life

Depression: The Significant Impact of Friendship

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

By: Nirvana Ramoutar

     Did you know that friendships and other personal relationships have a significant impact on your health? Studies show that adults with strong social connection have reduced risk for many health problems such as depression, high blood pressure, and an unhealthy body mass index. This is often overlooked and individuals do not believe that maintaining healthy relationships are as important as eating healthy and exercising. However if you think about how you feel when you spend time with a true friend where you are able to laugh, cry, and share intimate secrets with, you know how powerful friendships can be.

     Having close friends is undeniably good for us, but psychologists have found that “weak-tie” interactions with acquaintances, and even strangers, can give your mental health a boost. Something as small as complimenting a person, or bumping into a work friend you see once a week can make all the difference. Research has found that the people with more of these “weak-tie” interactions are happier than those who have fewer. We often avoid conversations with strangers as we fear awkwardness, but studies suggest that conversations with strangers tend to be less awkward and more connecting than people expect. To their own surprise, people also prefer having deep conversations with strangers rather than shallow ones.

How do you make friends as an adult?

  • Become a volunteer
  • Ask questions
  • Look for shared interests
  • Accept invitations
  • Reach out to neighbors
  • Take advantage of the virtual community
  • Join a YMCA

     Once again, friendships help you avoid feelings of loneliness; they increase your self-love, and help with personal growth. Loneliness and social isolation can be deadly, as it causes a risk for premature death in 26% of individuals, causing heart disease, dementia, etc. The significance of friendship goes a long way influencing both our well-being and physical health. Remember to cherish and maintain your friendships, and don’t be scared to start completely anew. You can do it!

If you or someone you know may be struggling with loneliness, or their mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/ .

Sources:

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Body Dysmorphia; how has social media has affected it?  

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment
Body Dysmorphia Concept. Distorted Perception Body, Causing Slim Characters To Believe They Are Overweight. Psychological Condition, Impacting People Self-esteem And Mental Health. Vector Illustration

Body Dysmorphia; how has social media has affected it?

By Manuela Gomez

Have you ever stared at yourself in the mirror and realized that your mind isn’t showing you the reality of what you look like? Body Dysmorphia is a mental state in which your mind is busy looking/making up imperfections of your body that no one else can notice.  Although, Body Dysmorphia has been around for a while social media has only made it worse in the recent years. Social media, the addiction in which you start to compare yourself with people you watch and follow. Then you put this expectation of yourself that you should look a certain way. We tend to forget that even social media isn’t portraying the whole truth. According to the article Frontiers, 29% of people with higher social media usage have Body Dysmorphia compared to, 19% of people that have a lower usage. Here are some ways that you can help improve your BD:

  • Replace your negative thoughts with the positive (Ex: I look ugly today- I look and feel amazing)
  • Start changing the habit of analyzing yourself in the mirror every day, stand in front of it and give yourself positive affirmations
  • If you want to change something about your body then do it, but in healthy way
  • Surround yourself with healthy people and habits
  • Less social media time

Body Dysmorphia is not uncommon. It is treatable with the right professional and the effort you put into it. Don’t let your reality get lost because you see what others don’t see.

Source(s): https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/body-dysmorphic-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353944

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1324092/full

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ, or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) – 368-3700 or (212)-722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

Anxiety: First Day of College as a Freshman

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment
Anxiety: First Day of College as a Freshman

Anxiety: First Day of College as a Freshman

By Colleen Susanto

Feeling anxious about college is a universal experience. Especially, when someone has just graduated from high school and is starting college. It’s a huge transition for everybody. College is the time where you find yourself and experience the adult life. So, what makes us so anxious about college and how can we overcome it?

Being in a new community can be really intimidating. Trying to fit in and making new friends. Not being able to be with your old friends from high school can make you feel separated. However, one way to avoid that feeling is to socialize. Many colleges offer programs and events and that way, you can meet new people and make friends!

The stress of keeping up with academic expectations can also be very overwhelming. College classes tend to be more work than high school and can feel overwhelming when you are not organized. What you could do is to write down the assignments, deadlines, and exams. Then, you’d feel more organized and plan ahead.

