Frequently Asked Questions About Healthy Food To Eat And Right Diet For Depression – Vista Care

Looking at the proper ways of dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression, I somehow like the idea of self-care. There is not much hassle to go around because the focus relies on keeping the overall well-being healthy. There is no medication, therapy, or surgery needed in the process. As long I understand the importance of my physical, emotional, and mental health, the possibility of getting and staying healthy is endless.

And speaking about healthy ways, one of my favorites, aside from getting enough sleep and exercise, is eating healthy food. For me, having a well-balanced diet is already a great way to stay fit and healthy. Yes, the process takes a long way, and most of the time, you will get distracted from all the savory yet unhealthy food around you.

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Understanding The Relationship Between Depression And Nutrition

When it comes to choosing the right food, understanding nutrition is a must. I always make sure to check out the nutritional facts of the food I’m about to buy. I know for a fact that with the right food, I can manage my stress, anxiety, and depression better.

    1. Select The Right Plan

One of the things I do to make sure I’m getting the proper nutrition is to have a Nutritious Depression Meal. It’s a meal plan designed to help people with this and other mental illnesses. It consists of a variety of nutritious foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals that can help improve your overall mental health and well-being.

It includes foods like fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and lean proteins. These foods are nutrient-dense and are known to help provide the body with the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to stay healthy. Eating these foods regularly can help improve your mood, reduce anxiety, and boost your overall energy.

    1. Follow The Schedule

I also make sure to follow a regular meal schedule. Eating at the same time every day helps regulate your blood sugar levels and can reduce the risk of symptoms associated with disorders. Eating breakfast is especially important as it helps to start your day off in a healthy and energized way.

When it comes to the actual meal, I like to make sure I include a variety of foods. I usually prepare a big salad with various greens, avocados, nuts, and seeds. I also add lean proteins like chicken or fish, as well as whole grains like quinoa or brown rice. Additionally, I include some fruit to ensure I receive sufficient vitamins and minerals, supporting proper nutrition and a balanced diet.

    1. Complement It With Exercise

In addition to consuming nutritious foods, I also make sure to get enough physical activity. Exercise has been proven to reduce the risk of depression and alleviate depressive symptoms. Regular physical activity can help improve overall physical energy and mental health. I usually go for a walk or engage in a light jog every day and strive to stay active throughout the day.

Eating a diet rich in nutritious foods and staying active are two of the best ways to manage symptoms of depression, stress, and anxiety. Not only have I experienced an improvement in my overall energy levels, but I also feel like my mental health has significantly improved. I am more energized, motivated, and positive about life. Additionally, I am careful to avoid processed foods, which can have a negative impact on mental well-being.

Wrapping Up

Overall, I’m so glad that I decided to take the initiative to take care of my mental health. Eating proper meals and staying active have been some of the best decisions I’ve made for myself. I’m thankful for all the great resources available to help people with depressive disorders and other mental health conditions, such as major depressive disorder.

If you’re struggling with major depressive disorder, anxiety, or stress, I strongly recommend looking into nutritious Depression Meals and making sure you get enough physical activity. Taking care of your mental health will not only improve your overall quality of life but also help you stay healthy and happy for years to come.

What Foods Are Good For Mental Health?

Boosting your mental health has a lot to do with the focus on eating many fruits and vegetables. These include dark green leafy vegetables as they have a positive effect in protecting the brain. Also, seeds, nuts, and legumes, such as lentils and beans (canned beans are acceptable), are excellent brain foods. Along with foods should contain vitamins and minerals and omega-3 fatty acids that can be found in Algal Oil, salmon, and Brussels sprouts.

Is There Any Connection Between Them?

Unfortunately, healthcare providers and registered dietitian experts found a link between depression and diet. Several studies show that people who constantly eat a poor-quality diet tend to experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. That is specifically with processed meat, refined cereals, sweet foods, chocolates, fried food, and high-fat cheese dairy products.

Thus, think about it. The more you consume your favorite unhealthy foods, the more you endanger your health, not just the physical one, but as well as your emotional and mental state. I am not saying that you should instantly cut those eating habits out. Instead, gradually change your diet and incorporate healthy meals until you finally realize that you do not need those unhealthy foods anymore.

What Food Is A Natural Antidepressant?

The foods that naturally boost your mental health and serve as antidepressants are salmon, nuts, seeds, soy products, milk, spinach, poultry, and eggs. But be mindful. Though all of these foods are recommended by experts, it is essential to consult a health specialist nutritionist before making any dietary changes.

