Thozhi Selvi - Counselling and Psychotherapy

10/01/2023

"According to Psychologists, there are four types of Intelligence:

1) Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
2) Emotional Quotient (EQ)
3) Social Quotient (SQ)
4) Adversity Quotient (AQ)

1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ): this is the measure of your level of comprehension. You need IQ to solve maths, memorize things, and recall lessons.

2. Emotional Quotient (EQ): this is the measure of your ability to maintain peace with others, keep to time, be responsible, be honest, respect boundaries, be humble, genuine and considerate.

3. Social Quotient (SQ): this is the measure of your ability to build a network of friends and maintain it over a long period of time.

People that have higher EQ and SQ tend to go further in life than those with a high IQ but low EQ and SQ. Most schools capitalize on improving IQ levels while EQ and SQ are played down.

A man of high IQ can end up being employed by a man of high EQ and SQ even though he has an average IQ.

Your EQ represents your Character, while your SQ represents your Charisma. Give in to habits that will improve these three Qs, especially your EQ and SQ.

Now there is a 4th one, a new paradigm:

4. The Adversity Quotient (AQ): The measure of your ability to go through a rough patch in life, and come out of it without losing your mind.

When faced with troubles, AQ determines who will give up, who will abandon their family, and who will consider su***de.

Parents please expose your children to other areas of life than just Academics. They should adore manual labour (never use work as a form of punishment), Sports and Arts.

Develop their IQ, as well as their EQ, SQ and AQ. They should become multifaceted human beings able to do things independently of their parents.

Finally, do not prepare the road for your children. Prepare your children for the road."

Thanks!

10/10/2022

Wishing you all Happy Mental Health day... Selvi Aks

25/07/2022

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP)
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NLP is a psychological approach that involves analyzing strategies used by successful individuals and applying them to reach a personal goal. It relates thoughts, language, and patterns of behavior learned through experience to specific outcomes.

NLP can help you to understand yourself better and understand another person well.

Taking an NLP training is like learning how to become fluent in the language of your mind so that the ever-so-helpful “server” that is your unconscious will finally understand what you actually want out of life. NLP is the study of excellent communication–both with yourself, and with others.

Circle of Excellence
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COE is an Effective tool to improve Self-Confidence, Self-Esteem and Positive Attitude of every one.

There are many chemicals which play vital role in Positive Emotions. Oxytocin is one such Hormone secreted by the Posterior Lobe of Pituitary Gland. It is sometimes known as `Cuddle Hormone’ or ` Love Hormone.

A 2007 study published in Journal of Psychological science found higher a Mom’s Oxytocin levels, more she will engage in bonding behaviours. Oxytocin is driven by Positive emotions. It increases our ability to trust our own capabilities and trust others.

Apart from the above, Dopamine, Serotonin and Endorphins are the important positive hormones. They are also called Success Hormones. Whenever, in our life we felt happiness or Success, above positives hormones secreted.

When we recall our past events, a negative event causes us sad and depressed which in turn makes body to secrete negative hormones.

But, recollecting our past success makes us emotionally strong. Before going to any international match, many players try to recollect all the best shots which they played in their life.

So, it is the best idea to recollect and stack all good memories of the past in a circle representing it as our Excellence Circle. So Excellence Circle will contain all the best part of the individuals’ life. By doing a powerful exercise to programme the best moments of the life in its entirety ( Visual,Auditory ,Kinesthetic and Digital auditory) , we can create a powerful state.

The circle of Excellence harnesses our Positive, resourceful qualities and bring them to fruition in our day to day experience. For Example, if one is feeling low in confidence when entering for Interview hall or Sales Cold Call or even a public speaking event, how it would be if we give them an exercise which instantly makes them Confident.