Last but not least, being away from home. First time in college is usually the first time a student is away from their family. They have to carry huge responsibilities, such as financial, independence, time management, and much more. These can be very overwhelming for first timers. You could always contact your family through texts and calls, and stay connected with them. Try talking out your problems with your family or people you know to take some of the burden off you.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ, or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201)-368-3700 or (212)-722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

https://truetherapyaz.com/managing-stress-overwhelm-for-first-time-college-students/

Feeling Nervous About Starting College? It’s Ok, Everyone Feels That Way!

Relationships: How to Maintain Long Distance Relationships

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

Relationships: How to Maintain Long Distance Relationships

By Colleen Susanto

Long distance relationships aren’t easy. We always want to be with the person we love, stay by their side, and spend time with them. Our emotional and mental well-being are very much important and relationships affect these.  A long distance relationship or LDR requires the proper attention for it to keep blooming. It’s easy to feel hopeless, but being in an LDR can bring out the best in partners.

As we all probably know, communication is the key. Whether in an LDR or not, it’s the backbone of a relationship and it becomes more crucial when miles apart. Set clear expectations on how to communicate with your partner. Another key is honesty. In an LDR, transparency matters even more. Talk about your feelings with your partner and open up about how you feel whether you feel sad, insecure, angry, or happy. Hiding emotions creates unnecessary tension between you and your partner.

Just because you are not next to each other, doesn’t mean you can’t share your world. Small gestures help create a sense of connection. You can talk about your daily experiences or send random pictures to make your partner included. Long distance relationships require patience, communication, and trust, but they can be deeply rewarding. When both partners put in the effort, distance can strengthen the bond rather than break it. Remember that it’s not the miles between you, but it’s the love between the two of you that does.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or relationships, please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling and Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ, or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201)-368-3700 or (212)-722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit https://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

https://wellbeing.jhu.edu/blog/2022/07/22/how-to-have-a-healthy-long-distance-relationship/

https://bumble.com/en/the-buzz/longdistancetips

Depression During The Holidays

GalleryJudy Gurfein Leave a comment

Depression during the Holidays

By: Diane Ulloa

Social isolation is one of the biggest predictors of depression and social media has made it so you can watch all your friends and family celebrate from thousands of miles away. According to the American Psychological Association around 38% of people surveyed said their stress unfortunately increased during the holiday season which can lead to physical illness, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. It is very common to experience depression or anxiety during the holiday season due to the loss of a family member. Stress also accompanies buying gifts, alongside with social anxiety that comes with extended family reunions. People battling with anxiety or depression can feel overwhelmed when they are met with the unrealistic expectations of the holiday season and with financial burdens that may come during this time.

To combat these obstacles, which get in the way of family fun, one can set realistic expectations of the holiday parties, and realistic expectations of one’s own self. You can do this by taking these steps:

  1. Pace yourself: Do not take on more responsibilities than you can handle and this can also be for food and drinking.
  2. Live and enjoy the present: don’t set yourself up for disappointment by comparing the good ol’ days of the past with the present.
  3. Try to find holiday activities that won’t strain your pockets: going on a drive to look at the beautiful lights in a nearby neighborhood, window shopping, and watching good holiday movies.
  4. Make time for yourself, and make time to take your mental health into account. Surrounding yourself with caring people that can understand your daily battles can be very beneficial.
  5. Be careful not to overspend: overspending can lead to depression or anxiety later on down the road.
  6. If you are lonely, try volunteering time to help others, this could be volunteering at your local place of worship or perhaps at a homeless shelter.

If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, or has seasonal depression please contact our psychotherapy offices in New York or New Jersey to talk to one of our licensed professional psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, or psychotherapists at Arista Counseling & Psychotherapy. Contact our Paramus, NJ or Manhattan, NY offices respectively, at (201) 368-3700 or (212) 722-1920 to set up an appointment. For more information, please visit http://www.counselingpsychotherapynjny.com/

Sources: https://www.webmd.com/depression/holiday-depression-stress