asha international mental health

We Give Hope

You Can Recover: Khatera’s Message of Hope

As a little girl, Khatera moved with her family from Afghanistan to the U.S. Growing up, she felt like an outsider and was overwhelmed with the responsibility of interpreting and advocating for the survival of her family. Over the years, she struggled with ADHD, anxiety and depression. Today, Khatera is a mother and mental health activist. She wants to let people struggling with mental health issues around the world know that “no matter what your struggles are, YOU CAN RECOVER.” SEE MORE RECOVERY VIDEOS DO YOU HAVE A RECOVERY STORY? Stories have the power to inform, inspire and transform lives. If you have a recovery story, please  submit your story today. Your story will educate people about mental health issues, eliminate stigma, and give HOPE to people struggling with mental health issues, and let them know recovery is possible. The post You Can Recover: Khatera’s Message of Hope appeared first on Shadows in the Sun by Gayathri...
Let’s Talk About Mental Health

Let’s Talk About Mental Health

On August 23, 2015, Bekah Miles sat in her chair, staring. Could she do it? Would she do it? No. Yes. She was so tired of hiding, tired of pretending, tired of her illness. But since that wasn’t going to change anytime soon, maybe it was time to change her approach. To take her life back, if she could. After ten minutes of debating, she did what millions do every minute – she clicked the “post” button. Then she walked away from Facebook, torn between chewing her fingernails down to stubs and shrugging her shoulders and insisting it was no big deal. Bekah’s Facebook post was only intended for family and friends, but within days it had reached millions, starting a national and international conversation about depression. Mental health issues are a leading impediment to the health and wellbeing of high school and college students. Left untreated, mental illness – including anxiety, depression and eating disorders, can lead to school failure, family conflicts, substance abuse, violence, juvenile & criminal justice involvement, and even suicide. Sadly, suicide is the second leading cause of death among those 15-24 years old. More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined. Treatment is effective. Yet, because of the shame and stigma surrounding these issues, mental health is not discussed and too many students are suffering in silence. Bekah wants to change that – She wants to share her story to dispel the stigma surrounding mental illness, and encourage fellow students to seek the help and support they need to recover and...
Breathe for better health

Breathe for better health

The yogis say “if you can control your breathe, you can control your life.” Our breathe is a barometer of our physical and emotional health.    According to a Wall Street Journal article by Sumathi Reddy, “breathing and controlling your breath is one of the easiest ways to improve mental and physical health, doctors and psychologists say. Slow, deep and consistent breathing has been shown to have benefits in treating conditions ranging from migraines and irritable bowel syndrome to anxiety disorders and pain.”       “If you train yourself to breathe a little bit slower it can have long-term health benefits,” says Murali Doraiswamy, a professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. “Deep breathing activates a relaxation response,” he says, “potentially decreasing inflammation, improving heart health, boosting your immune system and maybe even improving longevity,” Over the last 27 years, the daily practice of pranayama – deep breathing techniques, have greatly enhanced my physical and mental health. To learn about pranayama and try four different breathing techniques, please click here… And, watch the video above to learn the 4-7-8 breathing technique pioneered by Harvard-trained Dr. Andrew Weil, which is described as a ‘natural tranquilizer for the nervous system’ helping to quickly reduce tension and allowing the body to relax.   Go ahead, give these breathing techniques a try, and share them with your family and friends. And, enjoy the healing power of breath.    Wishing you wellness,  Gayathri Ramprasad, MBA, CPS  Founder & President, ASHA International...
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