PSYC2000 Reflective Essay Mental health

Introduction: PSYC2000 Reflective Essay Mental health

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My path to becoming a professional psychologist has led me to a profound realization regarding the connection between mental and physical well-being. This change resulted from a blend of my own personal observations and a series of illuminating lectures on the scientific basis of physical activity and its impact on the mind. A narrative that emphasizes the importance of endorphins, the value of consistency as well as the holistic approach towards mental health has been developed by these experiences and scholarly discoveries. This essay will discuss the way these realizations have profoundly changed the way I view the world, as well as how they could affect the way I practice in the future. I'll also emphasize how closely my own experiences and academic expertise in the area of psychology are related.

1. Reflect on your sport/exercise experiences. Identify key events that you were a part of

According to Gibbs framework I have experienced a number of noteworthy experiences with exercise and sports that have affected my perception of the relationship among physical activity with mental health. During the track and field tournt I had in high school, one interesting event took place. I was taking part during an 800-meter race, which I had been actively preparing for. As the race developed, I discovered myself lagging behind the first runners and found it difficult to maintain up my pace. I felt overwhelmed as irritation and uncertainty seeped in. I had a decision to make at that very moment. Instead of succumbing to my fears and letting my mental health loss, I chose to use certain mental techniques I had learnt during my training (Qiu et al., 2020). I concentrated on my breathing, trying to control it and recover control. I also remind myself of my training time and the advancement I had accomplished.

Throughout Gibbs reflective cycle this event showed me the importance of mental preparation in physical activity and sports. It demonstrated to me that mental toughness and the capacity to push past unfavorable thoughts may significantly affect productivity. It also emphasized the significance of preparation both emotionally and mentally and whether these elements work together to help athletes reach their objectives. In another case, I saw the beneficial effects of the team dynamic on people's mental health while taking an ensemble fitness class. Because the lesson was difficult, the lecturer urged students to help each other out. Everyone was inspired to persist by the feeling of being part of something that was present in the room. I came to understand the importance of having interpersonal contacts in boosting mental health via exercise (Zoorob et al., 2021).

2. Identify lecture topic that have improved changed or challenges your understanding of your experiences indentified.

My comprehension of my interactions with sports and exercise has been a lot enhanced and enlarged by the presentation on "Exercise and Mental Health." The topic clarified the complex connection among physical activity and mental well-being. I was aware that physical activity was good for mental health before I started this course, but I was unaware of all the explanations for why and how much of an influence it had. The discussions emphasized the many ways that exercise may enhance mental health, including the production of endorphins, better sleep, and its contribution in reducing the signs of despair and stress. My awareness of the significance of keeping an active lifestyle for both physical and mental well-being increased as a result of learning about these systems (Orth and van Wyk, 2020). The lecture also included data and actual cases that highlighted the widespread nature of mental health problems in society as a whole which I found to be eye-opening. The importance of tackling such issues via physical activity and exercise was furthered by realizing that numerous individuals have mental health challenges.

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3 Identify the “big picture narrative of your essay. This narrative needs to address the connection between your own personal experiences and the lecture topic.

The main theme of the essay is the way my own experiences with sports and exercise relate to the insightful lecture topic of "Exercise as well as Mental Health." This story is centered on the realization that my participation in physical activities not only improved my physical condition but also significantly impacted my psychological well-being. My early involvement in sports was mostly focused on being physically strong and competing. Team sports gave me a rush of adrenaline, an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment, and camaraderie that I truly valued. However, I didn't really grasp the wider ramifications of my athletic endeavors until I dove into the course on exercise as well as mental health. The presentation described the complex psychological and biological mechanisms by which physical activity affects mental health (Morton Ninomiya et al., 2020). I discovered the endorphins that better sleep and stress relief may have a big influence on one's mental health.

On the basis of Gibbs model my viewpoint on my personal experiences has changed as a result of this newfound awareness. I now understand that leading an active way of life has not only maintained me physically healthy but has also been a successful way of reducing stress and worry and boosting my mood. The lecture subject made me vividly understand the relevance of my own experiences as well as the broader impact that they have for mental health. It also highlighted the ubiquity of mental health concerns in society as a whole. My understanding of this relationship has grown as a result of the presentation on exercise as well as mental health, which emphasized the crucial role that physical activity plays in preserving mental and physical wellness.

4. Identify three sub themes that specifically link an experience you have has with course content.

Endorphins and Mental Well-being

The course material emphasized the enormous advantages of exercise for regulating anxiety and mood. My own experience in sports and fitness strongly supports this idea. When I initially started jogging, I got to directly witness the mood-lifting effects of endorphins. The presentation on "Exercise as well as Mental Health" elaborated on how exercise causes the production of these chemical substances in the brain to explain the empirical evidence for these phenomena (Prasad et al., 2020). This link demonstrated that my memories of experiencing a "runner's high" were not merely momentary joys, but rather significant factors in my general mental health.

