Monday, June 10, 2019

Components Of Emotional Intelligence

5 components of Emotional intelligence

The ability to express and control our emotions is essential, but so is our ability to understand, interpret, and respond to the emotions of others. Imagine a world in which you could not understand when a friend was feeling sad or when a co-worker was angry. Psychologists refer to this ability as emotional intelligence, and some experts even suggest that it can be more important than IQ in your overall success in life.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions. Some researchers suggest that emotional intelligence can be learned and strengthened. While others claim it’s an inborn characteristic.

Emotional intelligence as a term didn’t come into our vernacular until around 1990. Despite being a relatively young term, interest in the concept has grown tremendously over the last 20 years.

Components

Salovey and Mayer proposed a model that identified four different levels of emotional intelligence, including emotional perception, the ability to reason using emotions, the ability to understand emotion, and the ability to manage emotions.

Perceiving emotions: The first step in understanding emotions is to perceive them accurately. In many cases, this might involve understanding nonverbal signals such as body language and facial expressions.
Reasoning with emotions: The next step involves using emotions to promote thinking and cognitive activity. Emotions help prioritize what we pay attention and react to; we respond emotionally to things that garner our attention.
Understanding emotions: The emotions that we perceive can carry a wide variety of meanings. If someone is expressing angry emotions, the observer must interpret the cause of the person’s anger and what it could mean. For example, if your boss is acting angry, it might mean that he is dissatisfied with your work, or it could be because he got a speeding ticket on his way to work that morning or that he’s been fighting with his wife.
Managing emotions: The ability to manage emotions effectively is a crucial part of emotional intelligence and the highest level. Regulating emotions, responding appropriately, and responding to the emotions of others are all important aspect of emotional management.

Different types of emotional intelligence

Self-Awareness

Self-awareness, or the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions, is a critical part of emotional intelligence. Beyond just recognizing your emotions, however, is being aware of the effect of your own actions, moods, and emotions of other people.

In order to become self-aware, you must be capable of monitoring your own emotions, recognizing different emotional reactions, and then correctly identifying each particular emotion. Self-aware individuals also recognize the relationships between the things they feel and how they behave. These individuals are also capable of recognizing their own strengths and limitations, are open to new information and experiences, and learn from their interactions with others.

Goleman suggests that people who possess this self-awareness have a good sense of humor, are confident in themselves and their abilities, and are aware of how other people perceive them.

Self-Regulation

In addition to being aware of your own emotions and the impact you have on others, emotional intelligence requires you to be able to regulate and manage your emotions. This doesn’t mean putting emotions on lock-down and hiding your true feelings — it simply means waiting for the right time, place, an avenue to express your emotions. Self-regulation is all about expressing your emotions appropriately.

Those who are skilled in self-regulation tend to be flexible and adapt well to change. They are also good at managing conflict and diffusing tense or difficult situations.

Goleman also suggests that those with strong self-regulation skills are high in conscientiousness. They are thoughtful of how they influence others and take responsibility for their own actions.

Social Skills

Being able to interact well with others is another important aspect of emotional intelligence. True emotional understanding involves more than just understanding your own emotions and the feelings of others. You also need to be able to put this information to work in your daily interactions and communications.

In professional settings, managers benefit by being able to build relationships and connections with employees. While workers can benefit from being able to develop a strong rapport with leaders and co-workers. Some important social skills include active listening, verbal communication skills, nonverbal communication skills, leadership, and persuasiveness.

Empathy

Empathy, or the ability to understand how others are feeling, is absolutely critical to emotional intelligence. But this involves more than just being able to recognize the emotional states of others.

It also involves your responses to people based on this information. When you sense that someone is feeling sad or hopeless, for example, it will likely influence how you respond to that individual. You might treat them with extra care and concern or you might make an effort to buoy their spirits.

Being empathetic also allows people to understand the power dynamics that often influence social relationships, especially in workplace settings. Those competent in this area are able to sense who possess power in different relationships. They understand how these forces influence feelings and behaviors, and accurately interpret different situations that hinge on such power dynamics.

Motivation

Intrinsic motivation also plays a key role in emotional intelligence. People who are emotionally intelligent are motivated by things beyond mere external rewards like fame, money, recognition, and acclaim.

Instead, they have a passion to fulfill their own inner needs and goals. They seek things that lead to internal rewards, experience flow from being totally in tune with activity, and pursue peak experiences.