Always remember that even healthy foods can still cause health complications, especially when taken too much. So before I ruin your positive hope concerning these antidepressant foods, visit your doctor or nutritionist first.

Do Bananas Help?

Eating a banana helps in reducing the level of stress and depression among most people. It is because bananas contain a type of protein called tryptophan, which the body turns into mood-lifting serotonin.

But remember not to eat a banana for dinner or even after dinner as it may cause indigestion and mucus formation. It would be best to take it in the morning to give your mind and body a natural boost so you can go around and finish your errands in the morning.

 What Fruit Is Recommended?

The fruit that is helpful in combatting mental health issues is narrowed down to the best ten raw vegetables and fruits. These include dark leafy green vegetables, particularly spinach, kale, cabbage, beet greens, and lettuce. Also, foods like cucumber, carrots, grapefruit, apples, bananas, other citrus fruits, fresh berries, and kiwifruit help aid depression.

Woman drinking milk for calcium while staring outside, relaxed
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 Does Drinking Milk Help?

Yes. Research suggests that foods high in calcium, like low-fat dairy products, may benefit mental health as they can lower cortisol levels. It has been known that calcium reduces levels of cortisol, a stress hormone associated with anxiety. Thus, individuals with higher intakes of milk and milk products appear to have significantly higher memory and other brain function improvement than those who drink milk less.

Does Consuming B12 Help?

There is substantial evidence that proves a reduction in the vitamin B-12 serum exchanges with an increase in mental health problems, particularly depression. Thus, a higher vitamin B-12 status can well associate with better depression treatment outcomes because Vitamin B12 is needed to produce the brain chemical responsible for regulating mood called serotonin. That explains why most experts recommend and suggest people with depression take at least 1 milligram of B-12 supplement daily.

What Is The Best Natural Antidepressant?

The best natural antidepressant includes Omega-3 fatty acids, Saffron, Folate, Zinc, SAM-e, and St. John’s wort. But be careful in taking these without your doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert first.

Are Eggs Beneficial?

Eggs are excellent sources of good-quality protein. It helps with managing hunger levels. It also contains a specific nutrient called choline that’s needed to produce acetylcholine. It is a neurotransmitter that affects the portions of the brain chemistry accountable for mood regulation and stress reduction. Experts also suggest that eating whole eggs is necessary as it is an excellent food for alleviating and preventing the conditions of major depression.

For additional information, you should eat at least three eggs daily and not more than that. That way, you can get the health benefits of eggs without negatively affecting your blood chemistry.

What Food Reduces Anxiety?

Peer-reviewed studies showed that certain food helps reduce anxiety. A diet full of whole fiber-rich grains, vegetables, fruits, and fish is the one you should consider. Some of these are eggs, pumpkin seeds, turmeric, Brazil nuts, yogurt, chamomile, and fatty fish.

What Can Replace Antidepressants?

Antidepressants are known to help with the reduction and prevention of severe mental health problems. However, several treatments can be an alternative to these antidepressants. These include lithium, exercise, healthy food, electric shock treatment options, self-help support groups, talk therapies, or cognitive behavioral therapy.

 Are Almonds Good For Depression?

Yes, of course. Nuts are an excellent source of Vitamin E that functions as an antioxidant in the body. You can have them raw or unsalted, depending on your preferences. Some studies show that a Mediterranean diet incorporating 30 grams of mixed nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts daily, significantly experienced reduced mental health problems, particularly depression.

Woman drinking caffeine to boost her depressed mood, since it has many benefits
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 Is Coffee Okay To Consume?

Research shows that consuming enough amount of caffeine can contribute to mental health benefits over time. It has been associated with decreased fatigue, improved memory, and mental functioning. It also helps speed up reaction times as it adds alertness. However, it is vital to realize that caffeine can cause sleep problems that affect mood, especially when consumed too much. Thus it is important to drink it moderately. Roughly about four cups of coffee in a day appears to be safe for most healthy individuals.

 How Can I Kill Anxiety Naturally?

There are better ways to kill anxiety naturally. You just have to stay active. Spend at least 30 minutes of your time exercising daily. There is no need to engage in an extreme workout, though. A couple of minutes walk can do just fine. You can also consider doing some chores in the house to keep your body moving. Then it would help if you had a healthy lifestyle. Quit smoking and drinking alcohol as these are only causing damage to your overall system. Instead, focus on eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and hydrating your body. It will also help if you practice deep breathing and mindfulness meditation.

