mental burnout Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Combat Fatigue, Reduce Stress & Improve Mood with THIS Arctic Herb

The AHA! Team — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 05:21:24 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – It’s official: “Burnout” – the feeling of being exhausted, frustrated, and overwhelmed in your life – is a real health problem that should not be ignored. So, today, we’ll show you how rhodiola can help – fast! For the first time, the World Health Organization has added “burnout syndrome” to its International Classification of Diseases – and some experts estimate that the condition may affect up to 70 percent of all working people. World Health Organization has added “burnout syndrome” to its International Classification of Diseases But when addressing burnout, Western medicine falls short (to say the least) – offering only limited treatment options and no acknowledged cure. Fortunately, recent studies showcase the potential of the ancient Arctic herb rhodiola to act against stress and burnout. Reduced professional function, feelings of exhaustion, and a negative or cynical attitude toward the job are all indicators of burnout. Chronic workplace stress that hasn’t been properly managed is at the root of burnout – making stress reduction the first order of business in treating the condition. Research has shown that Rhodiola rosea preparations can effectively alleviate various aspects of stress-induced symptoms, offering promising clinical evidence for its benefits in managing burnout and related conditions. Rhodiola rapidly improves symptoms of burnout – including depression and anxiety, study says Rhodiola rosea, also known as golden root, has long been valued in traditional Asian and Ayurvedic healing systems for its effects against fatigue, lethargy, anxiety, and depression. But can rhodiola’s therapeutic effects be confirmed by scientific research? It turns out the answer is yes. In an exploratory clinical trial published in Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Treatment, 68 participants were given 400 mg of rhodiola daily in divided amounts for three months. At the beginning of the study, the researchers evaluated the subjects using language and sleep quality tests and the Burnout Screening Scale, which measures levels of sadness, tension, loss of interest, and guilt. The effects of rhodiola were swift and profound. Simply put, people felt better. The team noted that rhodiola boosted psychological well-being, promoted more restful sleep, and caused rapid, significant improvement in all measures of fatigue and burnout – including overall stress levels, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and depression. Rhodiola also brought about a distinct improvement in high-level cognition and decision-making, promoting a calm, alert state of mind. The researchers reported that improvements occurred during the first week and continued to increase throughout the study. Calling the results “encouraging,” the team urged further clinical trials of rhodiola. Additional studies confirm that you can naturally reduce your stress symptoms with the help of herbal medicine Human and animal studies alike have shown that rhodiola can improve symptoms of fatigue, enhance physical performance, reduce anxiety, sharpen cognition, and boost mood. In a study published in Phytotherapy Research, 100 participants were given 200 mg of rhodiola extract twice daily for four weeks. The scientists noted that all tests showed “clinically relevant improvements” regarding stress symptoms, disability, functional impairment, and overall therapeutic effect. The participants all reported some measure of relief from their symptoms of burnout and fatigue, and an astonishing 83 percent reported they were either “much improved” or “very much improved.” Fatigue is generally defined as a feeling of tiredness Note: Fatigue is generally defined as a feeling of tiredness – accompanied by lowered energy and motivation – that is not caused by lack of sleep and is not relieved by rest. Remarkably, rhodiola acted quickly – with notable improvement of burnout symptoms occurring within three days. No adverse effects were reported, leading the team to conclude that rhodiola was both safe and effective in improving life-stress symptoms. Herbal medicine proves to have a positive effect on free radicals and inflammation Natural healers have long recognized rhodiola as an adaptogen that helps the body cope with and adapt to physical, psychological, and oxidative stress. Of course, ashwaganda and Siberian ginseng are two other examples of adaptogens. Rhodiola helps to regulate and balance amounts of cortisol (the “stress” hormone) while increasing levels of a stress-resisting protein called Hsp70. In addition, rhodiola extracts contain rosavin and rosarin – a pair of polyphenols unique to rhodiola with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capabilities. Finally, rhodiola increases the synthesis of ATP – vital to cellular energy – while promoting the activity of mood-stabilizing neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. How and why should I take Rhodiola? Forward-thinking holistic doctors are increasingly advising rhodiola for adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome, ADD, ADHD, and depression. Rhodiola, which has fat-burning effects, is also sometimes advised to support weight loss and reduce unhealthy abdominal fat. As a supplement, it’s available in tablets and capsule form. Holistic healthcare providers may advise taking 400 mg daily in divided amounts, with 200 mg 15 minutes before breakfast and another 200 mg 15 minutes before lunch. Look for a formulation standardized to at least 3 percent rosavin. For maximum benefit, rhodiola should be taken with black pepper to promote absorption. All of this is generally recognized as safe, but you should first discuss any change to your supplement routine with your doctor to ensure you’re heading in the right direction. Simply put, rhodiola is a remarkable herb that can not only help banish symptoms of burnout but do so without the dangerous side effects and addiction risks that can accompany pharmaceutical anti-anxiety drugs. If you suffer from burnout syndrome, consider enlisting Rhodiola for some much-needed help. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NIH.gov LifeExtension.com WHO.int NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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How To Manage Parent Guilt, Burn-Out & Fatigue

