All posts tagged: cope

Donna Ashworth exclusive: ‘The noise around weight loss jabs can be triggering after battling anorexia – but I’ve found tools to cope’

Donna Ashworth exclusive: ‘The noise around weight loss jabs can be triggering after battling anorexia – but I’ve found tools to cope’

When poet Donna Ashworth bounced into the Second Act podcast studio she was like a ray of sunshine, full of positivity and vitality.  The bestselling poet revealed she has finally, aged 50, managed to find ways to tweak her brain and lead a relatively peaceful life which, having suffered from anorexia and OCD,  since she was a schoolgirl, feels like a massive feat. It was a deeply personal chat and what she was keen to share was that being aware of the triggers that can lead into these conditions is the first step in getting help and taking back control of your busy mind. By sharing her emotional story she hopes she will help others become aware earlier of potential issues that need to be dealt with, and then seek help before it spirals out of control. Donna Ashworth with Ateh Jewel in the Second Act studio With the rise in people getting easy access to weight loss jabs, Donna feels that, now more than ever, people who have suffered from anorexia are feeling vulnerable …

16 Ways People Cope With Breakups

16 Ways People Cope With Breakups

Breakups, especially those which are unwanted, generally unfold as particularly painful experiences. Often, they trigger a range of behaviors that reflect how we regulate loss, attachment, and identity. In a recent study, researchers asked 118 adults (65 women, 53 men; average age 36) to describe how they would cope with the end of a romantic relationship they wanted to continue. From these responses, they identified 84 distinct behaviors, which were organized into 16 coping strategies, and further grouped into five broader patterns of coping. The most common overarching approach involved shifting attention away from the relationship (e.g., focusing on oneself or staying busy), followed by seeking support and social withdrawal. Less commonly, participants reported coping through sex or substances. Gender and age differences also emerged: Women were more likely to seek support, while men were more likely to report casual sex or alcohol use. Interestingly, younger adults were more likely to turn to friends. Following are the 16 specific strategies, along with what each may signal psychologically. 1. Focus on Myself I would focus on …

5 ways the EU could cope with Hungary if Orbán wins again  – POLITICO

5 ways the EU could cope with Hungary if Orbán wins again  – POLITICO

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has floated the increased use of enhanced cooperation among willing member states to bypass unanimity in areas such as competitiveness. Speaking at an EU leaders’ retreat in the Belgian countryside in February, she said: “Our ambition should always be to reach agreement among all 27 member states. However, where a lack of progress or ambition risks undermining Europe’s competitiveness or capacity to act, we should not shy away from using the possibilities foreseen in the treaties under enhanced cooperation.” Why it might not work: While Hungary has opted out of Ukraine-related financial arrangements, alongside Czechia and Slovakia, it continues to block these efforts. On the Ukraine loan, for example, one of the bills that needs approval before the cash can be disbursed requires the agreement of all member countries. “In cases of very urgent need, this can be a vehicle, but in the end it still comes back to a decision by all 27,” one senior diplomat said.  Two other diplomats were critical of these restricted formats, saying they should …

How To Cope With 2026’s SPring Clock Change

How To Cope With 2026’s SPring Clock Change

We’re about to enter British Summer Time (BST). This year (2026), it kicks in at 1am on Sunday, 29 March (in the UK, always happens on the last Sunday of March, thanks in part to Chris Martin’s great-great-grandfather). And while the shift is linked to lower incidences of car accidents, it’s also associated with worse sleep and even a higher risk of heart attacks. So, we thought we’d share the best advice we’ve heard about coping with the change: 1) Eat dinner an hour earlier on Sunday, 29 March Speaking to HuffPost UK previously, Dr Tim Mercer, an NHS GP partner, said, “On Sunday, 29th March, eat dinner an hour earlier than usual.” That’s because “Where we’re losing an hour, eating too close to your bedtime can disturb your sleep and cause indigestion,” he explained. 2) Get some morning sunlight Clock changes can wreak havoc on our Circadian rhythm, or body clock, which is key to a good night’s sleep. But sunlight can help to regulate your sleep-wake cycle, and morning light seems most effective …

Tips to Cope With Bullies

Tips to Cope With Bullies

Bullies want you to recognize how powerful they are. Caring people want you to see how powerful you truly are. Many bullies have an “empathy-deficient disorder” (they are not capable of real empathy) and often show narcissistic, sociopathic, or psychopathic traits. They can be grandiose and arrogant while belittling others’ accomplishments or personal qualities. An ongoing theme in my book, The Genius of Empathy, is valuing your own needs and setting limits with destructive or otherwise hurtful or negligent people. People who bully are notorious for targeting those they perceive as “different,” weak, or flawed, or unable to stick up for themselves. What do they want? Mainly, to have power over people (since deep down they feel powerless), which they get by denigrating and dehumanizing others. What Motivates Bullying? A few factors include fear of people’s differences, unresolved trauma, low self-esteem, a fragile ego, insecurity, and poor parental role modeling. Many bullies get pleasure from being cruel or seeking revenge. Unconsciously, someone who bullies can feel that if they make you wrong, inferior, or “weird,” …

