End The Stigma Of Mental Health With #itaffectsme

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Catherine Balavage

I am always on the lookout for amazing things, and what could be more amazing than ending the stigma of mental illness? Laura Darrall has created a social media campaign for mental health awareness called #itaffectsme. It is a great campaign and I hope you can get behind it. Here is what Laura has to say: #itaffectsme is going globally viral with the aim of ending the stigma that surrounds mental health and to get Mental Health Education onto the school curriculum. It has celebrities like Tony Gardner and Antonia Laura Thomas already backing it and has reached America, Pakistan, Australia, Canada, Holland and Italy.

We need to get Mental Health Education on the curriculum to give our children a future where they too are unafraid to speak out and ask for help. We teach sex education, physical education so why not Mental Health Education. We teach them the symptoms of chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhoea, so why not OCD, depression and anxiety? 1 in 4 people suffer from mental illness that is 25% of the world’s population. It is staggering and we need to arm our children with knowledge, with compassion and build a world for them where the word “stigma” is extinct.

The idea for #itaffectsme first came to me after I came out the other side of a mental breakdown, six months of panic attacks, anxiety, OCD and depression. I was sat on the edge of my bed and for the first time in months I felt clarity of thought and a fire in my belly and I knew that I had to use it to make a change, to make people unafraid to speak out and to put an end to stigma. But I had no idea how, so I said a prayer, looked over at my desk, spotted the post-its and then it was like a light bulb switched on in my brain, a real Eureka moment, and it has snowballed from there.

I am so overwhelmed and thrilled with the response. If I can get just one person who is suffering to speak out and ask for help then it is worth every single tear I ever shed last year.

If anyone is suffering and is too afraid to speak out, I would say this: Take it ten seconds at a time and do not fear. Help is out there and only by talking and sharing can we find it. And you will come out the other side. You don’t know who else you may help by sharing your own sufferings and surely the one good thing that can come out of suffering is to help someone else when they experience it too. If we share our mental illnesses with people, they can be strong for us when we cannot. And people want to help, they want to hold your hand if you give them the chance. So do, talk to them and give them that chance.

If I could say one thing to my pre-treatment self it would be, “This is temporary”. Because when you are in the pits of mental illness, in a panic attack, an OCD spike, a black hole of depression, it feels like it will never end. But it will, and if you speak out and seek help you will find tools to help you combat it if and when it returns. I know that one day I may find myself attacked by mental illness again but I know that when and if that day comes I will be ready for it, fully armoured and unafraid.

To take part just take a selfie with a post-it note on the forehead with #itaffectsme written on it, upload it to social media with the link to the Mind donation page, donate and then share.

#itaffectsme is simply the statement the mental illness affects every single one of us, whether directly or indirectly and the selfie is to put faces to it, to stop people being embarrassed or afraid to ask for help. Mental illness has no prejudices about who it affects so we should have no prejudices about it.

www.itaffectsme.co.uk

Soothing balms for all the family from Puressentiel

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Tracy Baines

PURESSENTIEL MUSCLE AND JOINT SOOTHING BALM

If you suffer from aching joints before or after sports why not try this soothing balm from Puressential. Made from a nourishing blend of shea butter, beeswax and sunflower oil along with fourteen essential oils which include peppermint, juniper and wintergreen. It smells quite intoxicating and the warmth penetrates the skin as soon as it is applied. Great for athletes, runners or simply those who have overworked the muscles. Apply the massage balm three times per day to soothe those aching joints.

No colouring and preservative free. 100% pure and natural. The range also includes gel, roller and heat patches.

www.puressentiel.com/uk

PURESSENTIEL REST & RELAX BABY BALM – Ideal for babies & toddlers / pre-schoolers

The Baby Relax Balm made from 100% natural essential oils will help soothe fractious babies and may be an absolute godsend for fraught parents. Gently massage your baby’s body with a small amount of balm, a couple of times a week, and your baby will relax and sleep more easily.

Blended from cypress, lavender, marjoram, orange and thyme it smells gorgeous – so good I used it myself.

Puressentiel takes the best from nature in an ecologically responsible way. It is dye and preservative free and has no synthetic perfumes. For use on babies from 3 months.

http://www.puressentiel.com/uk

Mustela Skin Care for Babies

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Tracy Baines

It’s not just adults that suffer from dry skin, especially at this time of the year.

From birth to around the age of two, babies have particularly fragile skin which needs to be moisturised daily. Some babies can be born with skin that maybe be dry or that has a tendency towards flakiness.

Mustela® offers a range of skincare products formulated with specific ingredients not only to protect and moisturize but also to nourish the skin.

