If your friend or loved one is trying to quit smoking, there are many ways in which you can support them on their journey. Familiarize yourself with the reasons quitting can be so difficult by reading articles, brochures, and other information. Understand your own relationship with smoking and ensure you are celebrating their successes, being supportive, and avoiding being too critical. Be positive when the person you know who is quitting wants to talk about their goals, setbacks, and other aspects of the process. Helping to distract your friend or loved one, or helping them to de-stress, can also be a great way to offer support.
Community News
Suffering from Lyme Disease?
Lyme is fast becoming a Manitoba epidemic. How do you get Lyme disease? From a deer tick passing a bacteria called Borrelia Burgdorferi into your bloodstream. This bacteria weakens your immune system, allowing diseases to enter the body. “Many people are infected by nymph ticks, but don’t suspect Lyme disease because they don’t recall being bitten. In fact, 50% of people infected don’t remember being bitten and LESS than 50% of people will get any over-emphasized rash” (Source – CanLyme.com). If you are noticing increasing health problems lately, you may have Lyme disease. One way to improve your immune system is with Bioresonance Therapy. This therapy involves sending healthy frequencies into your body. These frequencies increase the body’s energy and consequently improve your health.
Barb’s Story
Twelve years ago, when I walked into MDAM I was looking for a reason not to end my life. A volunteer found a quiet space for us to talk, he let me talk, cry, say all the fears, past traumas all the things that I had been terrified to say out loud. He didn’t judge me or try to fix me, he just let me talk until I got it all out. Then he gave me a list of meetings they had going on and told me I was welcome to attend whenever I was ready or drop in just to talk one-on-one with someone. No pressure, no false promises, just a place to go. I started going to groups, made some friends, eventually started to volunteer. MDAM saved my life and changed my life.
Practicing Self-care
Practicing self-care is a simple way to support positive mental health. Bradley University explains, there is a direct connection between physical and emotional health, it should come as no surprise that many everyday self-care activities support both.
Sleep
A lack of sleep has been associated with memory impairment, irritability, mood swings, and an increased risk for developing anxiety or depression. That’s why it is so important to develop a nightly routine that helps encourage falling and staying asleep. Avoid technology and bright lights for an hour or so before you head to bed. Turn the thermostat in your bedroom down several degrees. It sends a signal to the body that it’s time to slow down.
Stress Reduction
Establishing a daily stress relief practice is a great way to feel better both physically and emotionally. Mindful meditation, which has been shown to reduce stress and relieve anxiety, has become a prevalent choice. There is also evidence that it can help moderate depressive symptoms and the effects of ADHD.
Time management is another part of stress relief. Think about it for a minute: If you are constantly running from one thing to the next, do you really have time to care for yourself?
Learn how to tactfully say no to requests on your time that will cause undue stress. You might be surprised at how empowering it can be.
Proper Nutrition
Food is the best way to get your nutrients, making eating a balanced diet is one of the most important self-care practices you can adopt.
Natural Remedies and Supplements
Many people turn to natural remedies to alleviate stress and anxiety, both crucial to maintaining mental health. For example, CBD is widely used to boost moods, melatonin encourages better sleep, and turmeric reduces inflammation. Remember that despite being natural, many of these products are also quite powerful. Be sure to talk with your health care provider about any possible interactions if you currently take medications.
Self-care is a critical component of maintaining mental health. By incorporating activities such as taking a supplement, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep, you can help reduce the effects of stress on the body. These strategies can also help boost mental health by mitigating symptoms such as anxiety and depression for many people.
Little BALLERS
Early Childhood Development Program. Young children are energetic, curious, imaginative, and capable. Little BALLERS is a place where kids thrive!! Their program is strategically designed to be developmentally appropriate and to highlight the way young children think and learn. Basketball hoops and basketballs are age and size appropriate, so each child feels comfortable and gets the most out of each activity. Session formats and high teacher-to-student ratios provide consistency and individualized attention. Little BALLERS sessions feature early learning basics such as counting, colours, matching, oral comprehension, and imaginative play in a pressure-free, fun environment. The result is increased confidence and an introduction to the foundations of physical literacy.
Allergies & Bio-Resonance
The bio-resonance method has become well-known for its ability to treat allergies swiftly and effectively. Word of its obvious success has rapidly spread amongst clients, and consequently, many allergy sufferers are seeking out the practices of bio-resonance therapists. This is certainly attributable to the fact that the number of people suffering from allergies has been steadily increasing for years. This includes allergies to food, animals, pollen, fragrances, and various toxic substances. A bio-resonance therapist will search for the allergens triggering your symptoms and then work to alleviate those symptoms using frequency therapy. Book a complete comprehensive test.
Dentures and Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is a condition that involves the salivary glands not producing enough saliva to adequately keep the mouth moistened. This lack of saliva can alter the fit and comfort of dentures, since saliva helps dentures retain their suction and stay in place and also has a lubricating effect that keeps dentures from rubbing on the gums and creating sores. Those who take certain medications, are older, use tobacco and alcohol, or snore while they sleep, are more susceptible to dry mouth. If you’re experiencing dry mouth symptoms as a denture-wearer, contact your denturist to discuss your options.
Get Relief From Your Allergies
Spring is finally here, and that means seasonal allergies will be on the rise. Seasonal allergies develop when the immune system overreacts to something in the environment, like mold spores or pollen. For people struggling with seasonal allergies, this is a difficult time of the year. Luckily, in the past few years, pharmacists have been granted the ability to prescribe a number of over-the-counter and prescription products to minimize the severity of your symptoms. Talk to a pharmacist today to learn about non-drug, and prescription products to help combat your seasonal allergies. Spring is meant to be enjoyed, so don’t let allergies bring you down.
Volunteer Opportunities
This edition Wellnessnews Choices for Healthy Living® edition is sponsored in support of The Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba.
Volunteer Opportunities
Are you interested in volunteering with MDAM? Volunteers are integral to the creation and ongoing maintenance of MDAM’s programming. MDAM offers several opportunities for anyone interested in providing support and education directly to our clients. How to apply? Please send an email with the title, your resume and region at volunteer@moodmb.ca. Please note a criminal record check, vulnerable sector check and child abuse registry check will be required.
Ask Dr. Tyler Anderson OD
Q. Can I wear contacts if I have seasonal allergies?
A. Many contact lens wearers with allergies seem to encounter discomfort during certain times of the year, due largely to allergens in the air that become adhered to contact lenses. Here are a few tips to keep your eyes comfortable: Keep irritated eyes moist with artificial tears. The artificial tears will also dilute the irritants out of your eyes. Daily disposable contact lenses are generally recommended for contact lens wearers who suffer from eye allergies. These contact lenses are replaced each day and help to eliminate any concern of allergen accumulation on the surface of your contact lens.
Anger’s Purpose
Anger’s main purpose tells you your boundaries have been crossed! Something was said or happened that needs to shift, change or stop. Discovering the un-met need under the anger, helps you to feel more understood and allows the layers of grief, hurt, and loss to emerge. Once you discover your unmet need(s), you then have the power to do something about it. Sometimes that means withdrawing and pulling back, creating new boundaries, speaking your truth or expressing your desires and needs clearly. Finding a productive way to express and diffuse your anger by journaling, boxing, or dancing is essential. Holding onto anger is toxic on our bodies and creates havoc, ill-ness and a bitterness that pushes people away…so release and let go as a gift of kindness to yourself.
