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15 Ways to Use Anxiety to Make a Life Transformation

September 1, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Some people have anxiety disorders, while others only experience occasional anxious feelings. Either way, the feelings aren’t enjoyable and can be debilitating. If daily life tasks make you feel anxious, it’s time to use your experience to make a life transformation.

Anxiety is a natural human reaction. It can motivate you to do your best and to try new things. However, if you let it, it can hold you back and prevent progress.

Knowing how to use your stress can help you make positive changes in your life and find fulfillment. You can use your feelings as a way to reach your goals and find success. Plus, you can use it for other beneficial aspects of your life.

Research shows that hardship and adversity can improve your psychological health. When you experience anxious feelings, you can use them to your advantage. It can help you grow while pushing you out of your comfort zone.

How to Use Anxiety to Make a Life Transformation

You don’t have to let anxious feelings get the best of you. Knowing the ways that these feelings can help you is beneficial. It’ll help you shift your mindset, seeing anxious feelings for the benefit they can be.

1 – Write About Your Anxious Feelings

Writing in your journal can help you shift your thinking. It can help you focus on gratitude, positivity, and self-care. Anytime you experience anxious feelings, open your journal and get started.

Journaling helps you develop a deeper understanding of your situation. It can help you identify your triggers and find healthy ways to deal with them.

If you aren’t sure where to start with your writing, write the first thing that comes to mind. Build on that first line, and eventually, your feelings will start to come out.

When you write about your anxious feelings, it helps you develop a positive mindset. The mindset will help you through all life experiences, not just this one.

2 – Think of Anxiety as a Positive Resource

How you think about your situation plays a role in how it affects you. If you think of it as a positive resource, you’ll likely use it to your advantage.

When you think of it as a benefit, it’ll help you get further. However, it will hold you back if you think of it as a hardship. Remember that it’s all about how you look at the worry.

3 – Use the Transformation as a Reason to Be Creative

Sometimes the best time to tap into your creative side is when you feel stressed. If your stress worsens, sit down and take some time to do something creative. Doing something creative helps you refocus your anxious energy and do something useful.

4 – Learn to Focus on Alternate Thinking

Anxious thoughts can lead to you focusing on negativity. Rather than giving in to that, try to focus on alternate thoughts. Your problems don’t have only one answer, so don’t assume there’s only one right way.

You might have many thoughts running through your head. Focus on the most prevalent ones that frequently steal your attention. Use these thoughts and turn them into a positive alternative.

One way to reframe your feelings is to push away anxious thoughts. Replace those thoughts with excitement, instead. Studies show that reframing to excitement can help you forget potential threats and become more productive.

5 – Remember That You Won’t Lose Yourself

You might feel like these feelings can make you lose yourself. However, remembering that you won’t lose who you are can help you use it as a life transformation. Identify the areas of your life that need work, and rest assured that you’re still yourself no matter what.

6 – Use Affirmations to Make a Transformation

Affirmations can help you refocus your thoughts and find the positive in your life. They also prevent you from thinking of the worst-case scenario. When negativity threatens to take over, try using some affirmations to refocus.

Affirmations can help you improve areas of your life. Using them for anxious thoughts can help you make a life transformation as you focus on positivity more often.

7 – It Can Remind You to Never Lose Hope

Even at your most anxious, look for the good all around you. It is a reminder that there is hope even in a dark time.

If you’re afraid, take a leap of faith. It’ll help you see that there’s so much out there to ensure you get through.

8 – Anxiety Can Boost Healthy Competition

When you have anxious feelings, it can give you a competitive edge. You’ll want to beat those around you to prove that you can do it. If your feelings push you toward success, you’re already using them to your advantage.

9 – Schedule a Time for Anxious Thoughts

Scheduling time to worry can help you push negativity out of the rest of your life. While you might initially do it to reduce anxious feelings, you’ll likely continue to use that time.

It helps you set aside time to process your thoughts and think of a solution. This habit lets you focus on the task at hand, knowing that your time for worrying will come each day.

10 – Remember That People are More Important than Anything Else

When your anxious thoughts get the best of you, think of the people you care about the most. All the little material possessions in the world won’t mean as much as the supportive people in your life. Your anxious feelings can help you refocus on these people because they help you feel better.

11. Learn How to Center Yourself During a Time of Transformation

One way to use your worrisome thought to make a life transformation is to practice centering. It’s a seven-step process that helps you focus and quiet your mind. If you want to start learning to center yourself, follow these steps:

Choose a focal point below eye level.
Set an intention or goal for what you plan on doing. It could be a work task, art project, or anything else that shifts your focus.
Practice mindful breathing to calm your body and deactivate your stress response.
Scan your body to check for tension. If you notice tension, release it by tightening and releasing those muscles.
Find your center by looking for the area where most of your energy rests. It can help you feel calm, self-assured, and grounded.
Visualize yourself reaching your goal. Think of what it would feel, look, and smell like.
Direct your energy by using your anxious feelings as inspiration for taking steps toward your goal.

12. Anxiety Can Help Show How Much You Care

You wouldn’t be so worried about something if you didn’t care. Rather than letting that worry interfere with your happiness, use it as a transformation tool. Put your energy into doing something related to your worry that will show you feel this way because you care deeply.

13. When You’re Anxious, Put Your Energy into Doing Something Productive

Anxious feelings can be debilitating, but they don’t have to be. Use your worries to do something worthwhile and productive. You can either use your energy to stress or do something about it.

Being stressed or anxious doesn’t mean you can’t accomplish anything. Instead, it means you’ll use your thoughts and anxious feelings to progress and move forward.

Anxious feelings can give you determination and motivation to make things happen. It can also help you think more creatively, looking for other solutions that you wouldn’t have thought of before.

14. Use it to Acknowledge How You Feel

If you feel anxious, there’s a reason for it. Take the time to reflect and determine why you’re worried and how you feel. If you try to suppress the anxious feelings, you’ll never identify the underlying cause.

When you know why you feel anxious, you can do something about it. It also helps you distinguish between productive and unproductive worry.

15. Allow the Discomfort of Transformation to Force You to Focus

Anxious feelings are uncomfortable, but that’s not always a bad thing. When you acknowledge and process how you feel, it forces you to focus on your worries. Productive worries are the ones you can do something about, so it’s usually a good thing.

You can use your anxious energy to get closer to your goals. When you’re overly worried about something, you won’t be able to focus on anything else. It could be a bad thing, but make sure you’re focusing on your goals, and it’ll all work out.

Final Thoughts on Ways to Use Anxiety to Make a Life Transformation

Anxiety isn’t always easy to deal with, but you can use it to transform life. It might seem like a struggle, but shifting your mindset can make all the difference. Rather than letting it control your life, use it to your benefit.

You’ll notice a quick improvement if you know how to use anxious feelings to promote life transformation. It helps you focus on the essential aspects of your life while maintaining a positive mindset despite the worry.

15 Behaviors of Someone With Adjustment Disorder

September 1, 2022 by Deborah Tayloe

How do you know if your stress reactions are typical or if you have an adjustment disorder? Do you cope well with change, or does any alteration in your life wreak havoc on your emotions? Recognizing the symptoms of this condition (aka stress response syndrome) is the first step to understanding adjustment disorders and getting help.

The primordial world of the earliest humans was quite different from today’s civilization. A vast expanse of different environments required these beings to adapt for survival. They faced incredible dangers from wild animals and natural hazards.

Fortunately, their evolving brains developed an automatic survival instinct. When they perceived a threat, their brains sent signals to their endocrine system to dump hormones into the bloodstream. Cortisol and adrenaline supply temporary strength for them to fight or take flight.

This automatic survival instinct still works in people today. However, your brain sees stress as a threat, and you can be stuck in survival mode. According to an article by The Mayo Clinic, chronic stress can negatively affect your mind and body.

