Blog — stress

Sauna Benefits: Enhancing Physical and Mental Health 2

The use of heat and sweat for health, well-being, and ceremony goes back thousands of years in many cultures across the globe. Recent research is putting scientific backing behind these traditional practices and the modern use of saunas for reducing stress and improving health and mood.

Click Read More for: 

1. Origins of the Word Sauna
2. Different Types of Saunas
3. What Are Saunas Good For?
4. Physical Health Benefits of Using a Sauna
5. Physical Health Benefits of Using a Sauna Research
6. Detoxifying Health Benefits of Sweating
7. Exercise versus Sauna Use
8. Mental Health Benefits of Using a Sauna
9. Mental Health Benefits of Using a Sauna Research
10. Saunas and the Four Elements for Mental Health
11. When to Avoid Saunas
12. How Long to Sit in a Sauna
13. Precautions When Using Saunas 
14. References

20 Best Positive Quotes About Change With Images 1

Change is scary for many people. But change is inevitable. Change happens.

Learning to get comfortable with change makes life a lot easier. It relieves stress and reduces anxiety.

Embracing change opens doors of opportunity as it makes you able to choose to change.

Here are some positive quotes about change (and a poem about change that I wrote when I was working on my Counseling Master's Degree) to uplift, inspire, and encourage you.  

Click Read More for:

• Change is Good Quotes
• Change is Scary Quotes
• Don't Let Fear Hold You Back from Change Quotes
• Embrace Change Quotes
• Change is Necessary Quotes
• Benefits of Change Quotes
• My Poem About Change: "Change Is"

20 Best Famous Dr Seuss Quotes with Graphics 2

What are Fractal Patterns and How Can They Calm You 0

Chances are that you've been drawn to fractals but don't know it. Fractals are repeating patterns that recur on smaller and smaller scales. These patterns are found in nature (shells, flowers, the rings of an onion), architecture, and art. 

Research shows that looking at these patterns has a calming effect. The effect can be quite profound and immediate.  

Click Read More for images of fractals in nature, food, architecture and more. 

How Weighted Blankets Work for Anxiety, Sleep, and More 2

If you are troubled by anxiety or have difficulty sleeping, a weighted blanket (AKA gravity blanket) may help. In this post, I'll explain what weighted blankets are, how they work, their benefits for children and adults, and what to look for when you are "weighing" your options (pun intended) to buy one. 

I've been noticing the idea of weighted blankets potentially helping people for a while, but a recent glowing testimonial from one of my anxiety clients who received a weighted blanket as a gift has put them on my list of go-to natural remedies for anxiety.

My client's experience has been that he goes to sleep more easily, stays asleep longer, and has less anxiety. That's a win/win/win that is negative side-effect free. 

Click Read More to find out:

• What are weighted blankets?
• How do weighted blankets work?
• Weighted Blanket Benefits for Children and Adults
• The Research Behind Weighted Blanket Benefits for Anxiety and Sleep
• 12 Considerations When Buying a Weighted Blanket
• Who Should NOT Use a Weighted Blanket

Best and Worst Weighted Blankets Reviews 23

I spent days researching weighted blankets so that I could make specific recommendations to my clients suffering from anxiety and/or insomnia. 

While researching weighted blankets, I found that there are so many to choose from and so many characteristics to consider that digesting the overwhelming number of options seems like a lot to ask of an already anxious person. I found the number of options so difficult to sort through myself that I created a spreadsheet to track the brands and their attributes. Amazon alone has over 40 brands of weighted blankets. (That's not different versions of weighted blankets. That's different manufacturers. If you multiply it by the number of versions each has, you're in the hundreds.)

Click Read More to see my weighted blanket best and worst lists. Updated November 2024.