Circle of Excellence is one such exercise. First we ask students to put a circle and try to put all the achievements in the circle first. Then we take the students to the point of time using time line therapy. The students are asked to bring the moments alive by recollecting the happy incident in complete VAKD. Then the students are trained in stacking all the positive incidents in the circle. The students are trained to create a Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic anchor, which if fired, brings them the success feelings which in turn secretes all positive hormones. Hence the students will feel positive to attend the Interview or whatsoever it may be.

Circle of Excellence is the best tool for any kind of counseling and also to boost self confidence in any areas. This can be applied in Sports, Sexual issues and also in the area phobia.






Reference:
http://www.gtco.co.in/2016/01/20/circle-of-excellence/

22/03/2022

21/03/2022

How is trypanophobia treated?
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Therapy:
A few different types of therapy can help treat phobias, including exposure therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT):

:
This approach allows you to begin facing your fear in the safe environment of therapy so you can learn — with a therapist’s support — to change your response to the object or situation causing your fear. Experts generally consider exposure therapy the most effective approach for phobias.

Your therapist will expose you to needles and the related thoughts they trigger. For example, your therapist might first show you photos of a needle. They might next have you stand next to a needle, hold a needle, and then perhaps imagine getting injected with a needle.

:
This approach teaches strategies to help identify, challenge, and reframe unwanted thoughts and distressing feelings. CBT techniques can help you learn to manage overwhelming emotions, including feelings of anxiety and fear.

This involves exploring your fear of needles in therapy sessions and learning techniques to cope with it. Your therapist will help you learn different ways to think about your fears and how they affect you. In the end, you should walk away feeling confident or mastery over your thoughts and feelings.

How is it diagnosed?
----------------------
A therapist can also help identify any other mental health symptoms you live with, including signs of anxiety conditions or depression, by asking questions about:

• the symptoms you experience
• the things that trigger them
• how they affect your daily life

Causes:
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In the case of trypanophobia, certain aspects of needles often cause a phobia. This may include:

• fainting or severe dizziness as a result of having a vasovagal reflex reaction when pricked by a needle
• bad memories and anxiety, such as memories of painful injections, that can be triggered by the sight of a needle
• medically related fears or hypochondria
• sensitivity to pain, which tends to be genetic and causes high anxiety, blood pressure, or heart rate during medical procedures involving a needle
• a fear of restraint, which can be confused with trypanophobia because many people receiving injections are restrained

Other approaches:
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* Relaxation techniques, including deep breathing, yoga, and meditation
* mindfulness strategies such as mindful breathing, listening, and observation to help you cope with anxiety

Who can use this technique?
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Muscle tension is a safe technique that children 7 and older and adults can use. Muscle tension can help anyone who gets dizzy and faints with needles.

Ask the person to follow these steps:
1. Sit in a chair.
2. Tense or squeeze the muscles in their legs and stomach.
3. Squeeze for about 10-15 seconds until their face feels flushed or warm.
4. Release the tension for 20-30 seconds.
5. Repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 until the needle is over, or until the feeling of faintness passes.

21/03/2022

:
Helping Patients Deal with Fear of Needles

Trypanophobia impacts the physical and social well-being of those who suffer from it.

Patients with needle phobias tend to avoid health care and the health care system for as long as possible.

Fear of blood testing or immunizations can interfere with school, employment, or travel opportunities.

Required blood tests for marriage licenses and prenatal care may impact personal decisions in patients with needle phobia as well.

There have even been case reports of legal problems arising for patients when blood tests are court-ordered and patients have refused to comply.

What is needle phobia?
--------------------------
Needle phobia has a proper medical name – trypanophobia.
It’s a recognized psychiatric condition, where an irrational fear of being pricked by a needle induces severe feelings of dread and anxiety.

Even the thought of an impending procedure which requires venepuncture induces an acute anxiety response, or a panic attack – a rapid heart rate, faster breathing, sweating, and a drop in blood pressure. The result, not infrequently, is a syncopal episode – fainting and collapse.

