Why you should book an online counselling appointment

If you have been following me for a while you will know I suffer from mental health issues. I have never hidden this, In fact, this blog was started as an outlet for me, when I was going through a very dark period in my health. I struggle with depression and anxiety.

I want to talk today about telehealth, This term gets branded about but how many of us really know what it means? We live in a fast-paced world, where everything is accessed via the internet. Did you know you can get health care through the internet? Yes, everything is now available to us via the touch of a button and one of the best parts of this is for people like me who suffer from mental health problems. We all know we can reorder prescriptions online and who hasn't googled their symptom before bothering the doctor. ( I do not recommend this) But there are so many resources available to us now than ever before.

I know when I was suffering from anxiety leaving my house was a huge issue for me and this would be the perfect solution to that. Not only that but they have thousands of helpful articles on their site for you to have a read through. They have everything from articles about depression and anxiety to different types of therapy it is a wonderful free resource to utilise. I know I will be using it.

The reason an online counsellor is better?

1. You can talk to them from the comfort of your own home.

2. You will have access to someone who specialises in your mental health problem.

3. No waitlists. You will be able to get an appointment when you need it.

4. Individual needs, If you would prefer to chat with a counsellor via webcam you can or if you prefer
to messages this is also an option. I know face to face meeting can be intimidating. So this will elevate those concerns.

5. Less clinical. I know this one seems strange but I know the clinical feel around medical practices can be off-putting. I know I feel more comfortable in an environment I know.

6. More affordable, Prices for therapy can be through the roof these days but going down the online route will help you save money.

7. More access, Online counselling is accessible to anyone who has an internet connection. This is fantastic for people like me who live very rurally. My nearest councillor would be an hours drive or more. 

8. More privacy. I know this one always concerned me, I live in a small community and I worried about everyone knowing I was receiving counselling. I am not embarrassed but it added to my anxiety.

The first step to getting help is always the hardest. If you are struggling, do not hesitate to book in for an appointment to get some help. I am a huge advocate of counselling and without it, I would not be the person I am today. There is no shame in getting help if anything it shows how strong you are. We only get one life lets live it to its best.

Five Symptoms That Have Simple Solutions

Life isn’t perfect and neither is our health most of the time. A lot of us go through life with minor pains and aches that we consider inconsequential. However, a lot of the time, these can be symptoms of underlying dangers. They can also be easily dealt with if we only pay more attention to our body and refrain from ignoring it. If you have some long-term unexplained problems, you should consider getting them checked out. Think of how much easier life maybe if you were rid of them. Think of what might be underneath the surface, potentially threatening your life.

Aches and pains

There are a lot of physical aches and pains that we can develop over the years. A lot of us might consider them to be the natural consequences of ageing and our lifestyles. That may be right. But they might also be very treatable. From ergonomic chairs to exercises that might make you a little more limber and pain-free for the day. Do your research and find what works for you.

Dizzy spells

Sometimes out of the blue, sometimes more regularly, we might suffer from dizzy spells. Momentary lapses of balance, often accompanied by troubled vision and feelings of lightheadedness. There are some reasons we might naturally come across these from time to time with no concern. Fatigue and hunger can lead to them. However, if they’re more common and come with other side effects, you need to get them checked out. In particular, chest pains or vomiting from a dizzy spell should never be ignored.

Lacking sleep

We all know that sleep is key to a healthy lifestyle. Sometimes, we may not be sleeping because of stress or anxiety throughout the day. These can be just as detrimental as the physical causes of lack of sleep. The rest of our life can suffer as a result of lack of sleep. We can even put ourselves in danger. Find the cause of your trouble sleeping and try to eliminate it.

Shortness of breath

Another commonly ignored symptom is a shortness of breath. We can all expect to get short of breath after we spend a good hour on the treadmill. However, if you find your breath becoming short while walking, or even after a period of talking, there can be some more serious causes. Some people have difficulty breathing when bending or lying down, too.
downstates this could equally be a sign of some serious heart conditions.

Heart palpitations

Another sign of serious heart conditions is heart palpitations. Even if it’s only once in a blue moon, you should not ignore chest pains or irregular feelings in your chest. It can be a sign of arrhythmia. Arrhythmia, when treated, is fairly easy to fight. Left alone, however, it can you at much larger chances of a heart attack. As soon as you feel heart palpitations or chest pains, get yourself an appointment with your doctor.

How to get the flawless skin of your dreams

If you want to have the kind of smooth, flawless and radiant skin that requires no photoshopping; the kind of skin that makes everyone around you feel envious, you’ve come to the right place.  I am not only a qualified makeup artist but I have a qualification in facials too. I think it is so important for any makeup artist to really know skin. Right here is a collection of the greatest skincare tips of all time. Read them, remember them and implement them if you want to have flawless skin.

