A combination of genetic and environmental factors can increase an individual’s risk for anxiety disorders. You might be at increased risk if you have or have had:

• Certain personality traits, such as shyness or behavioral inhibition — feeling uneasy around unfamiliar people, situations, or environments and avoiding them.

• Stressful or traumatic experiences during infancy or adulthood.

• A family history of anxiety or other mental disorders.

• Specific physical conditions, such as thyroid issues and heart arrhythmias (unusual heart rhythms).

Types of Anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder: This is a chronic disorder involving excessive, long-lasting anxiety and worries about nonspecific life events, objects, and situations. It is the most prevalent anxiety disorder, and victims are not always able to pinpoint the source of their anxiety.

Panic disorder: Panic disorder is characterized by brief or sudden attacks of intense fear and apprehension. These attacks can cause trembling, confusion, vertigo, nausea, and difficulty breathing. Ten minutes after the onset of a panic attack, it typically reaches its peak. Nevertheless, a panic attack can last for hours. Typically, panic disorders are triggered by frightening experiences or prolonged stress, but they can also occur spontaneously. A person experiencing a panic attack may misinterpret it as a life-threatening illness and make drastic behavioral adjustments to prevent future attacks.

Specific phobia: This is an irrational fear and avoidance of a particular object or situation.   Phobias differ from other anxiety disorders because they are rooted in a specific cause. A person with a phobia may recognize that their fear is irrational or excessive, but they are unable to control their anxiety in response to the trigger. Situations and animals, as well as commonplace objects, can trigger a phobia.

Agoraphobi: It is a fear and avoidance of places, events, or situations from which it may be difficult to escape or from which help is unavailable if one becomes trapped. This condition is frequently misunderstood as a fear of open spaces and the outdoors, but this is not the case. A person with agoraphobia may be afraid to leave the house, use elevators, or take public transportation.

Selective mutism: Some children experience selective mutism, a form of anxiety in which they are unable to speak in certain places or situations, such as school, despite having excellent verbal communication skills around familiar people. It could be an extreme case of social anxiety.

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia is characterized by a fear of being negatively evaluated by others in social situations or by public humiliation. The symptoms of social anxiety disorder include stage fright, a fear of intimacy, and anxiety regarding humiliation and rejection.

These disorders can cause individuals to avoid social situations and human contact to the point where daily life becomes extremely challenging.

If you notice any of these anxiety disorder, please visit a proper Mental Health Consultant. For more on mental Health visit hacey.org.

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post Mental Health: Types Of Anxiety Disorder appeared first on HACEY.

The following are some strategies that can help in dealing with stigma:

• Seek medical attention: It’s possible that you’re hesitant to acknowledge that you require treatment. Do not let the worry that you will be diagnosed with a mental illness prevent you from getting the assistance that you require. The diagnosis and treatment of an illness can provide relief by determining what is wrong and reducing symptoms that cause disruption in one’s professional and personal life.

• Seek professional counseling: It’s not just other people’s opinions that contribute to stigma. It’s possible that you’ve come to the erroneous conclusion that your condition is an indication of your own personal weakness or that you ought to be able to control it without any outside assistance. Seeking professional counseling, educating yourself about your condition, and making connections with others who also struggle with mental illness are all things that can assist you in overcoming destructive forms of self-judgment and gaining self-esteem.

• Don’t keep to yourself all the time: If you suffer from a mental illness, you might feel uncomfortable discussing it with other people. If your family, friends, members of the clergy, or other members of your community are aware of your mental illness, they may be able to offer you support. Reach out to the people in your life whom you have faith in to receive the compassion, support, and understanding that you require.

• Refrain from equating who you are with your illness: You are not an illness. Therefore, it is preferable to say “I have bipolar disorder” rather than “I am bipolar.” Say “I have schizophrenia” to yourself rather than referring to yourself as “a schizophrenic.”

