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Mental & Emotional Health

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Mental & Emotional Health
November 30, 2018

Binge eating: indulgence or addiction

For most of us, food plays a central role in our lives. It’s not just to satisfy hunger, but also to celebrate a new birth, mourn death, commemorate marriage and bring people together. Yet, for an increasing number of South Africans, it’s an “addiction”, causing several eating disorders and resulting in more harm than good. One of these disorders is called binge eating disorder (BED), and can lead to being overweight, and a whole host of illnesses. What is Binge Eating Disorder?  Pigging out on pizza on movie night, stuffing ourselves at Christmas, or comforting ourselves with ice cream after…
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Mental & Emotional Health
October 22, 2018

How to cope with loneliness

The holiday season is a time for family, friends and festivities. But when social media explodes with images of happy families or when your friends leave you behind to visit their loved ones, this time of the year can make some of us feel deeply lonely. It may feel like you can’t shake off the sadness, but there are strategies to keep you from the deep despair of loneliness. You just need to be intentional, and proactive: Address your feelings Pinpoint the thoughts surrounding your loneliness and come up with rational and helpful responses to your feelings. This will help you…
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DepressionMental & Emotional Health
October 22, 2018

Holiday blues getting you down?

Holidays are meant to be a time filled with fun, but for many young students, it can take its toll in unexpected ways. Here are some mindful ways to practise self-care when you’re not coping. Acknowledge your feelings “Holiday blues” are different to clinical depression because they don’t linger and generally clear up once you’re back into the swing of things. Even so, short-term sadness needs to be dealt with. And contrary to popular belief, being on holiday doesn’t mean it’s easier to be happy. Fatigue, sadness, loneliness and frustration are all common signs that you’re suffering from holiday blues. Suppressing…
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AnxietyMental & Emotional HealthUncategorized
August 29, 2018

Do you have an anxiety disorder?

Being worried is absolutely normal, especially when you’re about to take on a big task like exams or rushing to find that lecture room on time. On the other hand, if your worrying causes constant stress, impacts on your social life, and interferes with classes and work, you may need to seek help. If that’s the case, it’s important to know that millions of people suffer with social anxiety disorder. You’re really not alone. It’s equally common in men and women. If left unchecked, it can drive people into a chronic state of nervousness and fear. Normal anxiety Anxiety is…
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Mental & Emotional Health
August 3, 2018

Need more confidence? Here’s how to get it

Picture this. You’ve studied hard for a test and aced it. But a little voice in your head tells you that it’s not good enough because some of your classmates received higher marks. Within seconds, you’ve talked yourself into a slump and all your motivation is gone! If this sounds familiar, you may lack self-confidence, but don’t worry. Many people think that confidence is just “something you have”, but it’s not a fixed quality. The outcome of the thoughts you have about yourself plays a big part in whether you have self-confidence or not. Therefore, if you change your mind about…
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Mental & Emotional Health
July 16, 2018

How do you get your motivation back at work?

A feeling of dread washes over you when you wake up every morning to go to work. The days when you jumped out of bed, energised to climb the corporate ladder are long gone. Now, you just look forward to Fridays. Where’s your motivation gone? When you lack the enthusiasm to work, being at the office for eight hours can feel like a year. According to research, approximately 48% of people around the world don’t enjoy their jobs. Only 30% feel engaged and inspired while working, and 18% are disengaged, saying that they don’t like their jobs at all. This…
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Mental & Emotional Health
July 16, 2018

How movies affect your mind: The science

There’s nothing like munching on popcorn and kicking back to watch a movie. From taking a trip to your local cinema, Netflix-bingeing or flipping through the channels on TV, there’s so much to choose from. It’s estimated that almost 80% of the global population watches movies throughout their lives. With genres like comedy, horrors, thrillers, romcoms, fantasy and more, there’s something for everyone! At the end of 2017, Netflix announced that its users watch more than one billion hours’ worth of content per week and the average Netflix user watched more than 60 movies for the year. With so much…
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AddictionMental & Emotional Health
June 6, 2018

Why is addiction a disease?

When you think of a disease, addiction probably wouldn’t cross your mind, but it should. Addiction is a disease of the brain and body which involves using substances or taking part in dangerous activities despite the negative effects. Like all diseases, if addiction isn’t treated, there are health-related consequences (for both the addict and their loved ones). Drinking excessively and taking illegal drugs are the most common types of addictions, but there are many others. Types of addiction: Substance addiction is the compulsive use of drugs like cocaine, opioids, and prescription drugs like sleeping tablets, painkillers and inhalants. This also…
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AddictionMental & Emotional Health
May 11, 2018

Do you need to go to rehab for binge-watching?

You’ll regret it in the morning when you can’t keep your eyes open, but you press play anyway. “Just one more episode,” you tell yourself. A recent Netflix survey revealed that 61% of users regularly watch two to six episodes in just one sitting. Does this sound familiar? After a long day, curled up in bed with snacks, watching endless episodes of your favourite series may sound appealing, but it may not be so kind to your health. The high you get from watching your favourite shows on a loop makes you feel good but it may lead to addiction.…
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DepressionMental & Emotional Health
May 10, 2018

Looking into antidepressants? Read this first

Are you feeling down, or lost your motivation in life? Do you think you could have depression? Before you get started on treatment, it’s useful to know what exactly is out there, so you can make an informed decision. What is Depression? Depression is a medical illness that affects your mood, body and thoughts. With the right treatment you can be on your way to recovery and live a normal life. It is highly treatable, and between 80-90% of people have a good response and find relief from their symptoms. The condition is commonly treated with antidepressants and psychotherapy. According…
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