The Connections Between Positive Psychology and Mental Health

Home » Body & Brain » The Connections Between Positive Psychology and Mental Health The Connections Between Positive Psychology and Mental Health 25 NOV 20144 COMMENTS Sharing is caring. positive psychology and mental health Sometimes, in the world of psychology, it is easy to get carried away with one perspective. Within the umbrella term that is psychology, there is an array of different topics that can be researched. Some scientists think that neuropathways are the most important topic to study; however, others psychologists base their careers on uncovering disabling psychological trauma from the subconscious. This does not mean that one perspective is more important than the other; each branch, or perspective, is important in their own right, and each branch continues to uncover answers to human behavior and thought patterns. Unfortunately, there are times when some people view the differences between two branches of psychology, usually in an attempt to explain all of psychology’s problems, and totally ignore the similarities. This is a potentially damaging idea. The study of psychology is about many different parts working together, not one perspective to rule them all. As a field, it’s counterproductive to compartmentalize into the point of unfounded argumentation. It is with that in mind that I would like to draw your attention to two areas of psychology: Positive psychology, the branch that deals with positive emotion, behaviors, and attitudes; and Clinical psychology, the branch that is associated with a person’s mental health status, psychological trauma, and overall mental well-being. The connections that exist between these two branches are numerous; however, this article will explore the connections between mental health and positive psychology in regards to overall mental health, mental disorders, and stress management. This article contains: Overall Mental Health Mental Disorders (and Other Psychological Problems) Stress Management To Summarize More Body & Brain Interventions? Check Out The Positive Psychology Toolkit positive psychology toolkitBecome a Science-Based Practitioner! The Positive Psychology toolkit is a science-based, online platform containing 135+ exercises, activities, interventions, questionnaires, assessments and scales. yes sign me up for the toolkit positive psychology program Overall Mental Health Positive psychology shares a strong connection clinical psychology with overall mental health. This is because one of positive psychology’s goals is to focus on what is right about a person and how those traits can be increased. The desired result being a happier, more fulfilled life. Similarly, clinical psychology also tries to increase positive traits to help people deal with mental disorders. Here the end goal is to help people function in everyday life and lead a normal life. As they are the not the same thing, their goals will not be identical, but they are remarkably similar! Some of the methodology, the devices that help psychologist (positive or not) achieve their goals, are shared between the two genres of psychology. One tool that a positive psychologist might use is something called Learned Optimism. This technique was pioneered by Martin Seligman in the 1990’s. Learned Optimism targets a person’s negative cognitions and systematically replaces them with more positive affirmations. Eventually, the person will be thinking more optimistically than they had before. Clinicians use techniques based on cognition in therapy to combat conditions. From the clinicians’ standpoint, they try to heighten a client’s coping skills to decease helplessness. The difference here is that the coping is the key focus and the life fulfillment is secondary. Secondly, there is positive psychotherapy, which combines positive behavioral approaches with the world of psychotherapy. Psychotherapy seeks to reduce the negative functioning of a client. Positive Psychotherapy adds one step onto the process. Instead of just reducing symptoms, positive psychotherapy works on increasing a person’s positive emotions and behaviors. Third, there is another concept that draws upon similarities. Positive Psychology and Clinical Psychology encourage people to engage in states of flow. According to research done by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a leading positive psychologist, flow is unique to each person; however, the people who experience flow report similar characteristics. Flow is a higher state of consciousness. It is said to be achieved when you’re super focused on an activity. A loss of temporal awareness is also reported when in the flow state. People have said they felt perfectly challenged–not bored or overwhelmed. Those who regularly experience flow report that it is extremely intrinsically