Public Spark

This blog is continued from the blog on assessing your own social wellness. Here are 10 ways of improving your social wellness.

1. Speak in public.

2. Think before you speak.

3. Ask questions and refrain from monopolizing the conversation.

4. Volunteer when possible.

5. Practice tact when giving suggestions.

6. Make others feel important.

7. Attend social events.

8. Join a club or organization that interests you.

9. Make an effort to visit neighbors and friends.

10. Build strong support system both in personal and work life: few quality friends are worth more than 100 acquaintances.

This blog is continued from the introductory blog on social wellness month. Here are 10 ways to assess social wellness:

1. Exhibiting willingness to volunteer.

2. Having a supportive network of close friends and/or family.

3. Having the ability to balance own needs with the needs of others.

4. Having the ability to communicate with and get along with a wide variety of people.

5. Obeying the laws and rules of our society.

6. Willingness to help others.

7. Valuing diversity.

8. Valuing time alone.

July marks Social Wellness Month which was created to assist people in their efforts to live a healthier life. Social wellness encompasses the idea of having positive interactions with others since we are all social beings. It involves developing and building close bonds of friendship and intimacy, practicing empathy, and effective listening, and caring for others and for the common good.

Here are 5 key factors in social wellness:

1. Socially isolated people are more susceptible to illness and have a death rate two to three times higher than those who are not socially isolated.

1. Keep dating

   Schedule time to for just the two of you. Healthy relationships are based on growth and need nurturing along the way. Dating is one way to learn new things about each other.

2. Find hobbies to do together and separately

   It is important that you harbor different hobbies as well as those you can do together. My boyfriend and I love to play golf. It is a great way to spend time with each other. However, we also value our own hobbies to give each other space, as well as provide creative outlets. I like to paint sometimes, while he likes to read books.

I am pleased to announce my 300th blog post! I cannot thank my readers enough for your continuous support and loyalty to Public Spark. It is with your readership that I can continue to write. In commemoration of the 300th post, here are the top 7 most popular blogs:

• 8 ways to reduce stress and gain energy at work

• Famous people with phobias

• Psyching yourself out of exercise: How to prevent barriers from taking over your health

• Famous people and celebrities with asperger’s syndrome

• Cultural nuances in the traditional Japanese culture

There are treatments available for self-injury.

1. Problem Solving Therapy:

   Professional therapists help clients identify and resolve problems they encounter. Also they teach clients general coping and problem solving skills.

2. Dialectical Behavior Therapy:

   One of its primary goals is to reduce self-injurious behaviors by helping clients develop new coping skills sets addressing motivational obstacles during treatment and encouraged the client to change and accept him or herself.

3. Manual Assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

   It is a short-term problem solving and cognitive behavioral intervention that teaches clients to manage emotions and negative thinking.

This blog is continued from the previous blog on risk factors. Here are some signs of self-injury:

• frequent or unexplained bruises, scars, cuts or burns.

• consistent, inappropriate use of clothing designed to conceal wounds.

• secretive behaviors, spending unusual amounts of time in the student bathroom or isolated areas.

• general signs of depression, social-emotional isolation and disconnectedness.

• substance abuse

• possession of sharp instruments (razor blades, thumb tacks).

• indications of extreme anger, sadness or pain or images of physical harm in creative work.

This blog is a continuation from yesterday’s blog on self-injury. There are a variety of risk factors that can lead to self-injury.

Biological:

• female

• adolescents

• peripheral serotonin

• neurological abnormalities

• low concentrations of 5-HIAA found in the cerebrospinal fluid

• physical illness

Psychological:

• poor problem solving skills

• poor emotion regulation

• low self-esteem

• lacking impulse control

• high levels of aggression

• depression

• suffer chronic anxiety

• tendency towards irritability

Associated Mental Disorders:

This imaged is by Christiaan Tonnis, licensed under CCbySA.

When I was an EMT, I encountered a case that to this day, stays with me. I met someone who had cut marks on her arm. This person was immediately provided psychiatric help, linked with support groups, and information. It was my first encounter with someone that self-injures.

Self injury is defined as the act of attempting to alter a perceived intolerable mood state by inflicting physical harm serious enough to cause tissue damage tot the body. It is the intentional act of harming ones own body without suicidal intent.

Have you ever encountered an annoying coworker who wants to know every move you make? How about one that constantly gossips about other coworkers? Here are 6 steps to set boundaries and protect yourself from having a coworker ruin your work experience.

1. Limit your interaction

   Avoid going out to lunch. Sometimes you may have to interact with your coworker, but only converse the bare minimum. You can set clear boundaries by stating “I am working on a project” or “I promised to meet with another coworker.” Eventually they will get the hint.