An estimated one million people per year die by suicide or about one person in 10,000 (1.4% of all deaths), or “a death every 40 seconds or about 3,000 every day”. As of 2004 the number of people who die by suicide is expected to reach 1.5 million per year by 2020.[8]
Physical and especially mental health disabling issues such as depression, are among the most common of the long list of complex and interrelated factors, ranging from financial problems to the experience of abuse, aggression, exploitation, and mistreatment, that can contribute to the feelings of pain and hopelessness underlying suicide. Usually, substances and alcohol abuse also play a role. Prevention strategies generally emphasize public awareness of social stigma and suicidal behaviors.[1][45][5][6]
The best thing you can do is armor yourself with information and take action when you recognize signs or symptoms of depression, suicidal thoughts, or self-harm, indicating that someone is at risk of contemplating or attempting suicide.
Start the Conversation
It can be hard to know when someone may be thinking about suicide, explains Doreen Marshall, PhD, Vice President of Mission Engagement at the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.
Take notice of changes in behavior, expressions of hopelessness, changes in mood, or difficulty with daily activities that could indicate the presence of a worsening mental health condition, and don’t be afraid to ask someone if they have been having thoughts of suicide, especially if they’re experiencing significant life stressors.
While mental health professionals have education, tools, and resources to support individuals struggling with their mental health, Dr. Marshall says we all play a critical role in suicide prevention. Having an open, authentic conversation about mental health with loved ones is a great first step.
This may not be easy, of course, but Dr. Marshall offers some useful tips:
Don’t pass judgment or offer advice; just be present.
Understand that we all experience mental health differently, and that’s OK.
Following the conversation, check back in and offer to connect them to professional help if they need it.
Seek Support
If you’re concerned about what you’re noticing or become aware that you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, Dr. Marshall says it’s important to reach out to a mental health professional for support.
Mental health looks different for everyone, but we all need support. No matter if it’s a loved one, a neighbor, a therapist, or a community organization, it’s important to have a reliable network of people who are there when life gets hard.
This World Suicide Prevention Day, open the lines of communication. If you know someone who is struggling, reach out to them. If you, yourself, are struggling, open up to a loved one or a mental health expert. Starting the conversation is an important first step in getting help.
If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.
I’m at a total loss for words, I wasn’t expecting the Queen to die today. Of course, we’ll never know what she was really suffering from but thank God she’s out of pain. We mourn for her loss and welcome a new King, King Charles III.
The UK will stay in the morning for 10 days and her household staff for 30 days. It’s improper to have a Coronation so soon after grieving so we won’t see the official ascension probably into next year. This means King Charles III can’t wear the crown till after the official ceremony.
Queen Elizabeth was one of a kind and she broke thru many glass ceilings.
I’m hopeful of King Charles III will carry on but with his own style. He’s not the Queen and will not slide right into her chair. He will have his own personality and ways of performing his duties.
We also now have a Queen Consort and Prince and Princes of Wales to pick move forward Price Charles’s work.
I live in America and have followed the Royal family for as long as I can remember. The Queen will be missed by the world.
I want to send a special thank you to the Managing Editor of Trigger Publishing, Soraya Nair for sending me Monkey Mind by Keith Naylor to read and review.
Publication date: 26/07/2021
ISBN: 106 pages
Blub
Can you pinpoint the exact moment that your struggle with mental health started? Keith Naylor attempts to do so in his book Monkey Mind, but he’s not the only one on this trek back in time. He’s also got Tonky – the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey that chatters away in his brain – to help him uncover the causes for his depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Retracing Keith and Tonky’s steps might help you understand your own journey with mental health, too.
My Thoughts
This quote is in the Introduction and I love this, it’s a great life quote.
“Be true to yourself. You can be whatever you like, but don’t let your mind hold you back.”
You know that old saying, “I have a monkey on my back? The book Monkey Mind reminds me of the saying only in this case the monkeys are weighing down Kieth’s brain and raising the level of negative self-talk. He takes us on the journey to find answers to when his struggles with mental health started.
Kieth is an only child and doesn’t remember his birth except for what he could get from his father and family members. He was born with a deformity to his leg and had to wear a full leg cast until grade school. He no longer requires a cast but does have a limp if overly tired and is conscious of his leg being different.
Tonky is the name of Kieth’s monkey, and Tonky can keep him from sleeping for nights on end. My monkey keeps me up while trying to go to sleep, she can be so busy that I don’t fall asleep for hours or have to get out of bed.
As for early trauma Kieth not only had to wear a cast to straighten his leg, his favorite Guinea Pig was killed and he was bullied unmercifully at school. This was his early start in the world. As we all know there are many hardships along the way and Kieth has more than his share.
Kieth continues to struggle as he looks for the perfect job, each time being let down. He joins the RAF and finds out he’s not made up for all the yelling and insults from his superior. He continues to take us on his journey for answers.
This book is for anyone who has a monkey on the brain that continues to ask questions. or interferes with your daily activities. We all have an inner talk, it can be positive or negative talk. I would recommend this book to anyone who has anxiety, depression, or trauma in their background.