rewarding. As such, people who experience flow on a regular basis tend to have more stable mental health (as they are self-actualizing and reaching fulfilment). Both positive and clinical psychologists use states of flow to help their patients. Positive psychology uses flow to enrich people’s lives. They use flow to encourage positive emotions, which can broaden and build a person’s mind, and help to attain long standing life goals. Clinical psychologist use the flow state in slightly different, but still effective ways. Clinical psychologists may engage their patients in flow to distract them from things that might trigger their negative thoughts. If used correctly, it can boost self esteem and if endured regularly it can help battle symptoms of depression. Mental Disorders (and Other Psychological Problems) As reported from people with mental illness, positive psychology has also been linked to the prevention and aid in treatment of mental disorders. Note: Not all psychological disorders are best treated with psychotherapy. Some conditions, like bipolar and schizophrenia, are better managed with a combination of methods including medication. A study was carried out at the University of Pennsylvania on the topic of positive psychology and mental health. The researchers were testing the validity of learned optimism. Specifically, they looked at rates of depression within two groups. First, the study sorted the students randomly into the two groups the experimental group and the control group. The experiment group was taught methods of learned optimism. The control group, was told to carry on with their lives as normal. After approximately 18 months, the groups were followed up on. The results from the study are impressive. MentalHealthDepressionControl group: in the control group, 32 percent of the people suffered from moderate or severe depression. Additionally, 15 percent of the students in that group experienced anxiety issues with similar severity. It is important to note that the results that are readily available do not detail any past mental health, genetic predisposition, or adverse environmental factors. This means throughout the 18 month period, the students who were not taught learned optimistic techniques developed depression, or depressive symptoms. Experimental Group: The results reported from the experimental group saw less frequency and severity of anxiety and depression. In this group, only 22 percent of the students developed depression or depressive symptoms. Similarly, anxiety rates were only 7 percent rather than 15 in the control. Stress Management Positive-psychology-and-mental-health-stress-managemetStress is nicknamed the silent killer by many professionals today. Stress can wreak havoc on our bodies. What’s more is that we are usually largely unaware of this, mainly because we don’t have direct control of the parts affected due to the autonomic nervous system. Then, when we do feel it, the problem has usually progressed into something more serious and often it is too late. So, what does this have to do with positive psychology and mental health? One of the themes of positive psychology is to find what is right with a person. This means not only encouraging coping skills, but developing positive emotions and behaviors that can improve overall happiness, too. This largely important because moods that correspond with negative emotions bring about negative feedback for the body. While it’s pretty much impossible to avoid these ALL the time, it is possible to maximize your good emotions and mood. Remember that concept called flow? That is a great way to manage stress. The super focus on your task at hand serves as a great distraction to alleviate stress. As a bonus, increased productivity and better skill mastery are also the side effects. Additionally, positive psychology encourages a phenomenon called engagement. Academics are famous for taking words that seem simple and defining them as something different, but this one is just as it seems. Engagement is engaging in socialization. It is one of the pillars upon which Dr. Seligman based positive psychology on. In continuing the theme of similarity, clinical practitioners also seek to reduce stress levels. For many disorders stress will aggravate, and sometimes even cause people to develop, mental disorders. They use a variety of methods, many stated above, to reduce stress in everyday life. In fact, though it might not be named specifically, many techniques that clinicians use, form the pillars of positive psychology as to why they’re effective. The more research that comes out, the more that the two fields seem to merge. To Summarize Mental Health and Positive Psychology complement each other greatly. The two together are the perfect definition of synergy, both of these fields have interests in