Those who are competent in this area tend to be action-oriented. These people set goals, have a high need for achievement, and are always looking for ways to do better. They also tend to be very committed and are good at taking the initiative when a task is put forth before them.

Saturday, June 8, 2019

PMS Symptoms Vs. Pregnancy Symptoms

The symptoms of PMS can be very similar to those of early pregnancy. Read on to learn how to tell the difference. But remember, these differences are subtle and vary from woman to woman.

What Is Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a set of symptoms that occur prior to the menstrual period. Symptoms of PMS begin anytime in the two weeks prior to the onset of menstrual bleeding.

PMS is a condition characterized by psychological and physical symptoms that develop at some point after you ovulate (which occurs during the middle of the menstrual cycle), and ends when you start your period.

Similarities

For many women, the signs and symptoms of early pregnancy can resemble those of her approaching menstrual period or PMS. In fact, it is not possible to tell from early symptoms alone if a woman is pregnant or having symptoms related to her upcoming menstrual period.

The most similar common signs and symptoms that these conditions share include:

1. Breast pain

PMS: During PMS, breast swelling and tenderness can occur during the second half of your menstrual cycle. Tenderness ranges from mild to severe, and is usually the most severe right before your period. Women in their childbearing years tend to have more severe symptoms.

Breast tissue may feel bumpy and dense, especially in the outer areas. You may have a feeling of breast fullness with tenderness and a heavy, dull pain. The pain often improves during your period or right after, as your progesterone levels decrease.

Pregnancy: Your breasts during early pregnancy may feel sore, sensitive, or tender to the touch. They may also feel fuller and heavier. This tenderness and swelling will usually happen one to two weeks after you conceive, and it can last for a while as your progesterone levels rise due to your pregnancy.

2. Bleeding

PMS: You generally won’t have bleeding or spotting if it’s PMS. When you have your period, the flow is noticeably heavier and can last up to a week.

Pregnancy: For some, one of the first signs of pregnancy is light Vaginal bleeding or spotting that’s usually pink or dark brown. This typically happens 10 to 14 days after conception and is usually not enough to fill pads or tampons. The spotting typically lasts for just a day or two, so it’s shorter than a normal period.

3. Fatigue

PMS: Tiredness or fatigue is common during PMS, as is trouble sleeping. These symptoms should go away when your period starts. Getting some exercise can help improve your sleep and lessen your fatigue.

Pregnancy: While you’re pregnant, increased levels of the hormone progesterone can make you tired. Fatigue can be more pronounced during your first trimester, but it can last throughout your pregnancy as well. To help your body cope, be sure to eat well and get lots of sleep.

4. Cramping

PMS: If you have PMS, you may experience dysmenorrhea, which are cramps that happen 24 to 48 hours before your period. The pain will probably decrease during your period and eventually go away by the end of your flow.

Menstrual cramps will often decrease after your first pregnancy or as you age. Some women will experience more cramping as they start to go into menopause.

Pregnancy: Early in pregnancy, you may experience mild or light cramping. These cramps will probably feel like the light cramps you get during your period, but they’ll be in your lower stomach or lower back.

5. Mood changes

PMS: You may be irritable and feel a bit grouchy during PMS. You may also have crying spells and feel anxious. These symptoms typically go away after your period starts.

Getting some exercise and plenty of sleep may help take the edge off of your PMS moodiness. However, if you feel sad, overwhelmed, hopeless, or lack energy for two weeks or more, you could be depressed. Be sure to talk to your doctor.

Pregnancy: If you’re pregnant, you can have mood changes that last until you give birth. You’re more likely to be emotional during pregnancy. You may be ecstatic and excited, looking forward to the new member of your family. You may also have moments of sadness and cry more easily.

As with PMS, these latter symptoms can also indicate depression. If you’re concerned about your symptoms and think you might be depressed, be sure to talk to your doctor. Depression during pregnancy is common, and it can — and should — be treated.

6. Nausea

PMS: You shouldn’t expect nausea or vomiting if your period is late but some digestive discomfort such as nausea can accompany symptoms of PMS.

Pregnancy: Morning sickness is one of the most classic and clear signs you’re pregnant. Bouts of nausea often begin a month after you get pregnant. Vomiting may or may not accompany the nausea. Despite the name, morning sickness can occur at any time of the day. However, not all women experience morning sickness.

