. Seeing certain post triggers my depression and anxiety. So I thought it would be best to take a break from social media and focus more on my mental health. I did some research about how can social media make a negative impact on people’s mental health.

I came across some important reasons how social media affects mental health…

Comparing yourself to others.

Certain post triggers you, causes depression and anxiety.

Exhausting.

Loneliness.

Self-harm.

Suicidal thoughts.

New research reveals how social media platforms like Facebook can affect your mental health. Studies have linked the use of social media to depression, anxiety, poorer sleep quality, lower self-esteem, inattention and hyperactivity often in teens and adolescents.

Negative Aspects:

Inadequacy about you life or appearance: Even if you know that images you’re viewing on social media are manipulated, they can still make you feel insecure about how you look or what’s going on in your own life.

Fear of missing out (FOMO): Social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram seem to exacerbate feelings that others are having more fun or living better lives that you are. The idea that you’re missing out on certain things can impact your self-esteem, trigger anxiety, and fuel even greater social media use.

Depression and anxiety: We need to face-to-face contact to be mentally healthy. Nothing reduces stress and boosts your mood faster or more effectively than eye-to eye contact with someone who cares about you. The more you prioritize social media interaction over in-person relationship, the more you’re at risk for developing or exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Self-absorption: Sharing endless selfies and all your innermost thoughts on social media can create an unhealthy self-contentedness and distance you from real-life connections.

Excessive Social Media use can create a Negative, Self-Perpetuating Cycle:

When you feel lonely, depressed, anxious, or stressed. You use social media more often-as a way to relieve boredom or feel connected to others.
Using social media more often, though increases FOMO and feelings of inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and isolation.
In turn, these feelings negatively affect your mood and worsen symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
These worsening symptoms causes you to use social media even more, and so the downward spiral continues.

Indicators that social media may be adversely affecting your mental health:

Spending more time on Social Media than with Real World Friends: Even if you’re out with friends, you still feel the need to constantly check social media, often driven by feelings that others may be having more fun than you.

Being distracted at school or work: You feel pressure to post regular content about yourself, get comments or likes on your posts, or respond quickly and enthusiastically to friends’ posts.

Its okay to have social media but, I try not to get lost in it. Meaning not spending so much of my time scrolling through Facebook or Instagram. When I feel like its affecting my mental health, I take a break or limit my time on social media. Its important to take some time to reflect and do some self-care.

Do you feel like social media is bad for mental health?

July 8, 2020 0

Major Depressive Disorder

About two years ago, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. At that time, I did not know anything about this disorder. So, I want to share some information about it and express how having Major Depressive Disorder affects my daily life.

Major Depressive Disorder also known as unipolar Major Depression is characterized by a persistent feeling of sadness outside stimuli. The causes of this disorder come from genetics. I have family members who has this disorder. We as individuals went through something traumatic in our life and this disorder affects us in different ways. Talking with them about it makes me feel less alone. One fact I found interesting was the reason for women experiencing Major Depression more than men is due fluctuating hormones and genetic predisposition particularity around the times of puberty, childbirth, and menopause.

There are different types of depression disorders. Just to name a few…

Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD

Postpartum Depression

Psychotic Depression

Melancholic Depression

Atypical Depression

Catatonic Depression

The signs and symptoms of this disorder are negative thinking with inability to see positive solutions.

Agitation

Restlessness

Inability to focus

Lashing out at a loved one

Irritability

Withdrawing from loved ones and regular activities

Increase in sleeping

Exhaustion and lethargy

Morbid, suicidal thoughts

Weight loss or gain

The treatment methods for this disorder are psychotherapy, antidepressant medications and other somatic therapies.

Having Major Depressive Disorder is challenging. Its hard for me to function at work and school. Most days I want to be left alone. I do not want to leave the house to hang out with friends and family. Its hard for me to sleep during the night because my brain will not shut off and I spend most of my time sleeping during the day. My mood is always up and down. I feel like my disorder takes control over my life. It is frustrating and overwhelming, but I always find myself pushing through this obstacle and I come out stronger.

The link is provided below for more information

https://www.psycom.net/depression.central.major.html

June 30, 2020 1

Fighting a Battle with Depression

!POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING!

Depression: A feeling of severe despondency and dejection.

My definition of depression means darkness, drowning in water, falling in a deep black hole. When I’m in deep depression I start having these dark thoughts of not wanting to be here. It causes me not to be able to think and function properly. I feel alone and trapped. Having depression makes me feel numb, emotionless, or not knowing how to feel. I get physically and mentally tired. Its emotionally draining and doesn’t make me feel happy because of all the overwhelming emotions and thoughts. Its absolutely frustrating when I’m in my happy zone and depression creeps up on me out of nowhere. It makes me feel like I’m not allowed to be happy. My mind always shifts to a dark place at night. I have nightmares, I want to be alone and this loud voice feeding me things I don’t want to hear. I don’t like when my mind is silent. I wish it would go away.

June 24, 2020 0