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Nicole

Anxiety Can Be Damaging To Us, So Let’s Try To Banish It

Panic attacks can occur suddenly and sometimes exhaust us emotionally. They are non-discriminatory, can affect us all at some point in our lives, and can be caused by anxiety, panic disorder, or depression. During a panic attack, both physical and emotional symptoms may occur. Physical symptoms may include sweating, rapid breathing, nausea, and palpitations. Emotional symptoms include feelings of fear and intense, recurring anxiety.

In this article, we look at ways we can deal with panic attacks and reduce the risk of recurrence. We also look at how we can help someone who is having a panic attack.  

Photo: Unsplash

Acceptance and recognition

People who have experienced panic attacks in the past need to remember in the event of a recurrence that they pass and do not cause physical harm. We need to recognize in general that this is a short period of accumulated stress and that it will end. If you are having a panic attack for the first time, it is a good idea to see your doctor as soon as possible. Some panic symptoms may indicate other conditions, such as heart attacks or strokes.

Deep breaths

Deep breaths can sometimes help to “control” panic. Rapid breathing can increase stress and tension. We need to breathe steadily, counting slowly, up to four, during inhalation, and during exhalation. The feeling of “tightness” in the chest can make us take short breaths during a crisis. In this case, it is helpful to take deep breaths from the abdomen, filling our lungs with oxygen, slowly and steadily.

Medication

Depending on the severity of the panic attacks, your doctor may prescribe treatment containing benzodiazepines or beta-blockers. Propranolol slows the rapid heart rate and lowers blood pressure. The commonly prescribed benzodiazepines for panic attacks are Valium and Xanax. But this class of drugs can be very addictive. The body can quickly develop tolerance and may soon need a higher dose to achieve the same result. Be sure to consult a psychiatrist before taking medication. You can also look at supplements. Such as CBD etc. You can learn more on this blog

Muscle relaxation techniques

Another symptom of a panic attack is muscle tension. Practicing muscle relaxation techniques can help reduce the attack. If the mind feels that the body is relaxing, other symptoms, such as rapid breathing, may also be reduced. Progressive muscle relaxation is a popular technique for dealing with anxiety and panic attacks. 

How to help someone who is having a panic attack?

Here are some tips on how to help someone who has a panic attack:

  • Stay cool.
  • Make sure they have enough space around them
  • Suggest moving to a quiet place
  • Remind them that the panic attack will pass
  • Help them control their breathing
  • Avoid asking too many questions and do not endorse negative statements
  • Do not say “calm down” or “stop panicking”
  • Stay with them. If they insist that they want to be alone, make sure they are visible to you.

It is important to seek help, try different strategies, and be realistic about the results. It is unlikely that panic attacks will disappear overnight, but their impact may be reduced over time.

How To Reduce Stress and Take Back Control Of Your Life

                                      Image Credit Pixabay.com License CC0

Do you ever feel as though you have lost control over your life? You’re not alone. Losing control of aspects of your life is something that happens to many people. Often, when you lose control of one area of your life, it can have a knock-on effect on the rest of your life. For instance, money problems may have a knock-on effect on your relationship which may affect your career. Often, the areas of our lives are all linked in a complex way. 

So, how do you regain control? There are many different steps that you can take to bring your life back under control. You need to look at each area of your life and find ways to improve your position. It’ll only work if you work at each of the pieces. 

Here are some suggestions for changes that you can make in your life to give yourself more control. 

1. Make a To-Do List 

If you start each day by sitting down and writing a to-do list, you’ll be more focused and you’ll get more done. Create a to-do list that prioritizes your most important tasks. By getting these out of the way first, you’ll feel less stressed and better able to tackle the rest of the to-do list. 

If all of the tasks on your to-do list are of equal importance, start with a job that you would otherwise put off doing. By getting your least favorite task out of the way, you can get on with enjoying the rest of the tasks later. 

If you have too many tasks, make sure you spread them over more than one day. Be realistic about how much you can do and don’t overwhelm yourself by loading yourself up with too many tasks. 