• Enroll in a peer-counseling program: Some local and national organizations, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), provide local programs and internet resources that help reduce stigma by educating people who have mental illness, their families, and the general public. Support is available for people struggling with mental illness through a variety of state and federal agencies and programs, including those that concentrate on vocational rehabilitation and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

• Speak out against stigma: Think about voicing your thoughts publicly by attending events, writing letters to the editor, or posting on the internet. It has the potential to educate the general public about mental illness and to instill courage in those who are coping with similar challenges. The judgments of others are almost never found on information that is based on facts, but rather on a fundamental lack of understanding. It can make a significant difference if you seek support, learn to accept your condition and identify what steps you need to take to treat it, and share your knowledge with others.

Hacey’s mental health project has been of great assistance to many, for more information, please visit hacey.org

This review was featured on Twinkl’s blog about Different ways to help keep your mental health in check.  

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post Dealing With Stigma Associated With Mental Illness appeared first on HACEY.

When you are planning to have a baby, it can be a thrilling and challenging time in your life. If you are experiencing emotional changes at this time, don’t be surprised. With pregnancy comes the normal feeling of apprehension and dread about what’s ahead. This is a stressful time for a lot of people, especially when they realize that they are facing significant changes that they cannot fully prepare for or control.

Stress can also be associated with the pregnancy itself. Apart from having to deal with hormonal and physical changes, you may also be anxious about things like antenatal tests, especially if you’ve had a bad experience in the past, such as a miscarriage.

During pregnancy (during the ‘antenatal’ period) and after birth (during the ‘postnatal’ period), both women and men can experience mental health problems.

Certain conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, can be brought on by pregnancy for some people (less common). Pregnancy depression affects up to one to ten women and one in every twenty men. In addition, many women experience anxiety and depression at the same time during their prenatal period.

Certain factors can increase your chances of developing anxiety and depression while pregnant. Here are some of them: past or current problems with your mental health, feeling you don’t have enough support, going through a difficult time, such as a difficult time in your relationship, past or current abuse of any kind, and drug and/or alcohol problems.

For all expectant mothers and their partners, it is a good idea to keep track of their mental health and well-being throughout their pregnancy. Look for signs that you might require assistance and prepare to act if the situation calls for it.

If you’ve been feeling consistently bad (e.g. sad or worried) for more than two weeks, if you’re having negative thoughts and feelings that are starting to interfere with your ability to function normally, or if you’re showing signs of depression such as losing interest or feeling hopeless or unable to cope, then it’s time to seek advice from a healthcare professional. In addition, you may experience overwhelming anxiety or worry most of the time, which may result in panic attacks or the development of obsessive or compulsive behavior.

For more information on our maternal and mental health, check www.hacey.org.

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post Understanding Mental Health And Complications During Pregnancy appeared first on HACEY.

A young child may show signs of anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, conduct disorders (such as oppositional defiance), depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and neurodevelopmental abnormalities, such as autism. Young infants respond to and digest emotional experiences and traumatic events in radically different ways than adults. Hence, diagnosing a disease in young children can prove more challenging than diagnosing a disease in adults.

Even though our genes carry instructions that direct our bodies on how to function, the chemical “signature” of our surroundings has the ability to permit or impede the execution of those instructions. The interplay of genetic predispositions and prolonged, stress-inducing experiences early in life might result in an unstable foundation for mental health that can last far into adulthood.

It is possible that toxic stress will alter brain architecture and increase the risk that serious mental health disorders will develop. However, whether they do so immediately or over time, the long-term consequences of toxic stress on brain development and other organ systems can have a negative impact on school readiness, academic success, and both physical and mental health throughout a person’s life. Situations that are related to familial stress, such as prolonged poverty, may increase the likelihood of developing major mental health disorders. Young children who are subjected to recurring or chronic abuse or neglect, marital violence, or parental mental health or drug addiction issues are more prone to abuse and neglect.

 Some children demonstrate remarkable abilities to overcome the severe challenges of early, persistent maltreatment, trauma, and emotional harm; however, there are limits to the ability of young children to recover psychologically from adversity, particularly when they are abused or neglected as children.

