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Grief Therapy: All You Need to Know

Grief & Loss / by fruityPond7887

August 12th

...See more "If you’re coping with grief, counseling can help you to process the feelings of shock, pain, and anger that can accompany bereavement. Grief is one of the few truly universal human experiences. Everyone will experience loss at some point in their life, but that doesn’t make it any easier to prepare for. Just as no two deaths are quite the same, the experience of grief can vary from one person to the next. There’s no timeline, and no clear blueprint to follow. Some people may find that they’re able to find ways to cope with a loss relatively quickly, while for other people, grief will go on for a prolonged period, and it may start to interfere with their daily life. Many factors can affect how a person grieves. Processing a sudden or violent death might look different than processing a death that was expected. On the other hand, losing a loved one to a terminal condition comes with its own unique and painful emotions. No matter the circumstances, there’s no real way to prepare yourself for bereavement, but there are options to help you cope. You’re not alone. What is therapy for grief? Grief therapy is often referred to as grief counseling or bereavement counseling. It’s a type of psychotherapy that’s specifically designed to help you to cope with: * the loss of a loved one or pet * job transitions * moving-related loss * changes in romantic relationships, such as divorce or breakups. Anyone may benefit from grief therapy, but it may be especially helpful if the grief you’re experiencing: * affects your day-to-day life or relationships * causes you excessive guilt * has prompted symptoms of depression [https://psychcentral.com/depression/depression] that don’t seem to be improving over time It’s natural to feel overwhelmed by emotions after a significant loss. But if your grief feels like too much to handle, or it’s beginning to affect your ability to function, grief therapy could be a helpful option. Are there different types of grief? Grief can take all kinds of different forms, and there are several distinct types that a person may experience. Grief therapy can be particularly helpful in these cases. 1. Traumatic grief 2. Complicated grief 3. Anticipatory grief 4. Ambiguous loss Grief therapy techniques Any form of talk therapy [https://psychcentral.com/lib/psychotherapy] can be effective for bereavement because it creates a safe, non-judgmental space for a person to express any emotions they’re experiencing. In some cases, there are specific techniques that a therapist may use to treat grief. 1. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) 2. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) 3. Complicated grief therapy (CGT) Let’s recap Bereavement is one of the most challenging experiences anyone can go through. No matter the circumstances, a significant loss always brings an onslaught of emotions that can feel overwhelming. But grief looks different for everyone. In many cases, people are able to work through grief without counseling. But in some situations, particularly when a loss is sudden or unnatural, grief can become more chronic. In these cases, grief therapy can be a worthwhile option. If you’ve recently experienced a loss, try not to put any pressure on yourself to grieve in a particular way, or on a particular timeline. It’s natural to feel intense sadness and pain, and also to feel emotionally numb at times. These aren’t necessarily signs that you need to seek professional help. But if your feelings feel impossible to handle or they’re affecting your life and relationships, consider reaching out to a therapist. They can help you to take care of yourself, and give you the space you need to process your loss." *Grief is an extremely complex emotion and it looks different for everyone. There is no timeline or correct way to work through loss and loss also doesn't just have to be a death of a loved one. It can be the loss of a pet, a job switch, or a move. Grief can become chronic for some and that's okay! It's at this point when someone should consider seeing a mental health professional. There's no shame in reaching out for help because they can provide a safe space for someone to work through their grief. We will all go through grief at some point in life, so it's important to know that we are never truly alone. 💛 Have you ever gone through grief where you needed to reach out for professional help? What was your experience like?* #Grief #Loss #GriefTherapy #Coping Please find the full article at Psych Central [https://psychcentral.com/health/therapy-for-grief#recap]! If you liked this article, you may like this one! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/CommunityProjectsEvents_184/ArticlesandQuotes_2369/Wecanthavechangewithoutloss_289676/]

