Feeling mentally foggy?

Struggling with attention?​

Memory not what it used to be?

Executive brain functioning serves as the "command and control" function; they can be viewed as the "conductor" of all cognitive skills. Executive functioning helps you manage day to day life tasks of all types. For example, executive functions let you organize a trip, a research project, or a paper for school. Often, when we think of problems with executive functioning, we think of disorganization. Overall, executive functioning is a set of processes that guide us in managing oneself and one's resources in order to achieve a goal. It is an umbrella term for the neurologically-based skills involving mental control and self-regulation.

Executive brain functioning can shift and vary depending on our situation and current state. For example, COVID-19 has had a major impact on people's executive brain functioning. SEE ARTICLE BELOW:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/24/parenting/quarantine-brain-memory.html

If you are worried or curious about your current executive brain functioning then contact Vitalize Behavioral Health and Psychometrics for an assessment. Assessments can be completed online from the comfort of your home. No therapy or treatments required! Assessments and consultation from the comfort of your home! Email or call today!

Jonathon.baird@vitalizepsych.com
​(559)801-8944

Undoubtedly, COVID-19 is putting a damper on your 2020 Thanksgiving plans. Between limiting household numbers and guests, adhering to curfews, and the overwhelming anxiety of the potential uninvited invisible guest called COVID-19, this year will be unlike any other year. Many people are upset, sad, confused, and experiencing general feelings relative to grieving the loss of tradition. There is no easy way to process the unrest surrounding this year’s holidays. So how can we go about feeling any sort of joy, happiness, excitement, or comfort this holiday season? Unfortunately, this is not easy to accomplish. However, there are several tips and activities one can engage in to improve their holiday spirits.

1. Engage in mindfulness activities such as yoga, meditation, prayer, or journaling and monitor your day to day emotional wellbeing. Use the time to reflect and organize your internal functioning. Learn to monitor your daily activities and the impact they have on your feelings. For example: Engage in 5 minutes of emotional “check-ins” when you wake up. Write down how you are feeling and what your general mindset is. Keep track of your daily activities and then “check-out” at the end of the day by writing down your feelings as you go to bed. This will allow you to gain insight into how your daily engagements are effecting your day to day happiness. Take the additional time from the “reduced holidays” to invest in yourself and your activities.
2. Sounds cliché but develop a Thanksgiving gratitude journal. The majority of our information intake is negative whether it be from the news, social media, or communications with family and friends. Try to alter your mindset and take time to write down the positives in your life. Sometimes it can be hard to feel like anything is going “right” but that is due to the fact that negative emotions have a more overwhelming valence and are easier to identify. It takes time and effort to recognize positives and shift one’s mindset. Try setting aside the time this holiday season.
3. Embrace the restrictions! Yes, you read that right. The “idea” of the restrictions is to help us better protect our loved ones. Take some time to identify all the people that you normally see on Thanksgiving and let them know how important they are to you by either writing them a letter or calling them and telling them. If you have children, create crafts with them that express love to family members and friends that you will not see this year.

Remember, anger and frustration are secondary responses likely from the pain of not seeing the ones you love. So embrace love and make sure the people in your support system can feel it. Expressing love to others is one of the most rewarding experiences. Do your best to filter through the negativity this year and channel deeper connections through distance. This is a great year to invest in ourselves, develop strength, understanding, and address the thoughts, emotions, and feelings that we normally would chose to suppress or ignore.
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If you would like to connect with one of our psychologist to better address the difficulties of this time, please contact Vitalize Behavioral Health and Psychometrics by visiting our website www.vitalizepsych.com or calling today at (559) 801-8944.

Are you worried that today’s election may be impacting your mental health? More than likely it is in some form or fashion. Political elections are polarizing, fear inducing, and emotional times for many. Elections can divide families, elicit extreme emotional responses, and cause excessive amounts of anxiety, anger, hurt, shame, and sadness.
It is important to monitor and manage your mental health during these times. Whether you are Republican, Democrat, or a follower of a third party, the following tips can help you better navigate tonight and the following days and months to come.
 
  1. Boundaries with media/social media: 
An excess of time watching television or scrolling your Facebook feed is unhealthy and will cause you distress. It is important to stay informed but with limits on how much time and energy you place into the media platforms.
 
