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Thursday, 2 March 2017

Living Life Ready - Calm Your Anxiety Naturally With Kalms Lavender

Here's an interesting question for you.  Do you know the difference between stress and anxiety?

We tend to use these terms interchangeably, but there are definite differences between the two.

little girl in a field full of lavender


We experience stress when our feelings threaten to overwhelm us in situations where the demands made on us are greater than our ability to manage.

We often know exactly what the source of our stress is too - for example starting a new job, sitting an exam or attending an interview.

Anxiety, on the other hand, is an unease about something with an uncertain outcome. Anxiety can exist even when the cause of the worry is gone.  I'm frequently told "it's all in your head"!

Did you know that almost one in five people say they feel anxious a lot or all of the time? Anxiety has become a common problem in our daily lives.

Symptoms of anxiety include feelings of worry, apprehension and uncertainty.

We feel we are worrying all the time, perhaps about things that are a regular part of everyday life or things that are unlikely to happen.  Some of us even worry about worrying.

But anxiety, and especially prolonged anxiety, can have a negative effect on the body.  We may suffer a racing heartbeat, nausea, headaches, and muscle tension.

There is no doubt that long term, anxiety can impact on quality of life and wellbeing. So what can we do to better manage these feelings?

If your anxiety is severe, you should talk to your GP or perhaps ring a helpline best suited to the nature of your problem.

If, however, your anxiety is mild there are plenty of ways you can help yourself to manage your fears and take better care of yourself in order to cope.

Whilst you are taking steps to make your life more manageable, you could also try a new supplement to help relieve the symptoms of mild anxiety.

Kalms Lavender One-A-Day packaging
Kalms Lavender One-A-Day Capsules is a traditional herbal medicinal product which contains uniquely prepared, pharmaceutical quality lavender oil.

The product is used for the temporary relief of the symptoms of mild anxiety such as stress and nervousness, exclusively based on the long standing use of lavender as a traditional herbal remedy.

You see when we are anxious we may suffer from  an  "Anxiety Imbalance" where the nerve cells in the brain become over stimulated, due to the excessive release of neurotransmitters - the brains chemical messengers - such as dopamine and adrenaline.

This leads to hyperactive nerves which are excessively ‘switched on’ - an imbalance which can result in symptoms of anxiety.

The results of over 15 clinical trials have shown that a daily capsule of lavender oil can noticeably relieve the symptoms of anxiety in just one to two weeks - and those benefits are comparable to commonly used anti-anxiety medications.

One study found that symptoms in 70% of those taking the lavender oil capsules were rated as ‘much’ or ‘very much’ improved when reassessed by researchers at the end of treatment.

Lavender oil is the active ingredient found only in Kalms Lavender One-A-Day Capsules in the UK- and the research suggests that it can reduce the overstimulation of nerve cells leading to an improvement in symptoms of anxiety.

Kalms are encouraging us all to #livelifeready so that we enjoy our days to the full no matter what symptoms anxiety may throw at us!

It's surprising how it's often the little things that set us worrying.  These are some of the things I worried about this week.

- Mathew flying to Canada for work - I am always worried about plane crashes!

- St. David's Day - do you think I could find safety pins to pin Caitlin's Welsh Lady shawl?

- World Book Day - I can't sew for toffee and we are always scrabbling about to get some sort of costume together at the last minute.

- Cooking - or more specifically what to have for tea.

- The kids actually eating the tea I've cooked.

- My glasses not fitting (readers of this blog will know just how much stress this gives me!)

- The constant hissing in my ears - thanks Tinnitus!

My usual coping mechanisms involve hot baths, early nights, reading a good book and a glass of wine - like many parents across the land, and you can find more of my suggestions for managing your anxiety in this post.

Here are some more brilliant #livelifeready tips from Kalms.

1. Slow and steady

If you’re feeling anxious, try taking slow deep breaths; calmly inhaling for 4 seconds through your nose, then exhaling for the same via your mouth. Studies show practising a breathing technique can stimulate the part of the nervous system responsible for relaxation, helpful in reducing anxiety.

2. Take a mindful moment

Mindfulness - the practice of being present in the moment and noticing our feelings, body, thoughts and environment - has been found to improve mental wellbeing and be beneficial for anxiety. Being mindful can be as simple as paying more attention to things we touch, see, smell and hear, like savouring our morning cup of coffee, rather than being caught up in our whirring thoughts. Visit NHS Choices for an introduction to Mindfulness.

