Everyone has bad days. If you failed an exam, did not get hired for a job, got stood up by a date, or missed your train, you sometimes can’t help but feel like the world is working against you. How do you rise from these situations and stop them from getting to you? What can you do to manage your mood and remain productive in life?

1. Take a deep breath.

If faced with a challenge, you should remain calm and not do anything that you will regret later on. Stay put. Inhale and exhale. Take a few minutes to clear your mind and let your emotions settle down, before deciding what to do next. Rushing into things while you are all fired up may only make the situation worse.

2. Think happy thoughts.

Every time you start feeling down, try to remember some positive memories from your past to help make you feel better. It can be that time you won an award, finished a marathon, completed a difficult hiking trail, had your first child, or got a promotion at work. If you are able to block the negativity, you can move forward to accomplish more things.

3. Do not run away from your problems.

Problems do not automatically disappear. They have to be dealt with and fixed for you to be totally rid of them. Oftentimes, guilt, anxiety, and other negative emotions can be too heavy of a burden to carry, and until you make things right, you will be in a terrible mood and mindset for a very long time.

4. Get enough sleep.

Sleep plays a crucial role in how your body functions. According to medical experts, everyone should get around 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night to allow the body to recuperate and recharge for the day ahead. If you lack sleep, your brain will not be able to perform at its best, and this can significantly affect your mood.

5. Eat healthy.

The kinds of food that you eat are also a contributing factor to your mood. If you consume so much junk food, alcohol, and other foods high in sugar and fats, you are prone to developing various types of diseases that can trigger signs and symptoms. The pains and discomforts can turn your mood around and leave you feeling all negative. Thus, swap your chips and sodas with fruits and vegetables for a healthier mind and body.

6. Exercise.

Exercising makes your body release hormones that make you feel good. The more you exercise, the more you get these positive feelings. Therefore, get into a regular exercise routine as soon as possible. You can start by running around the block for about 20 minutes on your days off, walking your dog every morning or night, or taking the stairs more often in school or at work.

7. Pursue your hobbies and interests.

Doing something that you enjoy can help elevate your mood. If you like to learn new languages, why not enroll yourself in a language class? This will not only expand your knowledge, but also allow you to meet new people. If you like to cook, why not whip up new recipes in your kitchen? You not only give yourself opportunities to enjoy delicious dishes, you also can have a much needed bonding time with friends or family over dinner you yourself prepared.

8. Be around people.

Alone time gives you the chance to reflect on yourself and your life. However, it can hamper your personal growth and social relationships if you do it so much. Human beings are social creatures, so developing bonds with others are integral to survive. If you feel hopeless and miserable, you should not hesitate to call a friend or family member to hang out with and help you get out of that rut. Dedicate at least a day or two of your month to grab lunch or dinner to catch up with people you trust.

9. Stay off of social media.

Many studies have found that spending too much time on Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms can contribute to depression. Oftentimes, upon seeing photos of your friends on their Europe vacation, with their new houses and cars, and grinning ear-to-ear with their families, you can’t help but feel inadequate, like your life is so pathetic. You forget that these photos depict only a small percentage of their lives, and they are very likely dealing with problems too. You fail to realize that these websites mostly feature the best highlights of people’s lives.

10. Listen to music.

Music can affect your feelings and emotions. So, create a playlist of your favorite songs, and listen to it while you are working, doing household chores, or driving. Choose upbeat, feel-good tunes to put you in a good mood.

11. Go outside.

Spend more time outdoors to breathe fresh air and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin. A change in environment can help drive those negative thoughts away. In addition to that, you can get more oxygen into your body and boost your brain performance, and enjoy a good supply of vitamin D for a better looking skin.

12. Clean your house.

Just like exercising, cleaning is a physically demanding task that makes your body release happy hormones. By vacuuming the entire house, scrubbing your toilets, polishing your kitchen counters, and rearranging your furniture, you get a burst of positivity, and feel energized and refreshed.

13. Consult a medical professional.

Mental health problems require proper medical attention. They cannot be cured just by staying positive or smiling more often. They are caused by chemical imbalances in your body that can only be fixed by therapy and medications. If you find yourself in a bad mood so often, and feel down from the moment you wake up to the time you go to bed, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, as you might have something serious that needs to be taken care of right away.

Many men think that fashion is not for them. In their opinion, looking nice and smart is like a math problem that just brings headaches and confusion, and only a few are good at. What they do not realize is that there is not one strict rule on how to look stylish. You do not need high-end suits, luxury brand shoes, and expensive accessories. You can look nice and smart even without having to spend so much.

How to dress better and sharper

Below are some quick and easy steps that can help you on your journey to being a well-dressed gentleman:

Get rid of clothes you have not worn in more than a year.

Do not let your closet get filled with stuff that you are not using. On your day off, dedicate a few hours rummaging through your boxes and luggage in there to see if there are things that you can throw out. Your high school P.E. sweats? Your tattered Halloween costume from 5 years ago? Those commemorative shirts from a local event? Unless they hold meaning to you, they are pretty much not worth a single inch of space in your wardrobe. If you want, you can pick out those that are still in good condition, keep them in a separate box, and donate them.

