Introduction Most people have experienced some version of it: a stretch of weeks or months where exhaustion becomes a kind of background noise, concentration slips, and even small tasks feel heavier than they should. For some, that feeling resolves with rest. For others, it does not. What distinguishes ordinary fatigue from burnout is not simply a matter of degree, but of biology. Burnout is not a character flaw or a sign of weakness. It is a measurable stress response, o

Many people smoke to ease anxiety, believing it helps them feel calmer. While it may offer brief relief, nicotine actually reinforces a cycle of dependence and rebound anxiety. What feels like relief is often the body responding to cravings, not true stress reduction. Understanding this cycle is key to breaking it.

By B.L.Sindhuja . Medical Writer | Pharm.D What Really Occurs Post Partum? Giving birth is not only a memorable event in mother's life , but also a major physiological process that involves many changes in the body. That includes progesterone and estrogen levels drastically drop after childbirth, affecting neurotransmitters that regulate moods and emotions in the brain such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (1). Physiological recovery needs and sleep deprivation cre

There are days when your brain just feels… full. Not broken, not failing — just carrying more than it comfortably can. That feeling has a name in cognitive science: cognitive load, the amount of mental effort your brain can handle at once. And the truth is, every one of us has limits. Understanding how your brain manages information isn’t about becoming more productive — it’s about giving yourself permission to work with your mind instead of against it. Let’s take a gentle, s

Many people light up a cigarette when they feel anxious or stressed, thinking that it will calm them down and reduce anxiety. Initially, it may feel like it helps, but it’s actually making the anxiety worse. Smoking and anxiety are linked together in a cycle of temporary relief and rebound symptoms. In 2023, 40% of United States adults reported using nicotine tobacco products (NTP) in the past year, despite tobacco being the leading cause of death in the United States (1). M

By Sarah Bersey BSc (hons) Pg Dip The stress landscape: Over the past decade, self-reported excessive stress and anxiety among adults have shown marked increases across multiple countries and demographic groups. In the United States, the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) found that 7.4% of adults aged 18 and older reported experiencing moderate or severe anxiety symptoms—a notable metric that was first systematically tracked in 2024 (SAMHSA, 2024). When stre

Figure 1: Utilization of the RADO Approach (AI Generated) When your child receives a cancer diagnosis it’s normal to feel helpless watching them struggle with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, especially when it affects their quality of life. Children with cancer often experience significant anxiety regarding procedures, chemotherapy, pain, appearance changes, and the future. This stress can trigger sleep problems, headaches, stomachaches, and other physical symptoms that inten

Pregnancy is a life-changing journey filled with excitement and anticipation. However, beneath the surface, many women experience ongoing emotional pressure that often goes unnoticed. Chronic stress during pregnancy is not just a mental burden—it can have serious consequences for both mother and baby if left unmanaged. What Is Chronic Stress During Pregnancy? Chronic stress is a persistent state of mental and emotional strain that lasts for weeks or months. Unlike temporary s

Mindfulness is a word that we hear too much about in recent years. Most of us, at some point in our lives, have tried mindfulness in order to improve our lives, as we know it can help with stress, anxiety, and our emotional well-being. But have you ever wondered whether mindfulness meditation can influence not just your mental health but your physical health too? Mindfulness meditation is a structured way of training your mind to stay present, and over the past few years, res

Extracurricular Activities and Mental Health in Children Positive mental health in children is fundamental in helping children to function well at home, in schools, in peer relationships and in society 2 . Extracurricular activities have been found to improve children's mental health by providing links to peers and community as well as fostering feelings of acceptance and belonging 1 . Definition of Extracurricular Activities Extracurricular activities are defined as activiti

By: Nesredin Hassen Yesuf LinkedIn | Email Introduction Headaches remain a leading neurological complaint in everyday practice, with migraine and tension-type variants dominating the landscape. Most of us associate stress with headache onset, but for a notable subset of patients the opposite holds true. They breeze through intense workweeks only to be struck down on Saturday morning or the first day of a long-awaited holiday. Clinicians have labeled this the “let-down” headac

By: Nesredin Hassen Yesuf LinkedIn | Email Introduction Sighing is something we all do. Often, we do not think about it. It is a deep breath in and a long breath out. We usually sigh when we feel relieved, frustrated, or tired. Sighing also helps keep our lungs working properly. Even though we sigh all the time, scientists are still learning exactly how important it is. Sighing connects how our lungs work to how we feel. Understanding sighing helps us see how the body keeps t

INTRODUCTION It is important to balance working effectively with maintaining a high level of well-being. Working long hours with heavy responsibilities can drain energy levels and functionality. Employees often neglect their own well-being while on the job. A high workload depletes mental resources, leading to exhaustion and fatigue. Once these resources are depleted, a period of rest is essential. Aside from evenings, weekends, and vacations, recovery can also happen during

A series of articles exploring the botanical origins of the medicines we use every day by B. Kristine Burneko, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, APHN-BC

What Causes Panic Disorder? Panic disorder is considered a medical condition that causes sudden and intense waves of fear, even when there is no real danger present. A 2024 scientific review brought together many studies to explain what is happening inside the body and brain of people who experience panic disorder. The researchers determined that panic disorder is linked to changes in brain chemistry, stress hormones, and genes, all of which affect how the brain responds to f

Sarah Bersey BSc (Hons) Pg Dip When I was a young child, you were either a reader or you weren’t. Most of us did read off and on, as TV only had a few channels and there wasn’t any social media or an online world to lose ourselves in. A few weeks into a long school holiday had us reaching for books out of sheer boredom. These days I still know a lot of people that read for pleasure and reap the benefits. However, modern life can rob us of the time to read if we let it, and

Written by Olivia Orr, BSN, RN Have you ever felt overwhelmed and heard someone say, “Just relax”? It can leave you questioning whether you are overreacting or imagining the problem. You are not. Stress is a real, physiological response rooted in the nervous system. Stress is often described as an emotional response, but it produces physical changes throughout the body. A stress response is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong, similar to an immune response. An im

By: Linda Boone BSN, RN Do you find yourself unable to enjoy the things you once loved, lacking motivation or the energy to engage in the activities that previously brought you joy? Perhaps you feel emotionally numb and disconnected from the world around you, unable to find a sense of purpose. Have the activities you once loved lost their appeal? Does the mere thought of participating in these once loved activities feel so overwhelming that you are left feeling paralyzed? Do

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health condition that affects the way a person thinks. The symptoms often begin in adolescence and then peak in the 30s-50s. It's a disease that can cause individuals to have disorganized thoughts and behavior, experience delusions (firm beliefs that are demonstrably false), and hallucinations (perceive something that isn't there). As of 2019, schizophrenia affects an estimated 14.2-23.6 million people worldwide. It is a serious illness which

An open hand framed by a sunset "I've been tryin' to get down To the heart of the matter But my will gets weak And my thoughts seem to scatter But I think it's about Forgiveness, forgiveness…” Don Henley, The Heart of the Matter, 1989 As human beings, we are familiar with the concept of needing to forgive those who have wronged us. However, people are often uncertain about how to accomplish forgiveness (7) or understand its importance in their own health and wellbeing (9). Th