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Video games have become more popular over the years. In the late 90s, most children and teenagers enjoyed the escape of entertainment in the form of Donkey Kong and Street Fighter. For a long time, the targeted demographic of video games were boys or young males. That has changed drastically over the years. There have been video games developed that are based on hobbies like fishing or fashion. There are video games based on television shows or movies. There are video games that simulate worlds or virtual reality. In recent years, a new style has been introduced: video games aimed at understanding mental illness or developmental disorders. This transition has been a positive net gain for people playing them.

Childhood trauma is an important event to look at in today's society. There has been a steady increase in violent crimes being committed and psychological damage that has emerged in many adults' lives. The national average of child abuse and neglect victims in 2015 was 683,000 — or 9.2 victims per 1,000 children. According to data collected by the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative, the number of youth requiring hospital treatment for physical assault-related injuries would fill every seat in nine stadiums each year. One in four high school students was in at least one physical fight. More than 2/3 of children reported at least one traumatic event by age 16. One in five high school students was bullied at school; one in six experienced cyber bullyings. 19 percent of injured and 12 percent of physically ill youth have post-traumatic stress disorder. More than half of U.S families have been affected by some type of disaster; around 54 percent. Childhood trauma affects millions of people each year. Because of its versatility, there are many types of trauma that can lead to PTSD and long-term effects on health and romantic relationships. As a parent or guardian, there are signs that one can look out for. Experiencing trauma as a child isn't a death sentence. Many valuable solutions can help, including organizations that are focused on combating childhood trauma and neglect.

The word Chakra in Sanskrit translates to "wheel" or "cycle." In regards to yoga, chakras are energy wheels that belong to the subtle spiritual body and forms the connection to the material one. The seven chakras are found along the spine and go from the sacrum to the head's crown. The 7 different chakras are:

In our world today, there lies plenty of uncertainty. No matter what location you are currently residing in, this time can feel very frightening. Mental health experts have reported possible increases in anxiety and depression during the Coronavirus pandemic, so it is imperative to be aware of any symptoms associated with these conditions. Fortunately, there are also some tips and tricks you can utilize to help during these periods of adversity. Symptoms to look out for include:

Different types of therapy are available to patients with mental illness, especially in the 21st century. Psychodynamic therapy is one of the three main types of treatment in combating depression. The other two are cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy. Psychodynamic therapy is the type of treatment most people visualize when they think of how a psychologist treats patients. It is designed to help patients experience their full range of emotions. In particular, the goal is to access feelings that a patient is not aware of. Professionals accomplish this goal by accessing the unconscious part of patients' lives. This helps people understand why their mood and behavior become affected by unconscious feelings they are not aware of.

Insomnia or difficulty with sleep can affect the body dramatically. It is common to experience irregular sleeping patterns as a symptom when an individual suffers from mental health disorders or trauma. The inability to get good sleep can lead to a decline in physical health and mental health.

In the 12-step fellowship-based programs that exist today, there is an important step that we must continuously practice. As people who suffer from substance use disorder, we have done a lot of things we are not proud of. We may have stolen from people because we needed alcohol and drugs to get "well." We reacted and fought people. We burned bridges. We hurt those around us that we loved the most. We did things we now feel shame about. What we must remember is that we are not those people. That was our disorder in action. We did most of those things under the influence of mind-altering substances. We avoided creditors and did whatever we needed to do to get what we needed. We are not bad people, we were just sick. In the 12 steps, steps eight and nine are all about amending past behaviors. We may feel afraid when we think of confronting these things or feel excited to amend things right away. It is important to remember that seven vital steps come before the amends step. The steps are in order for a reason, and by the time you reach steps eight and nine, you will be ready for them. We must get a sponsor to guide us through these steps because sometimes there are amends we should not make conventionally. We have to be careful about what is revealed during the amends process. In some cases, if a person does not know, it is in their best interest that we do not tell them. It is not fair to tell someone something because of our own guilt. Instead, it is usually suggested that we make amends in a different way. This is where having a sponsor is especially important. It is necessary to remember that when we make amends, we are admitting our wrongs. This means we continuously attempt to correct our behavior and strive for better attitudes and actions. The freedom that comes with making amends is incredible. It may seem scary at first; however, it is worthwhile. We found that we were able to mend relationships we thought we would never have again. Our relationships with our friends and families blossomed, and we found a new peace we had never experienced before.