Quality over quantity.

Does the thought of spending more than a hundred dollars on a pair of shoes freak you out? Would you rather go for something that is only around 25 bucks? Unfortunately, most often than not, products that cost less are also of lower quality. They may not create as big of a dent in your wallet as compared to a popular, more expensive brand, but they also may not last as long. As a result, you end up buying a new one more times than you need to, and, in the end, actually wasting a lot more money.

Experiment with colors.

A lot of men like to play safe in their fashion choices, and usually just stick with black, brown, and gray clothing items. There is nothing wrong with. But, if you want to up your style, you have to take a risk, and introduce other hues and shades to your outfits. A little bit of red, yellow, blue, or orange here and there will not hurt. Depending on the situation, it can work really well and help make you stand out.

Wear more prints.

Be adventurous. Diversify your wardrobe with shirts with prints and patterns. It can be a bit scary at first, but wearing something other than plains will give you a more interesting and bolder appearance. You can get floral shirts, striped pants, animal print ties, or shaded shoes to transform yourself into a preppier and trendier version of you.

Buy good fitting clothes.

Forget the days when loose and baggy clothes were the craze. These days, good fitting shirts and pants are in, and they can make you look nice and smart. Even with just a plain, white t-shirt, as long as it hugs your body perfectly, you can confidently walk in to any situation, and exude that confidence that you did not know you had in you all along.

A good pair of jeans is your friend.

Whether frayed, patched, fringed, or regular, a pair of jeans offers versatility and flexibility in your style. It can be worn with plain or printed tops, closed shoes or sandals, or with or without a jacket, and works for any time of the year. For less than 50 bucks, you can find different good quality brands that should last you many years.

Improving your overall appearance

Being elegant, fashionable, and stylish is more than just the clothes. You also have to take care of other aspects about yourself to fully transform into your best gentlemanly self.

Get into a healthy skincare routine.

If your acne and pimple problems from puberty follow you into adulthood, it can be quite self-esteem crushing. However, you should not give up that easily. You should know and understand that you can do something about these blemishes. Every time you stand in front of the mirror, tell yourself that you have to do your part in giving your skin a radiant and vibrant glow. Wash your face in the morning, and before you go to bed. Do not be embarrassed about using facial creams, toners, moisturizers, and the likes. There are facial care products that are specially made for men’s skin. If you have more severe skin issues, see a dermatologist to get these taken care of as soon as possible.

Pay attention to your hair.

Even though you are dressed to the nines, your look will not be complete without the perfect hairstyle. It is important that you do not look like you just rolled out of the bed, and cannot be bothered with even with just running a comb through your hair. Do some research on what hair products are recommended for your hair type. Visit the salon to get the right kind of haircut for your face. If you are dealing with dandruff and other similar problems, do not hesitate to consult a doctor to remedy it right away.

Fix your posture.

Do you tend to slouch when sitting? Do you spend hours and hours hunching over your computer keyboard? Do you frequently feel back aches and pains? Bad posture is a common problem in men and women. It puts extra strain on the muscles, joints, and bones that keep your spinal column in place. Moreover, it presses your internal organs closer to each other, resulting to disruptions in their performances and functions. It causes various discomforts, such as difficulty in breathing and inability to digest food properly. To fix that, you have to practice the proper way to stand and sit. When standing, hold your head up, throw your shoulders back, tuck your stomach in, and straighten your knees. When sitting, your back should be straight, your shoulders back, and your butt touching the lower end of the backrest. You can also start doing stretching exercises, planking, and yoga on a regular basis.

It’s commonly known that as a person ages, their memory fades. Many people have varying opinions on how to improve a person’s memory. Some people try to aid a person’s diminishing memory by letting them focus on historical pictures or significant family photos that can spark a connection with the brain. However, doctors and health care professionals agree that if you want to improve a person’s recall skills the person affect by a decreasing memory should play brain games.

These brain games can benefit a person in a number of ways that include increasing social skills, expanding focus, and enhancing response time. Brain games also come in a variety of forms and designs which can challenge the ablest body thinker to expand his or her cognitive ability. But what are the types of brain games?

Here are the most common types of brain games and its benefits:

What are brain games?

When people see the words ‘brain games’ they most likely think of games that test the brain, and they wouldn’t be wrong. Brain games are merely games or activities that question the mind and make you think, strategize, and recall information in order to win. In fact, many people play brain games as a part of a family and don’t realize the health benefits it offers to the brain. While games like Pictionary and Taboo are not marketed or thought of as brain games, they do indeed meet the criteria for what a brain game is, and thus, will benefit a person who has memory problems.

Pictionary, for example, enables players to draw a word that’s on a Pictionary card and players have to guess the word in a specific time frame. People who have memory issues not only benefit from the word-picture association but also the requirement to recall the word within a particular time frame which allows a person to improve their response time when remembering a word or a phrase. Moreover, brain games assist people by exercising the need to recall information in a specific time which will help a person improve their overall quality of life.

What are the different types of brain games?  