Article: How to Stop "Obsessing" Over a Lost Friendship

Friendship Support / by fruityPond7887

May 15th, 2023

...See more "Friendship breakups aren’t easy. But reflecting on how the loss of a friendship has affected you, prioritizing self-care, and speaking with those you trust may help you overcome the loss. A friendship breakup hurts, sometimes more than a romantic relationship ending. You may have drifted apart from your friend, had a falling out, or experienced a hurtful situation. Many people constantly think about what went wrong or what they could have done differently. It’s natural to wonder about these things, but it sometimes becomes a frequent preoccupation with how much you miss your friend. Reflecting on lost friendships is part of the healing process, but it becomes difficult to move forward if you “obsess” over it. Learning to stop overthinking about a friendship breakup can help you regain focus and look forward to the future with a new perspective. How to move on after a friendship breakup 1. Talk with someone you trust Licensed marriage and family therapist Angela Sitka [http://www.angelasitka.com/], LMFT, suggests talking with someone you trust to help you stop overthinking about a lost friendship. She explains that since people don’t always realize the void a friendship breakup can leave, it’s essential to “communicate your needs to others with an open invitation for your loved ones to step up and support you.” Talking with a friend or family member can help you process what happened. You can vent to them and listen to their advice or feedback to help you feel better. Consider talking with someone who isn’t a mutual friend of the person you’re talking about to avoid drama or unnecessary discomfort. If you’re uncomfortable talking with someone in your life, a therapist [https://psychcentral.com/reviews/affordable-therapy] can help. They’ll help you process the breakup and discover ways to move forward. Sitka explains, “a skilled relationship therapist can help you find closure for yourself, and also give you insights to consider with future friendships.” 2. Make new habits and memories When you’re close to someone, you might not have tried new things or stepped out of your comfort zone. Without realizing it, friendships can hold you back as you become complacent. If that friendship ends, you can use it as an opportunity to create new habits and build new memories. 3. Take a social media break According to a small 2022 Australian studyTrusted Source [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9295248/], excessive use of social media may lead to comparison, low self-esteem, and depression. Consider taking a break from using social media for about 1 to 4 weeks. It might be hard, but avoiding social media can help you carve out time for activities you enjoy or focus on self-care. You may also consider using your time away from social media to focus on your community or to help those in need. Oftentimes, helping others [https://psychcentral.com/health/altruism-examples] and spending time in our community can remind us that we’re not alone and provide a sense of connection. Next steps The pain from a friendship breakup is real, and you’ll need time to heal. It’s sometimes worse than a romantic breakup or other loss, so try to not beat yourself up for having a hard time. If you’re experiencing hardships in the midst of losing a friend, you’re not alone. The following tips may help you cope with the loss: * speak with a person you trust * put your well-being first * reach out to mental health professional [https://psychcentral.com/health/mental-health-resources] * create new memories and habits * set boundaries on social media * openly communicating to find a resolution These tips can help you move on from a friendship breakup and find happiness again. You can find other friends and experience joy in new experiences. Stay hopeful, and you’ll find friends who love and support [https://psychcentral.com/relationships/benefits-of-friendship#support-system] you." *Personally, friendships ending has been some of the worst pain I've endured, especially as a child. I have always put a lot of energy into my relationships because I value my friends as family. I've had multiple friendships end, some of which I never knew why and it hurts. I think something important that I learned along the way is to not "put all your eggs in one basket." My mom taught me that because you have to be able to have a lot of different people in your life because you can't put all your stock in one relationship. You never know what could happen and you'll need other people to support you. One thing I do know for sure is that the right people will come along and they will stay. Everyone is there for a reason, but you will find those that are meant to be family. Keep your head up and lean on those around you for support during this time and everything will be okay! Have you ever lost a friendship? What did you do to help heal during this time?* #FriendshipBreakup #Friendship #Grief Please find the full article at Psych Central! [https://psychcentral.com/health/surviving-a-friendship-break-up#next-steps] If you liked this article, you may like this one [https://www.7cups.com/forum/CommunityProjectsEvents_184/ArticlesandQuotes_2369/WaystoGetAlongwithFriendsWhoDisagree_293555/] about how to get along with friends who disagree.

