Page 1577

10 Things Only Introverts Will Understand

June 21, 2016 by Power of Positivity

According to a 1998 National Representative Sample by the Myers-Briggs organization, 50% of the population identifies as an introvert.

This means that at least half of the people reading this can relate to the following things that only “us introverts” will understand.

10 Things Only Introverts Will Understand

1. Feeling like you could spend forever in your own company and not get bored.

Introverts can spend long periods of time alone and not get tired of it; after all, we derive our energy from solitude. Other people might need constant entertainment and socializing in order to stay happy, but we don’t require that. In fact, we run from it. Solitude, peace, and quiet help us to stay grounded, centered, and balanced.

Give an introvert some space and relaxation, and he or she will deeply appreciate and adore you.

2. Wanting to spend your weekends at home rather than go out and socialize.

Weekends mean something different to an introvert than they do to an extrovert. Introverts see them as two days of pure bliss where they can just chill out and relax without having to answer to anyone or meet obligations, whereas extroverts see them as two days to pack as much fun stuff in as possible. However, introverts just need food, Netflix, nature, animals, and some cuddle time to stay fulfilled on their off time.

3. Getting annoyed with people who talk too loudly or quickly.

Introverts process things differently than extroverts, and usually, they get annoyed with those who talk to hastily or loudly. Introverts need time to go over what you said, and prefer conversations that don’t feel rushed or strained. Loud voices and fast talking can make introverts nervous, and they get frustrated when people either talk over them or don’t match their pace of conversing.

4. Getting nervous when you have to talk to someone new.

Not all introverts identify as shy, but some of them get incredibly flustered when talking to someone they don’t know. If you want to talk to an introvert, make he or she feel welcome and comfortable first – it will help them open up much faster.

5. Blushing a lot when you get embarrassed.

Introverts also don’t enjoy the spotlight, so putting pressure on them or making them talk in front of a lot of people can cause anxiety. However, some people blush at anything they perceive as embarrassing, which can sometimes just mean going out in public or talking to the barista at the coffee shop. Don’t call someone out for blushing; trust me, they know what’s happening. Just keep talking to them and don’t draw too much attention to the matter.

6. Wanting to talk, but then getting tired of it after a few minutes.

Introverts love talking, but in small doses. They can easily get worn out after a long conversation, even if it’s meaningful and thought-provoking. Respect the introvert’s need to recharge before engaging in more conversation.

7. The joy of finally getting away into nature after spending too long in suburbia.

Introverts love solitary activities, and that includes spending time in nature. City life can easily wear them out, leaving them feeling frazzled and disconnected from themselves. They go into the wilderness to reconnect with their souls, so if you identify as an introvert, then you know exactly how great it feels to drive out of the city even for a day or two.

8. The feeling you get when you help someone with their problems.

Introverts make wonderful listeners and advice-givers, because they can empathize with how someone else feels. Even if they just sit there while the other person pours their heart out, it can make that person feel understood and heard. Listening can heal, and introverts would much rather hear you out than talk anyway.

9. Getting annoyed with people who interrupt your alone time.

We already feel annoyed if we get too little alone time, but interrupting our precious solitude will make our blood boil pretty quickly. Respect our need for space and relaxation, and we will return the favor.

10. Craving close relationships and fierce independence simultaneously.

Introverts are a complicated group – they need both meaningful relationships and plenty of time alone, which can leave them feeling conflicted pretty often. While the relationships in their lives mean so much to them, they also have this unshakable urge to just run away sometimes and enjoy life alone. Striking the right balance between the two isn’t always easy, as any introvert will understand.

15 Signs You’ve Made A True Connection

June 20, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Creating a genuine emotional connection to your partner is one of the great joys of being in a relationship. You may also be looking for signs that your partner feels the same deep love and connection to you, which means they are more likely to stay long-term.

15 Signs You’ve Made A Deep Emotional Connection With Your Partner

We all want the moments of joy and happiness to outweigh our worries and sorrows. Creating an emotional connection with your partner is about the full range of human emotions; sadness, anger, fear, and joy.

We cannot have only positive emotions in our relationships, but we find good, healthy, positive ways to talk about and deal with the negative emotions. Doing the emotional work for your relationship will be worth it to create the loving emotional connection that you want with your partner.

1. You know how to eliminate distractions

Some things in your environment are preventing you from bonding with your partner. One of them could be your social media habit. Researchers found that a high level of Facebook usage is associated with breakups and divorce, especially for those who have been in relatively newer relationships of 3 years or less. These are adverse relationship outcomes that no one wants when working to make an emotional connection.