Mustela Nourishing Cleansing Gel with cold cream

This cleansing gel comes in a handy pump dispenser. It is gentle on the skin, easy to wash off, and leaves skin feeling smooth and smelling gorgeous. Its rich, creamy texture is ideal for dry skin.

Mustela Nourishing Lotion with Cold Cream

Nourishes and strengthens delicate skin.

Mustela lotion is quickly absorbed leaving skin gently nourished and moisturised. It also smells so delicious that I think many mums will be using it on themselves.

Mustela Eau de Soin

Mustela Eau de Soin can be used daily to delicately fragrance hair, body and clothes. It is an aromatic mix of subtle citrus notes combined with the soft fragrances of rose, lilac and amber. Chamomile and honey extracts offer soothing and softening properties and the fragrance is alcohol-free.

Mustela products are guaranteed safe from birth onwards and they are tested under dermatological and paediatric control.

Taking care of our children also involves taking care of the environment in which they live. At every stage along the life cycle of its products, Mustela does everything it can to minimize the impact that they have on the environment. Mustela bottles, for example, can all be recycled. The boxes used are from sustainably managed forests, and Mustela Bébé foaming formulations are all biodegradable

If you are pregnant or a new parent the Mustela website has lots of great advice www.mustela.co.uk

Steripod Review: Why You Should Protect Your Toothbrush & Put The Seat Down When You Flush

Posted on October 31, 2016 by Frostie

It is the season for colds and flu. Viruses are rife in the winter. These can be passed on via infected droplets lurking in the air or on shared objects and surfaces. A major culprit for contamination is our toothbrushes so what can we do to guard them against germs? According to a recent study at the University of Manchester, there are more than 10 million bacteria on your toothbrush right now. That means there are considerably more bacteria on your toothbrush than your average toilet seat – which has 50 bacteria per square inch, or average public lavatory floor – which has 2 million bacteria per square inch.

Most people don’t realise that every time you flush the loo, an aerosol spray of tainted water is released with droplets able to land as far away as 10 feet. Researchers from the University of Alabama found that brushes stored in the bathroom – in other words all of them – are contaminated with faecal matter lingering in the bristles. Toothbrushes aren’t particular about whose faecal matter it is, so it’s likely it won’t just be your own that is going into your mouth every time you clean your teeth. (I expect you will never flush the toilet with the lid up again!).

It is likely your toothbrush will be exposed to numerous invisible contaminants in the months that you use it, including a high proportion of pathogenic nasties such as E.coli and Staphylococci. Airborne bacteria are not the only pollutants which sully your toothbrush. Germs and bacteria can pass from surface to surface, spreading the likes of oral herpes (cold sores), candida (oral thrush) and the HPV virus.

Protect it

Fortunately, you can safeguard your toothbrush with a Steripod toothbrush protector which clips on to any manual or electric toothbrush, creating a protective ‘pod’ (rather like a crash helmet) which surrounds the brush head and shields it from both airborne and cross contamination. Steripod is designed to safeguard a toothbrush, protecting it against environmental contamination, the use of thymol encapsulated in plastic dotted with tiny holes releases vapours providing a fresh environment in which to keep your toothbrush.

Steripod has been specially designed so that air can circulate freely which means your toothbrush can dry naturally – contaminants require a moist atmosphere to multiply most effectively, so the drier your brush, the lower the risk of bad bugs on your bristles. It does not require batteries or cables, meaning that it’s easy to protect your brush.

Here are dentist Mervin Druin’s top tips to ensure your brush remains as hygienic as possible.

Don’t flush where you brush

If you store your toothbrush near your toilet make sure you close the lid when you flush to minimise the dispersal of contaminated water droplets.

Rinse thoroughly after use

Rinse your toothbrush thoroughly under running water after use, making sure that all toothpaste has been removed. Shake off as much excess water as possible.

Store it upright

Store your brush in an upright position – never in a bathroom cabinet where air cannot circulate as this could promote bacterial growth.

Replace your toothbrush regularly

Make sure to replace your toothbrush and Steripod every 3 months – buy them at the same time. If like many of us you need a reminder www.steripod.co.uk can send you a gentle email nudge every 80 days to remind you that your pod and your brush need an update!

And if you’ve been suffering with a cold or flu it’s a good idea to replace your toothbrush rather than risk reinfecting yourself.

Don’t share it

Never be tempted to share a toothbrush, even with your loved one. And avoid contact with other toothbrushes that may be stored in the same vicinity.

