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16
Mar 24

Pros and Cons of Online Support Groups

Online support groups got their start back in the 1990’s. First commonly called forums or message boards. Today these types of resources are known as: blogs, online communities, online support groups, virtual group therapy, discussion boards, etc. They cover all kinds of mental and physical health issues.

Online support groups are useful in that they connect people with similar situations. They often provide a safe space with varying levels of anonymity that allow people to discuss and get advice without fear of judgement. They allow for sharing of mental health topics that in turn can help increase a person’s well-being.

In terms of negative, it is possible for online support resources to have a negative impact when they don’t function as intended. This is always possible due to the nature of this resource.

Some of these risks as stated by the Mayo Clinic (2023):

  • Communication only by written text can lead to misunderstanding or confusion by group members.
  • Anonymity may lead to inappropriate and disrespectful comments or behaviors.
  • Participation online may result in isolation from other friends or family.
  • Online communities may be particularly susceptible to misinformation or information overload.
  • People may use the online environment to prey on people, promote a product, or commit fraud. (Mayo Clinic, 2023).

One thing people need to keep in mind when looking for or participating in online support groups is that some may not have good intentions. Some key things to look out for are: the group charges significant fees or other charges in order to attend or participate, the group pressures you to buy goods or services, or the group guarantees positive outcomes. It’s important not only to be aware of this when choosing a group but also after becoming familiar with and participating in this type of online support.

There are a number of places one can find information on becoming part of groups that may benefit them. These include family practitioners and other medical professional, clinics, hospitals, and non-profit organizations that focus on advocacy. Another good resource can be friends and family or other community members. These are all things to keep in mind when considering a support group that you want to invest time in and connect with.

 

References:

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, March 16). How to choose the Right Support Group. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/support-groups/art-20044655

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10
Feb 22

Housewives: Blessed or Stressed?

“It must be nice to sit at home all day and spend your spouse’s money.” One of the many stigmas surrounding housewives is that they stay home and spend too much money. If you’ve never been a housewife or had a housewife, you may not actually understand the inner workings of what happens day to day. Not all housewives have children, but that’s a common reason women choose to stay home and assume the role. It does come with a significant responsibility and high rate of burnout.

It is always a blessing when you can spend time with your children. However, it’s not exactly a luxury that every woman chooses to take on. As it turns out, housewives are extremely stressed and may actually be more at risk for mental illness than those working outside the home. As someone who has both worked outside the home and stayed home with my child, I can say each lifestyle has their own struggles. Sadly, housewives tend to get overlooked as making the “easier” life choice.

Reports have shown that housewives are experiencing higher levels of stress and burnout than those working outside the home (Durak, Senol-Durak, & Karakose, 2022). They also report lower quality of life and less satisfaction. Take into account the things these women are facing each and every day. They wake up, take care of traditional chores like laundry and dishes, make sure the kids are fed and happy, fix all meals, sleep, and repeat. Day after day. It can almost feel like the movie Groundhog Day.

So how can you help? You can start by making sure there are good coping strategies in place. Managing everything alone can be overwhelming, so housewives need healthy ways to cope. Talk with the person and see what they do to combat daily stressors and maybe come up with a gameplan that works for them. The textbook talks about to general approaches to coping. Problem-focused coping is tackling the problem head-on, so it doesn’t continue to affect you. Emotion-focused coping is centered around emotion regulation.

Social support will also play a big role. You may have heard “it takes a village” and that is totally true. You cannot get through life all on your own. You need people to lean on during good and bad times. Having a good support system is key. Having friends to talk to, family to help out, and people to network with. Being a housewife isn’t for the faint of heart and can feel extremely lonely.

If you have a housewife or know a housewife, take some time to check in and see how they’re doing. Ask if you can help out in any way. Provide them a break from the mundane routine. If you are a housewife, reach out and make connections. Tons of people support this amazing lifestyle and don’t want to see you struggling. You are NEVER alone.

