The Defender

The link between social media and our collective mental health has been the focus of news coverage since Tom’s My Space was the biggest name in the game. But, many of these worries have been more speculation than fact. Social media is still relatively young, so its full-blown effects remain something of an unknown. But, as it turns out, social media can do a number on our brains. A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania  found that Instagram , as well as Facebook and Snapchat, might not be so good for our well-being. In fact, the research revealed  a causal link between the time we spend on social media and an increase in loneliness and depression. Here’s a look at how, if we’re not careful, social media can affect our overall mental health. The impact of social media on mental health

What is social anxiety? Some people love being in the company of others and can’t wait to get their next invitation to an event. It’s a different story for people living with social anxiety. If you have  social anxiety or social phobia , interacting with people on a social level doesn’t come naturally. In fact, it can be downright frightening. This anxiety disorder may cause self-consciousness and excessive worry and fear about social situations. You may fear being judged or humiliated in front of others, and socializing can invoke physical symptoms such as: sweating trembling rapid heart rate nausea blushing shortness of breath Social anxiety can affect your interactions at school or work, but it doesn’t have to dominate your life. Treatment can help you win the fight and become more comfortable in social situations.

  2019 election is around the corner, different political parties are coming up with their manifestos  i.e PDP, APC, APGA, SDP. but can we categorically say that any of these political parties or their flag bearers has the interest of the citizen at heart, or they are only after what to loot, steal and after completing four (4) years they are planning another four (4) without any meaningful achievement to show for the mandate given to them. The reason for this article is because politicians would come with different stories, lies, propaganda, fake promise, fake love just because of one thing (your mandate). They would promise us good road, 24 hours power supplies, employment opportunities . Basic amenities. But are all these promises kept and fulfilled after you spent hours in the sun, sometimes rain just to vote but after voting you are left alone. Don’t kill yourself over any politicians they are thieves, criminals, liars none of them can be trusted. ...

Meditation is the practice of thinking deeply or focusing one’s mind for a period of time. While there are many forms of meditation, the ultimate goal is a feeling of relaxation and inner peace, which can improve mental health. And there’s a growing body of research to support that. In a review published in March 2014 in the journal  JAMA Internal Medicine , researchers reviewed more than 18,000 scientific studies looking at the relationship between meditation and depression and anxiety.  (1)  Forty-seven trials with data on 3,515 patients met their criteria for well-designed research. The results showed that mindful meditation programs over an eight-week period had moderate evidence in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Another study, published in June 2016 in the journal  JAMA Psychiatry , suggested that mindful-based therapy was as effective in preventing depression relapse as antidepressants.  (2)  Still, the authors note tha...

Most of us may think we know all there is to know about being a woman, but the reality is, our bodies are a lot more complex than we realize For this reason, there could be a number of  weird things you didn't know about your lady parts , but probably should. It's not exactly something you discuss with your friends everyday, so your knowledge about what's going on down there may be a lot less comprehensive than you think. "The vagina is a taboo topic that women don’t feel comfortable talking about," says  Sarah Yamaguchi, MD, OB/GYN  at Good Samaritan Hospital Los Angeles. "It has turned into a negative word in our society. Colloquial terms such as 'pussy' and 'douche' imply that the vagina is something bad that we should be ashamed of." Although our lady parts are nothing to be ashamed of, because they're considered taboo, some important aspects aren't regularly discussed. Part of understanding yourself is understandin...

Ear piercings and tattoos have become increasingly popular, but have you ever wondered if they might be dangerous? You might think that just a small piercing or a tattoo couldn’t possibly do any damage – but think again. Unsterilized needles Tattoos are basically a medical procedure; the skin is penetrated with a needle and ink is injected into the dermis, which is the second, deeper layer of the skin under the epidermis. Unfortunately tattoos are not only painful, but can also result in infection if not done correctly. Unsterilized needles, for instance, can cause infections. If the tattoo artist is not properly trained, the areas where the skin is punctured may become infected, which can lead to scarring.  The same applies to piercings. The dangers are real “Piercings and tattoos essentially have no effect on your hearing, but there have been problems with piercings when they go through the cartilage of the ear,” said Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist, ...

Chip Conley is a CEO of a company called Joie de Vivre (French for Joy of Life), boutique hotels in California. If you are going through hell, keep going (Winston Churchill) We all need to come to understand that we can use our seasons of darkness as means to find new reservoirs of strength -- strength we didn't know we had. We all want a fully functional heart and mind.  The most successful business leaders are often experts on emotions. Humanity's common currency, emotions, is how we connect, even when we have little else in common. Our emotions even preceded our ability to put them into words. The emotional center of the human brain, the medulla oblongata, formed before the thinking part of the brain, the neocortex. The Latin root of the word emotion means 'to move' or Energy + Motion.  Emotions are vehicles for transformation or moving your life. Most widely agreed emotions: fear, anger, sadness, di...