Author: Dustin King

 

Source: pickpik.com

Developing healthy routines as a family has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and increase one’s chances of living a long and happy life. Here are some ways on how to do just that as a team.

 

Prioritize The Marriage

Couples that prioritize their marriage first, including their children, have a healthy and loving relationship with each member of the family. You can share a glass of wine after dinner when the children are off to sleep. Or perhaps you can schedule a monthly date so you can spare a few hours away from your obligations – just some movie time or a cheap but lovely dinner for the two of you would strengthen your marriage – and your family. It’s been said that when the husband and wife are happy, everyone is happy.

 

Take A Break From Technology

Spend quality time with the whole family. And when I say ‘quality”, I mean time conversing with each other, sharing each other’s experiences, and feeling the love from each other. You don’t need electronic gadgets for all that. You can have a barbeque on weekends so the kids can stay up longer. If you and your spouse are having wine or beer, allow them to have soda and chips for once. Play cards or board games. Laugh out loud and make memories. These family bonding activities strengthen bonds that will last a lifetime.

 

Have Regular Family Cookouts

Cooking as a family is one of the most wonderful habits that you can create. First off, cooking is a process. The parents can do the more difficult task of cooking while the kids can join in preparing the ingredients. Let the eldest chop the vegetables, and the little one washes them before these get into the pan. Plan on cooking something that everybody will love to eat, like pasta or fried chicken. If they’re not at the right age to join the kitchen, then teach them to prepare the dinner table. Regular cookouts with family are a great learning experience that is healthy and fun as well.

Source: pikrepo.com

Care For The Elderly

Taking care of a senior loved one is an enriching way to instill compassion, humility, and service to your children. You don’t necessarily have to put down everything to be able to do this, as a healthy family also needs to have boundaries with grandparents and elderly loved ones. Any family would be tremendously affected by an elderly moving into their home, so all members must decide wisely about this. Ultimately, parents must teach their children to respect, love, and care for their grandparents, not get rid of them.

 

Practice Gratitude

A family that lives with kindness and gratitude would always be thankful for everything that they receive and experience, even the unpleasant ones. All these will be taken as a form of lessons and blessings that will shape their futures for the better. Parents must teach their kids to appreciate whatever comes – big or small. Remind them about this every day. This sets up an environment of positivity and optimism that the whole family will benefit from.

 

Create A Safety Plan

Having a ready safety scheme in case of emergency or anything urgent must be a priority for parents. When making this, include your children in making decisions regarding where they should run to when there’s fire, what to do when someone bad tries to get inside their home, how they could call for help. Explain these things in an age-appropriate manner. You can talk about this in one of your casual conversations so as not to cause panic on your children. Planning safety schemes are important, so they must be done monthly if necessary. Other vital topics you can discuss are playing with fireworks, drinking and driving, and using illicit drugs.

 

Make Happiness A Priority

Being happy might not seem to be a health concern, but it is. Studies have proven that people who choose to be happy have less medical, mental, and emotional problems. Happy children do great in school. It is also important to emphasize the spiritual instead of the material roots of being happy. Also, happy people are relatively more friendly, forgiving, and thankful for what they have, mostly living with a purpose in their lives. When family members are happy, they most often develop healthy behaviors when it comes to exercise and diet.

Source: leewoof.files.wordpress.com

Face Life’s Challenges Together

Communicating with each other is crucial in every family dynamic. When talking about anything is possible, all family members can share their good and bad experiences, their worries, and anxieties about life – and they manage them together. Doing relaxation practices as a family would be a great help too. Make time for a few minutes of meditation, yoga, or simply reading a story at bedtime with the children. Ask your children how they are and what they’re currently doing in school. As a spouse, ask your partner if he’s handling the office work well. Ask each other how each one is, and do what you can to help. Face life’s challenges as a family and make it one of your healthy routines.

 

 

Considering a lot of negative news that we hear every day, we can’t entirely expect that to go away any time soon. As much as we want to go back to our old lives, we can’t. It is impossible to stay overly confident with this virus still spreading. For more than months of not seeing anything better, we are all worried about one thing. Pretty much, we all have the same questions in our mind as to when this pandemic will be over. So what do you think will happen if we never discover a vaccine?

Source: pexels.com

The Unfortunate Truth
Though scientific experts worldwide are trying their best to come up with a possible solution to this Coronavirus infection, all of them made it clear. That despite technological advancement, there is a possibility that they may not come up with a vaccine. Sadly, some experts claim that the probability of getting a vaccine is entirely small. Thus, it is very disheartening to expect a cure at the end of the year.

