love Archives - Tammie's Take~

How to Help a Loved One in Need

Reviews · October 4, 2019

Think about those in your life who are important to you in some way. They could be your friends, family members, your partner, or your colleagues. Now consider that at any given time, any of them could be struggling with some sort of mental health issue.

In fact, 1 in 5 people are living with a mental health condition that can sometimes or often cause disruption in their daily lives. It’s also common for those who struggle with a mental health disorder to simultaneously have problems with substance use, or have co-occurring disorders like sex addiction or a gambling addiction.

You may have seen signs of them struggling, or they may have reached out to you directly in order to get advice or help, but perhaps you weren’t sure how to help them or where to start.

While they will most likely need to seek professional help from a doctor, psychologist, rehabilitation facility, or a sex addiction therapist like Sex Addiction Houston in order to heal properly and move on, you can still be there for them on their healing journey and offer your support.

Here are the best ways you can help a friend or loved one in need~

Stay calm

One of the most important things to remember is to remain calm. It can be troubling to recognize that someone close to you needs help, and it can be overwhelming to help them through it, but your stability will be a guiding light for them.

If they’re panicking and aren’t sure where to turn, you need to be calm and reassuring rather than panicked as well, since that will only make matters worse. Consider how they’re feeling, what they could be thinking, and what you’re feeling and thinking. It may help to write them down in order to better understand and take a step back before acting.

Educate yourself

You don’t need to become an expert, because there’s too much to know and learn when it comes to mental health and addiction issues, but it is good to know the signs and symptoms that your loved one is experiencing. Also, knowing more about the condition they’re struggling with can help you be more empathetic and offer better help.

Listen to them

Often, having a shoulder to cry on and an ear to talk to can make a huge difference. You can be there for your friend or loved one by truly listening to them and caring about their experience. Try your best not to compare them to another person’s experience, including your own, but rather actively listen and be present if they need someone to talk to.

Be supportive, but set boundaries

One of the best ways to be helpful is to ask the person how you can help, or what they need right now. You want to try your best to be supportive, so asking them how you can do that gives them the strength and empowers them to take control over their recovery.

However, it’s also important to set some boundaries. Offering to help someone in need shows you’re a caring person, and often those that care end up neglecting themselves in the process.

Practicing self-care is crucial because if you aren’t taken care of, it’s much more difficult to help someone else. You can be there for your loved one, but remember to take care of yourself too.

Protect Your Pet With These Healthy Living Hacks

Reviews · May 19, 2017

https://www.pexels.com/photo/orange-tabby-cat-beside-fawn-short-coated-puppy-24104/

When you have a pet, your life can often feel complete. Whether you have a family dog or a cat that keeps you company, they can really add a lot of warmth, personality, and vibrancy to your home. But, as well as being a great companion and a part of the family, your pet can also require a lot from you. From feeding and cleaning to playing and petting, our furry little friends do need a lot from us to be happy. Even if you think you’re giving your pet everything it needs, these hacks should help you to ensure they’re living a healthy life.

Give Them Plenty Of Exercise

First on the agenda, exercise. Making sure that your dog or cat gets enough exercise is crucial to their health and long-term happiness. Even if your dog has a lazy personality, you need to make sure that they’re getting the minimum amount of time out walking that their breed requires. It will ensure they stay in shape. Cats are a little trickier, but if your cat is going out and about every day and not getting overweight, you can rest assured that they’re getting enough exercise.

Watch Their Diet

To also help their health, you’ll want to focus on their diet. If you buy them pet food from the store, do you know what’s in it? Do you know what the right portion size for their breed it? It’s just as important not to overfeed your pet as it is to make sure that they’re not malnourished. To keep the pounds off, make sure you’re giving them a healthy balanced diet, which can sometimes be a combination of homemade meals and pet food.

Keep Their Teeth Clean

It’s easy to forget about your pet’s teeth, but just like humans, they need taking care of too. So, you’re going to want to do what you can to keep them as clean and healthy as possible. Some treats can be used to keep plaque at bay, but if you really want to be able to keep them fresh and healthy, head to you vet for tailored advice. You might find that regular teeth cleaning could be all it takes to keep them healthy.

Look After Their Skin

Along with teeth, it’s vital that you look after both your dog or cat’s skin and their coat. You may wash them regularly and ensure that their coat is groomed, but do you know what to look out for should they get ill? Things like mange in dogs aren’t always easy to spot, especially if they don’t lose a lot of hair. But, you can treat it at home with the help of natural products like honey or yogurt. The best thing to do is check your pets regularly to ensure their skin and coat stays healthy.

Shower Them With Love

And lastly, we all know how important mental health is to keep us happy. So, you’re going to want to make sure you shower your pet with love to ensure that they’re feeling both happy and healthy. But, as a firm part of the family and your loyal companion, it’s likely that you’ve already got this hack down.

Essentials For Surviving A Long-Distance Relationship

Reviews · February 13, 2017

Globalization is, generally, a wonderful thing with a myriad of benefits. We can sample food from thousands of miles away, work with people we’ve never met and connect countries and continents in ways our ancestors would never have dreamt of.

There is, inevitably, a downside: it can take people away from one another. Long distance relationships are nothing new, but they have become all the more common in the modern world. Couples find themselves split by work, or perhaps meet online and have to forge a relationship across the miles. Given the statistics on long distance relationships (LDRs) are not exactly encouraging, is it possible to make it work?

I’ll Be There For You…

One of the keys to making an LDR work is to be there for one another. This sounds obvious in a standard relationship, but for an LDR, it’s a little trickier.

You have to learn to utilize technology for the relationship. A quick text message can let someone know you’re thinking of them; you can watch movies together on Skype and forget about the distance between you. Try and keep abreast of what’s happening in your lives, such as when one of you has a tough day ahead or challenges they are facing. Then make a note of it and remember to get in touch with a brief “thinking of you” message.

Celebrate Good Times (Come On!)…

Image Credit: PixaBay

Holidays and special days like Valentine’s Day become all the more important in an LDR. It’s a way of connecting through a common theme, uniting you in the same celebration.

Try and make special plans to talk on important days. You could decorate your home and show off the decor to your partner, sending a video of a walking tour so they can almost feel like they’re there. Remember your gifts too; send flowers with a international florist, personalized trinkets or just a box of candy – anything that shows you have taken the time to make the other feel good.

The Green Eyed Monster…

Jealousy is a problem in any normal relationship, but it has the ability to sprout horns and take over an LDR. As you’re not there to see someone’s body language when they talk about that colleague at work or a new friend they met, soon you can find yourself looking for a subtext.

Remember this if you find yourself suspicious. You are going off a lack of feedback on the full picture; don’t look for issues that aren’t there. If you have concerns, voice them instantly rather than letting them fester. It’s far healthier even if it’s a testing conversation initially.

See You Soon…

Image Credit: PixaBay

In an LDR, you know you’re not going to see one another as often as you would like. However, always try and know exactly when you will next be able to be in the same room as one another. It gives you something to look forward to, a date to focus on that can make time pass quicker.

It also has the added benefit of making you both feel more secure. You can anticipate a reunion, knowing the current situation is temporary and you’ll be together again soon.