Distractions like TV and social media are ways to disconnect emotionally. When you focus on something else, you can’t focus on the person next to you. Rather than disconnecting, turn toward your partner and ask an open-ended question like ‘What is on your mind?’ or ‘How can I show you more love?’

Communication is one of the most critical parts of a relationship with your partner. Sometimes, we get it wrong, and miscommunication creates conflict. Eliminating distractions helps avoid miscommunication and allows you two to listen more to each other’s needs. If you know what your partner needs, and they know yours, you can better provide it and keep them happy in the relationship.

2. You respond to them rather than react

Our initial gut reaction to what we see, hear or feel is not how we should talk to our partner unless our gut reaction is love. Initially, what your partner says may upset you. If that is the case, recognize that you are reacting and say, ‘I’m reacting right now. Give me a moment to respond to you.’

Wait to say the words that properly communicate how you feel rather than how you first felt. Defensiveness is a response to a threat, which may be how we feel when our partner raises their voice, for example. Own your defensiveness and recognize when you put up a barrier. Again say what’s happening ‘I’m being defensive. Let me take a few breaths and prepare to listen to you.’

3. Build greater intimacy through intimate moments

Intimacy is about much more than sex. Intimacy can be built from a touch on the hand, a shared joke, a quiet moment of eye contact, or many different ways that aren’t sexual. Time sleeping in bed together is an intimate moment that most couples take for granted.

Touch is vital to human companionship. Part of an intimate relationship or even a friendship involves touch of some kind. Touch releases happy hormones for our brains, which creates an emotional connection to your partner and makes them want more of the happy hormone. Getting addicted to intimate touch is not bad when you build emotional bonds with your partner.

4. Create a safe place for expressing emotions

Emotions are insufficient words to some people. Men, primarily, are traditionally taught to be tough and to stuff emotions down and hide them. Men can be as gentle and loving as women can, but they have a more challenging time showing it because they have less experience with it after practicing emotional stuffing for so long.

Being sensitive to your partner’s sensitivity to emotions is essential. Researchers at the University of Melbourne found that responding to your partner with gentleness and care was the most accurate predictor of marital strength, even more than sexual attraction.

5. Picture your future together

Imagine you and your partner growing old and building a lasting companionship. The emotions come to your eyes quickly when you think about long-term love. We can avoid many minor aggravations by looking at our relationship’s big picture as a journey. Each partner will grow and evolve, change, and make a new start every time a significant life event happens.

6. You’ve Become More Patient

When you have a deep bond with someone, you’ll be more patient with them. You’ll notice that you’re more understanding than you used to be, and you don’t get irritated as easily.

Having a deep connection means that you understand their heart and can forgive them easily. You might even notice that things that irritate you about others don’t both you when your partner does it.

7. You Can Be Yourself and Are Similarly Weird

Everyone is weird in different ways, and you’ll be okay with that in your relationship. If you feel like you can be yourself, it’s clear that there’s a deep bond. You won’t have to stress about what you say or how you behave when you know they accept you for who you are.

Additionally, having similar weird qualities signifies a close couple. You’ll still have differences, but your quirks will be in the same category. These similarities help you develop a bond, and then they help solidify it and keep it strong.

8. You’re Confident in Your Feelings

When couples fight and disagree, they sometimes wonder if the relationship is right for them. This situation doesn’t occur when two people have a bond. Instead, you’ll argue with your partner and then work on moving forward together.

It’ll never cross your mind that you might be better without them. Your inability to stay angry or consider severe consequences stems from deeply understanding one another. You might get annoyed or frustrated, but your feelings will never waver.

9. They Make You Want to Be Better

A loving connection inspires you to become a better person and try new things. The inspiration boosts your confidence and self-esteem, making it possible to achieve all of your goals. You’ll do the things you only dreamed of and improve every aspect of your life possible.

The feelings that come with a bond make everything seem achievable. You’ll start tackling the things you’ve put on the back burner, and you’ll experience fulfillment and meaning.

10. They Help You Face Your Darkness

Everyone goes through hard times, but some of us never face the darkness. When you’re in a healthy relationship, you’ll feel ready to address unresolved issues from the past. Your person will help you overcome the darkness and begin moving on, seeing yourself for who you are right now.

11. You’ve Overcome Hardship in Your Relationship

All relationships experience hardship, and it’s all about how you work together to overcome it. If you and your partner have been through undesirable situations together, it creates a deeper bond. Deciding to continue the relationship after hardship shows that you think the relationship is well worth it.

