Category: Lifestyle

Not a Day Older: The Best Exercise For Aging Muscles

Growing old takes a toll on your body. Although most of us will change as we age, and looking in the mirror is more of a surprise than anything else, nothing is as affected as much our muscles. If you’re thinking that the amount you exercised back in the days is what you’re living off now and that the muscles you built in your twenties have served you well, you’re quite right – but that doesn’t mean you should stop caring about your body.

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Those sweaty circles of Pilates for seniors can be a bit underwhelming, though, if this is the only exercise your older parents are doing. Use science instead, to find the best type of workout to slow down the aging process and see them enjoy many more years of activity and sports.

The mitochondria

The mitochondria in our bodies are considered the cell’s power generator; it produces energy and converts it into forms that are usable by our cells. As we age, our cells stops to regenerate as easily as it did before, and are simultaneously affected by the mitochondria diminishing in both number and vigor.

We’d like to keep it as a generator for as long as we can, and certain types of exercise have actually proven to undo some of what aging has done to our cell’s power producer.

We’ll lose muscles, in other words, and will struggle with keeping our bodies as light and energized as we used to. It will keep them independent and happy for as long as possible, and they can get much more out of their golden years – and a lot more out of their Medicare Supplement plans. While there’s no decent alternative to growing old, by taking care of yourself and your older family members, you’ll be able to enjoy active years as a senior citizen and leap from one Pilates class to the next one.

Interval Exercise

The type of exercise that produced the biggest change in people’s genes in a study from this year was intense exercise – or interval training. There are a lot of different ways to incorporate this into your regular routine, although it’s usually associated with running or jogging. How well your aging family member is able to cope with running, you know better than any, but consider similar options if this is difficult due to their knees or other immobilities.

Cycling, for example, is excellent interval exercise and can be done in nature as well as on a stationary bike at the gym. If you think the gym is a better option as they’ll have assistants around at all time, remember that time spent in nature is wonderful news for their health as well. Try to compensate by walking outside together and enjoying nature in other ways – with less speed, perhaps.

To get the kind of benefits that will reduce aging in their muscles, it needs to be intense – and to manage this on a bicycle, you’re going to need speed. The gym may be the best option, in other words, unless they’re still relatively young.

While any type of exercise is good for your body, you should treat your family to the best kind of exercise for their age – especially now that you know the science behind it all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Healthy and Happy Living for Your Elderly Loved Ones

Our parents and grandparents have dedicated their lives to raising us and ensuring that we are healthy, happy and well. But a time will come when it’s your turn to start looking out for them. As people age, they can begin to find difficulty in everyday tasks such as bathing, cleaning and getting about. So it’s important that you look out for them in their time of need. Here are a few ways to ensure that they have a high standard of living.

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Staying Active

As we grow older, it’s often tempting to stop engaging in physical activity in favor of staying home and relaxing. But it’s absolutely essential that the elderly stay active and mobile. Not only does regular exercise help them to feel energetic, but it also keeps them at a healthy weight, helps them to maintain regular bowel movements, aids in managing high blood pressure and angina and can stimulate a poor appetite. Exercise regimes should focus on four main areas: stamina, strength, flexibility, and balance. Good activities to tick all of these health requirements are swimming and yoga. Swimming is a great overall workout and perfect for sufferers of arthritis, as the water’s buoyancy relieves pressure on the joints and helps to support their body weight. Yoga is a gentle exercise which will stretch out the limbs and improve overall balance.

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Assisted Living

Many OAPs prefer to maintain as much independence as possible, so many are adamant that they do not want to be moved into an old people’s home. However, many are unable to effectively maintain large homes and can find the experience of living alone lonely. Nowadays there are great alternative options in assisted living. An assisted living center is progressive and active, ensuring that all of their residents have everything that they need to live fulfilling lives. Services such as those provided by Christwood Retirement Community include companion services (ensuring that your elderly loved ones always have company), skilled nurses at hand and high-quality cognitive care. Never again will you have to worry whether your loved one has taken their medication, whether their living conditions are adequately hygienic or whether they are getting enough exercise.

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Visiting Regularly

No matter where the elderly in your life live, near or far, it is important that you take the time out to visit them regularly. Everyday life can become hectic, but ensure that you book a day and arrange to meet them. If you have children, take them along. This day doesn’t necessarily have to be anything extravagant. You can just pop by for a cup of tea. But it will make all of the difference to your loved one’s mood. Remember that many elderly individuals don’t have social media or mobiles, so won’t get to see as much of you as others might when scrolling through your photos or messaging you online.