What Drinks Are Good To Consume?

A better substitute for your favorite bottle of energy drinks and a cup of coffee is green tea. More frequent green tea consumption provides an additional antioxidant boost due to its content of Theanine, an amino acid tryptophan. Both of these offer an anti-stress benefit that can help people with mental health issues, particularly depression.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Encoding Thoughts

I am proud to say that no one died of cancer or diabetes in my family. Starting from my great-great-great-grandparents, they had taught everyone the value of eating healthily, no matter how tempting McDonald’s burgers could be. There were no strict diets whatsoever, but they emphasized that whatever we put in our body would reflect our lifespan in the future. They even encouraged us to exercise as soon as we could follow simple instructions and play as many sports as possible. 

If there was one sad aspect of my heritage, it was the fact that many of my ancestors showed signs of Alzheimer’s disease once they hit 60 years old.

Alzheimer’s In The Family

According to my mother, I was still a baby when Grandma – her mother – got diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It all began with Grandma losing small things in obvious places. For instance, she would ask people if they saw her eyeglasses, even though they hung on her collar. Sometimes, she would forget where the spare house key was, although Grandma had been hiding that key under a lawn rock before Mom was even born.

Despite all those, I was not too affected by Grandma’s Alzheimer’s. Did I wish that she was as energetic as the other grandmothers who did tai chi at the park? Yes, sure. However, I had never known her to remember everything, so it was not too big of a deal to me.

Nonetheless, the most deeply upset me was the Alzheimer’s diagnosis of Aunt Tilly, my mother’s eldest sister. 

Remembering Aunt Tilly

Aunt Tilly lived a couple of houses away from ours for as long as I could remember. Since I was an only child, I practically spent plenty of time at her place so that I could play with her kids. 

Aunt Tilly was known as a conventional mother in the suburbs. Every day, she would not leave her bedroom without lipstick or some matching jewelry on. She was always baking and cooking, too, ready to host guests, no matter how unexpected they were. I also loved the fact that Aunt Tilly treated me like her daughter, to the extent that I would get all kinds of toys and clothes that her real kids would have.

My closeness with Aunt Tilly and her family continued even when I was growing up. She cried almost as much as my mother when I left the suburbs after high school. I had to do that because the community college did not have the finance program I wanted to get into. Still, we communicated over the phone as often as possible.

Then, one day, Kara – my aunt’s eldest daughter – texted me that she was taking Aunt Tilly to the doctor. I called her at once, and that’s when I found out that the family worried that she might have Alzheimer’s disease.

“Are we sure about that?” I asked.

“We both know how Grandma reacted when she was still alive. Mom had milder symptoms than her, but I want to consult a doctor anyway to keep the disease from progressing too fast,” Kara replied.

“But Aunt Tilly just turned 50…” 

Kara sighed on the other line. “I know. It’s a stressful day. Even I do not want to think of its possibility, but prevention or early detection is better than cure,” she said. 

As it turned out, Aunt Tilly actually showed signs of Alzheimer’s disease. Kara and the rest of the family had to monitor her condition, although they were supposed to do that discreetly. 

What about me, you might ask? I started learning about memories and how they could be encoded in the brain.

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What is encoding memory in psychology? 

In psychology, when you are encoding memory, you store information in your memory databank in any way possible. This way, it is easy to retrieve the said information anytime you need it.

How is memory encoded in the brain? 

The first thing that happens is perception. You need to focus on what you want to store in your memory system, organize your thoughts around it, and understand what sensory organ you have used to perceive the information. After all, the senses will transmit the signals to the brain so that you’ll find it effortless to connect what you’re seeing, feeling, tasting, or hearing to your emotions and turn it into an experience. That’s only when your hippocampus determines how long you should remember it.

Is memory psychological? 

Memory is technically not a psychological process – the brain naturally can encode, store, and retrieve information. However, since cognitive psychologists have shown great interest in memory, it has been a part of psychology for decades. Specialists study things like how fast a person can remember something, what senses work when it happens, how long they can hold on to it, etc.

What are the three processes of memory retrieval? 

Let’s say that someone is playing a card-matching game. The host has opened every card in front of the player before turning everything face down. Now, there are three processes that the person can try to retrieve information.