Source: pexels.com

Unfortunately, we are all expecting too much from the people who we know are scientifically knowledgeable. Most of us individuals are putting the pressure on them on finding the cure or vaccine for this virus infection. However, most of these experts understand that it is a difficult thing to do. The treatment or vaccine for this COVID-19 virus doesn’t look so promising.
Most organizations, government funds, and world foundations are putting billions of dollars in vaccine research alone. All these monetary sectors are exerting an effort towards addressing COVID-19. That is why it is a big deal, especially considering how it affects millions of people’s lives in just two months.

 

Source: pexels.com

The Sacrifices We Are Dealing With
Perhaps we all complain about our situations right now. We feel we are imprisoned in some way from the limited access we have to the outside world. There is this buildup of eagerness not to follow safety measures anymore because we somehow feel like we are being deprived of our right to do what we want to do. In some instances, we begin to think that this whole social distancing is killing our emotional and mental states. We believe that the struggle is not in terms of fighting for the disease, but instead keeping our emotional and psychological balance.
Honestly, most of us complain a lot, not because we care about the world. We complain because we are tired and frustrated about the situations that we can no longer handle. That is the reason why we point fingers and blame others for the spread of this disease. And despite our ability to be aware of and be compassionate about everything, we choose to close our doors in better understanding.

 

Source: pexels.com

The Considerations
Although there are technically a lot of difficulties in creating a vaccine, we all need to stay hopeful in the process. We should trust our experts and allow them to create a vaccine that would work despite future mutations. Understandably, vaccines are not always possible. But with all the resources and technological advancement we have right now, things can inevitably be different. Yes, it may take a lot of time to get the cure, but we need to consider that we are already finding positive results in some scientific experiments of producing antibodies. We just need to hold on tight and keep ourselves safe and healthy to avoid getting infected. With that, we must follow social distancing, frequently wash our hands, exercise regularly, and eat healthy foods.

If you haven’t noticed it yet, the Coronavirus is not leaving the world soon. Unfortunately, it may take further months to stabilize the global situation. As far as you are concerned, there is nothing much you can do about it. The reality will hit you every day that if you are not lucky enough, you might end up getting the disease. But before you panic and all that, understand that there are better ways to keep you safe from the virus’s danger. That is to stay healthy and fit during this pandemic. How would you do that? Here are some of the best things you can do.

Source: pexels.com

Get More Sleep

Ensure to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day. It can decrease your susceptibility to the virus up to 50% when your body is always in its best state. The severity of your illness will be less likely to get worse when you allow your body to rest. And if you are currently suffering from a different condition, your body may have a chance to fight back. But to make it clear, the sleeping process should set in the nighttime because that is the moment where the body starts to regenerate.

Source: wallpaperflare.com

Raising Body Temperature

Aside from drinking 6 to 8 liters of water a day, you can also strengthen your immune system by raising your body temperature. You can prepare a hot tub, hot shower, or spend time in a sauna to increase natural heat in the body. This heat will increase your white blood cells that will take care of the inflammation. But if you are not a fan of hot stuff, you can also lower your body temperature with a cold bath. Provided you combine it with regular exercise to balance the natural temperature of the body.

Eat Healthily

Yes, as much as you miss going out and eating in fast-food restaurants, you need to prepare your meal. You need to eat healthily. That is because the food you intake will have a significant contribution to keeping you safe from the virus. You can do that by supplying your body with plenty of zinc. This nutrient can be found in beans, meat, and seeds. Make sure that you cut down on sugar and carbohydrates as well.

Source: pexels.com

Take Multi-Vitamins

Taking daily supplements that contain vitamins A, D, and C will help decrease the risk of respiratory infection by almost 50%. Since you will not get all the nutrients from the food you eat, balancing your meal with supplements can fill in the gaps. But note, too much of unbalanced vitamins can instead become damaging than helpful. Therefore, you need to consult an expert before taking any drug without prescriptions.

Source: wallpaperflare.com

Meditate

Another way you can encourage yourself to become healthy is by reducing your stress levels. Allow your physical, emotional, and mental state to heal and strengthen their cores internally. You can try breathing exercises to allow clarity to come in your senses. Ensure that you are mentally capable at this time of the pandemic so you can think of better ways to handle crucial situations. Do not allow stress to take over.

