Looking after your health is one of the most important investments of your time. In the midst of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, staying positive can feel tricky – and many Brits have been struggling with money worries on top of existing mental health issues. In fact, at least one in six people report having a mental health problem each week in England.
While it’s always best to seek professional advice if you’ve been struggling for a while, there are numerous proactive steps that could help you feel a little bit better on a day-to-day basis. From raking a gentle stroll to spending quality time with friends, small things can make a big difference.
How to improve and maintain your mental health
Look after your physical health first
If you’ve been unfortunate enough to have an accident, it’s important to give your body the time and rest it needs to recover from a personal injury of any type.
The health of everyone is increasingly threatened by climate change. As emergency care practitioners in Australia and the United States, we and our international colleagues are already observing the effects of climate change on the patients we meet.
However, a greater number of us will experience climatic emergencies, such as flooding, fires, and severe weather. And when the time comes, we may all take proactive steps to safeguard our health. Here are some things to be aware of and take action on.
What impact is climate change having on health?
People are turning to emergency rooms as a result of a variety of climate-related health issues, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, air pollution-related asthma, infectious diseases linked to flooding, and shifting biomes that cause ticks, mosquitoes, and other pests to relocate. Hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and floods often make the news because of the physical and mental damage they cause.
Many people find themselves suddenly without access to their regular healthcare providers and pharmacies, sometimes for extended periods of time. Individuals with complicated medical conditions, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, members of marginalised groups, and residents of disadvantaged regions frequently bear the brunt of the costs of extreme weather.
For instance, a woman recently visited an emergency room in Adelaide, Australia, complaining of a headache, weariness, and nausea—all signs of heat exhaustion—on a day when the temperature reached 110 degrees Fahrenheit. She explained to the medical staff that she had just walked two hours in the heat to get food because she didn't have a car or transportation. The only way she had to get food for her family was to venture outside, despite the media's health cautions that day telling her to stay indoors where it was cool. Well-intentioned public health warnings do little to lower the risk of sickness during harsh weather for this woman and many others. Access to housing, transportation, and other socioeconomic variables that put people at risk of poor health outcomes must be addressed in order to achieve safe and equitable health outcomes.
Extreme weather is a factor in widespread problems with health and safety.
Extreme weather linked to climate change is increasingly resulting in sporadic access to medical care, which increases the risk of later sickness and death. Extreme weather can disrupt vital infrastructure, such as the electrical grid, making it impossible for people who depend on home medical equipment to use it. A dialysis centre or emergency department may close as a result, and care may be provided more slowly in institutions that remain open.
People who are displaced as a result of a fire or hurricane may find it difficult to access medical care or essential medications like insulin, dialysis, therapies for high blood pressure, and heart medications. Especially in people who already have heart failure, lung disease, or kidney disease, these things can make chronic conditions worse and even cause death.
In psychology, manipulation is a behavior designed to exploit, control, or otherwise influence others for personal gain. The specific behaviors included in the term's definitions vary based on culture and whether they are applied to the general population or in clinical settings.
Oftentimes, we make excuses for others, which is commendable, but knowing when to stop is crucial. Manipulation impacts how you feel about yourself, how you perceive life, and how you interact with others. It is vital that you do not allow anyone to manipulate you, and if you are curious about the signs you are being manipulated, listed below are five of them.
Planning on getting fit this year? You’re not alone. According to research from YouGov, of the 21% of Brits who say they are making New Year's resolutions for 2023, 53% want to do more exercise—47% of men and 57% of women in all.
As part of this, millions will be signing up for gyms in an effort to shed pounds and bulk up muscle, but new research has found that lots of people—women in particular—find visiting the gym an anxiety-inducing experience.
Gym anxiety: what does the research say?
European lingerie specialists Hunkemöller wanted to find out how many found that a big chunk of people suffer from gym anxiety. They found that, by looking at Google Search Trends data, searches relating to “gym confidence” had risen 1,600% in a year, with “getting over gym anxiety” up 300% in the same period.
To delve deeper into the results, they surveyed 2,000 UK adults to find out their anxieties relating to the gym. They found that 28% of women felt anxious in a gym environment, compared to just 16% of men. 61% of these women said they’d feel better at a female-only gym.