Understanding Adjustment Disorder (Stress Response Syndrome)

Another reason your survival instinct may be overloaded is if you have adjustment disorder or stress response syndrome. An article published by the Cleveland Clinic explains how it’s an excessive reaction to a stressful or traumatic event. Ironically, either positive or negative changes can cause this overreaction.

It’s usually a temporary condition caused by extreme stress. The stressors can be singular, or they can be a series of several events. It affects approximately two to eight percent of the population.

15 Behavioral Signs of Adjustment Disorder or Stress Response Syndrome

Has anyone ever told you that you overreact? Perhaps you can remember a significant event that triggered this condition. These are the fifteen primary behaviors someone with adjustment disorder (stress response syndrome) often displays.

1. Someone With an Adjustment Disorder Has a Strong Resistance to Change

Nobody likes change, and most people will often try to avoid it. Fear of the unknown and loss of control often contribute to resisting growth. Those with adequate coping skills learn to adapt and accept life changes.

However, people with stress response syndrome often have a heightened resistance. You feel safe and comfortable within the perimeters of the status quo. The slightest rift in your routine can create profound anxiety and emotional turmoil.

2. They Try Their Best to Live in The Past

Have you ever met someone whose body is present, but their mind and lives are hostages of the past? Even when their history is tainted with disappointment, failure, or trauma, they idealize it. When you have an adjustment disorder, you may avoid present issues by hiding in the shadows of the past.

Many people find the present too hard to handle, so their minds seem to revert to the past for comfort. Hiding from your current situation is no more helpful than an ostrich hiding its head in the sand. Your reflections on the past may temporarily dull the stress, but they will never go away.

3. A Person With an Adjustment Disorder Always Fears the Worst-Case Scenario

People who overreact to change often tend to be pessimistic. Rather than hoping for the best, you may assume the worst-case scenario. If you have positive results, you’ll be presently surprised. Accepting adverse outcomes makes you think you’re saving yourself from shock and disappointment.

4. They Often Revise and Distort Past Memories

Listen to yourself when you recall events from the past. Are you a reliable self-historian, or do you revise your memories to improve them? If you experienced trauma, you might have developed a disorder that resists change.

This stress response syndrome may also lead to blocking or erasing unpleasant memories. Instead, you give a fictionalized account that’s all sunshine and roses, so you don’t have to admit the truth. This condition may stand in your way of healing from past traumas.

5. They Struggle with Irrational Fears

When you’ve experienced a traumatic event and barely survived, it’s understandable that you’d cope with fear later in life. Irrational fears or phobias are also common symptoms of adjustment disorder. The minor fights may cause you to overreact and go into panic mode.

6. Someone With an Adjustment Disorder Can Be Recklessly Impulsive

Stress response syndrome often presents with many symptoms that overcompensate for safety. However, the stress may cause you to be more impulsive than usual. You may develop impulsive behaviors and substance abuse problems that you never had in the past.

7. Stress Response Syndrome Also Causes Emotional Instability

Perhaps you’ve noticed that you have difficulty sorting out your emotions. Your feelings will be scattered across the board if you struggle with adjustment disorder issues. The overreaction to stress may cause an assortment of fear, anger, and extreme depression.

8. They May Become Socially Isolated

People who don’t cope well with stress often feel safer when they’re alone. Something is comforting about staying in your familiar surroundings. Nobody can judge you or do anything that would make you feel uncomfortable.

Such thinking can cause you to isolate yourself from close family and friends. Soon, you may develop agoraphobia and can’t walk outside your home without extreme fear. Social isolation magnifies fear, depression, and anxiety.

9. They Notice More Aches, Pains, and Health Issues

The human body’s survival instinct was only meant to be a temporary reaction and not perpetual. The stress hormones meant to energize temporarily can be a health hazard when they’re constantly in your bloodstream. It can lead to hypertension, diabetes, kidney disorders, mental illness, and even premature death.

You can be stuck in this mode if you must deal with changes and an adjustment disorder. You may notice chronic aches, pains, and other health issues you’ve never had before. It’s a red flag that your body is sending you that it needs help.

10. Someone With an Adjustment Disorder Wants to Be the Center of Attention

Overreacting to stress and change may lower your self-worth and self-esteem. To compensate for your depleted self-image, you may try to draw attention. Maybe you crave someone to listen to you and empathize with your exhausted emotions.

Unfortunately, some folks may see this behavior as narcissistic or self-absorbed. They don’t know that stress response syndrome makes stress and change difficult for you. This may be one of the reasons you may begin to isolate yourself.

11. They Have Difficulties Creating and Maintaining Relationships

Most people can admit that relationships take more than just love. It requires a lot of work, patience, understanding, and compromise. Stress and arguments are a given for even the most loving relationships.

Since adjustment disorder compels you to avoid stress at all costs, you may not have a lot of meaningful relationships. You might also have a history of broken personal and professional interactions. You may tend to overreact to every situation, which may be too much for most folks.

12. They Have Low Energy Levels

It takes a copious amount of energy to stay in a perpetual state of stress. No wonder you may feel exhausted no matter how much you sleep. You may be in a brain fog that can hinder you at home and work.

Instead of going out and having a good time, you prefer to stay home and take a long nap. Just the thoughts of a new adventure may exhaust you. The fear of missing out makes you depressed, and your energy levels plunge even more.

13. Stress Response Syndrome Often Causes Perfectionism

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everything was perfect and stayed the same? This is an unrealistic mindset that isn’t based on reality, and it can lead to negative consequences. However, people with an adjustment disorder are often perfectionists who refuse to do anything without making mistakes.

14. These Symptoms Connect to Life’s Usual Stressors

Maybe you’ve recognized stressors that cause your disorder to activate. These are called triggers, and you may go out of your way to avoid them. For example, maybe being in a noisy crowd reminds you of a traumatic argument in your past.

Most people with this condition can often remember the event that brought the symptoms. You’ll try to avoid repeating the situation or any remotely similar triggers. You may even plan your entire day or happy occasions around stress avoidance.

15. They Have Self-Sabotaging Behaviors

One of the most unfortunate symptoms of stress response syndrome is that you may sabotage your happiness. Rather than face the stresses of a relationship, you’ll break up to stay calm. These symptoms may also rob you of chances to advance your career or realize your life-long dreams.

Final Thoughts on Symptoms of Adjustment Disorder

Do any of these symptoms seem painfully familiar to you? The good news is that you needn’t stay in the grasp of this debilitating disorder. Life is ever-changing, and you must embrace mindful living. That way, you don’t miss even one of the adventures waiting for you.

12 Ways to Show Love for a Dying Loved One

September 1, 2022 by Deborah Tayloe

Showing compassion to someone who is dying is the greatest act of kindness. Life starts with birth and ends with death, a journey each person must face. Death is feared and thought of as scary by many people, but it’s something that’s just a part of life as breathing each day.

Death and dying are challenging to face, no matter who you are in this world. Your age, socioeconomics, or where you live don’t matter. Everyone will face the same fate one day, so showing love for those going through this time is the least you can do.

Twelve Ways to Let a Dying Loved One Know You Care

Since death is difficult to deal with, many folks feel lost and helpless when someone they love is soon to pass. Showing compassion comes easier to some than it does to others, but you don’t want to have any regrets.

This is your last chance to show this person how you feel. If you have a fear of death, it’s something you need to get over to help. Here are some ways to show your love and compassion to someone dying who means so much to you.

1. Be There for Your Dying Loved One With a Heart Full of Compassion

People don’t always need rooms full of flowers or gifts as much as they need to know you’re there for them. Sitting by their bed, holding their hand, and reminiscing about life can be helpful.

Your presence can be quite healing to a heart overcome with sickness or fear. Sometimes people need to know what they mean to you, and the best way to show it is by just being there for them. They may have some good advice to help you, so these sessions are precious.

2. Assist Them with End-of-Life Decisions

Though it’s not a topic you want to discuss, making end-of-life preparations is part of the dying process. You want to ensure that you honor your loved one’s wishes in every aspect of the service. It’s becoming commonplace for people to be cremated and have a celebration of life or no service at all. You want to ensure you know what they want verbatim so that you can honor them.