3. Know your triggers

Knowing what exacerbates your anxiety is an important step in addressing the issue. Often we avoid situations that make us feel anxious – but this is counterproductive and can make our fears worse. Facing what we’re worried about can help alleviate the anxious feelings – whether it’s been making that phone call you’ve been putting off, replying to an email or even tidying the house.

4. Time to talk

Sharing your worries with a trusted family member or friend can make them seem less daunting, and voicing your fears out loud may help you put them into perspective. You can also turn to anxiety support organisations for advice in times of need.

5. Write it down

Try taking some time at the end of each day to write your worries down. Offloading thoughts in this way may help you slow down your thinking, step away from a continuous cycle of worry and clear the mind. Writing a to do list also allows you to commit to paper all the tasks you still need to complete – without spending excessive time thinking about, and trying to remember, them.

Kalms Lavender One-A-Day Supplements

In order to get a bit better at living life ready, I have been trying Kalms Lavender One-A-Day and after just one capsule I felt noticeably calmer and more relaxed.  In fact I felt so calm I could have taken a nap!

These do seem to help.  Just take one capsule with a glass of water.

The packaging does state clearly that the product may impair your ability to drive or use machines so make sure you read the label.

The product is not suitable for the under 18s, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or are allergic to the product ingredients.

I would say that for periods of mild anxiety Kalms Lavender One-A-Day capsules are certainly worth a try but if your symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks you need to see your GP.

Kalms Lavender One-A-Day capsules are available in Boots, Asda and online at www.kalmsrange.com RRP £6.49
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Thursday, 13 October 2016

Can You Reverse The Damage Stress Has Done To Your Skin?

It's easy to under-estimate the toll that stress can take on our skin and to kid ourselves that a haphazard skincare routine and poor lifestyle choices won't eventually catch up with us.

Here's an explanation of how stress can effect our skin from a medical point of view from Dr. Ernst Eiselen, MBChB, FRACGP - and no, we won't get away with it!



Dr. Eiselen says:

The skin and the brain develop from the same layer of cells in the human embryo; they are intimately linked throughout life. Healthy skin is therefore a product of not only a skin care routine, but a stress-free state of mind.

Stress is an engineering term which refers to the application of different forces to materials, usually used to test their strength or their breaking point. The concept is no different in humans. The types of forces applied are not those used in engineering, but the effects are much the same. Conscious and sub-conscious parts of the brain are both involved in the production of stress. As a consequence of the brain activity, the endocrine systems become involved at all levels.

Skin is influenced by the brain through its varied and wide-reaching system of connections to the skin. Hormones produced by the different parts of the endocrine system have profound, direct and indirect effects on the skin. From this concise explanation of the structural and functional intimacy of the different organ systems, it is easy to appreciate that skin will not escape the eroding effects of pervasive stress.

The quality, comfort and appearance of healthy skin depend on a fine and happy balance of the influences mentioned above. The blood flow through the skin of a stressed person is not at its optimal level, thus disrupting the oxygen and nutrient supply to the skin. Like any starving or suffocating organ, aging and decay are sped up over time. Persistent stress starts to automate the nerve impulse pathways as our brains learn the patterns that are most often repeated. Combine this with a lethal mix of constantly-raised stress hormones and cell receptors are reprogrammed into ‘survival mode’.

Cells focused on survival are not attuned to thrive, divide efficiently or produce highly specialised, robust and vital units required for youthful, zesty skin. Skin can become stress-damaged over protracted periods. However, due to genetic and other differences, the complexity of all the involved elements and effects variable to passage of time make it impossible to quantify the effects of stress on skin in any individual.

The logical question follows: Is it possible to reverse or correct this situation?

Fortunately, the answer is yes on two different levels. Firstly, there is a need to recognise the elements of stress in one’s life and find a means of managing it in a positive manner. Sometimes, this may be small and simple lifestyle changes to make, but at other times it may require life-altering moves to get rid of the excessive stress. For most people cultivating a simple habit of regular exercise, improved periods of rest and reflection will help to de-stress and balance the hormones responsible for the negative changes. Specific exercises where attention is focused on breathing, stretching and toning go a long way to defuse stress-hormone storms.