The main reasons behind this anxiety also differed greatly. For women, the top sources of anxiety were lack of knowledge regarding exercises and form (26%), feeling uncomfortable (26%), and a feeling of being stared at by others (22%). For men, 19% felt uncomfortable in gym surroundings, 17% were intimidated by gym equipment (17%), and 16% were unsure of whether their form and exercises were correct.
Are different cities more female-friendly when it comes to gyms?
Hunkemöller then set out to analyze which city was the best for women looking for a female-only workout space. Shockingly, in the 15 cities looked at, there were just 73 women-only gyms, with each catering to tens or hundreds of thousands of women. The results were as follows:
Are there holiday arguments brewing? Here’s how to defuse them.
The holidays, as described by idealists, are hardly the time for conflicts. They are meant to be filled with love, laughter, goodwill, and those small sparkling lights that create a joyful atmosphere. Unfortunately, cheerful celebration sometimes devolves into an epic disagreement when family and friends assemble during the season. However, you can avoid conflicts if you plan ahead and remain vigilant for potential triggers.
1. When you are aware that your words have the potential to cause great harm to another person. Even if you don't mean any harm with your words, they can still cut deep if they are insulting, sarcastic, or condescending. Words spoken years after the fact can still have the same crippling effect as those spoken moments later. One's choice of words has the power to either comfort or traumatise.
3. When you feel strong feelings coming on inside, be quiet so we can figure out what's going on.
There are certain disagreements when it comes to defining mental health emergencies and mental health crises since experts assume this is the same thing. It is the reason why these terms are used interchangeably. However, Mental Health Alliances do not use these terms as synonyms since they find some differences between the two. Typically, the state of mental emergency is defined as a specific state where the one is life-threatening for themselves and the people around them, while, the crisis is not life-threatening, but the person is found in a state of severe distress. To put it more simply, a person who tries to commit suicide is in a state of mental emergency, while the person having suicidal thoughts is in a state of mental crisis.
Instead of focusing on one particular aspect or problem, try to see the situation as part of a larger whole. For example, if you are dealing with a difficult coworker or an annoying family member, consider how this person may contribute to a more significant cause or mission. By looking at the bigger picture, you can find more meaning and purpose in your experiences, which helps to shift your perspective in a positive direction.
Sometimes, the trick is recognizing when you are too hard on yourself. If your perspective is becoming overly negative and judgmental, it may be time to cut yourself slack and choose a more positive outlook. For example, instead of dwelling on perceived failures or shortcomings, focus on what you have accomplished or what you can do to improve moving forward.
Read Inspiring and Uplifting Content
To keep your perspective positive, it's essential to stay inspired. This might mean reading uplifting and motivational content online, listening to inspiring podcasts or books, or simply spending time outside in nature. By surrounding yourself with inspiration regularly, you can better ward off negative thoughts and emotions that threaten your happiness and well-being.
Find resourceful sites with the correct information where you can find inspiration and motivation to keep pushing forward. This is where you target websites run by knowledgeable, qualified experts who know what they are talking about. Through using positive affirmations, it becomes possible to see the world in a new light and to experience more joy and happiness every day. By learning to make small changes in your perspective, you can reap the excellent benefits of living in this lively place. Also, give yourself time to grasp the different ideas and concepts you learn.
Seek Professional Help
These issues should never be taken lightly, and you should always think about looking for professional help. Lots of facilities are offering various inpatient and outpatient mental health treatments that help you cope with your mental health disorder. Medications, therapies, and other methods are used to help you heal mentally and physically.
Most people who have a mental illness don’t seek out professional help because they feel like they can overcome it on their own. But seeking professional help is okay and it does not make you weak. In fact, it makes you stronger because you are taking the necessary steps to get better.
Learn About Your Issues
It's important to get informed about mental health and the struggles you're going through. It can be hard to come to terms with a mental health disorder but learning about your issues is a way to overcome that. By getting factual about mental health, you can start to understand your own experience and build a foundation for recovery.
Mental health disorders are complex, and there is still a lot of people don't understand about them. However, there is a growing body of knowledge about it, and learning about your disorder can be incredibly helpful. It can help you make sense of your symptoms, develop more realistic expectations for treatment, and understand your prognosis.
Find Social Support
Apart from therapy and other professional treatments, you should also seek support from your friends and family. Talking to people who know and understand you can be helpful in managing mental health struggles. These people can provide an important support system for you.