Monkey Mind is also a great resource for parents who see their child struggling. It can help you understand what children go thru, since getting them to share their inner demons can be hard.
Trigger Publishing
TriggerHub.org is the first mental health organization of its kind. We are bringing mental health recovery and balance to millions of people worldwide through the power of our books.
We have built a first-class resource of curated books produced and published in-house to create a unique collection of mental health recovery titles unrivaled in quality and selection. We work with experts, psychologists, doctors, and coaches to produce our books, but we also work with real people looking to share their stories to reach out to others and provide hope, understanding, and compassion. These brave authors also aim to raise awareness of mental health’s “human” face and its impact on everyday lives.
After years of research, Vital Field has introduced a Vagus Nerve Fregencell that is said to fight stress at the source. I haven’t had a chance to wear mine, I’m still wearing another Freqencell for review. I’ll have a review at a later time.
The Vagus Cell has been developed to be your best ally against stress, communication difficulties, or behavior changes.
Stress is the one thing that needs no introduction. We all experience it, we all battle its negative effects on our bodies and minds, and we all try to find ways to deal with it.
This is where the Vagus Cell comes in, like a superhero to save the day. Wearing it will ensure more flexibility and stability for the autonomic nervous system and higher resilience. This way, it can improve your everyday life and relationships, protect your mental health, help you achieve career goals, and in general reinforce your body against the effects of stress.
“The better you become friends with your system, the more it really works for you.“
– Mechthild Rex-Najuch,
world-leading vital field energy practitioner and naturopath
This post contains affiliate links that don’t cost you more and help feed my coffee habit.
Get to know your body:
Vagus, the largest cranial nerve, wanders through the entire body and there is hardly a structure that is not connected to it in some way. It is imperative for the reactions of our vegetative or autonomic nervous system. Together with the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, the vagus nerve regulates our behavior during stress.
In the course of evolution, two parts have developed: A posterior and an anterior. While the posterior part keeps the entire body autonomously stable, the anterior part learns and is largely responsible for the perception of social elements and security. It is likely that communication has only become possible because of this. If the posterior part reacts autonomously, it means that it works independently. It ensures that all internal processes are maintained.
And what is the “the smart vagus” you keep hearing in every wellness & health article? Well, the anterior part is not autonomous, it learns. That is why it is also called the “smart” vagus. It will help you with the initial assessment of people and situations. Of course, it cannot do this alone. Remember that all structures in the body always work together for mutual benefit. The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in this. It mediates and controls, reacts to non-verbal language as well as to sounds, faces, and smells. In this way, everything affects our nervous system, our hormonal system, and our immune system. Because our body adapts itself seismographically – across all systems. With messenger substances, the challenges of life are appropriately answered in a biochemical way. Feels big? It is.
The cumulative expert knowledge and the science of using precisely targeted frequencies for health management and pain management are now, for the first time in history, available to end-users worldwide. Vitalfield applications don’t replace or compete with traditional medicine or conventional treatment methods. They are intended to provide an alternative treatment to pain and health, when conventional methods fail to provide significant results on their own. With zero negative side effects reported and over 80% reported satisfaction from customers, we are confident in offering a full money-back guarantee if our product does not work for you.
Since Vitalfield products are safe, natural, non-invasive and non-chemical, it’s worthwhile to see if our product can reduce your pain and improve your life.
You can check out one of my reviews of a Vital Field product here, I’ve tried and been completely happy with each product I’ve tried.
Be sure to use discount code Light20 for 20% off all of your Vital Field purchases.
Each September, people unite from all corners of the world to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma that persists around Alzheimer’s disease and all types of dementia.
During World Alzheimer’s Month, we call on everyone, from individuals to large organisations, including every Alzheimer and dementia association globally, to support World Alzheimer’s Month by getting involved in some way. As outlined in our World Alzheimer Report 2019, many people still wrongly believe that dementia is a normal ageing. This alone highlights how important public awareness campaigns, like World Alzheimer’s Month, are for changing perceptions and increasing existing public knowledge around dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
This year’s theme, ‘Know Dementia, Know Alzheimer’s,’ continues on from the 2021 campaign, which focused on diagnosis, the warning signs of dementia, the continued effect of COVID-19 on the global dementia community and more.
Today, it is believed that “Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of Dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.
AD begins slowly. It first involves the parts of the brain that control thought, memory and language. People with AD may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know. A related problem, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), causes more memory problems than normal for people of the same age. Many, but not all, people with MCI will develop AD.
In AD, over time, symptoms get worse. People may not recognize family members or have trouble speaking, reading or writing. They may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on, they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home. Eventually, they need total care. This can cause great stress for family members who must care for them.
AD usually begins after age 60. The risk goes up as you get older. Your risk is also higher if a family member has had the disease. No treatment can stop the disease. However, some drugs may help keep symptoms from getting worse for a limited time.”
My experience
I completely understand the struggle of Dementia, not only do I have it but so did my granny. Her’s was caused by a massive stroke. The side effects were instant and very disturbing. Granny knew something was wrong with herself and didn’t want to live that way. She often bangs her head on the wall. As she progressed, one day while gramps was out running an errand, she thought he left her at someone’s house. She didn’t recognize her home or photos in the living room. From there isn’t wasn’t long before she needed hospice care.