While it is important that you don’t patronize the elderly, it is also essential that you show them the love that they have shown you for your entire life. So make the effort to ensure that they are content and well at all times.

 

 

 

My Rakhi Made Special by Dottedi

So I belong to the category of people who are single child of their parents, no I have no regrets as such, I love being alone, but certain occasions like Rakhi and all make you feel a little low. You want to have a brother to gift you some amazing stuff and shower his love. But its ok, I rather believe in self love, so whether its Valentines Day or Rakhi, I gift myself and make myself feel special indeed.

This year around, as I was looking at gifting options, I landed up on this awesome site called Dottedi and I was hooked. They have such an amazing collection of gifting options that it left me confused for a long time. They have gifts as per gender, relationships and also for special occasions. After a long stare and surfing through the pages, I settled for two things. I ordered myself a Mystery Box, which has a combination of gifts and goodies. There are consumables and also some beautiful gifts. In my mystery box I got Caramel Popcorns, a Beautiful Mason Jar, a Set of Shot Glasses, a Scented Candle, and oh how much I am in love with this box. I was amazed at the packaging, the box itself looked so gorgeous. The goodies inside were beautifully packed and it truly made me love myself more and feel very very special.

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The next thing that I picked was a Spa Bucket. Who doesn’t love a spa, and when given a chance to get yourself a foot spa, I am always a sucker for it. In fact I love collecting spa products and sometimes just dip my feet in a bucket and relax myself. This beautiful bucket consisted of foot scrub, foot softener, a foot soak and a body scrub. The bucket itself looked so beautiful and this indulgence felt totally worth it.

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I am in love with the products and their quality and in both the cases I was left overwhelmed. I am totally hooked to Dottedi and just waiting for another occasion to log in and make myself happy. What are you waiting for, log on and check out for yourself.

Health & Fitness Have To Be Holistic: Here’s Why

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The quest for perfect health and fitness is not a simple one. If it was, there wouldn’t be a huge industry worth billions worldwide trying to bring solutions to the variety of concerns we have about our bodies.

One of the major reasons that overall wellness is such a problem is because we don’t treat it as overall wellness. Instead, we break down our issues into separate groups, usually along the lines of:

  • Weight concerns, primarily wanting to lose weight. Surveys have shown that at any one time, over 50% of women want to lose weight. Whether or not they are actively trying to do so is another story, but that’s still an overwhelming number of people who are fixated on weight loss.
  • We know that we should be fit due to the way it can control our health not just in the now, but in the future too. Sometimes weight concerns and fitness are grouped together, but not always.
  • Whether it’s for weight loss or just because you’re focused on consuming the right nutrients, diet is an important consideration for many of us.
  • Mental health. Depression and anxiety disorders are commonly diagnosed these days, with around one in three people having a direct experience of mental illness. In an ever-busier world, taking care of our mental health needs has become a priority.
  • Emotional health. This tends to encompass things like the need for meditation, self-care, and ensuring we’re thriving in life rather than just surviving.

Compartmentalizing Health Is A Problem 

A big problem.

Our bodies are a living organism; our very own ecosystem. Like any ecosystem, how one part of the system is doing has a direct impact on how everything else is able to function.

This is why looking at health and fitness as an overwhelming singular entity – rather than splitting it down into groups – is an essential.

An Example 

If you suffer from depression, then you have a chemical imbalance in your brain. That’s what medication and therapies try to correct. For you, your focus would be on mental health – and that’s fine.

However, the other areas influence your depression too. For example, exercise has been shown to be able to alleviate the symptoms of depression. There are also foods you can eat that can help ease depressive symptoms.

If you were just focusing on mental health, you’d never know about the exercise and food changes you could make that would also help your mental health. This is a fundamental reason why health and fitness should be approached as an overall, holistic concern. You don’t know what you could be missing out on if you choose to focus on one area selectively.

What Happens With Single Focus

If you do just choose to focus on one area, then the chances of success are slim. Let’s investigate another example to learn how focusing on a single area can be ineffective, and potentially even harm your progress.

If you make the decision to lose weight, you can throw yourself into a diet plan, count calories, and all those other activities. However, when you have a bad day at work, you forget all your good motivations and head right for the chocolate. Emotional eating is a real problem – but you wouldn’t know it, because you have only been focusing on losing weight. By not examining issues regarding how your emotions impact your appetite, you’re always going to be at risk of stymying your own progress.

