Anxiety: How to Get on Top of It

Anxiety has a sneaky way of showing up uninvited. One minute you'll find the next your brain is hosting the worst case scenario marathon in your mind. Sweaty palms, racing thoughts, tight chest. Overthinking that thing you said three years ago? Yep, anxiety. 

The good news? You're not broken, you're not alone, and it is a common and manageable condition that can be overcome. Believe it or not, you can get on top of it with the right mix of habits, mindset shifts and support. Many people today are looking for natural alternatives to help them to take the edge of their anxiety, especially along lifestyle changes. Let's talk about how you can calm the kale without turning your life upside down.

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Stop fighting it.

Here is the annoying truth: The more you try to get rid of anxiety, the louder it gets. Anxiety feeds on resistance. Instead of telling yourself to calm down, which never works, try noticing what's happening without judgment. Notice that it's there, notice that you've handled it before and see how you go. Anxiety is your nervous system trying very badly to protect you. It's not a villain, just an over-caffeinated bodyguard. When you stop treating it like an enemy, it softens. 

Breathe like you mean it.

Yes, yes, everyone says just breathe, but hit me out. Shallow breathing tells your brain that something is wrong. Slow, deep breathing tells your brain that it's safe to stand down. Box breathing is great for this cause because all you have to do is breathe in through your nose for four seconds, hold for four, and breathe out for four. Do that a few times. You don't need any chanting or crystals, just oxygen doing its thing to relax your brain. It's simple, it's free, and it's surprisingly effective.

Move your body.

No gym application is required here. Anxiety loves trapped energy. Movement helps release it. You don't need an intense workout plan or matching activewear. A walk around the block, stretching, dancing badly in your kitchen, it all counts. Regular movement helps regulate stress hormones and improves move over time. Bonus points if you get outside to do it. Fresh air and sunlight are wildly underrated for mental health. You are just a plant, really.

Check your simulation levels.

Caffeine, sugar, doom scrolling, and constant notifications are basically anxieties best friends. If your nervous system feels fried, take a look at what you're feeding it. You don't have to quit coffee forever, so take some deep breaths, but notice how much you're having and when. Swapping out that third coffee for water, herbal tea or a short walk can make a noticeable difference.

Create tiny pockets of calm.

You don't need a full morning routine that starts at 5:00 AM. Calm can be small. 5 quiet minutes, a warm shower, listening to music without multitasking, sitting in your car before going inside. These moments tell your brain that not everything is urgent. Those tiny pauses do add up over time and make anxiety feel less in charge.

CBD: A lifestyle tool.

CBD has become a popular part of many people's anxiety routines. It's often used to support relaxation, promote balance, and take the edge off everyday stress. The keyword here is support. It's not about numbing yourself or fixing anxiety, but about helping your system to feel a little bit more even and supported. People often use CBD as part of a bigger picture that includes sleep, movement, stress management, and mental health awareness. If you explore it, start low, pay attention to how you feel and choose quality products. It's like a helpful sidekick, not the main character. 

Sleep is not optional.

Lack of sleep can make anxiety louder, faster, and way more convincing. Do what you can to protect your sleep. A consistent bedtime, less screen time late at night, and a wind down routine helps your nervous system to reset. Good sleep won't erase your anxiety, but it does make everything feel a lot more manageable.

Getting on top of anxiety isn't about becoming fearless or calm 24/7. It's about learning how to respond when anxiety shows up instead of letting it run the show. With your simple habits intact, a bit of humour and your tools like CBD as part of a balanced lifestyle, anxiety can become something you manage, not something that rules you. And remember, you're doing better than you think, even on the days that your brain tells you otherwise. 

*collaborative post 

Understanding Excema in Babies

When it comes to a baby’s skin, there’s a reason why it’s so soft and supple to begin with. They’ve only just arrived in the outside world, and as a result, they’re not immediately exposed to all of the toxins in the air that can cause damage to the skin.

While there are many contributors to skin health, eczema in babies is often common and usually caused by genetic factors and a defective skin barrier. For some, this skin condition can appear fairly soon after they’ve been born.

However, it’s a typical skin condition that’s non-contagious. It doesn’t have a cure, but symptoms can be managed effectively with proper skincare and trigger avoidance, as well as medical treatments.

This guide will look at how eczema is caused in babies, the symptoms you’d typically expect, and how to ensure you improve the little one’s chances of ridding eczema for good.