3. Decide The Care in Their Dying Days

Many things must be considered when someone is dying. You want to preserve their dignity throughout this end-of-life process. It is essential to allow them to have some decision-making powers while they still can.

Some folks want to die in the comforts of their home, while others will need hospice houses or some other special care. Together, you can help them to decide what’s best.

4. Make Sure to Have a Will and Medical Directives

Having a will is essential to anyone who has any assets. Additionally, they will need to have their medical directives in place. The DNR or do not resuscitate order is something that many people feel passionately about in their passing.

Most people don’t want to be kept alive by machinery if they can go to the beyond in peace. Help them get a will in place and their directives if they don’t already have one, as this will help the family honor their wishes.

While it’s best to have an attorney do these legal documents, you can do them on their behalf. They must be able to sign them before witnesses or a notary. Each state has different laws regarding this process, so it’s best to check with these laws to thwart any issues later.

5. Keep Them Updated on Their Medical Care or Prognosis

Showing compassion for someone dying doesn’t mean keeping them in the dark. No matter how grim the news, they might want to know everything. However, you should respect their wishes if they ask you to handle things and want to be oblivious.

However, sometimes they can’t advocate for themselves and need your help. The patient knows how bad they feel on the inside, so keeping things from them doesn’t benefit anyone.

6. Help With Their Final Needs Before Dying

Sadly, people get sick and die every day, but these folks still have things that need to be taken care of. Many have bills to pay, a household to run, and other obligations. Helping to care for some of these pressing matters can relieve the stress of someone dying.

If they’re sick and need to focus on rest, having that extra hand will certainly help. There will come a day when they won’t be able to do these things at all, so you need to help them plan for that phase too.

7. Get a Music Thanatologist Involved

Music can be very calming and healing to the heart and soul. However, many studies show it can be beneficial in dying. It falls under the category of palliative care, and it’s been used more around the country to make passing peacefully in recent years.

According to Thanatology Association International, using a harp and a gentle voice helps with emotional and spiritual needs during death. There’s usually a great deal of anxiety during this process, too, so it helps to ensure that the person is calm as they pass. Giving grace and comfort to someone’s end-of-life journey is one of the best things you can do.

8. Ask a Chaplin or Pastor to Visit

If the person passing is strong in their faith, they may welcome a visit from a spiritual adviser. Some people want their last rites, while others wish for a simple prayer for their journey. Most hospice programs incorporate spiritual care alongside other services, and many find it beneficial.

9. Consider a Death Doula

While death doula may seem like a new term, these folks are becoming more popular nationwide. This person is responsible for helping the dying person to relax as they cross over to the other side. According to an article published in USA Today, a death doula is a person who stays with the family before and after the death.

The doula sits with the patient and holds their hand. They can use massage or other techniques to help calm the nerves. The goal is to transition them from this life to the next without issue.

They can help with legacy projects the patient wishes to leave behind for the family and ensure their wishes are met. They’re an adjunct part of hospice, as this person provides emotional, spiritual, and physical support during this critical time.

10. Stay in Communication

While you have a job and busy life that you must manage, you know that sitting by their side 24×7 isn’t always possible. Some battles with a person’s health are long and drawn out, so you want to save time off when they need you the most. Thankfully, most people have cell phones and can receive calls and texts to stay in communication with you.

Letting them know you’re with them in spirit, even though not in the flesh, can be helpful. It’s a long, hard road when you know you’re nearing the end, and there are many frightening things they experience and feel during these times. Having you beside them, even by a call or text, will make the process easier.

11. Bring a Gift

Some people love cards, while others prefer flowers. Please do whatever you can to make their room bright and cheery. While there’s nothing joyful about dying, having at least a pleasant atmosphere during the last days of their life is helpful.

12. Help Keep a Dying Person’s Mind Busy

Does this person like to play cards, look at old photos, or watch television? Help them to keep their mind busy with these little things. They will appreciate the compassion you’re showing them and the time you spend together, but it’s a long day when there’s not much to do.

Someone dying doesn’t feel like going to the store but may enjoy sitting outside in the sunshine. Make sure to have plenty for them to do so their mind can focus on something other than their health. Do they have one final wish? Maybe getting that wish granted will give them something to look forward to.

Final Thoughts on Showing Compassion to a Dying Loved One

Why is death so hard? It doesn’t matter how often you’ve been through it with other folks, as the journey never gets any easier. When your loved one’s life hangs in the balance, it can shake you to the core. However, there are some things that you can do to show them compassion and let them know how much you care.

You don’t want them to leave this world with you having any regrets, so you must do as much for them as possible. You will look back on these days with fond memories that you got to share the final hours of their life. Dying will never get more accessible, but being there for someone you love and care about is the least you can do.

11 Habits to Help Recover from a Toxic Relationship

August 31, 2022 by Sarah Barkley

Being in a toxic relationship is detrimental to your well-being, and the effects can be long-lasting. Leaving a toxic relationship is a brave step. Now, you deserve to heal, find peace, and restore your self-respect.

These relationships don’t always start toxic, but they wreak havoc on your life and mindset. The behaviors increase gradually over time, and it can be hard to identify if you were in an unhealthy relationship. It was likely toxic if you still have lasting psychological effects from a previous relationship.

Recovering from a toxic relationship can be difficult. The feelings and psychological issues can last even years after the relationship ends. Healing from the situation is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Be patient with yourself during the healing process because it takes time. You can make it happen with persistence and support.

What a Toxic Relationship Looks Like

Unhealthy relationships are unique, so they don’t always look the same. However, there are some indicators of toxicity, including:

infidelity
mental, physical, financial, or emotional abuse
perpetual discontentment in the relationship
lack of communication
constant tension or arguing
not fixing conflict
feeling invalidated or uncertain
constant stress
feeling drained
isolation
resentment
being undermined
constant put-downs

Why It’s Important to Heal from a Toxic Relationship

Healing from a toxic relationship is essential to moving on. You might struggle to find love again if you’re harboring the effects of the past.

When you trust someone enough to be in a relationship, being hurt or betrayed is heartbreaking. It’ll make you want to hide from future relationships so that it doesn’t happen again.

Healing from your past experiences can help you move forward. You can learn to love yourself again and find a beneficial relationship.

A toxic relationship can cause you to lose your sense of self-respect. Without it, you might engage in unhealthy behaviors and live in a state of negativity.

How to Recover from a Toxic Relationship and Regain Self-Respect

Try these habits to find your way back to happiness–or at least increase self-love and self-respect.

1 – Don’t Contact Your Ex

After your relationship ends, it might be tempting to want to reach out to your ex. Doing so is detrimental and can make many negative feelings and behaviors return. It’s best to go no-contact and know that you do not need to stay friends with them.

Some tips for going no-contact include:

unfriending or unfollowing them on social media
not answering calls from them
deleting their phone number
not responding to their messages
avoiding contact with their friends or family

Some situations, like having a child or a professional relationship, make no contact impossible. If that’s the case for you, it requires limiting your contact and setting boundaries. This situation allows you to be calm around them, and they won’t have the chance to cause further harm.

2 – Don’t Blame Yourself for the Toxic Relationship

You are not the reason your ex mistreated you. Your ex’s actions are their responsibility, and there’s nothing you could have done differently.

You can’t even blame yourself for getting in the relationship because abusers don’t often show their true identity until later. When you blame yourself, it can cause feelings of regret and self-doubt.

If you struggle with blaming yourself, it’s time to practice forgiveness. When you start thinking you were at fault, shift your thoughts and remember why you left your ex. You didn’t do anything to deserve a bad situation, so don’t waste your time and energy beating yourself up.

3 – Take Time to Get to Know Yourself Again

A toxic relationship can take a toll on how you feel about yourself. You might give up on your hobbies and passions. Now that you’re out of the relationship, you can heal by getting to know yourself again.