7. Food cravings and aversions

PMS: When you have PMS, you’ll likely notice that your eating habits change. You may crave chocolate, carbohydrates, sugars, sweets, or salty foods. Or you may have a ravenous appetite. These cravings don’t happen to the same extent when you’re pregnant.

Pregnancy: You may have highly specific cravings, and you may be totally uninterested in other foods. You may also have an aversion to certain smells and tastes, even ones you once liked. These effects can last throughout pregnancy.

You could also have pica, in which you compulsively eat items that have no nutritional value, such as ice, dirt, dried paint flakes, or pieces of metal. If you have cravings for non-food items, talk to your doctor right away.

8. Cramping

Menstrual cramps will often decrease after your first pregnancy or as you age. Some women will experience more cramping as they start to go into menopause.

If you have a history of pregnancy loss, don’t ignore these symptoms. Rest. If they don’t subside, talk to your doctor. You can have the cramps for weeks up to months when you’re pregnant. If you know you’re pregnant and these cramps are accompanied by any bleeding or watery discharge, see a doctor immediately.

Signs and symptoms of early pregnancy can occur before the missed period and be confused with those of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or the approaching menstrual period. It is not possible to determine if you are pregnant (in the absence of having a menstrual period) until a pregnancy test is positive.

Pica During Pregnancy – Causes And Types

Pica during Pregnancy – Causes and types

Pica is the practice of craving substances with little or no nutritional value. Most pregnancy and pica related cravings involve non-food substances such as dirt or chalk. The word pica is Latin for magpie which is a bird notorious for eating almost anything. It is true that the majority of women will experience cravings during pregnancy. This doesn’t generally fall under pregnancy symptoms as it is not common in every woman.

Fun fact:

PICA CRAVINGS ARE ALSO MOST COMMONLY SEEN IN CHILDREN AND OCCUR IN APPROXIMATELY 25-30% OF ALL CHILDREN.

What causes pica during pregnancy?

It is still had to explain why some women develop pica cravings during pregnancy is not known for certain. There is currently no identified cause; however, according to the Journal of American Dietetic Association there may be a connection to an iron deficiency. Some speculate that pica cravings are the body’s attempt to obtain vitamins or minerals that are missing through normal food consumption.

Also, sometimes pica cravings may be related to an underlying physical or mental illness.

Common Pregnancy and Pica Cravings

The most common substances craved during pregnancy are dirt, clay, and laundry starch.

Other pica cravings include:

burnt matches
stones
charcoal
mothballs
ice
cornstarch
toothpaste
soap
sand
plaster
coffee grounds
baking soda
cigarette ashes

HOW TO TREAT PICA?

If you’re experiencing unusual cravings for nonfoods, contact your doctor. He or she may test you for nutrition deficiency and give you vitamin supplements, and work with you to come up with a treatment plan. There’s no specific way to prevent pica, but getting the right amount of nutrients may help.

You don’t need to panic as it happens and is not abnormal. The most important thing is to inform your health care provider to make sure you have a complete understanding of the specific risks associated with your cravings.

Here are some suggestions to help you deal with pica cravings:

You must inform your health care provider and review your prenatal health records
Monitor your iron status along with other vitamin and mineral intake.
Try to plan a healthy meal with the help of your doctor.
Consider potential substitutes for the cravings such as chewing sugarless gum
Inform a friend of your craving who can help you avoid non-food items

Skin Cancer – Cause & Symptoms

Beware of the next moment you’re considering skipping sunscreen! Before arriving, skin cancer does not offer a warning. Skin cancer, however, is the most preventable of all recognized cancers. It requires you only to know what skin cancer is and to know how secure you are.

The damaging radiation from the ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun is one of the major causes of skin cancer. These rays harm the cells of the skin and make you susceptible. What you have to do is get a lowdown of skin cancer prevention and breathe easily!

What is skin cancer?

Most skin cancers are local cancerous (malignant) skin growth. They are derived from the surface layer of the skin, the epidermis cells. Contrary to malignant cutaneous melanoma, most of these types of skin cancers rarely spread (metastases) to other areas of the body to endanger life.

Three main kinds of skin cancer exist:

(1) the most prevalent baseline carcinoma of the skin,

(2) the second more commonly occurring squamous cell carcinoma of the skin cells and

(3) the melanoma which originates from the pigment-producing skin cells (melanocytes).