2. Make Small Changes

When we want to make changes in our lives it can be very easy to look at the bigger picture and wonder why nothing is changing when we’re putting in so much effort. Instead, focus your attention on making smaller changes. By setting small and accomplishable goals you’ll be less likely to get overwhelmed when looking at what you’re facing. Start small and build up. All of these smaller changes will make up the whole. 

3. Look For Inspiration in the People You Admire 

Everyone has someone that they admire. There will be qualities in people that you admire. Think about the people that you admire and try and find out how they got to where they are now. While you may not have the same opportunities to be able to emulate their lives, you will be able to learn from the way that they live. 

4. Get Your Paperwork in Order

Important paperwork can be a source of great stress, particularly if you can’t find what you need. Get your paperwork in order by sorting out a thorough filing system. Make sure that important documents and paperwork are sorted by type and then by date.

If you have any paperwork or documents that you no longer need, you should shred these. 

5. Sort Out Practical Matters

There are a considerable amount of practical matters that we all tend to put off in our lives. For instance, it is easy to put off sorting out things like home or life insurance, but these are important things that could cause stress.

Having insurance in place for your home and your life will mean that if anything goes wrong, you’ll be covered. 

Make a list of all of the things that need doing and start shopping around for the products that you need. For example, TrueCoverage has affordable life insurance

6. Tidy Your Home 

Having a cluttered and messy home can be a source of considerable stress. By tidying your home and reducing the amount of clutter that you have, you’ll free yourself up a lot of space and reduce the stress that you feel when you are at home. 

When tidying your home, make sure that you get rid of any items that you no longer want or have any need for. You can either sell these items online or donate them to charity. 

7. Create a Meal Plan

Are mealtimes getting you down? When you’re feeling overwhelmed by life, one of the areas that might suffer is your diet. You may find that you are eating unhealthy or lackluster meals that are neither good for you or enjoyable. Often, when you are unable to plan your meals properly, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut. 

By creating a meal plan you can give yourself nice meals to look forward to. Plan a week or more at a time and create a shopping list as you create the meal plan. 

This will not only give you great meals that are healthy to enjoy, but it will also save you the stress of having to plan a meal on the day. 

8. Batch Cook Your Meals

Another great way of reducing the stress around preparing meals is to batch cook as much as you possibly can. 

Batch cooking means making extra portions of a meal that you are cooking and saving the rest for a later date. These can either be refrigerated or frozen depending on when you plan to eat them. 

Many people who batch cook will cook several different meals at once so that they have a selection of pre-made meals in their freezer. This will not only save you time when it comes to preparing your meals each day, but it will also mean that you get a healthy good-quality meal. 

9. Buy Only What You Need

When you head to the supermarket do you find that you end up filling up your shopping cart with all of the offers that catch your eyes? Supermarkets love to give us eyecatching offers because they know that we’ll fall for them. But instead of going to the supermarket without a plan and just buying what you see, have a strict shopping list. This might mean that you won’t be buying anything that is on special offer, but, because you are not impulse buying, you are likely to spend much less. 

10. Eat Fresh Fruit and Veg

There is no denying the fact that fresh fruit and vegetables are good for you and that you should be eating more of them in your diet. Fresh fruit and vegetables will give you natural energy which in turn will help you to get on with the tasks that need to be done. 

11. Take Supplements 

Vitamins and minerals are essential to keep you healthy. They serve a wide range of purposes and you should try and get a good selection in your diet. 

While, if you eat a fully balanced diet, you should get all of your vital vitamins and minerals, the chances are that you’ll be missing some of them somewhere along the way. One of the best ways to avoid missing out on getting vitamins in your diet is to take supplements. 

Find a good multivitamin that gives you everything that you need and take one every day. 

12. Exercise Often 

One of the best stress-busting activities is exercise. Exercising daily will reduce your stress and make you feel better about yourself. This is because exercising produces endorphins which is a hormone that makes you feel good. 

If you are someone that doesn’t already exercise, then you should start off gently. Pick an activity that you know that you will be able to do easily. There is no point starting off with an activity that requires you to push yourself too hard from the start or you will end up getting disheartened if you don’t achieve what you set out to do. 