Take the time to rediscover who you are. As you do things you used to enjoy, take time to remember why you liked those activities. Prioritize your happiness and identify what you love about life.

4 – Be Patient After a Toxic Relationship and Give Yourself Some Grace

Healing from a toxic relationship isn’t easy, and it takes time. Your healing journey will be different than other people’s experiences, so be patient as you work through the issues.

Take as much time as you need to process and heal, and be kind to yourself. Some days will be more complicated than others. So give yourself some grace for setbacks.

Don’t judge yourself, and practice positive self-thoughts. You deserve self-compassion during this process. One way to do this is to treat yourself how you’d treat a friend or loved one in your situation. It helps you forgive yourself as you realize all that matters now is healing.

5 – Let Yourself Feel Your Emotions

It’s tempting to suppress your emotions when you end a toxic relationship. However, allowing yourself to feel and experience the emotions is beneficial. Letting your feelings out can help speed up the healing process, but you must give yourself the space and time to do it.

6 – Talk to a Professional About the Toxic Relationship

Going through a toxic relationship takes a toll in many ways. You can try to get through it alone, but seeking professional help can make a difference. Some survivors experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and it causes long-lasting trust issues.

Talking to a mental health professional can help you process and work through what happened. They’ll help you understand that it wasn’t your fault. Plus, they’ll help you work through anger, grief, and other emotions.

7 – Reframe Your Thoughts About the Toxic Relationship

Negativity will hold you back and prevent the healing process. When you can reframe negative thoughts, it helps rewire your brain and shift your thinking patterns. You’ll begin looking at your experience in a new way, making it beneficial moving forward.

Think of the things you learned or where that relationship led you. There are many ways to reframe, so make it work for you.

8 – Focus on Self-Care (the ultimate form of self-respect)

Taking care of yourself is essential during the healing process. Toxicity harms your emotional and physical well-being, and you must recover from it. Take the time to focus on your health and doing things you want to do.

Some ideas include:

reading a book
taking a hot bath
buying yourself something you’ve been wanting
cook your favorite meal
binge watch your favorite show
bake something
connect with nature
get plenty of sleep
spend time alone
implement an exercise routine
eat nutritious foods
practice mindfulness meditation

There’s no wrong way to practice self-care. You’re on the right track as long as you focus on yourself and prioritize your needs, wants, and self-respect.

9 – Process Your Experiences

Recognizing and processing what you went through is essential to the healing process. Take note of what you went through, considering what you won’t tolerate in the future.

You might not want to share your experience with others, but don’t be afraid to admit what you went through. Sometimes all you can do is acknowledge it to yourself.

Write about it in your journal, or share it with your therapist if you’re comfortable. When you admit what you went through, it allows you to process your experiences.

Part of processing your experiences requires asking yourself some hard questions. Consider what you missed at the beginning that allowed this person to become such a big part of your life. You should also ask yourself what you can do differently to prevent it in the future.

Give yourself time before determining the answers to your questions. As you reflect, don’t beat yourself or blame yourself for what happened. Instead, process your situation without judgment.

10 – Don’t Look to a Toxic Relationship Partner for Closure

You might want closure, but it likely won’t do you any good. Plus, you can’t often get a toxic person to apologize or admit fault in any situation. If closure requires an apology, don’t look for it. Imploring them for help will only further lessen your self-respect.

Waiting around for something that won’t happen can be exhausting and prevent you from moving on. Let go of your desire for closure and focus on taking care of yourself instead.

There are ways you can find closure on your own. One way is to write a letter to the toxic person but never send it.

Tell them everything you want to say, and make it clear how they made you feel. It could give you a feeling of closure if you view the letter as a way of saying goodbye. When you finish, shred the letter and take a deep breath.

11 – Make New Memories

If you and your ex went somewhere together, you might be reluctant to revisit it. The bad memories may prevent you from doing things you’d participate in otherwise.

Push through the complex feelings and get out there and make new memories. When you replace your negative memories with good ones, you’ll learn to love places and experiences that your ex made you dislike in the past.

Even if there are no locations that you avoid, you can still make new memories. Accept experiences and opportunities to try new things. It can help you replace the negativity in your mind with excitement and adventure.

Final Thoughts on Habits to Help Recover from a Toxic Relationship

Recovering from a toxic relationship takes time and patience. The process is worth it because it helps you move forward without harboring negativity and restores your self-respect. Use these habits to help you recover, and you’ll notice an improvement in your life. You might experience setbacks, but with these tips, you’ll be on your way to recovering from a toxic relationship.

10 Ways to Have an Entrepreneurial Mindset

August 31, 2022 by Deborah Tayloe

Have you always felt an entrepreneurial drive to start your own small business? If not for the dreamers and motivated people throughout history, the world might have remained in the Stone Age. Creating a successful company isn’t just about luck; it often involves choosing the right opportunities, such as exploring franchise businesses on the market that align with your goals and passions. To ensure a smooth and compliant business setup, consider using the best llc service texas has to offer. With the right mindset and resources, you can turn your entrepreneurial vision into reality.

From Dreaming to Reality

How often have you put your aspirations on hold because you believe success is only for specific folks? What happens if you think that only wealthy, beautiful, and perfect people realize the businesses of their dreams? If you believe these falsehoods, you’re only hurting yourself.

The first step to starting your own business is to realize that you can do anything you set your mind to achieve. There’s no other person in the Universe like you. Your dreams may be similar to those of others, but you bring your style and talents to the table. Even an old sign for sale can be an effective marketing strategy, drawing on nostalgia and authenticity to connect with your audience. Its weathered charm and history evoke a sense of trust and sentimental value, making it a memorable and impactful element in your brand’s story.

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Another obstacle to success is the misunderstanding about needing money to make money. Yes, you often need to raise capital or make investments for your business to work. However, it costs you nothing to believe in yourself enough to start the process.

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Don’t expect anyone else to believe in you if you aren’t entirely sold on your products or services. Maybe you’ve told yourself that the research and work will take too long and you’re too old. Ask yourself. How old will you be if you don’t reach for the stars now?

The Ten Habits of Entrepreneurial Successes

Do you want to bring your dreams of starting your own small business to fruition? Why not start thinking like those who have already accomplished this goal? Try adopting these ten habits of successful business owners into your daily mindset.

1. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Will Set Clear Goals

Entrepreneurial success is a life-long journey. Let’s say you want to go on vacation and pack all your bags for the trip. If you just hop in your car and start driving, you’ll end up lost in the middle of nowhere.

However, you have the good sense to know that you must plan for that journey. First, you need a destination and to prepare your route accordingly. Likewise, establishing the business of your dreams requires clear goals and a detailed plan.

An article published by the Project Management Institute explains the essential link between setting goals and success. Not only do you think about what you want to accomplish, but you consider the process and take action. The article states that you must see things as they are right now. However, you need a dream and the ability to see things in the future.

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2. Find a Mentor

One of the best ways to achieve an entrepreneurial mindset is to learn from a successful business owner. Whether they have a small business or a large corporation, their input and guidance can be a treasure trove. Most of these seasoned professionals would be happy to be a mentor to give back.

Once you’ve acknowledged your dreams and clarified your goals, consider finding a mentor in your niche. They were once a novice like you and can empathize with your nervousness. Fortunately, they speak from experience and can share the pitfalls and successes of their journey.

3. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Knows to Count the Cost

You’ve learned by now that nothing is free in this life. Often situations that appear to be free and easy have strings attached. You’ll pay much more in time and resources in the long run than you imagined. Craft a powerful saas seo strategy to outperform competitors. Contact a law firm marketing company if you want to improve the marketing campaigns for your legal services.

The next step after clarifying your entrepreneurial goals is to do some research. Not only do you need financial figures, but you also need to consider your time. How much capital do you have now, and what more do you need to start your small business?

