What are some "body hacks" that help with mental health?
A healthy body is a premise for mental health.To keep your body healthy you'll need:SLEEP Sleep deprivation causes a decline of cognitive function, and depression and irritability. Make absolutely sure you get enough sleep. For most people this means 8 hours a night, between 11pm and 7am. You can check if you're sleep deprived by checking if you fall asleep while watching TV, while waiting somewhere or in another inappropriate situation. Also if the onset of sleep is under 10 minutes you should reconsider your sleeping routine. It's important to get your sleep between 11pm and 7am because your body is in a resting state during that period, and is busy with detoxifying and restoring your energy and tissues. If you disturb this process by being active, your body won't recover well from the damage done the preceding day.EXERCISEThis releases endorfines, which makes you feel good. Feeling fit enhances your feeling of well being, and your self confidence. Exercise can diminish depression: Comparison among aerobic exercise and other types of interventions to treat depression: a systematic review. HEALTHY NUTRITIONIf you eat well, which means sufficient vegetables, healthy fats, protein from healthy sources, you will feel more fit, look better and supply your body with precursors for neurotransmitters which will make you feel good and improve your cognitive function. You should pay special attention to foods containing tyrosine, tryptophan, vitamine B12, vitamine D, zinc, magnesium, phytonutrients and omega 3's.Avoid alcohol, refined sugar and too much stimulants like cafeine and energy drinks. They cause a spike in your blood sugar levels, make you feel jittery and restless, and weak next.STRESS REGULATIONMake sure you learn how to relax yourself, but foremost: plan your moments. Relaxation should be a structural part of your daily routine. I should have top priority, Unplug the phone, switch off devices, and allow yourself to take a real break twice a day, for ten minutes. Use a meditation podcast or some other technique to guide you.This relaxation is like a warm bath for your body and mind, see it as maintenance, brain floss, a mental massage. It will take away accumulated stress and worries, and will prevent a downfall in mood and general functioning.The last three will have minimal effect if you don't apply the first one. Really: get enough sleep!
How is OCD treated???
Obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment can sometimes be difficult, and it may not offer a cure. However, OCD treatment can help you bring symptoms under control so that they don't rule your daily life. OCD treatment has two main components: psychotherapy and medications. Psychotherapy A type of therapy called cognitive behavior therapy has been shown to be the most effective form of therapy for OCD in both children and adults. Cognitive behavior therapy involves retraining your thought patterns and routines so that compulsive behaviors are no longer necessary. One approach in particular is called exposure and response prevention. This therapy involves gradually exposing you to a feared object or obsession, such as dirt, and teaching you healthy ways to deal with it. Learning the techniques and new thought patterns takes effort and practice, but it's worth it. Most people with obsessive-compulsive disorder show improvement of signs and symptoms with cognitive behavior therapy. Medications Most people with OCD benefit from taking certain psychiatric medications. Some medications have been specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat OCD, such as the antidepressants clomipramine (Anafranil), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine and sertraline (Zoloft). However, many other antidepressant medications on the market may also be used to treat OCD off-label — that is, even if they haven't been specifically FDA approved for that use. Antidepressants may be helpful for OCD because they may help increase levels of serotonin, which may be deficient in OCD. All of these medications have side effects and safety concerns, and you may need to try several medications before finding one that's both effective and tolerable.