Start to build-up the frequency and the amount that you exercise. You may also want to increase the intensity of the activity that you are doing. For example, instead of walking, you may wish to start gentle jogging after a period of time. 

13. Take a Career Test 

Is your current job or career right for you? If you are in the career doldrums and you’re looking for something new to do, then you should take a career test to find out what you are best suited to. 

You may be surprised to learn that you would be suited to a career that you have never even thought of before. 

14. Take Up a New Hobby

If you want to feel good about life again, find a new passion. Taking up a new hobby will give you something to get inspired over. Find something that you can get enthusiastic about and that you have always wanted to do. 

15. Talk About Your Feelings 

Finally, if you’re feeling stressed or down about your life, talk about it with friends and family. By talking things through, you may come to some new understandings about your current position and you may get some invaluable advice.

The Health Benefits of Saving Money

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

We’re told from a young age that we should always save our money, to only buy what we need to and look for good deals on products. And you have to admit, it sounds like excellent advice. 

That’s often easier said than done in a society so fixed on consumerism and excesses. Sometimes, people who don’t want to spend money are mocked for being ‘cheap’. The fact is, not only is developing the savings habit good for your bank balance, it can actually have a positive effect on our health too. 

It teaches patience and self-discipline

Saving your money can be hard.  Even people with healthy incomes find it difficult to avoid spending.  So it’s not simply a question of having money to save, it’s about developing the mental discipline to do it. Even if it’s just a few spare dollars. 

If we do want to buy something, learning to save up for it or waiting for the Frontera coupons rather than just racking up credit, is a great habit to get into.  

Feeling like you have a safety net

A lot of people live paycheck to paycheck, which can be a nervewracking experience. Developing a savings safety net can bring your stress levels down. We’re not talking about lifechanging amounts of money here, but wouldn’t a few months salary saved up to make a huge difference if you were suddenly to become ill or have to find another job? 

Lowering your underlying stress levels will also bring many added physical health benefits to your life. Improved blood pressure and quality of sleep bring huge health benefits and reduce your risk for a lot of other health conditions.  

It promotes confidence and assertiveness

The continued self-discipline it takes to have a savings mindset leads to an associated uptick in confidence and assertiveness levels. You are more likely to believe in yourself and your skills. Being self-confident is an amazing asset that can really help you in all areas of your life. 

It gives you a sense of personal freedom

Being in debt can take a toll on your physical and mental health. The effects can be far-reaching and make you quite ill. Having the personal freedom to do things without being under a financial cloud can really open up your life and your mindset. 

Conclusion

Saving money, and spending less is not only good for our bank balances and the environment but our health too. Saving improves our wellbeing in many ways. It isn’t always that simple though. There are some people who have a saving mindset who, due to circumstances, just aren’t able to save any money. There are others who might have a really good income but just can’t get a grip on not spending it every month. 

It really is a skill that needs to be learned a nurtured as you get older so that you can reap the benefits in all areas of your life and pass them on to your children too.

In Support of the United Nations International Day of Peace

In recognition of the United Nations International Day of Peace (September 21, 2020), the CelebYou Talent Challenge App will support Stand4Peace and launch the CelebYou Shape Peace Together Challenge

The Challenge invites people of all ages, from all over the U.S., to submit a video to the CelebYou Talent Challenge App to show how they are working to Shape Peace Together. The Challenge begins on Friday, September 18, 2020, and ends on Sunday, October 18, 2020. To enter the challenge all you have to do is download the CelebYou Talent Challenge App from the Apple App Store (for free) or visit https://celebyou.com.

CelebYou and Stand4Peace will select 5 Challenge winners from among all submissions. Each winner will receive a customized PEACE Pole (as well as the admiration of their friends, family, and others who believe in Peace).  PEACE Poles are sanctioned by the United Nations as an internationally-recognized symbol of hope, standing for PEACE on earth. Each PEACE Pole shares the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in different languages on each of its four sides. There are an estimated 250,000 PEACE Poles in every country in the world. 

“Stand4Peace sees each PEACE Pole planted as a sign of “standing-up” for peace in your community,” said Karen Wooldridge, Co-Founder of Sand4Peace. 

