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Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the sports hall (GCSEs are here again, along with depression, stress and anxiety).

Doesn’t time fly? I can hardly believe that once more a querulous cohort of GCSE students are being ushered begrudgingly into sports halls up and down the country with the weight and expectations of their parents resting heavy upon their slender adolescent shoulders.

I remember only vaguely at this vantage point my own GCSE experiences, perhaps it was the heady self assurance of youth, or the lack of expectation from my parents but I don’t remember it being a particularly big deal – but perhaps that is only with the benefit of hindsight. What I do know now is that in the interceding years there has fomented an atmosphere of rank terror and ever mounting pressure. Yes it is true, the students of today stand poised to enter and inherit a very different world and job market than the carefree days of yesteryear but even still the lunacy that accompanies the rhetoric around the importance of exams does perhaps pinpoint quite why we’ve seen the largest surge in diagnoses of anxiety, stress and depression amongst our youth ever.

So this is my antidote to that. All of this, all of the pressure, the expectation, the terror, is white noise, a buzzing fly for the thousands of you for whom these exams represent either the crowning glory of your academic life or a nasty gut punch after toiling for the last two years for what will feel like no good reason.

It may feel like the fate of the universe depends on your GCSE performance, but it really doesn’t. It’s all going to be okay. It’s important to remember that no matter what happens with your GCSEs, it remains a stepping stone and nothing more. A sort of gateway exam as it were. Obviously some of the recent and ongoing changes from alphabetical to numerical have thrown up confused and mixed messages and for many who are possibly university bound, the boundaries that were once so simple differ magnificently from one university to another. Hopefully though this will force schools to look at university entry and offer advice earlier than usual. With certain institutions and courses stipulating what now constitutes a grade C when in old money it was pretty obvious, it may be you’ll need to revise your plans and either do a resit or re-examine where you want to study post A levels. The same is true for certain HNDs, BTECs, Internships etc. who may have minimum requirements in English and Maths but what that shakes out in new money is somewhat subjective.

Your results when they filter through, squatting at the end of the summer holidays like a spectre at a banquet will necessarily impact the choices you make next, but, and it’s an important but – good or bad, nothing is permanent. As much as it feels like the most important thing in the world right now, as long as you’ve done well enough to keep your options open you’ll be just fine. My business partner is one of the smartest people I know, BA from Durham, MA from Warwick, PhD from Columbia, he had lousy GCSE results comparative to his ability and pretty unremarkable A levels if we’re getting into finger pointing. Equally, people I went to school with who performed astonishingly at GCSE level were middle of the pack come A level. As worried as you might be you are only ever really judged on your highest level of accomplishment, so as long as you do well enough to not close down avenues, things will work out just fine if you apply yourself and move forward in a positive fashion.

So no matter whether you’re the big winner or the wooden spooner come results day, try to hold on to the fact that it is, comprehensively, not the end of the road, just a bump in it. You can do resits alongside A levels or BTECs etc, you may need to slightly adjust certain plans to accommodate your new circumstances but you should never submit to feeling like a failure, nor should you be too smug. It all shakes out in the wash and if you know where you want to be, I guarantee if you apply yourself then your GCSEs are just business as usual.

The post Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the sports hall (GCSEs are here again, along with depression, stress and anxiety). appeared first on talkhealth Blog.

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Eczema and Stress: Are They Related? Learn to Calm Your Mind and Skin

As you read this, more than 32 million Americans are scratching their skin due to eczema.  According to the National Eczema Association, eczema affects at least 10% of people in the United States. Eczema is a skin disorder that is triggered by allergens and other irritants, infections, extreme weather temperatures, and the one that we can control – stress.

If you want to escape the onset of eczema, you have to protect yourself from what triggers it. In fact, this skin condition is called a psychodermatologic disorder because eczema and stress almost always go hand-in-hand. This is just a scientific way of saying that it is a physical disorder that is tied to your mental and emotional health.

