The Gift of Giving Gifts

Relationships

Helping others and giving back to the community make you feel good. The same can be said for giving a gift to a friend or family member. Giving instead of receiving is scientifically proven to improve your mental and physical health, so here are just some ways that giving is good for you.

You feel happier

Gift-giving releases “feel-good” chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin. It also releases endorphins which produce the positive feeling known as the “helper’s high.”

Self-esteem booster

Seeing your gift provide joy to others boosts your self-esteem, increasing your confidence and self-appreciation. You also experience a sense of accomplishment from doing something that positively impacted someone else.

Lowers your blood pressure

Handing out gifts significantly lowers blood pressure and heart rate while making you feel more sociable, more involved, and less aggressive, lowering overall risk of cardiovascular disease.

Improved immunity

Your health is impacted by how you feel mentally and physically. When you are happy and experiencing the euphoria of giving to others, it improves your mood and your immunity, decreasing your risk of illness.

Less depression

When you give a gift, you feel a sense of happiness and calmness, great remedies to symptoms of depression. By transitioning your focus onto someone else and prioritizing making them feel good, you get purpose and positivity in return.

If you find that you are struggling with your mental health or need some extra support, Valley Oaks Health is here for you. Call us today.

December 12, 2022

Perfectionism: Understanding the Hidden Mental Health Risk

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Conditions

Perfectionism is often seen as a positive trait that pushes us to achieve and excel. But when the pursuit of perfection becomes an obsession, it can have serious consequences for mental health. Perfectionism can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, depression, and a sense of inadequacy that’s hard to shake.

Beyond Physicals: How Regular Checkups Aid Mental Wellness

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Treatment

When we think of health screenings, we often consider them solely as a tool for catching physical illnesses early. However, regular checkups also play a significant role in supporting mental wellbeing. Beyond helping prevent and manage physical health conditions, screenings can reduce anxiety, provide peace of mind, and encourage a proactive approach to health that benefits both mind and body.

From Imposter Syndrome to Confidence: Overcoming Self-Doubt

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Self-Care

Have you ever felt like a fraud, worried that your achievements are just luck, and feared that others will eventually discover you’re not as competent as they think? If so, you’re not alone.

Perfectionism: Understanding the Hidden Mental Health Risk

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Conditions

Beyond Physicals: How Regular Checkups Aid Mental Wellness

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Treatment

From Imposter Syndrome to Confidence: Overcoming Self-Doubt

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Self-Care

Have you ever felt like a fraud, worried that your achievements are just luck, and feared that others will eventually discover you’re not as competent as they think? If so, you’re not alone.

Your Body’s Warning Signals: When Physical Symptoms Indicate Mental Health Issues

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Self-Care

It’s easy to overlook physical symptoms when thinking about mental health. We often associate mental health with emotions or thoughts rather than the aches, pains, or discomforts that show up in the body. But the mind and body are linked, leading physical symptoms to sometimes be early indicators of underlying mental health issues.