Previous Information¶
It is a project that focuses on the care of a person's wellbeing, specifically mental health care. It is a vitally important topic and has been taboo for many years. The pandemic situation has "forced" the issue to be brought out into the open and to take action.
Therefore, this project will focus on the development of an ambient lamp using the fundamentals of chromotherapy in order to create a calm and relaxing environment. It will combine industrial techniques, such as electronics and machining, and biodesign techniques, such as the bio fabrication of a material to obtain an attractive product, with a neutral aesthetic and most importantly, it will be sustainable.
The aim is to develop a product that helps people to reduce the duration in time and intensity of a panic attack. For this purpose, the basis of chromotherapy will be used.
The use of this product will never replace psychotherapy and psychopharmaceuticals, but it will be a tool to complement them.
The more the person uses this product, the more he/she will create an experience in relation to the product, facilitating a change, facilitating a state of tranquility. After a period of use, the person may be able to dispense with psychotropic drugs, as long as they are supervised and advised by a professional.
INTRODUCTION¶
Context¶
Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash
Mental disorders account for 12.5% of all health problems. It was also noted that, globally, anxiety disorders account for 3.83% (275 million people) and depression for 3.77% (268 million people).
In short, millions of people have experienced panic attacks and in the wake of the pandemic, the number of people suffering from panic attacks has increased dramatically. For many it is the first time they have experienced such a sensation, which can affect their quality of life. If these attacks are repeated frequently, an anxiety disorder may develop.
Anxiety and stress¶
Anxiety is an universal emotion, experienced by all individuals to a greater or lesser degree. Humans are hardwired to detect danger and avoid it, expressing it in the form of fear. It is a basic emotion of character. This type of anxiety is called normal anxiety, and it appears from the beginning of life. However, if it reacts in an alarming way to situations that objectively do not involve danger and makes everyday life difficult because of the hypervigilance one that one assumes, this is pathological anxiety.
Each person experiences these emotions differently. An over-activation of this natural response can lead to the development of a disorder:
- Panic disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety Disorder induced by substances
- Specific phobia
- Social phobia
- Agoraphobia
There are different treatments and some may be more effective than others, depending on the degree of intensity:
- Natural treatments: use of plants.
- Psychotherapy: use of psychic and psychological procedures.
- Psychopharmaceuticals: using medication.
Experts determine that to be most effective, psychotherapy and psychopharmaceuticals should be combined. However, this type of medication can create dependency, in addition to the side effects.
WE HAVE A POPULATION HOOKED ON PILLS AND AN INDUSTRY THAT DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT
Photo by Altin Ferreira on Unsplash
ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES¶
Chromotherapy¶
Chromotherapy, also known as color therapy by the name of color therapy, is a very ancient technique based on the use of colors to treat illnesses or physical ailments. It requires the use of the 7 colors that refract light: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
It is considered alternative medicine, since it seeks treatment through non-conventional therapies. It's non-invasive, without the use of toxic substances or side effects treatment.
These can be applied in different ways, however, for the treatment, a particular color must be used to treat the disease or ailment. In this case, I will use the colored light technique. It consists of light baths using colored bulbs or filters to apply the appropriate color.
Photo by Zulmaury Saavedra on Unsplash
Each color has a defined meaning, based on the natural and sensory experience achieved through its application.
Himalayan salt lamp¶
In a previous investigation, I found this type of lampas. I had already heard about them, so I decided to look for more information. I read it has health benefits, so I looked further into the subject.
It is, basically, a crystallization of salt which comes from Himalayan region. It has natural chemical elements that ionize the environment, cleaning it in a natural way, achieving excellent health benefits.
It has these health benefits:
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Clean and deodorize the air: Remove dust, pollen, cigarette smoke and other air pollutants.
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Combat the effects of positive ions: The positive ions are generated by electronic devices and if you breathe them you can develop lung illnesses. So, when it is heated and begins its hygroscopic cycling of particles in the air, it changes the charge of the molecules that are released.
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Reduce allergic symptoms
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Neutralized electromagnetic radiation
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Reduce stress
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Help to sleep better
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Improve mood and concentration
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Reduce static electricity in the air
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Increase your energy levels
SURVEY¶
This is a survey I did for another project but with the same theme. It was very useful to get closer to the user.
I invite you to fill it out and share your opinion!
Take a look at the final report summarizing all this information and I hope you enjoy it!