15 Signs of Insecurity to Never Ignore

November 10, 2022 by Chris Butler

Are you insecure? It can take a toll on you when you never feel accepted or secure. Your fears can cripple you, but insecurity impacts each person differently. There will be days you don’t feel safe in your skin, and there will also be times when the world seems to misunderstand you.

When you’re insecure, one of the main concerns is that the folks around you don’t understand how your brain operates. So being misunderstood may cause you to be even more insecure about yourself. Understandably, you don’t want to admit you live in fear. However, the first part of the healing process is understanding what’s happening inside and learning to change your mindset.

Fifteen Common Signs of Insecurity You Shouldn’t Ignore

Most folks with insecurities try to mask the intense anxiety they feel. One way to hide your feelings is with habitual behaviors, but the only problem is that you’ll find these behaviors no longer ease the pain. You may find they do the exact opposite and push people further away. Here are some common behaviors of the insecure person that you should never ignore.

1. Asking Repetitive Questions Reveals Insecurity

When you lack confidence and have low self-worth, you may find that you ask the same questions over and over. For instance, you got a new outfit that’s a little more daring than your usual style.

You feel apprehensive about wearing it out in public. You may ask family and friends fifty times if you look okay because you’re so insecure. The last thing you want to do is stand out in any way, as you don’t feel comfortable in your skin.

2. Frequently Apologizing Indicates Low Self-Worth

Do you find yourself apologizing for things whether you’re guilty or not? The thought of anyone being mad at you is more than you can handle. You don’t want to lose a relationship, so you’re eager to apologize. This is a clear indication that you have a lack of confidence, as you feel you constantly need to make things right.

3. Sabotage Relationships

You don’t mean to sabotage relationships, but your low sense of self-worth tends to be more than some people can handle. When you live in a constant state of fear, you will overreact to the simplest things.

It’s challenging for the other party to understand your insecurity and comfort you. Thus, you may find that your continual anxiety makes you avoid relationships as they don’t usually end well.

4. Groups and Large Gatherings Overwhelm an Insecure Person

If you have low self-worth and fight insecurities, you don’t like being in a group. You prefer to hang out in smaller, more intimate settings.

Going to something like a rock concert where there are tons of people would likely cause your anxiety to kick into overdrive. It’s expected that someone with insecurity in groups will find one person and cling to them.

5. Chronic Worrying Reveals Insecurity

The lack of confidence in yourself and the world around you causes apprehension. So you worry about everything. When you’re insecure, it seems like everything brings you anxiety.

You’ll worry about having an accident on the way to work even though you’re a great driver. Or, you may fear that you will be fired even when there’s no threat. Living in a constant state of unease can cause significant issues for your mental and physical well-being.

6. Wearing Emotions on the Sleeve Give Away the Insecure Person

Folks with insecurities within themselves often find that they’re easily offended. You wear your emotions on your sleeve and feel constantly wounded by the actions and words of others. It’s not uncommon for you to overreact and strike out at the person who offended you.

A significant amount of turmoil and anxiety occurs inside the mind of someone with insecurity issues. It’s hard to stop the overreactions because you can’t turn your mind and all the white noise of your lack of confidence off. So the slightest of offenses can send you over the edge.

7. Fear of Rejection Comes from Low Self-Worth

The fear of being rejected puts you in a powerful emotional state. It’s a vicious mental circle that grinds away at your confidence. Since these feelings are all anticipated emotions, you worry about things that will likely never happen.

Dr. Zimmermann from the University of New South Wales has extensively studied this common problem. He found that rejection is a normal part of life, and each person will experience it at some point. However, he states that how you process these feelings dictates whether you move on or become crippled by the fears. Social interactions are where you will find many of these fears, and negative experiences from the past can greaten these anxieties.

8. Constantly Asking if Someone Is Upset

You may find that you constantly ask people if they’re upset. The smallest of things can trigger you. Due to your lack of confidence, you automatically think that you’re the reason for someone’s upset.

Insecurity causes you to constantly gauge the emotions of those around you to ensure that you’ve not made anyone mad. It’s another sign of low self-worth coming through loud and clear.

9. Being Alone Is Overwhelming for an Insecure Person

Though you don’t like groups and can’t handle people getting too close, you don’t want to be alone. One of the worst fears for someone with insecurity issues is the pangs of loneliness.

When you have someone with you, you feel safe and whole. Losing someone close to you through death or disagreement can cause you to spiral into a deep depression. Your self-worth requires you to have someone to lean on, and you can be quite clingy.

10. Never Feeling Safe or Settled

Many times, insecurities come from past traumas and disappointments. This uneasiness can spread to your job, home, and even relationships. You’re always waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under you, and you never allow yourself to settle down.

You may find that you move a lot, switch jobs often, and jump from one relationship to another. There’s probably nothing wrong with these things in the first place, but your anxiety and insecurities won’t allow you to settle down and be happy.