Tip: limit the amount of times you open up your Facebook feed tonight and in the following days. Depending on your current usage, try to reduce your intake through social media. Social media will be filled with hate, negativity, and unhealthy perspectives that are sure to impact your mental health. Try logging on once in the morning and once in the evening, but be sure not to open your Facebook app before you go to sleep (good chance it will elicit negative emotions that will impact your ability to fall asleep). Along the same lines, pick an allotted amount of time that you will watch a news channel. Maybe an hour or less per day and within a predetermined timeframe. Reducing your intake of news will not impact your ability to stay informed, but instead help you avoid the negative banter, critiques, and slander of others.
 
  2. Boundaries with people in your life: 
Having a quality support system during this time will be vital. However, it is important to remember that even people that you love may not have the same political views. Therefore, be mindful of how interactions may affect your emotional state and behaviors. Make sure to have a friend or two that you can confide in and talk to about issues that may be upsetting or exciting for you.
 
  3. Self-Care: 
Make sure to spend an ample amount of time caring for yourself and loving yourself. Be diligent in how you manage your free time and time away from the election. Commit to engaging in distraction techniques. For example, read a book, play a game, go for a walk, color, clean the house, do yard work, play with your children, etc. Do your best to cope with the stressors by matching the coping skill with the emotion you are experiencing. If you are feeling angry, upset, frustrated, then maybe try to engage in physical exercise. If you are anxious and overcome with worry, then try to read a book or engage in busy work. Most importantly, remain mindful of how you are feeling and be diligent with taking care of yourself with love and kindness.

  4. Be aware of what you can and cannot control: 
Remember what you can and cannot control and approach situations accordingly. Regardless of the outcome, we cannot control other people and their actions. We can control our actions and our approach to any situation. We can learn to manage our emotions and how we proceed. You cannot control voter fraud, concession, social media, news outlets, others opinions, etc. We can work to understand why we feel strongly in one way or another and we can work to address those emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a healthy manner. Remember, if your find yourself overwhelmed, use your self-care and self-love techniques to manage the situation.
 
Tonight and the following weeks will be trying for our country and our own mental health. Vitalize Behavioral Health and Psychometrics employs CA licensed Psychologists who are ready to help you through these times. In a time where love, empathy, understanding, care, and compassion are direly needed, we are here to help. If the election is negatively impacting you, your relationships, or your ability to manage please call or email today. 
 
 

What is mental health? A quick Google search populates the following response from Wikipedia: “Mental health is the level of psychological well-being or an absence of mental illness. It is the state of someone who is "functioning at a satisfactory level of emotional and behavioral adjustment.” 

But what does this mean and is it a worthy explanation? 

Let’s first interpret this definition: the essential foundation of this definition is stating that one is mentally healthy as long as they do not have a diagnosis attached to their medical history with the caveat that they are living their day to day life in a “satisfactory” manner. This definition is appropriate to a very limited extent and is likely the general understanding of most people. It is very common for people to assume that someone they know or even a family member has “good mental health” as long as they are not on medications or do not have day to day behavioral issues. But therein lies the problem; someone’s mental health can be significantly impacted, even impaired, and no one would know because it yields limited to no behavioral response. 

Mental health is very complex and delicate. Importantly, it primarily includes how we think and feel. As most people know, mental health carries a heavy and negative stigma due to the dark historical past of how those with diagnoses were treated and managed. For example, people were placed into asylums, subjected to experimental treatments, and more recently placed into prisons, jails, and state hospitals. To be someone with a “mental illness” likely means you will be subjected to rejection, harassment, and isolation. Therefore, in terms of defining mental health, it is easy for others to assume that people are in good mental health standing just based on someone’s ability to hold a job, have friends, and live an apparently normal life. However, that is not always true and in fact, according to 2017 statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 1 in 5 U.S. adults suffer from a mental illness (approximately 47 million). 

According to these numbers, nearly every American should know someone who struggles with mental health. But who are they and why can’t we easily identify them? The short and sweet response is because most people do not understand the nuances of mental health and the symptoms associated. Many symptoms revolve around feelings and thoughts that people keep to themselves for which they do not seek help. Most of these thoughts and feelings start off as manageable and simple but that also grow and worsen with time. These thoughts and feelings are best managed proactively with professional help. For example, someone could check in with a counselor or clinician a few times a year or even once a year for a check-up/check-in. Much like an annual physical, it is beneficial to perform an annual mental health check-up. If you are unsure what mental health symptoms to be aware of, then we recommend following mental health organizations on social media platforms, call local providers, or visit websites like:  https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health

Vitalize Behavioral Health and Psychometrics employs numerous licensed mental health professionals who are ready and willing to work with you to discuss mental health, complete check-ins, or help you manage your mental health more routinely. Call or visit our website today for more information. 
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https://www.vitalizepsych.com/

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