12. There’s Never an Awkward Silence, and Deep Conversations Aren’t Uncomfortable

When you bond with someone, things won’t be awkward or uncomfortable. You’ll have deep conversations involving personal topics without it feeling strained.

Additionally, the silence won’t be awkward when you’re together but not speaking. You might even find that the silence is peaceful because your partner’s presence is enough.

13. You Want to Spend Time Together

Some couples only spend time together when it’s convenient or expected. On the other hand, couples with a close bond want to be together even when they don’t have to be. They don’t get together only when there’s nothing else going on because they enjoy spending time with one another.

It’s easy to put people on the back burner when life gets busy, but a couple with a connection doesn’t do that. They don’t only want to spend time in a group, either. Close couples love having alone time to talk and bond.

14. You Know Each Other’s Closest Family and Friend

As a relationship gets deeper, you’ll want your partner to know your friends and family. It’s a good sign if you and your partner have reached this stage and you know their loved ones well.

15. You Like Traveling Together

If you can travel with your partner without getting stressed, it’s a sign of a deep connection. Traveling with someone else means you must compromise on what you see and do together. If you agree on things or enjoy the compromise, you’ll find that you and your partner share a deep bond.

Final Thoughts on the Beauty of a True Love Connection

A love connection is a beautiful experience, and it’ll bring you incredible amounts of joy. If you’re in a relationship, you likely identify with many of the signs on this list. However, if you didn’t relate, it gives you something to think about and address within your relationship.

Embrace your love connection and recognize your partner for the blessing that they are. Plus, remember your worth within the relationship, too, because you’re part of the reason for the close bond.

5 Ways To Stop Overtalking

June 20, 2016 by Power of Positivity

Does someone you know excitedly interrupt others to tell them about things often? Interrupting people is just one prime example of overtalking others.

Conversations have to involve both listening and speaking or people cannot communicate their needs. There are 5 ways to stop doing this to the people who you want to actually hear you.

5 Ways to Stop Overtalking

We have to use communication to get what we need to not only survive, but to be happy, fulfilled people. Talking too much can make other people avoid you, which will definitely not help you get what you need. Overtalking is a bad habit that might take some effort on your part to break.

Here are a few reasons to stop the habit of overtalking:

Interrupting others is rude
You can’t actually listen when you are overtalking
You’ll appear closed off to others’ opinions
You can seem uncaring
You can’t read minds so you don’t know what they are going to say
It seems selfish because overtalking implies that your words are more important than the other person’s

As far as who talks more when it comes to gender, women get a bad reputation for overtalking, gossip and talking more than men do. But researchers find that although this is a cultural stereotype, it does not appear to be true.

PBS.org says ‘Two Canadian researchers, Deborah James and Janice Drakich, reviewed sixty-three studies which examined the amount of talk used by American women and men in different contexts. Women talked more than men in only two studies.’

The amount that we talk versus listen is different in different cultures. For example, American professors often think that Asian students are not taking an active role in learning because they speak up less often than students who were raised in a Western culture.

Here are some ways to reduce the amount of talking that you do in a conversation, improve your relationships, and be a better listener in service to others.

1. Ask for help

Other people are probably better at catching you overtalking them than you are, so enlist their help. Say ‘I am working on listening better and I would appreciate it if you point out if I interrupt you so I can learn not to overtalk.’

You might think that you can just be aware of yourself speaking and stop, but it is harder than it sounds to stop overtalking. Use your phone to try videotaping your next conversation and then review it to see how you did. This is a great tool for self-evaluation and to help stop overtalking.

2. Remember your point

There was a reason that you opened your mouth in the first place, so stick to the concise, shortened version of that as much as possible. If you get lost and catch yourself overtalking, stop and summarize your main point and then be silent.

3. Relieve tension first

It can feel good to ‘get something off your chest’ but to unload on someone else just to make yourself feel good is a bad habit of overtalking, and it needs to stop. Researchers call talking about problems with a friend ‘co-ruminating,’ and although it helps to talk things though, talking repeatedly about negative things has also been linked to feelings of anxiety and depression.

Find a healthy way, like talking a walk, to relieve the stress that you are feeling when you are just bursting with something to say. Once the emotional stress is worked out of your body, you can calmly talk to someone about your feelings and stop overtalking.

4. Ask a question

When you notice that you are overtalking, ask your partner in conversation a question. By doing this, you put the ball back in their court to speak. Now stay quiet while they respond.

5. Time yourself

A perfect conversation is a mix of give and take in an equal ratio of you and the other person taking turns. This rarely happens second for second, but you may get a sense for how much of the conversation time you take up versus your partner in conversation.

