Healthy Living

5 Symptoms You May Not Recognize Are Signs of Mental Illness

5 Symptoms You May Not Recognize Are Signs of Mental Illness
Photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash

Mental health disorders appear in many forms, which makes them tough to recognize, diagnose and treat, especially when your symptoms could point to several physical conditions as well. If you’ve tried time and time again to overcome specific feelings or behaviors but fall short every time, then you may need more help than you can give yourself.  

You don’t have to suffer in silence, even if what you’re experiencing seems like something you should be able to tackle on your own. The following five symptoms and signs of mental illness may be a reason to seek online mental health services and discover the chemical or emotional cause of your woes.

1. Feeling Worried all the Time

Everyone worries and stresses from time to time, but when the feelings don’t subside, there could be a bigger problem. Constant feelings of anxiety can stop you from living your life and interfere with important relationships. If you feel worried but you’re not sure why, or if you have additional symptoms like shortness of breath, headache, dizziness or heart palpitations, you should ask to be screened for an anxiety disorder right away.  

2. Quick Mood Changes and Emotional Outbursts

It’s not always easy to determine how quickly or how often your mood shifts because you’re typically focused on the catalyst and not the feelings. However, your friends and family can tell when you’re experiencing a dramatic change and this can cause them to distance themselves from you at times. If there’s a chemical reason for your outbursts, then medical intervention may be able to alleviate some of your distress.

3. Feeling Sad for No Reason

People often try to justify depression with a reason. You’re tired because you work too hard, or you can’t work out because you broke your ankle back in high school. Being sad “just because” is okay sometimes, but when you lose motivation and interest in hobbies, friendships and work for long periods of time, you could be in the throws of deep mental anguish.

4. Inability to Sleep

Disruption of sleep patterns is often a sign of mental illness, but there are so many other catalysts to blame that you may not even consider it. If you’ve tried everything to cure your insomnia including removing electronic devices, ensuring total darkness and following a strict bedtime routine but sleep still eludes you, then you should ask your doctor about sleep disorders.

5. Loss of Appetite or Weight Fluctuation

Weight issues plague most of the population at one point or another, so when your own eating habits start to fluctuate, you may not think too much about it. However, if you experience rapid weight loss or gain compounded by feelings of anxiety, or if you start to obsess over your food intake, then you may be suffering from deep depression or even an eating disorder.

Chances are, everyone will experience at least one of the symptoms on this list, which does not necessarily point to mental illness. However, if you experience prolonged or compounded indications, you should speak with a professional to learn more about what’s happening in your brain.

Pets Products

Attitude natural pet products that are 100% safe

natural pet products that are 100% safe

Our pets get into enough stuff they shouldn’t! To use products with added harsh ingredients is not the best choice we can make for them. We can do better. Choosing a brand that focuses on safe ingredients and gives back with every product made is easy with Attitude. This is a Canadian brand and they have a passion for clean products, less plastic and more trees! I am using some of their pet care products with our dogs.

natural pet shampoo

The Attitude Furry Friends natural pet care line includes shampoos, conditioners, grooming wipes, air purifier, odor absorber, detangle spray as well as safe floor and surface cleaners. These products are carefully formulated for your pet and will leave you feeling safer about what is on their coats and the surfaces they lay around. Their pet grooming products are certified by PETA: Cruelty-free and vegan.

best pet products

These shampoos leave our dogs smelling great and their coats are so soft. Maya and Leah are poodle and wheaten terrier mix (Whoodle’s) and so they can tangle a bit on their ears and tails between groomer visits. Quality natural pet products is the difference between content dogs and one’s that get mad at me for combing mattes from their fur.

Visit Attitude to find natural products for humans too, as well as household products. You can also visit their Amazon store!

Healthy Living

T4O Works Like TTO But Is Better For Eyelid Issues

The essential oil Tea Tree Oil (TTO) has been used in Australia for over 100 years. A significant body of research has demonstrated its capabilities as an antimicrobial.  It is commonly used in the treatment of eyelid issues. TTO can be used in many other medical applications. But 4-terpineol (T4O) performs all of these just as well as TTO and is better for Blepharitis and other eyelid diseases.

The Active Ingredient

The native Australian plant Melaleuca alternifolia is the source of TTO. It contains several helpful ingredients but the primary active substance, terpineol is also found in T4O products such as Cliradex. This compound has the ability to fight microbes thus helping to cure and prevent several medical issues.

1. It Can Fight Acne and Skin Conditions

T4O is anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial and so can be useful in treating eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions. It can kill the microbes that cause these problems and help prevent them from coming back. Research found that using T4O two times a day for 12 weeks lessened the incidence of facial blemishes. It can thus be helpful in the fight against acne.

2. Skin Irritations

T4O is also effective in fighting rashes and irritations of the skin. By reducing inflammation, it can improve the health of the skin. More research is needed, but some studies have found that the anti-inflammatory capabilities of T4O may help heal wounds. It may also be useful in treating sunburn and insect bites. 

3. It Fights Microbial Infections

T4O has demonstrated a solid ability to fight fungus, bacteria and viruses. Studies show that products containing T4O can effectively kill harmful microbes and thus fight their related infections. The terpineol in T40 can inhibit the growth of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, streptococcus pneumonia and streptococcus pyongenes. This helps to prevent and cure infections of the sinuses, bloodstream, urinary tract as well as strep throat. Pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses can also be treated with T4O. 