 

References:

Durak, M., Senol-Durak, E., & Karakose, S. (2022). Psychological distress and anxiety among housewives: The mediational role of perceived stress, loneliness, and housewife burnout. Current Psychology: A Journal for Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02636-0

Gruman, J.A., Schneider, F.W., & Coutts, L.A. (2017). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

 

 

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04
Feb 18

Taking Care of Ourselves and the Commons.

The concept of environmental psychology isn’t necessarily what everyone may think it is.  Environmental psychology is involved in many factors, but put most broadly, it addresses how persons interact with their environment and seeks to improve them.  While this week’s chapter may open with an example of an eco-terrorist and his actions, environmental psychology is also involved in how buildings are laid out and the overall functionality of them.

Without even realizing it the concept of environmental psychology is something that I have practicing for most of my adult life.  It’s concepts of social design and applying solutions to resource dilemmas are pretty much a life philosophy for me.  I’ve always held the viewpoint that it is important for people to be able to sustain themselves to some degree in order to lessen the impact on the overall environment around us.  The described concept of the commons dilemma is one that, until this week, I’ve never formally read but have given thought too.  The commons dilemma addresses the issue of a what happens when a small, finite resource, is abused, overcrowded, or ill kept, and the eventual dissolution and failure of that resource resulting in the loss of those relying on it (Schneider, Gruman, Coutts, 2012).  I think that it is important to be able to contribute to our own environment around us and use it effectively in order to maximize its usage through minimum impact.

As such, when I purchased my house, I sought out a location that wasn’t in a city, I’ve never been a fan of them, and would allow me to pursue my interests.  The biggest way I spend my free time in the summer is through blacksmithing and by pursuing this hobby I am able to provide solutions for problems around the house and for my neighbors that might otherwise be expensive, prohibitive, or wasteful to fix through modern methods.  The unspoken mindset of the blacksmith is to never throw anything away, that there is a use for everything at some point in time.

Tending a small garden to grow my favorite vegetables, ensuring that the space in all the rooms of my house are being effectively used, performing home improvement projects myself, as well as conducting vehicle maintenance, are all ways I seek to expand my skills, lessen impact and demand on the environment, and even save money.

Current trends in society are also leaning towards this viewpoint of self-sufficiency as well.  Due to increased awareness of the importance of bees, and the effects of pesticide and colony collapse disorder, backyard beekeeping is increasing in popularity (Woodward, 2018).  Another similar area of interest is in the raising of backyard chickens (Block, 2018).  The knowledge of population demand, increase and changes in production methods, and prevalence of modification factors such as use of antibiotics, has lead people to seek out the alternative of natural homegrown eggs, chickens, and honey.  While the motives may vary, to have fresh eggs cheaply, or eggs produced in a natural environment, or to have honey that comes from known sources, there is a large amount of social support for these areas of interest.

These new trends, however, are not without their risks.  Being ill prepared for the responsibilities of raising these animals and unaware of the risks that may be involved can lead to unfortunate effects.  Increase exposure to salmonella has been linked with the increased trend of raising backyard chickens, for example (Pattani, 2017).  But there are those, like me, that believe that the benefits outweigh the risks and that it helps to be as well informed and prepared as possible.

 

References

Block, B. (2018). U.S City Dwellers Flock to Raising Chickens. Worldwatch Institute.  Retrieved from http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5900.

Schneider, F.W, Gruman, J. A., & Coutts, L. M. (2012).  Applied Psychology (2nd ed.).  Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.

Pattani, A. (2017). Backyard Chickens Carry a Hidden Risk: Salmonella.  New York Times.  Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/04/health/backyard-chickens-carry-a-hidden-risk-salmonella.html.

Woodward, S. (2018). Unique and Emerging Beekeeping Trends. Perfect Bee.  Retrieved from https://www.perfectbee.com/blog/unique-and-emerging-beekeeping-trends/

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