Other rare types of skin cancer include lymphoma, Merkel cell and other tissue diseases, including sarcomas, hair, and sweat gland tumors.

Risk Factors For Skin Cancer

The most common risk factors for skin cancer are as follows.

Exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning beds. Particularly susceptible are fair-skinned people with hazel or blue eye, people with red or blonde hair. In elevated altitude or near the equator where exposure to the sun is intensified, the issue is worse.
A chronically suppressed immune system (immunosuppression) from underlying illnesses such as infection with HIV / AIDS or cancer, or certain medicines such as prednisone or chemotherapy.
Exposure to ionizing radiation (X-rays) or to cancer-prone chemicals such as arsenic
Certain kinds of wart virus infections sexually obtained
People with a history of one skin cancer have a 20 percent chance in the next two years of developing second skin cancer.
Elderly patients have more cancers of the skin.

Causes Of Skin Cancer

Except in rare instances, DNA mutations induced by ultraviolet light affecting cells of epidermis cause most skin cancers. Many of these early cancers seem to be controlled by natural immune control, which allows malignant cells that become tumors after damage to mass development.

Types Of Skin Cancer

There are several different types of skin cancers:

The most prevalent cancer for humans is basal cell carcinoma. Every year in the US, over 1 million cases of fresh basal cell carcinoma are diagnosed. There are several types of basal cell cancer, such as the superficial type, the least worrying type; the nodular type, the most frequent; and the morphic type, the most difficult to treat as the tumors often grow into the surrounding tissue (infiltrate) without any definite border.

Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 20% of all cancers of the skin, but in immunosuppressed people, it is more common. In most cases, its biological behavior, with a little but significant chance of distant spread, is much like basal cell carcinoma.

Melanoma, Merkel-cell carcinoma, atypical fibroxanthoma, lymphoma dermat of fibrosarcoma, and other common skin cancers are less common.

Signs And Symptoms

Most basal cell carcinomas have few symptoms if any. Squamous cell carcinomas can be painful. Both forms of skin cancer may seem like a sore, which will not cure bleeding, oozes, crusts, or else. They start like a bump that grows slowly on the skin after minor Trauma and can bleed. Both skin cancers may have edges raised and ulceration in the center.

Basal cell carcinoma signs and symptoms are as follows:

Looks like bright pink, red, pearly, or translucent bump
Pink skin growths or raised boundary lesions crusting in the center
An elevated reddish patch of skin that may crust or itch, but is usually not painful

Squamous Cell Carcinomas signs and symptoms are as follows:

Persistent red patches with irregular boundaries that can easily bleed
Open sore, which will not go away for weeks
A higher growth with a rough surface in the center
A wart-like growth

Actinic keratoses are scaly, crusty lesions created by ultraviolet light harm often called solar keratoses (AK) in the facial region, scalp, and back of the hand. These are regarded precancers because if untreated, up to 10% of actinic keratoses may evolve into squamous cell carcinomas.

Most Common Sites Where Skin Cancer Develops

Skin cancers typically occur constantly over many years in regions of the skin that are subjected to the sun, such as the face and nose, ears, neck back, and scalp bald region. These tumors may appear less frequently at locations with only restricted exposure to the sun, such as the back, chest, or extremities. Skin cancer, however, can happen anywhere on the skin.

Diagnose

A dermatologist’s skin examination is the way to get a definitive skin cancer diagnosis. The appearance alone is adequate in many instances to make the diagnosis.

Usually, a skin biopsy is used to verify a skin cancer suspicion. This is accomplished by numbing the tumor region with a local anesthetic such as lidocaine. A tiny part of the tumor is cut away by a pathologist who examines the tissue under a microscope and makes a diagnosis based on the tumor’s features.

Treatment

There are several efficient ways to treat cancer of the skin. The treatment selection relies on the tumor’s place and size, cancer’s microscopic features, and the patient’s overall health.

Freezing: By freezing them with fluid oxygen (cryosurgery), your doctor may kill actinic keratoses and some tiny, early skin cancers. When it thaws, the dead tissue sloughs away.
Mohs surgery: This operation is for skin cancers that are bigger, recurrent or difficult to treat, which may include both basal and squamous cell carcinomas. It is usually used in fields where the skin needs to be kept as much as possible, such as on the nose.