11. Worrying People Talk Bad Behind Your Back

If you walk into a room and hear whispering, your insecurity will automatically make you think they’re talking about you. Your lack of confidence ensures they don’t like you and are discussing your hair, clothes, or other issues.

Your insecurity will make you worry about gossipers even when there’s no basis. It would help if you constantly confirmed that things were okay and no one was talking about you.

12. Pushing People Away Reveals Insecurity

One common thing when you have insecurities is that you don’t like folks getting too close. The closer someone is to you, the more likely you are to be hurt by them. You want to get close to people and develop meaningful relationships, but you often push folks away for fear of getting hurt. Your lack of confidence and self-worth prevents you from letting people into your inner circle.

13. Seeking Validation and Approval

Insecure people always seek the approval of others. You crave the acceptance of your peers like your next meal. Even when you get the desired acceptance, you refuse to see it. One University College London study explained how brain chemistry is why you need validation from others.

Researchers found that the ventral striatum area of the brain lights up when you feel validated. Using twenty-eight participants, they established that brain changes calm you when you feel supported and accepted.

14. Playing the Imposter Might Mean Insecurity

Like a turtle, it’s easy for you to develop a shell to retreat to when your anxiety is too much to manage. People may try to impress or get your attention, but they won’t see your insecurities until they get to know you better. You’re so good at playing the part and masking who you are that you often feel like an imposter.

15. An Insecure Person Relies on the Opinion of Others

Sadly, it’s commonplace that those with insecurity issues often define themselves by the opinion of others. You may let others dictate your self-worth, and your constant need to please can cause a massive problem with your self-esteem.

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Fifteen Key Signs of Insecurity

When you have an insecure nature, it’s not an easy thing to manage. Thankfully you can overcome this overwhelming anxiety that controls your life. First, you must go back to the root cause, such as trauma or other disappointments that cause this skewed way of thinking.

Going to a good counselor and using CBT therapy can help you process what happened so you can move on. If there’s no trauma in your life, use positive thinking and retrain your brain to stop the negativity. Your lack of confidence and self-worth are things that you can improve with time and patience.

10 Habits of People With Optimism

November 10, 2022 by Kristen Butler

Did you know that you can improve your optimistic thinking like any other skill? Maybe you know someone you admire because they radiate confidence and vibrant energy. What are some of the habits you can learn from them to increase your positive thinking?

Contrary to popular belief, being an optimist doesn’t deny reality. Life has its share of heartache and disappointments. These ebbs and flows are constant regardless of if you’re a billionaire or live from paycheck to paycheck.

It’s all about your perspective. Optimistic people have problems and adverse events just like anyone else. However, they focus on what’s good in their lives instead of the bad.

Being optimistic isn’t just an attitude but a complete lifestyle. It becomes the lens through which you view your world. You don’t create your perfect Universe, but you learn to be grateful for your blessings.

Like any other learned skill, practice makes progress. You’re not going to change your outlook overnight. By surrounding yourself with positive influences, you soon learn how you can bring more positivity into your thought processes.

Ten Habits of Optimistic People

The good news is that you don’t need a magic wand to increase your positive energy. What are the steps you need to take to get started? Here are ten habits of optimistic people for you to consider.

1. Optimistic People Never Give Up

Some people won’t even try something new if they think it’s too complicated. They let fear and intimidation hinder them from reaching higher goals. If they do try and make the slightest error, they throw up their hands in defeat.

Let’s face it, nobody is perfect, and you will make mistakes. A primary difference between positive thinking and pessimism is that the optimist won’t give up. You see your failures as teaching tools that will guide you to eventual success.

2. Positive Thinkers Practice Gratitude Daily

Have you ever met someone with such a negative attitude that nothing made them happy? They could win the lottery and complain that they had to split it with another winner. According to the law of attraction, they declare negativity into the Universe and receive the same negativity in return.

If you favor optimism, you’ve learned to count your blessings. You probably have a gratitude list that you review daily. Optimists have problems like everyone else but tend to see that the good outweighs the bad.

3. Optimistic People Do What They Love

One of the countless gifts of positive thinking is that you’re more in tune with yourself. So, allow that quiet, gentle voice to guide you in your career and outside interests. Your optimism may have started in childhood, and you’ve always known what you wanted to do with your life.

Those who work with you notice your bright outlook and passion for your work. You’re one of those folks who would choose a job they love for a dreaded one that made more money. You also select hobbies and interests that spark your creativity and bring you joy.

4. Optimistic People Surround Themselves with Positivity

The people you surround yourself with can affect your attitude, says Dr. Syed Muhammad Sajjad Kabir. Kabir explains how your circle may influence who you are, what you value, and how much money you make. If they are pessimists, their life’s outlook can also be damaging and bleak.

For example: how do you feel when talking to someone who is a chronic pessimist? They have a negative retort, no matter how you try to brighten the mood. If you’re around them too much, their depressing attitude will affect you.

That’s why positive thinking can encourage you to spend time around people with the same attitude. They believe in your dreams and aspirations and inspire you to keep trying. As you all send positive affirmations into the Universe, you’re attracting more positivity to your lives.