enriching people’s live. Yes, they focus on different things as they should but these two branches of psychology are not the same, nor should they be. They both bring forth much needed information to the table. What Do You Think? I’d love to hear about your views on this matter. Related Posts About the Author The PPP Editorial Team consists of a dynamic bunch of positive psychology lovers. We come from an array of exotic backgrounds and work in different parts of the world united by one goal: writing, researching and sharing the latest and greatest of Positive Psychology with you. Want to learn more about us? Visit our team page! 4 Comments Paul Wierzbicki November 28, 2014 at 4:55 am Reply The part about learned optimism is pretty great. Linked above is an article that explains it more detail, if you’re curious about it. In regards to the effectiveness in the article, it is impressive. Wouldn’t it be great if somewhere in educational institutions, they implemented policies or classes that taught the strategies or principles of such great coping techniques? I think it would be powerful if we could incorporate this on a large scale, such as a societal level. As to stress, unfortunately many don’t realize its effects. The scary part about stress is that it is both mental and physical. There is no telling what stress is doing until people are suffering because of it. Joshua November 28, 2014 at 4:45 am Reply I’d definitely have to say the part about the experiment done on the effects of learned optimism. It demonstrated the effectiveness of this strategy rather than just state it. Also, the effects that stress has on the body you mentioned are important because people don’t often consider them Paul Wierzbicki November 28, 2014 at 4:41 am Reply Josh, Thank you! I’m glad you appreciate my work. I’m super thankful to have the chance to display my writing on PositivePsychologyProgram. I think that this article is extremely important. One of it’s purposes, other than to inform, is to build solidarity within the psychological community between positive psychologist and clinical psychologists. Sometimes it can be easy to become seriously biased to one view, and forget that there are similarities. It is brilliant that the field of psychology is able to diversify itself into so many different sections of human life. We cannot forget that we are one community working for the betterment of the field as a whole. If I could probe further, what part did you find the most beneficial when increasing your knowledge? Joshua November 28, 2014 at 4:25 am Reply I enjoyed this, it was refreshing and helped widened my scope on the matter. I noticed the writing “flowed” nicely. Ha, get it? Flowed? All in all, you’re doing a great job. Leave a Reply

Men And Women Think Differently

Why Men And Women Think Differently. This Guy Nails It. TRUTH INSIDE OF YOU JUNE 12, 2016 11.5K 109 122K VIEWS 11496SHARES FacebookTwitterGoogle That’s Mark Gungor, one of the most sought-after speakers on marriage and family in the US. He’s also a pastor and a ridiculously funny guy. His Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage® seminars are attended by many people, and he’s able to adapt his speech to the religious and non-religious. In this video, “The Tale of Two Brains,” Mark explores the differences between men and women, and he pretty much nails it: Why Men And Women Think Differently 102 Comments Truth Inside Of You Login 1 Recommend Share Sort by Best Avatar Join the discussion… − Avatar Maria Bradley • 10 months ago jeez, get over yourselves people, lighten up 2 • Reply•Share › Avatar Joni Pickering Maria Bradley • 9 months ago I totally agree this was humor... funny 1 • Reply•Share › Avatar Jill Scott-Carr • 10 months ago If this is true, then I know a lot of guys with women's brains... not all men are cave men... just like not all women are complex.. this guy is an idiot.... he himself may put things in boxes aka caveman, as he has done here... we are human beings and all human beings can be simple or complex often in the same body, at different times depending on who they are with and what they are doing and dreams are made or broken.. .sometimes we don't even know how complex we are until we crack.... Individuals are individuals regardless of gender and or otherwise... dont pay to listen to this idiot... Yes, there is a definite argument for how we as human beings express ourselves emotionally often men internals more than women and just get on with things but at the end of the day the thoughts and feelings are the same, its just some women can express themselves more openly... why do you think 'black dog' has become such an issue in men? Get to know your partner deeply and fully and have respect for their way of doing things... just because they do it differently regardless of gender, doesnt make them wrong... 