The AHA! Team — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 08:45:29 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – In this podcast (episode #499) and blog, I talk to Hettie, a concerned mother, about balancing work and play time with her children, especially as a homeschooling mom. This is part of a series I am doing on questions you submitted for my new book on children’s mental health. This was Hettie’s question: “I’m part of an avid homeschooling community. Homeschooling moms like me tend to be “always on; always teaching.” It can lead to schooling burnout, and it does! How can we give ourselves and our children a better balance between working our brain, resting our brain, and letting our brain play?” First, it is important to understand that, as parents and guardians, we deserve to rest! This is especially the case if we are homeschooling our children as — in this case, we are not just parents but educators as well. Work-life balance is not just important for our children. We cannot give our best and be there for our children if we are overwhelmed, burnt out and running on empty. This is something I have spoken of on my podcast before, which I call the “oxygen mask principle”. As parents, we need to help ourselves before we can effectively help our children, which includes scheduling in periods of self-care so that our minds, brains and bodies have time to rest and recharge. We need to recognize that although the mind is infinite, the brain is finite, and it needs rest to function well. We can only give our best when we are rested, which is why it is so important that we learn how to be okay with doing nothing as parents. (This takes some practice, especially if you constantly feel the need to do something!) It is important to remember that our children pick up on our emotions and behaviors. If we are stressed out, overwhelmed or upset because we have not given ourselves enough time to rest and reboot, then this can affect our children’s mental health and performance. On the other hand, when we take the time to invest in our self-care as parents, and we explain to our children why this is important, we teach them an invaluable life-skill. This, in turn, will help them learn how to build and maintain their own resilience as both children and adults. Finding the right work-play-rest balance is not just something we should teach our children. It is something we need to model in our own lives. As mentioned, children observe us and pick up on our feelings and behaviors. This means that we do and say, or what we don’t do or say, can affect their wellbeing as well. So, taking care of ourselves and our mental health is not just a “nice” thing to do. It is imperative if we want our children to grow up understanding that life is about balance and that their health is important. For more on parenting and children’s mental health, listen to my podcast (episode #499). Podcast Highlights 3:36 The challenges of homeschooling & balancing work and rest 4:35, 6:47 The importance of self-care as a parent 7:45 How burnout affects the mind-brain-body connection 13:34 How our mood & emotions can affect our children 18:00 Tips to maintain a good work-life balance as a parent 21:30 The importance of teaching our children about mental health & self-care from youth This podcast and blog are for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. We always encourage each person to make the decision that seems best for their situation with the guidance of a medical professional. To read the original article click here.

