Lifestyle
Should You See a Therapist? 8 Surefire Signs You Need Help
Mental health is a sophisticated issue that doesn’t get talked about as often as other, more visible health issues. However, it still affects a person and the consequences can be far more aggravating. Mental health issues may arise from several underlying factors. Whether it’s the inability to cope with something, stress, or even PTSD, the signs are almost always there. Yet it's often dismissed as something that will heal over time. But the fact of the matter is, time doesn’t heal, therapy does. Let’s discuss when to see a therapist.
8 Sure Signs You Need To See a Therapist
Getting overwhelmed the Surrounding
Do you often get overwhelmed by your surroundings? If yes, this is one of the earliest signs of declining mental health. The sense of overwhelming stress arises from stress. Say you are a student or a professional. The exam or the workplace activities might feel increasingly overwhelming. A crippling fear of consequences sets and you feel the constant urge to run away from everything.
The sense of detachment is created from the extreme stress or less than your brain is coping with. This specific problem not only has a short-term consequence but also tends to reduce cognitive emotions in the long run. Therapy can help overcome the stress or trauma by the means of dealing with a single issue at a time.
Read: How to Stay Physically Active during Pregnancy
Disrupted sleep cycle
A disrupted sleep cycle can also prompt mental health issues. Too much sleep or lack of it is a clear sign that the body and the mind aren’t in sync.
A study conducted in 2018 shows that sleeplessness or oversleeping tendencies induce mood swings and depression among the participants. A continuous sleepless habit may be a sign of anxiety, ADHD, or even bipolar disorder which might lead to other complications.
Many people opt for sleeping pills as a cure. But that isn’t the right approach. A proper therapy will help to identify the underlying cause behind the sleeplessness and work to find a solution without medical interventions.
Read Discomfort Anxiety v Depression: Differences, Ways of Prevention
Reduced social interactions
Do you feel like shutting yourself out from everyone? One of the clear signs of mental health problems is the tendency to shy away from social interaction, friends,p and even relationships. If you feel like distancing yourself from stuff, chances are you are going through the mental issue of social isolation. And like a lot of other symptoms, it also poses a serious threat in the long run, not just mentally, but physically too.
Social isolation mainly crops from anxiety and depression. But instead of curing any of the issues, social isolation only aggravates the problem. Therapy can help in the process of social reintegration.
Perpetual anxiety
The thing about anxiety attacks is that you can tell when it's happening. But the worst part is, that you cannot control when it happens or why it happens. People suffering from anxiety can get triggered by anything.
Read: Eating Disorders in Children, Adolescents, Adults: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Ways to Help
The lack of control over the situation is why it's important to get therapy. As the situation with anxiety aggravates, you will see that you are consumed more and more with bad thoughts with seemingly no way out. This is when you know that you must seek therapy. Therapy will steadily divert your mind from negative thoughts and usher new and positive horizons.
Careless attitude
This is one of the most prominent symptoms of clinical depression. As human beings, we are driven by a higher purpose in life. There is constant social pressure and even personal goals to achieve or do something with this life.
This notion of achievement may often become stringent on many. The social and family pressure may often become unbearable leading to clinical depression. An aggravated form of depression may also lead to self-harm.
Read: Dyslexia: How to help kids with this learning disability
The best way to identify the issue is by looking at the pattern of behavior. If you yourself find to be disinterested in everyday things. Trying to run away from responsibilities and an overall sense of detachment is also a sign of clinical depression. Taking regular counsel and therapy is useful against clinical depression in different studies.
Feeling of hopeless
Feeling hopeless is also a sign of clinical depression. Except it leads to a far more severe consequence compared to a careless attitude.
The sense of hopelessness is an advanced form of clinical depression. Here a person loses interest in everything and finds themselves feeling hollow from within. Many a time, the sense of hopelessness leads to self-harm and even suicidal tendencies.
Read Suicide Prevention: How to Deal with Suicidal Thoughts?
Problem concentrating
If you think you’re having trouble concentrating on something, chances are you might be showing early signs of mental health problems. It’s not uncommon to feel inattentive for a day or two at work.
But when it lasts for days or weeks at a stretch, it’s a sign that something is off. The lack of concentration not only hurts the professional life but also takes a toll on the personal and social life. It all encircles on the similar problem of feeling reclusive and disjointed over and over again.
Irregular eating habit
This is also an early indicator of clinical depression. Irregular eating habits advance to become an eating disorder in the long run.
Read How to Overcome Depression Without Medication?
Due to an eating disorder, a person may either gain or lose weight significantly. In addition to the health risks, it also makes a person emotionally vulnerable and people go through it as a coping mechanism.
The only way out of an eating disorder is through therapy. Since the situation is conducive to a coping mechanism, the mind needs to be diverted away from the anxiety as a possible cure.
Final Words
Therefore, in our regular life, mental health issues and clinical depressions should not be overlooked. It makes a person emotionally and socially vulnerable. The inability to address or share the problem only advances the symptoms. That in turn pushes a person more towards self-harm and reclusive behavior. So far, we have discussed 8 sure-fire signs that you or your loved one should seek therapy immediately.
Read Protecting Your Child’s Mental Health: 10 Tips for Parents
Numerous studies have concluded that psychotherapy is a proven way to address physical and mental ailments since most mental issues tend to reflect on physical well-being as well. That said, do not sit on the symptoms. Get help for your own sake and the sake of your loved ones.
Even simple exercise may help aging brain, study hints
New research hints that even a simple exercise routine just might help older Americans with mild memory problems.
Doctors have long advised physical activity to help keep a healthy brain fit. But the government-funded study marks the longest test of whether exercise makes any difference once memory starts to slide — research performed amid a pandemic that added isolation to the list of risks to participants’ brain health.
Researchers recruited about 300 sedentary older adults with hard-to-spot memory changes called mild cognitive impairment or MCI -- a condition that’s sometimes, but not always, a precursor to Alzheimer’s. Half were assigned aerobic exercises and the rest stretching-and-balance moves that only modestly raised their heart rate.