So when you just drill down into a single area, it’s actually an inherently bad thing. The only way you can ever fix or improve your mind and body is by treating them as part of the same system – which, of course, they are: they’re all you.

How To Do It

There are numerous programs such as Thrive by Le-Vel that focus on bringing together all aspects of health. This can be extremely useful if you’re entirely new to holistic methods and need some guidance.

You can also self-manage holistic treatments. Start by taking an issue that you have and then looking for a solution in every one of the categories listed above. You can then tackle whatever your concern is from a multi-pronged stance, giving you far more chance of success.

This might take a little work, especially if you have previously been only focusing in one area. However, it might just be the key you need to finally solve issues that have plagued you for a number of years. So why not do something different, and give the holistic approach a try?

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Which Smartphones Are Best Suited For Busy Women?

There are many different smartphone models available on the market today. The issue is that most of us can’t tell them apart, and so we never end up with the most suitable design. With that in mind, this post will offer some advice on the top three smartphones for busy women. Maybe a mother with lots of children just needs something to keep updated with her friends? Perhaps those who work in an office just want a product that will make their life easier? Well, at least one of the suggestions below is going to be perfect. So, read the information and make the right choice.

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iPhone 7

The iPhone 7 only reached the market recently, but it’s become an incredibly popular choice for business women and stay at home moms alike. It’s got a sleek and sophisticated design, but the product is also durable. Indeed, with a scratch-resistant screen, it’s no wonder people opt for this model. There is also advanced security that should combat incidences of hacking. The only real issue is the price. iPhone 7s cost around £540 in the UK at the moment, and that’s a bit too expensive for most people. However, there are some ways to get a better deal. With a Zaggor free gift, it’s possible to lower the price of a contract. That is because people get a PlayStation 4 or something similar, and that’s worth money.

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iPhone 6

The iPhone 6 is by far the best selling model listed on this page. It’s been available for quite a while, and most people will have used one in the past. The best thing about the iPhone 6 is that it’s built like a tank. Many people drop them on the floor all the time without any hassle. If they have the right type of case, it’s difficult to cause accidental damage to the screen. Alos, anyone can buy a brand new iPhone 6 for around £200 these days. So, it’s less than half the price of the newer model, and it performs in much the same way.

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Samsung Galaxy S8

Apple isn’t the only decent smartphone manufacturer out there today. It seems Samsung is making headway in the market at the moment with their S8 model. Some advantages of the S8 include:

 

  • Fantastic design
  • Excellent display
  • Top-notch hardware spec
  • 12 mp camera
  • Water resistant

 

However, many reviewers claim there are also some downsides to investing in the Samsung model. For instance, the battery life isn’t as impressive as it could be. That might become an issue for busy ladies who don’t have time to charge their phones three times every day. There are also some problems relating to the fingerprint reader. Still, overall, it’s an excellent piece of kit.

The three smartphones outlined on this page are by far the most popular devices around at the moment. Busy women should probably take a look at each of those models before looking elsewhere this summer. Invest in a brand like Apple or Samsung, and there’s a good chance the phone will remain in working order for many years. Enjoy!

 

 

Ethical Profitability From Your Fertility

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A lot of people don’t like the idea of having kids. Some will be too caught up in their work or studies to have children in their lives. And others won’t want to have a child while they aren’t in a permanent relationship. Unfortunately, some people don’t have this choice, though, and are stuck without the chance of having kids on their own. Thankfully, there are some modern methods which can solve this problem. For those that don’t want children but have the ability to have them, some extra income can be generating if you take the right steps. There aren’t many ways that you can make money while also helping someone realise a lifelong dream.

Donation has long been one of the best ways to help in this sort of effort. Both eggs and sperm can be stored for long periods, nowadays, making it easy for donations like this to be possible. Men make a lot less from this sort of thing than women, though. If you have the ability to donate eggs, you could be compensated from $7,000 (US) each time you donate. Of course, prices will vary depending on where you are, but most will reward donations generously. Men, on the other hand, will rarely make more than $50 (US) for each donation. Though, males can donate much more often than females. Look for sperm and egg donations near me to find your closest clinic. Most cities and towns have a couple of options to choose from.

In some cases, egg or sperm donation isn’t enough, and a donor body is needed for the baby to develop. Surrogacy is becoming more and more common as it becomes easier for doctors to guarantee success. Being a surrogate mother, you can expect to be compensated for between $40,000 (US) and $52,000 (US) for your time. Along with this, all of the medical and legal fees would be covered, too. This sort of effort can be a lot harder than donating eggs, as you will form a bond with the child inside you. And, of course, this job can only be done by a female.

