Guest Post Archives - Page 2 of 16 - Running in Triangles

Managing a Panic Attack After a Divorce

A panic attack is characterized by uncontrollable, excruciating anxiety, bewilderment, and a terrifying fear of dying. Despite the fact that there is no physical injury done to a person during an attack, this is not the truth.
Having a panic attack leads a person to feel as though the world is falling around him, and he loses control of his mind and body, according to D. Francesetti’s definition of the condition.

Managing a Panic Attack after Divorce — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Divorce anxiety and panic attacks, dread of death, suffocation, concern about being the object of hatred, and loneliness are some of the most prevalent symptoms mentioned by persons who have had a panic attack, according to the Mayo Clinic. Due to rough consequences for the mental health of women, some states have implemented a special procedure you can learn about by googling online divorce, e.g. online divorce New Mexico.

What is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack occurs when a person has a rapid, unexpected surge of dread and body reactions, and it is defined as follows: When a panic attack occurs, the symptoms usually peak within five to ten minutes and then lessen quickly after that. As a result, a panic attack occurs and then subsides without posing any serious risk to one’s physical health. However, panic attacks may make even a few minutes feel like an eternity to someone who is suffering from them.

Such a sharp attack of fear reaches its peak within a few minutes and may manifest the following symptoms:

- Fear of losing control or death
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling of tightness in the throat
- Sweating
- Tremor
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea, abdominal discomfort
- Dizziness, loss of balance
- Disorientation
- Numbness in the extremities

Panic attacks can be triggered by a variety of factors including heredity, stress, traumatic life experiences, emotional temperament, changes in certain areas of the brain, smoking, or excessive caffeine use.

What to Do When You Have a Panic Attack

It is conceivable for a person to suffer a panic attack while at work, on public transit, or in any other situation when they are exposed to danger.
In order to overcome a panic attack, it is recommended that you perform the “Breathing 5” exercise:

- Take a breath on a count of 5.
- Hold your breath for 5 seconds.
- Exhalation on a count of 5.
- Repeat 5-8 times.

The technique of “here and now” is equally beneficial. An individual who is experiencing severe but unfounded concern may benefit from the solutions described here:

- Touch three objects, feel their shape, texture and temperature.
- Look at 5 random objects and think about each one separately.
- Try something to taste or drink.

How to Get Rid of Panic Attacks

Panic attacks might persist anywhere from two to three months before they are no longer present and gone for good. The need for long-term treatment on all five levels of the psyche is essential. These levels include cultural, social, psychological, psychic, and biological in nature. For the record, all five stages of personality disorientation were not caused by organic changes in a person’s situation but rather were impacted in the following ways.

1. In the first instance, the client is confronted with a truth that is outside of the framework she knows and accepts, and which she is unable to change on a cultural level. In our instance, the news of her husband’s dishonesty and deceitfulness came as a shock to her, and she was unable to take any action against him.
2. The client comes into contact with a new individual she is not ready to meet on a social level, as well. In our client’s instance, the discovery that her spouse was having an affair with another woman was a traumatic experience. And as a result of this, she was unable to take any action.
3. Whenever a client finds herself in an unfamiliar environment for which she is unprepared, she suffers a sense of disorientation that is the outcome of a clash of values. It was our client’s husband’s desire to divorce her and marry another woman that was the root of her anguish.
4. It has been shown that the repercussions of unfinished acts are associated with mental disorientation. It happened in our case when the client wanted to communicate her dissatisfaction to her spouse, but he “ran away,” denying her the opportunity to do so.
5. Following an aborted pregnancy, there was a state of biological disorientation. Accepting one’s feelings as well as one’s body as a physical thing are lessons learned in therapy.

There can only be one piece of advice made, and that is for a specific course of psychological counseling (psychotherapy). You are dealing with a significant situation, but you may start by concentrating on returning your current condition to normal. If you do not seek therapy and adhere to a treatment plan, you may develop a panic disorder within a year or two after seeking treatment for it. Make a decision on how you want to live your life. If the drug is prohibitively expensive, it is not reasonable to expect that it will be of use to you.

If you approach your husband about providing financial support for the hire of a psychologist, he may be willing to aid you in your endeavor. It is very appropriate to want anything of this nature. You’ve become ill as a result of your toxic relationship and your husband’s mental health concerns, according to your doctor.

Authors Bio

Matthew Ellington has years of experience working with different types of legal documents and writing about Family Law for educational purposes. Currently, he is working at OnlineDivorcer company, where he is writing blog articles about divorce and divorce cases. In his free time, he likes roaming the streets of New York with his Olympus taking photos of the best spots in the city.

Postpartum Depression Or The Baby Blues: How Do You Tell The Difference?

While it might seem like a problem that only happens to a select few new parents, experts estimate that postpartum depression is an underreported issue. Roughly 10% of women experience postpartum depression after delivering a newborn. Some studies even suggest that these numbers could be as high as one in every seven new mothers.

Although postpartum depression tends to resolve itself within 3 to 6 months, different factors can influence the duration of a postpartum depressive episode.