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How I Mentally Prepare for a Busy Week + a Neurocycle to Reduce Stress & Burnout

AHA Publisher — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 07:00:03 +0000

Dr. Caroline Leaf – Let’s face it: there’s no better feeling than going to bed knowing that you’re well prepared for the next day. So, in this podcast (episode #316) and blog, I am going to talk about how to self-regulate your thinking using the Neurocycle to prepare for a busy week and reduce your stress levels and risk for burnout. As you have heard me say many times before, mind-management plays an important role in everything you do. The mind comes first, and everything else follows. Getting your mind right for a busy week may take you around 5-15 minutes, but this effort could save you hours of anxiety and frustration, while also reducing feelings of being overwhelmed. We can build neural networks into our brain to prepare us for the week ahead—we can literally build the week as we go forward. But how? Below is an example of the most recent Neurocycle I did to prepare my mind for a busy work week. As I discuss in my latest book Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess, my app Neurocycle and my recent clinical trials, the Neurocycle is a deliberate, intentional and sequential 5-step process designed to help you control your “messy mind” and wire healthy thought patterns and resilience into your brain: 1. Gather Awareness: What are your emotional warning signals? Are you anxious, fearful or worried as you think about the week ahead? What are your physical warning signals? Are you grinding your teeth? Are your shoulders tense? Do you have a sore stomach? What are your behavioral warning signals? Are you more snappy than usual? Do you find it hard to smile? Are you complaining a lot? Lastly, what is your perspective? Do you feel overwhelmed? 2. Reflect: Why do you feel the way you do? Answer this question with as much detail as possible. Do you have too much on your plate? Do you have an intense schedule, with no room for a break/rest period? Are you trying to deal with multiple issues at once? Once you have thought about the “why”, ask yourself this affirming question: “Am I going to be happy with this decision hours, days, or months from now?” 3. Write: note down the information you collected from the gather and reflect steps above to help organize your thinking and look for patterns. 4. Recheck: What are your thought “antidotes”? How can you think of ways to change your thinking, choices and behavior? What new habit do you want to build? For example, do you need more breaks in your schedule? How many? What would these look like? I personally love taking mental health breaks by relaxing in the sauna or watching my favorite TV show. Ask yourself questions like: What can I change? What can’t I change? What is my mindset like? Often, we don’t even realize that negative conversations and thoughts can influence us for hours and even days—I often forget about this! Indeed, for most people, it even feels natural to complain about the weather, politics, or their job as part of their daily routine. However, if you start your day by complaining about your job, workload partner, family, or whatever is on your mind, you can take that negative mood with you for at least a few hours, and sometimes even for the entire day! Yet, if we are constantly complaining, we tend to focus on obstacles and problems, which can make it harder for us to recognize opportunities. When we do this, we tend to feel less empowered, and are less likely to start the day off on the right foot. If this sounds like you, you can reconceptualize your thinking in this step by reminding yourself that: “My thinking, feeling, choosing and subsequent thoughts will not only affect my motivation, but also my entire state of mind for the week ahead. If I start my day by just complaining, I may find more and more things to complain about throughout the day because whatever I think about the most grows. If, however, I focus on another perspective, I may come across even more things that will cheer me up and boost my perspective. Instead of looking for things to complain about, I will choose to focus on the things I am excited about and grateful for, and all the benefits that the week ahead may bring.” If you struggle to come up with items for your list of things to be happy about, I recommend starting with the more obvious but often overlooked things, such as: I’m grateful for the opportunity to do what I love I’m grateful to be able to share what I do with the world I’m grateful for the impact my work is having/will have I’m excited about X I won’t assume the situation is going to be difficult; instead, I will list what the possibilities are and what questions I should ask myself to find out more – maybe the situation won’t be as challenging as I imagine! When I do this, I am able to plan my week well and fit in the breaks I need because I start the process with getting my messy, anxious mind under control. 5. Active reach: Take action to solidify the new way of thinking and acting that you rechecked in step 4 above. I recommend typing your plan reminders into your phone or device, so that you can remember to follow through with them throughout your day. But remember to keep an open mind, or what I call a “possibilities mindset”. Be open to changing this plan if the need arises, or if what you are doing is not helping you. And don’t allow yourself to feel overwhelmed in the early hours of your day. Prepare ahead and set your priorities in the evening before your day begins. I also recommend that, when planning your daily schedule and tasks, you make sure to keep it to a minimum, so you don’t stress yourself out even more. Your schedule shouldn’t contain more than a few important tasks per day, if possible (some work periods/deadlines will be the exception). To read the original article click here.

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