If you don't feel comfortable talking to your friends or family about your mental health, there are other options available. There are many online support groups that can provide some level of social support. This can be a great way to connect with people who are going through similar struggles.
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Treatment Centers
If you are struggling with depression, it is important to seek professional help. There are many treatment centers that can offer you the help and support that you need. Treatment centers specialize in mental health disorders and can provide you with the resources and tools that you need to recover. Look for something close to home. If you're in LA depression treatment centers in California are your best bet. This way your family can easily come to visit you.Support Groups
Another great way to deal with depression is by joining a support group. Support groups are a safe place where you can share your experiences and feelings with others who are going through the same thing. This can be a great way to find support and understanding. When looking for a support group, make sure to find one that is run by professionals. Additionally, try to find a group that meets in person so that you can have the support of being around others.In this article we will discuss 5 Things to Teach Young Black Women Before Adulthood
Avoid having children out of wedlock; in the black community, more than 70% of children are born into households with just one parent. According to statistics, single-parent households have lower incomes, less free time, troubled relationships, and an imbalance of masculine and feminine energy. Parents should instil in their daughters the importance of securing a successful future and not be reliant on their partners.
Bryan Stevenson, the main role in the movie heads to Alabama right after graduating from Harvard. His mission in life is to defend the wrongly condemned and people that are not afforded the representation they deserve. Just as this sounds, the movie is truly inspiring. Keep reading to find out more about it.
Worrying about things outside of your control, having external distractions, and complaining about everything in life are all things that are detrimental to mental health. And when your mind is cluttered, it will waste your time and mental energy.
So, it's time to adopt healthy habits to become a better version of yourself. Below, we have stretched the best ways for you to declutter your mind and have a happy life:
The morning after a night of drinking is never enjoyable with a hangover. The most common symptoms of a hangover include headaches, exhaustion, thirst, and nausea. However, some individuals also report experiencing "hangxiety"—feelings of uneasiness during a hangover. Anxiety with a hangover affects approximately 12% of people, and the severity varies.
A hangover induces a state of physiological stress when the body recovers from a night of drinking. In general, physiological stress occurs when the body is under pressure—for example, as a result of a sickness or accident. A hangover functions in a similar manner. Not only does it change our immune system, but it also raises cortisol levels, which are often called the "stress hormone." Anxiety also changes blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels.
The brain also undergoes alterations. According to research, dopamine-related brain activity (a type of neurotransmitter) is reduced during a hangover. This is significant because dopamine plays a crucial role in anxiety regulation.
Intriguingly, the combination of stress and sleep deprivation (representing features of a hangover) can result in reductions in both mood and cognitive function (including attention and memory). Additionally, fatigue, worry, and the presence of other unpleasant hangover symptoms might make it difficult to do daily duties. For instance, a person with a hangover may be too focused on treating their nausea, headache, and weariness to properly manage worrisome thoughts.
According to our own research, people feel a negative emotional shift during a hangover. Many also reported having greater difficulty controlling their emotions than when they are not hungover. In other words, during a hangover, individuals feel terrible and find it difficult to recover.
However, when asked to regulate their emotions during a computer activity, participants were able to do so to the same level as when they were not hungover, albeit with greater effort. Some people may have anxiety because they have a harder time controlling their feelings when they have a hangover.
Foot massage, also known as reflexology, is foot care. There are various health benefits of foot massage, and that is why you should not go a day without getting a foot massage. Keep reading to find out why.
Every day, their feet put in a lot of effort. They not only aid in locomotion but also support the body's weight. Unfortunately, foot care is frequently overlooked. It is critical to maintain clean and relaxed feet.
Massage your feet for a few minutes every day to help relax the muscles in your feet, strengthen them, make them more flexible, relieve stress, and improve blood flow.
Benefits of Foot Massage
1. Boost blood circulation
The primary method of increasing circulation in the feet is loosening techniques. When you loosen your feet and ankles, the blood flows better and the next treatment, like massage or reflexology, works better overall.
The therapist can check how mobile the foot and ankle joints are by manually moving the tissues back and forth and side to side.
2. Encourage restful sleep
Regular massage has been shown in studies to improve sleep and circadian rhythm. Let your massage therapist know if you want to improve your sleep. Swedish and myofascial massage are among the techniques available.
For pain or discomfort relief, you can also try energetic techniques like deep tissue massage or therapeutic massage, as long as they don't make you feel worse.