My Dementia is caused by Lyme disease, the virus went to my brain and caused havoc. It’s like my memories have been erased by machine gun holes. I have good days and lots of bad days which I can’t remember much, for that matter what I’m doing. I take two drugs to help slow the progression.
There is research on how to set your house up for Dementia patients so they won’t hurt themselves or walk out of the house.
When talking with family and friends, can you pick up on their comments about potential red flags or how to have a conversation about depression to learn more?
I’ve suffered from depression since childhood. The statements belove are some comments that need to grab your attention to ask more questions. It can be simple like how are you doing? or what can I do to help? The helping is often in the asking, asking provides some affirmation that they are noticed.
I feel like I’m carrying the world on my shoulders.
Nothing matters.
Ghosting everyone.
They or their house looks more untidy than normal.
Cuts on their hands or arm (could be expressing her feelings by cutting herself. This is a delicate case.)
Loses or gains weight very quickly. ( could be medication side effects which are very frustrating.)
Won’t look you in the eye.
Lack of enthusiasm.
How are you managing?
Find Your Words has a great post that covers the topic of identifying depression and how to get the conversation going.
Everyone is different and so is their communication style. The main thing is doing something to help. Let them talk and you find a time to gently probe.
These are some questions
How are you?
What can I do for you?
Have you seen your doctor?
Are you planning on hurting yourself?
Are you under a lot of stress at work? What’s going on?
What action can I take right now?
Who can I call?
How are you feeling?
Do you want to go for a walk or get a coffee?
What’s going on?
These are just a small number of questions. I hope this will help you, a family member, or a friend. To get the best help from your inner circle is to let them know what are some of the comments you make, or other things you do to show your depression. This gives them the opportunity to know when you need support.
Depression is a complex disorder and anyone can be depressed sometime in their life. If your depression is ongoing, make an appointment with your Psychiatrist. You need the assistance of a doctor who has the right skills to help you.
Negativity does not have many positives to it. Sometimes negativity can be associated with skepticism which can be good to ensure a mote robust group decision-making process. However, let’s distingush between negativity and negative people. Negativity can either be a temporary or longheld state. Yet, negative people are forever in that state and hardly ever […]
Many new bloggers might not be familiar with the habit of giving people awards for different accomplishments. I participated in awards for ages. When I reached 100 awards I had to take them down, they were crowding out my blog. It was fun to get an award occasionally but to get several awards in one week is too much. Below is one of my awards from 2015 from a devoted follower, Alygoeres.
If you are interested, do some searches to find blogging awards.
A Bit About Alygoeres
I’m a free spirit, unbounded by any rules… but I do believe in RESPECTING ALL. I’ve been through so much in life, and I have reason to believe that there are many more people out there who have sailed in the same boat as I. It’s for that profound reason that I decided to share my experiences on this site, so I can motivate someone; help them understand that there’s so much to live than just resigning oneself to misery…
I wrote a post in June 2014, about my mother leaving me at the county hospital at eight years old. I reposted the above for your viewing. Alygoeres replied quickly with supportive words and prayers. We formed a strong bond immediately. You’ll find her site motivating. Alygoeres has provided constant support from the beginning of my Lyme Disease journey.
Moving to the requirements of the blog, here are Seven Facts About Me.
Seven Facts About Me:
My brother shot me in the leg with his new BB Gun when I was 10 years old
I have to take every car for a ride to see how fast it will go
Fascinated by the Mafia, particularly Russian.
I love Horses, one time rode a horse thru a Jack in the Box. They freaked, what were horses doing in the city?
I went to Daytona Bike Week. Looking at all the bike paint jobs, motors, and fat tires, the sound was like a dream. I enjoyed riding the Harley on the beach.
I love music yet can’t carry a tune or play an instrument. I made an effort with lessons in Clarinet, Piano, and Guitar.
I’m an Ordained Minister
I’m blessed to receive the Very Inspiring Blogger Award twice from Alygeorges. Lyme Disease has me in a stranglehold. She keeps me in her prayers and is a great support person. I hope you will spend time on Alygeorges site, alygeorges.wordpress.com. Please stop by her site, you will find her enlightening.
I will complete the nomination process at a later date.
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, And Then I Slept.
I live in Vermont. The perfect place to heal. I have been moving through the process of reclaiming my life from the effects of extensive childhood trauma. There are up days and down days. But my hope is that through this blog I can use humor and some of the things I have learned along the way. To reach back into the room of a thousand demons that we walk through and help someone else on their journey.
The face is one of the first places that aging becomes evident. Crow’s feet, laugh lines, and wrinkles can make you look older than you actually are. But there are ways to fight back against Father Time and keep your face looking young and fresh.
Exfoliating your skin on a regular basis is another great way to keep your face looking young. Exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells that can make your complexion appear dull. There are a variety of ways to exfoliate your skin, including using a gentle scrub or an exfoliating brush.