There’s no denying it – stress is the root of most of our health problems.  It has even been linked to heart disease, for one, and many others. So, can stress cause eczema? Yes! And it makes perfect sense. The correlation between psychological wellbeing and skin health is so strong that there’s even a subspecialty in dermatology called psychodermatology.

Stress Induced Eczema – It’s a Thing!  

The connection between eczema and stress has long been established.  The scientific explanation behind this is that stress releases hormones that affect our immune system.  People with eczema actually have weak immune systems, which in turn causes inflammation of the skin, and can manifest into itchy rashes or worse, painful blisters.  Stress can also exacerbate the condition and cause your skin to flare up.

We all have our ways of coping with stress.  Some people are able to take life’s challenges (and changes) lightly while some have difficulty digesting it.

I know, I know.  Avoiding eczema from stress is easier said than done.  Sometimes it’s just easier applying a cream and avoiding the stress altogether. There is certainly nothing wrong with a little natural eczema cream to get some immediate relief, but the key to getting a handle on your eczema permanently is determining how you can avoid the onset of symptoms altogether.

Here are some tried and tested tips to calm your body and say goodbye to stress induced eczema:

Meditation / Prayer Time

Set aside some quiet time (like 15 minutes) every day to take stock of your life.  Lifting all your worries to a Higher Power will give you the serenity to cope with life’s challenges.

Try the Headspace app – it’s a great intro to meditation that will ease you in and get you hooked.

Spend Time with Others

Spend time with family, friends, and other support groups.  The conversations will surely distract you from scratching. And it is not only your skin that will be improved but your relationships too! For additional help, check out the National Eczema Association’s online support group here.

Read More: 8 Ways to Relieve Stress In Children With Eczema  

Self-Love

On the other hand, if there is anyone (or anything) in your life that is causing you stress, trying breaking away from that negative energy. Don’t feel guilty about it! It’s important to have some self-love too.

Prioritize and Delegate

If your list of to-do’s is getting too long and causing you much stress, learn to prioritize and delegate tasks.  You don’t have to do everything all at once, or by yourself for that matter.

Relax

Breathe deeply and find time to relax. You can even do this while taking your morning or afternoon walk.

Exercise

Exercise is very important in improving your mood and it will help you sweat your toxins away.

Your choice of exercise doesn’t have to high impact – like Zumba (Although that’s fun too!). For something calm, try yoga, which improves your mindfulness and concentration. A double win!

A Gentle Bath

Have a good, but not necessarily long, lukewarm bath.  It will relax you and soothe your itchy skin (if you use an oatmeal bath for eczema).  Just don’t forget to use a gentle natural soap and moisturize afterwards. Learn how to find the best eczema soap here.

Also, avoid rubbing your skin dry with a towel.  It will irritate your skin. Just pat it dry instead.

Sleep   

Often overlooked, but a great sleep can have a real effect on both your happiness and wellbeing.  Also, the right pajamas (made for eczema prone skin) can make all the difference in the world. Look for soft, comfortable eczema sleepwear for a good night’s sleep.

Alternative Medicine

Try alternative medicine such as acupuncture to relieve you from eczema caused by stress.  But, if you’re not feeling brave enough to go under the needles of acupuncture, then go for its hand counterpart, which is acupressure for eczema or reflexology.

A simple massage can also help relax your tense muscles.  Dim the lights and play some nature sounds while you’re at it for the ultimate spa experience.

Take a Vacation

A quick urban escape or brief weekend getaway will do and the change of scenery will do a lot of good for your senses. Just make sure your prep time and travel is stress free!

Start a Journal

If you have a knack for writing, then start a journal and write away.  This will help eliminate the negative thoughts that are causing you stress.

A gratitude journal or self exploration journal are great tools for those who need guidance to break into the world of journaling.

See a Professional

If the stress seems too much to handle and you cannot find solace in your immediate circle, try seeking professional advice.  The intervention could be what you need to heal your mind and your skin.

Whichever method you choose to relieve your stress, you need to find something you enjoy doing.  Do you enjoy getting immersed in a film or book? Do you prefer spending time with friends? It’s really up to you to discover what will make you mentally strong.  The bottomline – stress management is an integral part of treating eczema.  Manage your stress and you’ll be able to manage your eczema as well.