On your smart phone, set a timer to vibrate after three minutes. If, after three minutes, you haven’t stopped talking for the other person to contribute, do it when the timer goes off. Now set it again for three more minutes and during this time, ask questions or be silent and listen.

(C)Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

5 Signs Your Partner Has Hidden Anxiety

June 19, 2016 by Chris Butler

When you live with someone, you learn everything about them. Everything from their favorite toothpaste to how they like their morning coffee becomes first-hand knowledge. You also know about their struggles. Sometimes your partner may not be as forthcoming about everything that’s going on inside their heart and mind. Perhaps you’re noticing things that make you wonder if they’re struggling with hidden anxiety.

Here are five signs your partner has hidden anxiety if this is the case. Being aware of these signs can equip you to help them better.

Today, anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health conditions. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America estimates that approximately 18.1% of the adult population struggle with anxiety disorders every year. An anxiety disorder is characterized by intense feelings of worry or fear. These feelings can be so strong they affect the individual’s daily life. Sometimes people don’t realize they’re struggling with an anxiety disorder because, mostly, they’re high functioning. This type of hidden anxiety may be difficult to see.

5 Signs Your Partner Has Hidden Anxiety

Watch for these telltale signs of hidden anxiety.

1. Recurring Sickness stems from hidden anxiety

If your partner gets sick a lot, it could signify they’re struggling with hidden anxiety. They’re often ill because their body is responding to stress. This leads to high cortisol levels, which causes them to be susceptible to a weakened immune system. Other physical signs of hidden anxiety include

Dizziness
Rapid heart rate
Lots of sweating
Shortness of breath

2 – Restlessness

Another typically hidden anxiety symptom is restlessness. If your partner is anxious, they may be unable to sit for extended periods. They might sit for a while, then suddenly jump up and walk around. It’s easy to assume they’re just high-energy people, but if you observe them, you may notice a pattern. Their restlessness is a stress reaction. When people who struggle with anxiety get in stressful situations, stress hormones get released, which causes a “fight or flight” response. This response should be reserved for life and death situations, but some people feel this regularly, which makes them restless. Along with restlessness, they may also have nervous habits like

Constantly tapping their foot
Wiggling
Curling their arms around themselves
Pacing
Fidgeting with their hands or fingers

3 – Hidden anxiety causes poor sleep habits

If you notice your partner has poor sleep habits, it could signify hidden anxiety. Lack of sleep affects your ability to function at work, at home, and with your family. It’s often a sign of mental health problems. Individuals who have hidden anxiety may have

Trouble falling asleep
Difficulty staying asleep
Nightmares
Feeling tired all the time

4 – Lifestyle Signs

If your partner is drinking a lot of alcohol or eating poorly, it could signify they’re struggling with anxiety. Sadly, anxiety and alcoholism go hand in hand. It’s widespread for someone who struggles with anxiety to turn to alcohol to cope.

To help your partner, you should know the signs of alcoholism. The physical symptoms include the following behaviors:

Sleep problems
Moodiness
Irritability
Headaches
Falling
Nausea
Vomiting

5 – Someone with hidden anxiety will worry about everything

It’s normal to worry once in a while, but if your partner has excessive worries, it could signify they have hidden anxiety. You may notice their fear includes these:

Worrying about daily life and activities
They can’t control their nervousness
Realize they worry too much but can’t overcome it
Something easily startles them
Trouble sleeping
May twitch or tremble
Edgy
Frequent bathroom visits

Observe and keep track when you notice these habits. Knowing your partner’s anxiety symptoms will help you when you talk to them about your concerns. Having these observations will show them that their anxiety isn’t as hidden as they may have thought.

Other symptoms of hidden anxiety

Hidden anxiety looks different for different people. That’s why it’s difficult to notice these symptoms in your partner. Some other hidden anxiety symptoms to watch for include:

Getting easily frustrated
Irritability
Perfectionism
Overachiever
Fear of judgment
Need to be busy all the time
Overthinking

How to help someone who struggles with hidden anxiety?

One of the best ways to help your partner who struggles with hidden anxiety is to learn everything you can about anxiety. Understanding anxiety helps you better understand what anxiety looks like and what triggers it. Hidden anxiety is difficult to diagnose. There are several types of this disorder. The most common types of anxiousness include

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): This disorder occurs daily for at least six months. Individuals with GAD worry a lot about daily things, such as school and work.
Panic disorder: Panic attacks are intense anxiety and fear episodes. People who suffer from panic attacks have them repeatedly.
Social anxiety disorder: Social anxieties cause individuals to worry about being judged or rejected by those in their social circles.

