March 13, 2022

Cortisol and Weight Gain: How Does It Work?

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories Depression fitness health mental health

The stress hormone is released when our body is in dire need of energy during a crisis. Cortisol, formed by the adrenal glands, provides our body with the exact amount of energy that we need during such an instance. The energy is released into our system in the form of insulin or glucose. This in turn is used for facing the situation and the energy level drops once the intensity of the situation falls and it stabilizes. This is the time when our body yearns for energy in the form of glucose and thus, we tend to look for sweet edibles that are mostly junk, unhealthy and difficult to digest. Such circumstances force us to believe that we need food as soon as possible and that all the stored glucose inside our body is over but it is scientifically proven that it’s just an illusion. Our body does not need the excess carbs and fats that we provide it with. These excess particles mostly get accumulated around our belly region and lead to the formation of belly fat. Stress-related weight gain is caused by the aforementioned illusion. The frequent or constant secretion of the cortisol hormone leads to persisting stress and thus, an increase in body weight. The vicious cycle of stress and weight gain continues, giving rise to several other health problems such as diabetes mellitus, heart-related and blood pressure issues. 

Stress and weight gain: How does it harm us further?

  • Binge Eating 

 Binge Eating is an issue faced by several individuals these days that leads to stress-related weight gain. During stress, people end up eating too much at one go and that too, unhealthy food. Instead of spending time and effort in laying out proper healthy meals, one ends up having whatever is easily available. This is also due to the laziness caused by stress. 

  • Feeling Lethargic 

As mentioned above, the high levels of the cortisol hormone are the reasons for a decreasing rate of metabolism. Work feels like a burden and doing even the slightest amount of work can make one feel fatigued. Thus, people with stress don’t even feel like working out. 

  • Irregular Sleep Schedule 

The sleep cycle gets distorted due to stress and further leads to stress-related weight gain. According to fitness enthusiasts, sleeping properly is a mandatory requirement for the process of weight loss. The distortion in the schedule tends to worsen the already hampered digestion process and leads to the accumulation of fats in different parts of the body, the belly in particular. This kind of spot accumulation is extremely difficult to get rid of. 

  • Depression 

People don’t talk about mental health as much as they do about physical health and wellness. Stress can lead to anxiety and depression in the long run. The jobs that used to be quite mundane for an individual seem unachievable during the depression phase. Depression can also stem from being overweight. Anxiety or panic attacks become frequent, since the individual is no longer capable of facing any situation without having to worry about it. Such individuals need immediate counseling or therapy. There are several clinically approved ways to eliminate depression from our lives, step by step. 

March 11, 2022

How To Achieve The Perfect Work-Life Balance For Your Employees

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories Uncategorized

The unhindered sustenance of the growth and development of an organization majorly falls back on the perfect work life balance it’s employees swear by. A well-planned and well executed balance provides the impetus for business and creativity to flourish. Amongst a host of ideas that can be implemented, a few key concepts are:

  1. Quality over Quantity

Productivity holds a rank way higher than the number of working hours devoted to a particular project. Individual productivity can vary distinguishably, and it is upon the sensibility of the employer to correctly identify its market value and not lose out on innovation in an attempt to overburden and overwork. The uniqueness and individuality of an organization lies in the unique skill sets of its employees that makes it stand out. Premium quality is what results in breakthrough performance and productivity. Providing breaks and safeguarding health interests

2. Providing breaks and safeguarding health interests

Creative skills and ideas flourish in clear, focussed minds that are known to function way better in wide, aerated spaces rather than clumsy, cluttered spaces that disrupt the mind and hinder productivity and quality. The working area design should have ample scope for availing periodic breaks to ponder upon. That would destress the mind as well as instill aesthetics. The working space should be vibrant and minimalistic at the same time to encourage creativity, free-flowing ideas and effective brainstorming. There should be a well-planned brochure on short-term breaks and long-term breaks, including national festivals and holidays and year endings. Along with incentives, health security policies for the employees and their immediate families is of paramount importance for maintaining a perfect work life balance. Health insurance policy should be amongst the first few pointers that the employer guarantees to the employee.   Health comes first; as the age-old saying goes, “A healthy mind resides in a healthy body.”

3. Reasonable pay-scale and incentives

A sharp employer rewards ingenuity and resourcefulness with worthy pay-scale and regular incentives for extra hours and exemplary performance. Employees should be awarded time to time for their invaluable contribution. The company should additionally organize recreational nights and award ceremonies for reiterating the fact that it’s employees are the true assets of the organization.

March 9, 2022

What Is Postpartum Depression?

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories Depression mental health postpartum depression professional help psychotherapy therapy

PPD or Postpartum depression is a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioral alterations that happen to women after giving birth to a child. It is associated with the social, chemical, and psychological changes that place when a woman gives birth to a child. It is a major form of depression that occurs within 4 weeks of delivery, according to a manual used to diagnose mental disorders named DSM-5. The chemical changes that take place are with regard to the levels of hormones. The estrogen and progesterone hormone levels that are extremely high during pregnancy fall back to their original stay within 3 days of delivery. Insomnia, fatigue, lower libido, mood swings, anger issues, etc, are some common symptoms of postpartum depression. Listed below are a few causes that might contribute to this type of depression. 

  • Lack Of Sleep 

This is a very valid cause as far as postpartum depression is concerned. Motherhood comes with a lot of responsibilities and this is the reason why mothers go through a lot of stress. The stress leads to insomnia. The lack of sleep and overwhelming emotions that come along with pregnancy are often responsible for a subsequent depression. 

