Self Help Sanctum

Tag: mental health

  • How to Overcome Anxiety

    Anxiety is an irrational and debilitating feeling of fear that may be triggered by specific life events or may occur without apparent reason.

    The symptoms of anxiety are wide-ranging, but may include avoidance of previously enjoyable activities (eg social events), poor concentration, rumination (mentally going over things repeatedly), restlessness and poor/disturbed sleep. Physical symptoms may include vertigo/dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, dry mouth, shortness of breath, palpitations among others.

    In short, for sufferers, anxiety is no less than a living hell. (more…)

  • Vital Tones discovers brain wave frequencies, to alter specific areas of the brain!

    A Turkish researcher has discovered a way to stimulate specific areas of the brain through brainwave entrainment!

    “It’s bold to say but I have unlocked the binaries of the brain through sound frequencies,” says Ugur Dogan, a sound frequency researcher developing his research further where he lives in Yogyakarta / Indonesia.

    This discovery opens a new era of prospect into brain wave entrainment and neurostimulation technology. (more…)

  • Loneliness – How to Overcome this Elderly Vulnerability

    by Daisy Anderson

    “I need a break from the loneliness that is totally consuming me” – Anonymous

    Aged people are especially susceptible to social isolation and loneliness, which can have serious implications on their physical as well as mental health. Hundreds of thousands of seniors are reportedly lonely and cut off from society, with over 5 million older people admitting television as their main source of company. (more…)

  • Meditation Basics

    What is Meditation?

    Life is demanding, with numerous calls on our attention at any time. For all its benefits, technology has made life even more demanding; with cell phones and the like we truly seem to be open to the world 24/7.

    In addition to the multitude of external demands the supercomputer that is our mind spends much of its time behaving like a nagging child, pulling our attention this way and that, never giving us the space to truly think.

    Meditation is about disconnecting from all the noise, external and internal, and giving yourself the time and space to simple “be”. Imagine your mind is a computer connected to the Internet, constantly sending and receiving data. Meditation is taking it offline for a while to allow time to tidy its filing system; deleting what’s not needed, identifying what’s important and moving it to the desktop, and filing everything else for later retrieval.

    On hearing the word ‘meditation’ many people picture an enlightened guru sitting motionless in the lotus position for hours on end chanting some obscure mantra. Sure, this is one (extreme) version of meditation, but there are many other forms, and the key to success is finding one that works for you. This article introduces the basics of meditation. (more…)

  • The Conflict Within

    The term schizophrenic is often (wrongly) used to describe people exhibiting multiple personalities. In fact the human psyche is complex and we all house numerous, and often conflicting, traits under the umbrella of a single individual.

    The psychologist C G Jung used the term “shadow” to represent our repressed characteristics. He describes it thus: “Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.”

    Our weaker characteristics are omnipresent and seek to express themselves. Although most times their dominant counterparts win the day, occasionally the shadow self takes control; eg a usually introverted person may go through a phase of making numerous casual friendships, and a usually cautious person may take an almighty risk. (more…)

  • Overcome Panic Attacks

    Panic attacks are real, debilitating, common [1], experienced by all kinds of people, often misunderstood – and – treatable. This article defines what a panic attack is, considers the likely causes, and outlines recommended treatments – including one highly effective natural technique.

    What is a Panic Attack?

    A panic attack is an acute episode of severe anxiety. Panic attacks are usually accompanied by a range of physical symptoms ranging from uncomfortable to crippling. These symptoms may include heart palpitations, breathlessness, sweating or feeling chilled, trembling, dizziness, and/or the feeling of detachment or even “going crazy” (among others).

    Not only are panic attacks very unpleasant when they strike, but they adversely affect sufferers’ entire quality of life, since they can occur at any time. Thus sufferers may avoid socializing, travel, driving, and in extreme cases leaving their home altogether.

    Panic disorder sufferers can easily feel isolated as friends and family find the condition difficult to understand compared to more obvious physical problems such as a broken leg. (more…)

  • Anxious Thoughts and Broken Records

    This article by Barry McDonagh likens anxious thoughts to an old record with the needle stuck, playing the same sound (thought) over and over. It goes on to present a simple 3-step technique for freeing your mind from the repetitive anxiety track. (more…)

  • Causes of Panic Attacks

    Barry McDonagh analyses the causes of panic attacks, beginning with a definition of anxiety and describing the fight/flight response. It explains the physical and mental effects and gives some practical advice for coping with or avoiding anxiety. (more…)

  • Eliminate Anxiety and Panic Attacks For Good

    This article by Barry McDonagh describes the symptoms of panic attacks and the helplessness felt by sufferers. It goes on to reassure sufferers that they are not alone and goes on to describe a technique to cure panic attacks. (more…)

  • Understanding Stress, Anxiety and Depression

    The Modern Epidemic

    Despite modern life offering unprecedented technological benefits, and medical science being able to cure or alleviate many more physical ailments than ever before, somehow “happiness” seems more elusive than ever for a growing number.

    Stress, anxiety and depression are a modern epidemic affecting literally millions. The effects of these debilitating conditions are made even worse by the stigma they carry.

    If you’re unfortunate enough to suffer a physical problem friends, family, colleagues invariably rally around with offers of help. If you’re unfortunate enough to suffer a mental problem those same people frequently keep their distance as though you’re highly contagious or somehow responsible for your suffering. (more…)