Someone with anxiety can have one or a combination of these disorders. Knowing about these disorders will help you spot symptoms.

Listen to your partner

Once you understand anxiety and notice the symptoms listed above, you can talk to your partner. Ask questions and show compassion when you speak to them about your concerns. If they feel judged by you, they won’t feel comfortable opening up about what’s going on. You may need to have several conversations before they feel comfortable sharing their struggles. The main thing you can do is to let them know you love them and are concerned about their welfare. Let them know you’re there for them.

Know what is helpful

Sometimes just talking about their anxiety can help them feel less anxious. It can be the beginning to help them worry less. Please encourage them to have better self-care, which will help their mind and body so they can better handle their anxiety. Their self-care will help them overcome the stress. Suggestions for self-care to manage their nervousness could be:

Regular exercise
Mindfulness exercises
Getting adequate sleep
Less alcohol and caffeinated drinks
Healthy eating
B complex vitamins
Vitamin C supplements
Fighting worrisome thoughts

Join your partner to exercise or practice mindfulness, so they don’t feel like they’re alone. Doing this will strengthen your relationship and provide opportunities for you to ask your partner how they’re doing with anxiety.

Help them get counseling

If your partner continues to struggle with anxiety, it may be good to suggest they seek counseling. Professional counselors will help them get to the root of their stress and suggest strategies to deal with the anxiety.

What shouldn’t you do?

Of course, certain things won’t be helpful when your partner is struggling with hidden anxiety. Avoid things such as

Arranging your environment or life to change your behavior-This may seem helpful, but you’re enabling the person. As you help them avoid scary situations or difficulties, they don’t overcome their fears by themselves. They become too dependent upon you.

Don’t confront someone with anxiety harshly

Forcing them or pushing them into scary situations will be overwhelming. Assuming they’ll be okay if they do things isn’t a way to encourage healing or wholeness. If you push someone who isn’t ready to do something, it can harm them more.

Be careful what you say to them

What you say to your partner will make a difference in being able to help them. Here are some things not to say to them and what you should say to better help them.

What are you worried about?

This question is an unhelpful one because your partner may not be able to identify the source of their anxiety. Don’t tell them what you think is the cause of their stress. The best thing you can do is not to ask these questions. Tell your partner that you’re there for them, and that’s enough.

Try to calm down

When you tell your partner to calm down, it doesn’t help. It puts pressure on them. It sounds patronizing and controlling. Instead, be calm and say, “I’m here with you” or ” I’m here to listen.”

I know how you feel

If you’ve struggled with anxiety, you can say this. Otherwise, it’s best not to assume you know how your partner feels. Trying to tell them what your fear is like while they’re struggling with a panic attack won’t be helpful. It may feel like you’re trying to compete with them. Say something like, “I’m here for you.”

Final thoughts on Detecting Hidden Anxiety in Your Partner

You may feel you know everything about your partner but notice certain things that make you wonder if they’re struggling with hidden anxiety. Anxiety is a common problem for adults in the United States. Your concerns could be ligament. If your partner isn’t forthcoming about what’s happening inside their heart or mind, arrange a time to talk to them to bring up your concerns. Find ways to support them, but avoid doing or saying certain things that won’t help but could hurt them.

(C) Power of Positivity, LLC. All rights reserved

14 Effective Ways to Get Rid of Acne Fast According to Dermatologists

June 19, 2016 by Sarah Barkley

With many skin care products to choose from in stores, figuring out which ones will truly help your skin can be confusing. Surprisingly, the best products for acne relief are the ones that contain all-natural ingredients. When learning how to get rid of acne, finding a method that suits your skin type is essential.

Acne affects nearly 17 million people in the United States, making it a leading focus for dermatologists. While approximately 85% of those cases occurred in people between ages 12 and 24, anyone can experience the skin condition. Figuring out how to get rid of acne can help you feel more confident, and it offers relief from the discomfort.

The traditional acne products that you find in the store are typically full of chemicals and can be expensive. Plus, harsh chemicals can cause other problems for your skin, such as dryness, redness, and irritation. Switching to natural acne remedies backed by a dermatologist can save you money and improve the look and feel of your skin.

Once you learn how to get rid of acne quickly, you won’t turn back to other methods. Since dermatologists back these methods, there’s no reason you shouldn’t try them to improve your skin. Alternative acne treatments at home can be the best option, and with so many to choose from, you can find the one that works best for you.