Another key component: Participants in both groups were showered with attention by trainers who worked with them at YMCAs around the country -- and when COVID-19 shut down gyms, helped them keep moving at home via video calls.
Read: How to Stay Physically Active during Pregnancy
After a year, cognitive testing showed overall neither group had worsened, said lead researcher Laura Baker, a neuroscientist at Wake Forest School of Medicine. Nor did brain scans show the shrinkage that accompanies worsening memory problems, she said.
By comparison, similar MCI patients in another long-term study of brain health -- but without exercise -- experienced significant cognitive decline over a year.
Those early findings are surprising, and the National Institute on Aging cautioned that tracking non-exercisers in the same study would have offered better proof.
But the results suggest “this is doable for everybody” -- not just seniors healthy enough to work up a hard sweat, said Baker, who presented the data Tuesday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. ”Exercise needs to be part of the prevention strategies” for at-risk seniors.
Previous research has found regular physical activity of any sort may reduce damaging inflammation and increase blood flow to the brain, said Alzheimer’s Association chief scientific officer Maria Carrillo.
But the new study is especially intriguing because the pandemic hit halfway through, leaving already vulnerable seniors socially isolated -- something long known to increase people’s risk of memory problems, Carrillo said.
It’s a frustrating time for dementia research. Doctors are hesitant to prescribe a high-priced new drug called Aduhelm that was supposed to be the first to slow progression of Alzheimer’s -- but it’s not yet clear if it really helps patients. Researchers last month reported another drug that works similarly -- by targeting amyloid plaques that are an Alzheimer’s hallmark -- failed in a key study.
While amyloid clearly plays a role, it’s important that drugmakers increasingly are targeting many other factors that can lead to dementia, Carrillo said, because effective treatment or prevention likely will require a combination of customized strategies.
Read: Dyslexia: How to help kids with this learning disability
One example of a new approach: Sometimes in dementia, the brain has trouble processing blood sugar and fats for the energy it needs, John Didsbury of T3D Therapeutics told the Alzheimer’s meeting. His company is testing a pill that aims to rev up that metabolism, with results expected next year.
Meanwhile, there’s growing urgency to settle whether steps people could take today -- like exercise -- might offer at least some protection.
How much and what kind of exercise? In Baker’s study, seniors were supposed to get moving for 30 to 45 minutes four times a week, whether it was on a vigorous turn on the treadmill or the stretching exercises. That’s a big ask of anyone who’s sedentary, but Baker said MCI’s effects on the brain make it even harder for people to plan and stick with the new activity.
Hence the social stimulation — which she credited with each participant completing over 100 hours of exercise. Baker suspects that sheer volume might explain why even the simple stretching added up to an apparent benefit. Participants were supposed to exercise without formal support for an additional six months, data Baker hasn’t yet analyzed.
“We wouldn’t have done the exercise on our own,” said retired agriculture researcher Doug Maxwell of Verona, Wisconsin, who joined the study with his wife.
The duo, both 81, were both assigned to the stretching classes. They felt so good afterward that when the study ended, they bought electric bikes in hopes of even more activity -- efforts Maxwell acknowledged are hard to keep up.
Next up: Baker is leading an even larger study of older adults to see if adding exercise to other can’t-hurt steps such as a heart-healthy diet, brain games and social stimulation together may reduce the risk of dementia.
How to Stay Physically Active during Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, it is important to stay healthy and active. This is the time when you need to take care of both your body and baby. But how much should you be active? It basically depends on what your doctor recommends. Keep scrolling to know some practical and effective ways to stay active during your pregnancy period.
Benefits of Staying Active during Pregnancy
When a foetus develops inside a woman's womb or uterus, this period is called pregnancy. It generally lasts about 40 weeks or 9 months. This period is measured from the last menstrual time to delivery. According to health care providers, pregnancy has three segments that are called trimesters. Let’s checkout why it is essential to stay physically active during the months of pregnancy.
Importance of Increasing Blood Flow in Early Pregnancy
The first trimester is a time of rapid physical changes in the body and baby. One of these changes is increased blood flow to the uterus. This increased blood flow is important for establishing a healthy pregnancy. Some risk factors that may interfere with this healthy increase in blood flow are:
- Obesity
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
To prevent these health concerns the pregnant mother should stay active.
Read Postpartum Depression, Mood Swings: How can new moms deal with these issues?
Importance of Physical Activity during Pregnancy
Some benefits of being active through exercises and healthy diet are as follows:
- Prenatal fitness is essential to confirm the long-term health of your baby.
- Your baby may grow up smarter
- Prepare your baby for the demands of labour
- You don't gain unnecessary weight
- Boost mood
- Reduce stress, anxiety and depression
- Prep to push
- Reduce aches and pains
- May reduce prevalence of diastasis recti
- Get things “moving”
- Put a pep in your step
- You will be a fit mom
- You’ll feel more confident & fresh
- You may experience a shorter labour
- You’re less likely to experience swelling
- May help with morning sickness
- With the accomplishment of something will positively affect other areas of your life
- May reduce premature Birth
- Keep your blood sugar levels normal
- You’ll be able to control your body more
- Fight off germs and boost immunity.
Read Postpartum Weight Loss: How to lose baby weight fast after pregnancy
10 Best Tips for Staying Active and Healthy during Pregnancy
Let’s find out how to stay healthy and active during your pregnancy period.
Get enough sleep
Sleeping is not just for the sake of feeling refreshed and rested in the morning. It is a necessary component of your health and productivity, which should be factored into your daily schedule.
Eat healthy food
Eating healthy, nutritious and light food can lead to a more active lifestyle. Eating a diet high in protein, vegetables and fruit can give you the energy you need to get through your day. A diet low in fat and processed foods will lower risk of disease and promote weight loss.
Read Pregnancy Care Tips for Summer: How can pregnant mothers beat the heat?