On the level of the skin itself, the aim is to alter the skin cell behaviour that focuses on surviving to cells that are able to thrive. We are starting to understand how to create cells which are able to maximise their full potential in function, structure and beauty. Environ’s advanced vitamin skin therapy addresses the backbone processes with which man has evolved over the last two hundred thousand years. Keeping enough of the crucially important molecules like vitamin A, C and E within the cells simply means that cells are better able to withstand the onslaught of stress hormones and the altered patterns of stimulation brought about by the stress. This does not in any way reduce the need of the other forms of general stress reduction mentioned above, yet it goes a long way to slow down the negative influences.

Speed in everything appears to have become an essential ingredient with companies competing to design electronic instruments which will perform faster with larger amounts of information. At the same time those who are lucky enough to be in affluent societies are living longer, which simply means that the skin cells will be subjected to this battering of the senses for more and more years. Neither our cells, nor psyches are geared to deal with these circumstances. Change at such a pace leaves no room for the evolution of systems which were shaped by completely different survival stresses over hundreds of thousands of years.

The only possible counter-approach to this frenetic race is to understand the importance of relaxation and spontaneous, quiet contemplation for the body and mind. The skin should also be allowed to rest from the stress and physical environmental challenges. Providing real nutrition to skin cells based on sound scientific principles enables repair mechanisms to deal with the cumulative DNA damage, whilst coaxing cells to specialise to their natural potential.

It is therefore important to see the skin as an integral part of a total system which needs de-stressing on a total body level. In this new age, the mind-body balance and macro and micro nutrition will be key to optimal function of all body parts into a healthy old age. Not least of all, will be the need to do this for healthy skin.

Dr. Ernst Eiselen, MBChB, FRACGP.

It's pretty clear that getting to grips with our stress is vital to ensure a glowing complexion, as well as a healthier mind and body.  How well do you cope with stress?
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Saturday, 16 April 2016

20 Easy Ways To Recharge Your Batteries

We all have days when things don't entirely go to plan or we wake and find we just feel 'blah'.

Those of us who bear the strain of a chronic or auto-immune illness may start each day from a position of compromised energy and it may be a struggle to even get to 'blah'.

Woman dancing through a field - 20 easy ways to recharge your batteries - stress management - motherdistracted.co.uk
Take some time out to recharge your batteries
At times like this, having a strong support network of friends and family is invaluable and the phone can be our greatest ally. Even the often maligned Facebook can offer a lifeline of community, friendship and seasoned advice.

It is also important to treat ourselves with kindness and to know when we need a break.  It is not a crime to take our needs seriously.  As the saying goes, you need to apply the oxygen mask to yourself first before you can save anyone else - and this is particularly true for parents.

I'm sure you will have your own list but here are 20 easy suggestions to press the pause button in your life and to take some time out to reconnect with what's important to you and your feelings - and to make sure you are treating both your mind and body with care.

1.  Say no.  Remind people that 'no' doesn't necessarily mean 'never', but at the moment it means 'not now'.

2.  Call a friend or relative you can trust.

3.  Lose yourself in your favourite TV box set (mine is the Poirot series).

4.  Read a really gripping book.  Here's a review of the last one I read.

5.  Learn a new skill - both dancing, table tennis and learning a new language have recently been shown to keep our brains young and stave off dementia.

6.  Take a long, hot bath.  You could try an Epsom Salt bath which is great for renewing our Magnesium levels.  A magnesium deficiency can be the cause of tiredness.

7.  Turn your gadgets off for a while.  The world will not implode.  Even if you turn email and Facebook notifications off you may feel less frazzled.

8. Try some adult colouring or dot-to-dot.  There are loads of books available.  In fact so many of us are colouring, we are facing a global shortage of coloured pencils!

9.  Create a vision board on Pinterest.  If you haven't got into Pinterest yet, you may be surprised at how easy it is to use and how addictive.  You basically create online pinboards containing your favourite images and you swop and share images by following others just as you do on Facebook and Instagram.

A vision board is a visual wishlist of all the things you'd like to have or experience and, so the theory goes, by regularly viewing your vision board, you are more likely to bring the things you want directly into your experience.

10.  Ditch the black - it's so easy to dress in black because we think it's slimming or it helps us blend into the background but we know that colour lifts both our mood and that of the people looking at us.

Why not add a dash of a bold colour into your wardrobe - a hot pink, yellow or orange.  Black can be pretty ageing, especially around the face whilst a splash of colour can throw a flattering light on our complexions.  This, by the way, is why ladies used to wear pearls - to light up their skin.

11. Do some yoga, pilates or some gentle stretches.  You don't have to go to a class to get the benefit as there are loads of good DVDs.  As you get older, you might find 10 minutes of stretching each morning 'unkinks' your body from your night's sleep and prepares you for the day.