“Working together as global citizens start locally,” said Mark Burrell, CEO of CelebYou Talent Challenge. “CelebYou decided to use its resources to support the amazing work that Stand4Peace is doing, on a local level, to help unify peace through education, which truly demonstrates what each of us can do, on a personal level, to bring peace to our friends, family, communities, and the world as a whole.”

Stand4Peace is honoring The United Nations Day of Peace by holding a heart-felt online event in partnership with the Compton Unified School District and Manhattan Beach Unified School District on September 21, 2020, from 11:40 a.m. Pacific Time to 12:10 p.m. Pacific Time.  Students from more than 40 schools in the greater Los Angeles area will attend the video streaming event, which is also open to the public. You can watch the event on YouTube and/or register to attend the online event, here.

Stand4Peace is a private organization, based in Los Angeles, CA. It is impartial and independent of any government, political persuasion, corporation, or religious creed.  The Intent of Stand4Peace is to be a resource to educate and bring public awareness to issues related to PEACE  by commemorating the United Nations’ Day of PEACE on the 21st of September and all that it “STANDS 4”; and to assist educators, community members, civic leaders, business partners and beyond through these resources to bring hope and peace through action. CelebYou CelebYou is a celebrity-hosted, influencer-supported App that gives consumers an opportunity to participate in fun and exciting competition-based challenges. Participants become eligible to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences and life-changing opportunities.  The CelebYou Talent Challenge App may be downloaded for free from the Apple Store and will soon be Android compatible.

How To Save Money On Your Next Smartphone

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If you want to save money, turn your attention to your ongoing smartphone costs. For many of you, this will be one of the most expensive things in your life. Most people will spend hundreds of dollars per year on their smartphone bills!

With that in mind, how can you lower these costs and save money on your next smartphone? Some ideas spring to mind, all of which are very easy for you to implement. You might like one of the ideas more than the others, so feel free to choose whichever ones suit your needs!

Switch to a PAYG contract 

Instead of paying a monthly fee, switch to a pay-as-you-go contract. This gives you more control over how much you choose to spend every month. Let’s face it, how often do you use up all of your smartphone allowances every month? If you don’t use up every megabyte of data or second of call-time, you waste money.

As you can see here https://www.ding.com/countries/caribbean/jamaica/top-up-digicel, it’s easy to top up a phone with as much money as you want, regardless of where you live. Thus, you only spend money when you have to. It will amaze you how much money you can save by switching to PAYG and topping up when required.

Take advantage of WiFi

Secondly, take full advantage of free WiFi whenever you see it. This will slash your data usage, which is usually the biggest cost on phone contracts. In turn, you could spend far less every month, even on a monthly contract. The need for data is less, so you choose an option with the lowest data allowance. This can take you from a contract that pays $60.00 a month to one that’s as low as $25. 00.

Keep your old phone but switch contracts

Instead of upgrading to a newer device, consider if it’s worth keeping your old phone. Do you need a new one? If your current device does everything you require, there’s really no point. Instead, switch to a more affordable contract. This is crucial as your smartphone provider will keep you on the same contract that you were on before – if you don’t upgrade or switch. So, you’re still paying for the actual device, despite the fact that you’ve already paid for it. Make a switch to save almost half on your current contract! Also, you could switch to PAYG from here, saving even more money

Threaten to change network providers

Finally, if you threaten to change providers, it will spook your network provider. They will do everything to keep you on their network, which means offering unique deals. It will shock you how much money you can save by pulling this tactic. This is well worth trying as you can’t possibly lose. The worst-case scenario is that they don’t have a good deal, so you leave and find a cheaper one elsewhere. The best-case scenario is that you get an exclusive deal that can’t be found anywhere else. 

So, with these four tips, you can save money no your monthly smartphone bill. Choose whichever option you want, and sit back to watch the savings come through.

5 Tips To Save Money On Your Dental Care

Teeth are expensive. If you don’t have insurance, going to the dentist for a repair or checkup can set you back a long way. Your oral health is important and plays a massive part in the overall health of your body. You use your teeth for everything, from eating to communicating, so you don’t want to lose your smile because you couldn’t afford dental care.