By some estimates, almost half of all people with postpartum depression are not properly diagnosed by a healthcare provider. While a reported 80% of mothers with postpartum depression experience a full recovery, swift diagnosis and treatment tend to improve the likelihood of this outcome.

We know that for parents especially, maintaining good mental health is an important part of preventing a variety of problems including substance use.

Here are the differences between postpartum depression and baby blues for new parents and their loved ones.

Postpartum Depression or The Baby Blues — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is a diagnosable mental health condition characterized by depressed mood, difficulty bonding, and social isolation. Postpartum depression can also manifest as feelings of emptiness or intense sadness that last longer than two weeks after birth. It primarily affects new mothers, although new fathers can also experience postpartum depressive episodes.

People from different cultural backgrounds and with different personality types may feel as though postpartum depression symptoms are laziness or poor parenting. But, this isn’t true. Postpartum depression is considered a complication of giving birth in the same way that perineal tearing can be. It shouldn’t be seen as a source of shame or a sign of failure.

Usually, postpartum depression symptoms start within the first few weeks following birth. But sometimes these symptoms can surface earlier. They can also come on later – up to a year after the baby is born.

Although postpartum depression can happen to any parent, certain risk factors put some new moms at greater risk. When a new mom or dad has a personal or family history of a mood disorder, lack of support from loved ones, depression during pregnancy, or pregnancy, they may be at higher risk of developing postpartum depression. But regardless of whether someone seems at high risk for postpartum depression, it’s important to keep an eye out for symptoms in the weeks following birth.

What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?

Although postpartum depression usually comes with a pervasive feeling of emptiness and sadness, there are other key symptoms for providers and parents to keep on their radar.

Symptoms of postpartum depression include depressed mood, extreme mood swings, challenges with bonding with the new baby, withdrawal from loved ones, changes in appetite, excessive crying, changes in sleep patterns, extreme fatigue or energy depletion, irritability, and hopelessness. Sometimes, postpartum depression can also look like fears of not being a good mother or struggling to care for the new baby or oneself.

Especially concerning symptoms of postpartum depression include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby and thoughts of death or suicide. While these thoughts do not make you a bad mother or a bad person, they warrant immediate medical attention.

How is postpartum depression treated?

Postpartum depression can be treated with a combination of therapy and medication. In severe cases that resist medication or therapy, ultra-brief electroconvulsive shock treatments may be a viable treatment option.

Reaching out for help from family and friends, trying to get regular sleep, eating a healthy diet, and taking time for self-care are also important parts of recovering from postpartum depression.

What is the Baby Blues?

The “baby blues” refers to a period right after giving birth where a lower than normal mood is common. Typically, after four or five days of postpartum, the baby blues kick in. Those dealing with the baby blues postpartum are far from alone – research suggests that up to 80% of new moms experience some level of “baby blues.”

What are the symptoms of baby blues?

While this period of sadness and anxiety is different for everyone, there are some common symptoms of the baby blues. Most parents experiencing the baby blues report symptoms such as sadness, anxiety, crying spells, changes in appetite, sleep difficulties, irritability, mood swings, trouble concentrating, and feeling overwhelmed by parenting tasks.

While bringing home a bundle of joy seems like it should be a happy time, there are several reasons why the baby blues hit most new moms. Although we can’t say for sure why they strike some parents, research suggests that hormonal imbalances, hefty adjustments to lifestyle, daily routine disruptions, and leftover emotions from childbirth might be to blame.

How can you tell the difference?

Although it might be challenging to tell the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression, certain clues might help differentiate the two conditions.

The biggest difference is that postpartum depression tends to be more severe, persistent, and disruptive to daily life than regular baby blues. The intensity and duration of symptoms of postpartum depression make it more of a health concern than baby blues.

If a new mom finds herself experiencing the symptoms listed above for more than a couple of weeks or they feel unmanageable in intensity, it’s important to seek help from a trusted provider. Suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming the baby are both indicators that a new mom is likely suffering from postpartum depression. In these cases, urgent medical care is important for the health and safety of mom and baby.

The good news is that with treatment, support, and regular communication with healthcare providers, most parents dealing with postpartum depression recover. If you find that a case of the baby blues is lasting more than a couple of weeks or taking a turn for the worse, don’t be afraid to reach out to your doctor and see how they can help.

Author Bio

Patrick Bailey is a professional writer, mainly in the fields of mental health, and wellness. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the mental health world and enjoys writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them.

5 Important Factors To Consider for Baby Onesies

The amount of information that gets thrown your way when you’re a new parent can be overwhelming. Something as simple as choosing your baby’s sleeping attire even has some rules to follow. Knowing the five important factors to consider for baby onesies can assist you in finding exactly what you’re looking for.

Safety

Safety is of the utmost importance when you’re looking at baby clothing. However, it can be easy to lose focus when you find something so cute that you need to see it on your newborn. Unfortunately, recalls of dangerous onesies are common. Garments that include hooks, ribbons, flowers, and buttons do not fulfill safety regulations because these features are choking hazards. Likewise, avoid clothing with drawstrings or waistbands, which might induce strangling. Your last thing to worry about is using flame-resistant material.