Your mentor may suggest various venues and resources to help you get the most from your investments. Consider making a financial plan that includes present resources, projected costs, and ways to earn money. It helps you figure out where you stand financially and the possible profits you can make with your new small business. A Digital Business Card can also be a valuable tool in this process, enabling you to network effectively and present your business professionally as you seek out new opportunities for growth.

4. Become a Life-Long Student

Another habit of entrepreneurial achievers is that they use every opportunity to learn something new. They listen to their mentors, clients, and their employees. They realize there’s always room for improvement for their goods or services.

Does part of achieving your life-long entrepreneurial dream include more education? Or maybe you’ll need to attend a trade school and finish an apprenticeship for experience and honing your skills. Your education won’t stop then because you’ll constantly learn new ways to make your business shine.

5. Boost Your Creativity

The seed of every successful business venture starts in a person’s mind. It doesn’t matter if your dream is to open an art gallery or an accounting firm. Creative thinking and problem solving bring out the best in you and your product or services. Understanding “nominee director and shareholder service” can also enhance your business by ensuring effective governance and stakeholder management. For more information, visit https://www.cfoacc.com.sg/notice-of-assessment-singapore.

What are you doing now to boost your creativity? Remember that practice makes progress, and you’ll learn each step. Journaling and making vision boards are excellent ways to focus your creative energies and make them work for you.

6. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Lives in the Present

The past is a splendid teacher, but it doesn’t make a good life partner. People who have achieved entrepreneurial success aren’t satisfied with yesterday’s results. They’ve found that each new day is an opportunity to improve and expand their small business.

Living mindfully can benefit you personally and professionally. According to an article published by the American Psychological Association, this style of living can boost working memory and improve your focus. The report also states that you may also notice a reduction in stress, more cognitive flexibility, and enhanced intuition.

7. Surround Yourself with Positive Energy

One of the most outstanding entrepreneurial achievers’ tools relies on the law of attraction. It’s a simple principle that says that whatever energy and affirmations you send into the Universe, you’ll attract the same. You can’t expect to gain positive results if you’re always speaking negatively.

To stay in a positive frame of mind, you need to surround yourself with positive energy. Avoid being around negative people who have nothing uplifting or encouraging to say. Refuse to allow their negative attitude to influence you and your affirmations.

8. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Learns from Past Mistakes

Behind every entrepreneurial success is a steady stream of failures. Maybe you’re afraid to reach for your dreams because you fear failure. You’ll gain a different perspective when you learn to embrace your failures as teaching tools.

If you research the brightest industry, art, and educational stars, they’ve made their own mistakes. However, they’ve learned from their mistakes and used them to make improvements. Your small business can be everything you expect when you follow their lead.

9. Break Larger Goals into Smaller Ones

You’ve probably heard the famous mantra of dreaming big or going home. Anything worth having is worth investing your time and best efforts. However, your entrepreneurial goals may seem so great that they are overwhelming.

You can overcome this intimidation by breaking larger goals into smaller, doable ones. For example, what if you’ve always dreamed of selling your one-of-a-kind crafts for a profit? Before buying a storefront, start small and build your clientele one at a time.

Also, remember to celebrate each success you have, regardless of how small. Have you ever visited a shop and seen a framed dollar bill hanging on the wall? Every time the owner sees the first buck their store made, it’s a celebration and an inspiration.

How can you divide your entrepreneurial plans into smaller chunks? Do you get excited and even more determined with each step you take? Your faith in your talents and efforts gain momentum from small successes to greater ones.

Don’t wait for the big crowds to cheer you on in the beginning. You learn to be your greatest advocate and cheerleader on your dream journey. Celebrate your efforts and be grateful for the blessings that you have.

10. An Entrepreneurial Mindset Will Develop a Selective Memory

Maybe it’s proverbially lonely at the top because some people have forgotten those who helped them on their journey. If you want to be a true success, you remember everyone who’s been part of it. You are grateful and respectful to everyone who has encouraged you, regardless of their position or possessions.

On the flip side, you selectively forget toxic people and situations. You can’t ignore them, but you don’t ruminate and hold grudges. When you learn to forgive and let go, these negative energies have no power over you.

Final Thoughts on Thinking Like a Successful Entrepreneur

Some say that an incredible journey starts with your first footstep. Adopting the mindset of success can help you step out of your comfort zone from thought to action. You’re well on your way when you decide to go forward with your small business dream.

8 Reasons Why Divorced Couples Remarry

August 31, 2022 by Deborah Tayloe

Have you been divorced for a while, and now you’re thinking about remarrying your ex? Understandably, you would miss someone you loved for a long time. Why would you like to remarry after a painful breakup? Some realize they were soulmates and made a terrible mistake. But others have more complicated reasons.

There are problems and rifts in even the most loving relationships. People are still individuals, and they will often bump heads. The key to making the relationship work is learning to set boundaries, compromise, and learn from mistakes.

Divorce is high on the list of human losses. Everything you know is shaken, and you feel like you’ve lost your best friend. You will go through the process of grief and its many turning emotions, just like with other losses.

There will be many bitter exchanges and a lot of tears. Frequently, financial difficulties arise as well as questions about child custody. These experiences can leave a person drained and never wanting to be in a relationship again.

However, some people learn to cope and go on with their lives. They may find another person and form a lasting relationship. For others, the thought of not being with their soulmates forever may be more than they can handle.

Why Do Divorced Couples Remarry?

Even if you’ve both experienced a painful divorce, it may not be forever. The spiritual connection you have may be enough to start the healing process. These are eight reasons why divorced partners choose to remarry.

1. Distance Makes Your Heart Grow Fonder

Some remarry their former spouse because the separation is too emotional to handle. Remember the glory days during your engagement and wedding? You’d found your soulmate and spent so much time together that being apart was out of the question.

Somehow, your relationship began to deteriorate, and both of you felt more comfortable being apart. Maybe it got so bad that you couldn’t stand being in the same room with them. These restless and hostile feelings were part of why you filed for divorce.

If you lose your identity in a relationship, neither of you will feel content. While it’s essential for couples to be together, you still need time for your interests and personal growth. Being separated after a divorce may help you regain your sense of individuality.

However, you may see how much you miss your ex and that they are your soulmate. Your heart longs for the excitement and romance you had as a couple. Such a yearning can make you want to remarry them and make it work this time.

2. You Realize That the Grass Isn’t Greener

When you’re in a crumbling marriage, it’s easy to think that other people don’t have problematic relationships. You looked around and saw your family and friends smiling, holding hands, and living their best lives.

You began to fantasize about writing a fresh chapter in your newly single life. Walking back into the dating scene probably felt strange after being married for so long. But you were determined to find what you missed out on in your former relationship.

It would be just like a scene in your favorite romantic movie. They would glance at you from across the room, and it would be love at first sight. It will be a whirlwind romance of endless champagne bubbles, roses, and midnight serenades.

Those sparkling, live-happily-ever-after couples only exist in soap operas and romance novels. When you face reality, you’ll find that every relationship has flaws. Even the most beautiful and talented people make mistakes and disappoint each other.

Once you see that your situation wasn’t unusual, you may view your former spouse differently. Perhaps they look even better when you compare them to some toxic people you’ve met. Re-evaluating your past relationship may help you see that they’re your soulmate and you want to remarry them.

3. You’ve Had Time to Think, So You’re Ready to Remarry

While time doesn’t heal all wounds, it gives you space to think. Right after a divorce, your nerves and emotions are raw. You can’t see past the anger and hurt and may pray on it for a while.

After a while, you might get a new perspective on your broken relationship. You might gain more clarity and change your attitude about the past. Your ex may also have second thoughts about what destroyed your marriage.

Most importantly, you’ll have time to consider what brought you together in the first place. Do you still dream about your former spouse as your soulmate? This season of soul-searching may confirm that you want to remarry.

4. You’ve Learned to Forgive and be Forgiven

Broken marriages usually have a history of offenses, hardships, and hatred. These issues aren’t automatically resolved once you get divorced. They can lead to bitterness, depression, and isolation if left undone.