Sufferers may fear a vasovagal fainting episode such as they have had in the past, even more than the needle procedure itself.

Those with needle phobia can also develop a fear of being controlled and can become aggressive when challenged. When we hear people arguing against the vaccine, I wonder how many of them are needle phobics.

What to do about needle phobia?
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Healthcare professionals need to realize the importance of needle phobia. It can be frustrating in a busy clinic to find a patient with needle phobia. However, this needs to be treated with patience and kindness. Let’s remember that pain management is a human right.

Now, mid of COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect time to address this problem, help patients overcome their fears, and improve their opportunities for healthcare in the future.

1. Explain the ‘fight, fright, and flight’ mechanism of anxiety. This is a normal physiological response. However, the patient can learn to control it. (These responses are evolutionary adaptations to increase chances of survival in threatening situations)

2. Teach the patient how to perform diaphragmatic breathing. They can be doing this at home before their venepuncture appointment, outside in the waiting room, and even during the procedure.

3. We can all learn to control our thoughts and emotions.

4. Think positive thoughts … ‘I can do this … I will do this …’ not negative thoughts.

Patients can be referred to the Psychology Team for further help. The technique employed is often to break the process of venepunctures into a series of small steps –

* Look at a needle.
* Watch someone having an injection on Video
* Watch a person having an injection.
* visualization of taking injection
* Have an injection.

Take the cognitive approach
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The psychiatrist advises contemplating the worst that can happen and remembering that an injection is only temporary discomfort. “Remind yourself that a needle is painful for a second, but when you process and fully understand what the suffering would be like if you did not get the injection. it can help you be more realistic.”

Practice deep breathing. “Visualize yourself being in a comfortable place” “Don’t make your fear an enemy but treat the injection as something that in the end will make you more comfortable.”

Try mindfulness and meditation. Start with a few minutes of mindfulness and then 14 minutes of meditation. Think of three things that you are grateful for and then imagine your goals, long-term or simple, being accomplished.”

Final thoughts:
----------------
Needle phobia is a serious condition that deserves attention. By recognizing this, and helping patients receive appropriate help, we can help improve their health care and life choices, now and in the future. If patients are refusing the COVID-19 vaccination due to needle phobia, now is the time to take action.

Overcoming needle phobia is vital for a fully successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

21/03/2022

Behavioral therapy does not focus on the origin of psychological problems.

Instead, behavior therapists use learning principles to modify .

While behaviorism emerged as a school of psychology in the 1920s, it was not applied as a form of therapy until the 1950s.

One behavior change technique is a token economy, a system that uses (small rewards) to elicit behaviors. Tokens may include buttons, stickers, or fake money that can be exchanged for other rewards (e.g., privileges or snacks).

Behavior shaping through successive approximation is a technique first proposed by American psychologist B.F.Skinner. Through , a person can learn to complete a complex behavior through reinforced behaviors that are close to the desired one.

For example,
if a father wants his daughter to learn to eat her yogurt with a spoon, he may first praise (reinforce) her for simply picking up the spoon. Next, he will praise her for dipping the spoon into the yogurt cup and then for putting the spoon with the yogurt in her mouth. Eventually, he will only reinforce the act of eating the yogurt off the spoon to affirm this behavior.



#தோழிசெல்வி

21/03/2022

Joseph Wolpe, a South African behaviorist, pioneered a technique called systematic desensitization, in which and are reduced through gradual exposure to feared situations.

The therapist first builds an anxiety hierarchy with the client.

An anxiety hierarchy often begins with scenarios, such as thinking about a snake or seeing a snake on TV. It then progresses to varying degrees of , such as allowing a snake to crawl up one's arm.

The therapist trains the client using (e.g., deep breathing exercises and positive self-talk) to the and as they move through the hierarchy.

for an :

Systematic desensitization can be used for any feared situation, from fear of flying to fear of getting an injection.

