JOURNAL
Enhancing Mental Health: The Role of Positive Sexuality
Understanding the Link: Sexuality and Psychological Wellness
Sexuality is a fundamental aspect of human life that encompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy, and reproduction. It is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles, and relationships. These factors can significantly influence an individual's psychological wellness. Positive sexuality, which includes having healthy sexual self-esteem, a positive body image, and satisfying sexual experiences, can contribute to overall mental health. It can enhance self-esteem, create satisfying relationships, and promote general well-being. It can also reduce stress and provide a sense of pleasure and satisfaction.
On the other hand, adverse sexual experiences, such as sexual abuse, sexual dysfunction, or negative societal attitudes toward certain sexual behaviors or identities, can lead to psychological distress. These experiences can result in anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and other mental health issues. Sexual orientation and gender identity also play a crucial role in psychological wellness. Individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ often face societal stigma, discrimination, and rejection, which can lead to increased rates of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.
Avoiding health risks during a volatile election: Strategies to protect your mental health
As American enters into the final week of the 2020 Elections, long voting lines, divisive politics, and political attack advertisements are increasing stress levels that are just as historic as the current rate of early voting. The American Psychological Association reports that nearly 70% of respondents to a recent survey say that the elections are a significant stress source. As votes are counted, and our nation learns next week who will lead the next four years of the government, it's important to note that panicking about politics is a bipartisan experience (Chatterjee, 2020). Here are some key takeaways to help you and others in the week ahead.
Sleep Deprivation and Depression
Depression is one of the most common ailments of our time. The CDC estimates that just under 10% of the US population is depressed at any one time; so many people are afflicted with depression, in fact, that it is the leading cause of disability in the country. With such a widespread and varied group of patients, methods of treatment vary widely as well. Medication and therapy, while certainly the best-known treatments, are far from the only ways we have to combat mental illness. Recent research suggests that depression can also be tackled by instead treating patients’ insomnia.
Depression often accompanies other mental and physical maladies. One of its more common attendants is sleep disorders: as many as 60% of adults with depression also suffer from symptoms of insomnia, and a 2011 study established that there was a link between the two disorders rather than it being a matter of shared symptoms. As insomnia places stress on the mind and body much like depression does, this can make life even more difficult for depressed patients already struggling to overcome a daunting obstacle to their ability to function.