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Causes of eczema in babies

Eczema in babies is typically the result of a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Let’s take a look at the common causes of eczema in babies.

Genetic predisposition

It’s often the case that eczema is something that runs in families and alongside other atopic conditions. This can be hay fever or asthma, for example.

Many of the affected babies have a deficiency in the protein filaggrin. This is what helps the skin form its protective barrier.

Defective skin barrier

A weak skin barrier allows moisture to escape, and as a result, irritants and allergens enter the skin more easily. This leads to dryness, inflammation, and itchiness.

Environmental triggers

A lot of skin problems can occur from the environment and what’s lingering in the air. Exposure to various substances can trigger or worsen flare-ups. Irritants like soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents, and bubble baths can all contribute to skin problems.

Allergens like pet dander, pollen, dust, and even certain foods can trigger eczema. Other triggers include temperature changes or sweat, and fabrics like wool and some synthetics that can irritate the skin.

Symptoms of eczema

As a parent, any change in your baby’s appearance is going to cause concern, but it’s important to be aware of what’s typical of a baby’s skin and what isn’t. For eczema, it’s not something that you need to be too worried about, but knowing the symptoms of it can certainly help.

Eczema in babies will usually appear on the scalp, cheeks, face, and forehead. It’s good to be aware that in darker-skinned babies, the rash canappear purple, brown, or grey rather than red.

Let’s take a look at some of the key symptoms that come with eczema. 

Intense itchiness

There’s nothing worse than feeling itchy skin all over your body, so for babies, it must feel pretty uncomfortable. This is a primary symptom of eczema, and in babies, it is likely to severely disrupt a little one’s sleep.

Dry and scaly skin

Patches of skin that are typically very dry, scaly, or rough will be an indication that what your baby is dealing with is likely to be eczema. While some other skin conditions have similar symptoms, this is a common one for eczema, too. 

Cracking and bleeding

Severe dryness and scratching can often lead to the skin cracking and bleeding. That can be incredibly worrying to see as a parent and is likely to cause some pain and further irritation for your little one, too. 

Oozing and crusting

Oozing and crusting is something that can be caused by scratching and result in infection. If it oozes fluid and develops a yellow crust, that’s something to look out for.

Redness and inflammation

With eczema, you may notice some less painful symptoms, like redness and inflammation. This can often accompany many of the other symptoms in the above list.

Tips for effective management and healing of eczema

Does baby eczema go away? Yes, it can with the right effort and treatment. While there’s no cure for eczema, it can be effectively managed, and the symptoms can be controlled in order to prevent a flare-up. For many children, the condition will improve significantly over time and often clears completely as they get older.

Let’s take a look at some of the methods to explore when it comes to general care and management of this skin condition. 

Keep the skin moisturized

One of the most important tips when it comes to eczema is to apply a thick and fragrance-free emollient. This should be applied generously, multiple times a day, especially within minutes of having a lukewarm bath in order to lock in the moisture.

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Bathing technique

Use lukewarm water and a soap-free, non-perfumed product when washing the baby’s hair or body. Keep baths short and pat the skin gently dry afterwards. Avoid dragging when drying the skin, as this can irritate it more.

Prevent scratching 

Try to prevent scratching when it comes to your baby’s skin and their fingernails. It’s good to keep the nails clipped short so that it reduces skin damage. Cotton mittens are worth using, especially at night, to help minimize the damage and reduce the risk of infection. 

Avoid triggers

Identifying and minimizing exposure to specific irritants and allergens is important. For example, try to use non-biological washing powders, avoiding fabric softeners where possible too.

Manage the environment

Keeping the baby’s room cool is important to reduce sweating, as is using a humidifier when it comes to dry conditions.

Medical treatments 

There are some medical treatments you could consider for those who are dealing with a lot of eczema that’s proving stubborn to get rid of. 

Speaking to a healthcare professional is the best way of getting access to a tailored treatment plan. You’ve got the following available:

• Topical corticosteroids - Medicated creams and ointments that are used during flare-ups to reduce inflammation and itching.
• Infection management - For signs of infection, a healthcare professional may prescribe antivirals or antibiotics. 
• Specialized treatment - For the most severe cases, a dermatologist will recommend more intensive treatments like specific systemic medications or wet wrap therapy, for example.

With these tips, you’ll hopefully find it easier to tackle baby eczema if and when it appears in your little ones.

*collaborative post 

Smart Parenting Tips to Avoid Exhaustion

Image Credit: Jessie Maxwell from Unsplash.