  • Body-Image Issues 

Post pregnancy, your body would take some time to get back to how it originally was. Thus, more often than not, women feel less attractive and become conscious about their bodies after the birth of their child. Body-related insecurities might also lead to postpartum depression. 

  • Hormone Levels 

The sudden drop in progesterone and estrogen levels after delivery plays a major role in causing depression. There might be a dramatic drop in the levels of other hormones as well that are produced by the thyroid gland. This results in sluggishness, fatigue, and depression. 

What Is Postpartum Psychosis? 

This is a very complex mental illness that can be found in new mothers. This can happen within the first 3 months post pregnancy and has severe symptoms. Women suffering from postpartum psychosis may experience visual and auditory hallucinations and delusions. They often see things that aren’t real and showcase strange behavior. Immense restlessness and insomnia are other common symptoms. Such patients are often hospitalized because they are capable of hurting themselves and those around them. 

How To Prevent Postpartum Depression? 

The best way to prevent any kind of depression post pregnancy is to have realistic expectations for yourself and your baby throughout the duration of pregnancy. You should stay fit, and take good care of your health during the pregnancy months. Physical health is important but mental health plays a very vital role when it comes to childbirth. Do things that make you happy and feel good about yourself. The key is to give oneself the adequate time one needs to adapt to changes. 

March 7, 2022

Anxiety in Children

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories anxiety Depression health mental health professional help psychotherapy therapy

In today’s millennial lifestyle and fast paced world,children often feel abandoned and neglected, stemming from feelings of dissatisfaction, fear and loneliness in them, which can adversely affect their individual development, growth and interpersonal relationships. The fear of being left behind and absolute solitude at a premature age, devoid of the warmth and shelter of parents can assume lethal forms as anxiety and depression. 

Anxiety refers to a chronic fear, worry or deep stress that repeatedly manifests itself in the thoughts and expressions of an individual and interferes in the regular day to day activities of that individual, hampering normal physiological and psychological function. In the case of a child, this includes hindrances in his school activities,playground activities as well as academics. 

Anxiety can be of various forms in a child. It can manifest itself as a sudden, deep-standing phobia including that of water, insects, spiders, dogs, cats or even closed spaces. It can also be expressed in the form of extreme craving or yearning for parents or loved ones and the fear of being left alone at home. This can also gradually develop over a period of time. This is also called separation anxiety in children. This can be also be manifested as bouts of physical illnesses and symptoms such as headache or migraine, abdominal pain, stomach upset, untimely fits of drowsiness, breathlessness, restlessness, nausea, dizziness, profuse sweating, shakiness and even panic attacks in severe cases. 

Anxiety can also be manifested in the form of social anxiety where the child fears any form of social interaction and communication including an increasing aversion towards going to school and places of gathering with a lot of people. The child loses interest in friends and mates and starts living in a recluse. The child also starts fearing the future and its uncertainty and looks at all prospects with dread and suspicion. The child feels helpless and is unable to handle situations which were once easily tackled by him/her. The child discontinues all hobbies and pastimes and feels lethargic, lazy and exhausted, with negative thoughts persistently clouding his mind. This suspends physical, mental, vital as well as emotional growth.

March 5, 2022

Understanding Clinical Depression

Author By - Asmita Bhattacharjee Categories Depression health individual counseling mental health professional help psychotherapy therapy

We often hear people talking about depression but do we actually make an effort in understanding what it exactly is? It is very important to understand what clinical depression is if we want to help someone come out of it, or just spread awareness in general. Depression, or major depressive disorder is a mood disorder that can result in persistent sadness or disinterest. The sadness that we’re talking about is not short-lived and cannot be treated by small gestures. There’s a feeling of helplessness, hopelessness associated with this sadness and it can last for weeks and months or even more, if not treated properly. Clinically depressed individuals often lose their will to live. Waking up everyday feels like a mammoth task for them. Feeling pessimistic, losing appetite, fatigue, aggressiveness, and self-harming tendencies are some common symptoms of depression. Some factors that might cause depression are mentioned below. 

  • Hormone Levels 

Alterations in female hormones like progesterone and estrogen during different points of time such as during menstruation, menopause, postpartum period, etc, might increase the chances of depression for menstruators. 

  • Brain Chemistry 

More often than not, there are certain chemical imbalances found in the brains of those who suffer from depression. These imbalances might be in areas that deal with our moods, thoughts, appetite, behavior, etc. 

  • Medical Conditions 

If you’re suffering from certain medical illnesses, you would be at a higher risk of being clinically depressed. Some of these are Parkinson’s disease, heart attack, cancer, insomnia, etc. 

  • Brain Structure

The structure of the brain is not the same for everyone. This plays a major role in determining whether we are prone to depression or not. It has been found out that if the frontal lobe of your brain is less active, there would be a greater risk of you being depressed. 

  • Family History 

If you’ve a family history of depression, you should be more careful because there are chances that you might develop mental illnesses as well. People who have a family history of depression should make additional efforts in taking care of their mental health. 

  • Childhood Trauma 

More often than not, our depression is the result of a past trauma that we are unable to let go of. The trauma becomes more intense if the incident takes place in our childhood. Disturbing memories from our childhood are extremely hard to get over. Sometimes, it might take years of therapy to come out of a childhood trauma. 

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