Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
A major focus of this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month is “mindfulness”, which means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and present environment. Mindfulness also entails tuning into current emotions without judgment of whether they are “right” or “wrong” in the present …
Photo by Eli Defaria on Unsplash Mental health is a topic that’s avoided by most of us. Mental illness can be a difficult subject to address but it’s the area of health that needs to be discussed the most. During the month of May, organizations …
In a new study, researchers found the impact of loneliness is more severe than most of us think – in fact, loneliness might be just as dangerous as obesity when it comes to your overall health.
The study, published in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science, was conducted by a research team led by Brigham Young University professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad. The team found that consistently feeling lonely can have a negative impact on your health, and “chronic loneliness” may even shorten the human lifespan just as much as obesity.
Experts expressed major concern over these results, especially since many Americans are now choosing to live alone instead of with their family, friends or roommates. The study’s co-author, Tim Smith, said that the rate of individuals living alone is steadily rising, which is a factor likely to add to the potential severity of this issue. According to the Census Bureau, 27 percent of households were single-person households, up from just 17 percent in 1970.
“We need to start taking our social relationships more seriously,” Holt-Lunstad said. “The effect is comparable to obesity, something that public health takes very seriously.”
This study is not the first to point out the possible impact loneliness could have on overall health, wellness and lifespan. In a past study, researchers found that feeling lonely raises the risk of death to the same level as alcoholism or smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Unfortunately, research also shows that surrounding yourself with more people may not be the answer. Many individuals report feeling lonely even when they’re with close friends, and others find it impossible to avoid isolating themselves, especially those who suffer from depression or anxiety.
New study says BioCurcumin may work in depression!
There are a variety of ways to tackle the gloom of loneliness. If you can’t be in the physical presence of someone, make sure you call them or message them through the phone. If you live alone and are finding the experience lonely, especially after a breakup, then look into sex dolls which some people swear by for being incredibly beneficial when experiencing loneliness. To avoid the potential harm of chronic loneliness, we need to differentiate between simply being surrounded by people and truly connecting with others – try to strengthen relationships you’re already comfortable with instead of seeking out new friends. Often, a thoughtful conversation with your best friend will leave you feeling far less lonely than a night out with a large group of people.
Sources:
• ActiveBeat: Loneliness as Dangerous as Obesity
• Huffington Post: Loneliness and Isolation are as Bad for You As Obesity, New Study Says
Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash A new study, published in the journal Cognition and Emotion, found that people who experience constant depressive thoughts may be more likely to experience problems with memory as well. During the study, researchers induced depressive thoughts in the participants …
Photo by A l on Unsplash Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of seasonal depression that usually occurs in individuals during the winter. Experts believe this mental health issue has to do with the lack of sunlight in the winter. It’s normal to …
Happiness is probably one of the hardest things to define. Feeling happy is definitely subjective – what makes me happy may not put a smile on your face. But research shows that feeling mentally happy can have a bolster of positive effects on the body.
Research suggests that genetics may play a big role in our normal level of subjective well-being, so some of us may start out at a disadvantage. On top of that, between unexpected tragedies and daily habitual stress, environmental factors can bring down mood and dry up our thirst for living. Life is a roller coaster, so being able to manage the emotional ups and downs is important for both body and mind.
If you have a good sense of well-being, it’s easier to maintain good habits; Exercising, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep are all important. People who have an optimistic mindset may be more likely to engage in healthy behaviors because they perceive them as helpful. Some researchers speculate that positive mental states do have a direct effect on the body, perhaps by reducing damaging physical processes.
You might be thinking: “Maybe I would be happier if I had more money.” There’s that old cliché “money doesn’t buy happiness” — but is it true? A 2010 study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that emotional well-being rises with income up to a point, which seems to be a household income of $75,000. Day-to-day happiness did not increase after that. In that case, money does buy you happiness if a large part of said happiness is taken away by the stresses of living paycheck-to-paycheck or otherwise poor living.
But what about right now — what can we do to make ourselves feel more positive immediately? If you’re seeking to increase your own sense of happiness, try mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness means being present and in the moment, and observing in a nonjudgmental way, Susan Albers, a psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic, told CNN in 2010.
A variety of smartphone apps are also available that claim to help you monitor and enhance your moods.
If you’re from a big city, live off of a busy road or just have a noisy family, falling asleep may be a struggle for you every night, which leads to more struggles the next morning. But, with Sleep Bug, your device can be transformed into the perfect device for sleeping – with sounds like waves at the beach, the sound of wind through a garden or animals in the middle of the jungle, this app will have you feeling relaxed and ready for sleep in no time at all. It even comes with a custom timer so it will turn off on its own while you’re already on your second dream. That should help people to fall asleep.
If you’re like most people who google their symptoms at the first sign of a cough to find out whether or not you should head to the doctor, this is the app for you. iTriage was developed by two ER doctors and asks you specific questions about how you are feeling and your symptoms to come up with a plan of action, so you’ll know whether you may just need some more rest or if you should head to your primary doctor.*
Now this app isn’t free but it’s worth sharing! Talkspace can help keep your wellness and mental health in check as it aims to make therapy more affordable by connecting users with licensed therapists at the touch of a button. This app connects you with people who can help – from a bad breakup to issues with weight loss.*
*Though these apps were intended to help you on your journey to better health, wellness and fitness, they should not be used as a substitute for licensed and certified professionals. Please speak with your primary physician about your health. Do not disregard any symptoms or illnesses you have.