Brain games come in many different sizes and shapes, in fact, some games you can’t even hold. However, all brain games have a common goal of improving a person’s memory function and helping him or her have fun while doing so. While brain games are meant to test a person’s cognitive function, they’re also designed to be fun and creative, so everyone can get involved. Thus, brain games are purposely created for family participation. In fact, the most important advantage of playing a brain game is that you become more socially interactive with your friends, family, and peer group. Moreover, the most common types of brain games are card games, board games, puzzle games, and computer games.

1. Card games

Playing a card game is probably one of the best ways to keep your mind sharp. In fact, due to its versatility in the number of games, you can play you can challenge your mind and test its recall, reaction time, and concentration. Also, because of the number of games you can play with a deck of cards, there is no shortage of creativity. One day you can play a simple game with your kids or grandkids and the next you can play a hand of poker with your friends.

Card games are the perfect source to recall your memory since you can memorize the patterns on the cards or think of new strategize to win a complex game like poker. Therefore, card games can be simple or complex depending on what you want to play; however, due to its versatility, it’s the perfect type of game to play when you want to improve your cognitive skills.

2.  Board games

Many people love board games like LIFE and Monopoly because of their colorful backgrounds and fantasy roles. However, board games like chess and Scrabble are best for enhancing cognitive skills. In fact, these games enable a person to think strategically and readily allow a person to recall words or information in order to win the game.

While chess and Scrabble might not be a child’s favorite game; however, the whole family can get involved when playing. For example, when playing chess, a family could put the boys and the girls on opposite sides, or the oldest verse the youngest. Thus, even when it’s a two-player game like a game of chess you can still make it a family affair. Therefore, board games are naturally a family favorite; however, games like chess and Scrabble better improve a person’s cognitive ability than other board games.

3.  Puzzle games  

Some people like puzzles more than others, in fact, people who enjoy figuring out a puzzle are more likely to play puzzle games. Puzzle games unlike card games and board games are more centered towards one person instead of a group. While there are puzzle games that can depend on teamwork in order for the puzzle to be solved, although those types of puzzles are usually more difficult and challenging for someone who suffers from memory problems.

Puzzle games like Sudoku are perfect for a person who wants to enhance their cognitive ability. Since puzzles are known to make a person use forward-thinking, it’s one of the best ways to improve faster thinking. Additionally, since puzzles have been proven to challenge people, they are also an excellent way to enhance concentration in strategic thinking. Therefore, puzzle games can have an enormous effect on your cognitive ability as well as your overall well-being.

4. Computer games

Computer games have been controversial for some time due to how computer screens affect both the health and mental health of a person. However, computer brain games can improve your health if you use them correctly. Since there is such a diversity of computer games which aid cognitive ability, you can play a variety of them and still enhance your memory, concentration, and response time. Although, it’s important to remember that socializing is one of the significant benefits of brain games. So, if you play a brain game online why not invite your family members, friends, or other acquaintances to play too?

Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder that can be difficult to overcome. If you have Bulimia Nervosa, it can be overcome. However it has to take a lot of effort on your part, and you need help from family, friends, a counselor and/or therapist to help you stay on course and give you some perspective to your problems.

There are a lot of options out there to help you overcome your eating disorder. With specific diet choices, you can help replace your nutrient deficiencies, and you can also use meditation, yoga, journaling, counseling, talking with family and friends to help alleviate your anxieties and improve your mental health.

1. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a drink that is made from a plant species called Aloe. Use Aloe Vera to help you reduce upset stomach and bloating. It will make the sufferer feel better and not worry about weight and size that comes with bloatedness. Aloe Vera will also prevent the anxiety that you might feel about said bloatedness and it would further help you on the road to recovery without further baggage weighing you down. Also, Aloe Vera will help decrease your risk of any infection happening in your stomach, and it has a lot of nutrients like calcium, copper, selenium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc to replace all the nutrients that were lost because of Bulimia Nervosa. And it’s pretty tasty, as well.

2. Probiotics

Use probiotics to improve your gut health, give your gut good bacteria, and help cultivate the nutrients that your gut and body need to function and to return the bulimia sufferer’s health back to normal. It will also give your body something good for your immune system and something good for your body to improve itself as you work on your mental health.

3. Nutritional Planning

Planning your dietary habits will allow you to look at your intake objectively, which can help you to stop eating impulsively and stop binge eating. It will allow to see where you are going wrong, where you are going right, and allow yourself to judge only your eating actions in order to steer the focus away from yourself. It will also alleviate your anxiety as it will focus on something that can be repairable with a bit of focus and effort, and not focusing negatively on yourself.

4. Ginseng

Ginseng will help you relax and reduce your anxiety. Ginseng also boosts mood and stimulates appetite, making you hungry and in a happier mood to eat and not worry about thoughts that don’t matter.

5. Yoga

Use yoga to improve your mental health so that you aren’t compelled to vomit via anxiety. Treats the impulsive and destructive patterns of bulimia nervosa. The more yoga you do, the calmer you are and the calmer you are, the less likely you’ll get stuck in a pattern of destructive thoughts that compel you to vomit. Also, every time you feel the need to vomit, do yoga instead for 15 minutes and, that way, you’ll calm day, and that compulsion will die down by then.