  • Free Recall: It pertains to remembering things without any order. Given the example above, the individual may start opening the cards randomly and use the most recent data to win the game.
  • Serial Recall: It refers to memory retrieval in a chronological sense. The player in the scenario may open the cards one by one, starting from the top left to the right or any direction they want to go. Then, they will remember the first matches that they see.
  • Cued Recall: It involves a person giving cues to another that will allow them to relate the said cues to the information they have forgotten. For instance, the host may mention the object or number in one of the cards, and the player will recall where they have seen it.
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What are the 4 types of memory? 

  • Sensory: It refers to a memory that you only recall within three seconds or less after experiencing a sensation. Say, if you touch a hot cauldron and pull your finger back, you tend to remember how hot it is in that short amount of time.
  • Short-Term: It entails that you can recall a memory from less than a minute to a few days, depending on how often someone reminds them of it.
  • Working: It is technically similar to short-term memory, although working memory is only applicable to information that you remember when you need it.
  • Long-Term: This type of memory is something you keep in your mind for decades.

How do I improve my memory? 

The first thing you can do is stimulate your brain. Any activity that will challenge you to think hard and learn new information will suffice. Of course, it should also allow you to get a sense of accomplishment in the end so that you will want to keep on improving your memory.

You need to exercise physically to boost your memory, too. The increase in your brain’s oxygen level and the decrease in stress levels are essential to reminding you of things longer and better than others.

Getting as much sleep as possible is also an essential memory-sharpening activity. Sleep deprivation makes it practically impossible for people to recall a long-term memory over time. It may affect their cognitive function or work performance.

Furthermore, your memory may improve when you make friends and laugh all the time. Both activities will be good for your happy hormones and prevent the brain from producing too many stress hormones.

How can I recall my memory? 

One of the most significant issues with memory retrieval is lack of focus. From the moment you perceive something, you need to pour your attention into it. It will be effortless for you to recall your experience in the future, considering you have the full picture in your head instead of glimpses of the memory.

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If you also want to remember a lesson, theory, or application for a long time, you must learn about it way before you need to start using the information. This is why teachers discourage students from only studying a day or two before the exam. When you cram, your brain has no time to digest the data and transfer it to your long-term memory – or at least the working memory.

Another thing you can do is use mnemonic devices for memory recollection. Meaning, you associate an idea or event to your mood or environment or other information that you already know. You may even let your imagination run wild and turn the situation into a song, haiku, etc.

Again, try to sleep on it. You may be unable to recall a memory if your brain is filled with stressful thoughts, after all. Sleeping can stabilize everything; when you wake up, the idea may just come to you quickly.

Why do we forget? 

The reason we forget is connected to how we have encoded and stored information in our memory databank. As mentioned above, the typical process involves perceiving, understanding, and using your senses to form an experience. Then, signals get transmitted to various parts of the brain so that it becomes a memory. Things also go through different types of memory before it turns into a long-term one. If you skip any of those steps, you may end up forgetting a lot.

How can I increase my brain to 100? 

The quickest way to increase your brainpower up to 100 is to try a new activity. The truth is, your memory does not bode well when you stop challenging yourself to learn something new. Following a routine may seem reasonable at first, too, but the lack of change may keep your mind stale. To avoid that, you may pick up a new hobby, see a scenario in a different light, or use another transportation mode.

You may also tap into your inner child and let curiosity get the better of you sometimes. Kids can absorb information faster than any adult because they do not have preconceived notions about things. If you can forgo the things you know about something and listen to how others handle them, it will make you think and want to try their ways. Your brain inevitably works then, and the gears will start running optimally.

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How can I exercise my brain? 

You can exercise your brain by willing yourself to memorize every unique word, location, or date you encounter. You may write them down for future reference, but it will be ideal to commit the information to your memory bank.

Reading is another way to exercise your brain. When you read, you have no choice but to analyze the texts; if it’s fiction, your emotions may add to it for a full experience. Then, you can remember things effortlessly.

Why do I have a hard time remembering things? 

When you find it challenging to remember things, it is not always because you have Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other neurological diseases. That is especially true if you are decades away from being a senior citizen who typically deals with such illnesses. A probable reason is that you are overly stressed, dehydrated, or infected with another condition. Your memory can also be affected if you are heavily medicated, anxious, depressed, eating poorly, or addicted to substances.

Are Forgotten memories still in your brain? 

There is an ongoing debate surrounding the answer to this question. Some experts claim that the brain has been programmed to forget things that you don’t always think about to make room for new information. You may see it as Google Drive’s automatic shredding of files that you have already put in the trash after some time.

