All posts tagged: Mental Health

Momfluencers Are Pitching AI as a Better ‘Coparent’ Than Men

Momfluencers Are Pitching AI as a Better ‘Coparent’ Than Men

Published by skeptic

Lilian Schmidt could not, for the life of her, figure out how to get her daughter to go to sleep. None of the advice given to her by sleep experts or her pediatrician worked—not using a white noise machine, not buying blackout curtains, not even giving her a massage. “Every single day, it took like two to three hours to put her to bed,” the brand consultant from Zurich recalls. “She’d scream and fight and we would all be so exhausted and frustrated by the end of the day.” When her daughter was 3 and a half years old, a bleary-eyed and desperate Schmidt turned to a controversial parenting tool: ChatGPT. The advice it offered “was completely opposite from everything I’d heard before,” she says. “It said she needed more stimulation,” suggesting that her daughter chew gum or jump on a trampoline before bed. To Schmidt’s utter shock, it worked. Within five minutes, her daughter snuggled up next to her and fell asleep. “I was freaking out,” she says. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, …

Victoria Pendleton on the heartbreaking death of twin brother that changed her forever

Victoria Pendleton on the heartbreaking death of twin brother that changed her forever

Published by Daniella Wilson

“I’m way more capable than I thought I was because I used to be so afraid of doing everything,” the former Olympic track cyclist Victoria Pendleton says. “But over the years I’ve realised I have more to offer, and I like myself a little bit more.”  It’s that wisdom that Victoria, 45, brings to her new book, The Fear Opportunity, which offers tips and insights from experts on how to increase your confidence and decrease anxiety by reframing your relationship with fear. “I was really surprised how generous the experts were with their time, and they really helped give the book a sense of authority,” she says. Victoria retired from cycling after a triumphant London 2012 Summer Olympics, in which she earned three medals – two gold and one silver. She also received a CBE in the 2013 honours list.  Victoria lifts one of her gold medals at London 2012 She decided to try something new and retrained as a jockey, placing fifth at the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham Festival in 2016 despite having had …

Neurologist lists unique symptoms of vascular dementia

Neurologist lists unique symptoms of vascular dementia

Published by Daniella Wilson

While Alzheimer’s is the most well-known form of dementia, especially given that life expectancy continues to rise, vascular dementia is the second most common cause of cognitive decline – and for women over 60, the risks can be particularly “hidden.”  Neurologist Dr Silvia Gil, a spokesperson for the Spanish Society of Neurology (SEN), warns that poor cardiovascular health is often the silent trigger.  Why women over 60 are at higher risk When neurologists discuss vascular dementia, they are referring to a form of cognitive decline resulting from brain damage caused by vascular lesions or a stroke. “These types of lesions can be caused by a reduction in blood flow to the brain or a haemorrhage. In either case, the damage is significant enough to adversely affect not only cognition, but also the ability to manage daily tasks independently. Consequently, the individual requires support and supervision from others,” says the neurologist. © Getty ImagesManaging heart health is a critical step in preventing vascular dementia A common question is whether specific risk factors influence the development of …

West Midlands Police detective died from burn injuries in back of parked car – inquest

West Midlands Police detective died from burn injuries in back of parked car – inquest

Published by Sam Flores

A serving detective for West Midlands Police tragically died from horror thermal burn injuries in the back of a parked car in Birmingham, an inquest found. The body of Det Con Tayyab Malik was discovered in a Volkswagen Polo on the driveway of his home on Yardley Wood Road, in Billesley, on February 24. The 35-year-old had doused himself with a flammable liquid and ignited it in the Billesley Common area, a Birmingham coroner found. The officer then made his way home and tried unsuccessfully to gain entry to the property before getting into his vehicle from the rear. READ MORE: Evil stepmother who set husband alight in brutal arson murder dies in jail Det Con Malik was later discovered unresponsive by a neighbour and was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination found his death to be from thermal burn injuries. The inquest found he had experienced difficulties in his personal life since July last year. Digital examination of his phone found he had researched ways to end his life. While an unsent …

10 Things That Almost Immediately Drain The Energy Of Smart, Intuitive People

10 Things That Almost Immediately Drain The Energy Of Smart, Intuitive People

Published by Jenni Sidey

Intuition often takes self-trust. Intellect takes depth. But both of those things can waver in the face of fatigue. That’s why protecting their energy and prioritizing the kinds of activities that energize them are essential to well-being for intelligent people. The kinds of things that almost immediately drain the energy of smart, intuitive people aren’t just making them tired, but making their lives harder, robbing them of the kinds of thought processes they need to thrive. Here are 10 things that almost immediately drain the energy of smart, intuitive people 1. Unexpected messages and notifications KaterynaUKR | Shutterstock Our notifications literally drain energy reserves in our brain, causing all kinds of fatigue and overstimulation before we have a chance to realize what’s causing it. Even the mere presence of a phone distracts us from interactions and impairs our cognitive function, making it harder to entertain the kind of deep thought and connection intelligent people are regularly energized by. That’s usually why they leave their phones on silent or “DND” when they’re at home or working. …

Why Does My Child Stop Speaking In Certain Situations?