From the time that we are small children, we are typically raised to look at the bright side or silver lining. We are told to rejoice in optimism when something goes wrong. Mentors explain that adversity is a teacher, and we should look for the lesson when it feels like the world is dark. That is helpful, of course. However, researchers have recently found that rushing to this positive narrative can leave no space to feel the necessary feelings. This useful practice can turn into quick avoidance. If we start to compartmentalize experiences, we are setting ourselves up for pain. The more we disregard our feelings, the more we will run into huge problems. That is, we will shove our emotions deep down, yet they will come out in other areas of our lives. Not being okay is actually okay and sometimes necessary for growth. If you have started therapy, understand that it is a lifelong process. That doesn't mean it will take a lifetime to heal, it just means that it will take time. The lessons we create end up replacing the actual learning. What we do is we end up with a fake system of feeling better. Someone asks us if we're okay, and we respond affirmatively even if it's not true. It is not helpful to stay in that mindset. We must step away from this and allow it to be acceptable for everyone that it is okay to not be okay. When you start this healing journey, it is essential to stop and take a break if it gets too overwhelming. If you don't give yourself space to rest, you may feel like your emotions are too much to bear. Before you know it, you're back to avoiding it entirely. If you know someone is struggling, you must reach out to them and see how you can be helpful. When doing so, make sure to remain sympathetic and avoid forcing anyone to open up about what they are struggling with. If you put pressure on someone to open up, they will feel attacked and not supported. Instead of opening up, they will shut themselves away.

Right now is the best time to be living in society — a time where people can start to speak up against issues like abuse, toxic relationships, sexual harassment, discrimination, and gender inequality, to name a few. This time that allows for more personal expression has created a place where traditionally marginalized groups can speak out. Victims of abuse are now confronting their abusers. Mental health and substance use disorders are more understood. This freedom of speaking what is in your heart can be extremely helpful and beneficial. It can also lead to some intricate situations that leave you questioning how much you should reveal about yourself and how knowing about someone else's personal life can change your perspective about them. For most of us keeping a wall up around parts of ourselves, we don't want anyone to look at is pretty common. It is a way to protect ourselves and shield ourselves from possible "harm". This is also a form of trying to create boundaries. Some of us are more hyper-aware about raising those boundaries than others, which can also lead to discomfort and conflict because it is harder to keep others' revelations out than it is to keep our own within ourselves. When we think of the word boundary, we immediately go to a self-oriented concept like this is "my" boundary. What's also important to look at there is what you're willing to let in as well. In many healthy relationships — romantic or friendships — we gauge people's boundaries by making progress in the trust arena. Like when you first open up about something that may be uncomfortable to talk about. If the other person listening doesn't engage or say anything back, chances are, you would stop right there and not open up further. This "progress" can be hindered when the openness isn't reciprocated. It can feel as if you are not safe with that person. The problem also lies in the fact that we like telling others about ourselves. The Illinois State University conducted research where they put previously unacquainted participants together and instructed them to ask each other questions. In one group, people took turns and one person would speak for about ten minutes while the other person listened. Then they would switch roles. In the second group, individuals engaged in a reciprocal back and forth, responding to each other in the moment. In the reciprocal version, the subjects liked each other a lot more. When we start to get to know a person we find that what we are enjoying about it the most is when our idea of self-disclosure feels balanced. They are sharing with us as much or around as much as we are sharing with them. When someone goes on about themselves non stop it can be off-putting. On the other hand when someone won't talk about themselves at all, it can lead our thinking to question why they are reluctant to be open with us. Another negative encounter can occur when you are on a first date with someone new and they grill you with very personal questions about your life. This may even make you feel uncomfortable. People who score high in the personality trait of agreeableness are particularly susceptible to this type of boundary blindsiding. They are more likely to accept someone who overshares and reciprocates that response because they do not like conflict or don't like the other person to feel in the wrong. For people who have a hard time with this concept, it may be helpful to practice being a bit disagreeable. Allow those moments of awkward silence to linger. Decline to answer anything that may feel like a prying question. This is important because it does protect your privacy, but it enables you to get some important information about other people. "If their reaction is not particularly kind, that will teach you that this person may not be someone you can engage in tricky conversations with. If they sit there and validate what you are feeling or apologize, that means they are more willing to hear you out than to argue. In this manner, you are more likely to trust them. For example, friends who are interested in gossiping all the time or who ask you intimate, personal questions. It is best in the moments of discomfort to just say you don't want to talk about it because it is not your thing. Saying it that way allows for others to understand that there is no shame or blame, just you don't like talking about other people. If you apologize instead, it makes it awkward rather than being direct and bringing confidence into the picture. Another example can be if you are friends with people who at one point had a friendship or were in a romantic relationship and are not at odds. They may constantly bring the other up and feel like they have to unload all of this onto you because you understand. It is important to say that you care about them deeply, however, you don't want to be involved in hearing it any longer. When you say it in a certain way, it can be very beneficial for not only your well-being, but the other person's, as well.

