In the last couple of weeks, the murders of several women took social media platforms by a storm. Among these victims were Nayera Ashraf and Iman Rashid. Cases like these have become a normative storyline in the news during the last few years. The story usually assumes the following plot: women being abused, violated, and …
Gender-Based Violence and its Association with Mental Illness Read More »
Misogyny is still a profound issue in the Arab world and is yet to be ameliorated. Some people still have ultraconservative beliefs in which the woman is deemed as the property of a man, meaning that she is not perceived as an autonomous being but the commodity of a man. Also, sexual harassment and assault …
The Stigma Associated with Women Rejecting Men in the MENA Region Read More »
Often, we hear the phrase casually thrown in conversation – someone calling another person “too sensitive” based on their reaction to a particular situation. Whether at dinner tables, office gatherings, or family discussions, people tend to highlight specific reactions as being “too much”, unnecessary, or blown out of proportion and attribute it to a heightened sense of individual sensitivity. There is …
From a young age, Arab girls are often subjected to comments about their appearance. They are regularly talked to about the “ideal” body image and how they should work towards achieving it, regardless of the methods. They are often told that, if they are not skinny enough, they will not find a husband nor be …
Words of affirmation, quality time, physical touch, acts of service, and receiving gifts all make up the five love languages that many of us have heard of. The theory of the five love languages was proposed by Gary Chapman back in 1992. Gary Chapman was a counselor who worked with couples and found that many …
The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Relationships Read More »
We have all heard of multi-tasking and have even tried to take part in it. However, did you know that doing so can be seriously overwhelming? So much so that this could be one of the reasons you get burnt out. Single-tasking is the exact opposite, and all it requires is showing up fully to …
In his book Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, John Ratey, MD, discusses the importance of exercise by going deeper into the cognitive benefits and analyzing the direct relationship between physical activity and the brain. In this ground-breaking discussion, he focuses on committing to exercise as a non-negotiable measure to keep our …
Education is knowledge, and knowledge is power. Educating yourself on things surrounding you on a daily basis is something very important. That way, you are more aware of what is affecting you and how. In a sense, education is a form of self-care. Much like anything else, educating yourself on mental health issues is, simply, …
Self-Care in Relation to Mental Health Education Read More »
We have all had that moment when a random stranger walks by or we enter a specific area with a distinct smell and ask the age-old question “what is that perfume called?” The usage of fragrances is not a new phenomenon, but it dives deeper into a complex mixture of how the human mind perceives …
Children – the demographic referred to as the future of coming generations, the building blocks of society, and the pioneers of the future, in addition to the inheritors of our mistakes. Therefore, one way to attempt to shape the next generation for the better is to practice and teach skills such as active listening, empathy, and self-regulation – essential skills to carry into …