Exercise three times a week
Many people are struggling with a lack of time and motivation to exercise. With the introduction of high-tech fitness trackers and wearable technology, people can now monitor their activity levels 24/7. This data can be used to create personalized workout routines that suit an individual's needs.
Drink plenty of water every day
Drinking plenty of water every day is an essential part of a healthy pregnancy. It's important to stay active and hydrated to prevent common pregnancy symptoms like nausea, headaches, and constipation. A pregnant woman's body needs more fluids than usual because it's working hard to keep the mother and baby healthy.
Avoid too much caffeine and alcohol
Caffeine and alcohol are not only harmful to the mother but they have a detrimental effect on the growing foetus. The risk of miscarriage increases as does birth defects. There is also a chance that the baby will end up with an addiction to caffeine or alcohol.
Read Pregnancy Anxiety? How to reduce the stress of pregnant mothers?
Take prenatal vitamins
Prenatal vitamins are crucial to the healthy development of a baby. However, they also benefit mom in many ways. For example, they can help mom maintain her energy levels and keep her mood stable. They can also reduce the risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and neural tube defects.
Take medications recommended by your doctor
Medication is a necessary part of someone's healthcare - but it can be difficult to remember what each medication does, and how it interacts with other medications. This article contains a list of medications and side effects that may help you stay on top of your meds.
Stay away from sick people
People who are sick or have been recently sick can cause the flu to spread. Never shake hands with them, sit next to them on public transportation, or let them enter your home. If you have already been infected, stay away from other people for at least 24 hours after your fever has disappeared.
Read 10 Post- Pregnancy Skincare Tips: Get Your Glow Back
Wear loose clothing and avoid high heels
Wearing tight clothing or heels can cause back and neck pain. Wearing loose clothing that is comfortable to move around in will help you maintain your posture and avoid these pains.
Stay away from smoking
Smoking is a major risk factor for many diseases and health issues. Just like smoking, vaping releases harmful chemicals into the air that are toxic to humans. Studies are showing these chemicals can enter the bloodstream or be inhaled by bystanders, which may cause adverse health effects.
Cautions
Pregnant women should take care to move around and exercise as much as possible. If you won't be active during your pregnancy, the foetus is not developed enough to provide its own warmth, and the mother's body temperature can drop to dangerous levels. However, you should also avoid standing for long periods of time, which can cause your blood flow to slow down and circulation to decrease.
Read Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants
The pregnant woman's body needs more oxygen than usual, so she should make sure that she breathes deeply and is always active.
Bottom Line
If you are pregnant and active, then congratulations! You are doing a great job and your baby will love the benefits too! Staying physically active during pregnancy can help you to stay in shape and can help you to have a healthy pregnancy as well. Besides, staying active can even make labour easier. However, make sure you consult your doctor before starting any new activities to get a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
Eating Disorders in Children, Adolescents, Adults: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Ways to Help
Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that have to do with the way an individual eats. Nowadays, various types of eating disorders are affecting numerous people, ranging from children to adults. An eating disorder is not just about food and weight; it's also about how someone feels about themselves and their body image. Here are the common causes, symptoms and ways to help each type.
How Common are Eating Disorders in Kids, Teenagers, Adults?
Eating disorders are more common than people may realise. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, one in every 20 adolescents has an eating disorder, and one in every five adults has an eating disorder.
Eating disorders are generally more common in women than men and most prevalent among people between the age of 12 to 25.
Childhood eating disorders are more common. Eating disorders in teens are also on the rise.
Read Dyslexia: How to help kids with this learning disability
Common Signs, Causes, Risks of Eating Disorders
The signs of an eating disorder can be physical or behavioural, but most often, there is a combination of both. Some common signs that someone may have an eating disorder include missing meals or periods of fasting, feeling guilty or ashamed after eating or using laxatives to control weight.
The causes of these disorders are not yet fully understood, but there is evidence showing that genetics play a significant role in developing these diseases. It can be caused by several different factors, including genetics, peer pressure, bullying and family issues.
The adults may suffer from eating disorders due to harsh diets or strict weight loss dieting programs. Besides these, tensions and pressures in professional and family life can lead to eating disorders.
If an individual suffers from eating disorders for a long time, it can lead to physical problems, such as heart disease, kidney failure and many other serious health concerns.
Read How to Control Your Meat Addiction?
6 Common types of Eating Disorders in Children, Adolescents, Adults
Eating disorders in people of different ages are on the rise and can take many forms. Some of the common types are as follow:
Anorexia Nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by abnormal weight loss or low body weight, a distorted body image and extreme fear of gaining weight.
Causes:
The causes of anorexia nervosa are not entirely understood, but it is believed to involve biological, psychological and social factors.
Common symptoms:
-A persistent fear of gaining weight
-Distorted body image
-Extremely restricted eating patterns that typically lead to severely low body weight
-High levels of physical activity to prevent weight gain
-Excessive dieting leads to the person becoming underweight
-Amenorrhea (missing three or more menstrual periods in a row) or irregular menstrual periods
Ways to help:
There are many ways to help people with Anorexia Nervosa. Some of these include:
-Encourage the person to eat three meals daily, with one snack in between meals if needed.
-Focus on quality but not only quantity when it comes to food choices.
-Avoid triggering foods that may be linked to causing the disorder, such as sweets, high-calorie foods and high-fat foods.
Read Heat Stroke Prevention: Best foods, drinks to avoid heat exhaustion
Bulimia Nervosa
Bulimia Nervosa is an eating disorder characterised by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviours to prevent weight gain.
Causes:
There are many causes and symptoms of bulimia nervosa, which can vary from person to person. Some common causes are depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, or body image concerns.
Key symptoms:
Binge-eating episodes:
The person eats large quantities of food in a short period, with no regard for their health or weight. This disorder can happen at any time, but it most often occurs when the person is feeling stressed or low in self-esteem.
