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You just scheduled an appointment with Confident Comfort to have them install some specialized heating in your house. This winter has really taken a toll on you, and you’re anxiously waiting for Spring to arrive. We certainly get it, and that’s why we’re offering 5 ways to fight the winter blues.

Let’s get into it!

Bundle Up and Go Outside

The last thing you want to do is go outside when it’s near freezing temperatures. However, one of the best ways to fight the winter blues is to get some exposure to the sun and nature. Even if it’s for 10 minutes a day. Fortunately, we have the ability to bundle up so we can spend some time outside without getting too cold. Studies show that spending time outside helps reduce cortisol levels, heart rate, and even helps with combatting depression and anxiety.

Photo by form PxHere

Open The Shutters

You want to make sure that you have your shutters and blinds open in the winter. While you might want to hibernate, getting the natural light in will help with your mental health. This goes along with spending time outdoors, exposure to natural light has positive effects on your mood and wellbeing. It also helps your body know that it’s time to be awake – which helps with seasonal fatigue that hits in winter time.

Light Therapy Box

There’s certainly a shortage of natural light in the colder months depending on where you live. However, you could invest in a light therapy box. These nifty devices help to mimic natural sunlight. In a way, it’s tricking your body into thinking that there is still daylight out. Light therapy boxes have been shown to help people who experience effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Stay Active

Exercise is one of the fastest and easiest methods to elevate your mood. Experts say that you can feel a positive shift in your mood in as little as 5 minutes after you start exercising. Not only that, but research suggests that physical activity also helps manage and treat symptoms of long-term depression. So, if you’re feeling down in the wintertime, do a home workout or hit the gym! You’re sure to feel better in no time.

Get Creative

It’s hard to find energy and stay positive sometimes when you feel like you’re trapped inside. This is why you should consider tapping into your creative side. Creativity has been linked to higher activated positive affect and a reduction in depression symptoms and anxiety. The more time you spend working on creative goals, the more likely you are to feel better and have an increase in positive emotions.

The Rundown

Winter can be a season that makes us feel isolated and down. It makes sense as we aren’t getting our regular dose of nature and sunlight. However, there are ways to help alleviate some of the symptoms of wintertime blues. Try some of the suggestions above and see what works for you! And remember: Spring is just around the corner.

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Being in the public eye can be a pressure-filled environment, leaving many famous people struggling to handle the stresses and strains.

Creative types, top athletes and many other people cannot handle being in the spotlight, often leading to them suffering with worry, anxiety and depression.

However, by working with professionals to understand these conditions, many celebrities have learned to manage the symptoms and thrive in their respective careers.

Read on as we look at some of the world’s most famous people have managed to conquer anxiety and worry.

Demi Lovato at Elvis Duran Show

Exercise the key for Lovato

Singer Demi Lovato has regularly spoken about her struggles with mental health and says she uses a variety of methods to deal with her anxiety issues.

The founder of the ‘Be Vocal: Speak Up For Mental Health’ initiative, Lovato has regularly opened up about living with bipolar disorder and battling anxiety in the past.

She says that solutions can vary from person to person and has encouraged people not to stay silent about mental health issues.

“I can’t stress enough to vocalize your needs to a great support system – whether it’s your family or even an online community of people who are going through the same thing that you are,” she told the Huffington Post.

“It’s so important to vocalise what you’re dealing with instead of internalising it and letting it manifest into unhealthy behavior. That eventually leads to lifelong problems. That’s the most important thing you can do.

“Exercising is another way I deal with anxiety. Painting, and writing music and expressing myself through art are other ways that I can release emotions. Meditation is another one. Whatever it is, it’s important to find what works for you.”

Soreness, tiredness and feelings of nausea are amongst the main side effects of intensive training and restrictions on certain pharmaceuticals make it difficult for athletes to get relief from the symptoms.

With top level sports being a pressure-filled environment, many athletes also suffer bouts of anxiety often brought on by concerns about their injuries or worrying about performance.

Performing helps Stone cope

Oscar winner, Emma Stone, says performing on the big screen helps her cope with lifelong anxiety and panic attacks.

