Category Archives: Health

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Lifestyle

A Day of Life in a Sober Living House

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The effectiveness of a sober living house comes down to a willingness to change. You are fully capable of individual change, and reaching that goal can be a shared experience. With more people on your side, a healthier lifestyle can be a real-world accomplishment.

The Change

When you make a commitment to sober living for men, the journey to recovery begins immediately. There are no shortcuts to be taken, and the finish line will look different for every individual. A day in the life of a sober living house is different than crashing on a loved one’s couch. It is also different than having a buddy that checks in on you when things get dire. As much as you are changed by the world, the world itself will not bend to your will. That means no matter how well your sober life is going, the environment around you will not be completely free or alcohol or drugs. That is why sober living homes were created, and here is what they can do for you.

A Gift

To regain a sober life, you’ll have to go through recovery. Inpatient drug rehab or outpatient programming can get you to a point, but what happens after? It is unrealistic to think that temptation won’t be waiting when you go back to your normal life. Sober living takes the temptation out of the environment by having all residents agree to full abstinence from harmful substances. For someone that is going through recovery, the lack of temptation is freeing. You can wake up, talk to friends and walk around without any worry about a surprise in the environment causing a misstep.

Friends and Family

What do friends and family see as outsiders looking in? At a sober living house, there is no ‘shame’ or feeling that you are being punished for your actions. This is reflected with the mutual accountability from all participants. Healthy, happy guys working hard to improve their lives is what outsiders will see. There are plenty of outdoor activities, events, peer groups and even exercise. A small event such as fishing with your friends becomes an unforgettable experience that takes you away from substance abuse. There is no pressure to participate in these activities, and there is always something new to do every day.

Old Habits

Breaking old habits is the biggest change a sober living house will make. Your old life has daily reminders that led to substance abuse. Sober living is about breaking the cycle and leaving those old bad habits in the past. Soon, you’ll notice small improvements in the way you eat, interact with people and manage your time. All of these things together make it unlikely that you will fall back into old habits.

Making the Right Choice

Your temperament is a big part of the healing process. No one walks into a sober living house with a mentality that is resistant to change. If your goal is honest, then a sober living house is a positive influence to improve your choices.

Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle

Depression vs. Sadness: How Not To Confuse the Two

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It’s normal to feel sad from time to time. It’s a normal human emotion that can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, sadness is meant to be temporary, which makes it very different from depression. Depression is a long-term illness that can impair the normal functioning of a person’s life. To further distinguish sadness and depression from each other, here’s more about what you should know.

Symptoms Of Sadness And Depression

Although you might feel sad from time to time, you should be able to laugh and feel comforted once those moments are over. Depression is much different from this and can make it very impossible for you to ever feel happy for a long period of time. To find out if you have depression, here are some of the most common symptoms:

● constant feelings of sadness

● irritability

● fatigue

● changes in sleeping or eating patterns

● difficulty concentrating

● loss of interest in things that used to provide pleasure

● feelings of deep, unwarranted guilt

● physical symptoms, such as headaches or body aches that do not have a specific cause

● feelings of worthlessness

● constant thoughts about death

● suicidal thoughts or actions

The DSM-5 Criteria

Mental health professionals tend to use the DSM-5 criteria to determine if a person has depression or not. There are nine potential symptoms, the severity of which can differ from person to person.

1. feeling depressed throughout each day on most or all days

2. lack of interest and enjoyment in activities you used to find pleasurable

3. lack of sleep or sleeping too much

4. lack of appetite or eating too much

5. irritability, restlessness, or agitation

6. extreme fatigue

7. unwarranted or exaggerated feelings of guilt or worthlessness

8. inability to concentrate or make decisions

9. suicidal thoughts or actions, or thinking a lot about death and dying

The Risk Factors Of Depression

Although depression occurs in both men and women of any age and any socioeconomic background, some factors come into play that increase the risk for depression.

● low self-esteem

● trauma that takes place early in childhood

● history of alcohol and/or drug abuse

● family history of mental illness

● trouble adjusting to a serious medical condition

● lack of a support system, such as friends, family, or coworkers

Medical Causes of Depression

Depression could also be a side effect of some medications that can alter a person’s mood. Some of these medications include:

● corticosteroids

● beta-blockers

● statins to treat high cholesterol

● hormonal medications

You should always speak to your doctor if you’ve been prescribed any of these medications and start to notice a change in your overall mood. Your doctor might be able to find an alternative or alter your dosage to reduce these side effects.

It is recommended that you speak to a medical professional if you start to experience sadness for longer than two weeks. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, then you should seek immediate medical help. You can start receiving professional help, such as therapy and medication, so that can get you back to feeling like yourself again.

Going Healthy, Health, Lifestyle, Tips

5 Quick Ways To Look After Your Appearance

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hand soap on bathroom sink, looks, style, fashion

Image Credit: Congerdesign from Pixabay.

How much effort do you put into looking after your appearance?  Is it something that you actively care about, or is it more of an afterthought? If it’s the second of these, it could be worth putting a little bit of time and effort into it. By taking the time to look after your appearance, you’ll see quite a few benefits.

You’ll not only look better, but feel better about yourself, making you feel more confident. Add in the mental health benefits it can offer, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do it. It wouldn’t even take much time and effort, especially when you focus on a few quick and easy strategies.

  1. Practice Good Hygiene – One of the more important parts of looking after your appearance is practicing good hygiene. It removes any dirt and grime for your body and hair, making sure you can look and smell as nice as possible. No matter what else you do, this is one of the first steps you should take.
  2. Have A Skincare Routine – A skincare routine is vital to looking after your appearance, as it’s vital to making sure your face and the rest of your body looks as amazing as it could. With a high-quality routine, your skin will even end up feeling much nicer than you would’ve thought. Put the effort into it every morning.
  3. Look After Your Teeth – When you want to look after your appearance, it’s important you don’t forget about your teeth. They play more of a role in how you look than you’d expect. It could be worth visiting a dental clinic to get everything checked out and make sure your teeth are as healthy and appealing as they should be.
  4. Don’t Forget Your Nails – While your nails often seem like a minor detail, they make a difference in how you look. If they’re uncared for, you’re not going to look as nice as you’d want, and it’s always worth putting some effort into them. Even cutting them regularly could be more than enough to help look nicer.
  5. Stay Hydrated – Good skincare doesn’t just focus on putting products on your skin. You’ll also need to stay hydrated so your skin gets everything it needs to look after itself. It also lets your body remove toxins, which would otherwise have an impact on your skin and other areas. Make sure you stay as hydrated as possible to prevent that.

You don’t have to spend hours trying to look after your appearance, and it could be much easier than you might’ve thought. By focusing on the right areas, it’ll be faster than you’d think, and you’ll still see all the benefits it has to offer.

Practicing good hygiene, not overlooking your nails, staying hydrated, and several other tips and tricks can all help with this. While they’ll take a little bit of time, it’ll be far less than you’d think, and you’ll see quite an impact on your appearance. It’ll be more than worth the time you put into it.