Purging episodes:
The person will try to get rid themselves of the calories they have eaten through vomiting, misuse of laxatives, diuretics and enemas. They may also fast or exercise excessively to compensate for their eating calories and make themselves feel.
The most common symptom is bingeing on large quantities of food, followed by purging the food or vomiting. Other symptoms include strict dieting, compulsive exercise, and laxatives or diuretics.
Ways to help:
There are many ways to help someone with bulimia nervosa. The most important thing is to provide the person with an environment where they can feel safe and supported.
The best way to help someone with bulimia nervosa is to get them professional therapy and treatment as soon as possible.
Read How to Keep Kids Well During Flu Season
Binge Eating Disorder
Binge Eating Disorder is a psychiatric disorder that causes people to overeat and feel guilty about it. People who suffer from this disorder may feel depressed, anxious, or disgusted afterward.
Causes:
The causes of binge eating disorders are not fully known. Some possible reasons include mental health problems like depression or anxiety, genetics, and environmental factors such as stress or trauma.
Common symptoms:
Symptoms of binge eating disorder include eating a large amount of food in a short time while feeling out of control, guilt or shame afterward, and frequent dieting to avoid weight gain.
Ways to help:
The treatment for binge-eating disorders may involve counselling sessions by a psychiatrist or psychologist to treat the primary cause(s) and counselling sessions with a psychotherapist to assist in changing the behaviours that trigger the binge.
Read Is Gym Good for Women?
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (AFRID)
Causes:
The causes of AFRID are not entirely understood. It is thought that many factors contribute to the development of this condition, including genetics, personality traits, and environment.
Common Symptoms:
People with AFRID may experience a range of symptoms such as difficulty swallowing or chewing food; avoidance of eating certain foods; concern about the consequences of eating; and feeling full quickly when they do eat.
Ways to help:
Many ways help people with AFRID manage their symptoms and feel better about themselves. They can work with a therapist individually or in a group setting to focus on these issues and develop new coping skills.
Read Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants
Orthorexia Nervosa
Orthorexia Nervosa is a term used to describe an obsession with eating healthy food. It can be a hazardous eating disorder, leading to malnutrition and other serious health problems.
Causes:
The causes of Orthorexia Nervosa can be traced back to childhood and adolescence. Many sufferers had a history of dieting, which may have led to an obsession with weight loss and control over food intake. Orthorexia Nervosa is often accompanied by depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or a history of trauma.
Common symptoms:
Symptoms include: restrictive dieting, obsessive thoughts about food and weight loss, guilt after eating anything perceived as "bad," social withdrawal due to embarrassment about eating in front of others, perfectionism around.
Ways to help:
There are many ways to help those who suffer from orthorexia Nervosa. The first thing you need to do is find out the root cause of the disorder and then work on finding a solution for it. You may want professional help or advice from someone with experiences in this field, such as nutritionists or therapists.
Read Quit Smoking: Best, worst kinds of foods, drinks to quit cigarettes
Pica
Pica is the persistent eating of substances that are not food, such as ice, clay, or paint chips.
Causes:
Iron deficiency is the common cause of pica.
Common Symptoms:
The symptoms of pica vary from person to person and may include stomach pain, constipation, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Pica can also lead to anemia or other nutritional deficiencies if done over a long time.
Ways to help:
There are many ways to help someone with pica. One way is by treating the underlying condition like iron deficiency. Another way is by using medication to treat the cravings for non-food substances and slowly reducing the dosage until they stop taking it altogether. Finally, a therapist can help with any underlying mental health issues that may be causing the cravings.
Read Child Drowning Prevention: Water safety tips to save your kid from drowning
Bottom Line
So far, we have discussed 6 types of eating disorders in kids, teenagers and adults. There are many ways to support a loved one or friend with an eating disorder. It is essential to be there for them and make time for them. It is crucial to understand their needs to provide the best support.
BSA to organise month-long exhibition commemorating mournful August
To showcase its heartfelt tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was assassinated along with most of his family members on August 15,1975, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) will organise a series of events throughout the month.
Monday, the BSA will lift the curtain on the month-long art exhibition "Bhasha Andolon, Muktijuddho O Bangabandhu" at its National Art Gallery.
Cultural Affairs Secretary Md Abul Monsur will be present at the inaugural ceremony as chief guest and painter Hashem Khan as special guest.
Read: ‘Our Shared Cultural Heritage’ project connecting youth with heritage
Painter Samarjit Roy Chowdhury will inaugurate the exhibition at Gallery 1 of the National Art Gallery at 6pm. BSA Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky will preside over the event.
The BSA is organising this special exhibition as part of its month-long tribute programmes under the title "Shok theke Shoktir Ovvudoy, Shwapnopuron er Drirhoprottoy."
‘Our Shared Cultural Heritage’ project connecting youth with heritage
The activities carried out under ‘Our Shared Cultural Heritage’ (OSCH), a youth-led programme by the British Council, has been showcased in Rajshahi.
The activities were showcased on July 28 and 29.
This project has been designed to connect young people and inspire them to work with cultural heritages through organising a series of trainings and activities. 31 young people from different institutions have been working with cultural heritages since 2021 under this project.
Read: International art exhibition held in Kathmandu paying tribute to Sultan
It is to connect the heritages to the youth as well as to the wider audience so that people can understand and work on our heritages.
On 28 July, a programme was held at Varendra Research Museum, the research partner of this project.
Robert Chatterton Dickson, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, was present at the programme with Tom Miscioscia, Director Bangladesh, the British Council and other guests in attendance.
Everyday Habits to Learn English Successfully
English is indispensable around the globe. International businesses hold meetings in English, Universities offer courses in English, and all over the world, travellers and tourists use English as a standard language. Therefore, it is impossible to compete in the current competitive market without having good English writing or speaking skills. However, learning English can be challenging, and that progress requires time and effort. Can everyday habits help your English learning process?