The time you spend away from your former partner may allow you to forgive. You cannot excuse or forget the pain of the past. You’re not giving them a free pass to forget about their contribution to your failed relationship.

However, you’ve learned to forgive as a gift to yourself. An article published by Harvard University states that forgiveness can ease depression and boost self-esteem. It can also lead to greater life satisfaction, per the article.

Perhaps there were some issues in your past marriage that were your fault. A step toward healing is to apologize and ask for forgiveness. Then, you work to make amends and try never to repeat those offenses.

Unfortunately, some divorces become so bitter that the couples can’t reconcile and remarry. If you and your ex believe that you are soulmates, learning to forgive is a significant victory. At least if you don’t remarry, you can let go of the past and go on with your lives.

5. Time Has Changed You Both, and You Want to Remarry Your Ex

If you married your high school sweetheart, you’re in good company. According to a publication from the U.S. Census Bureau, at least 25 percent of couples married out of high school. You may have found your soulmate as a teen and wanted to be together for the rest of your life.

What if you married your long-time love and it ended in a divorce? Does it mean that you were never meant to be a couple? You’ll never know until you both have time to think as a single person again.

Remember that everyone changes with time, be it positive or negative. You aren’t the same people today that you were in high school. You’ve both changed since your relationship split.

Only time will tell if your changes were for the better. In some cases, you find that you’re still not compatible. In your case, time may have been a friend, and you want to rekindle what you had in the past.

6. You Decide to Remarry Because Your Heart Knows That You Are Soulmates

A lasting relationship understands the language of your heart. Even if you divorced your mate, does your heart remain connected to them? If so, reconciliation may not be out of the question.

7. You Share History Together

While attraction brings people together, love and shared history can keep them together. The beautiful moments you shared as a couple may be forgotten because of divorce. You may meditate on the negativity, pain, and loss at that moment.

Many divorced couples choose to remarry because they’ve shared so much history. They remember the good times and want to put the negative ones behind them. If this sounds like your story, maybe the Universe is trying to tell you something.

8. You Remarry For the Children’s Sake

One of the most challenging complications in a divorce is when children are involved. The question of custody, visitation, and child support isn’t always amicable and can lead to years of court battles. However, some divorced couples deal with these issues civilly and remain on good terms for their children’s sake.

It’s worth noting that if you and your ex had a toxic relationship, staying together for the kids isn’t beneficial to anyone. You’ll both end up miserable, and your children will be in the middle of the fallout. It’s best to part ways and work together to raise them.

But some former spouses tie the knot again because they love each other and want to be a family. They’re tired of the split weekends and holidays and how the kids are shuffled back and forth. If you feel you can reunite with your ex and your children will be happy, it could be a blessing for you all.

Final Thoughts on Why Divorced Partners Remarry

Just because a couple gets divorced doesn’t mean they hate each other. Sometimes, this break is what the relationship needs for healing and re-evaluating. Divorce isn’t always a forever thing, and you may find that your journey leads you back to each other and remarry.

Study Explains Why Climate Change Means Longer Allergy Season

August 31, 2022 by Kristen Lawrence

Scientists have discovered that climate change causes longer allergy seasons. Researchers from the University of Michigan also determined that rising temperatures lead to more intense allergies.

Because of human-created climate change, they predict that pollen emissions will occur forty days earlier by 2100. Compared to average allergy seasons between 1995 and 2014, seasons today could also last nineteen days longer.

This change means allergy sufferers must contend with high pollen counts much earlier in the spring. Also, because of hotter temperatures due to rising CO2 levels, yearly pollen emissions could increase by 200%.

“Pollen-induced respiratory allergies are getting worse with climate change,” said Yingxiao Zhang, a UM graduate student research assistant in climate and space sciences and engineering. She’s also the first author of the paper in Nature Communications.

“Our findings can be a starting point for further investigations into the consequence of climate change on pollen and corresponding health effects.”

UM researchers constructed a predictive model which analyzes fifteen of the most prevalent pollen types. The model also examines how pollen production will change due to temperature and precipitation variations.

Next, they combined climate and allergy season data with various socioeconomic scenarios. To create the models, they used data from 1995 through 2014. Then they used this model to forecast pollen emissions for the latter part of the 21st century.

Allergy symptoms vary from person to person but can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include sneezing, watery, itchy eyes, rashes, a runny nose, and cough. However, some people may experience more severe symptoms like trouble breathing or anaphylaxis.

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), over fifty million Americans experience allergies yearly. About half of these allergy sufferers, or 24 million, experience seasonal allergies. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, with an annual cost of over $18 billion.

Climate Change Making Allergy Seasons Longer and More Intense

The most common indoor and outdoor allergy triggers include tree, grass, and weed pollen. Mold spores, dust mites, cat and dog hair, rodent urine, and cockroaches can also cause allergies. Regarding outdoor allergy triggers, climate change worsens weed, tree, and grass pollen.

Higher temperatures cause plants to become active earlier in the season and produce more pollen on average.

However, Allison Steiner, UM professor of climate and space sciences and engineering, said her team’s models could offer solutions. They could eventually predict allergy seasons in various regions of the country.

“We’re hoping to include our pollen emissions model within a national air quality forecasting system to provide improved and climate-sensitive forecasts to the public,” she said.

The National Science Foundation helped fund the research.

A separate study agreed.

A separate study on allergy seasons by the UM School of Public Health confirmed the findings above. Researchers found that climate change results in earlier spring seasons and more severe hay fever allergies.

The study, published in PLOS ONE, gathered data from over 300,000 respondents between 2002 and 2013. It marks the first research to analyze how climate change impacts allergy seasons nationally.

“We found that areas where the onset of spring was earlier than normal had 14% higher prevalence of hay fever,” said Associate Professor Amir Sapkota in the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health. “Surprisingly, we also found similar risk in areas where the onset of spring was much later than what is typical for that geographic location,” he added.

When spring arrives early, it worsens allergies since the season lasts longer. However, late-onset of spring can cause similar effects since many trees simultaneously flower. This increases pollen concentration in a relatively short timeframe, potentially worsening allergies.

Hay fever, or “seasonal allergic rhinitis,” impacts 25 million adults in the United States yearly. The research team believes this number will only increase as climate change intensifies.

The Five Best Ways to Reduce Allergy Symptoms

These studies may make you feel hopeless about treating symptoms if you suffer from seasonal allergies. However, despite longer allergy seasons, you can still find relief from itchy eyes and a runny nose. Let’s go over a few ways to combat allergies so you can enjoy life to the fullest.

Install HEPA filters in your home. These pleated mechanical air filters can capture tiny particles like allergens, viruses, bacteria, mold, and pet dander. When air moves through the pleated mesh overlying the filter, it traps about 99.97% of harmful particles. People with severe allergies should consider these types of filters for their homes.
Stay indoors when the pollen count is high. If possible, refrain from going outside on days with high pollen levels. Keep all windows and doors closed, and turn on the air conditioning to reduce exposure.
Take probiotics. Since 70-80% of immune cells live in our gut, taking probiotics can bolster good bacteria and reduce allergic responses. A University of Florida study found that a combination of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, sold as Kyo-Dophilus in stores, could reduce hay fever symptoms. The team said that probiotics help increase T-cells in the body, which enhances tolerance to common allergens.
Maintain a healthy diet. Plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains will lower inflammation, reducing histamine and cortisol. Also, a diet rich in antioxidants will protect you from disease and enhance immunity.
Drink plenty of water. Staying properly hydrated flushes mucus out of the body and reduces histamine production. Drink at least two or three liters of water daily to keep allergies in check.

Final Thoughts on Why Climate Change Lengthens Allergy Seasons

Researchers have found that climate change results in longer, more severe allergy seasons. Higher temperatures mean spring occurs earlier in many areas across the globe. As a result, plants bloom sooner and produce more pollen, causing hay fever symptoms for millions. One study by the University of Maryland found that allergy seasons are nineteen days longer on average compared to the past two decades.