Like with most things, there are some definite pros and cons when it comes to these sorts of donations. To help you decide whether or not this sort of action is right for you, the section below will be going through some of these deciding factors.

Pros:

  • You get to help a family in need, providing them with the missing pieces they need to complete their lives.
  • For all of your work, you will be fairly compensated. In some places, these earnings may even be tax-free.
  • As a surrogate, you will get some valuable experience before dealing with your own pregnancy.

Cons:

  • A lot of surrogates feel attached to the child they help to develop, as is natural during pregnancy.
  • It will take a lot of your time to do something as grand as this, making it hard for some to justify.
  • You might have ethical conflicts when it comes to taking money for something like this. Of course, you deserve compensation, but this doesn’t make it easy for everyone.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start thinking about donating this personal part of your body. If you don’t plan to have children, you can use your fertility to help others without the choice. This is an incredible thing to do for someone. Of course, though, it’s worth thinking long and hard about the impact it could have on your life.

Perfect Party Planning Is Easier Than You Think

Everyone loves the idea of throwing a big bash to celebrate that big birthday. But in reality, it can feel like too much work and hassle. Planning a perfect party to make someone feel special shouldn’t be this hard! Fortunately, we’ve come up with some of the best ways to plan the event of the year. It all starts with a list of ideas that you want to include. The rest will follow!

Ideas And Inspiration

It’s usually a good idea to ask the birthday boy or girl what they would like for their party. This will help you gauge just how far you can go with your ideas. Of course, if you’re keen for the whole event to be a surprise, then you’re going to need to do some detective work.

Start with their hobbies and interests. Are they passionate about music, or enjoy pets or books? Whatever it is they’re into, this could become the starting point for your whole theme. It might also give you some ideas for entertainment and activities at the party too.

If you’re still stuck for ideas, you can look at their FaceBook page to see what things they are most interested in sharing or posting about. Ask their friends if they’ve had any chats about the impending birthday. Don’t forget – you’re going to need some ideas for a great gift too! The more people you talk to, the better.

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Theme

Having a theme is ideal because it gives you pointers for the decorations, the music, the food, and even the costumes. Costume parties are a lot of fun for everyone, and they make the best photos too. If you’re going to throw a party-of-the-year, then you want it to be memorable.

 

What better way to remember this birthday forever than with photos? If you’re all dressing up, it might be a good idea to book something like a Booth Boy open photo booth. Then you can all fit in, and capture some incredibly fun (and funny) shots of the big event. Everyone loves sharing their event photos on social media so choose a service that offers online accessibility to the pics.

So what are your choices for a theme? Again, try to keep it within the birthday boy or girl’s interests. Movies, music, the 1960s, or football are just some of the most popular choices. Now it’s time to put the venue together and figure out the little details.

Venue

You can always hold the party at your home. However, not everybody is keen on opening up their family home to a lot of people. And if you have close neighbours, they might not be keen either! Of course, you don’t have to manage all the catering and clean up yourself. You can hire companies that can take care of all those details for you.

In some places, music can prove problematic. You might need a license to play music if you’re throwing a party. Most venues that you hire usually have this license in place. You might pick a community hall, a sports centre, or even a hotel function room. It’s best to pick a venue that can comfortably cope with the number of people you intend to entertain.

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Activities

Every party should be fun for every guest as well as the guest of honour. Pick activities that get people into the party spirit. You can choose inflatable assault courses (yes, for grown-ups), bubble factories (yes, for grown-ups), or even karaoke. Try to pick something that will engage your guests.

If space is limited, you might prefer to hire professional entertainers. Dancers, a band, or even a stand-up comedian could be ideal in this situation. You might prefer to look for something quirky or unique. Maybe your guest of honour has some ideas?

Food And Drink

If you like the idea of a themed party, then the food and drink could be easier to prepare than you think. Shapes and colours are the best way to theme food. You might have football shaped snacks and cakes. Perhaps you can decorate some of the dishes to look like a superhero emblem or a team crest? The options are endless. Food dye can achieve quite a lot here!

As for catering? Hire a professional company if you’re hosting a big bash. It takes the pressure off you, and you won’t have to worry about keeping food at the right temperature. If you’re planning a low-budget party, why not ask guests to bring a dish? You may need more room in the fridge and a hot plate, but these won’t break the bank. Also for clearing the mess later on, you can easily hire home cleaning services, which will not only save your time but also the hassle

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Invites

When you start to design your party invites, it’s important you already have your theme decided. Then you can choose invites that match the theme. It gives your guest a better idea of what to expect too. You can post your invites to social media, or have traditional invitations printed out.