10 Habits Can Help You Improve Your English
We have many habits. Some are good while some may be bad. But practising some good habits can help your learning process. Here are 10 proven tips to help you establish solid learning habits to make English learning a part of your everyday life.
Make a Routine
The process of learning a language isn't something that can happen over the night. It is necessary to set aside time for it and think about the best time and place to incorporate it into your schedule. Small, regular pieces of work tend to be more efficient than long, more frequent ones. Therefore, spending much time is not essential.
Read How to Think in English: Learn some effective ways
You can take five to ten minutes to review your vocabulary or complete some exercises daily. A regular session with your teacher will eventually help increase your proficiency.
Focus on Pronunciation
When planning is done, focus on your pronunciation. Research on the internet and local English language learning institutes to collect resources. You can also follow helpful YouTube channels who teach English pronunciation accurately.
Learning the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) will help you pronounce every English word accurately. Start studying and practising the correct pronunciation through following a daily routine. It would be best if you can practise your pronunciation while communicating with friends, colleagues or teachers in everyday life.
Read Best YouTube Channels to Learn English
The habit of improving pronunciation does not mean getting rid of your original accent artificially. Rather, it means making your pronunciation clear enough for others so that they can comprehend what you are saying when you speak. Proper English pronunciation will help you avoid many hassles and confusion in both daily life and career path.
Apply English for Doing Things You Love
You will be able to master the language faster by using the language while learning it. There are various ways to achieve this, but the most effective is to utilise it to perform something you love.
For instance, if your passion is music, travel, sports, fashion, art, or even reading news, you should try doing your work and making the necessary communications through the English language. This habit will help you hone your English language skills in a stress-free and natural way.
Read English Writing Skill: How to Start Writing and Improve Continuously
Write
Make the habit of writing every day. It has incredible advantages. Writing is among the most effective ways to remember new English terms and phrases that you have encountered recently. It is the best way to remember vocabulary too.
While reading a book, online article, or watching television shows, you come across fresh concepts and phrases. Rather than just listening to the terms, and allowing them to remain in your head, note them down. You can keep a notebook for this purpose.
Later, you can utilise the new vocabulary and sentence structures to express your thoughts through spoken or written English.
Read Best Free Websites to Improve English Writing Skill
Read
The habit of reading will help you learn new vocabularies, sentence structure, etc. You should read something every day. It may be online news, articles, journals or a printed book or newspaper. However, you may feel overwhelmed confronting new words.
If you are at a basic level, consider comics or books for children. Although it may seem silly, the images, common words, and basic structure of sentences will help you comprehend the story. Thus, you can strengthen your grasp in English day by day.
Regular reading practice will not only help you to understand everyday vocabulary, but also enable you to develop the skill of speaking and writing in the English language.
Read 10 Most Useful Foreign Languages to Learn in 2022
Listening
Everyone loves movies. Find the english dubbed versions of your favourite television shows, dramas or movies. For the beginners, it is an excellent idea to enjoy movies with English subtitles.
Besides entertainment, make the habit of listening to English contents or resources for professional and education purposes. For instance, you can use the internet to search for the topics you are interested in such as science, technology, sports, business, history or anything else. You can listen to international news telecasts, podcasts, youtube videos, etc,
Overlook Mistakes
It's easier to say than to do. Continue the practice of learning. Use the English language for listening, writing and speaking whenever you get the chance.
Read: English Listening Skills: Some effective ways to improve
Don't worry about mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, including native speakers! and making mistakes is the most effective learning method! There will be a time when you will easily identify the errors you have made. Thus you can develop the ability to rectify mistakes without the help of your teacher.
Speak and Record
Try to speak in English when you communicate in professional life. Even if it's difficult to know how to express something, don't translate directly, but find a way to convey what you wish to say. Make use of simple phrases. Simple sentences can make you feel more comfortable and assist you in translating what you are thinking into words.
Self-critical learners attempt to evaluate their progress. Record yourself speaking a short text or discussing the topic. You can utilise the webcam of your laptop or computer and the video camera of your phone.
Read: How to be a Confident English Speaker?
After you have made your recording, review it immediately and consider what you could do to improve the quality of your recording. Re-record it, then watch it and compare it to your original recording to see whether it's better. Continue this process regularly and save all of your old recordings. After a few months, you will begin to notice a noticeable improvement.
Vocabulary and Grammar
Refresh your knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. This will allow you to write well-formed sentences and increase your confidence when speaking English.
You can learn new vocabularies from online resources, printed books, dictionaries, etc. Besides these, the habit of reading, and listening to English contents will introduce you to many new vocabularies. For memorising vocabulary you can use diverse techniques like using vocabulary cards, writing blogs, etc.
Read Best Free English Editing, Proofreading Courses Online
Grammar is very essential to write and speak English correctly. The basic Grammar includes, Parts of Speech, voice, narration, syntax, idioms, Phrases, etc. Pick a good grammar book to learn the basic to intermediate level grammar. Then advance your knowledge accordingly. You can take the help of a mentor to learn Grammar in a systematic way.
Make the habit of applying the grammar lessons in your everyday English communication including speaking and writing.
Join a discussion
Participate in English discussions about something you are interested in. You can join or create an online community. Schedule some time in your daily routine to check in and look at what other people are talking about a certain topic. Try to share your opinions too.
Read Best Native American Podcast Sites to Learn English
While navigating social media or social networking platforms, you will see that numerous people are placing queries regarding many issues. If you have knowledge regarding any of these queries, take it as an opportunity to express your opinion. Stop scrolling and share your opinion in English. This habit will encourage you to communicate in English without hesitation.
Bottom Line
In your suitable time of the day practice reading, and writing in English. Create a flexible schedule to get you started. During leisure time, try to watch dramas in English or with subtitles. For professional purposes try to communicate in English with the right pronunciation. At home, practise English speaking by recording yourself regularly and then re-listening the recordings.
So far, we have discussed some simple but efficient habits for successful English language learning. Keep in mind that developing healthy habits requires a bit of time. It's not as simple as deciding you should do it.