Sarah Beeny exclusive: how I’ll cope with an empty nest when my four sons leave home

Sarah Beeny exclusive: how I’ll cope with an empty nest when my four sons leave home

When it comes to her four sons leaving home, property presenter Sarah Beeny is in denial. At the moment the grand Somerset mansion that viewers saw her build in her TV show New Life in The Country, is full of noise, as Billy, Charlie, Rafferty, and Laurie spend five hours a night in rehearsals with their dad Graham Swift for their band The Entitled Sons. Having already played at Glastonbury, the boys are tipped to hit the big time, so they may move out sooner than she thinks. But for now “I can’t imagine it really,” says Sarah in this week’s Second Act podcast. “My youngest is still in school for the next two years and they practice at the house every night for five hours.  “I do look at other people and I recognise I’m in quite an unusual position. I know people who have children the same age as my eldest two and they are now home alone. “Our house is absolutely stuffed full of people all the time. There’s girlfriends and friends …

Women Farmworkers Who Built Their Own Fight Against Sexual Assault Cope With Chavez Allegations

Women Farmworkers Who Built Their Own Fight Against Sexual Assault Cope With Chavez Allegations

NEW YORK (AP) — Almost two decades ago, legendary labor rights activist Dolores Huerta joined Mónica Ramírez at a Chicago event to promote the Bandana Project, a campaign Ramírez had launched to raise awareness about sexual violence against women farmworkers. Huerta spoke there about the need to educate women farmworkers about their rights and empower them to speak out about sexual exploitation that is both widespread and underreported among agricultural field workers. Little did anyone know at the time that Huerta herself had been sexually abused at the hands of icon César Chavez, who in 1962 co-founded the organization now known the United Farm Workers with Huerta. The allegations against Chavez by Huerta and other women and girls show that the culture of fear and intimidation that enables sexual abuse in agricultural fields had also for many years existed within top ranks of the male-dominated labor movement that fought for farmworker rights. At the same time, advocates like Ramírez say the decision by Huerta and other women to speak out — first revealing their allegations …

Success of SEND reforms will hinge on whether staff can cope

Success of SEND reforms will hinge on whether staff can cope

The government’s schools white paper presents one of the most significant reforms to England’s education and special educational needs and disabilities systems in a generation.  It signals a shift from a system heavily reliant on statutory plans, towards one centred on school-led support.  The proposed introduction of individual support plans (ISPs) for all pupils with SEND places a legal duty on schools to assess need, plan provision and monitor progress. This change reflects a longstanding policy ambition: supporting pupils earlier and more consistently without requiring a formal diagnosis or an education, health and care plan (EHCP).  Evidence suggests that early, classroom-based support can improve outcomes when teachers feel confident in adapting teaching and responding to diverse needs. However, the success of this approach depends heavily on workforce capacity. 1. SEND as a universal teaching responsibility The white paper reinforces the expectation that SEND expertise should sit within mainstream classrooms rather than primarily with specialists.  Expanded training in initial teacher education and ongoing professional development could strengthen inclusive practice and reduce reliance on statutory processes. If …

How moss could help roads cope with heavy rain and reduce air pollution

How moss could help roads cope with heavy rain and reduce air pollution

Across Europe, many banks alongside motorways are planted with grass to stabilise soil and keep roadside landscapes tidy. But there may be a better solution. Already some countries are experimenting with using moss in built-up areas to absorb air pollution. As countries search for nature-based solutions to climate and environmental challenges, roadside moss is starting to attract attention. So could mossy motorway banks work? Moss could offer environmental benefits over grass, from trapping air pollution to slowing rainwater runoff during heavy storms. Mosses are small plants that grow without roots or flowers. Instead of drawing nutrients from soil like most plants do, they absorb water and minerals directly from the air. They can grow in thin soils, shaded areas and exposed surfaces where grass often struggles. Once established, moss also requires very little maintenance. Unlike grass, moss grows slowly and stays low to the ground. This means roadside moss would require far less mowing, potentially reducing labour and maintenance costs along thousands of kilometres of roads. Planting moss alongside motorways could help with air pollution. …

How to cope with distressing news stories amid global tensions, according to experts

How to cope with distressing news stories amid global tensions, according to experts

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more The recent headlines detailing US-Israeli strikes on Iran and the looming threat of wider conflict have once again plunged many into a state of heightened anxiety, dominating conversations and social media feeds. As the world grapples with escalating tensions, medical experts are highlighting the critical need for individuals to protect their mental well-being amidst the relentless news cycle. It is entirely normal to experience stress and a sense that global events are spiralling into chaos, according to psychiatrists. Michael S Ziffra, a professor and psychiatrist at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, reassures that such reactions are a natural human response. “Fear, sadness, confusion… these are very normal reactions to very extreme circumstances,” he told The Associated Press. “People shouldn’t feel guilty, or they shouldn’t …