por Jessica G Ferrer

Pull yourself out of negative thinking. Save yourself from lying thoughts and mixed memories. Shake off resentments. Bounce off bitterness. Breathe in strength. Breathe out doubt. Breathe in courage. Breathe out insecurity. You are the lead of and in your story. Take over the narrative. 

Jessica G Ferrer

by Jessica G Ferrer

The Shift is partnering with local and national mental health nonprofits to host localized virtual Wellness Rallies. These will be customized to meet the needs of teens and young adults across the country, including but not limited to high school and university students, young residents in large and small communities, employees of large corporations, sports and other youth organizations.  By working together to not only bring awareness, but also create conversation, the goal is to end the stigma on mental health for good.

The Shift is a digital content platform and docu-series that helps #starttheconversation and #Shiftthestigma around mental health. It connects young people to resources to help live their best lives. Founder|Chief People & Wellness Officer of The Shift, Mary Albertoli is a former Clinical Social Worker with 12 years experience and a Masters degree in Social Work from Columbia University. Albertoli provides "solid strategies on how to start the conversation on mental health between parents and children, teens and young adults." Not diagnose, but support "with resources and alternatives to open the lines of communication and remove the stigma attached to mental health." 

Some of the subjects The Shift highlights include anxiety, bullying, depression, self-image, rejection, and suicide. If you missed our interview with Mart Albertoli, here is the direct link, Ending Stigma on Mental Health Amid Growing Suicide Rate in Teens.

In their work on creating conversation on mental health, The Shift shares tips and helpful information on their social media, @theshift_series.​

They also lead conversations and talk with real people about their experiences on dealing with bullies, anxiety, supporting those who need our support, and asking for help. In the video below, Lead Ambassador|ShiftStarter Series Host, AdrienneFinch talks with teen @NotOKApp creators, Charlie and Hannah Lucas about their lifesaving app and what inspired them to build it.

To keep in touch with the conversation, you can follow@theshift_series on Instagram. You can also visit https://shifttheshow.com for more information.

IC Mag Editors

Human beings need the companionship of other people. This connection that we share with other people can impact our happiness and mental health. By connecting to others on social media, we can ease our anxiety, stress, and depression, prevent loneliness, provide comfort, boost self-worth, and even increase our life. However, there is a flip side to it. Studies have shown that social media can risk our emotional and mental health.

In today's world, we use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat to find and connect with other people. And while there are several benefits to it, it is important to understand that social media is not a replacement for real human connections. To trigger hormones that can alleviate stress and feel happy, healthy, and positive, you need to have in-person contact. Ironically, a technology for bringing people closer together can sometimes make people feel isolated and lonely. By spending too much time on social media, you can exacerbate mental health issues like anxiety and depression.

Even though social media has been in existence for more than a decade, there isn't much research establishing the long-term consequences of social media use. However, some studies have found a strong link between prolonged use of social media and risk for anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Here is how social media can promote negative experiences and affect your mental health:

Today's most controversial generation is Generation Y. Millennials, or Gen-Yers are surrounded by numerous stereotypes. They are financially-burdened, anxious, and unhappy. According to studies, millennials are also mentally unhealthy.
Gen-yers are changing the way we view mental health. They are more open to talking about mental health are looking into different options to resolve their issues. They use their love for technology in seeking professional help. Millennials make use of mental health apps approved by the experts. But if you are a millennial who is serious about improving your mental health, another strategy worth considering is to socialize more.

Online Social Interactions: the Good and the Bad
Millennials would rather socialize online; they are always on their phone and constantly on social media. It is for this very reason that many employers claim Gen-Yers lack important social skills needed in a traditional workplace.

Even if millennials get invited to social gatherings, many would rather skip the occasion. If they indeed show up, you will often find them with their eyes glued to their phones. Some are probably busy on their social media. Others would be busy exploring the gorgeous hotel ballroom looking for the perfect spots to snap photos of themselves for their next post on Instagram.

While the internet allows you to interact with many people at once, it can also be the reason why your mental health is suffering. For one, you can interact with other people without ever leaving your home. Many millennials are used to isolation since they take advantage of the social interactions they can enjoy online. As social creatures, it is natural to crave real social connections and not just a virtual one. In a nutshell, online social interactions will remain to be superficial and can never beat real-life socialization.

How Socializing More in Real Life Helps Boost One's Mental Health
Developing your real-life social skills will help you improve current relationships and form new connections. This can also help you in your job, as most employers still value interpersonal skills. When you become more comfortable socializing in real life, you can form professional connections that can boost your chances of career success.

We generally feel happier after talking and interacting with others. The happier you are, the better you will feel and more confident you will be. Our physical health also improves when we are happy. This is why loved ones of seniors are encouraged to visit and socialize with them more.

Even introverts would say that sometimes, it is nice to talk to people in real life. They may be more comfortable listening and observing in the background. But that does not mean they can't benefit from real social interactions.