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Learning Disabilities in Children: Types, symptoms, ways to help
Learning Disabilities (LD) in children refers to problems with speaking, reading, writing, spelling, and doing maths. LD can even affect the school performance of children who are of normal or above-average intelligence. However, despite their normal intelligence, they don’t do well with school skills and academic performance. LD can be of various types. Let’s know some common types of learning disorders in children.
6 Common types of Learning Disabilities in Children
Different types of learning disabilities affect different aspects of the brain. Each one affects different areas of learning.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
The children who suffer from this disorder are unable to distinguish between similar yet different sounds in words. Such kids are also unable to tell where the sound is coming from and in which order. Kids with APD conditions may find it difficult to block background noise also. Boys are more prone to have it than girls.
Common symptoms :
-difficulty hearing speech in noisy environments.
-difficulty maintaining attention.
-problems locating the source of a sound.
-difficulty following directions.
-commonly asking for information to be repeated.
-inability to detect subtle changes in tone.
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Ways to help:
Although there's no cure for APD, some ways can help.
Classroom support
You can take the help of Electronic devices- an FM (frequency modulation) system that can help your child hear the teacher clearly. They can also sit toward the front of the class to limit background noise.
Making other skills stronger
If you can help your child to develop some things such as memory, problem-solving, and other learning skills, she/he can deal with APD.
Therapy
You can try speech therapy that can help your child to recognize sounds and improve conversational skills. Besides, supporting your child in reading that focuses on specific areas.
Changes at home
You can make a few changes at home to help your child with APD like covering hard floors with rugs to reduce echoes and limiting the use of the TV, radio, and other noisy electronics.
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Dyscalculia
When dyscalculia affects, the brain cannot comprehend numbers and mathematical symbols. Children with this disorder will have trouble with learning the order of numbers, and counting, as well as difficulty with telling time.
Common symptoms:
-difficulty counting backward.
-difficulty remembering 'basic' facts.
-slow to perform calculations.
-weak mental arithmetic skills.
-a poor sense of numbers & estimation.
-difficulty in understanding place value.
-the addition is often the default operation.
-high levels of mathematics anxiety.
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Ways to help:
-Children who play games using dominoes can understand simple maths concepts.
-Resist Using Worksheets.
-Use Manipulatives.
-Learn the Language of Math.
-Create Visual Models.
-Use Accommodations.
-Teach Toward Understanding.
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Dysgraphia
This disorder affects children's fine motor skills and the ability to write. Children with this disability cannot make their handwriting good and they follow disproportionate spacing between words.
Common symptoms:
-incorrect spelling and capitalization
-mixup of cursive and print letters
-inappropriate sizing and spacing of letters
-difficulty copying words
-slow or laboured writing
-difficulty visualising words before writing them
-unusual body or hand position when writing
-watching your hand while you write
-saying words aloud while writing
-omitting letters and words from sentences.
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Ways to help:
-Stretch out your hands.
-Learn to touch-type.
-Use cursive vs.
-Request accommodations.
-Try different paper and pens.
-Make audio recordings.
-Recite word spelling out loud.
-Brainstorm ideas before writing.
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Dyslexia
This disability affects reading and language-related comprehension skills. It is also called a Language-Based Learning Disability. Besides, this disorder can affect reading, writing, reading comprehension, and spelling.
Common symptoms:
-Difficulty reading, including reading aloud.
-Slow and labour-intensive reading and writing.
-Problems spelling.
-Avoid activities that involve reading.
-Cannot pronounce names or words, or have problems recalling words.
Read Dyslexia: How to help kids with this learning disability
Ways to help:
-Read to your child to improve their vocabulary and listening skills. This will also make them interested in books.
-Share reading; read some books and then discuss what's happening
-Overlearning.
-Silent reading.
-Make reading fun.
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Language Processing Disorder
It is a type of Auditory Processing Disorder that affects only the comprehension of language.
Common symptoms:
-Difficulty Following Directions.
-Trouble Rhyming At An Early Age.
-Vocabulary, Pronunciation, and Grammar Concerns.
-Attention Deficits.
-Inconsistent Performance.
-Reading Difficulty.
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Ways to Help:
-Keep your child engaged all time and establish eye contact when communicating with them.
-Give frequent instructions and guidelines.
-Use real materials to help learn concepts.
-Break down the tasks, especially for children with auditory challenges.
-Give the child more time to process and remember information.
-Do not rush at the time of speaking
-Highlight references to the child’s previous experiences and knowledge to help him make meaningful connections.
-Tell the child to follow you at every point.
-Minimise the pressure on the child. You need to be always encouraging.
-Give examples whenever teach anything
-Confirm that they can ask for clarification whenever they want.
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Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities
Children with this disability are weak in motor skills, spatial understanding, and poor social skills.
Common Symptoms:
-An incapacity to read non-verbal social cues; expressions and body language.
-Difficulty identifying and understanding sarcasm.
-Difficulty recognizing emotions in others.
-Trouble understanding visual information.
-Trouble grasping spatial relationships and judging distance.
-Poor physical coordination.
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Ways to help:
-Train faculty and staff
-Monitor progress and problems
-Shorten homework assignments
-Pair your child with a classroom buddy
-Maintain ongoing social skills training
-prevent bullying, taunting, and even exclusion
-Respect children when they say, “I can’t”
-Request that all tests be taken untimed
-Block out long-term projects
- Have a full technology evaluation
--Praise frequently and don't say anything negative in public places.
-Consider therapy.
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Conclusion
Learning Disabilities in children are curable problems. If your child has been exhibiting the symptoms of learning disabilities, take steps early and help them develop into the best person they can be. Give them your valuable time so that they can feel valued and encouraged to develop. Contact doctors if you observe serious issues in your child.