Make sure you give the full address of the venue. If you’re hiring a place with a closing time, be sure to put an end time as well as a start time on the invite. Don’t forget to clarify any theme details and what you expect of guests regarding costume.

On The Night

It’s usually a good idea to plan out the event so you can fit everything in. If guests are likely to bring gifts, what do you want to do with them? You might have an official ‘opening’, or perhaps you prefer to put them aside until after the party? Are you going to hand out party favours or other goodies at the end of the party?

Guests will undoubtedly expect some speeches on the night as well. The guest of honour will need to stand up and say a few words of thanks. Will you need a microphone for that? Who will officially wish them a happy birthday? Speeches tend to take place later in the evening rather than right at the beginning. Will you all eat before or after this?

Planning your event in detail gives you the chance to deliver the perfect party. Enjoy.

 

 

 

Regaining Your Self-Esteem And Confidence

Life can be tricky, no matter how hard we try life will always offer a dark cloud or opportunity for weakness. It is how we combat these issues that make us the person we are today!

Taking back your life and more importantly, your confidence is where the road to success begins.

Only you and you alone can combat the inner voices. Learning how to stop these voices from damaging your confidence is the first step. No matter who you are everyone has an inner critic, some are more vicious and louder than others. Sometimes this voice can spur you on to silence the doubt. However the majority of the time this isn’t the case. Do not let the self-doubt creep and destroy your confidence.

By learning techniques to silence the inner doubt with your own is helpful. Whenever the self-doubt begins to silently creep in, imagine a giant red traffic light or stop sign. Simply stay stop when thoughts pipe up. The more you address the issue and say stop it’s a powerful way to slowly get rid of the voices.

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Admitting that you feel the cloud clouding your happiness or preventing you from being happy. Telling someone or even reading articles can start the path to healing. There is no shame in feeling the symptoms of anxiety or feeling blue.

Most people’s worst enemy is themselves. By raising and keeping your self-esteem up you’ll feel more deserving of good things in life. And so you’ll go after them more often and with more motivation. And when you get them then you’ll be a lot less likely to self-sabotage in subtle or not so subtle ways.

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No matter what the issue, if it’s health related and stops you from being the best you can accept help. Rehabcom offers insightful advice on sensitive topics and is there to help. Do not be ashamed to read up and take the necessary steps.

Forgiving yourself for past mistakes makes room for changes. Start to focus on personal accomplishments regardless of how big or small. 

A powerful way is to remain motivated keep a journal or diary nearby or on you when out. Keeping thoughts down or writing daily goals such as getting fit or to start eating healthy. At the end of each day write down what made you happy, also compliment yourself. These things sound silly, but complementing little things will make you smile which released the important happy endorphins.

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Post it notes are great for motivation quotes or little pick me ups. Keep these somewhere you can see them daily to keep your voice positive. The kitchen is great especially on the fridge or notice boards are great places.

Remember to build yourself back up, there is only one of you. Be the best you can be, combating the inner voice can be done, set the steps to regaining your life back.

 

 

 

 

 

The Health Checks You Can’t Afford To Miss Out On

Keeping tabs on our family’s health can feel like lot’s of appointments that span over the year. It can be easy to forget where you have been, and what needs to be booked. It’s understandable, after all, we only want to do the best by our family and to make sure everyone is healthy and happy. Keeping yourself organized is the key to success. So I thought I would share with you some of the family health checks that need to happen. If you aren’t on top of any of them, then get them booked in as soon as possible.

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Dentist

Our dental hygiene is important. We only get one set of adult teeth in our lifetime. So it’s important that we encourage good dental health in our children from an early age. Even though they dislike cleaning their teeth so much. Regular checks with the dentist will keep those teeth in check. It’s vital you book in with a dentist as soon as your child’s teeth come through so that you start the regular check ups going forward. While it may not be a pleasant experience for all when you attend, you will be happy you did as time goes on and you have good dental hygiene.

Eye Checks

Our sight is one of the greatest senses we will regret losing if we don’t take care of it. Some of us see better than others, but without having them checked, we wouldn’t know. We may struggle to read small print or see long distance. These things can affect our reaction times when it comes to playing sports and even driving a car. So it’s vital we keep tabs on their condition. However, it isn’t just about general eye care, but sometimes we can struggle with issues with our eyes. This is when Ophthalmologists could identify issues that you may not have known you were struggling with. Thankfully, there are locations all over that can ensure that you take better care of your eyes.