Meanwhile, others say that the forgotten memories remain in your brain, although it’s almost impossible for you to retrieve them. You can think of the mind in this sense like the internet – you may remove the data from your account, but it is not lost forever.

What are some memory techniques? 

The most famous way to boost your memory is perhaps the Loci technique. It has been around for more than 2,500 years – the only thing you need to do is think of a word and associate it with a place or image. For instance, if someone mentions’ house,’ your residence may appear in your mind, complete with the address. Similarly, if you talk about chemical bonding, you may think of the atoms as lovers in a drama who can’t make up their minds. The things you associate an idea with do not need to make sense to others, especially if you only want to recall them somehow.

It is also ideal to group things based on the categories you have decided on. For example, when you are moving out of the house and remember where things go, you may recall what items are in every room. Think of what they look like as well so that it’ll be easy to memorize their locations.

Repeating the thought in your head works, too. Sometimes, no matter how many other techniques you try, you cannot remember anything if you don’t think about it all the time.

What is vitamin best for the brain? 

Omega-3 may be the best vitamin for the brain. It usually comes from fish and is advertised to be good for the heart, but it is also ideal for your mind.

Final Thoughts

Aunt Tilly’s diagnosis served as a wake-up call for the entire family. It made us all see that our memories – like our lives – were on borrowed time. Given the history of Alzheimer’s disease in our heritage, any of us could end up with the same condition five, 15, or 30 years from now. Once that happens, we can do nothing but accept it and pray that the symptoms will not aggravate too fast.

Nevertheless, accepting Alzheimer’s disease does not entail that you should wait to get diagnosed with it. I personally believe in willpower – if you push yourself to make magic happen, it will happen. When you couple that with discipline, your brain cells may not die too quickly. Hence, you must work hard to sharpen your memory and encode thoughts properly.

Mental Health And Old Age

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I spent my elementary years under the care of my grandparents most of the time because my parents – who were both in the Army – got deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan almost simultaneously. I remembered clinging on to my mother’s leg at the airport, feeling so sad about their departure. But Mom said, “Your father and I are doing this to make sure that you have a safe future, baby. Besides, we will FaceTime every day, so you won’t miss us so muchGrandpa and Grandma will also be there to play with you all the time.”

In the first couple of days after my parents’ deployment, my grandparents allowed me to mope around. They did not force me to talk or eat with them; they even brought food in my room and let me process my emotions independently. I believe it played a pivotal role in my ability to cope whenever my parents’ vacation leave ended, and they had to return to their stations overseas. 

On the third day, though, Grandpa went to my room. He said, “Come one, sugar bear, let’s go to the park. My friend Carl is already with his granddaughters, and they are waiting to play with you.”

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I wanted to say no, but I had always liked Grandpa’s friend. He was funny and jolly and full of stories about the olden age days, just like my real grandfather. Besides, I felt excited to see his granddaughters, Brittany and Ellie, with whom I often played for as long as I could recall. With the three of them in sight, there would be no dull moment.

Our playdates became a weekly thing for years. Sometimes, we would stay all day long at the park, running and jumping around like monkeys. Other times, we would visit each other’s houses and have slumber parties. But what I honestly looked forward to every month was the Jerry and Karl show that our grandpas prepared just for us.

Grandparents In Action At Old Age

Jerry and Karl show was a concept that the two grandfathers made up to entertain their grandchildren. It was always a hit because they could sing, dance, act, and even play musical instruments. 

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I knew even at a young age how challenging it must be because they never repeated the same performance twice. When I voiced out my concern to Grandpa, he said, “It’s okay, sugar bear. Karl and I are natural performers; we used to be in a band in our mid-20s, so this is how we relive the good, old days.” At that moment, I was in awe of my grandfather.

I used to think that most older people past the the age of 60 wanted to do nothing more than sitting in a rocking chair or walking slowly to their destination. Still, here were Grandpa and his best friend – they were well into their 70s, but it did not seem like older age changed anything and affect their physical health and mental health as well. 

If you worry about the mental health and old age needs of older adults, let’s all take a leaf out of Grandpa’s notes and do the following:

Try Different Activities Often

Every morning, Grandpa wakes me up at 6 A.M. so that we could jog around the community with Grandma. It’s a normal part of his health care routine.  It had to be that early because: a) some neighbors would stop us for a chat, and b) we needed to buy fresh foods at the local market. Meanwhile, the oldies would spend the afternoon knitting, gardening, reading, and making music which are all really good for the physical health and mental health.