10 Delicious Chicken Snacks Recipes to Try at Home for Children, Adults
Almost every non-vegetarian likes chicken snacks which are light on the stomach and devoid of unhealthy fats. Chicken meat has various health benefits. It is the biggest source of protein and helps in controlling blood pressure. Besides, it helps in preventing cataracts and skin disorders. It also lowers the risk of cholesterol and heart disorders. You can prepare mouthwatering chicken snacks at home for kids and adult family members. Here are some of the most popular homemade delectable chicken snacks recipes for children and adults.
10 Easy-made Yummy, Healthy Chicken Snacks Recipes
All of these chicken snacks offer very robust tastes and nutrition. However, you can customise these recipes a bit depending on personal taste.
Chicken Tikka
Ingredients
1-kilogram chicken boneless, 1/2 tablespoon garlic paste, 1 teaspoon chaat masala, 1/2 capsicum, 3 tablespoon mustard oil, 2 pinches turmeric, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, salt, 1 cup hung curd, 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder, 1/2 tablespoon ginger paste, 2 1/2 tablespoon gram flour, 1 1/2 onion, 1 teaspoon red chili powder, 2 pinches black pepper, 1 teaspoon garam masala powder.
Directions
First, marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator. Next, cut black pepper, capsicum, and onions into cubes and mix with marinated chicken. Line them in a baking tray with foil and bake in the preheated oven at 250 degrees Celsius until they are tender. Serve warm with green chutney!
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Crispy Chicken
Ingredients
250 grams chicken, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp garlic, and ginger paste, salt to taste, ½ tbsp black pepper, 1 cup flour, 1 tbsp chili powder, 3 eggs, and oil to fry
Directions
First, wash the chicken and marinate it with lemon juice, garlic and ginger paste, salt, and pepper. In the meantime, make a paste of flour, garlic salt, chili powder, salt , and black pepper. Crack open 3 eggs in another bowl and season it with a dash of salt. Next, dip the marinated chicken in the egg wash and coat it nicely with flour, deep fry the chicken. Serve hot!
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Creamy broccoli chicken
Ingredients
5oo grams of chicken, 1 broccoli, one cup cream, 1 cup cheddar cheese, salt to taste, one teaspoon black pepper, 1 tbsp chili flakes, and one tabs garlic salt. 1 tbsp ginger
Directions
First, wash and chop the broccoli into pieces. Then, wash the chicken, drain, and keep aside. Fry some butter, chopped garlic, ginger, and chopped onions, for a minute, then add the broccoli and chicken. Add some water. Next add cream and cheddar cheese and other spices like salt, pepper, chili flakes, and garlic salt. Cook until it becomes soft and serve hot with roti or paratha.
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Chicken and Maggi pakora
Ingredients
250 grams of chicken, 3 packets of Maggi instant noodles, 1 tbsp chopped onions, ½ tbsp chopped ginger, 5-6 green chilies, 1 tbsp coriander leaves, ½ tbsp cornflour, grated mozzarella cheese, 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
Directions
First, cook Maggi with some water and their spice packets. Then, mix chopped onions, ginger, green chilies, coriander leaves, and cooked Maggie, chicken, and grated mozzarella cheese, cornflour well. Next, season with the spices. Finally, make the mixture of some balls and fry them. Serve them with sauce!
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Crispy honey chicken fries
Ingredients
250 grams chicken breasts, 2 tbsp honey, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon chili powder,1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste, 1 tbsp lime juice, salt to taste, oil to fry
Directions
First, clean the chicken and make simple strips of the chicken. Then, mix all ingredients and marinate. Heat oil and transfer the marinated chicken to the pan, fry these strips nicely. Garnish with onions and serve hot!
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Tandoori chicken in a microwave
Ingredients
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon coriander, One teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon turmeric, One teaspoon cayenne, 1 tablespoon garam masala, One tablespoon sweet paprika, 1 cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 4 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons ginger, 1 teaspoon salt, 4 whole chicken leg quarters
Directions
First, wash and cut the chicken pieces. Take curd, chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder, tandoori masala, salt, pepper, chaat masala, and chicken pieces in a bowl and mix well. Marinate the chicken for an hour and bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes and your tandoori chicken is ready to serve.
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Oatmeal-Crusted Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
1 cup of regular oats, ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 pound of chicken breast tenders
Directions
First, process oats for 20 seconds, and then add cheese, thyme, salt, and pepper and combine well. Next, take each chicken breast tender between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap and place it on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven.
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Baked Chicken Seekh Recipe
Ingredients
500 g Chicken Mince, 2 Onions, 2.5 cm piece ginger, minced, 1–2 Green chilies, ½ bunch Coriander, chopped, 1 tsp Chaat masala, ½ tsp Red chili powder, ½ tbsp Garam masala, 1 tsp Cumin powder, to taste Salt, ½ tsp pepper powder
Directions
First, mix the chicken mince, onion, ginger, chilli, coriander, chaat masala, chilli powder, garam masala, cumin, and salt and pepper very well. Then, use your hands and give the mixture into small kebab shapes. Next, arrange the kebabs on a baking tray lined with baking paper in the preheated oven and bake to 250°C for 10 minutes. When done, garnish the kebabs with extra coriander and chaat masala and serve.
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Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Ingredients
1/2 cup boiled, chopped chicken, salt as required, 2 slices of brown bread, 1/4 red bell pepper, 2 teaspoon butter, 4 leaves lettuce romaine, 3 teaspoon mayonnaise, 1 teaspoon chaat masala, 1/4 green capsicum
Directions
First, mix finely chopped bell peppers, cheat masala, salt and mayonnaise. Now, apply butter on both the slices and then spread the washed lettuce in it. Next, add filling to it and cover them together to make a sandwich. Add more butter to the top slice on the upper part and place it in the griller for grilling the sandwich. Grill for 2-4 minutes. Once done, serve hot.