6. Oranges

Oranges have vitamin C which acts as antioxidants against illnesses and infections. Produces collagen, which will then repair damaged cells and tissues, and it helps the healing process with bulimia nervosa. It will also help repair the stomach lining and the esophagus, which is damaged via multiple vomiting.

7. Spinach

Spinach is high in folic acid, and it is also used to ease depression. Spinach also eases the dietary and mental afflictions of bulimia disorder. So, eat lots of spinach, it’s helpful for easing your depression and your mind and diet. And spinach is nutritious and good for getting your Vitamin A, B, C, E, and Iodine.

8. Salmon

Salmon has a high amount of omega-3 to rebalance metabolism and organ systems in order to replace the nutrient deficiencies that are caused by bulimia nervosa. It’s good to have this type of protein and omega-3 to help your body get healthy again. Salmon is also a tasty fish to eat.

9. Meditation

Use meditation to detach yourself from your intrusive thoughts and to reduce your anxiety and your compulsion to vomit. When you meditate, you take away your focus from yourself and start making a habit out of bringing your focus to the present. Meditation is good to take while you try to get your body’s nutrients back into your body.

10. Emotional Self-Care

Taking emotional care of yourself is just as important as anything else. One thing you can do is to stop negative self-talk and start positive self-talk. For example: “I deserve to be happy” is positive self-talk. Meanwhile, “I only deserve bad things in my life” is negative self-talk. And you can also record your thoughts in a journal, state what you felt throughout the day, what you feel at present and rate your emotional distress in the journal from 1 to 10.

After journaling after a while, you’ll feel better. And you’ll also want to try talking to someone about your worries and about your bulimia progress and setbacks, just so they can help you put you back on track and so you can get another perspective to your problems. You can go to counseling or therapy because it’s well to have someone to talk to about your worries. Or you can talk to someone, whether family or friend, who will listen to you without judgment.

Overall, with enough attention to diet and mental health care and emotional self-care and a community of people supporting you and helping you get better, you’ll be able to overcome your Bulimia Nervosa Disorder. Aloe Vera, Probiotics, Ginseng, Oranges, Spinach, and Salmon will help replace the nutrients that you have lost due to your disorder, and it will keep you healthy as you try and improve your mental health. Nutritional Planning will help you put your objective focus on your diet habits instead of, negatively, on yourself.

Yoga and meditation will help you develop the habit of placing the focus on the present instead of yourself. And emotional self-care will teach you how to take emotional self-care of yourself by journaling, counseling, therapy and/or talking to family and/or friends. Stick to these steps, and you’ll be able to overcome Bulimia Nervosa Disorder and alleviate your anxiety.

Ditching carbs is probably one of the hardest things to do, especially considering pasta and bread are so delicious. What’s worse is that carbs consist of more than just pasta and bread; ditching them also means you have to get rid of your morning cereal, your after-dinner desserts, and your daily soda intake.

All in all, ditching carbs is hard, but it’s also one of the best ways to ensure you are living a healthy lifestyle. Carbohydrates really aren’t the best foods to be taking in from day to day, unless in moderation.

With all of that being said, I’d like to tell you a little bit about what getting rid of the carbohydrates will do for you. Check out my detailed list below and see the benefits that you’ll be able to reap by just limiting your carbohydrate intake.

Your body may look slimmer and more toned.

It’s true, omitting carbs from your diet will make you look thinner quicker. Don’t be fooled by this, though, considering it’s only water weight that will be leaving your body. Let me explain how this particular instance works.

When you have a normal diet comprised of a normal carbohydrate intake, your body automatically stores the carbs as glycogen in your liver and muscles. Your body then uses the glycogen as energy throughout the day and when exercising. While your body is storing the glycogen, it is also storing water beside the supposed sugar. When the glycogen and water reserves are depleted, your muscles lose that hydration, in turn making you look slimmer and more toned. Though your appearance may be different, your weight may not change.

Your body will start to break down stored protein and fat.

Though this can potentially be a bad thing, it shouldn’t be looked at like that. Hear me out.

When your body has little to no carbs, it’ll start to use protein and fat stored throughout the body to maintain normal energy levels. While using stored protein could hurt you in the long run, using stored fat will not. In other words, if you have depleted your carbohydrate storage unit, your body can then move onto your fat storage unit, therefore causing you to shed a few more pounds. But you have to be careful with this; you don’t want to start using the protein in your muscles to keep up healthy energy levels.

What’s my suggestion to you? Ditch carbs, but don’t ditch them entirely. Have a cheat day on the weekends so that your body will have that little amount to get you through. Then, and only then, will your body go to your fat storage units. At least you’ll have enough carbs and fats to lean on and you won’t have to resort to protein usage.

You’ll lower your chance for diabetes.

According to medical professionals, processed carbs and added sugars lead to a spike in glucose. This, in turn, results in your body having to produce insulin rather quickly. This quick spike in insulin typically forces your body’s blood sugar to drop, leaving you hungry.