12.  Meditate.  Just 10-20 minutes a day has been proven to give long-term benefits to our health. There are many guides to meditation online and I have also heard good things about the Headspace app which offers guided meditation if you just find it too difficult to ignore your thoughts.

13. Take some photographs - just photographing your kids, your pets, your garden, the sky, anything that gives you joy, will lift your spirits. You can share your world via Instagram and, if you use the right hashtags, you may find many others who share your particular interests.  Did you know, for example that there is a hashtag called #catsofinstagram?

14.  Take a nap.  Not exactly rocket science I know but it comes back to taking time out for YOU and not being afraid to assert your needs.  The theory goes that anything between 20-45 minutes is a sensible amount of time.  Any longer and you'll probably wake up feeling groggy.

15.  Eat something.  Seriously.  If you have been fuelling yourself on carbs and sugar all day, try a high protein snack - a handful of Almonds or some cubes of Cheddar Cheese and some apple.  Try some Green Tea for a slightly healthier caffeine drink or just a long glass of water.

16.  Write a gratitude list.  I know, I know, it might sound a bit 'woo-woo' but you'll find that there is truly a lot we can all be grateful for, right now.

17. Do something nice for someone else.  I read this week about a lady who was buying an In Sympathy card for a relative since there had been a bereavement in her family. She was surprised to find a small plastic envelope in the card she selected.  In the envelope was £10 and a note from a stranger saying "I am sorry that you are having to buy this card.  Please take this £10 and do something nice for yourself".  I image that stranger felt as good making that gesture as the lady who received the envelope did.

18. Do some baking.  In her book "Saved By Cake", the writer Marian Keyes describes how baking helped her to deal with her depression.  You may find it helps you - in which case, worry about the calories later and get creative with the butter icing.

19.  Pray. Although many of us no longer adhere to a formal, organised religion, there is a lot to be said about asking for what we want and putting the future in the hands of a higher power - whether that be God or the Universe.  Just ask, let go and then go about your day.  Even better if you can sit in a sacred space, whether that be a church, a garden or a quiet place you've made your own.  Why not light a candle and spend some time thinking about what it is that you really want and need.

20.  Declutter.  There's a wonderful book about domestic cleaning called "Sink Reflections" by "Flylady"  She recommends doing something called the "27 Fling Boogie".  Get a black bag and run around your home selecting 27 things to go in the bin. Or you might prefer the more philosophical approach of Marie Kondo in her book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up".  Either way, a good sort out tends to clear the mind and give you something else to focus on.

So there you have it. 20 simple ways to recharge your batteries. What do you do to make yourself feel better?

Let me know in the comments below
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Sunday, 27 December 2015

Want 2016 to be YOUR year? Tell yourself A Better Story.

Now we're all approaching the traditional post-festive slump, my thoughts automatically drift to New Year and those things I would like to improve.

Woman looking up at sun - want 2016 to be your year? - motherdistracted.co.uk
Write yourself a brighter future.
We have already probably read, by now, the myriad of pop psychology suggestions to transform our existence - from writing gratitude lists, to mindful meditation, seeking your guardian angel and rebalancing your chakras.

Listen, I love this stuff and you won't find any cynical sniffing from me if you tell me your goal next year is to explore your spirituality.  Too few of us are stuck in a kind of two dimensional hell of work and shopping with very little actual human connection inbetween.

But here's the thing I want to suggest you try.

If you stop and listen closely to the voice in your head, that incessant chatter which is you (probably) berating, criticising and scolding yourself, you might notice something.

You say the same stuff over and over and over and over ......

Basically you are retelling your life as a story in which you may not necessarily be playing the role you want to play.  Is there someone else you have cast as the star whilst you have a mere walk-on part?

If you think about your history, your past, it is a collection of memories you've put together seen through just one perspective - yours.  We can never know exactly what someone else is feeling. Their behaviour may give clues, of course, but nevertheless, the only person we can truly begin to understand is ourselves.

Some of the people we find most inspiring, whether they are celebrities or members of our family, have the ability to make their own sunshine.  They put a positive spin on everything that happens. They are the 'silver lining people'.

Hands up, on occasion, I find 'silver lining people' extremely annoying but in my more sanguine moments I acknowledge that they are definitely on to something.

So, rather than retell yourself ghastly tales of past times when you were the fall guy, the stooge, the fool, where you let your light be eclipsed by someone with all the brightness of a 20 watt bulb, why not put a twist in the tale?