Planning to have a baby?

If you are planning to get pregnant, or already are, you should avoid stress, as a recent study [1] showed that stress prior and during pregnancy leads to eczema in infants.  So it’s not just YOUR skin that’s affected – your unborn child’s skin is affected too!

One Last Story…

To part, let me share with you this story of Bronya Humphreys [2], a 20-year old mom from England.  She transformed her eczema into works of art with the use of make-up. She fought depression by not wallowing in self-pity and instead decided to accept her eczema. Accepting, embracing, and even celebrating her skin disease has enabled her to convert it into something that gives inspiration.

Learn more about the Power of Trust & Acceptance and the Impact on Eczema.

It’s true – you are not your skin condition.  Accepting your eczema will not only make it easier to treat, but in time you will be able to live comfortably in your own skin.

Do you suffer from stress induced eczema? Let us know in the comments below!

Resources:

  1. https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellbeing/040317/pre-pregnancy-stress-level-may-lead-to-eczema-in-future-child.html
  2. https://food.ndtv.com/health/pre-pregnancy-stress-may-lead-to-eczema-in-infants-1666091
  3. https://www.oddnaari.in/life/story/this-woman-transforms-her-eczema-into-pieces-of-art-using-make-up-127156-2018-02-05

About the Author

Saif is a Wellness Writer and Digital Marketing Expert at Healthy-Finds.com, a company committed to imparting the knowledge and access that people need for a long and healthy life.  He usually loves to hangouts with rankings and work but when he is not working, he travels most of the time.

The post Eczema and Stress: Are They Related? Learn to Calm Your Mind and Skin appeared first on itchylittleworld.com.

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Stress and Your Baby

Pregnancy can be a stressful time for many expectant mothers. Many pregnant women worry about how they are going to take care of the baby, financial difficulties, health problems or family issues. It’s hard not to worry about what life is going to be like after the baby is born! It’s important to remember that a mother’s stress can and does affect her unborn baby.

This is because stress hormones in mother’s bloodstream are passed onto baby unknowingly. When mom gets stressed out, so does the baby inside her. Unfortunately, stress can be devastating to a child’s growth and development!

Taking steps to reduce stress during pregnancy will drastically improve the health of the mother and her baby. The first step to reducing stress is to pinpoint exactly what’s causing it. For example, if you are forced to keep up too many of your usual responsibilities during your pregnancy, such as employment, housework, paying bills and more, ask for help! Communicate with your partner about sharing these responsibilities for the sake of your child’s well being. Be sure not to overstrain yourself during your pregnancy.

Meditation is another amazing way to relieve stress, whether you’re pregnant or not! Meditation helps you focus your thoughts and put your mind at ease. It takes a bit of practice to learn, but it is well worth the effort. EFT is another option. EFT stands for “Emotional Freedom Techniques” and involves tapping certain points on your body and repeating affirmations.

Relieving stress certainly doesn’t need to be complicated. Reading books or magazines, taking a relaxing bath and getting massages can really make you feel great and cut down on your stress level. Pregnancy is also a great time to start a new hobby. If you’ve always wanted to start scrapbooking, start a baby book for your son or daughter! If learning to sew is one of your goals, try making baby clothes or a quilt for baby’s crib.

No matter which method you choose to reduce your stress level, remember that you’re making an amazing decision by taking steps for your child’s health and well being. You’re already a great mom!

Learn more information about relieving stress during pregnancy at Baby Heartbeat Monitor Zone and find out more interesting baby information at Baby Safety Monitors Online.

Find More Baby Eczema Articles

New Survey Reveals Stress is Main Cause of IBS

A new survey conducted by talkhealth1, on behalf of Enteromed, shows that stress, rather than food is the main cause of sufferers’ IBS – with 34% saying stress triggered their IBS. And almost 9 out of 10 (88%) said that their IBS stops them socialising at times. When asked about the effectiveness of the treatments they had tried, 86% said they had provided temporary relief, with only 14% saying they had improved their condition. The aim of this survey was to collect the latest data prior to large-scale clinical research on IBS-D and the effectiveness of Enterosgel in its treatment.