Article: Daily 11 minute brisk walk enough to reduce risk of early death

Motivation & Accountability / by fruityPond7887

May 12th, 2023

...See more "One in ten early deaths could be prevented if everyone managed at least half the recommended level of physical activity, say a team led by researchers at the University of Cambridge. In a study published today in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the researchers say that 11 minutes a day (75 minutes a week) of moderate-intensity physical activity -- such as a brisk walk -- would be sufficient to lower the risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke and a number of cancers. Cardiovascular diseases -- such as heart disease and stroke -- are the leading cause of death globally, responsible for 17.9 million deaths per year in 2019, while cancers were responsible for 9.6 million deaths in 2017. Physical activity -- particularly when it is moderate-intensity -- is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and the NHS recommends that adults do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity a week. To explore the amount of physical activity necessary to have a beneficial impact on several chronic diseases and premature death, researchers from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis, pooling and analysing cohort data from all of the published evidence. This approach allowed them to bring together studies that on their own did not provide sufficient evidence and sometimes disagreed with each other to provide more robust conclusions. In total, they looked at results reported in 196 peer-reviewed articles, covering more than 30 million participants from 94 large study cohorts, to produce the largest analysis to date of the association between physical activity levels and risk of heart disease, cancer, and early death. The researchers found that, outside of work-related physical activity, two out of three people reported activity levels below 150 min per week of moderate-intensity activity and fewer than one in ten managed more than 300 min per week. Broadly speaking, they found that beyond 150 min per week of moderate-intensity activity, the additional benefits in terms of reduced risk of disease or early death were marginal. But even half this amount came with significant benefits: accumulating 75 min per week of moderate-intensity activity brought with it a 23% lower risk of early death. Dr. Soren Brage from the MRC Epidemiology Unit said: "If you are someone who finds the idea of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week a bit daunting, then our findings should be good news. Doing some physical activity is better than doing none. This is also a good starting position -- if you find that 75 minutes a week is manageable, then you could try stepping it up gradually to the full recommended amount." Seventy-five minutes per week of moderate activity was also enough to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 17% and cancer by 7%. For some specific cancers, the reduction in risk was greater -- head and neck, myeloid leukaemia, myeloma, and gastric cardia cancers were between 14-26% lower risk. For other cancers, such as lung, liver, endometrial, colon, and breast cancer, a 3-11% lower risk was observed. Professor James Woodcock from the MRC Epidemiology Unit said: "We know that physical activity, such as walking or cycling, is good for you, especially if you feel it raises your heart rate. But what we've found is there are substantial benefits to heart health and reducing your risk of cancer even if you can only manage 10 minutes every day." The researchers calculated that if everyone in the studies had done the equivalent of at least 150 min per week of moderate-intensity activity, around one in six (16%) early deaths would be prevented. One in nine (11%) cases of cardiovascular disease and one in 20 (5%) cases of cancer would be prevented. However, even if everyone managed at least 75 min per week of moderate-intensity physical activity, around one in ten (10%) early deaths would be prevented. One in twenty (5%) cases of cardiovascular disease and nearly one in thirty (3%) cases of cancer would be prevented. Dr. Leandro Garcia from Queen's University Belfast said: "Moderate activity doesn't have to involve what we normally think of exercise, such as sports or running. Sometimes, replacing some habits is all that is needed. For example, try to walk or cycle to your work or study place instead of using a car, or engage in active play with your kids or grand kids. Doing activities that you enjoy and that are easy to include in your weekly routine is an excellent way to become more active." The research was funded by the Medical Research Council and the European Research Council. What counts as moderate-intensity physical activity? Moderate-intensity physical activity raises your heart rate and makes you breathe faster, but you would still be able to speak during the activity. Examples include: * Brisk walking * Dancing * Riding a bike * Playing tennis * Hiking" *I think many of us have this view that exercise needs to be very intense for it to count as being active, but that's so far from the truth. The recommended amount of exercise is 150 minutes per week, but even doing half of that still has been shown to lower risks to our health. Even doing 10 minutes of brisk walking has benefits! We don't need to run 10 miles to feel the benefits of exercise. I know that we are all very busy with work and life, but just making small changes can help increase our activity levels! What are some ways you can change your habits to help increase how active you are?* #Exercise #Active #HealthRisks Please find the full article at ScienceDaily! [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230228205249.htm] If you liked this article, you may like this one [https://www.7cups.com/forum/HealthyLiving_141/ExerciseandActivity_825/HeresHowtoMakeYourselfLoveExercise_302853/] on how to make yourself love exercise!

Article: Kids are messy. So why are moms under so much pressure to keep their homes spotless?