Get your pod on

Steripod comes in a wide range of colours so you can identify your brush from other bathroom sharers. A pack of two gives six months protection and costs £4.99 from larger Boots stores, Boots.com, Amazon.co.uk, Superdrug, ASDA, Boyes Stores and selected independent pharmacies. For more information visit www.steripod.co.uk

It is almost Christmas and this great little gadget would make a perfect stocking filler. The smell was a bit strong when we first opened it, but it subsided. It is a great idea and it really works. In fact, tt is such a great idea we are not sure how no one thought of it before.

Giving Birth – The Real Story

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Frostie

Giving Birth – The Real Story

72% of mums-to-be are nervous about giving birth
Over half of respondents (61%) said their births didn’t go according to plan
The biggest fear (27%) about giving birth was medical complications affecting themselves or their baby
Almost a quarter (22%) found their birth partners more annoying than helpful

For most women, experiencing pregnancy and giving birth will be one of the most momentous times of their lives, but this doesn’t come without a certain amount of worries and anxiety. New research from The Baby Show with MadeForMums, which will be returning to Kensington, Olympia from the 21st to 23rd October, revealed that 72% of mums-to-be were nervous about the prospect of giving birth with the biggest worry cited as medical complications (27%) affecting themselves or their baby. This was followed by 18% saying they were scared of unwanted interventions (e.g. inductions, caesarean section or forceps) and then 17% saying they were anxious about not being able to manage the pain.

The research found that while most mums-to-be will stay close to home the nearer the due date gets, some babies are keen to get things moving in unusual or inconvenient places. Of the mums surveyed, 42% went into labour in their home, with 28% in hospital. These were some of the more unusual findings;

Tube station escalator
Car showroom
Whilst watching a live rugby match
On the A1 motorway
In IKEA

While the majority of women (92%) chose to have their partners by their side in the birthing room, when it actually came to the labour, almost a quarter (22%) of people admitted they found their birthing partner more annoying than actually helpful, either falling asleep or playing games on their phones whilst mum does all the hard work! Senior midwife, maternity educator and managing director of Marie Louise Maternity, Marie Louise Hurworth says: “Being a birth partner is one of the most important jobs you could have. But it can be challenging and should be taken very seriously. Being there and sensitive to her changing needs will go a long way and set the foundations for your new family. Even if you are unsure of how to help, stand nearby and make eye contact to let her know you are there and willing to help at any opportunity. One of the most important things is that you don’t become disconnected; remember to participate throughout the journey.”

When asked for amusing labour stories The Baby Show were inundated with funny anecdotes from women across the UK including;

Nina Motylinski-Davies from East Sussex said: “What kept me going throughout my horrendous labour experience was the fact my husband, who after not getting the opportunity to try the gas the first time round, was determined to have a go this time. Put simply, he got absolutely off his face. He climbed into the birthing pool naked, asked the midwife for a margarita, text my Mum saying he could murder a curry when she was actually asking how I was doing, and then danced around the room to Neil Diamond! I look back and laugh now….”

Clare Boss from London told The Baby Show: “With my first baby, the fire alarm in the hospital went off which resulted in two firemen coming in to check on the room whilst I was legs akimbo and mid-push!!”

Laura Jackson from Cheshire explained her dramatic birth story: “I opted for a home birth and hired a birthing pool but sadly never got round to using it! I woke in the middle of the night with a small leak, one week over due, which turned out to be my waters breaking. I woke my husband who immediately started filling up the birthing pool whilst I called the hospital who said the midwives would take around an hour to get to my house. Within moments I had a really strong contraction and suddenly I knew my baby’s head was already out. I was desperate to get into the pool but it wasn’t full and my husband was having problems with the valves. He was in complete disbelief and just said ‘the heads not out’ whilst staring at the front door thinking this would make the midwives appear! Thankfully he snapped into action because with the next contraction he literally had to catch our baby. Such an amazing experience but personally I felt it was a shame for happening so fast…”

Wing Yan Lee, Marketing Manager at The Baby Show says: “Birth plans can be a contentious subject and as our results show many births don’t go according to plan. However, most experts would still agree that planning and looking into your birth options is essential, allowing you to prepare and feel in control of your birthing experience, no matter what direction it takes. We have midwives on hand throughout the show who are able to answer any questions or concerns, no matter how big or small, regarding your pregnancy, birth and beyond.”

Marie Louise continues: “Each and every woman is different and has specific individual needs so there is no one rule for all when it comes to labour and birth. As healthcare professionals we focus on women’s individuality and are guided by what women tell us; we then use technology according to the woman’s history and verbal communication to ensure we do our very best to make the entire process as safe, easy and calm as possible. It’s natural to be nervous about your birth and potential intervention but always remember that our aims are reflective of yours to have a happy, healthy mum and baby.”