During Mohs surgery, your physician will remove the skin growth layer by layer and examine each layer under the microscope until no abnormal cells remain. This operation enables the removal of cancer cells without getting too much good skin around.

Radiation therapy: Radiation treatment utilizes powerful power beams, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. If cancer can’t be totally removed during the surgery, radiation therapy can be an alternative.
Chemotherapy: Drugs are used in chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells. For cancers restricted to the top layer of skin, it is possible to apply creams or lotions containing anti-cancer agents straight to the skin. It is possible to use systemic chemotherapy to treat skin cancers that have spread to other areas of the body.
Photodynamics Therapy: With a mixture of laser light and drugs, this therapy destroys skin cancer cells that make cancer cells susceptible to light.
Biological therapy: Biological therapy utilizes the immune system of your body to kill cells of cancer.

Is It Possible To Prevent Skin Cancer?

Avoiding triggers that cause tumors to grow can prevent many skin cancers. Prevention strategies include sunscreen protection, protective clothing, and sun prevention during the 9 a.m. peak hours. to 3 p.m. Parents should protect kids from the sun. Do not use tanning beds that are a major cause of ultraviolet light exposure and an important skin cancer risk factor.

The therapy of skin cancer is as fatal as it sounds when it is caught in the early phases. However, prevention is always better than treatment. Step away from excessive sun exposure. Wear protective clothing and never skip the sunscreen. Make sure you also teach your kids about and how to prevent skin cancer. Stay Safe!!!

Emotional And Mindful Eating

What Is Emotional And Mindful Eating?

Stress eating is consuming food in response to your feelings, especially when you are not hungry. Stress eating is also sometimes called emotional eating. Emotional eating means that your emotions — not your body — dictate when and how much you eat.

Sometimes the strongest food cravings hit when you’re at your weakest point emotionally. You may turn to food for comfort — consciously or unconsciously — when facing a difficult problem, feeling stressed or even feeling bored.

Emotional hunger can’t be filled with food. Eating may feel good in the moment, but the feelings that triggered the eating are still there. And you often feel worse than you did before because of the unnecessary calories you’ve just consumed.

The difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger

Emotional hunger can be powerful, so it’s easy to mistake it for physical hunger. But there are clues you can look for to help you tell physical and emotional hunger apart.

Emotional hunger comes on suddenly. It hits you in an instant and feels overwhelming and urgent. Physical hunger, on the other hand, comes on more gradually. The urge to eat doesn’t feel as dire or demand instant satisfaction (unless you haven’t eaten for a very long time).

Emotional hunger craves specific comfort foods. When you’re physically hungry, almost anything sounds good—including healthy stuff like vegetables. But emotional hunger craves junk food or sugary snacks that provide an instant rush. You feel like you need cheesecake or pizza, and nothing else will do.

Emotional hunger often leads to mindless eating. Before you know it, you’ve eaten a whole bag of chips or an entire pint of ice cream without really paying attention or fully enjoying it. When you’re eating in response to physical hunger, you’re typically more aware of what you’re doing.

Emotional hunger isn’t satisfied once you’re full. You keep wanting more and more, often eating until you’re uncomfortably stuffed. Physical hunger, on the other hand, doesn’t need to be stuffed. You feel satisfied when your stomach is full.

Emotional hunger isn’t located in the stomach. Rather than a growling belly or a pang in your stomach, you feel your hunger as a craving you can’t get out of your head. You’re focused on specific textures, tastes, and smells.

Emotional hunger often leads to regret, guilt, or shame. When you eat to satisfy physical hunger, you’re unlikely to feel guilty or ashamed because you’re simply giving your body what it needs. If you feel guilty after you eat, it’s likely because you know deep down that you’re not eating for nutritional reasons.

3 Ways to Stop Stress Eating

There are different ways to control emotional eating and turn your stress into a more positive experience. But all three methods require you to examine and change your habits. So you need to be committed if you want to stop stress eating for good.

Find the Source of Stress

Many people have stress triggers that cause them to eat. Perhaps there are relationship issues that cause pain. Or perhaps family or work stress has gotten out of control. If you can identify your triggers, then you can take active steps to tackle stress before it gets out of control.