However, this doesn’t mean allergy sufferers should accept a lower quality of life. Staying indoors on days with high pollen counts, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and installing HEPA filters can reduce allergy symptoms.

10 Depression Busting Foods, According to Science

August 30, 2022 by Chris Butler

Diet alone can’t relieve depression. But if you struggle with depression, what you eat or don’t eat affects your mood. Integrating good nutrition with a variety of healthy foods boosts your mental health. According to science, the ten foods listed in this article have a variety of benefits besides reducing depression. They are all full of minerals, vitamins, and phenols. Why not get started adding these ten depression-busting food to your diet today?

Ten Depression Busting Foods for Better Mental Health

1 – Vitamin D fortified foods

Foods with vitamin D improve depression, especially if you’re low in this vitamin. Vitamin D receptors are in your brain. When the receptors lack vitamin D, this impacts the amount of dopamine in your brain. Dopamine is a “feel good” hormone. Elevated dopamine also motivates you to get out and do something you enjoy.

Because vitamin D is fat-soluble, don’t use supplements without your doctor’s recommendation. Fat-soluble vitamins get stored in your liver and can cause damage. Instead, choose vitamin D-rich foods for your diet, such as:

Beef liver
Cod liver oil
Dairy foods such as milk, yogurt, cheeses
Orange juice fortified with vitamin D
Sardines
Salmon
Swordfish
Tuna

2 – Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Strong evidence shows that eating omega-3 fatty acid foods can improve mental health. Omega 3s fatty acids are typically found in fish oil and marine algae. Scientists believe that individuals who don’t eat enough fish may have higher rates of depression than those who eat fish. Studies are still in process to determine what ratios and doses work best to help minimize depression. Kids and adolescents who struggle with depression could benefit from omega-3 supplements. The best sources of omega-3 fatty acids include these:

Fatty fish, like mackerel or salmon, sardines, tuna
Flaxseed
Walnuts
Dark leafy greens like kale or spinach or collard greens
Canola oil
Soybean oil

3 – Eat foods high in polyphenols

Another depression-busting food to add to your diet is those foods that are high in polyphenols. These plant-based foods have antioxidant properties that protect you from chronic diseases due to free radical damage. An increasing amount of research suggests that eating polyphenols can improve your health, help regulate your metabolism, help you lose weight, and fight off disease. It’s thought that polyphenols can improve your depression by regenerating brain cells. The best food sources with polyphenols include the following:

Berries like chokeberries, elderberries, blueberries, blackberries, black currants, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries
Peppermint, clove, and anise
Cocoa powder
Vegetables like red onions, artichoke, spinach
Olives
Coffee, tea

4 – Protein-rich foods help your focus

High-protein foods have amino acids called tryptophan. These chemicals help your body produce serotonin. Serotonin improves your mood and improves your ability to concentrate. Food high in protein include:

Peas
Beans
Beef, chicken, fish
Milk
Soy products
Dairy products

5 – Eat healthy carbohydrates

Healthy carbohydrates boost the brain chemical serotonin. When you crave carbs, it could mean you’re low in serotonin. The key is to eat whole grain complex carbs rather than bleached out “white carbs” The best carbohydrates to eat include:

Bulghur
Brown rice
Quinoa
Whole wheat bread, pasta, or crackers
Popcorn
Oatmeal

6 – Eat foods rich in selenium

Selenium can improve your mood. Researchers think it could be because it helps reduce inflammation. Someone who struggles with anxiety and depression often experiences inflammation. It’s also an antioxidant that repairs cell damage. There are no selenium supplements because selenium is a trace mineral. Your body doesn’t need too much of it. It’s found naturally in foods such as these:

Lean meats
Legumes and beans
Seafood: clams, oysters, crab, saltwater, and freshwater fish
Whole grains: whole wheat pasta or brown rice, or oatmeal
Nuts and seeds: Don’t overeat Brazil nuts. They can cause selenium toxicity.

7 – Eat foods high in antioxidants

It’s important to add foods high in antioxidants to your diet. You can’t stop free radicals, but eating foods high in antioxidants will help fight the damage by free radicals. Foods that are naturally high in antioxidants include:

Apricots, cantaloupe, carrots, peaches, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes
Spinach and collard greens
Seeds and nuts
Wheat germ
Vegetable oils like soy and canola
Broccoli, grapefruit, peppers, strawberries, and potatoes

8 – Try a Mediterranean diet to boost your B vitamins

Over the past few years, researchers have found that eating a Mediterranean diet is extremely healthy. For one thing, this diet is high in vitamin B and B12. Researchers aren’t sure why this diet helps fight depression, but it benefits people who struggle with mental health issues. Of course, nutrition is vital to staying physically, emotionally, and mentally healthy. Here are some foods you can add to your diet to help you fight anxiety and depression.

Beans
Fruits
Vegetables-especially dark green veggies
Lean meats
Fish
Dairy
Nuts

9 – Eat foods rich in folic acid

Tomatoes are known depression fighters. This could be because this delicious fruit (or vegetable, if you prefer) is packed with folic acid and alpha-lipoic acid. Both chemicals help fight depression. Folic acid helps produce serotonin and dopamine, two natural chemicals that improve your mood and brain function. Besides a tomato, these foods are high in folic acid:

Seafood
Beef liver
Fruits and fruit juices
Beans
Peanuts
Dark leafy greens like spinach or romaine lettuce, or asparagus

10 – Eat avocados

Another superfood to add to your list of depression-busting foods is the humble avocado. This healthy fat helps your brain function. Avocados are high in B, C, and E12 vitamins. They’re low in sugar and naturally high in protein, four grams per avocado. So, if you’re looking for a healthy snack, look no farther than an avocado. Simple ways to eat avocado include

With scrambled eggs
In guacamole
In salads
In soups
Seasoned with salt and pepper and eaten in slices
On toast

Foods to Avoid to Beat Depression and Have Better Mental Health

The old saying “you are what you eat” is true in many ways. What you eat or don’t eat is closely linked to your mental health. When you eat certain foods, you will have improved health which will improve your moods and help you fight off depression and anxiety. Here are some foods you shouldn’t eat if you have mental health issues, depression, or anxiety.

Depression and junk food

It’s probably not a surprise that junk food is at the top of the list of what not to eat. High-fat and high-sugar junk foods aren’t good for anyone, but if you struggle with depression, it’s terrible. There’s a link between sugar and depression. Studies found that sugar consumption may cause higher depression. Sweet beverages and foods increase the chance of mood disorders and mental health issues. If trying to cut out sugar, don’t forget the foods with “hidden” sugars. These can cause you to have mood swings because of their high amount of sugar. Foods with hidden sugars include the following things:

Ketchup
“Lite” salad dressings
Speciality coffee drinks
Energy drinks
Cereals
Granola bars
Low-fat yogurt

Alcohol causes depression

Alcohol may like it helps you relax, but it can have the opposite effect. If you are fighting depression, you want to avoid drinking alcohol. First, it causes depressive feelings. It slows down your brain activity. You feel foggy, brained, and moody. Alcohol also contains a lot of sugar. Sugar is a depressant. If you’re taking antidepressant medications, alcohol can make your meds less effective.

Other Tips to Help Ease Your Depression

Don’t skip meals: When you skip meals, your blood sugar plunges–making you feel moody and depressed. Keep a regular mealtime schedule.
Eat your meals with friends or families: When you struggle with depression, it’s essential to spend time with others. Eating meals with your family overcome feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Stock your pantry with healthy foods and snacks: Get rid of the chips and cookies. Stock your pantry with only healthy things like nuts, seeds, beans, nut butter, and whole grain snacks. Keep fresh fruits and veggies in your fridge.
Spices: Keep a wide assortment of spices to flavor your foods. Cinnamon in coffee or oregano in your veggies dishes are nutritious and help fight depression.
Stick to a regular schedule: Eat your meals at a set time every day. This prevents blood sugar from plunging and helps you create a routine. These simple practices help fight depressive episodes.