Get some facials
If you want to take things a step further, you can also get facials. Facials can help improve your skin’s appearance by deep cleaning it and providing nourishment. There are a variety of different types of facials available, so be sure to consult with a professional to find the best one for your needs.
Moisturize
One of the best ways to achieve a youthful appearance is to make sure your skin is well hydrated. Moisturizing your skin helps to plump up fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a more youthful appearance. In addition, using a quality serum or face oil can help to give your skin an extra boost of hydration.
Get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep is also crucial for achieving a youthful appearance. When you don’t get enough sleep, it shows on your skin. For example, you may develop dark circles under your eyes, or your skin may look dull and tired. So aim to get seven to eight hours of sleep each night to help your skin look its best.
There are a number of anti-aging products on the market that can help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Look for products that contain retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids, as these ingredients have been shown to be effective at combating the signs of aging.
Try Botox
Botox is a popular cosmetic treatment that can temporarily reduce the appearance of wrinkles. The injections work by paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles, giving your face a smoother, more youthful appearance.
Consider laser resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is a procedure that uses lasers to remove the top layer of skin, revealing the newer, unbroken skin beneath. The procedure can help to smooth out wrinkles and give your face a more youthful appearance.
Use of sunscreen
Finally, be sure to protect your skin from the sun. Ultraviolet rays can damage the collagen in your skin, leading to fine lines and wrinkles. So wear sunscreen every day, even if you’re just going outside for a short period of time. Therefore, it’s important to always wear sunscreen, even on cloudy days. And, if you’ll be spending extended periods of time in the sun, be sure to wear protective clothing, such as a hat and long-sleeved shirt.
In Conclusion
Following these simple tips, you can help to achieve a more youthful appearance. Alternatively, take a look at upneeq for more options. Just remember to be patient – it takes time for your skin to show the benefits of your new routine.
I’ve written many posts to you on your birthday since you took your life and granny’s heart. I knew you were going to kill yourself but one can never imagine how it feels when it actually happens. The pain doesn’t stop with the notification it continues with cleaning out the house, selling it, the insurance paperwork, and arranging a funeral, each one a painful step.
I chose to remember the memories we made before the divorce. I was 6.5 years old, mama took us to the lake, and we set on the picnic tables. She tells you’re leaving, my brother and I were shocked and very confused. It was so sad, the memory burned into my brain, we came home and you and gramps were driving off. We didn’t even get to say goodbye.
You loved her, never forgot about her and that’s why you had the divorce papers out on the table the day you died.
We would go to the convenience store and get a soda, back then all they had was glass bottles and you had to make a deposit on the bottle. You received your money back when you brought the bottle in. We sit in the car and listened to the radio just singing our hearts while we drank our soda.
I remember when you had a part-time job at the grocery store and you would bring home the dented cans. I would sneak out of bed and help you put everything in the pantry.
You loved Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis, we would sing our hearts out to the albums night after night.
I don’t have many good memories, and if I do, they are memories of us going clubbing when I was nine years old. The parties you took me to, they were all inappropriate for a child. It only got crazier as I got older.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.
Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.
Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887. During 1887, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.
The First Labor Day
According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed the law creating a national Labor Day, the Paterson Morning Call published an opinion piece stating that “the souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday.” Both Maguire and McGuire attended the country’s first Labor Day parade in New York City that year.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “why”. Use it any way you’d like.
Enjoy
!
Today’s prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “start with why.” Begin your post with the word “why.” Have fun!
I read JoAnna’s post from JoAnna of the Forest and she beat me to the reason WHY. I, like her, grew up hearing or saying why many times.
Why can’t we go outside to play?
Why can’t we get ice cream?
Why can’t I drive?
Why can’t I spend the night?
Then there’s the normal from the parent’s side
Why do you do that?
Why do you like him?
Why don’t you like school?
Why do you wear your jeans so low? (back when hip huggers were around)
There are so many why’s in the world, it can be exhausting but we are curious creatures and that’s how we learn.
Melinda
Here are the rules:
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write. 2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop. 3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a particular subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started. 4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below. 5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post. 6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get! 7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views. 8. Have fun!
For more streams, rules, and tips for Stream of Consciousness Saturday, visit our host, Linda at: Linda G Hill
I’m very aware of the pain that migraines cause, they also disrupt your life. During the 90s I suffered from a migraine almost daily and took medication and injections. My career was taking off and I was in outside sales, calling on high-level executives of major corporations. I loved my job but my life changed when I started getting migraines. This went on for two years, two years of rushing home in between appointments to give an injection. While it took effect, I rested and made phone calls when I could.
You can read the whole story here. My story had a happy ending when the doctor discovered a bone in my nose was causing them. I got very lucky.
Every year, the United Kingdom observes Migraine Awareness Week in the first week of September. This year, it will be observed from September 5 to 14. Migraines are mistakenly understood as severe headaches, but they are so much more than that. Migraines are actually a debilitating neurological disease. Even though migraines are a common headache disorder, they remain poorly understood and neglected. Many people go their entire lives without proper diagnosis and treatment. With care and treatment, migraines can become more manageable. Apart from inheriting the condition, some people can also get migraines through specific triggers. Interestingly, one can develop migraine at any stage in their life.