What Causes Acne?

Acne affects the hair follicles on the face, chest, and back, and most people experience it throughout their lifetime. It affects almost all teenagers as they go through puberty, but it can affect adults, too. Women are prone to acne through their late-20’s.

Acne is characterized by blackheads, inflammatory papules, and pimples. They appear as tender red bumps, pustules, and cysts or boils.

Acne begins when your pores get clogged with oil and dead skin cells. Since pores connect to a sebaceous gland, an oily substance called sebum gets inside. Once sebum enters the pore, it starts the growth of a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes.

When your body recognized the bacteria, your white blood cells attack them. This attack is what leads to skin inflammation and acne-prone skin. Some of the factors that might contribute to the development of acne include the following:

genetics
an unhealthy diet
infections
hormone changes
stress
medication
cosmetics
an object frequently touching your skin

How to Get Rid of Acne

When you want to see a significant reduction in acne–and fast–try these treatments.

1. Apply Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar contains organic acids, such as citric, lactic, and succinic acid, that can help kill bacteria that cause acne. It can also help prevent and reduce the appearance of acne scars.

Additionally, succinic acid helps stop inflammation, reducing the appearance of acne and preventing scarring. Lactic acid helps improve the appearance of acne scars that you already have.

When you use apple cider vinegar on your skin, mix one part vinegar with three parts of water. Wash your skin before applying the vinegar mixture with a cotton ball. Leave it on your skin for up to 20 seconds, and then rinse with water and pat dry.

2. Take Zinc Supplements

Zinc plays a major role in wound healing and can help with inflammation. Research shows that increasing your zinc intake can help get rid of acne and prevent scarring. In one study, 38 of 48 people that took zinc supplements experienced an 80-100% reduction.

Applying zinc directly to your skin doesn’t work, however, so stick to oral supplements. Keep in mind that too much zinc can cause stomach pain and gut irritation. Don’t consume more than the recommended 40 mg to avoid the adverse effects of this treatment.

3. Use Honey and Cinnamon Mask

Honey and cinnamon both contain antioxidants, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. These components help fight bacteria such as Propionibacterium acnes and reduce inflammation, preventing acne breakouts. You should not overlook the anti-acne properties of these two household items.

Making a honey and cinnamon mask is easy, and you only need the two ingredients. Mix two tablespoons of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon, forming a paste. Wash your face and then apply the mask, leaving it on for 10-15 minutes.

4. Apply Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties, making it beneficial for treating acne. When bacteria accumulate in your pores, the tea tree oil can quickly clear it out, reducing the risk of an outbreak. This oil also reduces skin inflammation, providing comfort as you cure acne.

Studies show that using tea tree oil for acne is four to six times more effective than a placebo. Researchers have also found that tea tree oil is equally effective at getting rid of pimples as a lotion containing benzoyl peroxide.

Dilute a few drops of tea tree oil with aloe vera gel and apply the mixture to the affected area. Leave it on your skin for 20 minutes, and then wash it off with warm water. The aloe vera gel acts as a soothing agent, preventing irritation and redness from the oil.

5. Apply Green Tea

The health benefits of green tea don’t always require that you drink it. When you apply green tea directly to your skin, it can help fight inflammation and pimple-causing bacteria. The flavonoids and tannins found in this tea make it helpful for getting rid of acne fast.

Green tea also contains high levels of the antioxidant epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). This antioxidant fights inflammation, reduces sebum production, and hinders the growth of Propionibacterium acnes.

While some skincare products contain green tea, you can easily make your own at home. To make it, steep green tea in boiling water for four minutes and then allow it to cool. Then, apply it to your face with a spray bottle or a cotton ball.

Leave the green tea on your skin for at least 10 minutes, but you can leave it on overnight. Rinse your face with water, and then reapply as needed.

6. Apply Witch Hazel

Witch hazel contains tannins that fight bacteria and reduce inflammation when applied directly to your skin. It can help prevent pimples, breakouts, and skin irritation from acne. Studies show that it improves acne more effectively than other methods.

While you can find witch hazel at the store, it doesn’t always contain acne-fighting tannins. Read the label carefully, or use witch hazel bark to make your own.

Mix one tablespoon of witch hazel bark with one cup of water in a saucepan. Soak the witch hazel bark for 30 minutes before bringing the mixture to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and cover the pan, allowing it to simmer for 10 minutes.

Once the mixture finishes simmering, please remove it from the heat and let it sit in the pan for another 10 minutes. Then, strain the liquid and store it in a sealed container. You can use a cotton ball to apply the witch hazel to your skin twice a day or as needed.