You can also increase your chances of survival by having access to proper health care. But in case you don’t know, the world is now overwhelmed with patience with COVID-19. These people need ventilators and other supporting devices to survive. So it would be inappropriate to sit around and wait for your turn. So before you end up in the worst situation, you should practice social distancing, disinfecting, and handwashing seriously. Be part of the individuals to stop the spread of the virus.

I decided to attend the 2017 Medical Symposium for the simple reason that its focal point is flu prevention. At the time, I heard in the news that CDC logged over 45 million cases of influenza here in the US. My friends thought that I was worrying for nothing, but my worries eventually got justified. After all, the flu season went on until 2018 and claimed the lives of no less than 61,000 individuals.

Did I ever catch the virus in those years? Not once—thanks to the techniques I learned during the summit. Since there is always a new virus that causes flu, you may also want to know the natural ways to avoid acquiring it.

Wipe A Public Property Before Using It
The folks who can’t leave the house without alcohol or Clorox wipes are called neat freaks by others. However, there is nothing wrong with their aversion to germs, bacteria, or viruses that may be sticking to bus seats, food chain tables, etc. You must wipe any public property before touching it at all to lessen the chances of acquiring diseases.

Don’t Touch Your Face When You’re Outside
Another thing that you should avoid is touching your face in public. No matter how clean you think you have made the toilet seat at Starbucks or the handle on the train, you can never be too confident about it. It is still best to wash your hands first before they go near your face.

Distance Yourself From Coughing People
Lastly, you need to stay away from coughing individuals. That is especially true if they are not wearing masks or at least covering their mouth. The reason is that saliva tends to come out in the process. You may not see the particles, but they can land on you and allow the virus to go under your skin.

 

I know that doing all these preventative measures can be bothersome, especially if you are in a hurry. However, it is better to do them than find yourself ill afterward.

Source: pixabay.com

Prescription drug abuse is slowly becoming a problem in the community. Although more and more people are getting aware of what prescription drug abuse is and what the consequences it poses, there are still many misconceptions surrounding the topic. With that in mind, let us look at some common myths in this area and its corresponding debunking statements.

Myth # 1: Prescription Drugs Won’t Be Addictive If Prescribed

It doesn’t mean that if your doctor prescribed certain drugs, you are entirely safe to take any amount of medication. It does not work that way. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) states that prescription drugs fall under the category schedule II to IV. It means that the experts see this is a threat for possible abuse, which may lead to physical and psychological dependence.

Myth # 2: Prescription Drugs Are Safer To Abuse Compared To Other Illicit Substances

Various studies confirmed that the majority of teens and young adults think that prescription drugs are safer to abuse as compared to illicit substances like heroin and cocaine. These individuals came to this conclusion because they see their other family members regularly take these medications as ordered by their family doctors.

Prescription medication is even more harmful than illegal street drugs when mixed with alcohol or other drugs.

Myth # 3: Prescription Drugs Can Help Increase Performance

Source: pixabay.com

A lot of people believe that taking prescription drugs will either improve their looks or increase their performance. Some even use these as a supplement for performance enhancement and weight loss. However, professionals have debunked this myth.

The Food and Drug Administration has set down and implemented a ban on ephedra. It is a known drug taken by teens to improve performance because it quickly raises blood pressures to uncontrollable and high levels. Taking these regularly also increases the risk for stroke and heart attack.

Myth # 4: Everyone Is Taking Prescription Drugs

Most college students condone this behavior because they feel that society approves of it. They based it on their hunch that everyone is taking it. Some people even get peer pressured since there are only a few within their circle who do not engage in this kind of behavior.

The reality is their intuitions are not accurate. Only one out of four individuals aged 18 to 20 is known to take these drugs for non-medical purposes. However, half of the student population turn to prescription drug abuse because their classmates offered them an opportunity to try these.

Myth # 5: Prescription Drugs Eliminates Stress

Source: pixabay.com

Users see prescription drugs as their go-to medicine to make them feel good and alleviate their stress. Scientists, however, proved that people only feel this since the drug alters their brain chemistry. Once the brain undergoes these immense changes, there is a significant possibility that it may lead to depression or other mental health illnesses.

Even if the media glamorize the use of prescription drugs, do not get into that kind of thinking. Abusing these medications will not make you feel better, but will only cause future trouble, both physically and mentally.

