The Compulsive Eater

As a teen, it never occurred to me that I had an eating problem. But as my binging frenzies increased—along with the rising stress I had to deal with as I matured—it wasn't long before my digestive system finally reacted, causing pain and bowel irregularities that worsened with the passing of the years.

After a third vist to the doctor, the reality behind my destructive inclination was finally brought to light. Although my attending doctor then didn't really give me a formal diagnosis of being a compulsive eater, he suggested that I get counseling to address any underlying issue that could have prompted my wild eating habits. All these indications I had fit the profile of a compulsive eater to a tee:

• Gorging on copious amounts of food though I wasn't physically hungry
• Eating at a faster than usual, especially when stressed out
• Inability to stop even when full
• A strong urge to eat alone and hide my eating habits from others
• Guilt/depressive feelings following a binging spree
• Linking my frustrations and failures to my weight
• Jumping from one diet to another in an effort to lose weight
• Making eating and dieting the focus of my life

Written By: Maris Modesto

How Alcohol Affects Teens

As a teenager, I've never been predisposed to drinking beer or any alcoholic beverages. Besides loathing the taste, I've suffered tremendously from chest pain and nausea after having tried it once during a casual drinking spree with friends. As it turns out, my decision to steer clear of it after that horrible incident was right. Researchers have confirmed that alcohol does adversely affect certain functions of the brain, especially for teens.

• Alcohol impairs teens' decision making ability, as the perfrontal cortex—part of the brain responsible for decisions and planning—isn't bound to mature until after the teen years. Imbibing alcohol could lead to teens' inability to rationalize and weigh consequences properly.
  
• Also, they may become forgetful, as their memory is bound to be adversely impacted.
  
• Since drinking often could develop a tolerance among teens, hence making them drink more, they risk becoming alcoholic dependents.
  
• Alcohol can prompt them to indulge in risky behviors. In turn, the latter could promote damages to the brain's connections as they mature.
  
• Alcohol could either interfere or result to deadly consequences if they're taking certain medications. Bad chemical reactions between alcohol and medicines can negatively impact judgment and motor skills. 

Written By: Maris Modesto

Common Stress Overload Triggers

Pressure that is either too intense, prolonged, or both serves as the primary factor behind stress overload. Combine this with how each of us individually react to stress given our distinctive personalities, then we have an individualized stress equation in our hands, meaning that no two people experience stress overload in exactly the same way.

Nonetheless, these differences does not discount the truth that despite individual variations, our frequent or continuous exposure to the following stress-inducing circumstances would likely result to stress overload , a.k.a breakdown, in the long run:

• Violence and other emotionally straining scenarios
• Being bullied or our failure to assert ourselves
• Relationship issues, particularly those involving loved ones
• Heartbreaking emotions associated with losing a loved one
• Failure to resolve problems persisting for a long period
• Inability to vent negative emotions properly
• Overloaded schedules, especially those which leaves little or no time for rest and relaxation or personal enjoyment

Written By: Maris Modesto

Trim Down via Food Substitution

If there's one thing I've realized about having a bulging waistline is that it doesn't only shroud your good looks, but it also risks your health. All that extra fat baggage ups my chances of developing heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. However, as easy as it is to talk about dieting and losing weight, doing it and sticking to it has been confirmed to be quite an ordeal, not only by yours truly but by all wanna-be weightloss victors worldwide.

Before, I always ended up gaining all the lost weight after laboring hard to shed them. And that was when I decided to do an intensive research on food. I realized that I didn't have to go out of my way to prepare special meals or take diet drinks to trim down. Easy food substitutions was all I needed to get started. By this, I prepared and ate the usual dishes without having to make extra purchases. A little healthy tweaking here and there sufficed to yield the results I needed. However, don't rely on your own research alone. Consult with your doctor to get advice on what foods would best work for you given your current health condition.

Written By: Maris Modesto

No-Hassles Creativity Boosters

 

Having a hard time getting your creative juices flowing? Try these easy but foolproof tips:

• If nothing comes to mind no matter how hard you push; sit back, relax, and just stop thinking. Stimulating your creative juices requires you to perform certain exercises acclimated to your specific preferences and personality traits. And no aspect of either one could be linked to force. In fact, the more you force your mind to work to your liking, the more likely it wouldn't budge. Moreover, you risk coming down with a bad migraine headache if you persist.
 

• Go out for a walk. For some creatives, letting their minds drift while strolling works to conjure creative thoughts, which they could use for their particular endeavor. Walking, even when done leisurely, serves not only to ready their minds for creative thinking. It also loosens stiff muscles making them feel more at ease, hence more apt to think creatively.
 

• Doodle or play around with your head. Scientific researches confirmed that doodling, despite its seeming idleness, effects concentration positively. But if doodling isn't your thing, then feel free to do any activity that involves your mind—answer a crossword puzzle, sketch, play with numbers, do anagrams, etc.  

Written By: Maris Modesto

Learning to Be Hardy

Half the time, I find myself unable to control my responses to certain situations life hurls at me. This happens whenever troublesome events arise suddenly, or problems avalanche, leaving me helpless and miserable. Sounds like you? Do not despair.

Not all of us are born with hardy personas—stress-resistant personalities, but we could work hard to acquire some, if not all of its qualities.

• Staying committedBeing commited is having a purpose. Having a purpose defines our reason for living. Whether this involves making ourselves and loved ones happy or achieving excellence in our chosen fields, any kind of purpose suffices to motivate us to put our efforts, time, and abilities to good use.
  
• Taking controlNone of us could be in command of everything all the time. However, having a sense of control implies that we know how to take charge of ourselves, especially in handling our stressors.
  
• Living up to the challengeSeeing life as a challenge that needs to be overcome instead of a burden is what differentiates a hardy person from his weak counterparts. Hence, he acquires a positive outlook in life, enabling him to bounce back and stay rooted in his values despite adversities.

Written By: Maris Modesto