Family & Caregivers / by fruityPond7887

May 10th, 2023

...See more "Recently, I conducted an experiment. I noticed a scrap of paper on our stairs and started to pick it up. As the mom I tend to notice messes in our family of six before anyone else does, it seems. Instead of picking up this tiny scrap of paper, though, I left it there. I noticed it day after day. I swept around it as I waited for anyone else to pick it up. No one did for three weeks — except my own mother. I told her about my experiment and she carefully placed the scrap back where she had found it. A few days later I called it quits and sucked the paper up in the Dyson wand on a quick cleanup before friends came over. Initially, I left the paper there to prove the point that no one else in our family cares about messes. But I learned something else as well. That tiny white square, languishing for weeks on end, didn’t actually affect anything. We still got up, went to school, played at the park and had movie nights. I began to think about the various homes I have visited over the years, both as a government caseworker and in my personal life. Very few look Instagrammable all of the time, and most look just like mine. They’re in a state of flux as families rush from activity to activity. Messy homes are normal, so why was I wasting so much time stressing over this? I posed a question about the state of our homes on social media. Within an hour, over 100 people had shared their stress, woes or laissez-faire attitude about their home. Turns out I am not the only mom who is seeking permission to stop caring so much. I asked Bonnie Scott [http://www.mindfulkindnesscounseling.com/], a licensed psychotherapist in Texas and the host of the upcoming Work and Wellness [https://www.workandwellnesspodcast.com/] podcast, what she thought about the constant pressure on moms to keep our homes tidy. She says the topic comes up often with her clients. “The state of our living spaces is a source of a lot of conflict — internal and external. Even in homes where the labor is divided pretty equally between partners, there's often one person who takes more of the stress over appearance,” she says. The root of this issue, in her opinion, is largely rooted in social media and comparing ourselves to others. “It's my very firm mantra that a home should work for you, not be a bunch of work for you,” Scott says. We've spent time at home more than ever over the past few years, figuring out how to make our homes work for us. For some parents I talked to, that’s been a relief. Rachel Hoyt is a single mom of three and a social worker in Chicago. “I have been in many people’s homes over the last 15 years across many racial and socioeconomic spectrums. Across the board, most homes with children looked … well, like kids live there,” she says. “There is almost always a pile of shoes and backpacks somewhere near a door. Kids’ bedrooms have messily made beds at best. It never really struck me as odd. After all, I was there to see a family with kids.” And yet, despite her knowledge that most homes get messy, Hoyt found herself struggling with the condition of her own house. “I began feeling like I was a failure for not keeping the house to influencer-level cleanliness. It probably didn’t help that it was in the middle of COVID and I wasn’t seeing inside other people's houses.” Once she started venturing out again, Hoyt says she was relieved. “There were kids’ art projects all over the fridges, toothpaste on the bathroom mirror or baby equipment taking over a living room,” she recalls. She’s been able to relax more and focus on enjoying her home rather than comparing herself to others. That influencer level of clean, where homes look more like a staged HGTV space than a lived-in house, isn’t really attainable for most parents without a great deal of added stress, says Scott. “Comparing your space to others is in no way helpful, because you don't live in those spaces. We can treat those magazine shots, HGTV reveals and social media posts as what they really are: art-directed spaces presented as perfection,” she says. They are staged to sell, inspire or get you to click. “They are not necessarily instructions for your real-life spaces. They are art and can be appreciated as such.” You don’t have a design team and personal assistant, so why would your home be able to look as if you do? In Pittsburgh, Jessica Palitti thinks about the state of mess incessantly. “I am constantly anxious about my house. It has taken a long time for me to learn to let go ... to be OK with the dishes being in the sink today because I'm tired or doing something with my kids is more important," she says. As a single mom of two girls who owns a bustling performing arts studio, those precious moments with her kids matter. “But those dishes, man — they are constantly in the back of my mind,” Palitti admits. Some parents say their homes are messy, and they hate it. “I have a messy house, and I feel both ways about it — stressed and accepting," says one. Another mom jokes, “I have ketchup curtains, holes in my drywall and we never recarpeted the stairs.” While I am not actually sure what ketchup curtains means, given the way my kids use walls as napkins, I can take a guess. Other moms say their anxiety over mess is debilitating. “I can’t even let my kids enjoy things like kinetic sand or slime. My anxiety is too high that they will stain or ruin something,” one mom shares. “It doesn’t feel fair to them.” Another parent says, “This stress is too much. The constant construction and undone projects are one thing. But it's impossible to organize. The stress is so debilitating.” I asked Scott about the anxiety that can develop for parents about their homes. While there are clinical disorders related to cleaning and organization, like obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), there are also a lot of parents who just are holding their families to an unachievable standard, she says. “If you're snapping at your loved ones because they spilled crumbs, it's time to ask yourself what that stress is about and how to mitigate it," she says. "That's a space that's working against you.” This doesn’t mean homes need to be a free-for-all, but it does mean you don’t have to only buy white cheddar Cheetos [https://money.yahoo.com/kim-kardashian-jokes-she-switched-204756545.html]. “It's totally fine to set boundaries around what you need to feel comfy at home,” Scott says. “I don't typically allow slime myself, because it's a gross texture and I don't like looking at it. It gets full of cat hair and that's real nasty. But my kid brings it home sometimes, and she can play with it as long as she cleans up.” She adds that her kid’s room is a complete disaster zone, and she’s had to let it go for the benefit of their relationship. “I've tried to help her organize it and that's not what works for her.” Scott says she’s had more success teaching her daughter about respect and stewardship than she has with haranguing her over messes. Their house is a cozy, maximalist space that will always be a bit cluttered, but they do want to avoid growing ant colonies under a bed. “It's just a reasonable task to be tidy, and we are all less stressed when no one is being nagged," she notes. Ultimately, Scott says parents should prioritize presence over perfection. “If you're super-stressed because your home isn’t ‘up to par,’ then you’re severely limiting your time to connect with others — because perfection isn't attainable," she says. "Someday you'll be on your deathbed and you'll be annoyed with how much of your life you spent folding socks instead of drinking coffee with friends.” If you are concerned that your anxiety over your home may need professional treatment, please contact The International OCD Foundation [https://iocdf.org/] or a local mental health practitioner." *I found this article so interesting because while I am not a mom, I still get very anxious about my house being dirty. I used to live with 5 other girls while in college and I conducted the same experiment that the mom did in the article 😂 I basically got the same results too. The girls were so dirty and it felt like me and my one other roommate were the only ones that cared about making sure the house was clean. Not only did they have stuff everywhere, but they were dirty. They would leave food out and a plate sat in the sink so long that it rusted! Just like the moms in the article, I had to learn to accept that the house wasn't going to always be clean and it wasn't easy. I share my experience because I want others to know that you aren't alone with this stress, even if you aren't a mom! Life gets busy and living life is more important than always having a spotless house. Of course, you have to live in a clean space. But, it doesn't always have to be spotless. Do you struggle with anxiety about having a clean house? What have you found to help ease that stress?* #CleanHome #Mess #Stress #Parenting Please find the full article at Yahoo. [https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/moms-mess-pressure-to-keep-homes-clean-133009832.html] If you liked this article, you may like this one [https://www.7cups.com/forum/CommunityProjectsEvents_184/ArticlesandQuotes_2369/ThriveGlobalHowtoFindMoreJoyEveryDay_281360/] about how to find more joy in everyday.