Size & Style

Purchasing something cute only to discover it doesn’t fit can be a huge bummer. Not to mention, exchanging or returning the item can be a headache. Ensuring that your child’s onesie fits is vital because the right size helps them move freely and comfortably. Most outfits have established dimensions to help you choose the right size for your child, although you’ll notice that some sizes appear different depending on the brand. If you struggle with what size to select, always go with the larger one, because they’ll eventually grow into it. 

Finally, you’ll want to choose something that allows easy access. Zipper onesies may be easier to change. Sadly, you might run into complications if a slider falls off one side of the track. Snaps are quick and easy—assuming your baby stays still. But late-night changes in the dark can be more challenging with snap onesies. 

Should You Hire a Sleep Training Professional? — .

Non-Irritating Fabric

Newborn infants have ultrasensitive skin. Most parents stick with cotton because of this, although there are other alternatives. Soy-based fabrics, for example, are ideal for babies’ skin, and it also helps the environment. Sustainable cotton or any other natural material shouldn’t harm your baby’s skin. If it does, consult a pediatrician immediately.

Seasonality

Consider the season and the environment while selecting your onesie. If you’re shopping for something in the middle of winter, for instance, try buying something for spring instead, because winter will only last another month or two. Furthermore, assess your climate and location. What might work in one part of the country at any given time might not be ideal in another.

Cost

Rather than focusing on the adorableness of baby onesies, think more about the practicality. Don’t overspend on items your child will seldom wear, such as formal party attire. Limit that to a couple of sets for specific events. Likewise, limit the number of newborn outfits you purchase; babies develop quickly, so there’s no need to break the bank over something they’ll wear for only a short amount of time.

These five important factors to consider for baby onesies will aid in your goal of finding the perfect article of clothing. Hopefully, by following these suggestions, you’ll have a newborn who sleeps through the night, allowing you to do the same.

Author Bio

Christina Duron is a writer living in the Chicagoland area. Her passion for writing and mental health help create thought provoking and engaging pieces and hopes to use them to empower mothers and women to embrace the beauty of motherhood.

A Mom’s Guide to a Sunday Reset Routine

As a new week comes creeping in, it’s normal for both moms and their kids to be consumed by Sunday dread. Let’s face it—your kids probably don’t want to go back to school, and you might not be mentally prepared to juggle pickups, drop offs, practices, recitals, and play dates. It’s overwhelming just typing about it.

However, with a thoroughly planned schedule, you can turn the Sunday scaries into a time for self-reflection and knocking out the tasks that have been weighing you down. Keep reading to learn more about a Sunday reset routine, how to organize them, and how to set your family up for a successful week ahead.

A Mom's Guide to a Sunday Reset Routine — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

What is a Sunday Reset?

A Sunday reset routine is essential for all busy moms and can help you center yourself for the week ahead. By listing out all of the things you need to do for the week and the order in which you’d like to complete them, you can become a taskmaster and supermom.

Or maybe you have some chores you’d like to accomplish before the chaotic week rolls around. You can schedule large, medium, and small tasks to yourself so you can move forward through the week with a clear mind and clean home.

How To Create a Sunday Reset for Your Family

Since a Sunday reset routine is all about tuning in to your personal and familial needs, it’s important to balance out the tasks you will choose to complete. You can do these in four simple steps:

1. Evaluate

First things first, take a deep breath and a look around at what you’d like to accomplish for the day and week ahead. It’s important that you reflect on your previous week and the various roadblocks that stood in your way, or the achievements that made you proud of your hard work.

Were there any moments where you ran late for a practice or for dropping the kids off at school? Adjust your schedule and how you can herd your kids to get them somewhere on time. Did you not get enough alone time? Find a gap in the schedule where you can take a bath, get some fresh air, or read a chapter of a book.

2. Plan

Planning is when you can take your evaluation stage to the next level. This is where you journal, write a to-do list, or comprehensively plan everything you’ll accomplish in the upcoming week.

A tried and true method is the 1-3-5 rule: Pick a single major task (like scheduling a family doctor appointment or grocery shopping), three intermediate tasks (taking the family dog on a walk or cleaning the kitchen), and five small tasks (calling a loved one or doing your nails) to focus on during your Sunday reset routine. This can help you create a rigorous schedule that will give you a feeling of fulfillment before the work week starts.

3. Reset

The most important part of your Sunday reset routine is, well, the reset. Approach it with intentionality and purpose. Whatever is on your checklist should get done so it doesn’t keep you up at night.

Whether your checklist is full of busy work and chores or more focused on being a guided meditation for mental wellness, be present throughout the process. Putting your plans into action can be a fulfilling experience, and making it a routine can be a great way to inject this fulfillment into every week.

4. Rest

When it’s all said and done, you should end your weekly wellness reset on a relaxing note. Whether this means spending some quality time with your kids or getting some time away from them, make sure you find fulfillment in your resting time.

Use this time to complete a relaxing small task that you assigned for yourself. Do some yoga, read a book under a fluffy blanket, or even take a small nap. This rest is an important detail when completing your routine and getting ready to tackle the next week.