 It is not uncommon for children who have been removed from traumatizing situations and placed in exceptionally nurturing homes to still face struggles with self-regulation, emotional adaptability, a sense of self, and self-understanding. When children have been able to overcome these difficulties, they have almost always been the benefactors of extraordinary efforts on the part of caring adults.

 It is critical to treat young children’s mental health problems in the context of their families, homes, and communities, rather than treating them in isolation. The emotional well-being of young children is intimately linked to the functioning of their caregivers and the households in which they reside. The development of early mental health issues is significantly increased when these interactions are abusive, threatening, or persistently negligent, or when they are otherwise psychologically detrimental.

HACEY Health Initiative is solely dedicated to helping children maintain a healthy mental state so they can become productive, contributing members of society.

 For more information about our mental health and productivity project, please visit www.hacey.org

Written By:

Michael Adegboye

The post Creating A System That Supports Children’s Mental Health appeared first on HACEY.

Every day, I try to find how to stay alive.

Every day, I try to find how to stay awake.

Silence to me is home, the graveyard yearning for my welcome, to all the Ben’s out there, this is me!!

In a society where acceptance determines your importance, you wouldn’t blame me for finding this topic relevant at this time. Being accepted and understood by society differs based on one’s background, upbringing, and societal exposure. This camouflage from society has led to fear of being left out by friends, colleagues, and even family members.

Looking for a way out, I decided to act like everyone else. I wanted to taste human emotions and not be repeatedly called an alien because I was so introverted to myself. Oh! by the way, I heard my symptoms got a name tag called “Social Anxiety”. But I guess society masked herself so well, leaving her members confused about what is truly acceptable.

I ask then, what should be the norm? What should be acceptable? How do I shake my realization and feelings from the grip of societal pressure? My inability to answer these questions made me a victim of societal debate.

I try to speak, but my words are self-sufficient, each fighting to come out first. Then I open my mouth to release them, and I fumble with those same words.

The inability to accept me and the reason for my plan to escape has been on repeat. And I unconsciously do them because of my name tag. Without a confidant, acceptance, with misconception and stigmatization, my state of mind deteriorated resulting in mental paralysis.

I read that the WHO and United Nations defined mental health as the condition of a person with regards to their cognitive, behavioural, psychological, and emotional well-being. 

Dear reader, you see, I am an item of the auction, as the intellectuals have given a theory to explain my actions or ‘deficiencies’. And now I am a victim of societal debate from a society that won’t accept me! I guess I am more than this definition.

The Oxford dictionary defined society as people, in general, living together in communities sharing the same customs and laws.

I stay awake in my thoughts.

Drown in my mood.

Release my rage on loved ones.

Inside, I am numb.

My name tag “Social Anxiety” became my shield any time I had a reason to do something or take an action out of my comfort zone, I hide under the umbrella of my name tag. This is the effect of society on me, my state of mind; this is who I am. 

Therefore, I think I am sufficient enough in my inadequacy to define mental paralysis in the context of society. I say it is a state where the mind is oblivious of societal norms and tends to create its norm outside of the acceptable societal system. This oblivious state of mind is a subtle graduating process from denial to depression, anxiety, failure, and insecurity.

Mental paralysis is not something spontaneous but gradual, it starts from a feeling, an emptiness, an inward numbness, then the individual unconsciously grows all these feelings or emotions and eventually breakdown because she/he could not contain the feelings and this leads to an inward explosion resulting in mental paralysis.

Through these stages, I dropped along the way crumbs only visible to the very sensitive, whether, friends or family members, yet, the inability of people around to get the attention or identify these crumbs/signs pushes me into a deeper state of mental paralysis. These crumbs could be, not having feelings for anything, vivid negative imagination resulting in self-harm, going to places and doing things that make me feel alive or in control of things.