HISTORY OF MIGRAINE AWARENESS WEEK
Migraines are a chronic neurological disorder that affects over a billion people across the world. Migraine symptoms include long-lasting headaches, characterized by severe, throbbing, or pulsating pain on one side of the head. The headache is often accompanied by light or sound sensitivity, nausea, or vomiting. Even though the symptoms can be very uncomfortable and impact the overall quality of life, people remain ignorant of the condition. Migraine is one of the top ten leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide. Around the world, the prevalence of migraine is approximately 10% of the entire population. More than half the patients who complain of severe and regular headaches, turn out to be migraines.
While migraines don’t have a definitive cause, certain factors can trigger the condition. These triggers include stress, irregular sleep schedules, caffeine or alcohol consumption, dietary triggers such as chocolate, cheese, and dairy products, hormone fluctuations, and more. That’s a long list!
The condition significantly impacts the individual’s personal, professional and social life. Migraines come without a warning and can be crippling. This is the main reason for an urgent need to diagnose and treat migraines correctly. It also helps patients to identify their migraine triggers and avoid these triggers as best as they can. There is also the need for more effective, personalized migraine treatment. Medical practitioners should also take into account the patient’s comorbidities, frequency and severity of attacks, and more. As you can see, patients and healthcare workers need to be more vigilant of migrant attacks and their treatments.
Be sure to talk with your doctor if you are having any type of headache on a regular basis.
Pets are increasingly being used as part of therapy programs by doctors. Therapy dogs are more effective because of their natural curiosity and interaction. Here’s what you need to know.
It’s easy to think a dog is a dog. But any dog owner will tell you they are all different. Even dogs of the same breed develop individual personalities, which is a privilege to see as they grow. While any dog is a great listener, there are some breeds that therapists recommend over others. Labradors, for example, are almost always at the top of the list. But this is because they are multitaskers. For straightforward love and support, smaller dogs like Ausmate Australian Cobberdogs are great because they are very caring and don’t get in the way.
What Therapy Dogs Do
Dogs are excellent pets that require little maintenance beyond feeding, an occasional bath, and a daily walk. So just looking after a dog is healthy since it gets you moving and outside for some fresh air. But dogs are also excellent companions if you have a health condition such as cancer, PTSD, or dementia. Some can also be trained to alert when something is wrong, such as having an epileptic seizure. But therapy dogs also provide massive amounts of love and comfort to their owners who otherwise have no one to turn to when stressed, anxious or depressed.
The Benefits of Therapy Dogs
Dogs are so effective as therapy that there are over 50,000 therapy dogs in the United States alone. Pet therapy works on many levels, both physical and mental, so it is excellent for your overall health. Some of the many benefits of using a dog for therapy include the following:
Decreases stress, anxiety and feelings of loneliness and depression.
Maintain social engagement and interaction when you’re alone.
Helps alleviate chronic pain and issues like high blood pressure.
Even if you live with a loving family, depression, and anxiety can plague your life, making it hard to talk to people. A therapy dog helps you cope with these feelings and can break down barriers by having you talk to your dog first. This is so effective it is recommended by most therapists.
How Animals Help
If you have a dog, then you know how comforting they are. When you have no place to turn, a dog will always be at your side, with hugs and kisses. Yet many studies from over the years have concluded that even being around a dog helps with many problems. For example, dog owners are at a much lower risk of developing depressive health conditions. And they help improve your mood simply by being their fun and playful selves. Additionally, playing with your dog encourages you to get out more and move around when you may be living a sedentary lifestyle.
How Pet Therapy Works
Dogs enjoy providing love and support just as much as we need it. So there is no shame in needing a therapy dog; they can help your mental and physical welfare. Therefore they are recommended if you experience emotional problems that affect relationships. But they are also excellent for helping you cope with mental health issues. Therefore, therapy dogs are more than pets. Interacting with an animal improves your mood and lowers stress because it releases endorphins and serotonin. These are the chemicals that make you feel in a good mood.
Summary
Therapy dogs aren’t just pets. Some breeds are multitaskers, while others provide affection. They can help lower severe illnesses and stabilize your mood by balancing hormones.
If you were to suddenly become permanently unable to work for any length of time, how would you cope financially? It is a scary prospect for anyone. The good news is that, with some planning and sensible precautions, anyone can protect their finances in case they cannot work. These situations can be highly stressful, but with the proper knowledge and advice, you can rest assured that your financial future is secure.
Critical illness cover is designed for people concerned about the impact that a long-term illness or disability may have on their finances. A critical illness policy pays out a lump sum if you are diagnosed with one of several specified illnesses – many of which are conditions that can be long-term or have a significant impact on your ability to work. It would typically cover things like long-term illness, disability, or the loss of a significant bodily function, e.g., loss of sight or a limb. Some policies may also cover things like the loss of a parent or the death of a spouse or partner – this would depend on the circumstances and the policy you take out. This can be particularly helpful if you are the primary breadwinner in the family – and would be responsible for paying the mortgage, bills, and taking care of any children.