Source: commons.wikimedia.org

The path to recovering from addiction is not easy. It’s inevitable to encounter obstacles such as triggers. Triggers are specific cues that bring about negative memories, emotions, or feelings that lead to a relapse. Though these may not immediately cause the person to go back to their toxic ways, they increase the likelihood of this occurrence. Studies by therapists have shown that individuals experience distress from uncontrollable drug or alcohol cravings when they have exposure to specific cues or triggers.

Different types of triggers may cause a relapse in an individual. The different types of triggers are as follows.

External Triggers

External triggers are people, places, experiences, and objects that bring up their cravings. It reignites their desire to abuse drugs or substances again without being fully aware of it. A patient in recovery must steer clear of anything that reminds them of their previous lifestyle.

Source: needpix.com

External triggers are usually people. They can be different individuals involved in the patient’s abusive lifestyle. These include the following:

• Former drug dealers
• Friends
• Co-workers
• Family members
• Romantic partners
• Neighbors
• Enemies

Places can also be high-risk triggers. Specific places can include the following:

• Neighborhoods
• Bars or clubs
• Past homes/apartments
• Concerts
• Hotels
• Former drug stash locations
• Bathrooms

Simple objects in an individual’s environment may also induce triggers. The most common object triggers are the following:

• Paraphernalia
• Movies
• Television
• Cash/ATMs/credit cards
• Pill bottles
• Furniture
• Magazines

Situations are also high-risk triggers that remind individuals of their former lifestyle. Most social situations become difficult for recovering patients because the people and places they may encounter can tempt the individual to go astray. The most common situational triggers are the following:

• Listening to specific music
• Going out to dance/eat/socialize
• Driving
• Phone calls
• Meeting new people
• Anniversaries
• Holidays
• Family gatherings

Source: flickr.com

Internal Triggers

Internal triggers are complex emotions associated with drug or substance abuse. Thus, they are more challenging to avoid. They’re within an individual’s psyche and can lead to the deterioration of the recovery process in such a way that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Internal triggers can be what trumps the patient’s progress, and exposure to specific emotions can lead to relapse.

The most common emotions that are associated with internal triggers are the following:

• Fear
• Anxiety
• Anger
• Hate
• Depression
• Loneliness
• Guilt
• Insecurity
• Pressure
• Neglect
• Passion
• Sexual arousal

Stages Of Relapse

Relapses occur in three stages, namely, emotional, mental, and physical. Individuals who fail to resist their cravings may fall back into this state of abuse.

Emotional Relapse

Emotional relapse is a stage of denial, wherein individuals have little to no thoughts of using just yet. The signs of emotional relapse are the following:

• Withholding emotions
• Social isolation
• Avoiding help
• Focusing on other people’s problems
• Poor sleeping or eating habits

Mental Relapse

Mental relapse is the stage wherein the individual’s mind conflicts with itself. He or she wants to abuse a specific substance, but he or she is also aware that he or she shouldn’t. It may result in a one-time use, wherein the individual rationalizes his or her giving in to his or her urges.

The signs of mental relapse are the following:

• Glamorizing former use of substances
• Remembering people, places, or objects linked to an old lifestyle
• Bargaining with self and those involved in recovery
• Lying
• Plotting or planning how to use again
• Actively seeking relapse opportunities
• Collecting money to afford substances
• Planning a relapse itself

Physical Relapse

Physical relapse is when the individual has finally succumbed to cues from his or her former lifestyle. Mental and emotional relapses culminate to this stage. It begins with the first lapse, where the individual initially takes a drink or uses drugs. It then intensifies into uncontrolled abuse.

Most instances of physical relapse happen when the patient sees a window of opportunity. They think being capable of stopping themselves just before committing the first lapse is enough. But the temptation is most potent at this stage. Thus, what they need is professional help in coping.

Managing Triggers During Recovery

Relapse happens gradually. During recovery, it’s crucial to pinpoint an individual’s triggers from the very beginning of the process. The chances of preventing it are highest at the earliest stage. Thus, you must cultivate a healthy and clean environment for him or her to be free from reminders of his or her former lifestyle.

It may be challenging to identify specific situations, memories, or feelings, but it’s still best to know every detail. Seek professional help to bring out these specific cues without triggering an individual into relapse.

Managing triggers can range from an object in your, shows that will play on the TV, or events coming up in the family. It’s essential to keep a lookout for any person, situation, or object that an individual can encounter.