Money shouldn’t be a barrier to a healthy mouth. Including cosmetic dentistry. Especially if you live in larger metropolitan areas including, cosmetic dentistry in the Tampa Bay area. So, if you need dental care but are worried about blowing your budget, here are few ways to cut the costs and maintain your winning smile.

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Purchase a dental discount plan

A dental discount plan is a brilliant option for anyone who expects to visit the dentist regularly. It works much like a club membership. All you need to do is pay an annual fee, and all your dental work will be discounted. 

Ask for a discount

If you don’t ask, you don’t get it. Your dentist may be willing to give you a discount if you offer to pay in cash. This will save them from the hassles of billing and credit card fees, so they may be willing to cut a deal. Particularly if you explain your financial situation and offer to pay the discounted rate in full at the time of the treatment. 

Set up a payment plan

When you undergo expensive dental work, you usually have two payment options. You can either pay the full amount upfront, or you can opt for a payment plan in which you make repayments gradually over time. The latter method often comes at a slightly higher overall cost, but spacing out your repayments allows you to bear the cost more easily. That way, you can pay off a little bit at a time whenever your monthly paycheck comes through.

Find a job with dental insurance

If your employer’s medical insurance doesn’t cover dental, perhaps it’s time to look for a new job. If convenient, you may be able to find a similar position in a new company that cares for the teeth of its employers. Find out what the dental plan will cover before accepting a job offer. You can find dental insurance that covers implants, crowns, and other cosmetic work if that is what you need.

Go to a dental school

Aspiring dentists need willing subjects to train on. If you book your treatment with a dental school, you will usually receive heavily discounted prices in return for helping students to hone their craft. Don’t panic; the dental work is always carried out under the supervision of qualified instructors. 

These methods have all helped people save money on their dentist bills. But of course, the best way to avoid spending a great deal on your teeth is to care for them in the first place. The better you look after your mouth, the fewer problems you will experience, and the less likely you’ll be to end up in the dentist’s chair. Brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day, floss regularly, and cut down on the sugary snacks.

How To Move On A Budget

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Moving can get very expensive. It may not seem like it at first, but things add up. There are some expenses that are inevitable in the moving process, but there are also other areas you could save a buck or two. Before you go all in, make sure you do the proper research to accurately compare which moving option is right for your budget whether you are looking to hire a moving company, or you are going to rent a van and do the moving. Here are some tips on how to save money on your move.

Reduce Your Load

Make sure that you get rid of the things that you do not want anymore before you move. You do not want to move things that are broken, no longer useful, or simply unused. You want to bring things into your new place that you use on a regular basis or that you cannot live without. To help you get rid of some of the stuff you do not need, consider hosting a garage sale or donate your stuff. The less stuff you have, the fewer things need to be moved.

Move During The Off-Season

Most people move during June or July during either the first or the last of the month, so any time other than those two months can be considered the off-season. No matter if you move items abroad or across town, talk with your movers if that is the option you went with. Ask them if you get any discounts for moving during an off-season. You never know! They may offer you a limited-time-only promotion because of it.

Book Early

Moving is not something that is spontaneous. If you want to save the most money as possible, you have to plan. Planning means booking your mover sooner rather than later. When you wait until the last hour to book a moving company, you run the risk of being charged higher rates. As soon as you know it is time to move, book those movers. You do not want to see money going down the drain.

Be Flexible

More than likely, you have a window of time for your movers to come, gather your things, and deliver it to you. Keep in mind that you should maintain an attitude of flexibility. Things happen and plans change all the time. If you re willing to work within their timeframe, take that as an opportunity to negotiate a lower rate. Maybe you are the one working on a tight time constraint. If that is the case, you want to make sure that your moving in, and moving out date works for everyone’s schedule.

Know How Much Things Cost

Knowing how much things cost upfront will keep you from falling victim to the nickles and dimes some moving companies can charge. Before you book anything, get clarification on what exactly your charges are coming from, what are some potential charges you should look out for, and if there are any additional fees that are attached to whatever services you paid for. When you have all this information, planning for those costs becomes easy.