What’s worse is that when you eat carbs on a daily basis, the withdrawal from that particular food group will leave you with horrible symptoms. Some of those symptoms include intense cravings, moods swings, and feeling sluggish; but hey, at least you’ll avoid diabetes!

Now that I’ve stated the good aspects of getting rid of carbohydrates, I’m going to have to state the bad aspects. I’ll start with a semi-good/semi-bad reasoning and then I’ll dive into the parts you won’t like too much.

You may feel more energized, but you also may feel more lethargic.

This always depends on the type of person you are and the amount of fat you have stored in your body. For instance, if you have quite a bit of fat stored in your body and you start on a low-carb or no-carb diet, you’ll feel more energized. If you don’t have a lot of fat to lean on, this may be quite difficult for you, leaving you a tad lethargic at first. It’s even harder for those that are active all the time, considering they need the carbs to fuel their workouts/activities.

If you are very active, but you do want to get rid of your carbohydrate diet, choose healthier carbs to eat. This can consist of lentils, beans, whole grains, and starchy vegetables.

Now, let’s take a look at the negative situations that may arise.

You may need to keep breath mints handy.

When you deplete your body from carbohydrates, you deplete it from ketones. Ketones typically cause your breath to smell good, and without them in your body, your breath will smell more acidic at best.

Headaches may start to occur.

Low-carb diets can potentially dehydrate you, therefore leaving you with a dehydration headache. As stated earlier, carbohydrates tend to attach to water when being stored. This means that if you take carbs away, you take extra water reserves away, too.

This may not happen with all people, but it is likely to happen to some.

You may become constipated.

Low-carb diets may constipate you because of the lack of fiber in your diet. In addition, the lack of extra water in your diet may lead to problems in the back end. So, all in all, if you deplete your body from fiber (due to loss of whole grains) and water (due to loss of fruits/carbohydrates), there will be less mobility in your gastrointestinal tract. This may make it harder for the GI muscles to get their act together to start helping you move your bowels.

On the other side of the spectrum, a low-carb diet may also have you running to the toilet, but that also only comes into play when the other foods you’re taking in are of poor-quality.

You may get a little moody.

The process of breaking down fat and protein takes much longer than the process of breaking down carbohydrates and glucose. And, you won’t be getting the same dopamine rushes with a low-carb diet versus a high-carb diet. All of this will add to your moodiness.

If you decide to get rid of the carbs, I wish you luck!

By Jenny Lyn

It’s commonly known that everyone deals with trauma differently. For example, some people don’t like to talk about their traumatic event while others want to talk about it in order to help others avoid such situations.

Many people believe that PTSD is primarily diagnosed in military workers, police officers, and people who work in the service. However, PTSD can happen to anyone after they have seen or witnessed a traumatic event. That’s why it’s essential that you know the symptoms and types of treatment in case you needed to reach out for help if you or friend were to experience PTSD.

But what are some symptoms of PTSD? Here are some symptoms and treatment types for PTSD:

What is PTSD?

Post-traumatic stress disorder is most commonly defined by witnessing or encountering a traumatic event and not being able to adjust to ordinary life because of that traumatic event. However, through practicing coping strategies and self-care a person with PTSD will be okay. PTSD does not have to be a permanent diagnose, but it depends on the person to do work adequately. If a person relies solely on medical professionals and medication, it’s likely he or she won’t get much better.

Symptoms of PTSD  

The symptoms of PTSD can start as soon as one month after the traumatic event occurred, although in some situations it can take up to one or two years until symptoms begin. Such symptoms are known to cause severe problems in a person’s personal, professional, ad social life. In fact, symptoms of PTSD can also obstruct a person’s capability to do everyday jobs. Most doctors who work with PTSD patients group symptoms into four categories: invasive memories, avoidance, negative thought patterns, and a difference in reaction. However, since people experience trauma differently, it’s likely that some people won’t struggle with all or some of these symptoms.

1. Invasive memories

People who experience invasive memories are likely to struggle with flashbacks of the traumatic event. These flashbacks might provoke emotions about the trauma to stir in your mind. Also, invasive memories come in the form of nightmares and dreams. Some people experience dreams about the traumatic event in vivid detail. However, for some people, the dreams are less detailed but include memories that would like to be forgotten nonetheless.

2. Avoidance 

Many people think that avoiding thinking about a traumatic event will prevent any symptoms from occurring. Although, sadly avoidance is a symptom of PTSD. In fact, if you try to avoid your feelings about a traumatic event, you’re only going to hurt yourself in the long-run. Most people who try to avoid their feelings experience flashbacks or nightmares. Since the body is hurting it needs to release the pent-up emotions somehow, the easiest way is when the body is sleeping since all the body’s defenses are down. If you want to ease your sleeping experience you might want to admit to yourself what is really going on. While that can be challenging, there are many organizations, therapists, and doctors that would want to help.

Another way avoidance can creep into a person’s system is by avoiding people, activities, or places that remind a person of a trauma. Facing those triggers might not be the most natural thing to do. It can bring back painful memories, but it could also take back one’s power and control. Although it’s a choice that everyone decides differently. Some people don’t need to go back to the activities they once loved. Sometimes all a person needs to do is move on, and that’s okay.