It is estimated that up to one in five people in the UK will develop Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) at some stage in their life. IBS can affect sufferers in various ways, with abdominal pain, bloating and bouts of diarrhoea or constipation the most common symptoms. It can be a source of great discomfort, embarrassment and unhappiness, turning holidays and everyday tasks into a struggle.

The IBS Survey for Enterosgel UK was carried out between Tuesday 4th July and Tuesday 15th August 2017. 568 people participated in the survey with 552 fully completing the survey.

Those who were living with IBS were asked to identify the three symptoms that impact them most on a daily basis: stomach pain and discomfort affected 82% (437 people), bloating (75%) and diarrhoea (64%). Over half of those with IBS had been diagnosed by a GP (57%), with 29% being diagnosed by a hospital specialist, and 14% self-diagnosing their IBS.

Stress and food were the causes that most participants felt triggered their IBS; stress 34% and food 28%. Nearly a quarter of people stated that they didn’t know what causes their IBS (22%).

Sufferers were asked to consider how their IBS affects them, by answering yes or no to a series of statements.88% said that ‘my IBS stops me from socialising at times’. Over three quarters of people felt that their IBS stopped them from being effective at work at times and over half had taken time off work due to their IBS. 67% felt that their IBS affected their relationships at home. And 20% had had symptoms that required them to be admitted to hospital due to their IBS.

Participants were asked what treatments they had already tried prior to completing the survey; antispasmodic medicines (40% – 214 people), and probiotics (20%) were the most commonly used. However, when asked about the effectiveness of these treatments, 86% stated that the treatments provided temporary relief and only 14% said that the treatments they had tried had actually improved their condition.

Enterosgel has been available in Europe for more than 20 years, where no systematic side effects have been reported. It is an innovative drug-free intestinal adsorbent that has been introduced to the UK for IBS sufferers three years ago, as an alternative to medications.

Enterosgel is an organic mineral gel proven to adsorb bacterial toxins including E-Coli and C Difficile2. This breakthrough gut treatment tackles the causes of gastrointestinal disorders. It has been scientifically developed to attach or bind to toxins, allergens, pathogens and viruses in the gut. Gut nasties are gently and effectively expelled from the body, helping towards treatment of diarrhoea, allergies and IBS and protection of the intestinal wall.

This oral suspension is free from gluten, sugar and preservatives. It does not take away beneficial substances and is suitable and safe for long–term use and alongside with other treatments.

David Willson comments, “I’ve been using Enterosgel on and off for most of 2016. There are no side-effects at all. It’s not like Imodium, which I don’t like to use, as I don’t think that you should be holding bad things in your body when your body needs to expel them. Enterosgel helps you get rid of them naturally in a gentle way by taking away the bad things as it travels through the body. And it’s even more effective than the silica gel I took.”

Enterosgel® is available over the counter in pharmacies and health stores in 225g tubes, 90g tubes and a box of 10x15g sachets, retailing from £12.80 at pharmacies and health stores, Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy, Holland & Barrett, DayLewis and Superdrug or on-line at enteromed.co.uk.

Report for Enterosgel UK, IBS Survey, July – August 2017 conducted by talkhealth Partenrship Ltd
2 Dr Carol Howell, ‘Enterosgel removal of Cdiff toxin B and Endotoxin’, School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, 2017.

Content supplied by Enteromed

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What is Stress – The Stress Response

We all experience stress on a daily basis, it is completely natural and that being the case, we can’t stop it, however, we can stop it in its tracks and reduce our stress triggers.

Firstly, lets look at what’s going on in the body.

When we are under pressure or stressed the brain will send a signal to your adrenal gland to produce adrenalin and cortisol.

Adrenalin makes your heart rate and lung capacity increases in order to send more blood and oxygen to your arms and legs so they can react faster in this, fight or flight response.