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Though I am far from being a mental or psychological expert, it is evident that the wide variety of activities has kept their brains from idling away and experiencing risk factors of health problems, which is really great for mental health, especially in the old age. Thus, nothing gets past my grandparents, and they could take care of themselves well. According to the World Health Organization, signs and symptoms of mental health problems or mental illness, such as depression and anxiety, occur when you are least expected, so might as well check with mental health professionals or seek mental health services.

Stay Around Loved Ones

Grandpa often credited taking care of me as the primary reason why he was still mentally stable and healthy during old age. He would say, “My granddaughter is clever; she can run circles around an old man like me if I do not remain sharp. If it was just my wife and me at home, we might have lost our marbles a long time ago.”

I did not want to believe that at first, but after a field trip at a nursing home, I realized that Grandpa might be correct. Many of the elderly folks I met had not seen their kids or grandkids for months or years, and their mental health deteriorated quicker than others. The chances of getting a mental health illness or series of mental health disorders are high, including depression, anxiety disorders, and other chronic health illnesses.

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Live Each Day Without Regrets

Live each day without regrets” – this was a direct quote from Grandpa. He told me this when I went home, sad, and found out that it was because I did not get the role of Wendy in our school production of Peter Pan. After wiping my tears, he uttered, “There is no reason to be upset. What matters is that you tried to get the part. Hence, you wouldn’t have to wonder about what could’ve happened if you auditioned for it.”

Grandpa did not need to say that that’s the same principle he lived by. If the show was not testament enough, he went snorkeling with Dad one time and was the oldest person that the instructor saw doing it. He had also tried snowboarding, swimming with sharks, skydiving, and other extreme activities.

Old age and mental health should not be taken lightly. If we remember to do at least one of the things above, promoting mental health and dealing with a mental health problem may be the least of our worries when we grow to our old age. As research suggests, growing to old age is a normal part of life, and the world’s population is dealing with mental health issues too.

Mental Health And Old Age FAQs

How Does Old Age Affect Mental Health?

How Does Old Age Affect Good Mental Health?

What Is The Most Common Problem In Mental Health In Older Adults?

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COVID-19 Health Awareness – Managing Sleep

We are all under a lot of stress and anxiety because of this pandemic issue. And those mental conditions can manifest in tons of ways depending on each one of us. But for some, anxiety and stress affect the emotional aspect that causes them to experience difficulty in sleep. It shows up sometimes in either having a hard time falling or staying asleep. In some unfortunate instances, some individuals do not even feel tired, which makes them available for a whole day waking hour.

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Why Sleep Is Important

Getting enough sleep is essential because it helps in the development of brain function. When there is enough brain energy, it promotes better problem-solving and critical thinking skills. It also impacts an individual’s self-confidence, making them more emotionally, physically, and mentally in control. Sleep also helps promote a better cognitive function where it increases knowledge retention and develops long and short term memory. Sleep is also a better way to reduce stress and inflammation, as it promotes a better boost in the immune system.

How To Get Better Sleep?

Our minds learn to associate with sight, smell, hearing, sense of touch, and vibes. These are reflexive responses that are entirely out of our control. These are the factors that often prevent us from going to sleep. Unfortunately, we can’t control them. But what we can do is train our brain to know when the right time to sleep is. How can we do that?

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Creating A Wind Down Routine

To train our brain, it must first recognize a couple of last activities we do before bedtime. These activities associated with sleeping are listening to soothing music, taking a hot shower, drinking a cup of hot tea or chocolate milk, brushing our teeth, reading a book, putting on our pajamas, and turning off the lights. So with that, we must keep a consistent schedule of doing those things whenever possible. Also, it helps the brain recognize sleep when we wake up around the same time every morning. So if in case it is difficult to wake up early each day, we can set up an alarm to help us get through with the process.

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Limit Naps During The Day

It is essential to allow our bodies to rest from time to time, and napping is a great way to do that. However, to get a better night’s sleep, we should limit our naps during the day for less than 30 minutes. That way, our body can acknowledge exhaustion at night. Also, we must avoid napping in our bed, making us want to sleep more during the day. It would be much better if we take a nap on the couch, or find a comfortable position on the floor. If possible, we should only take at least one nap during the day. That is enough to help boost our energy. Napping more than that can distract the brain and body from recognizing night time sleep.