3. Negative thought patterns  

Many people who experience PTSD struggle with feelings that they could have done more or that the trauma they experience is their fault, thus leaving them to have a negative thought pattern. Some negative thoughts include hopelessness, feeling emotionally paralyzed, and having a pessimistic worldview. People who experience such negative thoughts are likely to become disconnected from family and friends. Also, many people whom a negative thought pattern detach from their favorite hobbies and become interested in one leisure activity rather than various activities.

4. Difference in reaction

People who experience PTSD are likely to be easily startled or anxious. In fact, some people might find themselves always being alert for potential danger. Due to nightmares or unsettling dreams, some people might have trouble sleeping through the night. Also, people who experience PTSD are likely to struggle with guilt or embarrassment over their situation and how their feeling have changed. Many people believe that these symptoms are unique to them; however, such symptoms are normal when experiencing PTSD. Therefore, you shouldn’t feel shame over your emotions because in time you’ll be able to manage your emotions and reactions better. If you want to learn how to manage your reactions better, you can always seek help by going to counseling sessions, seeing a doctor, or talking to a therapist.

Types of treatment

Treatment is centered on helping a patient recover his or her control over life. There are two types of treatment for PTSD: psychotherapy and medication. However, most doctors who treat PTSD suggest a combination of the two in order to improve symptoms. Some people dislike the idea of talking about their inner-most feelings, although psychotherapy has been proven to be beneficial to treating and preventing future PTSD struggles.

Some of the advantages of psychotherapy include teaching fundamental techniques to assist with symptoms, learning coping mechanisms, and treating related mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. But it’s essential that if the patient is in psychotherapy, then he or she tries to learn such coping techniques and inserts it into their daily life. If a patient doesn’t try to get better, the chances are he or she won’t. Therefore, there are a variety of treatment plans, but the treatment of an individual relies solely on the individual themselves.

PTSD can be challenging to manage as well as to treat; however, if you seek help instead of avoiding the issue, you’ll benefit from modern medicine. Live happy today!

As we all know, there are several illnesses and diseases we are all scared of getting. Cancer, HIV, Ebola, and Pneumonia are just a couple of the better known, but you might be more prone to them than you think.

It turns out, most American men end up taking better care of their car than their own health. Checkups at the doctor start to feel useless, so you start to skip them until you can’t remember the last time you even stepped foot at a doctor’s office. Of course, a weak education of health, a lack of awareness, and unhealthy lifestyles are also to blame. Nevertheless, health should be everyone’s number one priority, and awareness of illnesses and diseases more destructive than a cold or the flu is crucial.

Heart disease

It’s no secret that heart disease leads to serious and fatal consequences. More than one in three men will end up with some form of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association. African-American men total for 100,000 more deaths than Caucasian men, deriving from some form of heart disease. High blood pressure is very common in males who are under the age of 45, which can lead to other extreme complications in the future. The cardiovascular disease itself is known as the number one killer of men, which means you should start to check with your doctor about how at risk you are for heart disease. Routine checkups can keep your heart healthy and catch any problems in the early stages before anything gets too serious and while the complication is still manageable.

Klinefelter Syndrome

Klinefelter Syndrome is a very rare genetic condition that is only seen in males. The vast majority of men are born with only two chromosomes; an X chromosome and a Y chromosome. However, someone who has Klinefelter Syndrome was born with two X Chromosomes and one Y chromosome, which means they have one extra X chromosome. Men with this chromosomal condition have testicles that are smaller than normal, which means males with Klinefelter Syndrome produce less testosterone than the average male. The production of less testosterone means the male will have a smaller penis, possible breast growth, less facial and body hair and a smaller face. Several men with this condition are known not to have the ability to father children, which means most men with Klinefelter Syndrome are sterile.

Most men with this condition don’t notice the symptoms of this condition until puberty. This is because puberty stimulates an increase in testosterone production, and a man with Klinefelter Syndrome would not be able to produce as much testosterone. However, several men still do not notice they have this condition until they are much older. Symptoms of this Syndrome include an increased height, long legs and a short trunk, a lack of energy and somewhat of fatigue, increased belly fat, troubles reading, writing, and communicating, anxiety, depression, and other mental illness, and infertility. However, there are fewer than 200,000 cases of Klinefelter syndrome in the United States per year, which means your chances of being affected by this genetic condition are very slim.

Varicocele

Most people have never heard of a varicocele, but it could impact your life in several different ways. This means you probably want to stay attentive and watch out for any complications regarding this in the future. Varicocele is also known as scrotum varicose veins; a varicocele is the expansion of the veins that are inside of the loose sack of skin which grips your testicles. A varicocele in this sense is similar to a varicocele vein you might see in your leg. Varicoceles are a usual cause of low sperm production, as well as a decrease in the quality of your sperm. Varicoceles can also end up causing your testicles to fail in the normal development process and even shrink. Most varicoceles will usually end up developing over time, and they are also very easy for doctors to diagnose and recognize. Varicoceles can also be repaired surgically.