Once you’ve arrived home and settled into a new routine, another subject you may be thinking about is sex… Am I ready? Will my partner be expecting sex straight away? Will it be hurt? Will it be the same?

The highest number of couples surveyed chose to wait between six weeks to three months before having sex again (42%) whilst one in five (20%) waited just 0 to six weeks. Reassuringly, a quarter of new mums said they didn’t feel self-conscious about their bodies during sex post-baby, and 29% said at first they did but their partners made them feel comfortable and relaxed.

Marie Louise says: “Guidelines suggest that women wait until they “feel ready” to have sex after birth but there isn’t enough discussion about it. Once again, everyone is different and has a unique experience during childbirth. You may have had a home water birth with no complications or you may have had a forceps delivery in hospital. If you have had a C-section, for example, you may feel ready mentally but your wound may need more time to heal. Or maybe you don’t feel ready mentally but your body has healed well. The most important thing is that you do what’s right for you at the right time and always ask a health professional if you are concerned. If you are experiencing pain during sex postnatally don’t just put up with it, talk about it.”

From the 21st to 23rd October the biggest pregnancy and parenting event of the year, The Baby Show with MadeForMums, will be returning to Olympia, London. The Show is the must-attend event for mums and dads-to-be and new parents, with over 200 exhibitors showcasing all the latest essentials for your new arrival, plus a stage programme jam packed with fashion shows and informative talks by renowned baby experts.

Advance tickets are available from £12.25, while on-the-door tickets cost £20. For more information visit www.thebabyshow.co.uk.

Opening times:

Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd October, open from 10:00am-5:30pm each day.

Pink Parcel Review: The Parcel That Every Woman Needs On Her Period

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

One of the perks of being the editor of Frost is coming across great things. And Pink Parcel is a great thing indeed. Not only do they send you a box of sanitary protection, but the box also has other great stuff to make your period a much better experience. Chocolate, make up, candles…it really does perk you up when you open the box.

It is easy to set up, you choose your brand of tampons and pads, select your dates, and then your parcel is sent to you. The first one is £6.99 and then they are £10.50 from then on, including postage and packaging. Each parcel contains the following: tea, tampons, pads, something sweet and a beauty product. It will also contain deals and offers. The September box had a £60 nakedwines.com voucher and a postcard featuring a quote from Amy Schumer. There is also a booklet which tells you all about the products in your box, along with some other fun stuff.

The box hits all the right spots: tea, because it makes the world go round, something sweet to help with the cravings, and a beauty product so you can take some time out to pamper yourself. The tampons and pads will be your favourite brands too. The September box (pictures above) has a great eye gel from AA Skincare- it’s vegan and full size, a Cotswold Lavender Slumber SprayNew CID Cosmetics I-Glow Mini and Schwarzkopf Bonacure Colour-Freeze Shampoo. Add in a relax tea light set, Nairn’s Oat Crackers, some Cuppanut Coconut & Cranberry Infusion tea and an Ombar Centres Coconut & Vanilla bar. Yum. A lot of thought has been put into Pink Parcel. That is clear from everything, but particularly the way the tampons and pads are set out. The light ones are in a velvet pouch which it tells you to keep on you for now. Then it has some day one and some night ones. All in different compartments. Genius. I love Pink Parcel and I think you would to. It helps make a difficult time of the month much easier and we deserve that.

Some news from a swimming pool in Georgia. A woman got banned from swimming because she was on her period.

A leisure centre hit the headlines last month after banning women from swimming when they are on their period.

The fitness club in Georgia put up posters warning women to avoid the pool while menstruating, claiming it was a threat to public hygiene.

When confronted over their misogynist actions, the Vake Swimming Pool and Fitness Club which is based in Georgia’s capital city, Tbilisi, justified the ban by saying, “We’ve had incidents where we’ve found tampons in the pool.”

As the backlash grew, a number of disgruntled female customers took to social media to protest.

One customer expressed her disgust on Facebook. Sophie Tabatadze wrote, “Do you even realise how offensive that is? And, by the way, since according to your rules we are not allowed to use a swimming a pool 5-6 days each month, do we a preferential price compared with men?”

Incredibly, the club, which is one of the most exclusive places to workout in the city, responded by refusing to back down.

They said, “Our statement is not sexist and has a preventive objective. We had a case, when the water was contaminated. We try to follow norms of hygiene and we ask our members to do the same.”

The club told Buzzfeed its policy had been in place for years.

However medical advice directly contradicts the club’s claims that taking a dip while you’re menstruating is unclean and NHS direct actually recommends gentle swimming as a way of relieving painful cramps.

Pink Parcel wants women to engage in positive dialogues surrounding their periods, not ostracise them into thinking that they need to be ashamed or embarrassed of such a natural function.