Its our natural instinct to act selfish and think about our self interests first. There was a speech that was recently made by a famous psychiatrist named Karl Menninger where he explained to an audience member that had asked him how to handle someone with a nervous disposition. What should the person do if they feel like they're about to have a nervous breakdown. He replied with a simple statement. To leave your house, find someone in need, and help them. That direction is simple, yet extremely profound. Giving during this time is especially important because of how erratic everything seems like. Some ways to practice this include:

In our world today, we are inclined to form virtual relationships. We spend a lot of time on social media and the internet in general, which prompts us to obsessively watch for how many likes or retweets we are getting. The more we do that, the less interested we become in forming relationships in person or making friends the old fashioned way. Harvard University researchers surveyed and scrutinized a group of 724 men from 1939 to 2014, and arrived at a simple, yet important conclusion. Harvard professor Robert Waldinger, director of the center conducting the study, described it this way: "Good relationships keep us happier and healthier, period." The determining factor of how happy and healthy these men were throughout their lives was the presence of good relationships. Success, where they lived, what they drove, and how smart they were didn't matter compared to successful, deep relationships. The barometer of what constitutes a "good relationship" is simply the quality of the friends you have. It doesn't matter how many friends you have or whether you are in a committed relationship. The quality and closeness of your relationships are what matters. What this means is that enjoying the benefits of an intimate and supportive relationship is equal to enjoying the benefits of your relationship with a family member, friend, or colleague. The importance of these relationships is evident in plenty of other studies. Worldwide, there is an increase in the amount of research that focuses on well-being on a national scale. Countries across the globe are beginning to look at Gross National Happiness as a measure of national health, in addition to the Gross National Product. Some of the "happiest countries in the world" include Denmark, Norway, Columbia, Israel, and Australia. When researchers asked why these specific countries were selected, the answer they discovered was that people living in the happiest countries enjoy high levels of social support. This support can be the result of deep interpersonal connections with families, intimate friendships, or a sense of communal spirit. In these countries, the emphasis is always on relationships. It may seem strange or unusual that this is where happiness comes from. However, cultivating these types of relationships isn't difficult. The difference lies between virtual and real relationships. It may seem as if relationships have transitioned onto an online platform, but the important ones are the ones that are nourished with a deep personal connection. Right now, the world is in an unsure place, since we are all under stay-at-home orders. It is difficult and not possible to go see those friends in person. However, there is still the distinction of a superficial relationship versus a deep one. It doesn't need to be practiced in person to be a meaningful relationship. We live in a current society that has lost a lot of its old structures and modalities. We need to establish some new structures and new modalities. That looks like setting time out of our day every day to check on a friend. See how a family member is doing. Reach out to someone we wouldn't normally reach out to. Get honest and vulnerable with people because right now, that is something that can benefit the world.

Confidence is something that everyone is attracted to. Someone who feels confident in their person are typically seen as leaders or are highly respected. When a person is confident in what they are saying it leads people to believe it without question. It is hard to exude confidence when you are someone who usually experiences low self-esteem or a lot of insecurity. The following are some way to build yourself up so that you can feel better about yourself. The first one is to stop comparing yourself to others. Social media and television in general constantly recycled images of wealth, fitness, and success. It is easy to look at other people and feel envy when in reality social media is very deceptive. Something you can try is appreciating the abundance that you have in your life and not concentrating on what you lack. When you pay attention to what you lack you will only view the world that way. Taking care of your body. This physical action can stimulate positive mental health. Whether its your diet what you eat, or getting enough sleep. Your body will physically feel tired or overwhelmed if you don't take care of it properly. This will lead to you feeling low about yourself. Practice self compassion. The constant negative self talk we allow to occur in our minds is harmful to our self-esteem. When we are overly critical and in constant worry we set ourselves up to fail. Start focusing on the strides your making. When you do fail don't beat yourself up. Acknowledge the mistake and try to view it in a playful matter instead of seeing it as the end of the world. Embrace your self-doubt. Doing these things together can create a boost in your self-confidence. A lot of time the reason we don't do things is because we experience extreme self-doubt. We think we could be good at playing an instrument or we want to start a new career, yet we think "What's the point? I'm going to fail anyway". This type of thinking will only perpetuate more self-doubt. Taking chances, even if they don't go how we expect them to go, is important. The more often you do this the more confidence you will build because you will walk through the fear and see that there is nothing to fear.