Contributor – Mental Health and Addiction Literature

Effects of gambling addiction

Some people often see gambling as a harmless activity where people stake their money with the hopes of hitting big wins. However, if care is not taken, the love for gambling can develop into a compulsive or obsessive behavior known as a gambling addiction.

It is important to mention that gambling addiction comes with various unpleasant effects that can affect different aspects of someone’s life. Because of the negative effects of gambling addiction, it has become a cause for concern in some countries. Below are some of the adverse effects of gambling addiction.

Neglect in relationships

When someone is addicted to gambling, they might not have time to face other aspects of their lives. For example, if they are parents, they may not have time for their partner, and their children may also suffer from neglect because their parents are stuck on gambling addiction.

Additionally, such individuals may find it hard to nurture other relationships in their lives because of their addiction.

Children of gambling addicts might develop the disorder

If a child’s parent is addicted to gambling, there is a chance that they may become addicted in the future. This is because they have watched their parents over time engage in gambling, and they might be tempted to try it out.

When gambling disorder develops at a young age, it can be difficult for the child to refrain from it except if they seek help from an addiction treatment professional.

Financial problems

Most times, gamblers face financial issues because they might want to win big, so they may not mind borrowing money from their loved ones so that they can achieve their aim.

Some of them might also take loans from banks and other financial institutions for this purpose. If they end up not winning, it can be devastating because they have to borrow more money to pay off their pending debt.

Job loss/Poor performance at work

Gamblers might find it hard to be at their best when it comes to work-related tasks. They will be preoccupied with gambling, and they will find it hard to focus or concentrate on work.

Signs of mental health problems

Sometimes you might be bothered about your loved one’s changes in attitude, behavior, or mood. They might have been the active and energetic type.

However, you may have noticed recently that they have been struggling to be their usual self. This might be a sign that they are dealing with some mental health problems, and need urgent help.

If someone is struggling with a mental health disorder, they show some signs that will make people around them realize this.

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Here are some of these signs

Sleep disorders

If a person’s sleep patterns have been distorted, it is a sign of a mental health problem. For instance, hypersomnia- excessive sleeping, might indicate that the person is struggling with depression.

On the other hand, if the person is experiencing insomnia- little or no sleep, then they might be dealing with anxiety or an addiction problem.

Aversion to social gatherings

Someone with a mental health problem may try to avoid social gatherings by all means. They will gradually withdraw from life and refuse to participate in social activities.

If anyone tries to be present in their personal space, they might react violently or be irritated by the person’s actions. The person might be struggling with bipolar disorder, PTSD, depression, or any mental health problem.

Substance abuse

Another way to tell when a mental health problem is present is when the person constantly abuses substances like drugs and alcohol.

One of the reasons why they might abuse drugs or alcohol is because they want to deal with the negative emotions they are feeling.

For instance, if a musician is dealing with anxiety, and they have to perform a song before their fans, they might take drugs so that they can feel better.

Therefore, the dependence on these substances gives way to addiction in the long run.

Inability to focus or concentrate

Dealing with a mental health disorder makes it difficult to concentrate or focus. The individual’s mind will be everywhere at the same time, and it can affect what they are doing at that moment.

Treatment for mental health problems

Mental health problems are quite common; sometimes they occur in families. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and the likes are common mental health problems and these illnesses are likely to interfere with your feelings, thoughts and behaviors.

For some people, one of the challenging facts to accept is they have a mental health problem. And one of the ways to provide them with care and support is to suggest proficient mental health treatment.

Here are some types of treatments for mental health problems.

Counseling or Psychotherapy

Counseling is one of the most known treatments for mental health problems. There are several types of counseling like dialectical behavior therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy. Often times, it is done one-one and it can be done with people like family or a group setting.

Counseling comes with a truckload of benefits with one of the primary advantages being the ability to uncover the root cause of your mental health problem. The counselor helps the individual gain insight into their condition and how it can be resolved.

Prescription Medicine

Another popular treatment for mental health disorders is prescription medicine. The purpose of prescription medicine is to cause changes in the brain chemicals associated with thought patterns and emotions.

Medicines do not cure mental health problems but they aid to alleviate the symptoms. It is important to seek the recommendations of a doctor before taking any of these.