Sunday Reset Routines for Busy Moms

If you’ve had an insanely busy week and feel like your hair is sticking up from all ends, then maybe organize your Sunday reset around relaxing. If you’ve ever had the “feminine urge to just not,” you might benefit from sleeping in or moving mindfully with a low-energy workout.

Keeping a low profile and staying off of social media or technology may also benefit you. Why not nourish your body and mind with an empowering smoothie or other fresh food? Take time to reset your body and mind.

The “That Mom” Sunday Reset

Let’s be real—as much as you’d like to relax, there’s always something that needs to be done. If this sounds familiar to you, try the “that mom” Sunday routine.

Take advantage of the day by cleaning the house while your kids play outside. If your spouse is around, completing acts of service may be fulfilling for the both of you. Don’t make yourself anxious, though. Regulate your nerves by listening to an audiobook or guided meditation while you plan your next move.

Sunday reset routines are an essential part of creating a mindset of accomplishment to get you and your family ready for the work and school week. If you’d like, you can loop your kids into the activity, too.

A family that resets together, can tackle anything together.

Author Bio

Mona Freund is a San Diego based content marketing specialist. Her background in psychology and creative writing has led her to cover unique topics ranging from business to design to wellness. When she’s not creating new content, you can find her teaching kids how to swim, baking delicious desserts, or snuggling with her puppy Pesto.

4 Things to Do with Outgrown Baby Clothes

Your little one’s wardrobe lives up to the motto “out with the old, in with the new.” As your baby enters new stages, you have to decide what to do with their outgrown clothes. There are many useful ways to repurpose your baby’s outfits. Here are four things you can do with outgrown baby clothes.

Save Clothes for a Future Child

If you’re planning on having another child in the future, consider saving pieces that are in good condition and will keep your child warm and covered. If the clothing is something the baby will wear only around the house, some stains are fine.

Store the clothes in containers under a bed, in vacuum storage bags, or even in diaper boxes. Organize the clothing by size and label the containers so that it’s easy to find the right clothes when you need them.

Keep a Few Pieces for Nostalgia

You might want to keep a few items so that you can look back on specific moments in your baby’s life. Consider keeping clothing associated with important memories, like a fun playdate or get-together with family, or something especially significant, like your baby’s first outfit.

You can store these clothes in a memory box and pull the box out when you want to look at them. Or you can display them in a shadow box with some other sentimental photos or items. Don’t feel compelled to treasure everything your precious baby has ever worn—photos can do the trick, too!

Give Them to People You Know

You can give baby clothes to friends, family, and acquaintances. Seeing a friend’s baby in the clothes your baby once wore can bring you joy, making this a great thing to do with your outgrown baby clothes.

If you need baby clothes again in the future, the people you’ve helped will probably be happy to return the favor. Swapping clothes like this keeps well-loved, functional pieces in the mix while filtering out old clothes and introducing new pieces with minimal cost.

Donate Items to an Organization

You can donate clothes to a charitable organization, nonprofit, or church. These groups will pass on your high-quality items to families in need. While you should check the requirements of your specific donation site, you can also look at general recommendations for donating.

Donate clean clothes in good condition, free of rips and stains. Your facility can also tell you their donation procedures and whether they have a greater need for a particular type of clothing.

Keep It Up!

Like many aspects of motherhood, going through your baby’s outgrown clothing is a task you’ll do more than once. There are many useful places you can send your baby’s old clothes. You’ll avoid getting overwhelmed with clutter by periodically going through your baby’s wardrobe. Ultimately, this will help you reclaim space and focus on your baby’s current adventure.

How To Keep Your Children's Closets Organized

Author Bio

How To Dress For Your Body Type

Every human being has its unique identity and style. In this world of fast fashion, beauty, and social media everyone wants to look like their best version. In order to achieve the best of your style, you must be aware of your body shape, size and geometry. To help you dress for your body type, we have classified different body types based on measurements and appearance. Get the deeper knowledge of your body to style it better.

The Inverted Triangle Shaped Body

An inverted triangle body shape is determined by the broad shoulder in comparison to the lower half of the body. The waist probably doesn’t have any space with the hips. Women with inverted triangle body types must avoid tops that highlight their shoulders. Big straps, Halter neck tops should be avoided. Try to balance your upper half with v-necks, crewnecks, scoop necks and peplum tops. For the lower half, you can opt for flared pants, boyfriend jeans, wide-legged jeans or large prints to volumize your lower body. These sorts of bottoms help to create a balance between the upper and lower part of the body.

The Apple(Round) Shaped Body

Also called a round or circular body shape, this body type seems heavier on the upper half of the body. Here, the bust, waist, hips seem to be uniform and shoulders are narrower than the rest. You have a large bust and your waist is almost undefined. Women with apple shaped bodies find it difficult to style according to their body type. Finding the correct fit is a lot of struggle. Loose fit is a strict no as it will make you look big.
Wrap tops, peplum tops are the right choices to get a defined waist and draw attention. Wear dolman sleeves, V-neck T-shirts to balance out the lower half. Straight skinny jeans, mid waist jeans, flared pants add up the required volume to your appearance.

