Motivation is a process that controls and maintains certain behaviors. Eating chocolate, exercising, studying, and avoiding triggers to prevent an alcoholic relapse all require motivation. Everyone experiences lack of motivation from time to time. Staring at a stack of books not wanting to study, seeing a pile of dishes in the sink and not feeling like doing them or skipping going to the gym because you don’t feel like it are all signs of lack of motivation. More →
Six Common Reasons for Lack of Motivation
April 18, 2012 · 3 Comments
Tagged: anxiety, depression, fear, motivation, overwhelm, perfectionism, procrastination, self-esteem, stress→ 3 Comments
Eight Healthy Coping Tips To Manage Grief
April 16, 2012 · 1 Comment
Grief is a natural emotional response to any loss. Losses can range from the death of a loved one , loss of a job, a miscarriage, or even losing a friendship. Contrary to popular belief there is no one way way to grieve. Research has shown that grief does not actually occur in stages and that time alone is not sufficient to heal the wounds of grief.
Each individual has their own coping strategies for dealing with grief. More →
Tagged: anxiety, coping, counseling/therapy, depression, grief, stress, substance use, tips→ 1 Comment
Signs of Perfectionism
April 13, 2012 · 2 Comments
Many believe perfectionism means “being perfect” or “doing things perfectly”. However, perfectionism is actually the pressure we put on ourselves to reach unattainable standards. These standards are almost never reached because they are unrealistic, leaving the person feeling like a failure. Many South Asians believe perfectionism is a strong and highly valued quality to have. Some do not recognize that they are perfectionists, believing that unreasonable standards are normal and commonplace. More →
Tagged: anxiety, depression, family, GAD, OCD, panic disorder, parenting, perfectionism, self-esteem, stress, suicide→ 2 Comments
Have a Cold? Blame Stress-Induced Inflammation
April 11, 2012 · 2 Comments
Stress is a normal part of life. Negative life events, such as a death in the family or the loss of a job, and positive life events, such as the birth of a new baby or graduation, can all lead to stress. When our bodies experience chronic stress stress, our bodies begin to feel very negative effects both physically and emotionally.
Numerous studies have shown that stress increases the risk of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity as well as depression, anxiety and other emotional health problems. More →
Tagged: anxiety, cardiovascular health, depression, diabetes, immunity, obesity, research, stress→ 2 Comments
Signs of In-Law Abuse
April 9, 2012 · 2 Comments
The relationship with in-laws has been stereotypically a tenuous one. Many people struggle with maintaining a positive, healthy and meaningful relationship with their in-laws. For many South Asians, it is about managing different generational, cultural and traditional values between the parents-in-law and children in law. More →
Tagged: abuse, children, emotional abuse, family, parenting, resentment, self-esteem→ 2 Comments
South Asian Marriage: Blaming Everything On One Spouse
April 6, 2012 · 2 Comments
Some couples who have an unhealthy marriage or an invisible divorce blame each other for their marital problems. Yet other couples avoid the problems entirely, choosing to believe there is nothing wrong despite the signs that their marriage is showing unhealthy patterns. A third type of couple, has one spouse blaming all of their marital problems on the other spouse.
When one spouse feels blamed for everything, it can be a very frustrating, isolating and disheartening experience. More →
Tagged: blaming, communication, guilt, men's issues, relationships, resentment, self-esteem, self-reflection, shame, unhealthy relationships, women's issues→ 2 Comments
Mental Health Symptoms or Nutritional Deficits?
April 4, 2012 · 2 Comments
Tejal’s teacher had become worried of about the 6 year old. By lunch time, Tejal looked exhausted. When the teacher would ask Tejal if she was feeling ok, the young girl often complained of feeling dizzy. When asked if she ate lunch, Tejal would say yes, leaving out the detail that she ate it during morning recess. More →
Tagged: adhd, children, fatigue, irritability, men's issues, mood, physical and mental health, stress, teens, women's issues→ 2 Comments
A Story of South Asian Teen Stress
April 2, 2012 · 1 Comment
Shantanu let out a long sigh as he looked at the textbooks piled on his desk: science and math test tomorrow, Spanish test the day after and two essays due in English by the following week. His family had gone to bed two hours earlier and had no idea he was still awake studying. Grabbing another energy drink from under his bed, he took a long drink hoping it would kick in quickly. More →
Tagged: anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, parenting, physical and mental health, story, stress, teens→ 1 Comment
South Asian Parents: Eleven Tips to Increase Happiness
March 28, 2012 · 1 Comment
It is safe to say that parenting is one of the most difficult jobs someone can have in a lifetime. The demands exist around the clock, the appreciation comes years later and the stress of being a good parent can take a toll on physical and emotional health.
While most parents are thrilled to have children and grow their family, research has shown that overall happiness declines for parents because of how stressful the job is. More →
Tagged: children, guilt, happiness, healthy relationships, parenting, perfectionism, positive psychology, shame, stress, tips→ 1 Comment
Tips to Help a Victim of of Domestic Abuse
March 26, 2012 · 1 Comment
Numerous research studies and statistics concluding that at least 40% of South Asian women having experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse by a partner. Recent statistics are also pointing to a similar frequency of partner violence against men as well. With such a high statistic, it is safe to assume that almost every South Asian knows someone who has been or is currently being abused at this time. More →
Tagged: domestic abuse, embarrassment, emotional abuse, empathy, friendship, physical abuse, sexual abuse, tips→ 1 Comment