Cortisol is also released, which feeds your body with extra energy that is reserved for danger situations, which is of course what the stress response is designed for. Cortisol regulates the blood sugar levels and acts as the bodies’ natural anti-inflammatory.

This natural process is because the brain has a pre-set programme to survive and so it will do everything it can to keep you safe. The brain has no idea if you will be harmed or not, but as we are just animals by nature the only things to cause us harm, when we were living as cave people, would be a predator.

During this response the body produces extra energy that is stored away for such a time as fight or flight, you may feel like you’re full of energy, shaking or feeling a change of temperature?

What happens to our bodies when we are stressed?

If you experience stress multiple times a day then you may feel like you’re losing concentration, feeling tired, perhaps a loss of appetite – The body isn’t interested in the digestion of food during the stress response so digestion is decreased and this is why you may feel sick or want to go to the toilet, sometimes the body may want to evacuate what is in the stomach to make its job of surviving much easier.

Typically chronic stress would lead to weight loss while weight gain would be the result of minor stress.

The brain is not required to be intellectual in an uncomfortable situation so you may feel that you can’t think straight. If a starving lion was sat in front of you licking its lips because it hasn’t eaten in a week, why would you care about your works deadline, shopping, an exam?

What causes stress?

These days, it is the simple things in life that cause stress in a persons life; work targets, driving/traffic, your misbehaving teen, relationships, unexpected bill, exams etc. etc… your brain and central nervous system doesn’t know the difference between real physical harm or a mental or emotional threat to your self, and it’s how you as an individual cope with that response that is critical to understanding how to make improvements and changes.

So if we can experience these situations in the mind then we can change the experience by changing the way you think about things that would cause you stress by using some great techniques like NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Hypnotherapy.

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Stress Management And Holistic Medicine

Stress is a common instance for many people, some more than others. While there are many different ways to combat stress, certain individuals prefer to pursue a holistic route as opposed to taking medications for stress relief. For those in the former group, holistic medicine avenues are quite prevalent.
Here are some ways to fight stress the holistic way:

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one method which those who experience stress opt for. The application of small needles in different areas of the body act to relieve tenseness and pressure while providing total relief. Many stress sufferers like the acupuncture route as it is an easy solution and also a natural one. Acupuncture is engaged in by professionals in different manners but the end result is the same: great stress relief.

Meditation

Meditation is another type of holistic medicine which stress sufferers consider and look into. It provides them with a way to relax and relieve stress easily. Holistic doctors Florida often offer meditation as a holistic medicine solution for stress sufferers to enjoy. However, before choosing a holistic doctor Florida make sure that you know what their meditation services consist of and how they can help.

Herbal Therapy

Herbal therapy is an additional way to pursue holistic relief for stress. There are many different herbal supplements which strike at the core of stress and provide relief for individuals who have their hands full with daily stress-related events. One can take advantage of herbal therapy alone or in conjunction with the meditation and acupuncture remedies.

Stress management can be extremely debilitating but not unsolvable. Using holistic medicine at the advisement of a holistic doctor Florida will help to achieve results the natural way. There are many different options in the form of holistic medicine which you will be thankful to take advantage of and which will help you with your stress management.

Doctor naples fl, like Korunda Medical Institute, offers primary care and family care medical services in Naples FL. For more information about doctor naples, visit http://www.korundamd.com.

Spider Phobias Cause Unwanted Stress

It is of course this time of year where all you see are things spider related and even see the little critters invading your home. Arachnophobia is the worlds biggest fear and causes many people unnecessary stress and anxiety, oddly, many people would rather suffer from the anxiety than get help to rid the phobia and have a much more enjoyable life. Wouldn’t life be so much more enjoyable if you didn’t have to keep looking over your shoulder all the time and especially this time of year?

If you want to see images of people who had a fear of spiders having completed one of my courses, click here – WARNING THERE ARE PICTURES OF TARANTULAS!

From August to October is usually when we see a spider influx and the general stress levels can rise so much and, increased stress can reduce quality of sleep, affect diet and make you worry and panic unnecessarily.