The Athletic(Rectangle) Shaped Body

The athletic or rectangle body type is determined by its measurements. Here, the shoulders, bust and hips are fairly uniform. The waistline is more straight than curvy. The athletic body people must focus on accentuating their bust to make the waistline defined and curvy. Opt for scoop neck tops within puffy sleeves, or you can go for a sweetheart neckline or a collared neckline too. Ditch the skinny jeans and choose flared, slim-straight, wide-legged jeans for creating a fair balance. You can add up belts around the waist or pick belted jackets to make your waist look curvy.

The Hourglass Shaped Body

The hourglass shape is often referred to as a curvy body shape. Women with hourglass bodies have uniform shoulders and hip measurements. The waist is defined and the bust is large. You can opt for anything with that almost perfect body type. You must choose wraps, peplum tops, A-line dresses, scoop neck tops, deep v neck tops. For the lower half, you can go for mid-rise jeans, flared jeans, skin fit jeans. Fit and flare dresses and jumpsuits are you’re a-listers for date nights. Never forget accessories with jewellery and handbags.

The Pear (Triangle) Shaped Body

A triangular frame or a pear-shaped body can be determined by its narrow shoulder and bust with wide hips and thick thighs. This body type people need to draw attention to their upper half. Always choose bright colours, prints, boat necklines, sweetheart necklines, cowl necks or square necks. Rather than choosing skin fit jeans, you should opt for straight fit mid-rise jeans. Flared pants, boot cuts and flat fronts are good options for your bottoms. A-line dresses or off-shoulder dresses are essential for casual parties and date nights.

The Petite Shaped Body

Petite body type is not a specifically defined body shape. It covers all women under 5’3. Women however can have any kind of body type but we are giving you universal tips based on your short height. Women with a petite figure have to get their tops tailored from sleeves most of the time. You must always go for 3\4 sleeve length with light coloured shirts. For casual days you can choose off shoulders, scoop necks to flaunt your collar bones. While looking for the bottom, you must choose mid-rise jeans for a taller illusion. Choosing a fit is not a problem, you can pick a straight skinny, wide-leg pair of pants according to your body type. Keep knee-length skirts, midi, and high-low dresses handy for special events.

The Tall Body Type

Tall body types talk about your height to be more specific. The main characteristics are your height being 5’9’’ or taller, inseams are 32’’ or longer and sleeves and pants are mostly short. Your body type may vary in size and proportions, so we are just recommending tips based on your height. Blouses, V-neck t-shirts, tunics, belted jackets are the right choice for your long torso. Straight fits, flared and high waisted jeans look super chic on a tall girl. Skinny fit is a choice but avoid it if you are on a leaner side. As for dresses you can go for midis, Wrap dresses and one with the prints.

The Plus Size Body Type

Plus-size people used to struggle a lot finding the correct fit for them a few years back but now the fashion houses have created a section for plus-sized people specifically. Women with this body type should pick tops and dresses with v-necklines, choose smaller prints with dark shades, use belts and wraps around the waist to get it defined. Always go for fit and flare dresses or you have an option wrap and sheath dresses for formal occasions. While choosing bottoms, avoid flared jeans and rather pick up straight fit, skin fit or boot cut bottoms. Accessorize with necklaces, handbags and eyeglasses.

Author Bio:

Amanda is a hard working Professional with a degree in Business Management. Apart from her daily job, She loves working in the Fashion Industry. She has been working with TshirtIdeal.ca for some time now. Amanda Keeps up with the fashion trends and loves fashion blogging and makes sure that her lifestyle reflects the same.

How To Manage Your Mental Health During the War

It can be overwhelming and frightening when breaking news and images of war, destruction, and death flood the media. These scenarios can impact people’s mental health during the war, causing them anxiety and stress.
The distress usually stems from the fear that similar events will occur where you live. This is a typical response. Some experts have even labelled this phenomenon “headline stress disorder,” “war anxiety,” or “nuclear anxiety.”

If you are feeling this way, here are a few tips to help you fully understand your emotions, cope with stress, and seek help if necessary.

Seek Professional Treatment

If you are worried for more than four to six weeks and have strong feelings that will not disappear, you should seek professional help. People who have had past mental health issues and have survived trauma may also benefit from seeing a psychiatric medical professional. Natural aids like CBD gummies and edibles can also be an excellent alternative to help with anxiety and fear. Make sure you choose only trusted vendors good quality Cannabis Oil to get the best products on the market.

Spend Time with Loved Ones and Practice Gratitude

Although the thought of war can be distressing, be grateful that you live in a relatively safe environment. Food, shelter, and medical care are all available if necessary. These things are worth being thankful for. And people should learn to be grateful for the simple things in life that are often taken for granted.

You can also spend quality time with your family. Take pleasure in their company, whether over the phone or in person. Tell a friend or family member about your worries and how you feel. Maintain healthy relationships and create a solid support system.

Step Away from Negative Thinking

When it comes to your mental health during the war, focusing on “what ifs” can lead to negativity spirals and increased anxiety. Obsessive worry provides no real benefit, especially when the conflict is beyond your control. Positive thinking does not imply ignoring life’s less pleasant circumstances.

Positive thinking simply means approaching unpleasant situations more positively and productively. You expect the best, not the worst, to happen.
If most of your thoughts are negative, you are more likely to have a pessimistic outlook on life. You’re probably an optimist if your thoughts are mostly positive.