Support groups

With support groups too, you can gain insight into your condition. Support groups provide you with resources, friendships, support and tips to manage your condition. They also handle the isolation feelings that come with mental health disorders.

Other therapies

There are various therapies used to treat mental health problems. What works for you might not work for another because these therapies are somewhat individual-specific.

You might be asked to undergo series of physical therapies like yoga or exercise. Also, you might be asked to engage in creative therapies like music, art and writing.

Steps to improving your self-esteem

Your self-esteem is how you feel about your abilities and yourself in general.

For some people, they think highly of themselves and it makes them confident in everything they put their hands to. In comparison, there are those who don’t really see anything good in themselves.

Although even those who have a high self-esteem occasionally do not feel good about themselves, it is pretty normal. If you are looking to improve your self-esteem, here are some steps you should follow:

Treat yourself nicely

One of the reasons why people think lowly of themselves and have low self-esteem is because they don’t value and treat themselves nicely. You can start by changing any negative thoughts you have about yourself.

Treating yourself nicely starts by speaking to yourself the way you would speak to people you care about. It might be challenging at first, but practicing for a while makes you perfect.

Be yourself

You have to understand you were created uniquely, hence, there is no need trying to copy someone else’s mannerisms and behaviors. You are a special being, so act that way. Create goals and strive to meet them.

Exercise

One of the best ways to increase motivation is to get physically active. When you exercise, endorphins are released and these hormones make you feel good about yourself. Hence, create a schedule for yourself and get to it!

Don’t be hard on yourself when you make mistakes

You have to know that everyone make mistakes. Don’t try so hard to be a perfectionist, only seek to do what is right. When you make mistakes, see it as an opportunity to try another method to making it right. You can also sit back and re-strategize.

Do things that make you happy

When you spend enough time doing things that make you happy, you will discover that your self-esteem confidence level will increase. If it is reading, spend ample time on it. If it is cooking, ensure you enjoy every bit of it.

MENTAL HEALTH AND READING

We read every day, consciously or unconsciously. The unconscious part of reading is common to everyone. What we simply do is, peruse a certain content for a while, and we are done skimming.

The conscious part of reading is done by a fewer number of people. This set of people take it upon themselves to read and equip themselves with knowledge.

When it comes to mental health and addiction, they are very important to our mental welfare, our state of health and society at large.

On mental disorders, there is much information which is bordered around addiction and mental disorders.

One of the best ways to understand the entire concept of mental health is via reading, if you do not read, you might have no idea on what mental health revolves around.

These books are very valuable, and they are essential based on the fact that, they are written by individuals who are versed in the concept of mental health.

These people have invested much time in becoming specialists in various areas, and they have backed this up, by reading several books, so that they can effectively educate readers.

Books which are written on mental health are referenced to in academic settings, and they are in high demand in the mental health industry.

In addition to this, there are articles which are published on mental health, and they are a notable means of accessing fresh information on the concept of mental health.

As you would expect, only professionals in the mental health industry are those who are licensed to produce a good piece.

The only downside of this type of literature is, it is the loose variety, and they could pop-up in psychological magazines and newsletters, or they could be on blogs. At this point, it might be difficult to attest to their originality.

The internet too is not left out in the alteration of information. There are some contents which are useful, and others are useless. However, there is no leaving out the fact that, it has proved to be the most effective way of circulating information, and this is reading as a whole.

HOW READING BENEFITS YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

The reading culture in today’s world, is currently on the decline. People are not usually motivated to read, and they would rather spend their time doing something else, which is most times less productive than reading. However, there are few exceptions. When it comes to academic work, reading becomes very compulsory, as it is the major determinant to academic success. Hence, if the individual does not read, failure is feasible.

Some people are not aware of the fact that, reading has a strong influence on the mental health of an individual, and doing it on a regular basis, can boost your mental health. Just as good nutrition and exercising helps us to regulate our physical health, reading helps in granting our brain muscles enough strength.

One benefit which reading grants your mental health is; it ensures that your stress levels are reduced. Reading is a form of relaxation which a good number of people have not yet come to realize. The heart rates are reduced when you read, and the same effect which you get while listening to music, or taking tea, is also similar to what you would feel. Hence, anytime you feel stressed out, take a book and invest ample amount of time in reading it.