In systematic desensitization, therapists slowly expose people to feared situations, starting with situations that create only mild fear. Each new task will temporarily increase fear and signs of physical arousals, such as heart rate. Clients learn the fear and intense physical reaction will decrease if they stay in the feared situation. Over time, clients work up to facing very challenging situations.






#தோழிசெல்வி

21/03/2022

We're thinking about the way if we do not get a favorable result,
somebody assumes them as worthless.

It's very easy to allow ourselves to spiral into negative thought patterns when a Bad Thing happens, but we can reshape the way we approach that negativity. This is called "cognitive restructuring".

It can be hard to train our brain to re-shape negative thought patterns, but the first step is to try. Here are a few that might help you






#தோழிசெல்வி

21/03/2022

:

Cognitive restructuring is a technique that has been successfully used to help people change the way they think.

When used for stress management, the goal is to replace stress-producing thoughts (cognitive distortions) with more balanced thoughts that do not produce stress.

Example: 1
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Situation: I made a suggestion at the weekly meeting and most people thought it wasn't a good idea.

Thoughts: I have no good ideas. People think I am stupid. I am terrible at my work.

Feelings: Anxious. Disrespected. Stupid. Stressed.

Evidence that supports the thought: Some co-workers pointed out that we don't have enough resources to implement my idea.

Evidence that doesn't support the thought: A few people did think it was a good idea. I often get complimented on my ability to think outside the box. Mine was not the only idea that the group didn't like. People tell me they like the way I work. I usually do a good job.

Alternative/balanced thought: People at work think that I am capable and often have good ideas. I do my work well, but this wasn't one of my best ideas.

Outcome: I feel calmer. I no longer feel stressed about this.

Example: 2
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Situation: I met with my thesis supervisor and she had many comments about my work.

Thoughts: My supervisor doesn’t like the work I am doing. I will never finish my thesis. I will never have a good career.

Feelings: I feel stressed. I feel stupid. I feel sad.

Evidence that supports the thought: The comments that my supervisor made were valid.

Evidence that doesn't support the thought: I have received many comments in the past on my work and have used the critique to improve it. My supervisor has always been supportive. I have succeeded in all of my academic work in the past ... surely this won't be the first time I fail. The university does not want me to fail and will support me.

Alternative/balanced thought: The comments that my supervisor has made will help to make my research better. Both she and the university wanted me to succeed.

Outcome: I feel hopeful, intelligent, encouraged, not stressed.




#தோழிசெல்வி

20/03/2022

:

Common Phobias:
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) identifies three different categories of phobias:
* ,
* , and
* .

When people talk about having a of a specific object such as , , or , they are referring to a specific phobia.





#தோழிசெல்வி

20/03/2022

When should you get help?

The following symptoms might be signs of an underlying mental health condition:

• thoughts of hurting yourself or others
• frequent or persistent feelings of sadness, anger, fear, worry, or anxiety
• frequent emotional outbursts or mood swings
• confusion or unexplained memory loss
• delusions or hallucinations
• intense fear or anxiety about weight gain
• dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
• unexplained changes in school or work performance
• inability to cope with daily activities or challenges
• withdrawal from social activities or relationships
• defiance of authority, truancy, theft, or vandalism
• substance abuse, including alcoholism or use of illegal drugs
• unexplained physical ailments

If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or someone else, get help right away. If you have symptoms on this list, make an appointment with a mental health professional.









#தோழிசெல்வி

20/03/2022

:

When you see a dog coming toward you in the distance, your palms sweat, your heart races, and you have trouble breathing. Your phobia relates specifically to being bitten, but being around dogs also makes you feel afraid and anxious.

To get started on your hierarchy of fears, you begin by imagining you’re near a dog on a leash in a passing car. The next day, you drive by a dog park several times. It doesn’t seem to affect you much, so you park somewhere where you have a full view of the park.