7. Apply Aloe Vera

Research shows that aloe vera can help fight bacteria, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. With that being the case, it can help get rid of and prevent acne breakouts. Aloe vera contains bacteria-inhibiting properties such as lupeol, salicylic acid, urea nitrogen, cinnamic acid, phenols, and sulfur.

Studies indicate that using aloe vera with acne medication increased the effectiveness of the treatment. This research explains that aloe vera gel added to clove-basil oil is effective for getting rid of acne quickly. The higher the concentration of aloe vera gel you use, the more it will clear up pimples and acne.

8. Take Fish Oil Supplements

Fish oil contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help manage oil production, prevent pimples, and keep your skin hydrated. These fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA), help decrease factors that cause inflammation, preventing breakouts.

Studies show that taking fish oil supplements containing EPA and DHA significantly reduced pimples. You can also increase your omega-3 fatty acid intake by eating walnuts, chia seeds, ground flaxseeds, salmon, sardines, and anchovies. Keep in mind that not all of those foods contain high levels of EPA and DHA, so supplements may still be necessary.

9. Follow Anti-inflammatory Diets

Topical treatments won’t work if the underlying cause is hormone- or diet-related, so eat anti-inflammatory foods. Food that raises your blood sugar quickly will cause your body to release excess insulin. When this happens, your oil glands produce more oil, increasing your risk of acne breakouts.

Foods that cause a spike in insulin levels are high-glycemic carbohydrates, meaning they contain simple sugars. Some of the foods to avoid are:

white rice
white bread
sugar
pasta

10. Reduce Dairy

Studies show that people who consume more milk or dairy products tend to experience more pimples. Dairy products contain hormones that are associated with acne, including the IGF-1 hormone. For people between the ages of 10 and 24, these extra hormones are linked to moderate or severe acne.

Don’t eliminate dairy products, but limit it to the daily recommended amount. More research is needed to determine if it is the dairy itself or the excess hormones causing acne. Either way, reducing your intake is a sure way to get rid of acne.

11. Stress Management

Stress not only causes acne, but it can worsen symptoms that you already have. Reducing your stress levels and learning to manage them can help you get rid of acne.

Extra hormones are released when you are stressed, which contributes to an increase in sebum production. It also increases inflammation, which is why the symptoms get worse. Stress can slow wound healing, as well, slowing the repair of acne breakouts.

Learning more about relaxation and healthy stress management can help alleviate this issue. Some of the ways you can reduce stress include:

getting more sleep
doing yoga
physical activity
meditation
practicing mindfulness
using deep breathing techniques

12. Exercise Regularly

Exercise promotes blood flow through your body, which helps nourish your skin cells. With healthy cells, your body will prevent and heal acne quickly. Exercise also helps with hormone regulation, decreasing your risk of developing acne breakouts.

Additionally, exercise can help decrease stress levels. Since stress causes acne, exercising can help you in reducing acne in a few different ways.

According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, adults should get at least two and a half hours of aerobic exercise each week. They also recommend engaging in strength training at least twice a week.

If you don’t enjoy exercise, you can get more physical activities in other ways instead. Find something active that you enjoy, including things like these:

hiking
running or jogging
walking at a brisk pace
playing high-energy sports
swimming

13. Exfoliate Regularly

Exfoliating your skin removes the top layer, which is made up of dead skin cells. If the dead skin cells aren’t removed, they can cause bacteria and other foreign particles to get inside your pores. You can find skincare exfoliating products, or you can exfoliate using a scrub brush.

Once you have exfoliated, you can use other treatment methods for acne. With the dead skin cells gone, other treatments can penetrate deeper, offering better results. Exfoliating can also help prevent and reduce the appearance of acne scars.

14. Wash Your Face Regularly

When you’re wondering how to get rid of acne, washing your face regularly is the best way. Wash your face twice each day, and if you’ve been sweating, wash it after that, too. Dermatologists recommend washing your face when you wake up and before you go to bed at night.

Make sure you use skincare products that won’t damage your skin or make the acne worse. Look for products that are:

non-comedogenic
non-acnegenic
oil-free

If the skin cleanser you choose doesn’t work for you, don’t give up on washing your face. Instead, try different products until you find one that treats your acne without causing other issues. What works for one person might not work for you, so keep trying.

Final Thoughts on How to Get Rid of Acne Fast According to Dermatologists

Acne is a common problem that many people experience. You can figure out how to get rid of acne fast, though, by following the advice given by dermatologists. Try one method at a time until you find the ones that work best for you. You will heal acne over time and with a little bit of patience.