Also, you should know that reading helps you to be more sensitive to the feelings of others. If you are someone who does not display empathy, reading would help you see eye to eye with people, and you would be able to give reasons for them, if they mess up.

In addition to this, reading is an efficient way of stepping up your intelligence. A good number of times when we read, we come across facts which we had no idea about before. You would come to realize that, for each book you read, there is at least something to gain, and something new to learn.

Conclusively, it would also interest you to know that, reading enhances your memory, it makes your brain work better than before. This happens because, you would pay more attention, and also work with little details.

Mental Health: How Media Affects Teen Social Interaction

As technology continues to advance, we find ourselves in a world with very little face to face contact. Consequently, social skills begin to slowly diminish due to a lack thereof—as teens begin to look to a virtual reality, rather than at what’s right in front of them. Not only that, but the wide range of media platforms allows individuals the ability to engage in a multitude of ways—via things such as; chat rooms, interactive games, video chats, etc.

First and foremost is chat rooms, where teens are able to interact with a diverse amount of people—from anywhere around the world. In doing so, they can sit within the comfort of their room, and make friends (online) without even having to leave home. In addition, chat rooms are easily accessible, and oftentimes a lot less difficult for those who struggle with social anxiety. As a result, while teens begin to make friends online—through the click of a button—they oftentimes fail to make friends in real life.

Second is interactive games. For, it is through such that teens have the ability to interact via avatar. They may find themselves dressing their character to look similar to them, or choosing features that differ greatly. In fact, it is through such that teens can be anything they want—and/or whoever they chose—to be. Therefore, even though it is a fictional life of fantasy they may find themselves enthralled by it, due to the control they have—and in turn, cease to socially interact with those around them.

Third is video chat, which allow teens face to face interaction, but not directly. In turn, the person is there with them, but electronically, rather than in the flesh. As a result of such, they aren’t able to hug that individual, pick up on key social cues, or hear their laugh—unless it is through a speaker, from a distance, and/or on a screen. As a result, they aren’t getting that person in their full entirety, and vice versa.

In conclusion, media can be a good thing—and/or beneficial—by allowing teens to keep in touch with friends and family at far distances, as well as providing them with knowledge of the worldly issues which surround them. However, it can also pose as a disadvantage depending on the messages that are portrayed to teens. For, the more submerged teens are in the media which surrounds them, the greater of an impact it may have on their mental health, as they become detached from the world itself. In turn, they might find themselves feeling isolated, alone, and/or “not good enough”, etc—and as a result, they may try and project an image of themselves that is the complete opposite of how they feel.

Mental Health: How Television Affects Teen Self Esteem

In a modern day world—where technology is used on a daily basis—we find ourselves being subject to television for hours on end. But, as a result of such, we’re oftentimes desensitized by it—failing to recognize the consequences that it leaves behind on the human mind. For, the general population takes in several messages at a time, whether it be through commercial, split screen, or multiple shows and movies. And in doing so, we find that individuals may begin to develop a series of problems centering around their self esteem.

First and foremost is the negative effect—that television can have—on one’s self esteem. Self esteem is defined as “confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self respect.” In turn, as teens begin to develop such, they can find it being stripped away just as quick by the films they surround themselves with—and/or what they chose to watch. Of course, there are benefits that come through television—such as providing a number of individuals with newsworthy information, and/or knowledge, that they might not have been able to gain otherwise. However, when one begins to look at the wrong messages—rather than the right ones—it can begin to pose as more of a disadvantage than a benefit.

For example, if a certain show comes on—no matter the genre—and introduces an eating disorder, substance abuse, and other such things, this can cause teens to view themselves in a different light. It might trigger certain feelings/emotions within them depending on how they see themselves when they look in the mirror before they go to school in the morning, and can pose as an even bigger problem if they already struggle with such things. In turn, this can weigh on their self esteem, as girls compare themselves to those on TV, feeling as though a “Size 2” is what they need to be beautiful. The same can go for boys—as they see the next dose of pre-workout being advertised—causing them to feel as though they need to “bulk up” to be considered masculine. The possible scenarios listed above are only some of the various triggers that teens can experience when watching TV. Yet still, such triggers can result in teens comparing themselves to the actors on “the tube”, or their surrounding peers.