Final Thoughts on How Eating Depression Busting Foods Can Increase Your Mental Health

You know that simply eating right won’t take away your depression, but your diet dramatically impacts how you feel. If you’re eating the right foods, it positions you to overcome your mental health struggles. These ten depression-busting foods boost your nutrition. You will feel better in every way-physically, emotionally, and mentally. According to science, these ten food suggestions have benefits beyond reducing depression. They’re full of minerals and vitamins. Get started today by adding these healthy foods to your regular menu so you can feel your best and enjoy your life to its fullest.

New York State Lawmakers Ban Commercial Puppy Mills

August 30, 2022 by Deborah Tayloe

New York State lawmakers got some big tail wags in June of 2022. That was when legislators voted to pass the Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill. If Governor Kathy Hochul votes this bill into law, pet stores in New York will be banned from selling canine companions. Right now, many out-of-state puppy mills send their puppies to New York pet stores. These pet stores sell them to the public as healthy puppies from reliable breeders. These lawmakers have taken steps to end these abusive practices by passing this recent bill to end all puppy mills in their state.

What is a puppy mill?

A puppy farm or puppy mill is a dog breeding commercial facility. They’re known for their poor conditions and quick breeding methods. The term puppy mill came into the vernacular in 1984. The fundamental characteristics of a puppy mill include:

Confined to cages for months
Haphazard breeding
Bad environment
Bad animal husbandry
Little veterinary care
Emphasis on creating lots of puppies
Little exercise or grooming

Disease and overcrowding cause puppies to experience malnutrition, respiratory infection, fleas, heartworms, and digestive problems.

How many puppy mills are there in the United States?

According to the Humane Society of the United States, there are 10,000 licensed and unlicensed puppy mills in the United States. According to the same site, about 847,000 puppies are produced by licensed puppy mills yearly.

Abuse of dogs

Lawmakers praised the passing of the State Senate Bill S1130, prohibiting the sale of dogs, rabbits, and cats by all retail pet shops. They hope puppy abuse by breeders ends with the passing of this bill. Instead, they encourage dog adoption from reputable rescue shelters. Bill co-sponsors were Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D.-Manhattan). New York Governor Kathy Hochul will give her final approval.

The decline of dogs sold in pet stores

If you see puppies for sale at a pet store, understand they’re from commercial breeding operations. These puppy mill facilities focus on their profit rather than the welfare of the canines. There’s a general decline in pet sales in the United States because of the shifting legislation regarding pet store sales and an increase in the public’s awareness about puppy mills. Even though some puppy mills hold USDA licenses, standards don’t guarantee humane treatment for dogs or responsible breeding practices.

One facility may have hundreds of dogs in one cage for their entire life just for breeding purposes. The goal of puppy mills is to produce lots of puppies as fast as possible to sell to pet stores. It’s guaranteed that any pet store with puppies for sale obtained them from a puppy mill.

Support grows for bans on puppy mills.

The Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill received the support of animal welfare groups like these:

Companion Animal Protection Society
New York City Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee
New York State Animal Protection Federation
Humane Society of the United States
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Voters For Animal Rights
Animal Legal Defense Fund

Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal introduced the bill, saying she hoped it would cause a death blow to the puppy mill practices. She says those cute canines you see in the pet stores have experienced abuse and disease and cost unsuspecting buyers thousands of dollars in veterinary fees.

New York isn’t the only state taking action against puppy mills. 2017 California passed a law against selling commercially bred dogs in pet stores. Many towns, cities, and villages across the United States have rules against selling animals in pet stores. By banning puppy mills, states encourage people to adopt their pets. Today there is overcrowding in pet shelters. According to the ASPCA, around 6.3 million animals go into animal shelters annually.

Of these, 3.1 are dogs. Every year, and despite their best efforts, shelters euthanize 400,000 dogs. The good news is that dog adoptions are up because states encourage people to adopt. This is easing overcrowding in shelters and giving dogs homes.

How do you know if you’re ready to adopt a dog?

Are you considering adopting a dog? Great choice! Dogs aren’t just great companions. They improve your health. Owning a pet lowers cortisol levels and blood pressure and helps you manage stress.

Millions of canine companions are available for adoption in shelters that need a good home. But, before you adopt a dog, are you ready to be a doggie parent? Here are some things to consider before you adopt a dog.

Do you know the cost of owning a canine?

Dogs need medical care, grooming, bedding, food, leashes, and toys. On average, you’ll pay these costs every year for your dog. The average price of a dog varies depending upon where you live, what breed of dog, the dog’s age, and health condition. Generally, you can expect to pay around $3000 a year. Initial expenses when you adopt a dog include:

Adoption costs: Adopting from a shelter may cost up to $500 or more (purebred animals are more expensive).
Supplies (bowls, kennel, bed, collars, leashes, toys, and dog tags) $50 to $300
Preventive medicines such as flea and tick and heartworm medicine $200
Vaccinations: $50 to $350
Spaying or neutering: $20 to $250
Microchips: $50
Licensing: $10 to $20

Have you found a veterinarian?

The shelter may have some medical records for the dog you adopt, but you must arrange an appointment with a local veterinarian. It would be best to ensure your dog is healthy and ready to be taken home.

Do you have time for a canine companion?

Life is busy. Who will walk your dog if your day is filled with errands, running your kids to soccer, grocery shopping, and meeting friends for dinner? Dogs need training, playtime, and exercise. Some breeds need socialization to adjust. If you travel for your job or you’re busy with the kids, you may not have time to include a dog in your life right now.

How do you pick a dog from a shelter?

Someone said getting a dog from a rescue shelter is like shopping at a thrift store. These dogs have been in another person’s home. It’s good to remember they might carry some trauma. A rescue dog has baggage, some good, some not so good. That they ended up in a shelter signifies something broken in their past. Maybe their owner died, or the owner didn’t like the dog’s all-night howling. Adopting a dog from a shelter is a bit of a crap shoot, but it’s worthwhile. If you do your homework and keep your expectations in the proper place, there is a good chance you’ll get a wonderful pet. Here are some suggestions on how to pick a dog from a shelter.

Choose a good shelter

There are different animal rescue facilities: public shelters, privately owned rescue organizations, or one type of breed facility. Do your homework on those closest to you. Visit the facility once or twice to familiarize yourself with the staff and how they run it. Ask yourself some questions:

Is the facility clean?
Do they interact with the animals?
Do you know the dog’s medical information?
Does it seem poorly run?
Do they post online? Are there good reviews about the place and the animals?

Know what you want and don’t want

When you look at dogs at a rescue site or visit a shelter with dogs online, you’ll want to bring them all home. Don’t be led by your heart. Study breeds and mixed breeds. Understand the energy levels, socialization, and protectiveness dogs species can possess. Choose a dog that fits your living arrangement. Putting a high-energy Dalmatian in a tiny studio apartment wouldn’t be kind. But a Yorkie might be the perfect breed for this living space.

Understand canine body language

Even the cutest little dog can give off bad vibes. Learn to read the dog’s body language. Ask yourself these questions.

Is this dog friendly?
Do they act fearful?
Do they come over to play with you?
Are they calm or jittery?
Is their tail wagging or lowered?
Do they show anxiety or like they’re in pain?

Talk to the staff and volunteers about the dogs. Watch how they interact with the dog. Are they hesitant? Too quick or rough?

Final thoughts on New York’s ban on puppy mills

New York State lawmaker’s Puppy Mill Pipeline Bill is an excellent first step towards closing down puppy mills that supply dogs to pet stores. If the bill passes, New York State will be an example for other states to follow suit to ban puppy mills from sending canines to pet stores. This will stop the untruthful practice of selling puppies to the public, claiming they’re healthy and well-bred. Bravo to these lawmakers who took steps to end puppy mills’ abusive practices.

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