Have An Emergency Fund
An emergency fund allows you to deal with unforeseen events or expenses that may arise, such as a sudden loss of earnings, a medical emergency, or a home repair. Having a fund to fall back on will help you to cope with any financial problems that arise and will mean that you do not have to rely on credit cards or loans to bridge the gap. You can set the amount you want to contribute each month to an account you can access whenever you need. This can help with any living costs in the absence of income or support out-of-pocket expenses such as finding an AFFF attorney to make a claim regarding your illness.
Debt Protection Insurance
Debt protection insurance plans are designed to help protect your assets from being seized if you cannot pay your debts. Even if you do not think you have a lot of debt, you may be surprised at how quickly things can spiral out of control. And if you are unfortunate enough to fall ill and need to take time off work, your finances could be at risk. Plans like this will typically pay out a certain amount if you cannot pay off your creditors due to an accident or illness. Typically, they also pay out a reduced amount on any ongoing debts. This will help protect your assets and future finances against lawsuits being filed against you because you cannot pay your bills.
Look Into Income Protection
While critical illness cover aims to replace some of your income should you become ill, income protection is designed to replace your income should you become sick and unable to work for an extended period. With income protection, you pay a monthly or yearly amount; should you become unable to work, you will be paid out by the insurance company. Typically, you will be paid a percentage of what you previously earned. It is important to note that different providers have different definitions of long-term illness, so it is best to check the terms of your policy to see your situation in the event that you cannot work.
Conclusion
Planning ahead is key to protecting your finances if you cannot work. Start saving as early as possible, and be sure to take full advantage of all the tax reliefs available. It is also essential to consider the types of insurance best suited to your circumstances and future goals.
This video is so refreshing, and I look forward to the day someone like Ronald Reagan runs for office. I try hard to keep out of politics but it’s very hard these days not to have an opinion, most of them strong. Many areas of our government are broken and still broken since he left office. I’m not saying he is the greatest President in the world, I’m saying I love his candor and attitude.
The most important comment he made was, not verbatim, that people need to look to themselves to solve problems, not the government. Amen, and a cherry on top!!!!!
It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since we met at a New Years’ Eve party neither of us planned to attend. Guess you call that Karma. Being 38 and divorced, I was in no rush to get seriously involved but your actions spoke louder than words and they showed me who you were on the inside.
Starting a new relationship with a chronic illness is tricky, when do tell them about your illness? I believe in the up-front manner. When I told you about my mental illness, it was a big relief for me and you could make the decision for yourself. You took a leap of faith.
Neither of us could have looked at a crystal ball and guessed what our future held. You had no idea you were committing to a life of sickness but you never blink an eye, you jump right in to help. I can’t begin to say thank you enough for keeping your commitment, actions are the truth.
Here are a few examples of how love is louder than words
Every night I was in the Psychiatric hospital you would bring me dinner when you got off work, which was an hour away.
You made sure we flew first-class when we were traveling to Washington, DC for my Lyme treatments. The pain was indescribable, and the extra space was a lifesaver.
When I broke my wrist you would open my yogurt and place it in a cup I could open. You even wrote the names of the flavors on top.
Thru all the doctor appointments, illnesses, and disappointments you have never wavered in your commitment and never made me fill guilty when I was away for weeks at a time taking care of my grandparents. Actions speak louder than words.
Our life may look different than we thought it would but I would not trade a minute of our time together. I’m looking forward to your retirement and our new life, new adventures, and more great memories.
In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!
My First school:
My First film:
My First trip:
My First car:
My first car was an old ugly green Dodge Duster. It had a killer stereo but the bracks were hell. This was my 16th birthday present from my father.
A home garden offers loads of benefits beyond boosting your home’s curb appeal and increasing your property’s value. It plays a significant role in improving your physical and mental health. It also helps reduce your expenses (depending on what you grow in your garden) and establish sustainable measures in your home. But if you’re new to gardening and thinking about creating one for your home for the first time, the last thing you want to do is jump right into planting a garden. Here are some things you need to do before you start a home garden.
The first thing you want to do is consider the best place to grow your garden. Of course, this will depend on your home and how much space you have. Be sure that your ideal spot offers at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Therefore, it would be best if you took the time to observe your preferred spaces to figure out which spots receive the most sunlight. If you have too much shade in your yard, all hope is not lost, as there are two options you can try. On the one hand, you can remove the source of shade, depending on what it is. On the other hand, you can consider growing indoor plants that thrive with little sunlight instead.
After deciding on the best spot, clear the ground of weeds, dead trees, stumps, etc. You can hire experts to remove some of these stubborn obstacles if necessary. You can visit websites like duvaltreeandbobcat.com for experienced and safe tree removal services.
Decide on the most suitable plants to grow
The next thing you want to do is decide on what plants you want to grow. Would you like to create a vegetable garden to supplement your grocery needs? Or do you want to spruce up your curb appeal with lush flowers? Knowing the purpose of the garden will help you decide what to grow in it. If you want to grow a garden for food, think about what vegetables, fruits, or herbs you need the most. Also, consider which food items are difficult or expensive to purchase and see if you can grow them. If your garden is for curb appeal, think about what plants or flower pieces you love the most and can thrive in your location.