If you have a varicocele, you may have the following symptoms. People who have a varicocele will experience discomfort that ranges from sharp to dull, and an increase in exertion when related to standing over long periods of time. Varicoceles will worsen over the course of the day, meaning it will start to get more painful. Once you lie down, however, the pain will be relieved. Varicoceles are also known to cause impaired fertility. However, varicoceles rarely ever show symptoms.

Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s disease could also be recognized as Penile Fibrosis. Peyronie’s disease is when fibrous scar tissue starts to develop inside the penis. This causes the penis to be curved during erections, which gives immense pain to the recipient. Some men naturally have some curve to their erection, and if you do this shouldn’t give reason to be worried. You should only start to feel worried if your erection gives you some sort of pain.

Peyronie’s disease could prevent you from having sex and make maintaining an erection very difficult. On peculiar cases, this disease can actually go away on its own, but this almost never occurs. If left untreated, Penile Fibrosis will either become stable or significantly worse. Peyronie’s disease will also cause stress and anxiety to the person who has it. If the caused curvature is too severe, treatment will be needed and given by a doctor. Symptoms of Peyronie’s disease include scar tissue, erection problems, penis shortening, and significant pain.

To be in the clear for all medical problems, you should always go to the doctor and get regularly checked. There are millions of other diseases, illnesses, syndromes, etc. that are at your exposal at any moment. Awareness is very important and should be prioritized, doing research on which diseases and illnesses you’re most likely to get could even save your life. It is very easy to prevent several illnesses that could severely impact your life; Stay cleanly, stay hygienic, watch what you’re putting into your body and get regularly checked by a doctor a couple times a year.

Though social anxiety affects us all, it has more impact on some than others. And for those who strongly feel its effects, it can be difficult to build relationships and to feel that they are truly doing for themselves everything that they can. This is a difficult situation, but fortunately, there are ways through social anxiety. Keep reading for several strategies that may help you overcome social anxiety and shyness.

Contribute

Tell that person you walk past every day that you like that flower in her hair or tell your friend’s bay mate down the hall that the poster hanging near his desk is actually really funny. If a thought strikes you when you’re near people, you’re not comfortable with yet, and it’s unlikely to offend anyone, share it with a smile.

Often, we can persuade ourselves that the coldness we feel from our neighbors stems from their dislike of us when in reality it is a result of unfamiliarity. These neighbors are usually more similar to us than we realize, so remember that they may feel the same inhibition you are trying to overcome. Always remember that the key is to keep it positive and authentic.

Remember that not everyone will like you, and that’s okay

Even those who are well-liked harbor resentment for being so well liked. Social success and feelings of acceptance into a group rely not only on the cultivation of social skills but also on each person’s quest to find the right people. Though there are billions of individuals in the world, there are probably only millions who would build mutually fulfilling relationships with a given individual– But that’s good news because there are millions of people out there for any given person.

It is also important to remember when meeting new people that whether you like these new people is just as important as the inverse. Additionally, those who are popular might not be to your taste. You can’t choose whether people will like you, but you can choose whether to stick it out and hope their minds will suddenly change, or to keep searching for people who will genuinely connect with you. One of the finest ways to connect with new people is to meet the friends of people you are already close with, as they will be more likely to share some of your values.

Brush up on social skills

Sometimes if we put others off, those we interact with will drift off rather than telling us about it. While this approach avoids confrontation, it is not particularly helpful. But thankfully, the modern sufferer of social anxiety has a wealth of resources at his fingertips via the Internet. Avoid macho or pickup-style dating advice, which often only serves to alienate women, and search instead for more generalized advice regarding relationship building and personal pleasantness.

These resources may illustrate, for example, that negativity tends to drain others’ energy and drive them away, while moderate positivity tends to do the opposite. Reading up on social skills, as silly as it may sound, can provide you with the tools you need to feel more secure and prepared when confronted with uncomfortable social situations.

Relationships cannot be forced (Not the good ones, anyway)

It is a common pitfall when venturing into social situations, to want everything to happen right now. The issue with this is that relationships take time. If someone walks into a social situation, layers everyone with compliments up to their eyes, and then ask for contact information, people will not trust that person. In other words, they can see through flattery. Building up connections verbally to be more than they are right away turns them off. Instead, have short conversations with a variety of people, remembering the social skills that will objectively make you more compelling, and only return to those with whom you felt a connection.

Listen more than you talk

Sometimes we forget to listen for connection because we are so busy thinking of what to say next. We panic, and this leads us to stutter, to spit out inappropriate or awkward sentiments, and to douse any connection that may have been kindling. Luckily for you, people love to talk about themselves. This means that all you have to do in a majority of situations is smile an appropriate amount, make momentary eye contact, and ask questions.

Avoid creepy questions, including questions about where someone lives, physical appearance, potential insecurities, and overly personal matters, focusing instead on topics that make your conversation partner’s eyes light up. Ask them what they do for fun, how they got into that activity if they’ve seen anything good on Netflix lately. Build from there. If you receive only one-word answers, even when asking follow-up questions, it may be time to seek a connection elsewhere.

