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How Social Factors Affect Mental Health
Jukka Jumisko • June 9, 2020
Stress Of Family
What is Mental Health
In the previous article we learned there are both social and environmental constructs that can influence “our emotional, psychological, and social well-being” in other words our ‘mental health’ as stated in Mental Health.gov. In this article we are specifically paying attention to the social constructs. In particular we are talking about family. Family as a construct is fluid. Our idea of what constitutes a family is changing all the time.
The Nuclear Family
The term nuclear family was coined in 1920 by anthropologists, but the idea or construct of the nuclear family took hold in the 1960 and into the 70’s. Primarily it means mom, dad, siblings. This was quite a change from the ‘Extended Family’ which included grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins. The nuclear family became our social construct because society decided in order to get ahead the family had to be more easily transplanted in order to seek property and promotion. It is simpler to move just the ‘nucleus’, rather than the entire traditional extended family when economic changes or opportunities occurred. Make sense right?
Family Stress Affect on Adults
Society did not consider the social impact of the nuclear family. An extended family is more likely to seek help from each other, pool money and resources and share emotional burdens and child rearing duties. Not to mention, it is a larger social group which humans instinctively migrate toward. As we, a society, become more ‘nuclear’ we are increasingly more isolated and forced to face stressful life events alone. All of those life stressors and problems now rest on the shoulders of one or two adults, not many as in an extended family. According to Healthline.com article Emotional Symptoms of Stress - prolonged chronic stress has been proven to lead to ‘increases in depression, anxiety, irritability, low sex drive, compulsive behavior and mood swings.’
Emotional Symptoms Of Stress
All of the above symptoms; depression, anxiety, irritability, low sex drive, compulsive behavior and mood swings create even more stress for the parents, and by proximity the children within the household are more stressed. We’ll discuss the effect of stress on children in a future post. To summarize stressed children are more likely to exhibit anxiety, depression, lack social skills, and be more isolated.
How To Use CBD Oil For Anxiety And Stress
According to Medical News Journal News Letter written by Zanne Villines July 27, 2018 - The cannabidiol compounds found in CBD Oil have proven effective in relieving stress by binding to specialized receptors in the brain. As we have covered in previous blog post (see CBD for PTSD May 2020), these cannabidiol compounds do not create the intoxicating effects of THC, but instead stimulate the body's natural chemical reaction to mitigate and alleviate the effects of stress. Meaning adults are more relaxed, less anxious, more focused and able to think clearly. We are in no way suggesting you immediately stop any antidepressant, or other prescription medications you are currently taking. Instead talk to you physician about how CBD oil, edibles, tinctures may compliment you current routine and help you get back on the path to successful development of coping skills that will enable you to reduce your number of medications or even become prescription free. Remember, when you think CBD - think CBD-Oil-Superstore by Seebinger. We are here to help you.
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