3. Get rid of back pain
Foot massage may help alleviate some aspects of back pain due to the interconnectivity of the body's tissues. But the fact that they are connected may mean that other areas, like the calves and hamstrings, also need to be worked on.
4. Unwind the body.
Swedish and Ayurvedic foot massage are the most relaxing foot massage techniques. Swedish massage uses long strokes and circular motions, as well as other types of gentle strokes, to help you relax.
The speed and pressure with which these strokes are executed are critical to achieving tranquillity. Warm oil is combined with gentle strokes in Ayurvedic massage to balance the doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.
The researchers analysed 13 studies with a combined participant population of more than 5.3 million participants. They discovered that the two most prevalent mental illnesses, anxiety and depression, were linked to an increased risk of afib by 25% and 10%, respectively. Anger was associated with a 15% increase in risk of Afib and significant work stress with an 18% increase in risk.
There's no question that contentment is a key ingredient to leading a happy life. But what if you're not content with your current situation? What if you feel like you could be doing more? This blog post will discuss some tips on how to reach a higher level of contentment and achieve greater happiness!
1) Get rid of negativity
First and foremost, it's important to get rid of anything that's causing negative feelings. This might include toxic relationships, a stressful job, or any other situation that makes you feel unhappy. Once you've removed these negative influences from your life, you'll be able to focus on reaching a higher level of contentment.
It can also be helpful to set goals for yourself. Having something to strive for will give you a sense of purpose and help keep you motivated. Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable, so you don't get discouraged along the way.
2) Find things that make you happy
It's important to find activities, people, and things that bring joy into your life. This might include spending time with friends and family, pursuing a hobby, or taking a trip to a place you've always wanted to visit. When you surround yourself with positive influences, it'll be easier to achieve contentment.
In addition to finding happiness externally, it's also essential to focus on internal happiness. This means taking care of yourself emotionally and mentally as well as physically. Make sure to schedule time for relaxation and self-care, so you don't get overwhelmed by day-to-day stressors.
Long-term grief disorder is now a recognised mental health issue.
We all experience grief differently and on our own timelines when a loved one goes away. However, physicians now have a formal diagnosis for it when a high level of grieving persists for more than a year. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5)—the manual used by physicians to make mental health diagnoses—included "prolonged grief disorder" in March 2022.
"Not just missing your loved one after a year counts as prolonged mourning. It hinders function and is incapacitating. " "It goes beyond accepted societal, cultural, and religious standards.
Prevalence and signs
Only people who are grieving the loss of a loved one are considered to have prolonged grief disorder. According to estimates, 7% to 10% of adult bereaved people have the disorder.
The symptoms are extremely specific. A person with extended grief still feels a strong longing or yearning for the person who died or is so consumed by thoughts and memories of the person who died that it gets in the way of their daily life after a year.
Also, for a person to be diagnosed with chronic grief, they must show at least three of the following signs:
Acute anger, bitterness, or sorrow relating to the loss; difficulties re-engaging with life; emotional numbness, especially regarding connection with others; a feeling that life is now worthless; intense loneliness as a result of the death. A feeling that a part of oneself has died.
Other illnesses like depression, PTSD, or drug use can't explain the symptoms better.
Continually grieving
The veil of grief can wrap us for a variety of reasons, keeping us lost in another reality. The risk elements are divided into two groups:
circumstances surrounding the death, such as trauma, suddenness, or violence; lack of planning; death of a child or younger person; or death in a hospital intensive care unit; circumstances surrounding the bereaved person, such as a history of mental disorders, such as depression or drug use; other losses in life; or a lack of social support.
All of us need to sleep, but children especially need to sleep. Children who don't get enough good sleep are more likely to experience learning difficulties, behavioural issues, and health problems.
Here are a few easy steps you can take to ensure that your child gets the rest they require.
Have a schedule for
Our bodies function best when we go to bed and wake up at around the same time each day.
Eight to ten hours of sleep is required for teens and children. Count back 10 hours from the time your child is supposed to wake up in the morning. They should be getting ready for bed around that time (for younger children, count back 11 hours).
For instance, if your teen must get up at 7, they should be dressed and in bed by 9 p.m. (since most of us don't fall asleep as soon as our head strikes the pillow). By around age 8, a younger child should begin getting ready (showering, etc.).