5. Positive Thinkers Love to Smile and Do It Often

Smiling is a precious gift that costs you nothing yet is priceless. Researchers have debated whether animals smile, but it seems to be a uniquely human ability. A smiling face can instantly put people at ease and makes you approachable.

According to Science Times, even if you fake a smile, it can create more positivity. Of course, an insincere smile often masks internal pain or anger. However, you may feel more optimism if you smile rather than frown or grimace.

Have you ever been in a room filled with strangers? You probably were drawn to the first person with a welcoming smile. This universal expression conveys optimism, openness, and joy.

6. Positive People Focus on Strengths Instead of Weaknesses

Everyone has personal strengths and weaknesses. Asking you to identify them is a classic question for job interviews. It’s not a shame to admit that you need to work on specific skills if you can highlight your strengths.

An attitude of optimism doesn’t mean you think that you’re perfect. Instead, you know where your strengths lie, and you capitalize on them. For example, you wouldn’t apply to be a music teacher if you can sing or play music.

You’re apt to accomplish more in your more substantial areas. It gives you the motivation to improve in skills where you’re lacking. If optimism is one of your strong suits, it can help you in all areas of your life.

7. Optimistic People Don’t Hold Grudges

Nobody is immune from getting angry or hurt when someone offends them unless they’re a saint. It’s a natural response, and the negative feelings can overwhelm you. However, you can choose to overcome these feelings or let them continue smoldering as a grudge.

The Book of Hebrews in the New Testament aptly calls this condition the “root of bitterness.” Most gardeners can tell you about their struggles with invasive plants. Some plants, like certain species of ivy, can invade your lawn and garden and even cause damage to your home’s foundation.

It all starts with a tiny root that’s allowed to grow and take over everything. Likewise, bitterness can take root in your heart and destroy your joy and optimism. Positive thinkers like you understand this condition and nip it in the bud before it consumes them.

When you forgive somebody who’s hurt you, it’s more for you than for them. It doesn’t excuse the offender or mean that you forget the offense. Forgiveness breaks the chains of bitterness and gives you the freedom to leave it in the past.

8. Optimists Often Journal about Positive Experiences

Another habit of those who embrace optimism is that they often keep journals. Perhaps you keep a journal that includes a gratitude list and brief highlights of your day. Some people use journaling to record their thoughts, ideas, and aspirations.

Of course, everyone has bad days, and every entry won’t be champagne and roses. However, you’ll probably notice that you have more positive notes than negative ones. As you review past entries, you can see how you confronted problems and eventually found solutions.

9. Optimists Focus on Building Your Relationships

Being in a relationship requires work on both sides, personal or professional. You both learn how to compromise and work on difficult issues together. Positive thinking is an effective tool that builds strong and lasting relationships.

Plus, positive-thinking people are often the best listeners. You find value in what the other person is saying and actively listen. Instead of interrupting, you listen, mirror their emotions, and ask them to clarify anything you may have missed.

Such communication is vital for any relationship. It can make you a better partner, family member, friend, or employee. Others are more apt to be committed to you when they see your commitment.

10. Optimistic Thinkers Follow a Healthy Lifestyle

Optimism benefits your body, mind, and spirit, as positivity is good for your soul. Caring for your body by following a healthy lifestyle may prevent certain physical and mental diseases. It’s about proper food choices, daily exercise, and a positive outlook.

Unfortunately, the media often portrays unrealistic expectations for beauty and success. These outlets create false beliefs that if you’re beautiful, thin, wealthy, and intelligent enough, you’re worthy. Optimists reject these facades and love themselves for who they are.

When you feel good about your body, you want to take care of it. You try to use moderation and avoid habits that can harm your health. Your well-being often depends on positive thinking about yourself.

Final Thoughts on Ten Habits of Optimistic People

Are you ready to work with the law of attraction and attract more positivity in your life? Consider these ten habits of people who have learned how to do it successfully and live each day with an optimistic outlook.

Not only will you have a brighter perspective, but you’ll also reap the benefits of maintaining positivity at home and work. Positive thinking will change your entire life for the better.

7 Signs A Company Is Greenwashing You

November 10, 2022 by Kristen Lawrence

Companies often use greenwashing to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. Most people want to believe they’re buying sustainable products that benefit themselves and reduce climate change. Unfortunately, many businesses mislead customers with the dishonest marketing strategy known as greenwashing.

Businesses greenwash consumers in various ways to make products seem more eco-friendly. It’s a technique to make customers think they’re helping the environment by choosing certain brands or items.

Companies reel in unwitting consumers with advertising tactics like sustainable buzzwords and images of nature. However, they only confuse customers by concealing the true environmental impact of the products.

Greenwashing occurs more often than you’d think because companies know it helps increase their profits. According to a 2015 Nielson poll, around two-thirds of shoppers said they’d pay more for sustainable products. Half of them considered a product’s environmental impact before making a purchase.

Below, we’ll tell you how to spot greenwashing in your local stores, so you don’t fall victim to false claims.

