Hugs and Kisses Decrease Stress

A recent study from the journal of Psychosomatic Medicine reports that loving touches can lower our stress hormone cortisol by 7%. Anything from sex to holding hands can do the trick! You will become calmer every minute you are enjoying a pleasureable touch. The stress-snuggle connection was studied by Beate Ditzen PhD. who studied 51 couples for a week, asking them to record their activities and take saliva samples every three hours. The results were that intimacy reduced cortisol levels by improving their mood.

Studies have already proven that a loving touch can reduce blood pressure and have other health benefits. Angry hugs don't work, which is why only happily married couples benefit from longer and healthier lives. If you don't have a mate handy for hugs, try getting the benefit from family and friends as there have been other studies that have linked friendship with good health, longevity and less stess. So in these stressful economic times just borrow a hug and feel better!

Best wishes,

Gina

Learning Love Languages

February is believed to be the month that we should declare our love to the people in our life. Actually we should share those feelings with each other every day and not put all our expectations into a commercial holiday.

Gary Chapman author of The Five Love Languages series says that there are five ways that people communicate their love to each other.

• Physical touch
• Words of affirmation
• Quality time
• Gifts
• Acts of service

Knowing how the special people in your life need to feel emotionally connected to you is important. Discuss these different love languages and communicate honestly with your partner how you need to be loved. Once this need is acknowledged and you are working to communicate openly, your relationship will build trust and not the walls that grow to keep your heart protected.

Don't wait until you are in crisis and believe the love is completely gone. Seek professional help when needed or when you don't know how to rebuild that special relationship.

Best wishes,

Gina

30 Days to Create a New You

Are your New Year resolutions a faint memory? At this time your new healthy behaviors should have become a permanent routine for you. Studies are reporting it takes 30 days of consistency to change behavioral patterns. This is a difficult time consuming process for some individuals. Novelist Arnold Bennett states "Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts." So if you find change difficult to handle you are not alone. Change is the only constant that we have in life so let's learn how to use it to our advantage.

First30Days is an organization that has developed nine principles to help us change and reach our goals.

• Change your point of view. A positive outlook can motivate you to look outside the box.
• Something good will come of the situation you are experiencing that can lead to a brighter future.
• You are stronger than you think. Start with small changes and feel the rewards of success before you take on a more challenging behavioral change.
• Recognize that negative thoughts will hinder your progress and attitude toward success.
• Accept the process of change and do not fight to resist it. Resistance to change is wasted energy.
• You can only control what you think and feel.
• Connect with you spirituality for tranquility and wisdom.
• Let your support system know you need help when your resolve for change weakens.
• When you feel stuck in a rut, any change can help you regain momentum.

So if you have forgotton about those New Year resolutions it might be time to rethink what went wrong and make the changes you need to succeed.

Best wishes,

Gina

Understanding Male Depression

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 6 million men and 12 million women in America are affected by depression each year. While it may seem that males are less affected by depression, researchers are trying to establish the variables with men and establish appropriate treatment for them.
Male depression may go undiagnosed for several reasons:

• Men are reluctant to discuss depressive symptoms.
• Men see mental illness as a threat to their masculinity.
• Men mask depressive symptoms with alcohol or substance abuse.
• Men resist mental health treatment due to concerns with the stigma that it could damage their career or lose respect of family and friends.

Symptoms of male depression include:

• Violent or abusive behavior
• Escapist behaviors of over involvement in a sport or work
• Inappropriate rage
• Risky behaviors
• Sexual liaisons
• Substance abuse
• Thoughts of suicide

Men are more likely to complete suicide because they use more lethal methods and display fewer warning signs before completing the act. If you have a man in your life that is displaying these symptoms ask him to seek help immediately. Treatment with a doctor or mental health provider can help him learn healthy coping skills to elevate his mood. He may also need the support from medication management. There are many effective treatments for depression so don't think you can tough it out. Seek help and enjoy life.

Best wishes,

Gina

Prioritize Your New Year

If you are like the millions of other Americans today there is never enough time in a day to do everything we would like to accomplish. This stress is causing a lot of health issues for people today, so learning how to prioritize your "To Do" list can be very helpful. Here is an idea to help you prioritize your busy life:

Three "D" Choice Method

• Dropping - Is this a priority? If not just drop it and move forward.
• Delaying - Does this have to be done now? If not put it on a list for later.
• Delegating - Must this be done by me personally? Then delegate it to the appropriate person.

Keep trying new ideas and you will find ways to maintain your self-care for a happy and healthy new year!

Warm regards,

Gina

New Year, New Resolutions

For many individuals 2008 will be a year to forget due to the war, gas prices, unemployment and companies downsizing or closing. The hardships for many people and families have been overwhelming. Unfortunately many people cope with their struggles with a variety of addictions. So no matter what your addiction might be drugs, gambling, shopping, smoking, or alcohol you can kick the unwanted habit this year with a little help.

New Harvard University states that since the brain responds to pleasurable experiences you have to break the pattern. Here are a few recommendations to help you to do that:

• Seek help and create a support system.
• Set a quit date.
• Change your enviroment by removing those reminders and temptations from your immediate area. That may mean you will need to make new friends if you enjoyed your addiction with your current relationships.
• Learn new skills and activities that you can replace with your addiction when you feel the urge.
• Review your past attempts at quitting. What worked, what didn't and what led you back to your old habits. Then make the appropriate changes.

These are simple strategies that work. So believe in yourself that you can live a healthy, happy life without your addiction in 2009.

Happy New Year

Gina

Financial Stress Can Harm Your Health

Today's economy is creating a lot of anxiety associated with the financial uncertainty of the recession we are currently experiencing. Eight out of ten Americans now report that the economy is a significant stressor for them. They are experiencing health concerns from headaches to heart disease. According to the American Psychological Association 52% of us are lying awake at night worrying about the world we live in today.

This is bad news since sleep loss is linked to higher blood pressure. Stress can also lead to emotional eating of unhealthy comfort foods. Here are some suggestions to remain balanced in stressful times:

• Find time to laugh. Laughing creates endorphins to lift your mood and suppress stress-related hormones.
• Create a nurturing environment for yourself. Learn to relax as worrying will not solve the problem.
• Exercise to release your tension and lower your blood pressure. It also creates those endorphins that lift our mood.
• Turn on your favorite music to combat the stress hormone cortisol and lower your blood pressure. Relaxing never felt so good!

There are several ways to combat the stress you encounter each and every day. Stay close to your family, friends, and faith. Never lose hope as there is always a new day tomorrow to begin again. If anxiety and depressive symptoms take over the joy in your life do not hesitate to seek professional support.

Warm regards,

Gina