Research has shown that T4O can also be effective in fighting several types of viral infections including influenza and herpes. One study found that it can eliminate and prevent warts, especially in children. 

T4O is also an excellent anti-fungal. It works well in treating athlete’s foot and jock itch as well as clearing up toenail fungus and candida. Research subjects found relief within two weeks.

4. Dry Scalp

T4O is effective in fighting Seborrheic dermatitis commonly known as dry scalp. This affliction causes dry and scaly areas on the scalp. A persistent itch is a dominant symptom. It is irritating as well as unhealthy. Research has discovered that T4O can relieve these symptoms.

5. Treatment of Head Lice

Many parents know the horror of head lice. Parasites that live in human hair, feed on blood and transfer easily from one person to another, lice can infest large numbers of students at the same school. T4O can be effective at preventing lice eggs from hatching as well as killing the adults. Keeping future generations of pests from hatching is key to ending the infestation. 

Researchers found that using T4O as a treatment killed 100% of head lice within 30 minutes. When used for a period of five days, it prevented eggs from hatching. 

6. Congestion and Respiratory Tract Infections 

Since the beginnings of its medicinal use, melaleuca leaves have been ground and inhaled as a treatment for colds and coughing due to congestion. The leaves were also placed in solutions for use in relieving sore throats. As an antimicrobial, T4O can fight bacteria that cause infections of the respiratory system. In addition to helping to heal these infections, T4O is also a useful preventative for them as well as coughs and colds.

7. Prevention of Antibiotic Resistance

Conventional antibiotics have long been used effectively to fight bacteria. One potential problem is that a patient can develop a resistance to the medication after prolonged use. A study published in “The Open MIcrobiology Journal” discovered a synergistic connection between antibiotics and terpineol. T4O when used together with a traditional antibiotic can help prevent resistance. 

8. Scabies Treatment

Scabies is also known as the seven-year itch and is caused by the Sarcoptes scabei mite infesting the skin. With symptoms of a rash and constant and severe itching, this condition is irritating and highly contagious. Flinders University in Australia conducted research that found that terpineol reduced the population of scabies mites significantly in test subjects. T4O is a completely natural treatment that kills mites both above and below the skin.

9. Bad Breath Elimination

Bad breath is an embarrassing condition that can also be harmful. When bacteria collects on the tongue and tonsils and in the throat it can cause gingivitis or bad breath. Some people use a breath spray or chew gum but these just cover the odor without addressing the root of the problem. A good mouthwash can kill bacteria, but terpineol has been shown to be more effective. When the bacteria are eliminated, so is bad breath. T4O can also kill the fungus that sometimes grows after a root canal or other oral procedure. Take care not to swallow T4O when using it to treat bad breath. It should be spat out completely after rinsing.

T4O Is Best For Eyelid Issues

Anything that TTO can treat can also be treated by T40, but there is one medical issue in which T4O has been found superior. Demodex-associated blepharitis (DAB) is caused by an infestation of the eyelash follicles by the Demodex folliculorum mite. Research involving the T4O product Cliradex and two others found that the Clirdex killed the demodex in an average time of 40 minutes. This was twice as fast as the closest competition. When it comes to treating eyelid issues, T4O may be the best.

For over a century, TTO has been used to treat many ailments. Science has backed its capabilities as an antimicrobial. T4O which also contains the effective ingredient terpineol treats these ailments just as effectively but is much better for DAB and eyelid problems.

Parenting

Tips for starting a new career after a baby

Many people see a career break as a setback and there is a lot of fear at the prospect of returning to the world of work after you have had a baby. Rather than seeing it as a speed bump, treat it as an opportunity to reinvent your career. There are no rules that say you have to go back to the same job or even the same sector you worked in previously, especially as your interests and skills will change drastically during the first stages of motherhood. 

Perhaps you need to retrain or go back to school to acquire different qualifications – now is the perfect time to switch it up. Maybe you want to become a pediatric nurse after spending so long caring for your own children or possibly go down the education route. Or maybe you want to leave children solely in your personal life and you are seeking a more corporate role as a contrast to out of work.

Here are some ways in which you can begin by starting a new career or make a career change after having a baby.

  1. Same job different demands – is there an opportunity to return to the same job but on a different schedule or with varied responsibilities? Hopefully, your employer will be willing to accommodate your requests and you can return to a career more complimentary of your life as a mom – you never know until you ask.
  2. Similarly, you could look into the same company but a different role – returning to work is the perfect opportunity to explore different options within the company. You have established yourself in your previous role and the truth is, they may be happy to keep your cover on the books and let you move over to a new role.
  3. Or, you could always look for a family-friendly organization – if your previous job was a high-pressure corporate role that does not sympathize with working mothers then you may want to consider changing over to a different company. Many organizations are extremely accommodating to women with families and offer more flexible work schedules. You will not have to fear asking your boss for time off to take your baby to the doctor.
  4. Turn a hobby into your new job – if you have a passion or an interest that excites you then consider turning it into a career. The best job is one that utilizes your skills and keeps you engaged. With children at home, you might need a bit more motivation to go to work every day!
  5. Go back to square one – this is the perfect opportunity to start that career you had always dreamed of. It is never too late to re-educate and start a new career path. It can be daunting, but the timing could not be better! Go back to school and do your learning from home whilst taking care of the baby or go to night classes.
  6. Start your own business – for those mothers with a bit of entrepreneurial spirit, now is the time to start your own business. You have got nothing to lose and it means you can set your own schedule, put in as much work as you want and really take advantage of nap time to get stuff done.