November is all about Men’s Health. It is Movember for the month of November and this movement focuses on the following objectives:
With the clocks going back and the nights getting darker, it is time to look after your mental wellbeing. According to the NHS it's thought that seasonal affective disorder (SAD), affects around 2 million people in the UK. It can affect people of any age, including children.
Key symptoms:
There are many things you can do to help yourself and it is always better to start sooner rather than later. Some suggestions are:
1 Exercise – Research has shown that a one hour walk in daylight can be as helpful as light treatment.
2 Keep Warm - I know most of us are concerned about the cost of heating this year but being cold can make you more depressed. It's also been shown that staying warm can reduce the winter blues by half.
Keep warm with hot drinks and hot food. Wear warm clothes and shoes and aim to keep your home between 18C and 21C (or 64F and 70F degrees). Layering clothes is an excellent way of keeping warm.
3 Eat Well and Regularly - A healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you putting on weight over winter. Balance your craving for carbohydrates, such as pasta and potatoes, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Eating regularly will also help to keep you warm.
4 Light Therapy - Some people find light therapy effective for seasonal depression. One way to get light therapy at home in winter is to sit in front of a light box for up to two hours a day.
5 Find a New Hobby – keeping your mind active helps to combat SAD. A new hobby generally inspires us and gives us something to look forward to and concentrate on.
6 Socialise with Friends and Family - It's been shown that socialising is good for your mental health and helps ward off the winter blues. So even if you only go for a little whole, do keep in touch with people. It can be so tempting on the dark, cold nights just to stay in.
7 Have Therapy –Talking to someone or having a hands-on treatment or a combination of the two can help you cope with the symptoms. I am offering a free 30 minute zoom chat or telephone call if you would like to chat anything through.
8 Support Group
Think about joining a support group. SADA is the UK's only registered charity dedicated to SAD. It costs £20 (£10 for concessions) to join, and you'll receive an information pack, regular newsletters, discounts on products such as light boxes, and contacts for telephone support.
I hope this helps, but if you have any questions please call or email me.
Autumn is the time to let things go,just like the trees and letting things go embraces change which can bring about positive things. Please do read my newsletter to find out more about how gratitude and kindness can help you overcome stress and mental health. November is very much about Men's mental health, so there are some tips on how men can help themselves and how partners can help them too. Above all be kind to one another and grateful. Some days it may be hard to find but there is always something no matter how small we can be grateful for each day.
This has been an exciting year! I opened my new clinic in Theale at the beginning of the year, I won (with many thanks to my lovely clients) the "Prestige Award for Therapist of The Year" and I will now be treating from "The Natural Health Centre" in Newbury. To celebrate all this, I am offering Taster Sessions of Bowen Therapy priced at £20.00 from my Theale Clinic and The Natural Health Centre and Fairbourne Clinics in Newbury. These mini treatments are an excellent way to find out how Bowen Therapy may be able to help you, from pain, to insomnia, to Parkinson's, menopause and many other conditions. To find out more or to book for a taster session please call me on 07710722615 or email me at info@abalancedbodywithbowen.co.uk
Co0me and try a Free Taster Session of Bowen Therapy at Charvil Village Fete on Sunday 4th September from 2pm - 6pm.
Whatever your problem, be it chronic or acute pain, feeling stressed, anxious, suffering with the menopause or a neurological condition like Parkinson's do come and say hello, ask any questions you might have and try a treatment. There is no need to book - just turn up. If you have any questions beforehand, please do call me on 07710722615.
Do come and say hello, ask any questions you might have and try a treatment. If you have any questions beforehand, please call me on 07710722615.
There are many things happening on the day, including singing, a talent show and a silent auction. If you would like to find out more about all the events happening on the day, please visit https://www.facebook.com/MossEndGardenVillage
I was invited by Berkshire Channel to join their podcast on mental health. This was my first every broadcast and completely out of my comfort zone, if I’m honest. However, as the topic of mental health is so important and something I feel very passionately about, I decided to swallow my fears and go for it.
I’m rather glad that I didn’t realise at the time the other person joining the conversation was Danyl Johnson, of Xfactor Fame! Danyl was very honest and admitted that his biggest challenge is trying to cram too much into every day. I’m sure many of us can relate to that. We also discussed men’s health and the importance of talking to others. You can watch the podcast on mental health here.
You can also find out more about Bowen Therapy and men’s health here.