Consistency in physical activity

The training material emphasized the importance of regularity in exercising for long-lasting benefits to mental health. I became conscious of the need of discipline for maintaining mental health and how my devoted training regimens for various sports had implanted this quality. The talk placed a strong emphasis on the long-term benefits of regular physical activity, which is consistent with my own experiences with keeping up a fitness regimen. It additionally encouraged me to recognize the long-term advantages of continuing to be active in building my anxiety and stress resistance.

Holistic approach

In the course material, the idea of exercising as a comprehensive strategy for mental health that integrates psychological, physical, as well as social components was introduced (Rahayu et al., 2023). This was in line with my observations that sports were not only about physical effort but also about building strong social bonds and self-esteem. I became conscious of the way my participation in competitive sports with group exercise fostered a feeling of identity and self-worth, elements which are crucial to general psychological well-being.

5. For each sub-theme and based on the integration of experience and course content, identify a practical implication

Endorphins and Mental Well-being

Knowing how endorphins contribute to mental health has major consequences for my planned clinical psychology profession. I am now aware how helpful exercising can be as a complimentary method of managing and improving my mental health. In my practice, I might suggest exercise to patients dealing with disorders like anxiety or depression as a component of a comprehensive therapy plan (Aperribai et al., 2020). Encouragement of clients to partake in enjoyable hobbies, like yoga or jogging, may not only lift their spirits but also give them a feeling of power and authority over their psychological well-being. Additionally, I may work with fitness experts to design customized exercise initiatives that complement the therapeutic objectives of clientele.

Regular Exercise and Long-Term Benefits

As a clinical psychologist, having knowledge of the significance of constancy in physical exercise for a long time mental health advantages is pertinent to my professional life. I can help customers develop realistic, long-term workout objectives. I can empower clients to take charge of their psychological well-being by educating them on how tiny, continuous efforts result in noticeable gains. I can also use behavioral change approaches to improve my customers' commitment to their exercise plans, which will increase the possibility that they will experience the long-term benefits covered in the course of study.

Holistic Perspective to Mental Health

My future work will be directly affected by the course's concentration on the holistic aspect of mental health. I may take a holistic stance in treatment, understanding that psychological wellness is intertwined with physical and social wellbeing. Promoting clients' participation in clubs or sports that suit their interests may be an extremely successful approach for reducing social isolation and boosting self-esteem (Adeani et al., 2020). I can work with other experts, such as dietitians and fitness trainers, to provide comprehensive treatment that emphasizes my customers' entire wellbeing.

Conclusion

These experiences in my exercise and sports career have strengthened my belief that exercise and psychological wellness are strongly correlated. They have shown to me that, in along with enhancing one's mental and physical wellness, exercise can also boost one's academic achievement and general well-being. The lecture upon "Exercise and Mental Health" significantly enhanced my understanding of the profound effects exercise can have on mental health, reiterating the notion that physical activity is necessary to sustaining not only physical health but also psychological mental wellness and overall well-being. In conclusion, the main idea or central narrative for my essay is the fact that my experiences with sports and exercise go beyond simple physical activity to play a vital role in my psychological well-being.

The course material and my personal observations are reconciled by the significance of endorphins, the value of consistency, as well as the comprehensive nature of physical activity in mental health. They corroborate the overarching argument that my participation in physical activity has had a significant impact on my mental health, a relationship that has been significantly strengthened by the course's lessons.

References

Books and Journals

• Adeani, I. S., Febriani, R. B., & Syafryadin, S. (2020). Using GIBBSreflective cycle in making reflections of literary analysis. Indonesian EFL Journal, 6(2), 139-148.
• Aperribai, L., Cortabarria, L., Aguirre, T., Verche, E., & Borges, Á. (2020). Teacher's physical activity and mental health during lockdown due to the COVID-2019 pandemic. Frontiers in psychology, 11, 577886.
• Morton Ninomiya, M., George, N., George, J., Linklater, R., Bull, J., Plain, S., ... & Wells, S. (2020). A community-driven and evidence-based approach to developing mental wellness strategies in First Nations: A program protocol. Research involvement and engagement, 6, 1-12.
• Orth, Z., & van Wyk, B. (2020). Adolescent mental wellness: a systematic review protocol of instruments measuring general mental health and well-being. BMJ open, 10(8), e037237.
• Prasad, A., Civantos, A. M., Byrnes, Y., Chorath, K., Poonia, S., Chang, C., ... & Rajasekaran, K. (2020). <? covid19?> Snapshot Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Wellness in Nonphysician Otolaryngology Health Care Workers: A National Study. OTO open, 4(3), 2473974X20948835.
• Qiu, J. Y., Zhou, D. S., Liu, J., & Yuan, T. F. (2020). Mental wellness system for COVID-19. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 87, 51.
• Rahayu, D. S., Padillah, R., Septiana, N. Z., Setyorini, S., & Nuraini, P. (2023). Battle of the minds: AI vs mental health professionals in mental wellness care. Journal of Public Health, fdad149.
• Zoorob, D., Shah, S., La Saevig, D., Murphy, C., Aouthmany, S., & Brickman, K. (2021). Insight into resident burnout, mental wellness, and coping mechanisms early in the COVID-19 pandemic. PLoS One, 16(4), e0250104.