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Limit The Use Of Devices

Sleep requires silence and dark surroundings to allow a drifting subconscious. To help ourselves get the rest we need, we must put away all the unnecessary devices that prevent us from thinking about sleep. We should cut our screen time before bed and place our smartphones in out-of-reach areas. That is because our brain recognizes the tone of the light emanating from the device as the same as sunlight. Therefore, we should turn our screen brightness down low. If possible, we need to shut off our phones. That way, those devices cannot cause any brain stimulation and cannot generate a biological trigger to the brain’s alerting system.

How To Properly Care For The Elderly

It is a great experience to be at the Elderly Care event 2019. I was able to learn so many things, especially on properly caring for the elderly. From the engagement up to mental health management, I can say that I fully understand the significance of my role in their lives.

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Role Reversal – One thing I do understand now is that life follows a role reversal. Meaning, when we are kids, our parents took care of us because there are things we can’t do all by ourselves. And when they get older, we do the same thing for them. It becomes our responsibility to look after them because there are things they can no longer physically do.

Safety Measures – There are a lot of hazards at home that can endanger the elderly. Some are lethal to their physical health. Examples of these are uneven flooring, cluttered room, improper lighting, and many more. We must secure the comfortability of the elderly at home, and we shouldn’t make them feel they are locked up.

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Ensure Physical Activity – A right amount of physical activity helps a lot in boosting the immune system. Thus, we must ensure that our elderly takes at least 10 to 15 minutes of light exercise. These can include walking and stretching. Also, we should provide them nutritional support. Thus, we need to ensure they eat healthy food such as fruits and vegetables.

Emotional Care – Most elderly are sensitive to their surroundings. That is why we need to ensure that they keep their emotional aspect in a balanced state. We need to avoid putting them in uncomfortable situations. It is vital not to put pressure on them, especially when it comes to their preference in things such as food, activity, leisure, and rest.

Learnings On Case Management From The 2019 Care National Conference

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Case management is a crucial pillar of health care, a resounding point raised by health workers from various disciplines in ACMA’s 2019 Care National Conference. The conference tackled best practices of case management, such as integrating social determinants into health care and optimizing health insurance. 

Synergizing Care

Healthcare rarely exists in a vacuum as patients undergo their medical journeys from the emergency room to aftercare. Frequent changing of hands is standard, with the patient receiving care from one specialist to another. Moreso, other needs such as psychosocial and spiritual are also essential aspects of patient care.

Case management comes in as a holistic synergy of these various services that healthcare providers can give to patients. Case studies presented in the conference showed actual scenarios where case management made a difference for both patients and health providers. Patient-centric care and research into social health determinants became vital topics in the conference.

Health’s Social Dimension

Health is not only a medical concept but also rooted in the social gears of the real world. Participants of case management conferences reflected the diversity of the discipline in terms of their origins and specialization. 

Given the rampant use of medical jargon in healthcare, professionals emphasized educating patients should know the treatment they will be receiving. Similarly, pointers on how to cultivate a healthy mental headspace for patients should be available. A roundtable on utilization management also specifically addressed how health insurance companies can further help patients manage healthcare costs.

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A Meeting of Minds

Case management is a multidisciplinary field. Exchange of new insights and knowledge between stakeholders pushes the field’s standards further. Conferences are also an excellent platform for expanding networks and sharing practical information between clinical specialists and professionals from other areas such as health insurance providers, psychologists, social workers, data scientists, and even priests. 

From this stage, they bring this insight back home to share with their colleagues. With all of these learnings from the conference, healthcare can thus become a seamless experience for patients who are otherwise going through a difficult journey.

Life Of A Patient Dealing With The Symptoms Of COVID-19

It is already more than a month since the world experienced a global outbreak known as the Coronavirus. Unfortunately, thousands of people are reportedly infected by the disease, and quite a number of them already died. And until now, the spread of the virus continues to grow despite the world’s strict safety measures such as social distancing and regular hand washing.

On a small scale, only a few people are ignoring the deadly disease because the majority of the individuals in the world are following necessary health measures. That is perhaps due to the unfortunate information that there hasn’t been any cure for the diseases yet. However, for those who ignore public health message, some of them suffer from the signs and symptoms.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of The Virus?

The typical one to two days start of the symptoms of COVID-19 is very similar to the common cold. In most cases, it gets accompanied by a mild sore throat. Then usually, there is a fever and physical discomfort as well. And with all these common symptoms, there is nothing much to worry about it because a patient can still manage to eat and drink as usual. The person can still be active and can still look healthy at some point.