It is completely possible to

  • Eradicate your fear.
  • Feel calmer around spiders.
  • Be in control around spiders.
  • Remove them yourself in a more relaxed way.

It is through my experience that this fear of spiders is about 95% learnt behaviour, by nature we are not afraid of spiders and the fear is mainly passed on through a family member, typically a parent. Do you really want your child to have increased anxiety and panic over spiders?

Why you are experiencing so much discomfort/panic/anxiety toward spiders is because your brain is recalling the first memory you had which gave you the fear. Your brains job is to protect you and keep you alive so be safe knowing that your brain is doing its job well.

For whatever reason your brain has decided that spiders are dangerous, this might be because, as a child, you saw your mum scream at the sight of a spider and from this moment onwards your brain has made the decision that “if mum doesn’t like it, it is no good for me”.

Because of this your unconscious mind will constantly scan for anything that is or could be a spider and when it sees something like a spider it immediately sends out a signal to start the stress response. During ‘spider season’ you are even more on your guard with those stress levels constantly going up and down which, can cause paranoia – when I had arachnophobia, I would constantly check for spiders but now I can relax and not worry, if I see one, its ok, I’ll just grab a glass, a piece of card and take it outside.

If you want to see images of people who had a fear of spiders having completed one of my courses, click here – WARNING THERE ARE PICTURES OF TARANTULAS!

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Eczema, stress and itching

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged on here and I apologise whole heartedly for leaving you all so lonely and ignored for so long. You’ll be pleased to hear that I’m back on it!

There is a part of the brain, I call it my blogging muscle, which sometimes gets all used up. It gets full and can’t blog or write any more. For a writer this is painful and I’ve lost my blogging mojo for too long now. Time to brush off that list of blogs I should have written…

And while I’ve been away my eczema has had a major flare up. I’ve managed to keep it under control with very short and regularly filed nails, epsom salt baths, early nights, exercise and just sheer will power. It’s been worst at night. Keeping me awake and the cycle of sleeplessness, stress and exhaustion that eczema can cause just gets worse and worse.

It’s been so painful I have been left almost crying in pain in the night. Could this really be caused just by stress?

Eczema cartoon

Eczema cartoon from the National Eczema Society

I think at least one nightmare of counting sheep through gritted teeth, clenching my hands behind me back in desperation to avoid at least some of the scratching, was caused by the most amazing gluten free falafals you will find out there. Now for most of you these will be absolutely fine. But not if you are allergic to broad beans… oh the pain, the hives and the agony they caused.

If you’re coeliac though or allergic to dairy, egg or wheat these are the best I’ve tried. Check out London Falafel® which is vegan and gluten-free as well as wheat-free, dairy-free, yeast-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, and free from all artificial ingredients and additives. It is 100% natural and healthy!

Damn those pesky broad beans. It was them. I had some more just to really put myself through pain, which meant stomach cramps, bad stomach pains and hives all over, the like that send you deranged.

I always think there is a trigger when my eczema flares and look to my diet, lifestyle and environment to see if I can work out what caused it. The falafal were the culprits on one occasion but not the rest of the time.

These last few months have shown me the power of stress over my body. Sometimes there isn’t a reason other than your mind is under stress and for some reason, those of us with eczema seem to get endless itch, scratch triggers.

Something fires a message from my brain to the pain receptors on my skin and it’s impossible to control once it gets going. It takes practise and wisdom to work out what is causing you stress but it’s not always easy to get yourself away from stress. Sometimes it’s a necessary evil that has be worked through.

This morning I have returned from my second ever ParkRun after a completely itch free night for once and I feel on top of the world.

The eczema has not completely healed but my skin is now much calmer, less inflamed and on the mend. After this morning’s smug ParkRun at Black Park, the usual agony of sweat on eczeme was bearable and I managed not to scracth at all! I have had to resort to some steroids but am now reducing usage once every other day for a week.

We can do this. I may never be totally rid of eczema but I can kick it into touch and take back control when I get my act together.

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