You feel yourself tense up every time a dog starts barking. To combat this, you concentrate on relaxing your muscles and imagining yourself on a beautiful beach — one without dogs. You open your eyes and repeat this process for the next 30 minutes.

Next, you spend time with a friend who keeps her dog in a different room of her home while you’re visiting. You practice relaxation exercises each time you think about the dog getting out.

As you prepare to conquer your level 10 fear — walking through a dog park — you decide to spend some time in the puppy area of your local animal shelter.

Puppies are less frightening to you, but the thought of them being so close still makes you feel anxious. You have to step outside a few times to do some deep breathing and visualization exercises.

Finally, after months of work, you head back to the dog park. This time, you park your car and walk through the gates. You sit on a bench and practice deep breathing as you watch the dogs playing.

Even though you still feel somewhat frightened, you focus on the fact that you’re facing your fear.










#தோழிசெல்வி

20/03/2022

Are you a college student with social anxiety?

When you think about giving the wrong answer in class or having to ask to use the restroom, you feel sick and your heart races. You avoid speaking in class or participating in college activities to avoid embarrassing situations.

When you decide to try , you determine that talking to someone you don’t know is a level 1 fear. You begin yourself vocally , practicing deep breathing when you feel anxious until you can remain calm.

Next, you move on to greeting strangers in . After a week of doing this daily, you start to feel more at ease.

Then, you start working on the next fear — making during the conversation. You work your way through the hierarchy, eventually, and along in class. You continue to use deep breathing and muscle relaxation to get through periods of discomfort.

The final level of your fear hierarchy involves in class. It takes a few tries, but eventually, you’re able to in class, though your heart still begins to race once you put your . You take a deep breath, release the tension in your muscles, and begin to speak.










#தோழிசெல்வி

20/03/2022

Exposure can be done in two ways:

· In vitro – the client imagines exposure to the phobic stimulus.
· In vivo – the client is actually exposed to the phobic stimulus.

Research has found that in vivo techniques are more successful than in vitro (Menzies & Clarke, 1993). However, there may be practical reasons why in vitro may be used.

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Three phases to treatment:

1. Patient is taught a deep muscle relaxation technique and breathing exercises. E.g. control over breathing, muscle de-tensioning, or meditation.

This step is very important because of reciprocal inhibition, where one response is inhibited because it is incompatible with another. In the case of phobias, fears involve tension and tension is incompatible with relaxation.

2. The patient creates a fear hierarchy starting at stimuli that create the least anxiety (fear) and building up in stages to the most fear-provoking images. The list is crucial as it provides a structure for the therapy.

3. The patient works their way up the fear hierarchy, starting at the least unpleasant stimuli and practicing their relaxation technique as they go.

When they feel comfortable with this (they are no longer afraid) they move on to the next stage in the hierarchy. If the client becomes upset they can return to an earlier stage and regain their relaxed state.

The client repeatedly imagines (or is confronted by) this situation until it fails to evoke any anxiety at all, indicating that the therapy has been successful.

This process is repeated while working through all of the situations in the anxiety hierarchy until the most anxiety-provoking.

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might regard one small, stationary spider 5 meters away as only modestly threatening, but a large, rapidly moving spider 1 meter away as highly threatening.

The client reaches a state of deep relaxation and is then asked to imagine (or is confronted by) the least threatening situation in the anxiety hierarchy.










#தோழிசெல்வி

20/03/2022

Do I misuse alcohol?

:

Sometimes it can be hard to draw the line between safe alcohol use and misuse of alcohol. The Clinic report suggests that you may misuse alcohol if you answer “ ” to some of the following questions:

• Do you need to drink more in order to feel the effects of alcohol?
• Do you feel guilty about drinking?
• Do you become irritable or violent when you’re drinking?
• Do you have problems at school or work because of drinking?
• Do you think it might be better if you cut back on your drinking?

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and .org offer more comprehensive self-tests. These tests can help you assess whether you misuse alcohol.