Seven Telltale Signs of Greenwashing

As awareness about climate change grows, companies have become more clever about concealing their environmental footprint. Greenwashing tricks many well-meaning consumers daily, so it’s essential to use a discerning eye while shopping. Here are a few common warning signs of greenwashing:

1. Hiding Information Is Greenwashing

Companies often boast about how their products benefit the environment while ignoring their negative aspects. For example, an electric vehicle manufacturer may brag about lowering carbon emissions. However, they might fail to mention that the rare earth minerals used in their lithium batteries came from environmentally damaging mining activities.

2. Feel-Good Stories Can Be Greenwashing

Have you ever seen a commercial where people use dish soap to clean oil-soaked animals? Oil companies often donate dishwashing soap to animal care centers so handlers can clean affected animals–then they tout the donation as a positive behavior. This example represents greenwashing because oil companies don’t take accountability for their actions. Instead, they highlight their positive actions while ignoring how their oil spill harmed the wildlife.

3. Hidden Trade-Offs Imply They Reduce Climate Change (But Actually Don’t)

Businesses might draw attention to ‘greener’ products while downplaying or ignoring their negative impacts. For instance, tech giant Apple stopped shipping its phones with earbuds or chargers in 2020. They claimed the move would reduce e-waste, which is true. However, this change ignores the elephant in the room, the company’s strategy of planned obsolescence.

4. False or Unverifiable Claims Are Greenwashing

If you look at product labels, you might see claims about a product’s sustainability. The item may say something like “made with natural ingredients” without any certifications or evidence to support the claim. This type of greenwashing is rampant with food products since government regulations are lax.

5. ‘Fluffy’ Language Implies a Sustainable Product

Pay attention to the language companies use when deciding on a product. If you see vague phrases like ‘non-toxic’ or ‘made with organic ingredients,’ it’s most likely greenwashing. Other buzzwords or “greenspeak” might include ‘vegan approved’ or ‘environmentally friendly.’ Unless a company displays a USDA organic certification or other verifiable evidence, you should take their claims with a grain of salt.

In addition, a company may claim to use recyclable plastic in its products. However, it’s unverifiable if it doesn’t have the universal recycling symbol with three green arrows.

6. Irrelevant Claims Regarding the Reduction of Climate Change

Other brands greenwash consumers by making legitimate claims irrelevant to their sustainability. Examples include trash bags labeled as recyclable, even though the bags usually end up in the trash. Most consumers wouldn’t go to the trouble of emptying and washing out the bags to recycle them. Or, a company may advertise an aerosol spray or refrigerant as “CFC-free,” even though the United States banned these chemicals in the late 1970s.

7. Nature Scenery Creates the Idea of a Sustainable Product

Placing images of nature on a product can easily fool the savviest shoppers. For instance, labels with scenes of a green meadow or beautiful mountain ranges invoke a sense of perfection. Companies know these pictures will attract customers and convince them to buy their products. People are visual creatures, so they tend to focus on images without reading labels. For example, many dishwashing liquids and soaps display pictures of flowers, yet their products often contain harmful chemicals.

Difference Between Green Marketing vs. Greenwashing

Not all companies who advertise as being environmentally conscious have bad intentions. Some want to protect the planet and make every effort to operate sustainably. Greenwashing corporations claim to care about the environment while concealing the truth from consumers.

However, brands that follow green practices have evidence to substantiate their claims. They use green marketing to highlight their positive impact on the environment. Signs of a sustainable product include these examples:

Manufactured sustainably
Minimal packaging materials
No toxic chemicals or ingredients
Made with recycled items or able to be recycled
Made with biodegradable items
Able to be reused or recycled

How to Avoid Greenwashing

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, you can use the following guidelines to differentiate between greenwashing vs. green marketing.

If a product can explain its positive environmental impact without using buzzwords and offers verifiable evidence, it passes the greenwashing test.
Marketing claims clarify whether the packaging, product or both benefit the planet. The company will use clear language and avoid meaningless labels.
The advertising doesn’t use overinflated phrases or embellish its environmental impact.
If the product compares itself to a competing brand, it provides evidence to support its claims.
The product displays third-party certifications, such as USDA-certified organic, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and Certified Vegan.

Final Thoughts on Knowing the Key Signs When a Company Is Greenwashing You

Greenwashing frequently happens in the marketing world due to poor regulations. Companies can get away with almost anything aside from lying outright. In the last decade, consumers have become painfully aware of the environmental impacts of human activities. Therefore, many environmentally conscious shoppers want to buy products that protect the planet.

Unfortunately, well-meaning consumers often fall victim to greenwashing if they don’t research products beforehand. Watch for common buzzwords like ‘all-natural’ or beautiful images of nature on labels. These tactics often trick consumers into buying products that give a facade of purity while actively damaging the planet.

3 Ways to Speak Up For Yourself Without Fear

November 9, 2022 by Zane Landin

Have you ever found yourself in a position where you decided not to speak up for yourself? How did you feel? It is hard being in a situation you cannot stand up for yourself because you feel fenced in and trapped.