Stone struggled with deep separation anxiety as a youngster and was eventually diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

She learned cognitive therapy techniques that helped her cope with anxiety and channel her feelings into productive behaviour.

“I believe the people who have anxiety and depression are very, very sensitive and very, very smart,” she said.

“Because the world is hard and scary and there’s a lot that goes on and if you’re very attuned to it, it can be crippling.

“But if you don’t let it cripple you and use it for something productive, it’s like a superpower.”

Today, she manages her anxiety with therapy, meditation, being with others and keeping busy. She also steers clear of social media to ensure she avoids putting herself in difficult situations.

Lady Gaga

Helping others keeps Gaga grounded

Lady Gaga has been open about her experiences with mental illness, particularly in light of being a survivor of assault.

She takes medication to manage her depression, but freely admits that talking about the problem is the key to her wellbeing.

The ‘Star is Born’ actress created the Born This Way Foundation in 2012 to build empowered communities and improve mental health resources for young adults.

Gaga believes that mental health is just as vital to our wellbeing as physical health, and insists that talking about it can really help.

“I’ve suffered through depression and anxiety my entire life – I still suffer with it every single day,” she said.

“I just want these kids to know that that depth that they feel as human beings is normal. We were born that way. This modern thing, where everyone is feeling shallow and less connected? That‘s not human.

“I think it’s better when we all say: ‘Cheers!’ And ‘fess up to it.”

Fish urges people to talk

In 2012, tennis star Mardy Fish began suffering from anxiety attacks so serious that he had to withdraw before a match against Rodger Federer at the US Open.

His anxiety ultimately led him to retiring from the sport, but therapy, medication and talking openly about his mental-health difficulties have proved to be a life-saver.

“Mental health is not a very easy thing to talk about in sports,” he told the Players’ Tribune. “It’s not perceived as very masculine.

“We’re so trained to be ‘mentally tough,’ in sports. To show weakness, we’re told, in so many words, is to deserve shame.”

Fish has refused to be defined by anxiety disorder and has found his way back into tennis as captain of the US Davis Cup team.

He believes that his previous experiences make him well-equipped to help the current crop of players deal with the pressures of representing their country.

“To be the Davis Cup captain, the next Davis Cup captain, I’m incredibly humbled,” Fish said. “I can’t even express how excited I am, how excited I am that the players have supported the decision.

“The friendships I’ve made throughout the years, relationships of all the players, not just the top players, is very special.”

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Living with anxiety can make even the most mundane of situations difficult to deal with. To get through the day often requires you to use coping mechanisms that others don’t understand or have no patience with. It can cost you your relationships, job, and self-esteem.

Although anxiety is a serious, chronic condition, there are ways that you can help manage it yourself if you are determined to get it under control. Here are 5 ways that you can work through your anxiety every day.

How to Keep Your Anxiety Controlled

1. Try some teas. It sounds like putting a band-aid on a serious wound, but there are numerous scientific studies that show that teas like chamomile and lavender have calming properties that work to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety.

Chamomile, for example, has certain compounds that connect to the same receptors in your brain that drugs like Valium do. If tea isn’t your thing, you can often find chamomile and lavender naturally in supplement form.

Image source Pixabay

2. Take a mental health break. Your entire future depends on what you do in each moment, and when you are making decisions with anxiety ruling your actions, it can be dangerous to your long-term health.

Instead of letting your anxiety mess up your chances for a successful, happy life, try to take mental health breaks when you need them. Go on a trip, visit friends, keep your mind off of things that make you inherently anxious. And if you need to take time off of work to avoid serious complications, you might want to look into short term disability for anxiety.

3. Get some exercise. It can seem like the hardest thing to do when you are in the throes of anxiety, but force yourself to get out of the house. You don’t necessarily have to hit the gym and spend an hour doing cardio. Even a brisk walk around the neighborhood is often enough to shake most people out of their anxious state in that moment.

4. Watch your food intake. Certain foods trigger feelings of anxiety, and others help reduce those triggers. If you aren’t getting enough vitamins and minerals, like folate or phytonutrients, your body may be kicking into panic mode or displaying symptoms of anxiety that could have easily been avoided if you were simply eating right.