#தோழிசெல்வி

20/03/2022

It occurs when you drink so much that your body eventually becomes dependent on or addicted to alcohol. When this happens, alcohol becomes the most important thing in your life.

People with alcohol use disorder will continue to drink even when drinking causes negative consequences, like losing a job or destroying relationships with people they love. They may know that their alcohol use negatively affects their lives, but it’s often not enough to make them stop drinking.

Some people may drink alcohol to the point that it causes problems, but they’re not physically dependent on alcohol. This used to be referred to as alcohol abuse.

develops when you drink so much that chemical changes in the brain occur. These changes increase the pleasurable feelings you get when you drink alcohol. This makes you want to drink more often, even if it causes harm.

Eventually, the pleasurable feelings associated with alcohol use go away and the person with alcohol use disorder will engage in drinking to prevent withdrawal symptoms. These withdrawal symptoms can be quite unpleasant and even dangerous.

Alcohol use disorder typically develops gradually over time. It’s also known to run in families.

:
If You,
- are a young adult experiencing peer pressure
- have low self-esteem
- experience a high level of stress
- live in a family or culture where alcohol use is common and accepted
- have a close relative with alcohol use disorder

of alcohol use disorder are based on the behaviors and physical outcomes that occur as a result of alcohol addiction.

symptoms:
• drinking alone
• drinking more to feel the effects of alcohol (having a high tolerance)
• becoming violent or angry when asked about their drinking habits
• not eating or eating poorly
• neglecting personal hygiene
• missing work or school because of drinking
• being unable to control alcohol intake
• making excuses to drink
• continuing to drink even when legal, social, or economic problems develop
• giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use

symptoms:
• alcohol cravings
• withdrawal symptoms when not drinking, including shaking, nausea, and vomiting
• tremors (involuntary shaking) the morning after drinking
• lapses in memory (blacking out) after a night of drinking
• illnesses, such as alcoholic ketoacidosis (includes dehydration-type symptoms) or cirrhosis


Your doctor or healthcare provider can diagnose alcohol use disorder. They’ll do a physical exam and ask you questions about your drinking habits.

Your doctor may ask if you:

• drive when you’re drunk
• have missed work or have lost a job as a result of your drinking
• need more alcohol to feel “drunk” when you drink
• have experienced blackouts as a result of your drinking
• have tried to cut back on your drinking but couldn’t

Your doctor may also use a questionnaire that assesses alcohol use disorder to help diagnose your condition.

Typically, a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder doesn’t require any other type of diagnostic test. There’s a chance your doctor may order blood work to check your liver function if you show signs or symptoms of liver disease.

Alcohol use disorder can cause serious and lasting damage to your liver. Your liver is responsible for removing toxins from your blood. When you drink too much, your liver has a harder time filtering the alcohol and other toxins from your bloodstream. This can lead to liver disease and other complications.

for alcohol use disorder varies, but each method is meant to help you stop drinking altogether. This is called abstinence.

Treatment may occur in stages and can include the following:

• detoxification or withdrawal to rid your body of alcohol
• rehabilitation to learn new coping skills and behaviors
• counseling to address emotional problems that may cause you to drink
• support groups, including 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• medical treatment for health problems associated with alcohol use disorder

from alcohol use disorder is difficult.
can severely damage your liver. It can also lead to other health complications, including:

• bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
• damage to brain cells
• cancer in the GI tract
• dementia
• depression
• high blood pressure
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
• nerve damage
• changes in mental status, including Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (a brain disease that causes symptoms such as confusion, vision changes, or memory loss)

How can you alcohol use disorder?

You can prevent alcohol use disorder by limiting your alcohol intake. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, women shouldn’t drink more than one drink per day, and men shouldn’t drink more than two drinks per day.

See your doctor if you begin to engage in behaviors that are signs of alcohol use disorder or if you think that you may have a problem with alcohol.





#தோழிசெல்வி