When you talk to someone, you get a better understanding of what the person is trying to tell you. You can observe their body language and those visual cues to better communicate. This helps you respond accordingly, form stronger connections, and build better relationships.

The longer you talk to others, the happier you will get. It is important to note that the quality of the conversation also matters. The more in-depth the talk is, the more gratifying the social experience gets.

Socialization also helps promote a sense of purpose. When you can talk to people and touch their lives, you feel useful. You get to enjoy that feeling knowing your presence alone and comforting words are enough to lift other people up. When we know that other people depend on us, this makes us want to stay healthy and available for more conversations.

How Millennials Can Improve Real-Life Interactions
The first step millennials can take to boost real-life interactions is putting your phone down or keeping it on silent mode. Instead of staying indoors after work, choose to go out with your colleagues or have dinner outside with your friends. Avoid turning down people when they invite you to hangout. During your free time, choose to meet a loved one or two, go shopping or explore the city.

When you're running errands, try to smile more. Stop avoiding eye contact. Make it a habit to see connection. When exercising, go out for some fresh air and invite a friend to go jogging with you. You can also try joining a fun run or dedicate your time volunteering. This way, you can meet new people who have the same purpose, making it easier to interact with new friends.
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Millennials can benefit from forming better social connections in real life. It can help you maintain good relationships with your loved ones and the different people in your industry. It will make you feel happier, more confident, and less stressed. Your mental health will improve and you will feel generally healthier. So, instead of prioritizing online socialization, choose real-life interactions more (or as best you can, given the current pandemic situation). www.bestvenuesnewyork.com/eventtype/event-type

​The Suicide Prevention Lifeline has some proven ways that could be useful in helping your loved ones.

With the pandemic continuing to keep everybody secluded at home, it's natural to feel uneasy. With so much uncertainty abound, it doesn't help that being inside for an extended period can result in some persistent cabin fever. Now more than ever, it's essential to keep your mental health in check and give yourself the proper self-care to get through this time day by day. 

• Find therapy in music

If there ever was a time to get those piano lessons, this is the one. Numerous studies and controls have revealed the significant impact that music has on various mental health issues, from depression to stress and more. Simply listening to music already has positive effects, but there is a known link to the therapeutic effects of actually playing an instrument. You can even go beyond and try to freestyle or create your own music as well, as long as you don't make it a pressure point on yourself.

• Reach out if you feel alone

Loneliness can be a terrible thing that consumes you if you don't get pulled out of it. Plus, to be left alone with your thoughts is another issue that can compound that. Call up some friends, make sure you still take the time to communicate with a trusted circle and even talk to a therapist if you feel like you need guidance or a listening ear. Even if you may not be able to surround yourself with people yet, simply being able to hang out over the phone or through a video chat can be a world of difference.

• Get enough exercise

Quarantine has put a wrench in people's routines, and that alone is a big adjustment to deal with. There's a tendency to fall into a sedentary lifestyle, and although you shouldn't pressure yourself to keep it moving each day, it's best to keep exercising regularly. Extended sedentary time has medically been known to make emotional well-being go down and increases the risk for anxiety and depression to develop. It can also lead to sleeping disorders that exacerbate those mental detriments.

• Pursue your hobbies

Take this time to simply do what you like. Having something fun to fill up the time can be therapeutic and rewarding, and it can make the hours much more bearable. If you can start any projects in line with your hobbies, it can even help you feel accomplished and more motivated.

• Dedicate some offline time

With the barrage of bad news and different information on social media, it's okay to want to disconnect now and then. Give yourself some ample time away from the internet and bask in the little things you can enjoy in the "real world." Water some plants, have a snack, or even just lay back and watch some clouds by the window. It's a great way to recharge your social battery and get your mind off of things while keeping your eyes healthy with limited screen time.
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Try these out yourself to make quarantining a little easier, especially if you're feeling troubled.

​Noting It & Naming It
One of the most important things you can do here is to make sure you note anxiety when it arises, and that you name it for what it is. This is essentially a kind of mindfulness which you can bring to your anxiety in order to spot it when it arises as clearly as possible. Doing so is powerful, and it actually works to remove much of anxiety’s power, especially if you normally feel that you are in the grip of it. Note it, name it, and watch what happens to it.

Staying Grounded
If you sometimes suffer from anxiety attacks or panic attacks, you are going to need to have some methods in place for how to deal with those when they arise. The breathing exercise we mentioned earlier is one of them. Another simple and effective method is to try and stay grounded by calling out five things that you can see, five things that you can touch, and five things that you can hear. Whether or not you can really hear five things is not important - the act of looking out for those stimuli keeps you grounded and stops you going over the edge. Additional information can be found at verywellmind.com.

Sleep & Exercise
Finally, sleeping and exercising more are basic and essential to your mental health, especially when anxiety is at a high. The better you sleep and the more you move around, the more of a chance you have of keeping your anxiety under wraps. Vitamin D is essential for your mental health and spending time outdoors is an effective, simple, and free way to do it. 

Remember, when in doubt take a breath and know that anxiety is normal.