However, for the 3rd day, some of these symptoms appear to get worse. The patient’s throat will feel a bit painful. It will soon become difficult to swallow small amounts of food. In a different individual’s experience, drinking water becomes their problem. Aside from that, body temperature will start to read at around 36.5 degrees Celsius. In some cases, though it is mildly uncommon, an individual will experience vomiting and nausea. It is also possible that diarrhea can set in as well.

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In the fourth and 5th day, the symptoms of the virus become more serious. Other symptoms will eventually manifest, and an individual may suddenly feel physically weak and exhausted. The body temperature of the patient may go up to 37 or 38 degrees Celsius as well. Though, in some instances, other individual’s temperature remains the same despite having physical pain.

Then, for the 7th day of experiencing physical difficulties, the patient will soon have fever along with a dry cough. Then due to the throat’s inability to allow airflow, Dyspnea happens. It is a condition where an individual suddenly feels difficulty in breathing. In this stage, he often feels physically and mentally tired. The patient is somehow unable to stand up and prefer always to lie down.

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And after the 7th day without showing any signs of recovery from these symptoms, the patient soon suffers from consistent coughing and breathing difficulty. Then fever gets higher and higher. Headaches, body pain, and diarrhea also get worse. With that state, admission to the hospital becomes necessary.

On the 8th day, the patient begins to suffer, and his other medical conditions will roll up with the virus’s symptoms. That is where severe shortness of breath comes in, and temperature reading goes above 38 degrees Celsius. Usually, at this stage, doctors examine the chest for the status of respiratory conditions.

For the next 10 to 15 days, if the patient is unsuccessful in recovering from the symptoms, then he must prepare for the possibility of having an acute cardiac or kidney failure. From there, death can be expected.

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But please note that this general overview serves as a compilation of an initial self-assessment purpose only. Some of these daily signs and symptoms may vary from one person to another. So if you are not feeling well, you should seek professional medical care immediately. Be sure to have an accurate diagnosis of your condition so that you can receive proper treatment for COVID-19.

Qualities To Look For In An Insurance Agent

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The 2017 Riverside Conference focused on economic developments and policy, which includes why insurance is a “must” nowadays. It also tackled a topic that most people miss out when getting this service – the qualities that they must look for in their insurance agents. Believe it or not, your insurance agent has the same weight as the insurance package. If they’ll take care of you, then your insurance is in good hands as well. 

Good Listener

There are a lot of agents who are only there to talk to you to earn a commission. They don’t find time to listen and analyze their client’s needs, and what will be the most helpful setup for them. If this is the kind of agent you have, dump him! It is essential to put the needs of the clients first, even if you avail of a product where they’ll receive a lower commission. 

Persistent

There are a handful of clients who might take time convincing. It may be because they don’t understand the product that much yet, or they don’t have the time to decide because of their busy schedules. One good trait that the right agent should have is persistence. They have to know when to keep going (and get that sale), but they should also know when to give up.

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Entrepreneurial Spirit

Some insurance packages have an integrated investment feature. Your insurance agent must acquire an entrepreneurial mindset that will enable you to grow your money. He should be capable of making plans, drafting tailored strategies, spotting opportunities, and undertaking risks. This characteristic will be a driving force to your success! 

Good Customer Service

Believe it or not, there are a lot of agents who disappear after making the sale. However, it’s part of their job description to serve you still whenever you have issues and concerns regarding your insurance. A right agent is reachable at any time of the day, or someone who calls you back immediately once they’re free. 

Coachable

Just because they’re the ones selling the services doesn’t mean that they know everything about it. There might even be times that you’re more familiar with its ins and outs. Look for someone that’s coachable. If they’re still open to new learnings and knowledge, then you don’t have to worry about them handling your money.

Tightening The Bond: In Sickness And In Health

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“Through sickness and health” is once and for all to be acknowledged by both individuals in the sacrament of matrimony.   It is the vow taken by a man and a woman which establishes them a partnership of a lifetime. But life inevitably will come to a time where they will struggle from the problems arising from dispositions of this said lifetime. These problems generally include medical conditions, financial factors and even relationship exhaustion for both individuals. And if these problems persist, it may ruin the sanctity of vows taken and the sacred ceremonies that both parties take heed of an oath.

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A Wife’s Instinct, Depression, And Strength

Being in a relationship requires a complete understanding between partners.  Honesty is essential no matter how hurting it would be to avoid deep wounds of betrayal.  And to forgive needs a great deal of acceptance of who your partner will be through the years of the committed relationship.

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