June 27 is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day. PTSD is a disorder that can develop as a result of a number of traumatic events: warfare, sexual assaults, car accidents, or other life-threatening events. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, current treatment approaches for PTSD consist of psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. However, some military veterans experiencing PTSD have found relief from symptoms through reiki therapy, as detailed in “Reiki and PTSD” in the November/December 2014 issue of Massage & Bodywork magazine. Read the article here.
Whenever possible, it's always a good idea to avoid certain habits that make anxiety worse, and replace them with ones that make the day easier, smoother, and less stressful. This is good advice for anyone who could stand to have less stress in their life, but can be especially helpful for those who struggle with chronic anxiety.
It’s difficult if not impossible to define an “American” diet. The U.S is so diverse, so multicultural and so successful at importing foods from elsewhere; and yet one thing remains sadly true on a general level: we’re not terribly healthy. As a nation we consume too much of the bad stuff (added sugars, saturated fats and sodium) and not enough of the good stuff (vegetables, fruits, dairy and healthy oils). Obesity rates continue to rise, not only among adults, but also among our children.