Mental Health and Wellbeing

Treatment The doctor may recommend some of the following: Lifestyle changes can help relieve acute (short-term) insomnia. These changes might make it easier to fall asleep and stay sleep. 1. Adopting new habits to help you sleep, for instance: Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, and cool. Noise, light, and heat can interfere with sleep.  Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Support your biological clock by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, including…

Death stared at me up close this year, says cancer survivor Minakshi Ray. What did that teach her about life? As I sit back and take stock of how 2014 treated me, I would say, it was a mixed bag. There have been losses and gains. I don't mean material losses or gains, rather I will remember the year in terms of the emotional journey. Following my battle of survival against breast cancer, my perspective on life has changed completely. The biggest realisation that has dawned…

Kam Gillar, Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, helps you cope with easy strategies. Plus, how to stop the negative chatter in your head. Feeling low, worried, negative? The following strategies will help you cope better and put the spring back in your step.  1. Take time-out Practice slow, relaxed breathing, listen to music, meditate, get a massage, or learn relaxation techniques. Stepping back from the problem helps to calm your mind. Start to form a habit of…

Registered Dietitian & Diabetes Educator Ujjwala Baxi offers stress-relieving diet tips We’ve all done it. Reached for the box of chocolates, or tub of ice cream or drink or cigarette when feeling stress. You put a calorie-dense food into your mouth. The result: It shuts off the brain from feeling the negative effects of the stress and you are disconnected from worry temporarily. Isn't it a nice feeling to forget your worries while you are busy spooning ice cream…

What is depression It is a serious medical illness that affects one’s thoughts, feelings, behaviour, mood and physical health. It may be a lifelong condition in which periods of wellness alternate with recurrences of illness. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide with more than 350 million sufferers, according to the World Health Organisation. The number is growing in all age groups in every community, and with many young people falling prey to…

What is stress Stress is what happens when you have too much to handle. The body goes into fight or flight mode. Your heart rate may go up and you may breathe faster or sweat more. This response is fine within normal limits. But beyond that, it can be harmful. Stress is a global issue with 77% of people in just the US saying that they experience physical symptoms caused by stress, according to Statistic Brain, a research institute.   

What is anxiety disorder Everyone feels anxious at some points in their life. But the anxiety passes once the stressful situation is over. For people with anxiety disorder, the feelings of anxiety are ongoing and don’t subside. They cause great distress and get in the way of them leading a normal life. As many as 450 million people suffer from this disorder and nearly 1 million people commit suicide every year. 1 in 4 families worldwide is likely to have at least…

Christina Kim, long one of the LPGA Tour's most effervescent personalities, opens up about her battle with depression. "I felt like all the fun and joy was suffocating me," she says now. "I looked down, and the water seemed very inviting, even though I can't swim. The solitude and silence that I was seeking, which I couldn't find anywhere in the building because everyone was laughing and living life and being happy, seemed to be in the water." She thought it over, stood there for about 15…