The Thing That Parents Need To Do For Energy

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Catherine Balavage

Parenting is exhausting. That is hardly news. What is harder is finding ways to get more energy and to feel healthier. You are not going to like it, but I have the answer: exercise. Now it is hard to fit it in and hard to find the motivation, but trust me; it will change your life. Even ten minutes will make a difference. Going for a walk or running with the pram is also an option. Anything you can do at all will make a difference. I have been doing Fitness Blender. It is an amazing website full of free workout from a husband and wife team. It has changed my body shape and made me much healthier. I do level fives now. Not bad as when I originally did their 5 Day Challenge I found it hard and my muscles ached the next day. Now I find it easy. They have a bar at the side which lets you know how many calories you have burned and you can search via type of exercise, calories burned, length, equipment needed or what part of the body you want to focus on. Definitely check it out. A walk is better than nothing, but doing an actual exercise program will change your body and your life. We also have an exercise bike which I use. I can burn 500 calories in an hour on the bike. Not shabby at all.

The other thing that makes a difference is: your diet. I know, you hate me even more now, right? But mainlining on caffeine and sugar is not going to help. Try to eat as well as possible. Stay hydrated. Drink water, eat your five-a-day. I am a much better mother now that I am healthier and have more energy. On the plus side the toddler thinks it is hilarious when I exercise. He giggles so much he falls over or tries to join in. I usually try and do it when he naps or my husband comes home, but we are both so busy I will just fit it in whenever I can. No excuses are allowed. I try to exercise five days a week. Try it yourself, I promise it makes a difference to your energy levels.

What do you think? What do you do for energy?

Do You Have to Lose Your Hair During Breast Cancer Treatment?

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Frostie

Breast cancer, by its very nature, can challenge a woman’s perception of her femininity. Who wants people to think they have abnormal breasts? I didn’t. Breast surgery can also be psychologically traumatic, and radiotherapy can affect the appearance of the breast too.

Sometimes, as part of cancer treatment, chemotherapy drugs are used, and some of these cause hair-loss – another devastating blow to confidence and self-esteem. Even when hair regrows, it may be damaged, becoming delicate and curly (so-called chemo curl) for a long time afterwards.

So does your hair have to fall out or weaken? Well, chemotherapy tends to damage fast-growing cells, which is why it works against cancer. However, for the same reason, hair follicle cells are also sometimes affected.

Wearing ‘cold-caps’ during treatment can help by lowering scalp temperature. This reduces blood supply to hair-roots and thus local exposure to the chemo-drug. This can limit hair damage/loss in many people, but not all.

Recently, hairdresser and biochemist, Daniel Field, has developed products to protect hair during and after chemotherapy.

Daniel has a fascinating story. Whilst young, he hated the smell of his mother’s perming lotion, and decided to invent non-smelly products. They were so successful that he became a very young millionaire. He then opened several hairdressing salons and trained as a hairdresser himself.

Sadly he later had the heart-breaking experience of shaving his own mother’s hair when she started to lose it during treatment for ovarian cancer. He told me of the frustration he felt, as he tried his best to cut a nice style into a less than perfect wig for her.

This inspired him to use his biochemical expertise to develop natural products to protect hair during chemotherapy. They restore the alignment of hair amino acids, thus reversing damage and chemo-curl, improving texture and strengthening delicate hair. He also has hair-colour products which are so gentle that they can be used whilst having chemotherapy. His Hair Growth Active spray keeps hair in the growing phase, thus encouraging regrowth after hair-loss.

But breast cancer treatment affects hair in other ways too. Many women require anti-oestrogen treatment for years after diagnosis, such as tamoxifen or aromatase-inhibitors. These reduce natural oestrogens and thus can cause scalp irritation or dryness and dry/frizzy hair. The hair can thin, sometimes leading to male-pattern baldness. Daniel tells me that his products are able to help these problems too.

Daniel has recently opened a suite in central London where he provides hair-care services and advice. A wig service is also provided by Jane Whitfield, and Fiona Murphy, who has her own interesting story, provides beautician services specially for people going through cancer. Daniel’s hair products can also be ordered from his website and he offers fifteen minute free consultations.

So yes, some people will suffer hair loss or damage during their breast cancer treatment but it isn’t inevitable, and there are steps you can take which may help. Take care of yourself during this difficult time.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co,uk

Note: This article expresses personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Further Information:

http://www.breastcancer.org/tips/hair_skin_nails/cold-caps

http://danielfieldsuite.co.uk

http://www.sparklethroughchemo.co.uk

http://bit.ly/2d7Vn2l

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