Why Does My Child Stop Speaking In Certain Situations?

Published by Sam Flores

What Kids Are Carrying is a HuffPost UK series focusing on how the nation’s youngest generation is *really* feeling right now – and how parents and caregivers can support them. When children are unable to speak around certain people, or in certain settings, they could be struggling with selective mutism, which is often underpinned by anxiety and impacts roughly one in 140 young children. Fiona Yassin, a family psychotherapist and founder and clinical director of The Wave Clinic, said the phenomenon can present very differently depending on the context. “A child may be completely unable to speak with adults, while still managing to communicate with peers. They may speak freely and confidently at home, yet become entirely silent within a school environment,” she explained. “For some children, speech may fluctuate depending on how safe, relaxed, or pressured they feel.” For parents, it can be “deeply confusing” having a child who is expressive, creative, and articulate at home but unable to communicate verbally at school – “yet this contrast is often a key feature of selective …

Keto diet shows real promise for anorexia recovery

Keto diet shows real promise for anorexia recovery

Published by skeptic

The keto diet is heavy on fat, with very little in the way of carbohydrates Panther Media Global / Alamy The ketogenic diet, best known as a fat-busting fad, holds promise for treating anorexia nervosa. Following the diet – which contains high amounts of fat, moderate amounts of protein and very few carbohydrates – caused 3 in 4 people with the eating disorder to drop below the threshold for diagnosis in a small study. This is thought to be due to the diet restoring malfunctioning energy release in brain cells, which has been linked to anorexia, thereby lowering anxiety and reducing the compulsion to restrict food. Mimicking starvation by restricting carbohydrates in a condition characterised by extreme dieting, and with one of the highest mortality rates of all mental health conditions, sounds risky. But Guido Frank at the University of California, San Diego, argues that when properly supervised, it could remove the compulsive drive to self-starve. “People tell me clinically, it’s like an addiction, [saying] ‘I crave this’,” he says. “Perhaps if you create that …

A molecular biologist explains the ultimate body hack for daily anxiety

A molecular biologist explains the ultimate body hack for daily anxiety

Published by Daniella Wilson

We ought to listen to our bodies more. Yet, we rarely make time for this, even though it is completely fundamental to our well-being. But being in tune with our bodies, not just our brains, is exactly what Dr Estanislao Bachrach, who holds a PhD in molecular biology specialising in neuroscience, encourages us to do.  The scientist and author invites us to reconnect with ourselves and truly get to know our body, because it’s what actually provides the brain with vital information for everything it decides to do, feel and think.  The aim? To use the body as a tool for self-knowledge to achieve a major goal: strengthening our sensory intelligence to help us with anxiety, decision-making and even empathising with people we don’t like.  We caught up with the expert to find out more in an in-depth Q&A. You highlight a fascinating idea: ‘Let your body be your brain’. Why should we make this our goal? Well, it’s not so much a goal we must set ourselves. My job is simply to share a …

Claude Lemieux struggled with alleged ‘injustice’ and ‘rejection’ prior to untimely death

Claude Lemieux struggled with alleged ‘injustice’ and ‘rejection’ prior to untimely death

Published by Daniella Wilson

Claude Lemieux suffered from an “injustice” prior to his untimely death that he ultimately couldn’t “bear.” The NHL star died by suicide this month at age 60, found by one of his sons inside his Lake Park furniture business at 3:23 a.m. on Thursday, May 26, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office confirmed. In his two-decade career, the four-time Stanley Cup champion led the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche to a total of four Stanley Cups, however he was never inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame after he retired in 2009. © Getty ImagesClaude was a torch bearer during Game Three of the Stanley Cup playoffs three days prior to his death Claude carried this with him, longtime Montreal hockey columnist Rejean Tremblay, who knew Claude for three decades, told the New York Post, revealing: “He always lived this as an injustice, a heavy burden to bear.” “The sense of rejection ran deeper than one might have imagined. He took it very hard,” he added. Claude appeared in good spirits just …

Psychologists reveal if it’s a common trait or hidden OCD

Psychologists reveal if it’s a common trait or hidden OCD

Published by Daniella Wilson

It happens to me all the time. Whether I’m out for a meal or at home, I have this overwhelming urge to clear the crumbs off the tablecloth. Sometimes I do it discreetly, other times without even realising.  And since I know I’m not the only one who does this, I wanted to ask a few psychologists if it’s common, or if it’s a sign of some underlying cleaning-related Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD. Psychologist Lara Ferreiro tells me that, generally, the need to keep your eating area clean isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. However, if the behaviour becomes obsessive and is accompanied by other symptoms, it might be worth taking more seriously – especially if it involves compulsive habits that affect your quality of life and feel impossible to control.  Fellow psychology expert Juvenal Ornelas concurs: “It may be a behaviour born out of a need for control, often linked to perfectionism.” But before we start worrying, let’s take a look at what might actually be causing this habit. When sweeping table …