Article: How moms are taking the lead in shaping children's education

Family & Caregivers / by fruityPond7887

May 11th, 2023

...See more "A new global study, which takes a gender-sensitive approach, has found that a mother's educational status plays an increasingly important role in shaping their children's educational status, while the importance of the father's educational status has declined. Education expansion was expected to create greater social mobility around the world, but new global evidence from Lancaster University and the University of British Columbia challenges this assumption and shows how gender really matters. Contrary to expectations, education expansion has not necessarily made educational opportunities more equal for children with different backgrounds of parental education across many regions of the world, the study finds. Existing research on social mobility -- the extent to which children can achieve educational success irrespective of family background -- has focused primarily on the role of the father but not the mother. But the importance of a mother's educational status for their children's and especially daughters' educational mobility has caught up with or overtaken that of a father's status, particularly in Africa, Asia, the Pacific and Europe including the UK, says the research. 'Gender, education expansion and intergenerational educational mobility around the world' by Professor Yang Hu, of Lancaster University, and Professor Yue Qian, of the University of British Columbia, in Canada, is published today in the journal, Nature Human Behaviour. For this study, the researchers assembled a large-scale global dataset, which contained 1.79 million individuals born between 1956 and 1990 from 106 societies worldwide. The societies examined in the study host nearly 90% of the world's population. With the rise of gender equality and an increase in the proportion of mothers paired with a less-educated father, mother-child associations in educational status become stronger but father-child associations become weaker, says the research. Conversely, in less gender-equal contexts that have a larger proportion of mothers paired with a more-educated father, mother-daughter associations in educational status are weaker. "Given women's rise in education, the gender-blind patriarchal measurement of intergenerational educational mobility is increasingly untenable," says Professor Hu. "And our findings show that with the global expansion of education, the rising importance of mothers' education has effectively maintained, if not increased, the influence of parents' education on their children's social mobility in many regions." He added: "Existing evidence focusing only on fathers provides an over-optimistic picture of social mobility. Our findings call for a gender-sensitive approach to measuring intergenerational mobility, for academics, governments, and international organizations to more accurately capture and better understand the implications of education expansion." As the number of single-parent, particularly single-mother, families increase globally, it is possible that this change in family structure would further bolster the importance of the mother in children's social mobility, says the research. Professor Qian said: "Given the persistent gendered division of labour in the family, mothers still bear the brunt of childrearing responsibilities across many parts of the world. "Scarce attention has been paid to the role of mothers in their children's social mobility, a question with implications for socioeconomic inequality on a global scale. "This study was initially motivated by our discontent with the patriarchal and western-centric focus of mainstream social mobility research. "As our research evolved, it became apparent to us how a gender lens and a global scope enable new understandings of what happens when education expansion meets with the gender revolution. "As we celebrate International Women's Day, we hope our findings help catalyse new, gender-sensitive approaches to data collection and measurement development, to inform educational and social policy." *I wanted to share this research because I didn't realize how impact a mother's educational background is to her children's future education. This new research has shown that the mother's education has more of an impact on the future children's education than the father's, as of recently. It's important to conduct this research because gender norms are changing and families are as well. There has been an increase in single-mother families, so this can have a huge global impact in regards to children's social mobility, which is how successful a child can be regardless of family background. It's important that we continue to encourage our children to further their education because research shows that it will have a future impact on their children! What further questions arose as you were reading this research?* #Education #Children #GenderRoles #Mothers Please find the full article at Science Daily! [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230308112110.htm] If you liked this article, you may like this one [https://www.7cups.com/forum/WomensIssues_217/Discussions_2507/TheMotherhoodPenaltyintheWorkplace_298282/] on the motherhood penalty in the workplace.