Getting rid of acne will boost your confidence and help you feel better about yourself. Plus, you won’t experience the pain or discomfort that can accompany breakouts.

11 Things You Need to Do If You Love A Highly Sensitive Person

June 19, 2016 by Power of Positivity

The highly sensitive person needs certain things in friendships and relationships, and today, we’ll tell you a few things you need to do if you love one of these special souls.

Before the 1990s, no one had really heard of heightened sensitivity in humans, but a psychologist named Dr. Elaine Aron began to study this trait tirelessly. Surprisingly, she discovered that 15-20% of the population carries the trait that classifies them as highly sensitive, which means they respond to external stimuli more noticeably than non-HSP’s. In highly sensitive people, the part of their brain that regulates emotions performs differently than their less sensitive counterparts.

Before you start a relationship with a highly sensitive person, here are some pointers to keep in mind about what highly sensitive people need from you.

Here are 11 things you need to do if you love a highly sensitive person:

1. Always tell the truth and don’t hold back your emotions.

Empaths, or highly sensitive people, read energies and body language extremely well. If you want to continue a happy relationship with an HSP, you need to come clean about your emotions, because they will pick up on them regardless. However, they don’t like it when people hide things from them, so just remain honest and open in the relationship. Empaths can sense things going on deep beneath the surface, but they don’t like to play games. They need transparency and trust in a relationship to make it work.

2. Respect their heightened sensitivity and emotions.

They have a deep sense of the emotional world. They can feel other people’s pain and will try to fix it. In return they find themselves with a broken heart. They wear their heart on their sleeve. They have a deep, complex personality and just long for someone to accept and love them regardless of the emotional rollercoaster they tend to put people on. Just love them as they come, and they will love you right back.

3. Give a highly sensitive person ample alone time.

Empaths desperately need to decompress from the world around them, and may disappear for hours at a time in their room. Know that they simply need time to process their environment and recharge after going out in society, and that they don’t want to hurt you. They are not retreating or avoiding you, but rather, protecting their precious energy stores. They get their energy from spending time alone, so make sure to give this gift to your highly sensitive lover.

4. Expect both passion and apathy, depending on the subject.

Empaths, or highly sensitive people, tend to resonate with only a few passions in life, and follow them intensely. They have a creative streak, and probably make this their line of work, if they can. However, they also have what some people would call an “extreme” nature; either they love something, or they can’t stand it. For instance, you might get them to talk for hours about the state of the world and how we can fix it, but they will totally go silent when you bring up sports or shopping. If you love an HSP, you need to respect their interests and allow them to follow their passions.

5. Stimulate their mind.

Even beyond that, HSP’s need stimulation of the soul; they cannot engage in shallow relationships and meaningless conversations. Bring up topics such as how we got here, aliens, space, physics, animals, nature, or anything remotely deep that involves emotions and thinking on a higher level. Otherwise, they might just pretend to act interested in order to not hurt your feelings.

6. Help them fall asleep at night.

Because their minds run a mile a minute, they sometimes have a hard time falling asleep at night. Talk to them gently, caress their back and arms, cuddle with them, or even read to them to get their mind to calm down. Empaths tend to worry about things quite a bit, so creating a peaceful environment at night can do wonders for their insomnia.

7. Go on adventures with them.

Empaths also tend to love nature and spontaneity, so if you love an HSP, take them on an unexpected trip. Surprise them; this makes them feel alive, and takes them away from the mundane nature of daily life that stifles their spirit.

8. Show plenty of affection to a highly sensitive person.

HSP’s also need tons of love, so don’t hold back. Physical touch helps to reduce anxiety and depression, and in empaths, they feel these emotions on a much deeper level. Your affection helps them to feel loved and wanted, and will easily win them over.

9. Encourage them to get out and do things they love.

Empaths can sometimes get in the habit of staying home too often and becoming a total hermit, so try to get them out of the house to challenge them and get them involved in things they love. Your HSP lover might show resistance at first, but they’ll thank you in the long run.

10. Don’t try to change the highly sensitive person.

Most of all, accept them as the highly sensitive, emotional, complex person that they are. They can’t help how they feel and how they respond to the world, so simply embrace their true nature and enjoy the light that shines from their beautiful souls.

11. Do creative things with them.

Empaths also love it when their partners take on creative projects with them – it makes for a great bonding experience, and plus, you might discover some previously hidden talents of your own!

The Community

Our Free Community of Positively Powerful SuperFans

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!