You are not alone if you choose not to speak up for yourself. It is prevalent for people to avoid confrontation and don’t speak up out of fear, potential retaliation, or if they feel uncomfortable. People from all walks of life experience this barrier in their lives and have a problem asserting boundaries.

It is essential to speak up for yourself because without speaking up for yourself, you will continue experiencing disrespect, being demeaned, and having your value belittled. It is not your fault you are experiencing this, but it isn’t fair for you to continue enduring what is happening to you.

Sometimes, you won’t have an ally to fight for you. Even if you do, there needs to come a time you can’t depend on their support because they may not always be there. You will eventually need to fight for yourself to thrive and give yourself your best chance.

1 – Recognize Why You Don’t Speak Up

If you struggle with speaking up, this may trace back to your childhood because you may have been taught not to speak up or question things. These feelings may have manifested in how you navigate your personal or professional lives. If you have never had a moment where you spoke up for yourself, consider the people in your life. Did they ever speak up for themselves? If they did, was it a positive experience? What worked and what didn’t? It would help you consider these questions to figure out how to speak up for yourself.

If you have difficulty acknowledging your self-worth, tell yourself you deserve more if you’ve become accustomed to being treated a certain way. You may fear how people react or want to keep others happy. But your happiness is significant too.

Write down one thing you appreciate and imagine what your life would be like if you spoke up for yourself. You may even need to write it down. This won’t completely change how you feel about yourself. Still, if you can find one thing you appreciate, it is an essential step to value your worth in the world.

2 – Practice and Prepare for the Conversation

As they say, practicing your speech in front of the mirror prepares you better. You can apply this practice to anything you need to. Start having a conversation with yourself about what you need to say. You won’t receive positive feedback at first because people are so used to walking all over you. If you want people to take you seriously, you need to be clear about what you want. You also don’t need to practice by yourself. If this becomes too hard for you to speak or you aren’t getting the desired results, ask other people around you to help you.

Do you know your audience? Who is the person or group you need to know about and have this robust conversation with? It is best to know their personality and how they think about things to prepare for how this conversation will envelop.

When you are ready to have that conversation, prepare emotionally too. It’s one thing to be ready for what you are going to say, but imagine how they will react. Being scared is natural, but you can’t let that fear overcome your goals. When people feel cornered in these situations, they may revert to how they felt before. Try your best to control your emotions, and do not let yourself become angry, hateful, or spiteful. You can lead with emotion, but don’t allow your emotions to control you and the message you are trying to tell. Your clarity is blurred from the receiving end if you can’t manage your feelings. You don’t want this to happen to you.

Go into the conversation prepared and ready to fight for yourself and what you need.

3 – Advocate for Yourself

There are other areas in your life where you need to “metaphorically” speak up. It isn’t only essential for your transformational growth to physically speak up for yourself but to show up in other areas of your life. This could be with the people you are around, where you work, and even how you spend your time. It could mean advocating for your wellness by taking the day off, finding a new job, moving to a new location, or ending relationships that only hurt you.

You are not the only person figuring things out, which is why there are many resources you can utilize. Many people think they need to handle everything on their own, but there is nothing wrong with seeking out help for themselves.

If you feel alone, there are many groups out there who share what you are passionate about. What are you passionate about? If you find an organization or group dedicated to what excites you, do not hesitate to join it. This is where you will begin building your community with people who share your interests. Once you surround yourself with people who recognize and respect your self-worth, you will see that in yourself. This will help you build confidence in yourself to speak up.

Final Thoughts on Why it Is Courageous to Speak up for Yourself

Speaking up for yourself is one of the most demanding challenges people experience. Do not blame yourself for being silent. So many reasons outside of peoples’ control lead them to speak up for themselves. Don’t let this foster and persist because if you don’t speak up for yourself, it might worsen, and you will give up on yourself.

Now it is your chance to change your circumstances. Do not quit fighting for yourself if you do not receive the feedback or outcome you were looking for. If the people around you continue resisting you speaking up for yourself, a new change may be what you need, and speaking up made you realize that.

15 Ways to Slow Down Wrinkles And Look Younger

November 9, 2022 by Power of Positivity

Mature skin. The term conjures up images of wrinkled, tired-looking skin–but it need not be that way!

Aging usually brings a gradual decline of your skin’s fitness. Besides wrinkles, your skin sometimes loses fat, becomes thinner, and no longer looks smooth and plump like it once did. Fortunately, you can take several key measures to minimize the lines and wrinkles. Here are fifteen mature skin tips to help reduce wrinkles.

Can you turn back the aging clock?

Can you turn back the aging clock? Maybe. Aging skin cells become altered and don’t function as well. But a group of researchers from Babraham University, Cambridge, United Kingdom, has found a way to turn back the clock of human skin cells by thirty years. The researchers restored the function of older cells while rejuvenating the molecular structure of the biological age. Even though it’s still in the exploration stage, scientists are excited about the potential of these findings.