Should I then blame society for people struggling like me? But I feel we all have a role to play in the issue of mental health, casting blame might not solve this issue but trying to understand the direct and indirect causes, how issues like this can be treated to prevent future occurrence and decrease suicidal rate is of utmost importance in the society. Starting with this should be a massive mental awareness campaign to enlighten people and discourage stigmatization and name-calling because, if this persists, those going through this process like me will tend to keep to themselves thereby struggling alone with no help.

My name is Ben Andrews I was awake!!!

Follow HACEY for more information on mental health awareness here and here!

The post Mental Paralysis: A Debate in the Context of Society appeared first on HACEY.

World Health Organization states that mental health is an essential component of health, as it is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. This definition implies that mental health is critical to a person’s ability to think, operate and interact with his environment, earn a living and enjoy life.

Nevertheless, there are many different mental disorders with different presentations. They are generally characterized by abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotions, behaviour, and relationships with others. Symptoms of mental disorders include depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychoses, dementia, and developmental disorders, including autism.

Many people exhibit characters that create mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when diagnosed and confirmed by an expert. Ongoing signs and symptoms affect one’s ability to function properly. However, if certain signs appear in a short space of time, they may offer clues.

There are effective strategies for preventing mental disorders as people who receive support from healthcare services, social support and care can help battle the mild stage before it becomes fully blown. Family involvement in the care of people with mental disorders is significant. Talking can help put a problem in perspective, making one feel supported and less isolated. Regular exercise can also help to concentrate, sleep better and boost self-confidence.

Additionally, structure to daily routines helps prevent unnecessary stress, with regular times for eating, playing, learning, being with loved ones, and sleeping. The community at large has a role to play in respecting the rights and needs of people with disabilities.

The World Health Organization recognizes World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year’s theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is “Mental Health in an Unequal World”. The goal is to help raise mental health awareness, so everyone can contribute to ensuring that people living with mental illness can live better lives with dignity.

The HACEY Mental Health and Productivity program aims to improve access to quality mental health services and information in schools, workplaces and communities across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria. It is a direct response to young people’s mental health needs, including those in the workplace environment, academic institutions, and communities. Information and support services provided through this program will focus on increasing awareness of mental health and mental health services, addressing myths that perpetuate discrimination and stigma against people with mental health conditions and the effects of cyberbullying.

Wriiten by Tomiyin Ayibiowu.

The post World Mental Health Day 2021: Coping with Mental Disorders appeared first on HACEY.

This is because the pain is real, at least the brain thinks it is. According to FMRI, studies of heartbroken people have revealed that heartbreak activates similar mechanisms in the brain to those activated when we experience physical pain. In some studies, the emotional pain people experienced was rated as equivalent to “nearly unbearable” physical pain. Amongst these, other effects of heartbreak include; increased stress, reduction or increase in weight, feeling of hopelessness, self-deprecation, depression and even suicidal thoughts. Heartbreaks can be a lot to handle because love is a drug.

Being in love helps the brain release feel-good chemicals such as oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine – these chemicals cause feelings of happiness and pleasure. But, unfortunately, these chemicals are how our bodies reward us for connecting with others, and these chemicals can be addictive. Just imagine how it feels to pull the plug on it or, instead, take away drugs from a junkie; there will be withdrawal symptoms; the same goes for heartbreaks.

Here are five helpful ways you can manage your mental health during a heartbreak.

1.  Acknowledge the breakup. Denial might be easier, but acknowledging the breakup event will mentally prepare you for the hurt to come.
2. Allow yourself to feel; you will have a rollercoaster of emotions; don’t clog those pipes. It will burst the pipes, so just the feelings flow.
3. Cut communications with the ex; you might want closure; however, their decision to leave tells you they have made a decision. Please take solace in that and move on.
4. Watch the negative thoughts- self-blame and deprecation would occur- this is just a friendly reminder that you are worthy of love and being loved right.
5. Love yourself; this might be difficult to do, but it is only in loving yourself and working on yourself that you can heal from this hurt.

Healing takes time, so don’t rush things- take it one step at a time and remember you are not alone. Reach out.

Mental Health Referral Centre

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