Practice Meditation and Mindfulness

In today’s 24/7 world, where attention is pulled in 100 different directions at once, training the mind to focus and concentrate is more critical than ever. Mindfulness practice can help you feel more grounded in the present situation. Acknowledging that, while you can’t predict what will happen in the future, you are safe right now. When emotions become too much to bear, the practice of taking a slow, deep breath and bringing yourself back to the present can be incredibly beneficial.

Make time for yourself as well. Try to relax and reassure yourself that trying time will pass, and indeed they always will. Take a few deep breaths in and out. Engage in enjoyable activities; this is how mindfulness can be practiced.

Engage Relaxing and Soothing Activities

Consuming some form of news every day is essential for most of us. But during times of war, it can take a toll on our mental health. To combat the fear, anxiety, and worry that often follow bad news, Edelstein suggests doing something positive or healthy right away, such as calling a friend or working on a hobby.

Enjoy nature by taking a walk outside. Stress, anxiety, and depression can all be reduced by spending time outside. Breathing in the fresh air can also help center oneself to live in the present. Yes, there might be experiences of anxiety; but even so, recognizing those feelings, reducing media triggers, and relaxing in nature can provide relief.

Limit Time Spent on Consuming News on War

The key to staying healthy, like many other things, is moderation. Staying informed is not only responsible but also critical to your safety at the time of war. Some feasible steps can be taken to protect ourselves and those around us while maintaining a balance of moderation and staying informed. It’s simple to get constant updates, news releases, and minute-by-minute notifications about breaking news with smartphones. This overtime of news of the war can quickly become too much information to process for our mental health. Endeavour to turn off or delete specific news sites, especially if they’re becoming too much.

Avoid watching television news and using the Internet at all hours of the day. Images, rumors, and speculation can all hurt our overall well-being.
A healthy approach to the news cycle is to depend on credible news sources, have experienced members of the media who do their research, and provide wholesome perspectives. Even at that, it is to watch how much you take in.

Final Thoughts

In the end, we have no control over a war’s outcome. But having control over the things we can change, such as how much news we consume, as well as the activities that help us relax, can help with maintaining our sense of well-being and better mental health. Especially when the world feels out of control.

Author Bio

Lisa is a full-time content marketing specialist. She has been closely following the CBD Healthcare and Medical Industry trends for quite some time. On her off days, she likes to spend her time at the nearest animal shelter, or be nose deep in a novel.

5 Self-Care Tips for a More Productive Week

Did you know that making time for soothing self-care comes with the added benefit of making you even more productive at home or work?

When’s the last time you did a little something just for you? You probably already know that spending even just one hour without any distractions, crying kids, barking dogs and email notifications is essential for maintaining your sanity. But juggling your own well-being while still maintaining a productive work schedule can get tricky. Between soccer practice, Zoom calls, errands, and whatever else you have on your plate, you might feel like you just don’t have enough hours in the day to take a much-needed break.

So whether you’re just focusing on the basics or are already a master of Zen, we’ve rounded up five self-care measures for a more productive week.

5 Self-Care Tips for a More Productive Week — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

Set Your Phone Down

You might think always being available to respond to every call, text, or email is the secret to becoming a productivity powerhouse. But the truth is, we can all benefit from a little focus-time throughout the day. Putting down your phone and turning on airplane mode is a great way to disconnect yourself from outside influence and step away to really focus on the task at hand. You don’t need to respond to your best friend’s brunch invite or your boss’s budget question right away. Instead, schedule some screen-free time to really get to work and knock some things off your to-do list.

Incorporate Exercise Into Your Day

At its root, self-care is about making sure that your body has the basic elements it needs to function at its best. Consider mindful movement as a way to unplug from your busy day and take a much-needed break when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Schedule a yoga class or take a short walk outdoors to clear your head and refocus before getting back to your next task. If you find that spending an hour or two at the gym doesn’t fit into your schedule, there’s plenty of other ways to make sure you keep your body moving throughout the day. Consider buying a standing desk to upgrade your WFH setup and get your blood flowing throughout the day.

Do a Skincare Routine

When you think of self-care, you might already think of fancy face masks and soothing bubble baths. But don’t discount these practices just because they’re cliché! Self-care is all about bringing your attention to the present and listening to your body. When you are applying your silky-smooth creams and serums, your attention is drawn to the feeling on your skin and the calming scent—not your to-do list. By taking a little time away and focusing on what you want to do, rather than what you have to do, you’re working on asserting your boundaries and making sure your mental energy levels are at their highest.

Take More Breaks

Spending less time at work or on essential tasks may seem counterproductive to getting things done, but self-care isn’t about creating more time to be productive. Instead, it’s all about making sure you’re at your best to be more productive. Don’t be afraid to go on your lunch break or take a fifteen minute trip to the coffee machine to get away from your workspace or to-do list. These short blocks of relaxation can help your body and brain recharge and get you back in the focus mindset. Taking the proper time for you will let you glide through your day with less effort, meaning you’ll be able to work smarter, not harder.