Being a first-time parent can be an exciting experience. But, it’s also an anxiety-inducing one, as you’ll want to make sure you’re looking after your baby properly, though you mightn’t know exactly what you’re doing. This can be a nerve-wracking experience for anyone.

This doesn’t have to be nearly as overwhelming as you’d think. More than a few parenting tips can help with this, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be a smoother experience. With them, you’ll end up making the experience an amazing one with nothing to worry about.

Seven tips could help with this a whole lot more than others, making them more than worth starting off with.

1. Decide on How to Feed

Once your baby arrives, you’ll have the choice between breast feeding or bottle feeding them. Everyone has their preferences with this, and both can offer their pros and cons. It’s worth having a rough idea of what you want ahead of time so you can have everything you need in place, whatever way you decide.

You could always decide to feed your child breast milk, but through a bottle, too. This often offers the best of both words, though it comes with the drawback of needing to make sure there’s enough milk stored away for your child when you need it. Go with the best option for you and your baby.

2. Set Up the Nursery Properly

You’ll naturally want to put a lot of time and effort into your child’s nursery before they arrive. Do more than just sort out the basics with this and make sure it looks nice. It’s worth going out of your way to make sure it’s as perfect as possible, which means more than just visuals. You’ll need to consider practicalities, too.

This could include everything from getting the right crib and changing table to knowing the most comfortable sleep temperature for babies. While this seems complicated, it doesn’t need to be nearly as hard as you’d think. It’s just a matter of putting a bit of time and effort into it.

3. Embrace the Mess

You’ll have more than enough to do after your baby is born, and you’ll see this from the second you bring them home. It’s natural for a few of the less important areas to fall by the wayside a little bit, with cleanliness being one of the more common areas this happens with. Be prepared for that.

While you’ll do what you can to keep everything clean, don’t be embarrassed if there’s a bit of a backlog with the laundry, for example. You could end up needing to clean your baby’s clothes so much, it’s relatively natural for there to be a backlog with your own clean clothes. It happens to everyone.

4. Have a Routine (But Be Flexible)

Routines can be a lifesaver for new parents and their babies. It helps your baby feel secure and comfortable while giving them an understanding of what they should expect on an average day. And, it’ll give you a greater sense of structure as you settle into parenthood. You’ve no reason not to have this routine from as early as possible.

But, you’ll have to make sure you’re relatively flexible. Babies grow and change faster than many parents expect, and you’ll need to adjust based on their needs. Being too rigid could lead to both you and your baby being frustrated, so it’s worth being as flexible as you can be with your routine.

5. Build a Support Network

It’s natural to feel like you and your partner need to do everything for your baby. While you will in time, it can be a difficult transition at the start. You could struggle to adapt and need a bit of help with it. There’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s relatively straightforward to avoid feeling overwhelmed during this time.

Having a strong support network in place should help reduce this stress, and it helps take a lot of the pressure off you and your partner’s shoulders. It’ll also help you adjust much better, as well as to get into a routine that lets you take care of all of the baby-related duties, and other responsibilities you could have.

6. Don’t Forget Self-Care

Speaking of support, there are plenty of times when you could need this. One of the more overlooked of these is when you need some self-care. New parents often put this on the backburner, given how important it is to properly look after your newborn. But, that doesn’t mean you should neglect yourself completely.

If you go down that route, you could end up feeling burnt out, and you mightn’t be in the best position possible to actually be a parent. Make sure you’re getting this self-care when you can. Don’t leave it until you’re feeling overwhelmed. You’re much better off being proactive so you can properly be there for your baby, and your partner.

7. Trust Your Instincts

One of the strongest assets you’ll ever have is your instincts, and you’ll use this on more than a few occasions. This doesn’t just have to mean at work or with your friends and family, though. It’s also worth keeping this in mind as a parent, too. While you can use a lot of parenting advice, sometimes you’re the one who knows best for your child.

After your baby’s born, you’ll see that they have their own way of communicating. You’ll learn this relatively quickly, and your gut will always give you a great indication of what your child’s trying to communicate. Keep that in mind moving forward so you can figure out the best path forward for you and your child.

Having your first child is an exciting experience, but it can also be an anxiety-inducing one. You’ll be worried about making sure you’re doing everything right, after all. This doesn’t mean you’ve to settle for it being overwhelming. By focusing on the right parenting tips, there should be a whole lot less to worry about.

*collaborative post