Article: Detecting stress in the office from how people type and click

Work & Career / by fruityPond7887

May 9th, 2023

...See more "In Switzerland, one in three employees suffers from workplace stress. Those affected often don't realise that their physical and mental resources are dwindling until it's too late. This makes it all the more important to identify work-related stress as early as possible where it arises: in the workplace. Researchers at ETH Zurich are now taking a crucial step in this direction. Using new data and machine learning, they have developed a model that can tell how stressed we are just from the way we type and use our mouse. And there's more: "How we type on our keyboard and move our mouse seems to be a better predictor of how stressed we feel in an office environment than our heart rate," explains study author Mara Nägelin, a mathematician who conducts research at the Chair of Technology Marketing and the Mobiliar Lab for Analytics at ETH Zurich. Applied correctly, these findings could be used in future to prevent increased stress in the workplace early on. Stressed people type and click differently The ETH researchers proved in an experiment that stressed people type and move their mouse differently from relaxed people. "People who are stressed move the mouse pointer more often and less precisely and cover longer distances on the screen. Relaxed people, on the other hand, take shorter, more direct routes to reach their destination and take more time doing so," Nägelin says. What's more, people who feel stressed in the office make more mistakes when typing. They write in fits and start with many brief pauses. Relaxed people take fewer but longer pauses when typing on a keyboard. The connection between stress and our typing and mouse behaviour can be explained with what is known as neuromotor noise theory: "Increased levels of stress negatively impact our brain's ability to process information. This also affects our motor skills," explains psychologist Jasmine Kerr, who researches with Nägelin and is a coauthor of the study. Simulating office stress as realistically as possible To develop their stress model, the ETH researchers observed 90 study participants in the lab performing office tasks that were as close to reality as possible, such as planning appointments or recording and analysing data. They recorded the participants' mouse and keyboard behaviour as well as their heart rates. In addition, the researchers asked the participants several times during the experiment how stressed they felt. While some participants were allowed to work undisturbed, others also had to take part in a job interview. Half of this group were also repeatedly interrupted with chat messages. In contrast to earlier studies by other scientists, where the control group often did not have to solve any tasks at all and could relax, in the ETH researchers' experiment, all participants had to perform the office tasks. "We were surprised that typing and mouse behaviour was a better predictor of how stressed subjects felt better than heart rate," Nägelin says. She explains that this is because the heart rates of the participants in the two groups did not differ as much as in other studies. One possible reason is that the control group was also given activities to perform, which is more in line with workplace reality. Data must be protected The researchers are currently testing their model with data from Swiss employees who have agreed to have their mouse and keyboard behaviour as well as their heart data recorded directly at their workplace using an app. The same app also regularly asks the employees about their subjective stress levels. Results should be available by the end of the year. However, workplace stress detection also raises some thorny issues: "The only way people will accept and use our technology is if we can guarantee that we will anonymize and protect their data. We want to help workers to identify stress early, not create a monitoring tool for companies," Kerr says. In another study involving employees and ethicists, the researchers are investigating which features an app needs to have to meet these requirements and ensure responsible handling of sensitive data." *I thought this research was really cool! It definitely makes sense that our typing and clicking habits would change depending on how stressed we are feeling at work. I thought the heart rate point was really interesting as well! I'm not sure if I would agree to have this data be taken on me while I was working though. I wonder if having the data taken affected the person's stress levels at all? Very cool research! Do you think you would participate in this research? What if it was privatized?* #WorkStress #Typing #Clicking #WorkPlaceStress Please find the full article at Science Daily! [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230411150512.htm] If you liked this article, you may like this one [https://www.7cups.com/forum/WorkCareer_218/WorkStress_2510/SoloNoKidsWhatAboutWorkLifeBalance_301521/] about work-life balance!

