Depression

One of the ways people differ is in how they handle being with people. Some people thrive in the presence of others, and they relish company. You could say that they are energized by talking with others and feel the loss of company keenly. Other people enjoy people in small doses. They sometimes need to build up energy to be with people and can find interpersonal interactions enjoyable, but a little draining. Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum of whether you enjoy and thrive in the company of others, it’s safe to say that all people require human interaction for their well-being. People enjoy solitude in varying degrees, but they struggle with loneliness and isolation. Solitude is purposeful and deliberate withdrawal from others, while loneliness is when a person doesn’t get the social contact they desire or need. Often, depression and loneliness go hand in hand. The connection between depression and loneliness. When you’re going through something, having people around you who will support you makes a world of difference. Depression is a mood disorder that affects a person’s being. It affects their emotional, mental, and physical well-being and functioning. Being depressed is not a choice, and it certainly isn’t something that a person can simply get over with enough gumption or pep. Depression requires treatment, whether that’s talk therapy by itself, or in combination with medication and other interventions. Some of the signs of depression include the following: Anger and irritability. Escapist and risky behavior, such as substance abuse or an excessive focus on one’s work. Not finding pleasure in activities or hobbies that used to bring joy. Fatigue and a lack of energy. Changes in one’s eating patterns, such as eating too much or eating too little. This often leads to significant changes in one’s weight [...]

Have you ever faced a deadline and felt like you were about to crumble under the weight of responsibility? How did you get through it? Did you focus on the goal or what you would accomplish once you hit the goal? You may need to learn how to deal with stress. Rewards-based systems work, especially when it comes to ways to deal with stress. You can choose from almost all stressful tasks and create a reward to help you through the process. But first, you should know why rewards work. Why rewards work. Why do companies use a rewards-based system to help customers and employees reach goals? The reason is that motivation is a strong force. When we are highly motivated to act, we associate the reward with the activity and the feelings of achievement that follow when we reach a goal. For example, one weight loss organization rewards customers who reach milestone weight loss with a small charm representing the weight lost. This behavior motivates the customer to continue their weight loss journey to collect more charms and gain confidence in pursuing the goal. Another company runs virtual challenges where people can run, walk or cycle in virtual races. When the customer completes a virtual race, they receive a medal. The medal from the virtual challenge and the charm from the weight loss organization are tangible rewards. In addition, the rewards strengthen the customer’s resolve to continue healthy behavior. When we implement a rewards-based system, we want the prize. We want to push ourselves slightly past our comfort zones. The prize may be the reward, or you may reward yourself a little along the way. Everyone is different, so choose or create a system that will keep the motivation from waning too soon and help you to develop healthy [...]