Surround Yourself with Nature

If you can’t or don’t want to go outside, surrounding yourself with some calming greenery can help keep you Zen, too. Interacting with plants or even just looking at them can have an extremely calming and soothing effect. Consider placing a little green friend in your office or decorating your WFH desk with a sturdy indoor plant. If you’re a stay at home mom, there’s still plenty of ways to incorporate greenery in your home. Hang soothing eucalyptus in your shower or place fresh blooms in a vase somewhere that’s just for you and far away from your kids, pets, and stressors.

How to Decorate with Natural Elements — .

Why Self Care Matters

Most of us live with a ‘do’ mindset. Our sense of self-esteem and self-worth is often defined by what we’re able to do and accomplish. We may even live with the idea that slowing down or taking a second to breath is a sign of weakness or a failure to make the most of our day. While it can take time to unlearn these limiting beliefs, it’s important to remember that self-care is often the key to succeeding and living a happy, productive life and making sure you’re recharged enough to be the best mom, friend, or coworker you can be.

Author Bio

Tess DiNapoli is an artist, freelance writer, and content strategist. She has a passion for yoga and often writes about health and wellness, but also enjoys covering the fashion industry and world of fitness. Follow her on Instagram @TessLynne.

Overcoming Pandemic Related Anxiety

As a mom, you know it’s important to take care of your mental health, not just for yourself but also for those who love and rely on you. But that can be challenging when you combine the stresses of motherhood with the anxiety generated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parenting has added challenges as a result of COVID-19. Many parents juggle child care while working from home or have engaged in teaching duties during their kids’ virtual school. Some people lost loved ones, some lost jobs, and all of us lost a little bit of the security we used to feel pre-pandemic. Who wouldn’t feel anxious with all that pandemic stress? Managing your mental health is always a priority, especially now.

Overcoming Pandemic Related Anxiety — *This is a guest post and all opinions are those of the author. This post may also contain affiliate and/or paid links. Rest assured that we only work with companies and individuals that we trust. While some of those companies and individuals may work in the medical field, this post is not intended to be a substitution for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor if you have concerns about your mental or physical health.

How the Pandemic Affects Mental Health

You’re not alone if you feel overwhelmed when it comes to struggling with health-related anxiety. An estimated 27.2% of American adults reported anxiety symptoms between January 26 and February 7, 2022, according to the Household Pulse Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics and the Census Bureau.

The physical and psychological symptoms of pandemic-induced anxiety and depression can take a toll in all areas of your life:

Physical Symptoms

- - Increased fatigue
  - Headaches
  - Elevated heart rate and blood pressure
  - Digestive problems
  - Insomnia
  - Appetite and weight changes

Mental/Emotional Symptoms

- - Mood swings (anger, irritability)
  - A deep, lasting sadness
  - Lack of focus or concentration
  - Inability to find joy or pleasure in favorite activities
  - Irrational fear (anxiety)
  - Feelings of guilt or hopelessness (depression)

As you can see, these debilitating symptoms can make it hard to function in daily life, especially when it comes to parenting. It’s hard to keep up with an active toddler, for instance, if you are exhausted, or you may lose your patience and snap at your child or partner when you’re overly irritable.

Anxiety or depression may also raise the risk of substance abuse issues. Some people may turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to cope with their COVID-related anxiety or depression. And it can be tough to feel motivated to take care of yourself mentally and physically, but missing doctor’s appointments or screening tests for mental or physical health issues can make the problem even worse.

It’s crucial to find strategies to help lessen any stress you’re feeling as a result of pandemic anxiety or depression. Taking care of your health and well-being will make it easier to take care of your family. If you’re waking up with anxiety, let’s look at some coping methods that may help you feel better.

How to Beat Your Health Fears: Healthy Ways to Cope

Whenever possible, tune out the bad news about the pandemic and tune into the blessings of your life. Develop a gratitude practice (even a quick 5-minute meditation works) to develop a positive mindset.

Take care of yourself with healthy habits. Proper diet, exercise, and plenty of sleep can help you feel stronger physically and mentally. This can help alleviate any COVID anxiety symptoms.

Don’t catastrophize any signs of illness. You don’t automatically have COVID if you get a cough or have a runny nose. Take a breath to get calm. Then, take a COVID test or call your doctor to discuss your symptoms.

Don’t isolate yourself. You may be anxious about leaving your house for errands or work, especially if you have young children who can’t be vaccinated yet or you care for older relatives who are immunocompromised.

Take the proper health precautions. You may wash your hands well with soap and water after you’ve been outside the home or wear a mask in public if it makes you more comfortable and is recommended by your local health department.

Get your health information from reliable sources. There’s plenty of fear-mongering and misinformation about COVID-19 on social media and the Internet. Talk with your healthcare provider if you need trusted information to help ease your health-related anxiety.

Seeking Professional Help

If your symptoms of anxiety or depression are occurring almost every day, and they’ve been going on for more than two weeks, check in with your physician. You may want a psychological evaluation that could diagnose a mental health condition. This could help you towards treatment, typically medication or a talk therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy.