Nature

One of the most underrated cures for feelings of being lost or without a safety net is returning to nature, according to Ayurvedic tradition, Enneagram guides for type 6, and a host of other resources. The realization that humans came from nature are surrounded by it, and will eventually return to it, helps put things into context. In order to diffuse some anxiety, take a walk, look at the trees, listen to the birds, and stop to appreciate the flowers. Doing this before approaching situations that cause anxiety can help ensure a sense of groundedness. What’s more, nature will never judge you.

Pretend to feel confident

Or in other words, fake it until you make it, as cliché as that sounds. Studies show that intentionally smiling more often can instigate greater levels of happiness, even if this order is the opposite of what we might expect. Furthermore, no one will be able to practice making social connections and overcoming the inhibitions of shyness if he purposely avoids every opportunity to do so.

Go to your friend’s party, even if you won’t know most of the people there and ask people about themselves. Smile and look people in the eye even if you would rather slump and stare at the floor. Relationships, romantic or otherwise, will not fall into your lap as you watch Netflix.

Becoming a father is one of the best things that can happen in a man’s life. Everyone has different approaches on how to raise their children and not let them down. No two fathers are ever the same, but there are a couple of qualities that make them look like a hero in the children’s eyes. Keep reading for the qualities that showed up most often as “great dad” worthy.

Respect and Cool-Headedness

A great dad can listen well, without judgment of what’s going on in their kid’s life. According to the research of neuropsychologist L. Brizendine, there are differences in how men and women react to news of another’s struggle. Women hearing of a friend’s problem most often experience a flare-up of activity in the mirror neurons at the front of the brain, experiencing what it may be like to be in that friend’s position and thus empathizing. Studies of men’s brains, by contrast, demonstrate that the mirror neurons light up for a fraction of a second, and then the information travels straight to the temporal-parietal junction, at the side of the head. The temporal-parietal junction is a problem-solving center and is the part of the brain that prompts you to say when confronted with someone else’s struggle.

This response is natural, so natural that women often complain about it. Combined with the energized desire to protect offspring, however, it can make children feel like they are more judged than supported. Rather than jumping immediately to criticism, even if it feels constructive, take several minutes to empathize and acknowledge your kid’s feelings. It can go a long way toward making that kid feel respected, which in turn means more respect for you.

Respect of Boundaries

A great dad can offer advice on where boundaries are respected, and the kid can apply it. This one is tricky but incredibly important. It toes the distinction between guiding children in a direction you feel is safe and allowing them to learn from their own growing sense of confidence and autonomy. Children are, after all, their own people, and this process of self-formation accelerates into the teenage years. Don’t try to force your children into doing something they don’t want to do. Advice that respects boundaries takes into account that children ultimately make their own decisions, and they define their own values as they learn and grow. More often than not, some of these values will differ from yours. The best advice, this contributor believes, is advice that children can use to help form (but not define or consume) their expanding worldview.

Be Present

Times have changed since the fifties when men were all expected to be breadwinners for their families. All children need a male role model to look up to. Most girls look to their fathers to see how they should be treated and what to expect of the man they date and marry. Young men admire their fathers and grow up to be just like them. They look for their father to lead them and teach them how to be a man. Though many men still feel that this is a guiding aspect of their own masculinity, expectations of what they should bring to their families has become more multifaceted with time. This means a good dad not only helps the people he loves put food on the table and pay the bills but also takes an active role in understanding who his children are as people and what motivates them.

Emotional Supportiveness

Never underestimate the value of parental support in a child’s life, even when that child’s goals seem far-fetched. You want to avoid the possibility of your son or daughter to go outside of the family to find someone to listen to them and comfort them. Everyone doesn’t have your child’s best interest at heart. Sometimes this means encouraging whatever that dream is, while also providing knowledge of the skills necessary for that child to take care of themselves if and when they start floundering. After all, nothing says “I love you, son” more than a thinly veiled sentiment of “Your dreams are invalid, and I don’t believe you can accomplish them, anyway.” Prepare kids with the skills they will need to navigate the wide world, but never stop supporting them– You don’t want to live on in their memories as the person who extinguished their light.

Feminism

A great dad is a feminist, but toxic masculinity still exists. When a family has both sons and daughters, and each is treated differently, the kids notice. Often times this manifests unintentionally as a dad’s preference to play sports with his son, a desire to be a positive male role model to that son, and the reality that it is often easier to connect with children of the same gender. Where this becomes an issue is a way this makes daughters feel. Having moved past the era of dowries and legislation designating daughters as property, those daughters want to feel like their parents connect with who they are as people. Even if it is sometimes more difficult to find something to bond over with your daughter, putting in that effort will keep her from feeling like an accessory.

Show you value her for her opinions, her decisions, her accomplishments, and whom she is becoming as a person. Invest time in her and give her the advice you think will best help her grow. Listen to her ideas, learn from each other, and grow together. Don’t look back in twenty years and realize that you were emotionally unavailable, you didn’t take the time to appreciate and help cultivate her personal potential, or that you don’t know her opinions on anything. Do something to work on this not tomorrow, but today.