What changes occur in mature skin?

As you age, your skin changes. Here are some changes that occur in mature skin.

Dry skin: You may experience dry spots on your legs, elbows, and arms. The dry areas might look scaly and rough. Of course, your dry skin might indicate you need to change your soap or stop taking hot baths. However, dry skin can also signify a health problem like hypothyroidism, diabetes, or kidney disease. Check with your doctor if your skin is dehydrated and itchy to rule out health problems.
Wrinkles: Where did those wrinkles come from? Ultraviolet rays (UVA) from the sun and your environment make your skin less elastic. Gravity also causes your skin to wrinkle and sag.
Age spots: Age spots are brown spots caused by exposure to the sun. They show up on your arms, hands, face, and back. Using sunscreen can help protect you against both UVA rays.
Skin tags: These are flesh-colored growths of skin with a raised surface. They’re common in women as they age. You get them on your neck, eyelids, and body folds like your armpits, groin area, and chest.
Skin cancer: Mature skin is susceptible to skin cancer. The most common cause of skin cancer is sun exposure, tanning booths, or sunlamps. However, early detection makes skin cancer treatable.

Fifteen mature skin tips to improve wrinkles

Try these tips to decrease the signs of aging, especially on your face and neck.

1. Protect yourself from the sun

Sun damage is the leading cause of early wrinkles. Using sunscreen regularly can slow down the signs of lines and wrinkles. Be sure your sunscreen is at least 30 SPF. Even if it’s overcast outside, your skin still receives UVA rays. Wearing a hat plus sunglasses will protect you from the sun.

2. Stop smoking

Nicotine causes your blood vessels to constrict, reducing the blood flow and causing your skin to lack oxygen. Tobacco damages the elasticity of your skin. Even the heat from a cigarette will cause wrinkles. Plus, when you purse your lips, it causes wrinkles around your mouth. People who smoke generally look older than those who don’t smoke.

3. Coconut oil

Coconut oil comes from a coconut tree’s palm and kernel parts. Besides cooking applications, coconut oil is an effective skin moisturizer. It’s a great moisturizer with anti-inflammatory properties to help heal. Coconut oil also helps your skin produce collagen. Collagen keeps your skin firm and youthful-looking. In addition, keeping your face moisturized with coconut oil helps rid your face of wrinkles and lines.

4. Eat your carrots

Eat more beta-carotene-rich vegetables and fruits to reduce your wrinkles. Beta carotene gives fruits and vegetables their yellowish orange color. This pigment turns into vitamin A in your body, which improves your eye health and builds your immune system. In addition, it’s a powerful antioxidant that protects your body from free radicals that cause damage to tissue and organs. Beta carotene is good for your skin because it rejuvenates and provides antioxidants to improve it.

5. Moisturize mature skin daily

Use moisturizers, creams, or lotions daily to keep your skin moist. Moisturizers help your skin stay hydrated and nourished. However, mature skin gets dry, which causes wrinkles to appear. Choose a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid to prevent wrinkles from forming and getting deeper.

6. Chemical peels refine the texture of mature skin

Chemical peels are effective ways to remove imperfections from your skin. They remove the top layers of your skin, allowing your new healthy skin to grow. Chemical peels are good for reducing wrinkles, scars, and skin discoloration. You can get a chemical peel at your dermatologist or at home. Doing one at home often uses the same ingredients for a fraction of the cost. What are the best chemical peels you can use at home?

7. Retinoids

Retinoids help regenerate your skin. First, check the potency of the retinoid you’re using to be sure it’s strong enough. A percentage of 0.01% is strong enough to reduce your pores and improve the glow of your skin. You can use it every other day for it to be effective.

8. Drink lots of water

Consume water to reduce wrinkles and lines. Water flushes out toxins, aids digestion, and helps your body and skin stay hydrated from the inside. In addition, water improves your skin elasticity and repairs tissue damage. Generally, men should drink around 15.5 cups of fluids daily, and women should consume approximately 11.5 cups of fluids daily.

9. Eat a healthy diet

A healthy diet helps you maintain weight, energy, and disease prevention, but eating healthy also determines how your skin ages. Researchers say that eating lots of red meat and processed foods cause facial wrinkles, particularly in women. Eating foods that have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits improves your skin’s elasticity and protects you from premature aging. Eating these quality foods can help you avoid facial wrinkles and lines.

Orange vegetables and fruits
Olive oil
Salmon
Avocado
Flax seeds
Pomegranates

10. Pose like a model

Have you noticed how models don’t smile? Instead, they pose with a rested face without frowning, squinting, or pursing their lips. These facial expressions cause wrinkles and lines. If you find yourself squinting or frowning, try to rest your face. Wear sunglasses to avoid squinting in the sun. If you squint because you can’t see, get a new prescription or try contacts.

11. Take collagen

Studies show that topical and oral collagen supplements help delay aging. Collagen supplements improve the elasticity and hydration of your skin. Collagen also smoothes and reduces wrinkles in your skin. Premenopausal women need collagen more than younger women because menopause causes your body to stop producing collagen.