For anyone on mental health treatment already, for anxiety, postpartum depression, or another condition, it may be time to review the current treatment plan to make sure it’s working, especially if you’ve been experiencing anxiety or depression symptoms. If antidepressants or talk therapy aren’t getting you results, it may be beneficial to discuss alternative therapies with your mental health provider.

One such treatment is transcranial magnetic stimulation. This non-invasive, non-sedating treatment uses gentle magnetic pulses targeting specific areas of the brain to help ease symptoms of major depressive disorder, which often overlaps with anxiety.

Remember that you’re not alone if you’re struggling with pandemic stress that’s turned into anxiety. Reach out for help. We can all get through this together.

Author Bio

Dr. Steven Harvey joined Greenbrook TMS in March 2018 as Regional Medical Director of our Greater St. Louis region. He is board-certified in general psychiatry and has been practicing since 1996 since earning his medical degree from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Harvey’s interest in TMS therapy was first sparked during his residency, and in 2013 he began practicing TMS therapy.

5 Effective Natural Sleep Aids And Remedies

With the dangers of sleep deprivation on our physical and mental health, getting a proper night’s rest is more important than ever. But if your body isn’t used to falling asleep and staying asleep on it’s own, then you may need a little help. The good news is that there are some natural sleep aids you can use to make sure you’re getting the rest you need and deserve.

The world we live in and its current economy have many people working different jobs. Moreover, the life we all live is now restricted to a lot of screen time, staying awake for long periods at odd hours, and living on non-stop coffee and energy drinks. However, many people notice but never try to fix it because all of this just ruins your sleep routine. The quality and quantity of sleep ‌are at their lowest point because many people hardly get enough sleep.

One of the essential things we can do to maintain good health is proper sleep. Getting a good enough sleep is essential as sleep helps your body and brain function appropriately during the day. To have a productive day, you have to stop living on those two-hour naps and get proper sleep, which the recommended time is at least 8 hours.

Sometimes, this habit of not getting enough sleep continues until it becomes something you can’t stop. So, by the time you want to sleep for enough hours, you might have difficulty sleeping. People who experience insomnia and other sleep problems often use synthetic medicine and remedies to solve this. However, some of these drugs have unbearable side effects. So, what other alternatives are available? Thankfully, many natural sleep remedies and aids have zero effects. You will learn about a number of the different natural sleep aids you can use in this article.

Melatonin

If you have been on the conquest to find a natural remedy for your sleep problems and insomnia, you will have heard about Melatonin. As similar as it sounds to Melanin, Melatonin is a hormone that your body produces and releases naturally, especially at night. This hormone signals to your brain that it is time for you to sleep.

The time of the day is a significant influencer of the production and release of this hormone as the melatonin levels in your body rise naturally in the evening and fall in the morning. The use of melanin supplements has gotten quite popular for many reasons, especially after jet lag, when the melatonin cycle has been disrupted. There are supplements of this hormone available for sale. Many research sites, such as NCBI and PLOS, have proven that Melatonin reduces the ‌time you need to fall asleep and improves the total sleep time in the process.

Ginseng

Ginseng is a potent herb used in herbal medicines. Many companies and experts who produce natural herbs and drugs stand by the potency of this herb and its effectiveness for many illnesses. One of the positives that Ginseng is known for is improving immunity and promoting sleep.

In a study conducted in 2013, people with sleep problems were affected positively as they experienced better sleep after taking the red Ginseng extract for a week. Ginseng is known for its abilities to fight stress, raise energy levels and strengthen the immune system. However, Ginseng comes with some side effects like upset stomach, headaches, dizziness, etc.

The recommended dose is 800mg to 2g of powdered Ginseng per day to avoid some of these symptoms and improve your sleep.

CBD

With CBD’s increasing popularity, many scientists are on the lookout for all the ways it can be used to benefit human health. One of the ways that CBD can be effective is by relieving sleep problems. As CBD is used for different purposes, researchers further tried to find out its facts on sleep. Several people have insomnia because their cortisol levels increase at night. Some of the studies conducted earlier stated that using CBD in high dosages may improve sleep.

Recent studies have provided proof that CBD reduces cortisol levels. CBD can be used as gummies and other products from wholesale CBD flower collection.

Valerian Root

Another herb that herbal experts stand by, Valerian, can be found in Asia and Europe. It is used commonly as a natural treatment for symptoms of menopause, anxiety, and depression. At the same time, in Europe and the United States, Valerian root is one of the most used sleep-promoting herbal supplements. Reviews have shown that all the users have seen that their sleep disorder symptoms and their sleep quality improved after using Valerian.

However, some studies say that the results are dependent on the participant’s perception of quality sleep instead of objective measurements. At the same time, it can’t be used for too long due to safety concerns.

Lavender

Known for its soothing fragrance, Lavender is a plant found on almost all continents. The plant has purple flowers with multiple households uses when it’s dried. The gentle fragrance has proven to serve as a sleep enhancement smell. Many studies have shown that inhaling the scent of Lavender oil shortly before sleep might even be enough to improve sleep quality. Many sleep spays and bath solutions consist of a large amount of Lavender.

In Conclusion

Getting enough sleep is very important as you need it to be functional all through the day. You can only work effectively after getting enough sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, these herbs can be the next thing to try out.