This week's Psychology Around the Net takes a look at what to do if you think your child is at risk for mental illness, why self-regulation is so important for people with ADHD, the symptoms of problematic smartphone use, and the mental and physical fatigue that often accompanies chronic illness, and more.
Does Mental Illness Run in Families?: What should you do if you suspect your child is at risk of developing a mental disorder — especially when mental illness runs in your family? According to psychologist Scott Bea PsyD, an important first step is helping your child build resilience, a personality trait that helps children deal with the emotions caused by their thoughts. He goes on to suggest simple steps parents can do to help their child be emotionally strong before any real symptoms emerge.
Up to one-in-eight people may have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12 is crucial to the production of red blood cells and the healthy functioning of brain cells.
Its effect on mental processes is likely down to its involvement in the production of myelin.
Myelin is a material that surrounds neurons (brain cells) and also the connections between them, known as axons.
Fortunately, vitamin B12 deficiency is easy to correct either with supplementation or a change in diet.
Foods high in vitamin B12 include dairy, beef, salmon, eggs and low-fat milk.
"Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today." – Tim Fargo
If you feel a bit stagnated in life at this point and want to do something proactive to expand your possibilities, what can you realistically do? Here are some suggestions to consider:
Start with an open mindset.
You'll never know what you don't know if you automatically close yourself off to possibilities. Telling yourself that you lack the experience or education or background, or that you're from the wrong neighborhood, aren't outgoing enough, or possess various and sundry supposed character flaws is more an excuse than legitimate. Even if some of the negatives are true, a little resistance didn't stop many successful individuals, so why characterize yourself as incompetent, unlikely to succeed or undeserving of achievement.
Every April, autism takes a center stage in global awareness. All around the world, well-meaning, good-hearted people "Light it up blue" for Autism Awareness Month, and they decorate their social media with the puzzle piece frames and the jigsaw rainbow awareness ribbons.
And, every March, autistic adults are already dreading April. Many of them report feeling traumatized by previous Aprils. They begin to mentally prepare for what is ahead, feeling powerless to stop it. They're bracing themselves for what is on the horizon.
What autistic people wish their neurotypical allies knew going into April
