HelpGuide August Newsletter

[View in browser]( Dear Friend of HelpGuide, For those of us in the northern hemisphere, summer is in full swing. Many of us associate this time with taking vacations, spending more time outdoors, and enjoying the longer days to soak up the sun or relax with friends. Of course, when temperatures get too high, summer can become unbearable and pose some serious health threats. But when the balance is right, the extra exposure to sunlight can have many benefits. It can boost your vitamin D levels, improve your mood, and even help you to sleep better at night. Summer can also be a great time to establish some healthy new habits to help you through the colder months ahead. Most of us usually make resolutions in January to start exercising, lose weight, or to learn a new skill or hobby. But these things are often much easier to accomplish in the longer, brighter days of summer than in the dark and dreary new year. What healthy changes would you like to make this summer? Want to exercise more? When the weather is warmer, there are more opportunities to find [enjoyable ways to be active outdoors](—rather than having to confine yourself to a gym or indoor exercise class. Take advantage of the longer evenings by going for a walk after work, hiking, cycling, playing frisbee in the park with friends, or simply playing outside more with your kids or dog. To protect yourself, try to avoid the hottest parts of the day, wear sunscreen, and drink plenty of water. Looking to lose a few pounds? When the weather is warmer, we tend to sweat more and burn more calories—another plus for getting active outdoors. Drinking more water can also help you to feel fuller for longer. And on a hot day, those healthy salads and bowls of fresh fruit that seem so unfulfilling in January can seem much more appetizing in August. Just be careful you don't scupper your [weight loss goals]( by making unhealthy choices at summer barbecues or drinking too many ice-cold sugary drinks or alcoholic beverages. Need to improve your sleep? One of the keys to [sleeping well]( is to establish a consistent sleep schedule. The longer nights and shorter days of winter can disrupt your internal clock, leaving you feeling groggy or sleepy during the day. But in summer, it’s easier to get in a natural rhythm, waking up with the sunshine and going to bed not too long after it’s dark. Having more exposure to sunlight in summer can also increase your body’s production of serotonin, boosting your mood and helping to regulate your sleep-wake cycle.  Want to start a new hobby, change careers, or simply have more fun? Perhaps it’s because we often feel happier and more relaxed in summer that we tend to put off making major life changes until the fall. But making changes in the summer can mean there’s less competition for vacant jobs—and it’s [easier to network]( when the sun’s shining and employers are feeling more amenable. The longer days can also give you more time to prepare a resume, take a summer class, enroll in a hobby group, [reconnect with old friends](, or simply spend time with friends and family. However you choose to spend this summer, at HelpGuide you’ll find plenty of ways to take care of your mental and emotional heath, and make the most of every season.  Yours in health,  Melinda Smith Executive Director, HelpGuide ­ Some of our latest content Depression Types and Causes: Clinical, Major, and Others Understanding the different types and causes of depression can help you find the most effective treatment—whether you’re dealing with clinical depression, atypical, treatment-resistant, or "high-functioning" depression. ­ [Read more]( ­ Choosing an Alcohol Rehab Treatment Program Whether you’re looking for an inpatient or outpatient alcohol rehab center—for yourself or a loved one— finding the right treatment program is an important step on the road to recovery. ­ [Read more]( ­ Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) Children with RAD have a hard time accepting love and seeking comfort. But there are steps you can take as a parents to manage the symptoms of this attachment disorder and guide your child’s development. ­ [Read more]( ­ Mental health news from around the web Women and men react differently to stress and strain (University Hospital Würzburg) An investigation from the first year of the Corona pandemic, found that anxiety plays a central part in how men and women react. "In men, anxiety increases along with concerns about the job, an effect which does not show in women. On the other hand, we were able to register an increase in anxiety levels in women parallel to an increase in their worries about family and friends," says Grit Hein, Professor of Translational Social Neuroscience. The study also shows that women in such times respond positively to support from friends and family, while this isn't apparent in men. [READ MORE →]( Chronic pain is often accompanied by depression and anxiety (Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine) In an invited commentary published in JAMA Network Open, Kurt Kroenke, M.D. discusses the relationship between pain and depression and anxiety. "Individuals with pain don't sleep well and their resulting tiredness affects their mood, making them vulnerable to depression and anxiety. Having problems with depression or anxiety can increase susceptibility to pain." [READ MORE →]( To stop nail-biting, skin picking and hair pulling, new research suggests a simple technique (NBC News) The research, published in JAMA Dermatology, found that an approach called habit replacement may help reduce these behaviors. While the new technique —which involves gently rubbing the fingertips, palm or back of the arm at least twice a day—didn’t help everyone, about 53% of people in the study said they had at least some improvement. [READ MORE →]( “Super-Agers” longevity study: Why some people don’t get Alzheimer’s (Being Patient) Scientists are hoping "super-agers" can help them answer this question: What is it that protects some people in their 80s, 90s and even 100s from neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's? A Spanish study, one of the longest and largest of its kind, pinpointed a few more traits that may explain how so-called super-agers retain their wit and memory. [READ MORE →](  Can a multivitamin improve your memory? (Harvard Health Publishing) A recent study of older adults suggests that a daily multivitamin can improve your memory enough that it can function as if you were three years younger. So, should you take that daily multivitamin? [READ MORE →]( ­ Mental health helplines  In the U.S.: [NAMI Helpline]( at 1-800-950-6264. UK: [Mind Infoline](: 0300 123 3393 Australia: [Sane Australia](: 1800 187 263 Canada: [Wellness Together Canada](: 1-866-585-0445 In other countries: Visit HelpGuide's [Directory of International Mental Health Helplines]( Follow Us: ­ ­ ­ ­ JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER Mental health and wellness tips, our latest articles, resources and more. ­ [Subscribe]( ­ ­ HelpGuide.org International, 515 S. Flower St. Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA, 90071 This email was sent to {EMAIL} You've received it because you've subscribed to our newsletter. If you would no longer like to receive these, please update your email preferences by visiting the link below. [Unsubscribe](  [Privacy Policy](     |      [Terms of Use](