There are many collagen peptide powders available. Add one or two teaspoons of collagen powder to your morning coffee or a glass of cold water daily. You’ll see improvements in your skin right immediately.

12. Topical vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It helps create collagen in your skin. This nutrient occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables. Applying topical vitamin C improves your skin’s appearance and removes fine lines and wrinkles caused by sun damage. Topical vitamin C comes in lotions, serums, and creams. If you’re looking for topical vitamin C serum, look for

A good color: the serum or cream should be champagne color. It shouldn’t be cloudy or dark.
No smell: Vitamin C serum shouldn’t smell sour. If it does, it’s not good.

13. Zinc and selenium

Zinc and selenium are two essential minerals to help keep your skin looking smooth and wrinkle-free. In addition, zinc promotes healing from sun damage. However, it’s best not to take zinc and selenium supplements because too much can harm your health. Instead, eat foods with zinc and selenium.

Foods high in zinc include:

Almonds
Bananas
Beans
Cheese
Oatmeal
Oysters
Peas

Eat foods with selenium, such as:

Eggs
Brazil nuts
Organ meats
Sunflower seeds
Seafood
Spinach
Oatmeal
Yogurt

14. Eat yogurt

Yogurt includes probiotics that are good for the gut and your skin. Yogurt may help decrease wrinkles and improve the health of your skin. It’s thought that applying probiotics to your skin may increase the strength of your skin and help fight damage from things like UVA rays from the sun. Be sure to eat yogurt that doesn’t contain sugar. Instead, purchase plain yogurt and add fresh fruit, nuts, or granola for added flavor.

15. Get your beautifying sleep

As you sleep, your body increases blood to your skin, helping you wake up with glowing, well-rested-looking skin. When you’re getting enough sleep, your complexion looks drab. Try to get up to seven to eight hours of sleep to feel and look your best. Some people swear that a silk pillowcase helps their skin have fewer wrinkles.

Final thoughts on keeping mature skin healthier and decreasing the appearance of wrinkles

Mature skin needs extra loving care to avoid lines and wrinkles. As you age, your collagen levels decrease, causing your skin to lose its elasticity. As a result, it may become rough, dry, and tired. These fifteen tips help keep your skin plump and smooth as you age.

Psychology Explains the 3 Stages of the Stress Response Cycle

November 9, 2022 by Lakeisha Ethans

Everyone struggles with stress daily, but few know anything about the stress response cycle. Even if you are one of the lucky ones and live a relatively relaxed life, you’ll still experience it to some extent. This happens because stress is a natural hormonal response to uncomfortable or dangerous situations. But what most people don’t know is that the feeling doesn’t just appear out of thin air. You may feel depression or exhaustion, not realizing it stems from your body’s natural responses.

There is a whole stress response cycle that people go through when they are under pressure. And the only way to cope with stress healthily is by completing the cycle. The issue is that people aren’t taught things like these when they are young. Society doesn’t give enough importance to mental health and often regards stress as usual.

While it is natural and beneficial sometimes, it doesn’t mean it’s normal to be cripplingly stressed all the time. But that’s not what people learn. No one teaches others how to cope correctly, and some people even romanticize stress. For example, you have undoubtedly heard people saying that a job isn’t good enough unless it puts some pressure on you to perform. Or maybe your parents have told you that if you aren’t stressed about school or work, that means you don’t care.

Small, off-handed comments like these make it seem normal to be stressed constantly. Not only that, but they lead you to believe that if you aren’t, you should feel guilty. Because of this, people end up developing unhealthy coping mechanisms for stress. As a result, they don’t complete the stress response cycle, which means they never fully relax. This harms both your physical and mental health. Therefore, you must learn about the stress response cycle stages to cope with stress properly.

What Is Stress?

Before going into details about the stress relief cycle, you must understand what stress is and how it can affect you. And the best way to begin is to talk about what causes stress in the first place. Stress is a typical reaction to challenging, demanding, or dangerous situations. In those cases, your body needs to react, and it does so by releasing hormones. These hormones must be present so your body can be alert enough.

It’s a way to adjust to new situations and handle them well. You might know this reaction as the fight-or-flight response. This response is just another name for the first stage of the stress response cycle. When you think about human evolution, having this built-in response makes sense. In the prehistoric ages, this was necessary so that humans could stay alive. Otherwise, they would have risked getting complacent and hurt by some wild animal.

But, because of the fight-or-flight response, their body was fit to run away from danger. Of course, society has evolved, and we don’t need to run from wild animals anymore. But that doesn’t mean stress doesn’t still serve a purpose. For example, it can still help you focus more during a test.

How Stress Affects You

How does stress prepare the body for these situations? When a stressor stimulates the nervous system, the body produces large quantities of cortisol and a few other hormones. This triggers a few changes at a physical level. Most notably, it increases blood pressure by increasing your heart rate. It also leads to heightened muscle preparedness, sweating, and general alertness. All these factors allow you to respond better to particular challenges.

