April Stress Awareness Month

Anxious woman in Mask

 Firstly you are not alone. Since the pandemic we have all experienced increasingly higher levels of stress than normal. Statistics taken from a study by Oracle 2020, has shown that 85% have increased mental health difficulties. Poor health, relationship breakdowns, lethargy and overall exhaustion. Doing nothing has actually made us more anxious, worried and frightened.

Getting into a good routine and talking to someone is key to good mental development. Sharing your experience with others and finding out that you are not the only one has huge benefits for your mental health.

Connecting with others is so important. As humans we need connection. It is important to also get out in nature and feel the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. Being in the presence of animals is also perfect for decreasing stress levels.

So please reach out and remember you are not alone.

International Women’s Day

Happy woman punching air

“Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new centre of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.”

Oprah Winfrey

A woman’s position in society is forever changing. With everything that has happened this month every woman across the UK is questioning safety, boundaries, relationships and gender identity. There will always be change and society is constantly evolving.

What is important now is to show kindness and respect to one another, whilst listening to the voice of all women and then focussing on how to share personal stories and let voices be heard. That is what will bring about true change not through violence but through compassion and listening.

Rare Disease Day

Person unwell in bed

Today is a special day to raise awareness amongst the general public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients lives.

Unlike more well-known diseases such as cancer, when you do get diagnosed with a rare disease it can be very isolating and difficult to get support. This ultimately affects your mental health.

It is known that 1 in 20 people will live with a rare disease at some point. Rare Disease Day improves knowledge amongst the general public of rare diseases while encouraging researchers and decision makers to address the needs of those living with rare diseases.

The campaign started as a European event and has progressively become a world phenomenon. The first Rare Disease Day was celebrated in 2008 on 29 February, a ‘rare’ date that happens only once every four years. Ever since, Rare Disease Day has taken place on the last day of February, a month known for having a ‘rare’ number of days.

New Start New You

Road through mountains

“The first step towards getting somewhere
is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.”

J P Morgan

After the shock of last year and as a world community what we have experienced. It has brought so much into perspective in terms of looking at our own lives. Analysing what is working and perhaps what is not working.

I think the pandemic has brought so many questions in terms of wider issues such as race, diversity, equality and wellbeing for us all. Personal questions have come to the surface such as “Am I happy? Is my job right for me? Do I live how I really want to live?“

As the quote by J P Morgan said - first let's decide what we do not want and then let's go from there.

If you need help in mapping out your new future and your journey then please speak to one of our trained advisers and we can be of assistance. Or perhaps by attending one of our workshops and sharing your story with others could be of benefit also.

Remember we are here to support you. Let me leave you with this just as equally inspiring quote:

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin.
Beginning makes the conditions perfect.”

Alan Cohen

World Aids Day 1st December 2020

What is World Aids Day?

World AIDS Day takes place on 1 December each year. It’s an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. Founded in 1988, World AIDS Day was the first ever-global health day.

Why is World Aids Day Important?

Over 103,800 people are living with HIV in the UK. Globally, there are an estimated 38 million people who have the virus. Despite the virus only being identified in 1984, more than 35 million people have died of HIV or AIDS, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.

Today, scientific advances have been made in HIV treatment, there are laws to protect people living with HIV and we understand so much more about the condition. Despite this, each year in the UK over 4,450 people are diagnosed with HIV, people do not know the facts about how to protect themselves and others, and stigma and discrimination remain a reality for many people living with the condition.

World AIDS Day is important because it reminds the public and government that HIV has not gone away – there is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education.

What can I do on World Aids Day?

World AIDS Day is an opportunity to show solidarity with the millions of people living with HIV worldwide. So please get your place of work or education facility to advertise world aids day.

Most people do this by wearing an HIV awareness red ribbon on the day.

Alcohol Awareness Week 11th-17th November 2020

People in the UK are drinking differently as a result of coronavirus.

It has either gone either way for each and every individual. Some people during lockdown have either gone on a massive health kick or others its gone the opposite way and involved lunch time drinking, over eating and generally just full on nesting behaviour.

The first thing is not to beat yourself up about this as this has been one of the hardest years on so many levels. However increase in drinking can have devastating effects on both your personal, family and working relationships.

So how can this be changed?

– Working out a schedule

– Changing your habits

– Daily exercise

– Fresh air

– Support groups

– One-to-one support

Please note that wellbeingforus.com offers one-to-one support and workshops covering a range of topics.

World Diabetes Day – 14th November 2020

Today we are going to talk about gestational diabetes; this is an illness in which the blood sugar levels rise during pregnancy. It is a type of diabetes that is primarily seen in a pregnant woman with no diabetes history before pregnancy. The test for gestational diabetes is conducted between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. The condition can be managed by following a healthy lifestyle and consuming a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. Gestational diabetes usually goes away post-delivery. However, it can affect the baby’s health, and raise the risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.

There are two classes of gestational diabetes, women with class A1 can manage it with a healthy diet and proper exercise while class A2 needs to be managed with insulin therapy or other medications.

Gestational diabetes in pregnancy can lead to:

An Oversized Baby

Diabetes, if not treated well, risks the newborn with high blood sugar. The baby is “overfed” and becomes oversized. In addition to causing the woman pain during the last few months of pregnancy, for both the mother and the infant, an oversized baby may lead to complications during childbirth. To deliver a baby, the mother might need a C-Section. Due to pressure on the shoulder during birth, the baby can also be affected with nerve damage during vaginal birth (shoulder dystocia).

Casarean Section

A C-section is a surgery to deliver the baby from the womb of the mother. A woman suffering from diabetes has a greater risk of having a C-section. When the baby is born through a C-section, recovery from childbirth takes longer for the mother (and increases chances of infection).

High Blood Pressure

When a pregnant woman is suffering from high blood pressure, it leads to protein in her urine, swelling in fingers and toes and this condition is known as preeclampsia. It is a serious problem that needs to be watched closely and managed by a doctor. High blood pressure can cause harm to both the woman and her unborn baby. Women with diabetes have high blood pressure more often than women without diabetes.

Low Blood Sugar

Women with diabetes who take insulin or other medicines for the condition can develop blood sugar that is low. If not treated quickly, low blood sugar can be dangerous, and even fatal. If women watch their blood sugar closely and handle low blood sugar early, it is possible to prevent seriously low blood sugar levels. If a woman’s diabetes during pregnancy has not been well managed, her baby may develop low blood sugar very quickly after birth. The blood sugar of the baby must be tracked for several hours after birth.

Here are some tips for women suffering from Gestational Diabetes:

1. Eat a healthy, balanced diet

2. Exercise Moderately

3. Monitor blood sugar on a regular basis

4. Take insulin if required

5. Get tested for diabetes after pregnancy

Get tested for diabetes 6 to 12 weeks after your baby is born, and then after every 1 to 3 years. For most women with gestational diabetes, diabetes goes away after delivery. If diabetes does not go away, then it is called type 2 diabetes.

Please talk to wellbeingforus.com if you are concerned about this issue as we have therapists that specialise in women’s health.

Scroll to Top