So how do you find triggers? Keeping a weight loss journal helps. Carry it with you in your handbag or briefcase and jot down notes throughout the day. Write down what you eat and how you felt when you ate it. Also, take notes on the environment and the people who were with you when you ate. These may provide clues to your triggers.

Find New Ways to Relieve Stress

Once you know what causes you to eat more, set up healthy systems to avoid eating in those situations.

For example, if your work environment is stressful. Identify one friend who can walk with you during your lunch hour to avoid excess calories and promote healthy activity. Do you get stressed out at home? Set up a small meditational space or quiet corner where you can go to relax or take deep breaths. If school is a source of stress, find community groups that share your interest or sign up for a sport.

Get Help for Emotional Stress

If your own methods don’t stop stress eating, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many social workers and psychologists are trained specifically to deal with emotional eaters and find solutions to curb the habit.

A trained professional may be able to help you set boundaries with people who cause you stress or change your environment for the better. He or she may also be able to tackle issues that cause you to ruminate or run to the fridge when you don’t need food.

What is mindful eating?

Mindful eating is a practice that develops your awareness of eating habits and allows you to pause between your triggers and your actions. Most emotional eaters feel powerless over their food cravings. When the urge to eat hits, you feel an almost unbearable tension that demands to be fed, right now. Because you’ve tried to resist in the past and failed, you believe that your willpower just isn’t up to snuff. But the truth is that you have more power over your cravings than you think.

Take a break before you give in to your craving

Emotional eating tends to be automatic and virtually mindless. Before you even realize what you’re doing, you’ve reached for a tub of ice cream and polished off half of it. But if you can take a moment to pause and reflect when you’re hit with a craving, you give yourself the opportunity to make a different decision.

Can you put off eating for five minutes? Or just start with one minute. Don’t tell yourself you can’t give in to the craving; remember, the forbidden is extremely tempting. Just tell yourself to wait.

While you’re waiting, check in with yourself. How are you feeling? What’s going on emotionally? Even if you end up eating, you’ll have a better understanding of why you did it. This can help you set yourself up for a different response next time.

How to practice mindful eating?

Eating while you’re also doing other things—such as watching TV, driving, or playing with your phone—can prevent you from fully enjoying your food. Since your mind is elsewhere, you may not feel satisfied or continue eating even though you’re no longer hungry. Eating more mindfully can help focus your mind on your food and the pleasure of a meal and curb overeating.

Eat your meals in a calm place with no distractions, aside from any dining companions.
Before you start to eat, take a moment to consider what it took to produce your meal, from the farmer to the grocer to the cook.
Try eating with your non-dominant hand or using chopsticks instead of a knife and fork. Eating in such a non-familiar way can slow down how fast you eat and ensure your mind stays focused on your food.
Allow yourself enough time not to have to rush your meal. Set a timer for 20 minutes and pace yourself so you spend at least that much time eating.
Take small bites and chew them well, taking time to notice the different flavors and textures of each mouthful.
Put your utensils down between bites. Take time to consider how you feel—hungry, satiated—before picking up your utensils again.
Try to stop eating before you are full. It takes time for the signal to reach your brain that you’ve had enough. Don’t feel obligated to always clean your plate.
When you’ve finished your food, take a few moments to assess if you’re really still hungry before opting for an extra serving or dessert.

Begin by accepting all your feelings

While it may seem that the core problem is that you’re powerless over food, emotional eating actually stems from feeling powerless over your emotions. You don’t feel capable of dealing with your feelings head on, so you avoid them with food.

Allowing yourself to feel uncomfortable emotions can be scary. You may fear that, like Pandora’s box, once you open the door you won’t be able to shut it. But the truth is that when we don’t obsess over or suppress our emotions, even the most painful and difficult feelings subside relatively quickly and lose their power to control our attention.

To do this you need to become mindful and learn how to stay connected to your moment-to-moment emotional experience. This can enable you to rein in stress and repair emotional problems that often trigger emotional eating.

Friday, June 7, 2019

Effects Of Domestic Violence On Children

For too many children, home is far from a safe haven. Every year, hundreds of millions of children are exposed to domestic violence at home, and this has a powerful and profound impact on their lives and hopes for the future. These children not only watch one parent violently assaulting another, they often hear the distressing sounds of violence, or may be aware of it from many tell-tale signs.

Violence in the home is one of the most pervasive human rights challenges of our time. It remains a largely hidden problem that few countries, communities or families openly confront. Violence in the home is not limited by geography, ethnicity, or status; it is a global phenomenon.