So, what’s the catch? Why is stress so bad? Even though only the good parts were described so far, that’s not the whole story. In reality, stress is only suitable in small quantities. But, when someone feels overstressed, their mental and physical health diminishes. You might be sluggish or experience exhaustion. On the physical side, too much cortisol can lead to heart, digestive system, and even muscular issues.

For example, a 2018 review of a few studies found a link between work-related stress and an increased risk of coronary heart disease. Psychological problems are not something that can be overlooked either. Repeated stress can evolve into a mental health struggle. Acute stress is more common but can even develop into chronic stress. Depression, anxiety, and PTSD are just a few other issues caused by stress.

You can avoid all of these risks by understanding the stress response cycle. Whether you know about this cycle or not, it’s best to understand it. That way, you can learn what your body needs to cope healthily.

3 Stages of the Stress Response Cycle

Alarm, resistance, and exhaustion–let’s look at how each stage contributes to your worried mind.

1. The Alarm Stage

The stress response cycle begins with the alarm stage. Then, it’s triggered by a stressor, which is usually a tense or dangerous situation. Next, the amygdala (involved in processing emotions and memories associated with fear) sends signals to the hypothalamus (the link between the endocrine and the nervous system). Then, the hypothalamus activates the sympathetic nervous system, releasing adrenaline into your bloodstream.

This is your body’s most visceral reaction to a threatening stimulus. These signals trigger changes, such as an increased breathing rhythm and rapid heartbeat. As a result, you’ll experience a rapid spike in your energy levels and increased alertness. This is why and how stress can keep you up at night.

These physical changes will boost your energy no matter how tired you are. This stage is what people know as the fight-or-flight response. It’s the same response that all animals have. But the human stress response cycle is a little more complex than animals. We have a couple more stages than they do.

2. The Resistance Stage

The second stage of the stress response cycle is the resistance stage. This is when the body senses the danger or pressure has passed, so it presses the breaks. To be more exact, the parasympathetic system lessens the body’s stress response, but not completely. It still allows you to be alert so you can make sure that you are truly safe.

It’s also the stage where you can tell if you’ve regained balance. This stage will allow you to recover from the shock you’ve experienced. But that won’t be possible if your life is full of stressors. Because of that, your body will always be on high alert.

Still, this stage is not always timed perfectly. Sometimes, your body will stop releasing hormones before the danger has passed. In that case, the nervous system will need to re-release hormones. The bad part is that you’ll experience a rapid decrease in energy levels followed by another spike.

This is a shock, so you will likely become irritated or upset. You might even lose your concentration. Whether this cycle is timed wrong or doesn’t stop, the result is the same. It will lead to the final stage of the stress response cycle.

3. The Exhaustion Stage

As the name suggests, the final stage of the stress response cycle, exhaustion, happens when your body is overloaded with stress. The exhaustion stage doesn’t always have to happen, as your body can recover before reaching this point. But if you’re dealing with chronic or unmanaged stress, you won’t be able to avoid it. Ideally, people would be able to prevent this stage altogether.

But the only way to do that is to give your body time to recover and stop dumping hormones in your bloodstream. That’s why taking breaks is so important if you have a demanding job, for example. If those breaks don’t happen, your body will go overdrive and release cortisol and adrenaline. Slowly, your body’s resources will be exhausted. There are only so many hormones your body can produce before running out.

At some point, you’ll be without adrenaline and experience a massive decrease in energy. But that’s not the only issue. When your body is overworked, its normal functions are affected. Remember that stress makes your heart beat faster and affects your breathing, muscles, digestive system, and more. All those systems will suffer when they are overworked. In time, you can develop chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, mental health issues, etc.

This is why it’s essential to manage your stress. If you are dealing with chronic stress, you must contact a therapist and work through your issues. You also need to identify your stressors and try to eliminate them. For example, if your stress is mainly caused by work, you might want to consider changing it.

Final Thoughts on Understanding the Three Stages of the Stress Response Cycle

Whether we like it or not, we’ll have to deal with some stress throughout our lives. But that doesn’t mean being stressed always is normal or beneficial. Small quantities can help you be alert and up for a challenging task. But when it gets out of hand, it can threaten your mental and physical health. And the three stages of the stress response cycle–alarm, resistance, and exhaustion–show precisely that.

The dangers of chronic stress are apparent when you look at the last stage, so beware of how you manage it. The three stages of the stress response cycle are alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. You’ll always have to deal with the first two when stressed. The alarm stage is when the stressor triggers your body, and your nervous system reacts by releasing hormones. The resistance stage is when your body decreases hormone levels so it can allow you to cool off.

Still, it keeps you somewhat alert if the danger hasn’t passed. Lastly, you have the exhaustion stage, which you should try to avoid. That stage happens when you are in a constant state of stress. You must manage your stress to ensure you don’t end up there. At the very least, try to find relaxing activities throughout the day. If your stress is chronic and unmanageable, you should consult a specialist.

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