Hearing tests

Our hearing is another important part of the body that we need to keep track of. It can get affected mostly if, as adults, you work or have worked in a place with loud noises. Children can also be prone to problems if they have been around sharp noises and even ear infections. Keeping tabs on your ear and hearing health will make sure that you have perfect use of them as time goes on. Some adults and children won’t even realise they may have a problem until they get checked. Things like hearing aids can transform your lives without you even realising you needed them.

General health checks

Keeping on top of our general health is important. Attending a general health check will mean your weight and body mass index are checked. Alongside things like blood pressure. You could even have blood tests to make sure that cholesterol levels are normal, and you have good iron levels. All things that can cause you problems as time goes on. It’s still very important to make sure that they are not overweight. Obesity is a real problem in the world at the moment.

I hope this helps you get on track when it comes to your family’s health.

Fighting Phobias: How To Conquer The Unconquerable

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Most people have an aversion to creepy crawlies, heights or enclosed spaces but fewer no the crippling fear and panic that go hand in hand with a phobia. Around 19.2 million adult Americans live with a phobia or extreme fear of some sort. For those people, it can be an isolating experience that they struggle to communicate to friends, family and loved ones. A phobia can also be extremely damaging to the psyche and impede people in their day-to-day life. The sheer range of subjects about which one can be phobic, coupled by the almost unbearable sense of dread and anxiety that manifests in people with phobias make it a very real and serious psychological condition.

Understanding phobias

Living with a phobia can be at best inconvenient and at worst debilitating. It can prevent you from taking a family vacation, allowing your child to take in a pet, or going to the dentist. Nobody who lives with a phobia wants to continue to suffer, but it can be difficult to determine the best way to fight your phobias. WHile there are a variety of coping strategies, among the most potent is understanding.

It’s not always clear how or why phobias occur but they tend to be linked to (sometimes forgotten) traumatic experiences in childhood, adolescence or the early years of adulthood. They can also be learned by observing the behavior of others as we grow up. If your Mom got freaked out by spiders when you were little, chances are you’ll grow up to be scared of spiders too. More complex phobias like agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) or social phobia are thought to be caused by a perfect storm of genetic and neurochemical factors.

Symptoms of phobias

Many people living with phobias don’t understand the distinction between a fear and a phobia. While in many ways they are the same, the symptoms of a phobia are often much more pronounced. When brought into contact with a ‘stressor’, be it a rat, a spider, an airplane or a crowded shopping mall, the body produces a surge of adrenaline initiating a ‘fight or flight’ response in the reptilian brain and causing a state of panic, which may also include:

  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath
  • Trembling
  • Sweating

If you experience these symptoms, then there’s a good chance you’re experiencing a phobia rather than a fear.

Coping strategies

Having identified the causes and symptoms of phobias, let’s have a look at some strategies to stop them from taking control of your life. As with any form of cognitive therapy, these strategies require effort and persistence but if you stick with them can make a real difference.

The most important thing is to remember that anxiety is a perfectly natural survival mechanism. These strategies are designed to help manage anxiety, not eliminate it.

‘Realistic Thinking’– This is a form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It requires you to explore your phobia with some searching questions. What is it that you’re really afraid of? Most of us know that a crowd, a rat or a spider pose little physical threat to us, so why do they cause us anxiety? These can be difficult questions to ask ourselves and we’re often unable to answer them which leads us to…

Research– There’s nothing as terrifying as the unknown, and our imaginations have a tendency to warp and exaggerate unknown commodities. Research the animal you’re afraid of, or the technical specifications of planes if you’re afraid of flying.You may find that the more you know and understand, the less you fear.

Controlled exposure– This is the most effective coping strategy but it’s extremely important not to rush it. How you carry out a controlled exposure will depend on your phobia. If, for example, you’re afraid of the dentist’s then a very gradual exposure to the practice is the way to go. Begin with walking in and out of the practice with a partner or friend. After a while, see if you can walk into the building on your own. The next day, try sitting in the waiting area (accompanied for around 10-15 minutes). After you’ve done this, as your partner to leave you there alone for ten minutes but ensure they’re on standby if it does get too much. Then, make an appointment with your dentist just to talk and get to know them. If you need to bring someone else in with you then that’s absolutely fine too. When you’re ready allow them to look inside your mouth then graduate to a clean and polish and eventually to whatever work you may need done.

 

 

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