Women's Health - USA (2019-06)

WOMEN’S HEALTH JUNE 2019

RA

M

I^ N

IE

M

I^ (

IL

LU

ST

R

AT

IO

N

S)

P 32

We’re calling it the new “retail therapy”—

donning your mental health diagnosis for all to

see (on a cute tote, hat, or necklace). Doing so

might sound kind of scary, but “it’s a way of fac-

ing your fears or challenges head-on and practic-

ing being vulnerable—something that typically

keeps us from sharing our struggles in the first

place,” explains Elizabeth Cohen, PhD, a clinical

psychologist in New York Cit y. Owning your men-

tal health can help others too, inviting conversa-

tions on the topic and reminding people they

are not alone. So pick your piece — each of these

contributes to a relevant awareness org.

Wear Your

Worries

INNER SPEECH

FOR INNER PEACE

Positive self-talk isn’t just a hippie-dippie thing to do. It

actually zaps stress—which boosts your long-term health

(chronic stress = chronic illness). How? Kind affirmations in

moments of panic deactivate the body’s fight-or-flight

response, lowering your heart rate so you can mentally and

physically relax, per a new study. Mantras to try: “I’m doing

my best; no one is perfect,” if your stress stems from oth-

ers’ criticism. Over whelmed? Recall what went well today

(“I crushed an a.m. workout ”). If you’re fra zzled by a health

scare or work challenge: “I can’t control the outcome, but

I’m strong enough to handle it.” Because trust, you are.

1. Jen Gotch x
   Iconery
   Anxiety necklace,
   $48 (100% to Bring
   Change to Mind),
   bando.com
   2. #TherapyIsCool
   tote, $20 (100% to
   a different charity
   each month),
   hashtagtherapy
   iscool.com
   3. Mental Health
   League
   Foggy Dogs hat,
   $35 (20% to Crisis
   Tex t Lin e), m e ntal
   healthleague.com

2

3

The number of extra minutes of sleep it’ll

feel like you logged—meaning fewer yawns

and more energy—when you dedicate

10 minutes each day to mindfulness. Give

meditation a shot, or be more

present during a lunchtime walk.

Sources: Journal of Business Venturing; Melissa Cardon, PhD,

professor of management at the University of Tennessee

Sources: Clinical Psychological Science (study); Mary Karapetian Alvord, PhD, psycholo-

gist and director at Alvord, Baker & Associates; Anke Karl, PhD, senior lecturer in clinical

psychology at the University of Exeter in England

As if you needed

another reason

to miss college

(sorry!): Watch-

ing your school’s

team win with a

group of friends

can raise your

self-esteem for

at least two days

after the big W, a

new study found.

That’s because

being with like-

minded fans

helps strengthen

confidence in

your identity

and decisions.

Join your local

alumni club—

many offer

game-viewing

parties. Or try a

fan group of

another stripe,

like a weekly

gathering for

The Bachelor.

Sources: Communication

& Sport (study); Andrew

C. Billings, PhD,

executive director of the

University of Alabama

Program in Sports

Communication

Team

Esteem

MIND