Several studies also reveal that children who witness domestic violence are more likely to be affected by violence as adults – either as victims or perpetrators.

Defining ‘Violence in the Home’

Domestic violence or intimate partner violence is a pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors including physical, sexual and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion used by adults or adolescents against their current or former intimate partners. Examples of physical abuse include slapping, shaking, beating with fist or object, strangulation, burning, kicking and threats with a knife. Sexual abuse includes coerced sex through threats or intimidation or through physical force, forcing unwanted sexual acts, forcing sex in front of others and forcing sex with others. Psychological abuse involves isolation from others, excessive jealousy, control of his or her activities, verbal aggression, intimidation through destruction of property, harassment or stalking, threats of violence and constant belittling and humiliation.

The findings show children who grow up in a violent home are more likely to be victims of child abuse. Those who are not direct victims have some of the same behavioral and psychological problems as children who are themselves physically abused.

Children who are exposed to violence in the home may have difficulty learning. They may even have limited social skills, exhibit violent, risky or delinquent behavior, or suffer from depression or severe anxiety. Children in the earliest years of life are particularly vulnerable: studies show that domestic violence is more prevalent in homes with younger children than those with older children.

Effects on Children

The psychological aftermath of exposure to Domestic Violence can include many things.

Such as –

Fear of harm or abandonment, excessive worry or sadness, guilt, inability to experience empathy or guilt. Habitual lying, low frustration tolerance, emotional distancing, poor judgment, shame, and fear about the future.

The attention given, emotions felt, and memories imprinted onto a child’s brain in moments of stress become inextricably linked together and forever taint. They filter—feelings, beliefs, and choices in relationships and so many other facets of life. These children are not merely innocent bystanders. They are victims.

It is possible that these children may be unintended victims. Although living within a climate of chronic emotional volatility and near acute incidents of aggression has a way of searing a neuro-physiological muddle. Painful and isolating emotions existing alongside ongoing and frequently unmet needs for affection and attachment.

What do children need?

Children can be protected in a better way from the effects of domestic violence. They can be supported in healing following exposure to this violence.

Children need a safe and secure home environment.

Every child has the right to grow up safe from harm. They should feel that their loved ones are also protected. Violence in the home shatters a child’s basic right to feel safe and secure in the world. Children need the violence to stop.

Children need to know that there are adults who will listen to them, believe them and shelter them.

Adults who work with children, including teachers, social workers, relatives, and parents themselves. They all need the awareness and skills to recognize and meet the needs of children. Those who are exposed to violence in the home must be referred to appropriate services. Close, dependable relationships can also help children reduce the stress of living in a violent home. Children who have an adult who gives them love, warmth and attentive care cope better than those who do not. Those who are exposed to violence in the home need to know that they are not alone and that the violence is not their fault.

Children need a sense of routine and normalcy.

Violence in the home can turn a child’s world upside down. Routines such as going to school and participating in recreational activities are vital for children’s development and well-being and should be maintained.

Children need support services to meet their needs.

Responses to children exposed to domestic violence should be comprehensive and holistic, taking into account the range of effects and needs of different children. Children must have places to go that are safe and supportive. Whether it be with extended family or at a domestic violence shelter. Studies suggest that providing interventions to abused mothers can also have benefits to children. Especially where these efforts take into account the specific needs of children.

Children need to learn that domestic violence is wrong and learn non-violent methods of resolving conflicts.

Children must hear it re-affirmed that domestic violence is wrong. They have to see alternative role models in order to grow up with a positive idea of the future. Several countries have instituted programmes that teach young people how to avoid violence in personal relationships. Schools are key in the strategy. School-based programmes can reduce aggression and violence by helping children to develop positive attitudes. They add values and a broader range of skills to avoid violent behavior.

Children need adults to speak out and break the silence.

These children need to know that things can change and that violence in the home can end. They need hope for the future. Public education and awareness-raising campaigns on domestic violence should focus more on the impact on children and specific ways to address this hidden problem. Governments and other public institutions should speak out about the impact of violence in the home on children.

As a society, we have an opportunity and responsibility to inject resiliency through academic, emotional, and social support. We must all grapple with whether there are other ways. The ones which might more effectively intervene within our families, schools, and communities to instigate help and healing.