Ask yourself.  If I were to rewrite this, what would have happened?  And, in future, when you think of that time, tell yourself this new story.

If the old version of events has a terrible hold on you, see yourself writing it down then pick up the paper, scrunch it into a ball and chuck it over your shoulder.

Or pretend you have set it on fire and those horrid memories have literally gone up in smoke.

As you look to the future in 2016,  why not write yourself the story of the year now, complete with a list of what WILL happen. I don't mean a bucket list.  I mean a list of glorious, golden outcomes.

Faith and positive thinking may make them happen.

We are adult and know that there are no guarantees in life but, equally, to live with an optimistic view where you let in the light has to be better than starting another year in a fug of gloomy despondency.

January is such a dark, dank month.  We miss the sun and the light both emotionally and physically. Those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) must feel this loss of light even more and, once the Christmas bonhomie has passed, there is a tendency for those of us who suffer from depression to sink into a deeper pit of our own hopelessness and melancholy.

But if we look around us, the best loved stories are still there and are a testament to our eternal belief that good triumphs over evil, that light always wins out over darkness.

I am thinking not just of religion but of the Harry Potter stories and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

If we can let ourselves enter their worlds and believe so willingly,  why don't we write our own sagas and recast ourselves as heroes and heroines.

Ultimately you know, we've all got the Force.

Like what you've read?  Why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.
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Monday, 23 March 2015

Manage Your Stress With Nelson's Arnicare & Flower Power!


The lovely people at Nelson, makers of Spatone (reviewed here) have sent samples of their Arnicare Bath & Massage Balm, Bach Emotional Eating Kit and Bach Rescue Liquid Melts for me to try for you.

As you know, I am always interested in anything which helps a busy parent to manage their stress levels better! 

 I have been reading Susan Balfour's fabulous book "Stress Control: Stress Busting Strategies For the 21st Century" [review here] and Nelson's products are a perfect complement to this.

Nelsons Arnicare Bath & Massage Balm
Nelsons Arnicare® Arnica Bath & Massage balm is a unique dual purpose relaxing balm which creates a luxurious, lovely fragranced bath to help ease aches. 

It contains Arnica Montana to soothe and relax you after a tiring day, with Calendula, Evening Primrose and Sweet Almond Oils to hydrate and nourish the skin naturally. 

The balm has a lovely Lavender and Grapefruit scent to help melt away tension and clarify the mind. 

I found the milky bath very soothing after a day with the kids and I rely on the occasional hot bath to help my back. (I'm relying on Pilates to help set me straight, exercise-wise). 

As a plus, the bath was easy to clean afterwards with no heavy, oily residue. 

The advice is to use 2 capfuls per bath but I like the fragrance so much I used a good 3 to 4 capfuls. Nelsons Arnicare Arnica Bath & Massage Balm costs £8.49 and is available from Boots.

Nelsons Emotional Eating Kit
If you find yourself wandering off the path a bit when it comes to your diet and healthy living resolutions (don't we all, especially with all that Easter chocolate on the horizon!), and you need a helping hand to get you back on track, then try Bach™ Emotional Eating Kit. [£11.99 at Boots]

The kit comprises three flower essences to help with emotional eating (using food to deal with your feelings). 

You can create your own individual combination and adapt it to suit your changing moods. 

The essences are alcohol and artificial additive free and suitable for the whole family. 

Each essence offers a different psychological boost and can be taken as drops on the tongue or in a glass of water. 

Crab Apple is for acceptance of yourself and your imperfections, 

Cherry Plum can help you to think and act rationally and Chestnut Bud can help you gain knowledge from your experience.


I have used flower essences before and find them easy to take, comforting and reassuring. You don't have the worry of side effects as you do with many over the counter medications.
Bach Rescue Remedy Liquid Melts
If you are having a difficult day and are struggling to find motivation, try some RESCUE® Liquid melts [£8.89 in Boots] to help when your day threatens to get on top of you.

The Bach Rescue Liquid Melts are tiny capsules containing 4 drops of a blend of 5 flower essences designed to offer calmness and to help you regain clarity. 

You might argue that the act of pausing and taking stock is therapy enough but it is difficult to do when you are 'up to your eyes'. 

You simply place a melt on your tongue and let it dissolve.

The drops are combined with grapeseed oil which melt onto the tongue with very little taste.

I have previously used Bach Rescue Remedy (the same blend of drops) which comes in a glass bottle but the Melts are easy to carry in your bag and each individual melt is sealed for hygiene. 