In conclusion, television can affect teen self esteem in a number of unhealthy ways if teens don’t remain careful of the material/messages they subject themselves to, and how much they take in of each. As a result of such, they must make sure to develop a good sense of media literacy, to not only gain knowledge—but the ability to discern between certain content—in order to maintain good mental health. Therefore, as teens allow themselves to interact with the world which surrounds them, rather than a virtual world all it’s own, they can begin to see their well being flourish, against the weight of negative media messages which threaten to hold them back.

Literature And The Truth On Mental Health

Mental health is not only a touchy subject for those who struggle with such, but for those who don’t. For oftentimes, individuals who have not experienced a negative impact on their mental health will wrongfully criticize another, simply due to the lack of knowledge they have in relation to the issue.

For example, if one doesn’t understand mental health they may feel uncomfortable when it is brought up, or grow silent at it being mentioned. In some cases it might even be overlooked since it is not something that can be seen to the eye, but rather something within. As a result, people might just see that particular person as having everyday problems, especially if their mental disorder is being normalized/romanticized in literature to be something that it’s not.

In turn, that is why mental health must be portrayed through literature in a way that sheds light on the issue, rather than dehumanizing the individual—and causing them to be seen as a monster. Therefore, one must be careful of the material they consume because if it fails to inform them of the underlying issues related to mental health—and fails to be objective—it may be framed in an opinion based way, doing little to inform.

However, there are several ways that one can be sure—that the content he/she is consuming—is accurately representing mental health. In fact, the easiest way to distinguish such is through the writer himself/herself. For, if much of his/her work details his/her own struggle/background with depression—and/or other mental health related issues—than it is much easier for one to discern the difference between what is true and what is not.

Examples of this can be seen in not just our modern day literature, but other eras of literature as well—such as the 1900s. For, it is in this era that we see famous poet Anne Sexton’s piece titled, “Wanting to Die,” discuss the underlying feelings/emotions in relation to her depression. The piece delivers a raw authenticity that allows you to feel the truth behind the words of someone struggling with her own mental health. In turn, this is one of many examples, as there are several in poetry—and various forms of prose—that go unknown to the world, but can do so much good for those uninformed, by highlighting such a controversial issue.

In conclusion, mental health issues are oftentimes swept under the rug, even by the individual himself/herself at times—as they are told to “get over it” or “to man up.” Yet, if we allow ourselves to be more media literate we may find ourselves not only gaining knowledge, but becoming more empathetic to those around us.

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Mental Health, Literature, & Education

While growing up—and transitioning between middle school and high school—many adolescents found themselves having studied the story of Romeo & Juliet. Some may have found it to be cheesy, wondering as to why Juliet would kill herself over a man. While others may have found the story to be heartfelt, as the couple declared their undying love for one another before doing so. Yet still, how often was Juliet’s suicide overlooked, in result of the romance factor?

In turn, this is something that is overlooked more often than not—especially in schools. For, many fail to see what’s going on beneath the surface of Juliet’s mind. However, if they were to look—and/or even be able to feel the way that she felt within that instance—then they might be a little more empathetic of her, and carry a different perspective on the matter.

Furthermore, one cannot imagine the depressive state that might have settled over her in that instant as a result of losing her beloved. For, negative emotions—such as grief—can allow a breeding ground for mental health issues more often times than not. But, if one was to really step into the mind—and/or shoes—of those who are faced with mental health issues, by informing themselves, they might find themselves viewing them a whole lot differently.

For, those who fail to understand mental health issues may not understand why those who struggle with such feel the way they feel—and/or act the way they act. They might even see that person as dramatic, or carry a “just get over it” mindset towards him/her. But, if such is addressed earlier in education—through literature—then desensitivity can be avoided, and stopped in its tracks. In relation, mental health issues aren’t just shown through older works, but contemporary works as well.

Unfortunately, contemporary works are oftentimes what draw the attention of our modern day society, instead of older pieces. However, as a result of such, we see these newer works talked about through social media platforms—as they are deemed as controversial—but nowhere else. Take the book—and show adapted—13 Reasons Why for example.

In conclusion, if both old literature—as well as new—that addressed mental health issued was introduced in education more frequently, how great of an impact it would make in informing others. This would allow them to be more socially aware, accepting, as well as sensitive to the mental health of others—and have a better understanding of what to do.