Know what’s needed to encourage wildlife
Wildlife is an important part of your garden because it helps encourage growth in all aspects of the space. From pollinating flowers to creating an experience for you and your household to enjoy. You might also want to think about adding some wildlife that remains in your garden, like fish in a pond or chickens in a pen. For this, you’re going to need to have the right setup required like this automatic chicken waterer for example.
Invest in essential garden equipment
Gardening can be very relaxing, but it can also be very tasking, especially if you don’t have the right garden tools. You can take advantage of many tools, facilities, and equipment in the modern gardening world to make growing your plants easier. Of course, you don’t need to invest in a comprehensive range of garden equipment when you’re a beginner. You only need the basic and most essential tools, such as a rake, hand trowel, hoe, spade, garden fork, and pruning shears. Also, before considering gardening, be sure you’re willing to devote the time and effort a home garden demands.
“Mental health problems don’t define who you are. They are something you experience. You walk in the rain, and you feel the rain, but you are not the rain.” – Matt Haig This is an important truth to grasp. You may struggle with mental illness. You may be displaying the effects of trauma. But none […]
Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, The Orange Rose.
Shedding the old and creating the new! Please join me for a world of poems, food reviews, self healing content, and mindful thinking content. Thank you 😊
I love to dream about all the places and things I want to do. They’re not quite goals since the list is long but they’re a reminder of where to go when I’m planning an advantage. I hope this will prompt you to think about all the things you want to do in life and to write them down. Something written down is more likely to turn into a goal or be successful. I learned early in my career, the more I wrote about what I wanted to accomplish, the more accomplished I became.
Psoriasis Awareness Month or Psoriasis Action Month holds throughout August yearly. This holiday aims to educate the public about psoriasis and enlighten patients on topics surrounding causes, triggers, and treatment methods. The event was first observed in October 1997 as a full-scale national awareness campaign, publicizing relevant facts about psoriasis through newspapers, radio, and television. Thankfully, psoriasis is treatable; however, dissemination of vital information on all aspects of the disease is necessary, which is the aim of this month.
Psoriasis is a condition characterized by scaly, red, and raised patches on the skin, especially on the elbows, knees, and scalp; however, it could also affect other areas in the body. Psoriasis often causes itching, burning, and stinging in affected areas. Though its etiology is unclear to medical experts, psoriasis occurs when the life cycle of skin cells increases, causing a buildup of excess skin cells that form red patches and scales. Scientists believe that genetics and the immune system are contributory factors to the development of psoriasis.
Psoriasis affects people differently, with varying levels of severity. For severe cases, 10% or more of the patient’s skin may be affected by the disease. In mild cases, less than 3% is affected by psoriasis; however, psoriasis affects between 3% to 10% of the skin in moderate cases. Because psoriasis is often cyclical, particular triggers, such as infections, skin injuries, heavy alcohol consumption, vitamin D deficiency, stress, emotional trauma, certain medications, and smoking, may lead to an episode. Thankfully, psoriasis has various treatment options — creams and ointments can clear skin patches in mild-to-moderate cases. Light therapy, including U.V.B. phototherapy, Goeckerman therapy, and psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), can also be employed. For severe psoriasis, retinoids, methotrexate, and cyclosporine are the drugs of choice.
5 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT PSORIASIS
Plaque psoriasis
This is the most common type of psoriasis and manifests as raised, red patches covered by a white buildup of cells.
Guttate psoriasis
This type of psoriasis is common in children and young adults and usually appears as lesions.
Inverse psoriasis
This type of psoriasis usually appears as red lesions in skin folds, such as behind the knees, the breast folds, the armpits, and the groin.
Pustular psoriasis
It causes white skin eruptions and commonly occurs on the hands and feet.
Erythrodermic psoriasis
This type of psoriasis leads to painful and itchy redness over large areas of the skin.
Do you know what’s in your supplements? At one time I was taking 12 supplements, after reading many stories of people who had dangerous side effects from a supplement, I quit taking them. The only supplements I take are Calcium, Vitamin D3, and sometimes a Probiotic.
Below is an example of supplements gone wrong, causing death.
Kaiser Health News obtained documents of Congressman Tom McClintock’s wife who died from taking the supplement white mulberry tree. The 61-year-old died of dehydration due to gastroenteritis — an inflammation of the stomach and intestines — that was caused by “adverse effects of white mulberry leaf ingestion.”
The report states that a “partially intact” white mulberry leaf was found in her stomach.
The white mulberry tree, which is native to China, is often used in traditional medicine for ailments such as weight loss, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, according to WedMD and Healthline. It is typically taken in capsule, liquid or tea form.
White mulberry plants are generally considered safe — only two cases of people sickened by mulberry supplements have been reported to the FDA since 2004, according to KHN.