5. Get real with yourself. When you catch your mind delving into those “What ifs” and nightmare predictions that might or might not come true, inhale a few deep breaths, take a break from what you are doing, and try to pinpoint what’s real versus what you may be blowing out of proportion.

Consider whether what you are worrying about so much is actually likely to happen, then take it a little further and explore the consequences that could occur if it did happen. Chances are, they aren’t as bad as you are building them up to be.

Then, take it a little further and ask yourself what you can possibly do to stop it from happening. If, as things do, life must unfold by itself without your superhero tendencies, then you should just do the best that you can do and let everything else happen as it will.

You Don’t Have to Take Anxiety Laying Down

None of these suggestions will work for everyone with anxiety, and if you have a serious case of this condition, you should speak with your doctor. However, the first step to healing is to admit you have a problem and then attempt to take control of your life.

With these 5 ways to manage anxiety yourself, you can put your life back on track and get a handle on your anxiety.

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It’s well-known that living in New York City can be extremely stressful. With so much going on around you, it’s hard to find a time to relax and catch your breath, especially if you’re also dealing with school or work-related stress. With that in mind, here are some ways to reduce stress and anxiety while living in NYC.

Find a therapist

First, try enlisting the help of a professional. A simple online search, such as “therapist in NYC,” or “therapist near me” will yield a multitude of results. You can also try asking friends and family for recommendations. Talking to a therapist will help you get to the root of your anxiety. You’ll learn coping mechanisms to use anytime you start feeling overwhelmed. In addition to helping you fight stress and anxiety, therapy can provide you with a ton of other benefits.

Your therapist will also provide guidance on how to make sure your body is prepared to handle any stress that might come your way. Stress and anxiety can weaken your body and cause physical symptoms if left untreated — in fact, too much stress can actually make you sick. Eating healthy, drinking enough water, and setting aside time to focus on yourself are all essential.

Get enough sleep

Since noise pollution is rampant throughout the city, it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep. Noise pollution is disruptive and can keep your body in high alert when you should be asleep. When you’re experiencing a lack of sleep, you’ll become more easily distressed, as well as irritable and restless. Noise pollution has been attributed to increased rates of cardiovascular disease, psychological issues, and other negative stress responses.

You should aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night. You can reduce noise in your apartment by sleeping with earplugs, hanging heavy curtains or sealing your windows, and hanging coverings on your walls to block and absorb the noise. To help you fall asleep, you may choose to visit your doctor who might recommend melatonin or meditating for a few minutes before bed. Remember to put away your phone at least a half-hour before you plan on going to bed.

Hit the gym

Try to find time to hit the gym. Exercise has been shown to reduce stress by boosting your brain’s production of endorphins. Along with making you feel good in the moment, regular physical activity helps increase self-confidence and reduces symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. Exercise can also be helpful in falling asleep easier.

The gym is also a great way to meditate because it’ll force you to concentrate on your body’s movements rather than what happened the other day at work. Once you begin regularly going to the gym, your brain will become used to focusing on a single task, which can be a useful skill in most things you do. If you’re hesitant to go alone, ask a friend or co-worker to come with you.

Find things that make you happy

It’s easy to feel suffocated when all you do is go to work, come home, and sleep. Find activities that you enjoy and make time for them. Whether it’s shopping, checking out a museum, or creating art, the possibilities are virtually endless in NYC. You’re in the center of everything, so try picking up some new hobbies and making new acquaintances and friends. Finding things that make you feel content will help reduce stress and anxiety as well as allow you to dedicate time toward bettering yourself.

Overcoming the stress and anxiety of living in NYC can seem like a monumental task, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple lifestyle changes, you can start feeling happier and learn how to effectively deal with feeling overwhelmed. All in all, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.

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Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is an anxiety disorder which can develop after a very stressful, frightening or distressing event, or a prolonged traumatic experience.

People naturally feel afraid when in danger, but the legacy of some traumatic events is a change in perception of fear.

Image source Wikimedia

Image source Wikimedia

They may feel stressed or frightened in day-to-day life.

PTSD can be caused by any traumatic event – including military conflict, serious road accidents, natural disasters, assaults, and muggings.

Patients typically tend to re-experience the event in flashbacks, avoid talking about it, have trouble sleeping, or experience a change in mood.