2 • Reply•Share › Avatar asdsdsadsa Jill Scott-Carr • 9 months ago i just read the 1 sentence of your comment and i want to say that you are the idiot this article is completely true for men idk about the woman part tho And hes not a caveman your just some gay fag 2 • Reply•Share › Avatar enigmahome Jill Scott-Carr • 9 months ago Yup I would say lighten up. This here is just a humorous way of defining some differences between the species, without absolutes you seem to want to insist on. Without humour this would be a sad world. 1 • Reply•Share › Avatar Stephanie Boon enigmahome • 5 months ago What's even funnier is that you describe men and women as different species, hahahaha!!!! • Reply•Share › Avatar Slaven Smolčić Jill Scott-Carr • 2 months ago I assume you are male? • Reply•Share › Avatar Manon Mercier Jill Scott-Carr • 10 months ago Reading the article, I was just thinking the exact same thing :) • Reply•Share › Avatar Natasha Tullos • 3 months ago My brain is not wired like that. If anything I think more like a "man" according to this article. I know plenty of men who have "female brains". Everyone is different. Articles like this just generalize and leave men and women confused or feeling like something is wrong with them. Be who you are and don't worry about what society and silly articles have to say. • Reply•Share › Comments continue after advertisement Avatar Rose Stokes • 3 months ago Agree, especially with the "Nothing Box".... • Reply•Share › Avatar Rodney Cole • 3 months ago There now, who'd have thought that, I've always been lead to believe (and frequently told) that men's brains are in their trousers.. ;-) ;-) • Reply•Share › Avatar Rena Stone • 3 months ago He lost me in the first paragraph when he said "very unique..." Something is "unique" or it's not. It's not "very unique" not matter what. • Reply•Share › Avatar Giovanna Price Rena Stone • 3 months ago Love this comment. • Reply•Share › Avatar Ted Hoare • 3 months ago Women just don't understand us • Reply•Share › Avatar Zai Fox • 3 months ago It might work as comedy, but I didn't think the presentation even did a very good job of this(comedy). • Reply•Share › Avatar Roger Rister • 3 months ago Oh man does he ever • Reply•Share › Comments continue after advertisement Avatar Gary Taylor • 3 months ago That's what's going on • Reply•Share › Avatar Gordon Onomatapea Bennet • 3 months ago most men seek to earn a living..most women (and their families) seek to live off that same living! • Reply•Share › Avatar Willie MArtin • 3 months ago Is it any wonder that there is so much trouble in the World ? I knew I was right all along, there's the proof. • Reply•Share › Avatar Giovanna Price • 3 months ago This is not accurate in terms of research and is a subjective opinion despite the nod to science. The overall message that women can't stand to see men do nothing is outdated and, frankly, quite ridiculous and reeks of good old-fashioned sexism. The brain becomes wired up according to the experiences we have in early life-through adolescence. That's why everyone's brain is different. • Reply•Share › Avatar Giovanna Price Giovanna Price • 3 months ago Continuing to think in terms of simple male-female dichotomies with regard to the human brain is to be ignorant of neuroscience and the growing body of contrary evidence. To paraphrase the title of a key paper in this area, men are not from Mars or women from Venus, we are all from Earth. • Reply•Share › Avatar Giovanna Price Giovanna Price • 3 months ago Dee Palmisano No disrespect but in a word: genetics. Personality traits are often a result of genetics. They can also be due to experience and environment. The old nature versus nurture issue. • Reply•Share › Avatar Dee Palmisano Giovanna Price • 3 months ago Please elaborate then, why my son acts just like his father even though he wasn't raised by him? How is his brain wired the same? • Reply•Share › Avatar Gordon Onomatapea Bennet Giovanna Price • 3 months ago stfu • Reply•Share › Avatar Debra Lord • 3 months ago Haha Robert McGregor • Reply•Share › Avatar Ruth Williams Smith • 3 months ago sounds like the perfect 'excuse' to me! I actually know (have even worked with a few) several guys who seem to have a 'ball of wire' as a brain! • Reply•Share › Avatar Thomas Keiningham Jr Ruth Williams Smith • 3 months ago that is women! Men have compartments. • Reply•Share › Comments continue after advertisement Avatar Lydia Nadia • 3 months ago Hayette some men have only nothing boxes in their head • Reply•Share › Avatar Gordon Onomatapea Bennet Lydia Nadia • 3 months ago just like some women have better bras? • Reply•Share › Avatar Deanna Moore • 3 months ago Galina Moore this is what I was trying to tell you. • Reply•Share › Avatar Amber Lynne • 3 months ago And what a waste of my time reading this bs! • Reply•Share › Avatar Tony Winger • 3 months ago Mark Gungor has some really informative videos on Youtube as well...he's a BEAST!!! • Reply•Share › Avatar subras3d • 5 months ago What the Dr.says are very true by my own experience as a husband for 38 years ..I have read Dr.Fritjof Capra's 'The Tao of Physics ' and I have written a book titled as 'Taoist Directions for Design & Development- the first of its kind in the world and boldly told the world that 'Design' is the equivalent of' 'Software 'or 'Yang ' ( Man ) and 'Manufacturability ' is the equivalent of 'Hardware ' or 'Yin' ( Woman ). The output of this research proves that not only men and women differ biologically :but also due to internal brain structure to prove that 'Man are from Mars & Women' are from Venus '..In fact I am writing a book titled as ' Energizing Sustainable Leadership by Empowering a Hybrid of Yang & Yin' to recommend 'Dual Leadership of Man & Woman ' in enterprises as the Winning Teams of Man & Woman have proved for more than 1000s of years as successful leadership models . .All due to 'Taoing' between 'Yang ' and 'Yin ' only due to the Complementary nature of genders and internal thinking .CONGRATS ! • Reply•Share › Avatar Evelyn Waterhouse • 5 months ago I disagree ... All though it is funny. You see woman do have a nothing box, we are being told, like this research, that we don't so boys and girls believe it. Not true, don't always believe everything you read. Girls have been raised to become Mothers which is to remember everything,(doctor appointements, birthday parties, school attivities ect. boys are raised to be providers (go out and work) ... times have changed. It will take time for the boys to become Men and for the girls to become Woman and embrace the "nothing Box" for the simple fact that roles are shared. Woman will be "permited" to embrace their "nothing box" just as freely as Man are , and Man will embrace the understanding that live is a shared adventure by both MAN and WOMAN, Husbands and Wifes, Moms and Dads. • Reply•Share › Comments continue after advertisement Avatar Iefke Bolk • 5 months ago Bjorn de Bie thuis even kijken hoor! • Reply•Share › Avatar Val Oosthuizen Guerrero • 5 months ago Brilliant Hahahaha :) • Reply•Share › Avatar Libby Adey • 5 months ago So true! My husband calls his " the nothing room " • Reply•Share › Avatar Bodhisattva Sarma • 5 months ago Absolutely love it! • Reply•Share › Avatar Josie Rangel Pacheco • 5 months ago I found my "nothing box" when I discovered gardening. Seriously. I can garden for hours and my brain is a blank slate throughout. I fired my therapist. Gardening is cheaper. • Reply•Share › Avatar Raviteja Rj • 5 months ago Great study. • Reply•Share › Comments continue after advertisement Avatar Joyce SY Chu • 5 months ago Wasn't he on TED talk? • Reply•Share › Avatar Truth Inside Of You Joyce SY Chu • 5 months ago No, it is not a TED talk... You can check here for more info: https://www.facebook.com/Tr... • Reply•Share › Avatar Angela Buyck • 7 months ago Very true • Reply•Share › Avatar Maureen Sturt • 7 months ago I've always believed in the Mars/Venus thing and the 'box' thing also makes sense. • Reply•Share › Avatar Adebisi Adio-Amida • 7 months ago Thank God at last. I now understand why I am the way I am. • Reply•Share › Avatar Richard Albertson • 7 months ago This view is somewhat simplistic, perhaps for the sake of humor. But, I would advise everyone to read "Why Men Don't Listen And Women Can't Read Maps" by Barbara & Allan Pease. If you truly want to understand not just your partner, but yourself as well, read this book. • Reply•Share › Avatar Nikki Muddle • 7 months ago And he was funny reminds me of dr gray and his Mars and Venus books which should be rerelease do for the new generation • Reply•Share › Comments continue after advertisement Avatar Brigitte Dumais • 7 months ago Y E S !! FINALLY THE WORDS HAVE BEEN SPOKEN!!!!!! :D • Reply•Share › Avatar Awinash Bhatkar • 7 months ago True. • Reply•Share › Avatar Rylan Mims • 7 months ago this has as little if anything to do with gender, has most everything to do with social conformity to gender roles, in that we conform to unhealthy for us gender roles we do tend to be one or the other as described, but as we learn that this is bogus and we become all that we are, both the yin in wire and the yang in boxes, we become psychologically more healthy, more in balance with our true self... • Reply•Share ›

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Volunteers for the Israel-Philippines Festival (Baguio Leg)

