Project Sleep Wizard

  The realm of artistic pursuits offers a path into creative expression while simultaneously providing a soothing boost to those who suffer from depression and similar mental health issues. The power of emotional release in the form of painting, drawing, sculpting, or partaking in any style of art certainly shouldn’t be underestimated.  Art therapy is an extensively researched topic with many varying styles that range from those concerning more common forms of art such as simply drawing, dancing, sketching and other similar activities to encourage emotional release to variants concerned mainly with more theoretical and philosophical approaches. These variants include Jungian art therapy, based on the theories of the famed Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, with significantly more focus on exploring deeper psychological aspects of the mind than the usual emotional-expression based art therapy most would be accustomed to.  The use of art as a therapeutic form of mental health ...

  When we think about environmental factors affecting mental health, we often think about the social environment or their home-life situation. However, recent evidence shows that weather and seasonal conditions can also impact an individual's mental health. A recent study called “Temperature and mental health: Evidence from the spectrum of mental health outcomes" showed that  hotter weather raised more unfavourable mental health outcomes as compared to colder weather. For instance, higher temperatures were linked to both an increase in suicides and emergency room visits for mental illness. It was also found that when exposed to extreme heat, people are more prone to act irritably, angrily, or even violently.  Cities located in warmer areas typically see more violent crime than those in cooler areas. In a study conducted by the Association of Psychological Science to examine the relationship between Chicago's daily shootings and the weather from 2012 to 2016, it was found ...

  Too many of us find ourselves guilt-ridden after waking up from an afternoon nap in the midst of the cult of productivity that dictates our lives. Napping is a ubiquitous experience known to bring about memory consolidation, preparation for subsequent learning, executive functioning enhancement, and a boost in emotional stability. Nevertheless, many shun the idea of midday power naps claiming that it disrupts the sleep cycle leading to erratic and abnormal sleeping patterns.  One of the primary benefits of napping is that it undoes the cognitive deficits caused by sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep can cause a decline in cognitive and memory-recording faculties. However, both have been seen to improve after a midday nap with increased levels of productivity and energy. In addition, napping also enhances subsequent learning and promotes emotional processing. Children have been seen to exhibit better emotional regulation skills in the face of challenging stimuli (like a puzzle) ...

              In the era of Instagram and TikTok, body image isn’t just personal; it’s global. How does this global conversation influence individual mental health? Pop culture has had an indisputable influence on modern society, and nowhere is this impact more evident than in the perceptions of body image among teenagers. Tucked within its folds, pop culture contains a powerful paradox: it can both liberate and confine, uphold and challenge, inspire and distress.           As teenagers navigate the tumultuous journey of adolescence, the intertwining threads of body image and mental health become increasingly prominent, significantly influenced by the omnipresence of pop culture. One of the most significant revolutions within pop culture in recent years has been the body positivity movement. This campaign, primarily driven by social media, endorses the acceptance and appreciatio...

  Surely all of you must have pulled off late-nights, burning the midnight oil as you tirelessly finish all your graded assignments, sipping on coffee as your Hail Mary. However, did you ever wonder why coffee is universally celebrated as the go-to solution for staying awake and avoiding sleep? This all boils down to the chemical composition of coffee. No matter which brand of coffee you drink, there is definitely one component which is common; caffeine.  When consumed, caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant, primarily by antagonising adenosine receptors in the brain. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that promotes sleep and relaxation. By blocking adenosine's inhibitory effects, caffeine increases neural activity, leading to increased alertness and decreased perception of fatigue. Like many things in life, caffeine has both its positives and negatives. Caffeine, although having its energising effects, can disrupt the delicate balance of our circadian rhythm, the in...

              Sleep frequently takes a backseat to our other responsibilities in the fast-paced, modern world where time is a valuable resource. We overwork our bodies, putting work, social obligations, and entertainment ahead of sleep. What most don’t understand is that not sleeping has severe consequences on our wellbeing, especially on our eating habits. Research shows that there is a critical connection between our sleep cycle and our dietary habits, emphasising how a lack of sleep may contribute to an unhealthy diet or even result in eating disorders.             A prominent reason for this link is the intricate workings of hormones regulating both processes. The hormone leptin signals fullness whereas ghrelin increases appetite. The working of these hormones is upset by lack of sleep, which causes an imbalance between them and in our diet. It has been proved that...

  It’s not rare to hear a social media guru preach regarding the numerous benefits a nutritious diet yields to the human body. However, these physically manifested gains scarcely encompass all that one may gain from maintaining a strict diet and meal-routine. Going far beyond satiating our physical hunger, the consumption of nutritious food is also remarkably significant in terms of its contributions to the upkeep of our mental health. Recent research has repeatedly indicated an increasingly clear correlation: that a healthy diet positively impacts our psychological state alongside our physical wellbeing.   From boosting our intake of vitamins and minerals to encouraging greater consumption of beneficial and nutritious foods with high fiber content, the somewhat cliche “healthy diet” is without a doubt a recipe for success when it comes to warding off symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses. Adhering to the ‘Mediterranean diet’, typically revered by proponents o...

             Michelle Obama, Demi Lovato, Michael Phelps and Lady Gaga all have one thing in common: they have all suffered from depression, and so have 280 million other people worldwide. Depression is a mood disorder, a common and severe medical condition, that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Depression manifests itself in several emotional, cognitive and physical symptoms that affect how a person feels, thinks, and handles daily activities.           Common emotional symptoms include persistent sadness, feelings of hopelessness, and a loss of interest or pleasure in once-enjoyable activities. Cognitive symptoms often involve difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or experiencing recurrent negative thoughts. Physical symptoms of depression include changes in sleep patterns, appetite and weight fluctuations, and unexplained aches and pains. Individu...

  As we all know, sleep is essential for our well being. It is responsible for our cognitive abilities, emotional balance and overall quality of life. However, in today’s fast-paced world, many people struggle to get enough sleep on a daily basis. As a result, a common belief, or rather misconception, has emerged that sleeping more on the weekends can make up for the sleep lost on the weekdays. Let’s explore why this idea of “catching up” on sleep is just a fallacy.  When we don’t get enough sleep, it goes beyond just fatigue and lethargy. A bigger problem is at hand; chronic sleep deprivation. This disease possesses some serious consequences, affecting every facet of our lives. Our ability to think becomes cloudy as our memory becomes impaired, affecting our decision making skills. Subsequently, it increases the risk of accidents due to our limited attention span and tiredness. Moreover, it weakens our immune system, and contributes to the development of chronic health condit...