Dr. D’Michelle DuPre, a former medical examiner in South Carolina who reviewed the documents, told KHN that white mulberry leaf also “tend to cause dehydration, and part of the uses for that can be to help someone lose weight, mostly through fluid loss, which in this case was just kind of excessive.”
St. John’s Wort
Taking St. John’s wort may also reduce the effectiveness of other medications, including birth control pills, chemotherapy, HIV or AIDS medication, and medicine to prevent organ rejection after a transplant, according to the NIH. Before taking St. John’s wort, read up on potential drug interactions, and ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of this supplement, as well as how it compares to your other options.
A study found that 28 percent of the time St. John’s wort was prescribed between 1993 and 2010, it was administered in dangerous combinations with antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication, statins, the blood-thinning drug warfarin (Coumadin), or oral contraceptives. For example, combining St. John’s wort with an antidepressant can cause serious complications, including a life-threatening increase in the brain chemical serotonin, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.
Fish Oil ( Chose Fish Oil Not Flax Seed)
The NIH said, currently, there’s not enough positive evidence for doctors to prescribe fish oil supplements to every patient, though. Aside from the mixed research results, omega-3 deficiency is very rare in the United States, according to the NIH. One important drug interaction with omega-3 supplements is coumadin (Warfarin).
Here’s a breakdown of the ways to get you Omega 3’s.
EPA and DHA
Fish and other seafood, especially cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines
DHA
Fortified foods, such as certain brands of eggs, yogurt, juices, milk, and soy beverages (may contain other forms of omega-3s, depending on the brand)
Plant oils, such as flaxseed oil, soybean oil, and canola oil
Kava: Overuse Can Harm Your Liver
Taking too much kava, or taking it for too long, has been linked to serious liver damage, including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. As a result, according to the NIH, the FDA has warned that people, especially those with liver disease or liver problems, or those who are taking drugs that can affect the liver, should talk to their healthcare practitioner before using kava. In addition, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reports that heavy consumption of kava has been associated with heart problems and eye irritation.
Several drugs may interact with kava, from anticonvulsants to anti-anxiety medications, and any drug metabolized by the liver. What’s more, people taking kava need to avoid drinking alcohol due to potential liver harm.
Here’s a list of supplements considered dangerous.
Aconite
Bitter Orange
Chaparral
Colloidal Silver
Coltsfoot
Comfrey
Country Mallow
Germanium
Greater Celandine
Lobelia
Yohimbe
Rauwolfia Vomitoria
Tripterygium wilfordii
Pueraria Mirifica
Here’s a short list of others to be cautious of.
Red Yeast Rice
Ginkgo
Beta Carotene
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Mushrooms
Alternative Medicine
Ayurvedic Supplements
Tip
Curious about what other herbal supplements may not live up to the marketing? Check out these NCCIH factsheets and talk to your doctor before trying any supplement to make sure it’s safe for you.
Should You Take Supplements?
It can feel like there’s a new pill, powder, or gummy popping up every day claiming to support your health. But should you even take supplements?
“There’s no population group that specifically needs supplements other than those with a documented vitamin or mineral deficiency who are ordered by their doctor to take supplements,” says Andrea Paul, MD, physician and medical advisor for Illuminate Labs.
“Certain supplements can be a good first-line solution to some health problems, as they tend to have fewer side effects than pharmaceutical drugs. But purity is much more of an issue with supplements than with prescribed drugs,” she says.
In short: Talk to your doctor before taking a supplement, and make sure it’s a good quality product.
These are just a few supplements that you need to know more about before taking them. The other important test is to see if the pill dissolves. Put a little vinegar and water in a cup and let it set for several hours, if the supplement hasn’t dissolved, it won’t break down in your stomach. You wasted money on a supplement that only travels through your body and out the other side.
Tip
Curious about what other herbal supplements may not live up to the marketing? Check out these NCCIH factsheets and talk to your doctor before trying any supplement to make sure it’s safe for you.
How to Spot a False Promise
Per the NSF and Tufts University, here are some buzzwords to look out for that may indicate a supplement is making a far-fetched claim:
“Pharmaceutical strength:” There is no such thing as pharmaceutical-strength over-the-counter supplements.
“Promise” or “guarantee:” Many supplements swear they’ll help you become thinner, stronger, smarter or otherwise “improved” in some way. These promises are typically false.
“Quick fix:” This type of language takes advantage of wishful thinking by suggesting that a supplement is an easy cure for a problem.
Approval and regulation of dietary supplements is a tricky subject. No, the FDA does not have to approve supplements before they hit the market. That doesn’t mean, however, that the world of vitamins and supplements is a free-for-all. Still, you are smart to take precautions when it comes to picking the right supplement for you.
Finding a pure supplement that dissolves and works is not an easy task. I get so frustrated when a pill does not dissolve, it’s a waste of money. I would like to see manufacturers provide a sample you can check out before buying, but I don’t see that happening. Once you find a brand that meets the requirements, stick with that brand. Be cautious of outrageous claims, chances are they aren’t true. I even check to see if my prescription medication dissolves.
The best way to decide if you need to take a supplement is to be sure to do your research, and not from the manufacturer. The reading material above will provide some of the answers.
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