Mental illness is not as uncommon as you might think. Recent data shows that nearly 25% of adults in the US are affected by mental health-related problems. This type of a problem was also one of the main driving forces for creating 'Psychology Posts'. The founder told Bored Panda: “My reason for starting a psychology-related account on Instagram was a combination of personal mental health issues and an overall interest in psychology.”
“I got tinnitus at 18 years old. For those who don’t know what tinnitus is, it’s a constant ringing or buzzing sound in your ear that’s always there. The first three months after I got tinnitus, I felt like I just couldn’t rest, concentrate, or do anything but focus on the constant ringing sound in my ear. This led me to quite a dark place in my head. I wasn’t happy at all and I was struggling with the acceptance of my tinnitus at this young age.”
“This got me interested in learning how the brain works and in understanding why I was feeling the way I did. I started reading research articles and became fascinated by psychological research, and felt like more people needed to see this information.”
“When I was 19 years old, I decided to start posting these research findings on Instagram in a way that was short and easy to understand,” they added. Fast forward four years and now the account 'Psychology Posts' is one of the largest psychology communities online.
'Psychology Posts' covers a variety of topics. The informative uploads not only reveal signs of certain disorders, but also provide valuable tips and surprising facts. This way, the page brings attention to the many faces of mental health struggles.
The founder of the Instagram account said: “Raising awareness reduces the stigma around mental health and makes more people comfortable about opening up, and also encourages people to seek help if they feel like they need it. Whether this is with a friend, someone they trust, or a therapist. Opening up and talking about how you’re feeling is so important, and raising awareness stimulates this.”
“Raising awareness about mental health is more important than ever because of the mental health crisis we’re currently in. More people than ever are struggling with depression and anxiety, which is why I’ve recently co-founded Neurify, where we teach people to mentally thrive in our modern world,” they added.
We've long been aware of mental hygiene and its effect on our overall well-being. Even the Romans talked about it. In the first century AD, poet Juvenal famously wrote: Mens sana in corpore sano, which roughly translates to “a healthy mind in a healthy body”. Sadly, that's often easier said than done, but good physical health can help maintain a healthy headspace.
In addition to seeking professional help, 'Psychology Posts' emphasized five mental health fundamentals you could focus on: “1. Sleep. Lack of sleep is a leading cause of poor focus and anxiety, prioritizing time away from your phone and increasing your time spent asleep is key.”
“2. Exercise. Movement is a must, many of us could benefit from going for more walks, runs, and gym sessions."
"3. Nutrition. 95% of your serotonin is produced in your gut, so eat good quality foods.”
“4. Relationships. Relationships are what make us human. Intimate, in-person social experiences are vital."
"5. Progress. Our ancestors had to constantly be making progress to survive, our brains are wired for progression and love when we align with it.”
They told Bored Panda: “These five pillars all activate your happy hormones. Dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins. If you’d like to discover more ways to effectively trigger the production of your happiness chemicals, I highly recommend you to check out our research-backed and proven mental health formula called 'DOSE', and put yourself in a better headspace!”
DOSE will be launched in just a couple of days. According to the founders, DOSE Mobile Learning allows you to hack the production of your happiness chemicals with the help of a step-by-step guide. Keep your eyes open on January 2nd, 2023.
It is crucial to attend to your mental well-being. However, sometimes handling certain situations or feelings can become overwhelming. Most people are not qualified to know exactly how to tackle them properly. That is why it is important to seek professional help as well.
When asked what advice they would give to people dealing with psychological difficulties, the 'Psychology Posts' creator said: “It’s hard to give psychological advice to everyone since everyone requires different solutions to their problems. But my first piece of advice would be to never self-diagnose. Try to seek out professional help instead. A therapist or counselor can help you identify the root causes of your difficulties and develop strategies to cope with them.”
High levels of stress can also negatively affect your mental well-being. In the current fast-paced environment, work is often a major cause of this negative feeling. Therefore, it is essential to try and create a healthy work-life balance. Doing this would not only benefit your personal life but give you more time for the aforementioned activities, such as exercise or sleep.
Studies have proven the strong connection between stress and sleep. According to the American Psychological Association, people who spend less time resting feel more irritable and overwhelmed. They also show higher levels of stress. Some people feel it because they can’t get enough sleep; others can’t get enough sleep because they already feel stressed. This vicious circle demonstrates how crucial it is to follow a regular sleep schedule.
Smartphones are another cause of stress relating to a negative state of mind. This especially affects the younger generation because of the usage of social media. It creates social stress, which makes their mental well-being deteriorate.
Luckily, there are ways to ameliorate your mental health. In addition to the aforementioned fundamentals, each person can find methods to induce happiness that works best for them. For some, it might be spending time with their families, while others might find peace in knitting. Traveling is also a popular activity that boosts serotonin.