Drink water
One of the most important thing to the body and the skin is hydration. Your body needs to be hydrated. This is, of course, the same for the skin. Your body needs to flush out the toxins. Drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day will show visible improvement in your skin.

Use a Mist Moisturizer

If you mist your skin and then moisturize it, you’re doing it wrong and spending more money than you really need to on your skincare regime, You see, if you use mist and then add a moisturizer to your skin, it will only dry your skin out. It’s much better to use a product like the Body Shop’s Vitamin E Face mist, which will mist and moisturize effectively in one fell swoop. It’ll save you money too.

Apply Sunscreen with a Sponge

It’s a no-brainer that if you want your skin to look youthful and radiant, even as you age, you need to apply sunscreen each and every day. If you already do this, you’re on on the right track, but if you’re applying that sunscreen with you5r fingers, you haven't quite cracked it yet.

The best way to apply sunscreen is using a sponge or beauty blender, which will not only stop your skin from feeling tacky and making it more difficult for you to apply makeup effectively but also ensure that the sunscreen penetrates more deeply for better protection. It’s way less messy too!

Change Your Razor Blades Regularly

Men and women who use razor blades to remove unwanted hair should change their razor blades more frequently than the often do if they want to have flawless skin. How often should you change your razor blades? Ideally, you should change them after around five uses, but if you shave every day or so and you have thick hair, you may need to change them sooner. If you keep them for longer, not only will they stop being quite so effective, leading to stubble and cuts, but they will also be pretty dirty, and that dirt could cause skin infections which look and feel unpleasant, too.

Exfoliate Longer, Not Harder

If you want to really get rid of that dead, dull skin for a fresh-faced look (and who doesn’t), you might be tempted to start really scrubbing yourself raw with your exfoliant of choice. Not only could this be quite painful and leave you with unattractively red skin, rather than the radiant glow you were hoping for, but it actually isn’t that effective either.

When it comes to exfoliating, it is much better to do it gently for longer than it is to scrub harder. You’ll get rid of more dead skin without hurting yourself that way.

Ditch the Chemicals

If you can, it is much better to choose products that have few, if any chemicals that you haven’t hear of in your skin. It’s much better to use natural products like coconut oil, aloe vera juice, and brown sugar to create your own cleansers, exfoliants and moisturizers because chemicals can actually inflame your skin and make it puffier and redder, especially if you have sensitive skin. If you’ve noticed that you have a slightly red complexion after completing your skincare routine, chances are you’d definitely be better off without the chemicals.

Avoid the Alcohol

I know, I know - you love a glass of wine or three in the evening and cocktail night is your favourite night of the week, but if you want to have youthful-looking skin in your 40s, 50s and beyond, you really do need to at least cut down on the amount of alcohol you take in. Why? Because alcohol, if you drink more than one glass a day can cause the amount  of oil your body produces to increase, causing shiny skin and enlarged pores., There is also evidence to suggest that heavier drinkers, perhaps because they are often dehydrated, tend to visibly age faster than people who rarely drink at all.

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies

One of the best pieces of advice to bear in mind if you want to have beautiful skin is that there is only so much any skincare routine can do, and truly radiant skin comes from the outside in. Eating a diet that is high in fruits and vegetables, particularly avocados and tomatoes, which are known to maintain healthy skin, and fatty fishes which contain lots of healthy omega 3, will give you the kind of glow that money simply cannot buy.

Cleanse Twice

If you tend to wear a lot of makeup, then cleansing twice can be a very effective way of improving your skin. What you need to do is first remove your makeup and any SPF protection you are wearing, with a mild cleanser that is designed specifically for makeup removal. Once you’ve done that, use a soothing, hydrating cleanser to perk up the skin. Apply this very gently in slight, upward strokes, moving from your neck to your hairline for best results.

Keep Your Skincare Products Cool

If you get a lot of breakouts, or you suffer from acne or red skin, it can really help to keep your products in a cool box or even the fridge, when the weather is hot because cool products, when applied, will cause your blood vessels to constrict, taking away some of the redness you hate.  Good makeup will do the rest.

Avoid Spicy Foods

Avoiding foods containing hot peppers is another good way of reducing redness in the skin. You might want to try it if you have a ruddy complexion and eat a lot of hot foods.

If you try out as many of these skincare tips as are applicable to you, you should definitely see an improvement in the look and feel of your skin, especially if you practice them regularly.