The Melts don't contain alcohol and they are non-drowsy and suitable for all the family.

I was surprised to find that the famous Rescue formula comes in a number of formulations - even chewing gum! 

In case you're wondering what the 5 flower essences in the Rescue blend are, they are Rock Rose (for terror and panic), Impatiens (for irritation and impatience), Clematis (for inattentiveness and to counteract faintness), Star of Bethlehem (for shock) and Cherry Plum (for irrational thoughts and lack of self control).

So there you have it, Nelsons offer a wealth of alternative remedies to help you manage your stress - the natural way.

*PR samples were received for the purpose of this review.
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Monday, 2 March 2015

Review - Self Help Stress Management Book "Stress Control" by Susan Balfour

Stress Control:  Stress-Busting Strategies For The 21st Century is the latest self help stress management book from psychotherapist Susan Balfour, who has made a special study of stress syndrome with a particular emphasis on the effect of stress on our health and how to manage our stress in daily living.

Self help stress management book - Stress Control by Susan Balfour

Susan has a private therapy practice in south west London where she works with both individuals and companies and lectures extensively on the subject of stress management. 


She has been featured on a number of TV programmes about stress and anxiety management, and has worked with leading medical specialists on the management of Repetitive Strain Injury.

There are acres of words written on the subject of stress and its management, as just a cursory glance at the Mind, Body, Spirit section both on Amazon and the few remaining UK bookshops (thank God for Waterstones!) will attest. 


These books seem to fall either into those with a medical focus or the more traditional 'self help' tome which offers advice in almost 'soundbite' format or has a spiritual focus, which some people may find hard to relate to.

Susan Balfour's book is a happy blend of both styles, combining important scientific information (such as the impact stress has on our bodies) with a frank discussion of how modern life and particularly how today's society, with its constant drive towards consumerism and acquisition, is affecting us.  


I found the tone to be no-nonsense and frank, rather like chatting to an old friend who has your best interests at heart.

Susan believes that we need to learn from the lessons of the past and ancient wisdom rather than constantly seeking new (and temporary solutions). 


This is not, however, done in a wishy-washy, navel contemplating way.  

She proposes alternative approaches to modern problems, for example our addiction to social media and the urge to be constantly connected to our phones every minute of the day! Bullying at work, working from home, excessive workloads, every modern dilemma is included.

The book contains 11 clearly defined chapters, each with suggested, easy-to-implement exercises. For example, "Technology and stress" (Ch 4), "Take control of your agenda" (Ch 5), "The Positive No" (Ch 6), "Stress at work (Ch 7) and "Food to empower you" (Ch 10).


I particularly liked Susan's focus on tension releasing exercises, since I have been doing Pilates for the last few months to help a lower back problem thanks to two caesarians just 18 months apart!


We can definitely control our stress by the way in which we move our bodies. 

The book includes a loosening and stretching routine which is easy to do, as well as an exercise to achieve deep relaxation.

Finally, Susan talks about what we can learn from successful people, focusing on control, challenge and commitment.


I really liked this book which is choc-full of advice. 


It is not a book to be skimmed through but rather contemplated and digested slowly. Susan reminds us that it is OK for us to prioritise our own health and happiness - something that many busy mums totally forget!

So are you stressed? With which of these symptoms can you identify?

  • drinking more alcohol than usual
  • sleeplessness
  • feeling more emotional than usual
  • non-specific hostility - feeling angry most of the time
  • feeling threatened by life's demands and by other people
  • increased irritability
  • humourlessness
  • eating too much, or too little
  • increased dependence on caffeine, tobacco or other mood altering substances
  • digestive disorders
  • frequent minor ailments
  • excessive sweating
  • impaired memory
  • palpitations
  • indecisiveness
  • feeling indispensable
  • inability to relax
  • feeling the joy has gone out of life
  • always feeling rushed; always in a hurry
  • resistance to change
If you're anything like me, I'm sure a few of these will ring a bell rather loudly! 

It is imperative to manage our stress so that we lead happy productive lives and can give our best to those around us - particularly our children!

Stress Control:  Stress Busting Strategies For The 21st Century is available on Amazon.co.uk at £10.88 for paperback and £4.99 for the Kindle edition.


I also have one copy of Susan's self help stress management book to give away. Just enter via the Rafflecopter app below.  


The giveaway will close at midnight on Monday 9th March and the prize will be sent out by the publisher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Post contains an affiliate link.
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