Blog Entries - July 2009

How sport can help your mental health?

editor@uticopa.com — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Not only are the Olympics coming to London in the next few years, but now the Rugby Union World Cup too. Never has there been a better time to gen up on all those sports which interest you and try to get fit yourself. No longer is it sufficient to merely be an armchair supporter. Taking part in your favourite sport will give you a body to be proud of, but that's not all. It isn't just the physical aspects that will improve your health. It's good for your mental health too [...]

Is depression in young girls a deciding factor in teenage pregnancy?

editor@uticopa.com — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

We read a lot in the media about the rise in teenage pregnancies in the UK and the subsequent psychological distress - not just to the new mother but to the whole family.

And the rest of the nation?

Everyone has an opinion. You only have to read the hundreds of blogs on various sites to see that everyone, not just professionals, has a view on the problem. Inevitably, the elderly - who have seen it all before in one form or another - place the problem fairly [...]

Men with stressful jobs 'double the chance of having a stroke'

editor@uticopa.com — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Strokes are one of the most common killers in Britain, affecting an estimated 150,000 people each year, of which more than 67,000 die.

But, stroke is such a variable disease, its severity and symptoms varying so much depending on the precise spot in the brain that the blood clot occurred. Some sufferers are only mildly affected and can hope to try to regain any lost faculties by plenty of professional medical help.

However, what causes it in the first place?

Is [...]

Coffee, Sudoku, Turmeric!

editor@uticopa.com — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Here are the headlines: Disaster looms unless new Alzheimer's drugs work, scientists warn. New drugs which slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease could be available in five years but Britain faces an "unmitigated disaster" if they fail to work, scientists have warned. In the meantime there are 700,000 people in the UK alone who suffer from some form of dementia and need help today, not in 5 years' time.

For those who are constantly searching for that elusive, simple way t [...]

Is there a link between creative people and mental health?

editor@uticopa.com — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Heard the one about the man who went to the doctor to get help for his depression? He's told to go and see a show with a well known comedian who would make him laugh and lift his spirits. "But that's me," says the patient. "I'm the comedian!"

Humour often develops as a response to depression and works as a coping mechanism. Natural comics tend to be superior in intelligence, but also angry, suspicious and depressed. Their comedic skills may well have developed as [...]

You are unique - learn to value yourself!

editor@uticopa.com — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

There are times when many of us can feel particularly worthless, depressed, discouraged, sad and defeated. Life is hard.

The way to deal with it is to tell yourself how special and important you are.

Each of us is unique: some of our mental components are handed down to us by our genetic ancestors, others by what we have experienced in our own lifetime. Do you have any idea of some of the gifts you have within you? My guess is probably not or y [...]

What do you fear the most?

editor@uticopa.com — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Is it growing old, the dark, cancer, death? We all have our fears, but how to deal with them so that our stress levels don't get blown sky-high?

Let's take ‘growing old'. If you talk to youngsters and ask them how they view the old people they pass on the city streets, often they will laugh and say things that indicate the old are aliens from another planet. The truth is that children need educating. Those old people are not ‘aliens': it is me [...]

Don't put up with an abusive relationship!

editor@uticopa.com — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Are you in a relationship that is causing you grief? I believe that most of us, especially those of us who have mental health disorders, feel guilt in situations where we have no business whatsoever feeling guilt. It's all too easy to just look at our behaviour, the situation and ourselves and say "This is happening, so I must be guilty somehow! I'm so ashamed".

In order to take back control of yourself, you need to understand what is going through the head of your partner. [...]