Article: A Run A Day Can Keep The Anxiety Away

Motivation & Accountability / by fruityPond7887

May 5th, 2023

...See more "Have you ever wondered why you feel so good after a workout? Maybe it boils down to the sense of accomplishment after having sat in a class or work desk all day, or maybe it is because exercise helps activate specific cortexes of the brain. Running is proven to help you relax in the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus. The prefrontal cortex is the area of the brain in charge of attention and focus, while the hippocampus works to help with learning and memory. Physical activity not only stimulates these two parts of the brain but prompts the body to release endorphins which help ease anxious feelings. Not only does running stimulate the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus and release serotonin, but it also blocks pain signals, producing an influx of serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate social behavior, mood, sleep, and appetite. Therefore, running, especially outside where you can also receive some eco-therapy, is great for easing anxiety. While it can definitely be hard to get up and run the first couple of days, after a couple the benefits start flowing in. Throughout the day you may feel more energy, less anxiety, and happier due to the release of serotonin. A run a day does not "scare" the anxiety away for everyone, but it is a great outdoor and indoor activity to get active and working. And if you run socially, it can help lessen anxiety and increase social time on busy weeks. Try running next time you have a big test coming up or need to sit down a study for a couple of hours. This self-competitive sport is a godsend to any busybody who finds going to the gym too time-consuming but wants all of the benefits of working out." *Running is only one great way to exercise to not only stay healthy, but to keep our mental health in check. Exercise can help release endorphins, which can block pain signals and make our anxious thoughts stay at bay. It doesn't have to be running either. Any exercise is beneficial! I like to walk, but swimming, biking, Zumba, etc. are great! Make sure you enjoy the exercise you are doing because that will make it that much easier to do! What is your favorite exercise to participate in?* #Running #Exercise #Endorphins Please find the full article at The Odyssey Online. [https://www.theodysseyonline.com/run-day-scares-anxiety-away] If you liked this article, you may like this one [https://www.7cups.com/forum/HealthyLiving_141/ExerciseandActivity_825/6simplestepstobuildanexercisehabit_298460/] on 6 simple steps to build an exercise habit.