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Chicken Spring Rolls
Ingredients
2 teaspoon corn flour, 400 gm minced chicken, 2 tablespoons chilli garlic paste, 2 cups water, 16 spring roll sheets
For Marination
2 tablespoon soy sauce, 4 tablespoons chilli garlic sauce, 1/2 teaspoon spice black pepper, 2 tablespoons corn flour
For Filling
8 cloves garlic, 200 gm fresh noodles, 2 cups cabbage red, 2 teaspoons ginger, 1 cup green onion, 1 cup carrot
Directions
First, marinate the chicken for 15 mins. Then, fry the marinated chicken until brown. Next, prepare the filling with the given ingredients. Meanwhile, prepare a cornflour+water mix. Take the spring roll sheets and fill them with the prepared filling. Seal the rolls with cornflour+water mix and fry.
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How to Set Personal Goals in Midlife to Live Your Best Days
The age that society refers to as midlife is over the age of forty-five. People go through a significant life change during this stage, such as family issues, changes in careers, etc. Even if middle-aged people may have had successful career paths, good families, or relationships, it is common to feel that not all the things are turning out the way they had hoped. Setting personal goals in mifddle-age can give people new hopes for living the rest of their lives in peaceful ways. Let's discuss how to set goals in midlife?
Why Midlife Is Not Too Late to Set Goals
If you are a middle-aged person who has started to sense that something is missing. There is a possibility that the confidence and desire that previously propelled you through life no longer exists. Do not fret! This is a common experience that many individuals have. You may consider it an ideal opportunity to set realistic goals and design the kind of life you truly desire.
Usually, an individual gets motivated to keep moving forward in life if she or he has goals. People can accomplish new things in midlife by defining new objectives for themselves. Setting objectives so late in life may seem counterintuitive, yet in the present era, individuals are living much longer. Midlife is a good time for any person to find fresh meaning.
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According to research published in the Psychological Science journal, finding a life purpose "lowers the chance of mortality." These results appeared to hold true throughout one's lifespan, including middle age.
Therefore, happiness may exist and increase at or beyond middle age. In real life, people's levels of happiness after their 20s reach their highest point at 69. Even more energizing, people frequently experience their greatest levels of happiness in their 80s and even into their 90s.
People who create (and achieve) goals get psychological advantages in addition to living longer. Wth some definitie goals, the middle-aged people may become more driven, accountable, and successful, which can inspire them to interact with other people in novel ways.
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Even after reaching midlife, the goal-oriented people get to know themselves better; because, in the process of going for their goals, they grow to understand who they are. Desire and necessity propel them to behave, and this ultimately shapes their sense of who they are in the world.
How to Set Goals in Midlife to Live a Great Life
Hobbies
One's sense of purpose can get a significant boost by trying out a new activity, such as painting or writing, for example.
If you feel that your job is getting in the way of your hobbies, you can find ways that make them a higher priority. For instance, if you have decided to start a garden, you may set aside some time each week to work on sowing, tending, and expanding your interest in gardening.
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If you can find the time in your hectic schedule for your favorite hobby, you may discover that you are happier and more fulfilled as a result of this change.
Health
At a younger age, people are constantly working toward improving their physical well-being and setting new goals. A daily trip to the gym lasts one hour, with weight training taking up thirty minutes and cardiovascular exercise accounting for the remaining forty-five minutes.
On the other hand, as the years go by, people’s commitment to maintaining their physical health and adhering to a rigorous workout routine may weaken.
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However, reaching midlife you shouldn't stress about getting back on the horse right away; instead, you should take things one step at a time. You may look for a weekly program that is beneficial for both your health and your busy life, and try to stick to it. A daily stroll or even just twenty minutes can help lower a person's chance of developing heart disease.
Retirement
When people are getting closer to the age at which they can retire, their thoughts often turn to the amount of money they have put away in their savings accounts. In middle-age, you can start planning to ensure that you will be able to maintain your current standard of living after retirement.
Create concrete objectives that state how much money you want to amass before you retire so that you may live the life you've always imagined for yourself once you've finished working.
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It may seem difficult to estimate how much the later portion of your life will cost. Still making an estimate may provide you with a better knowledge of how much you need and how you can shape your objectives in order to attain the outcomes you want.
Relationships and Children
Midlife brings numerous difficulties, particularly those pertaining to relationships, to the forefront for many individuals.
Someone who has never been committed to a relationship and has chosen to remain single may have concerns about the future. Do they prefer to spend all of their time by themselves? This is a fairly loaded way of framing the issue, of course, and many people will disagree, stating that they are perfectly fine living alone and that they can't think of anything that would be worse than sharing their flat with another person. The single middle-aged person can make plans accordingly.
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The issue of children should also be taken into consideration. Those who have not become parents yet should be concerned about the ticking of their biological clock. When they glance at their family, friends, and neighbors, they worry that they will be left behind. They are most concerned about the issue of who will care for them when they are elderly. Be very certain that you are figuring out what it is that you want before you establish such objectives and not what you believe you ought to desire or what the expectations of society are.
However, middle-aged people with children have tensions too. What if all the children have planned to settle abroad or in other cities. Some people start to freak out approaching their 40s. They begin to worry about their deteriorating health and loneliness. Not every parent is ready to spend the last years of their lives alone with nurses or paid caregivers. They may also worry that relatives may consider them a "burden." So, at midlife, people should make plans to keep themselves happy without the presence of children.
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Conclusion
Congratulating oneself on a job well done can go a long way toward boosting one's self-confidence and making it simpler to establish and achieve subsequent objectives. Therefore, reaching midlife, spend some time appreciating what you've accomplished in life so far. Do the same, once you've accomplished a goal.
In addition to that, make sure to examine all of your other plans. How have they evolved over time? Where do you stand with the new priorities? What new knowledge did you obtain? If you establish a strategy and stick to it, you can accomplish any goal in a shorter amount of time.
When you reach your midlife, it's a good idea to track down where you are in life and where you want to go. So far, we have discussed ways to set goals in middle age to live happily for the rest of your life. Hope it helps!
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