Eric Pangilinan March 8 at 9:40pm Are you a lover of Israel?! Be a part of the Israel-Philippines Festival (Baguio Leg)! http://www.worldcampforjesus.net Volunteer area is wherever/whatever God puts in your heart! - Production - Choir - Dance - Intercession - Marshalls/Security - Ushers - Medics - Hospitality - Marketing - Sales - Partnerships & Finance - Overseer's Team Your support will be greatly appreciated! * NOTE: Volunteer Sign-Up Form https://goo.gl/forms/jI962c9aotk0knPi2 Below are videos that provide some historical contexts to the celebratory gathering in Israel: World Camp for Jesus 2017 Israel: Birth of a State https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol_FOXTwX88 Jerusalem's Miraculous Freedom and Victory in 1967 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wMIq6X4zi4 https://www.facebook.com/adammilsteiniac/videos/208846776186781/?pnref=story The Birth of Israel(full length) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wMIq6X4zi4 Image may contain: text Seen by 44 12 12 Like Like Love Haha Wow Sad Angry Share

Norway's Plan To Get Rid Of Cars Involves A New Billion-Dollar Bike Highway A rider can cruise at up to 25 miles per hour from the suburbs to the cities. FASTCOEXIST.COM/3057592/NORWAY

Oscar del Rosario March 16, 2016 · Twitter · Norway's plan to get rid of cars involves a new billion-dollar bike highway 2 MINUTE READ Norway's Plan To Get Rid Of Cars Involves A New Billion-Dollar Bike Highway A rider can cruise at up to 25 miles per hour from the suburbs to the cities. Norway's Plan To Get Rid Of Cars Involves A New Billion-Dollar Bike Highway By 2030, Norway's government is aiming for zero growth in private car use. Photo: Flickr user Nicolás Boullosa ADVERTISEMENT RECENT POSTS Soon You Will Be Able To Use An App To Summon A Water Taxi To Get Around Paris Soon You Will Be Able To Use An App To Summon A Water Taxi To Get Around Paris How Will The Rise Of Crowdfunding Reshape How We Give To Charity? How Will The Rise Of Crowdfunding Reshape How We Give To Charity? The Oceans Are Warming 13% Faster Than Anyone Thought The Oceans Are Warming 13% Faster Than Anyone Thought This New Stationless Bike Share System Lets You Lock The Bike Anywhere This New Stationless Bike Share System Lets You Lock The Bike Anywhere ADVERTISEMENT ADELE PETERS 03.15.16 11:01 AM Norway is trying to get rid of as many cars as it can. By 2030, though the country's population is quickly growing, the government is aiming for zero growth in private car use. Downtown Oslo will be car-free in three years. And now as another step towards its goal, Norway plans to spend almost $1 billion on a new network of bike highways. The two-lane bike highways will link suburbs to nine Norwegian cities on the shortest, flattest path possible. With few intersections to cross, a rider can travel as 25 miles an hour on a daily commute. "[Bike highways] will be attractive for more people living in the suburbs, who we plan will be getting on their bikes instead of using cars on daily travels," says Marit Espeland, national cycling coordinator for the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Right now—unlike nearby Denmark or Sweden—Norway has fairly low everyday cycling rates, especially outside of its city centers. That's partly because communities are a little more scattered and partly because of culture. Flickr user Larry Lamsa "Many Norwegians use their bike for sport and leisure activities rather than to commute to work and school," says Espeland. "By constructing more and better bike paths, we will contribute to make more people feel safe and make it easier to choose their bike instead of their car." The new highways are one part of a much larger effort to get as close as possible to zero emissions from transportation nationally. By 2030, Norway plans to cut the country's entire carbon emissions by 40%; by 2050, it plans to be carbon neutral. Because most of its electricity runs on hydropower, a relative large chunk of its emissions come from cars and other forms of transportation. Public transportation will be fossil fuel-free in five years. Electric buses are being rolled out now, and the country launched its first electric ferry in 2015. All taxis will be zero emission cars by 2022. Norway is also already the world's biggest market for electric cars, thanks to tax cuts and benefits for drivers like giving drivers special access to bus lanes. But just switching to electric cars isn't enough for the government. "Too many are driving their cars," says Espeland. "The cities become more and more congested ... An electric car fills up just as much space as other cars. It is not possible to solve these challenges without getting more people traveling by more space efficient and environmentally friendly transport." Ultimately, Norway believes that bikes—along with better public transport and disincentives to drive—will help the country reach its goal of cutting transit emissions in half. "We have been working on this for a long time, and I believe that more people will choose their bike on daily travels more often in the near future," she says.