Article: How to Maintain a Social Life When You're Quitting Drinking

Alcohol & Drug Addiction Support / by fruityPond7887

May 29th, 2023

...See more "Being sober doesn't have to mean giving up your social life, yet managing sobriety in a social setting (especially when alcohol is involved) can be a bit of a challenge. You may have a lot of concerns about going out after quitting drinking. * Can I have fun without drinking? * How will my friends react? * Will I feel self-conscious without a little liquid courage? * Can I say "no" and stick to it? If you're in early recovery, you'll want to stay away from any situation where alcohol or drugs are involved for some time. These environments can trigger cravings and put you at risk of relapse.1 If you have decided to cut back on alcohol for your health, or you're more established in your sobriety, social environments that involve drinking may be easier to navigate. Still, being prepared and having a plan can help you enjoy going out after you’ve quit drinking. Have an Honest Talk With Your Friends It’s up to you to decide how much information to share and who to share it with. You certainly don’t have to justify your decision. Some people drink, and some people don’t. Everyone has their own choice to make, and no explanation is needed. Let them know what they can do to help. Perhaps you’d appreciate a sober buddy, or someone else staying sober [https://www.verywellmind.com/tips-for-staying-clean-and-sober-67900] with you when you go out or helping you resist the temptation to drink. Or maybe you’d still like to hang out together, but not in bars. You might even still like to do the same things—such as playing cards or watching movies together—but without alcohol. Hopefully, some of your friends will support your decision. In fact, some of them might also be thinking about cutting back on their own alcohol use and be inspired by you. Be Prepared for People’s Reactions While some of your friends may be totally supportive of your decision, others may seem indifferent or respond in a negative way. Your sobriety might serve as a reminder to your "drinking buddies" that they're consuming unhealthy amounts of alcohol, or stir up a bit of anxiety if they feel uncomfortable socializing sober. Or, they may simply want you to partake alongside them because they think you’ll all have more fun together when drinking. Just knowing a few possible reactions will help ensure that you're not taken by surprise and you're able to cope: * Nagging: Your friends may say things like, “Come on, can you please just have one drink to loosen up a little?” * Teasing: You may get made fun of for being "boring" or "lame." Some friends might say you can’t handle your alcohol or that you’re getting too old to drink. * Cajoling: Your friends might try to act as though they’re doing you a favor by buying you a drink, so you can “have fun.” Or, they may try to convince you that if you just have one drink, they won’t tell anyone. * Peer pressure: Your pals might gang up on you a bit and try to talk you into having a drink. They may even pass out a round of shots and try to insist that you join in. * Confrontation: An upset friend may even confront you and insist that your unwillingness to drink is a sign of something bigger, like a “controlling partner” or “a midlife crisis [https://www.verywellmind.com/what-are-the-signs-of-a-midlife-crisis-4175827].” A change in your friendship dynamics doesn’t have to be a bad thing, however. You might find the shift welcoming. There’s always a chance that you’ll enjoy conversations with your friends more when you’re sober. And you may even find that they appreciate you more or respect your decisions. Have a Non-Alcoholic Drink on Hand It’s helpful to have something in your hand at all times. So if you go to a place that serves alcohol, maybe you can immediately order a non-alcoholic drink [https://www.verywellmind.com/dangers-of-drinking-non-alcoholic-beer-63665]. If you go to someone’s home, bring your own drink. Whether you have bottled water or a protein shake with you, keeping a drink in your hand can prevent people from offering you alcohol. It will also help you decline more easily if you are offered a drink, because you can say, “No thanks, I already have one.” Try New Things With Your Friends If your friends are up for trying things that don’t involve alcohol, then you can make some suggestions. * Invite them to go to a park, a museum, or hiking. * Sign up for a class or new activity together. You might find that you get to know each other much better when you’re creating new memories—rather than standing around in the same old bars. They might have fun exploring new places and trying new things with you. Seek Out People Who Don’t Drink You may need to shift your social circle to include people who don’t drink. This may seem tough at first. If you’re surrounded by people who make alcohol a big part of their lives, it can feel like everyone drinks. But in reality, there are plenty of people out there who don’t drink—and who are looking for friends who don’t drink. You just have to find them. You might need to try new activities so that you can meet sober people, including: * Join a volunteer organization. * Attend events that don’t serve alcohol. * Join social media groups for people who participate in sober activities. When you get together with such people, you’ll likely find that they do plenty of activities that don’t involve alcohol—like hiking, skiing, playing games, or fishing. And you might even find that you enjoy doing these types of things much more than activities that involve alcohol. A Word From Verywell Regardless of why you decide to change your drinking habits, socializing sober can feel scary. If you find that you’re struggling to avoid alcohol, or you’re feeling lonely and isolated, consider seeking professional help [https://www.verywellmind.com/best-online-sobriety-support-groups-4844603]. A therapist [https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-choose-the-right-therapist-for-you-4842306] can support your efforts and help you find the strategies that work best for you, your health, and your life." *Our society places a lot of emphasis on socialization and alcohol. In reality, though, alcohol doesn't have as much of an appeal as it should. There are plenty of fun activities to do that don't involve alcohol. If you are cutting back or quitting drinking completely, that's totally fine! You may face some negative reactions from people, but if your friends are treating you negatively because you decided to stop drinking, then you deserve better friends anyway. Friends should support your decisions always! If you still want to go out with friends to places that serve alcohol, having a mocktail is a really great idea! You can still take fun pictures of your fancy drink, but you won't have any effects from the alcohol. Whatever you decide to do, I am proud of you because quitting anything is difficult and you don't owe anyone an explanation. The right people will come along and support you for you. Do whatever makes your heart happy! Do you have any other suggestions for how to maintain a social life when you're quitting drinking?* #QuittingDrinking #Sobriety #SocialLife Please find the full article at Very Well Mind! [https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-go-out-when-you-re-quitting-drinking-4788307] If you liked this article, you may like this one! [https://www.7cups.com/forum/AddictionSupport_131/General_2437/WhatWeGetWrongAbouttheRisksofDrugsandAlcohol_303207/]

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