KindMindbyDana

ADHD doesn't always wear a loud label, especially in women. It's a condition often misdiagnosed, with many women not receiving the right evaluation until adulthood. ❗️Why? Bias and oversight. Doctors may not ask the right questions, assuming women internalize struggles, leading to misdiagnoses with anxiety or depression. Why Does It Matter? Essential Diagnosis:  Getting the right diagnosis is crucial. Often, women are assessed for inattention symptoms, overlooking impulsivity symptoms. Correct diagnosis ensures tailored support and skill development.💥 Hormones Matter:  ADHD in women is linked to dyscalculia, emotional regulation problems, and hormonal imbalances. Understanding these connections is key to comprehensive care.➰ Inattentive Type Symptoms include: Errors Due to Inattention Difficulty Staying Focused Zoning Out During Conversations Difficulty Organizing and Prioritizing Forgetfulness and Distractions Hyperactive Type Symptoms: Frequent Fidgeting Restlessness Diffic...

Do you notice that certain people naturally make you feel more relaxed, while others tend to make you feel a bit tense or anxious? ✨Some call it 'vibes' or 'energy' – those unspoken feelings we pick up on. As human beings, we're incredibly sensitive to subtle changes in how others feel.  It could be a tiny shift in their facial expressions, the tilt of their head, or what many refer to as 'body language.' Our mirror neurons in the brain are like emotional detectives, picking up on what others are experiencing inside.  And, our own bodies respond to these cues.  Even our facial muscles give away our emotions, showing how calm or excited we are. When our body senses the message ‘ you are safe with me’,  we tend to relax. In the best relationships, we not only relax but also feel nurtured, supported, and rejuvenated, especially when we look into our partner's eyes! 🧬The Polyvagal theory, one of my favorite topics in psychology, helps us understand this em...

How can I help you? These five simple words have the power to provide much-needed support when someone opens up about their mental health struggles. Many people are advocates for mental health. They hold a deep respect for this field and genuinely appreciate its importance. However, they may find themselves stuck or scared when someone confides in them about their struggles with a mental health condition. They might not know how to respond the ‘right’ way. I magine this scenario:  a friend or colleague at work approaches you and opens up about a tough phase they've been going through, such as experiencing depressive moods, low self-esteem, or thoughts of self-harm. You listen attentively, but you hesitate to respond because you're not a mental health expert, and you're unsure of what to say or do. If you've ever found yourself in this situation, please don't ignore them or ghost them. And dont worry, you don't need to be a mental health expert to offer the ‘r...

The heaviness you are feeling is grief. Collective grief can often be difficult to deal with. It is both a shared and a unique experience. It can feel overwhelming and trigger our past traumas and losses, and exacerbate any pre-existing psychological distress. It can also open our eyes to the dark side of humanity, and shatter our assumptions of what we thought was a ‘Just and Fair world’. Grief consumes our entire body. Just like trauma, it provokes our ‘fight and flight’ response. We might feel more tired than usual, lose our appetite or have trouble sleeping. There is no unique or right way to grieve. People could feel emotionally overwhelmed, which is similar to a soda bottle that's been vigorously shaken. It's filled with a lot of pressure, and the best way to handle it is by carefully opening and closing the cap slowly and gently to prevent it from bursting.  This also applies to our emotions. After experiencing or witnessing trauma, individuals often lose their sense of...

We all have bad days. It is not realistic to always be happy. What really matters is how we choose our behaviors and responses during these challenging times. 🌟I personally do the below, and they really help (supported by psychological science): 1. Engage in your passion project.   Pursue something you love, even if it's not your everyday work. Scientifically, engaging in activities that bring you joy can boost your mood and overall well-being. I personally enjoy reading articles and creating content such as writing this blog. 🤍 2. Spend time in nature.   Take a walk, especially during the day. Exposure to nature has been linked to reduced symptoms of depression and increased feelings of well-being. (PS: research shows that exercise in nature improves self-esteem too!).🌱 3. Talk about it.   Express your thoughts and feelings to someone who understands. Social support and sharing your emotions can have a positive impact on mood and emotional regulation. 👨‍👧‍👧 Remembe...

Navigating the distress of traumatic events can feel like an endless storm. Social media exposure to the distressing news around the world can be overwhelming. We go through our daily routines, like making our coffee, working, and checking our phones in between. But our minds are scattered, and everything feels shaky. We are not okay. We try to avoid the news and spend less time on social media, hoping it will help. But we can't stop worrying and wondering about all the ‘what ifs’. Everything feels temporary and fragile. At night, those troubling news and stories show up in our dreams, turning them into scary nightmares. Nightmares of losing our beloved ones, of not being there, of the reality we live and escape from. The guilt of having a ‘normal’ life, of planning our day, having lunch and going to work. According to Psychological Science, fear, anxiety, and the lasting impact of traumatic stress can significantly affect one's overall health and well-being. Witnessing, hearin...

Do you feel guilt for not directly going through the pain of traumatic events that others are facing? Survivors guilt is a common emotional experience that develops in people who have survived a traumatic incident. Some survivors feel guilty that they survived when others died. It is when someone thinks that ‘other people dying instead of me means that I have done something wrong’, ‘ or that I do not deserve to be alive and not struggling while others are’ Guilt after trauma is common and it does not necessarily mean that the person has PTSD. Previous negative self-schemas could contribute to the feelings of survivors’ guilt. Like someone who thinks that ‘I am not worthy’, might see that their survival is unfair and others deserve to to live more than them which can trigger feelings of guilt and shame. They may even think that others will think the same (‘they wish the other person had survived instead of me’). If you're struggling with guilt for surviving a traumatic experience th...