Mindfulness and Wellness Center

  Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs) Did you know that the human brain has an average of 70,000 thoughts per day, and most of these thoughts are Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs)? Research shows that 90% of our thoughts are repetitive. Constant negative thoughts create a neural pathway, and the paths get more potent with repetition. Have you ever wondered how bad habits become reinforced and hard to change them? Well, you have the answer now. Repetitive behaviors including negative thoughts, create more robust neural pathways with the increased number of times one repeats a particular behavior. Negative effects of ANTs 1.       ANTs deplete the feel-good neurotransmitters dopamine and Serotonin. 2.       It delays the production of a protein necessary to form new brain cells called the Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BNDF). 3.       It enlarges the part of the brain involved in processing fear c...

  Trauma refers to occurrences that are highly distressing and exceed one's ability to cope. Types of trauma Acute trauma refers to a single distressing event that threatens one's ability to cope, thereby affecting how an individual thinks, feels, or behaves, e.g., sudden loss of a loved one or a car accident. Chronic trauma refers to a prolonged distressing event lasting for a significant amount of time, for instance, persistent domestic violence, bullying, or sexual abuse. Untreated acute trauma may progress to chronic trauma. Complex trauma refers to exposure to multiple or recurrent traumatic events, for instance, sexual assault, domestic violence, and neglect. Traumatic experiences impact one's productivity at work and school and contribute to adverse health outcomes. Vicarious trauma is prevalent among professionals exposed to traumatic events, such as police officers and paramedics. Such individuals are more likely to avoid investing emotionally in othe...

  IMPACT OF COVID 19 ON MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING It is a normal response for people to experience extreme anxiety and fear amid a pandemic. However, excess fear and worry are dangerous to our mental health. The novel coronavirus has caused a massive decline in mental health and well-being, primarily in patients who test positive for the virus. According to a paper published by Lancet Psychiatry, about 20% of individuals who had no prior history of a mental illness were diagnosed with insomnia, anxiety, and depression after contracting the virus. A similar study by the Oxford research center reveals that psychiatric patients are 65% more prone to contracting the virus. Is mental illness a predisposing factor to COVID 19? This research lacks empirical support, and therefore more research needs to be done on that particular topic. The impacts on mental health are long-lasting even after recovery and are characterized by loss of the sense of smell, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ...

  Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism spectrum disorders represent a group of disorders characterized by impairment in social interaction, stereotyped repetitive behavioural patterns and communication difficulties. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that autism occurs in all people regardless of the social-economic status, ethnic background or race but it is predominantly in males than in females. Signs and symptoms of Autism Children with Autism tend to have a repetitive speech where they repeat certain words amidst a conversation and this is known as echolalia. They may repeat words said by another person or words heard from the TV. Children with high functioning Autism tend to show exceptional ability in a particular field such as calendar calculation, musical ability and math ability even though they are not able to engage in a back-forth conversation. This is known as savant skill. The uneven development of language and speech skills where they are not able to compr...

Hey guys😃 today we are going to explore on mindfulness meditation. Have you ever wondered what is mindfulness meditation? Well, worry no more because I got you . Most of us are busy and we rarely have time to slow back and practice mindfulness. Mindfulness helps us to be at peace with our inner self. It helps us to be self aware and conscious in our doings thereby cultivating feelings of love, happiness and compassion. Benefits of mindfulness; Living in the now is the key principle of the Buddhist meditation. We can neither control the future nor change our past. Being mindful helps us to appreciate the present moment thereby improving our lives. Mindfulness entails being in touch with our current surroundings and when done over a period of time,  it can help in remodeling our brain's physical structure. Mindfulness helps us to appreciate and acknowledge both positive and negative emotions while being cautious on how we react to them. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing ...

  I know you are not doing well, Suicidal thoughts linger in your mind at day time and at night they dwell, You feel unwell, Like you have been gripped by a spell,   Hikes and movie nights no longer excite you, you feel queasy when you think of how easy it is for your peers to bully you and for your parents to abuse you,   You are in a state of doom, you would rather lock yourself in a room, Thinking of the many ways to kill a rat, The only difference this time is that the rat will be spared and you will be snared.   Besides a failed attempt of suicide, Just as an infant cling to its mother’s breasts, this is the fate you decide, The weight of childhood trauma and depression keeps triggering the thought of getting that gun in your dad's drawer and pulling the trigger.   After all, hanging yourself didn't do the trick, Because your mum saw you and rescued you quick, All you want is to die painlessly, You know, close your eyes s...

 Hey guys 😄 Let's learn something about trauma. Most people fear to seek help because they fear being victimized and judged. My blogs aim to provide a safe space where we can share about our experiences. Trauma occurs when people are exposed to extremely distressing events which exceed their ability to cope. Traumatic experiences range from mild to more severe forms of rape, bullying, accidents, rejection, domestic violence, death of a loved one e.t.c Trauma is characterized by; 1. Irritability and aggressive behaviours even to non-threatening situations. 2. Avoiding places, people or things (PPT) that evoke feelings and memories related to the traumatic event. 3. Difficulty concentrating. 4. Persistent feelings of shame and guilt. 5. Trouble trusting others which leads to difficulties in forming stable and healthy relationships. 6. Negative beliefs about oneself and self-blame. 7.Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness. There is help out here don't suf...

  Mental Health Wellness Mental health issues have been an issue of concern in our current society. The COVID 19 pandemic has evoked mental health concerns and most people are experiencing anxiety and stressful symptoms. Change in sleep and eating patterns, irritability, persistent negative emotions are some of the symptoms of many mental health issues. Learning how to form healthy coping skills such as meditation and stress management skills can help in alleviating these symptoms.