February Blues

Personally, I am suffering with the February blues and I think everyone is. I feel more irritable, anxious, and stressed. I am having a hard time dealing with people and find myself wanting to be alone- secluded (which no one should do). I feel everyone is fighting with each other and no one is getting along! When I feel really anxious during these winter months I seek out new techniques to help myself reach a state of content. I just recently learned a breathing technique to help myself relax. First thing to do is lay on your bed and put your hands on your stomach. Take a deep breath and inflate your stomach to look like a giant balloon. Count how many seconds it takes you to inhale, then on your exhale make sure to exhale two seconds longer than your inhale. So if my inhale was three seconds, my exhale would be five seconds. Don't get caught up in "Wow, this is lame I have to lay on bed and take deep breaths to relax." It's not lame and I know from experience that the longer you let stress and anxiety build up the harder it is to recover and relax. So if you are feeling those February blues, try this breathing technique.

Teenage Drinking-This is why it's stupid...

Teenage drinking is serious. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that teens that begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop an alcohol addiction than those who begin drinking at the age of 21. Drinking is bad, but driving and drinking is so much worse. Forty percent of all alcohol-related car accidents were when teenagers were at the wheel. Alcohol impairs your judgment which can lead to engaging in many dangerous activities and behaviors. Health problems related to alcohol abuse include stomach ulcers, liver problems, heart problems, and malnutrition. If this hasn't encouraged you to stop drinking, then maybe this fact will-The most serious and common effect of teenager drinking is that it leads to adult dependence. Please don't drink! Not only are you harming yourself, but you are hurting others, too.

Why is exercise important?

Get off your couch and get moving! Exercise is a major component in living a healthy and well balanced lifestyle. Before when I didn't exercise on a regular basis, I had trouble sleeping, lots of unnecessary anxiety, I didn't like the way I looked, and I felt tired all of the time. These are common problems of teenagers, but if you choose to make a change, you will feel better. It is recommended that teenagers get 60 minutes of physical activity a day. When you start exercising, start slowly, don't push your body to do things it doesn't have the strength or stamina for. Even taking your dog on a long walk is a start. If this hasn't convinced you to exercise maybe these facts will. Exercise can help you change your body in a positive way. People exercise have a body that is more toned than those who don't. Exercise helps lower your risk for certain diseases such as high blood pressure and type two diabetes. Exercise not only helps tone your body, but also calm your mind and help you to sleep. I will be coming out with fitness videos! I am looking forward to creating workout routines for teenagers!

Quote of the Day!

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one."
Elbert Hubbard


I have learned that being afraid of making mistakes, is the biggest mistake of all. Having the inner confidence to take a risk will make life so much more enjoyable. What I am trying to say is slowly take the steps to take little risks, and not be afraid of a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes it's how you learn from them which is important. GO MAKE MISTAKES IT'S OKAY! 

Current Favorite Quote

Starting today I am going to post quotes that I feel relate to TeenSanity. Today's quote I found in a book, Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. This quote explains how to achieve happiness within yourself. I thought teenagers would like this because we often lose ourself in our lives and don't focus on the little things that make us happy. For me, just reading this quote makes me happy. Often we focus on everything we do wrong and what is wrong with us, but here Verghese tells us how to make ourselves happy by accepting who we are. Here is the quote:

"The key to happiness is to own your slippers, own who you are, own how you look, own your family, own the talents you have, and own the ones you don't. If you keep saying your slippers aren't yours, then you'll die bitter, always feeling you were promised more." -Abraham Verghese, Cutting for Stone

Nutrients that help BOOST your mood!

During these winter months, sometimes I don't feel as energized or excited as I do during the summer. So I try to make sure I eat foods that make me feel good! Here are a list of some nutrients that help you boost your mood during these dreary winter months:

1. Omega 3-fatty acids
Some people believe that omega 3-fatty acids could possibly help elminate depression. So what foods are rich in omega 3's? Oily fish (ex. salmon), ground flaxseeds, canola oil, walnuts, and eggs rich in omega 3's.

2. Folic Acid and B12
These two B vitamins are believed to have a great effect on your mood. Some scientists believe that these vitamins helps create serotonin in our bodies. Serotonin a key neurotransmitter that helps balance our mood. Eggs, wild salmon, fortified whole grain cereal, low fat yogurt, and low fat milk are all foods rich in B12. Oatmeal, beets, lentils, broccoli, and oranges contain folate.

3. Vitamin D
Vitamin D has been known to help alleviate the winter blues! Recently some studies have shown that vitamin D increases serotonin in the brain. There are a few foods that do contain vitamin D such as fat free or low fat milk, fortified soy milk, and egg yolks.

Try to get these nutrients into your body daily to help eliminate those winter blues!

How to deal with anxiety!

I am the queen of anxiety! I struggle with my own anxieties on a daily basis. And sometimes it feels like it is hard to escape with the everyday struggles. But you can overcome that anxious feeling! Here are a few ways:

1. Practice Relaxation

    I am not telling you to chose unhealthy ways to relax, instead meditate. One thing about the anxious mind is it'a hard to shut off, but if you focus on meditating you can relax. Mediation when one self-induces a mode of consciousness in order to realize a bit of internal self benefit. So how do you meditate? One type of meditation is breathing meditation. Simply breathe naturally, try to breathe through your nostrils, don't control your breath, instead try to become aware of the sensation of your breath as it enters and leaves your nostrils. The sensation of our breath is the objective of meditation. Don't fret if at first it's hard to calm your mind. Just keep practicing. 

2. Don't focus on your anxieties, change your environment

   When I am anxious, if I focus on my anxiety, it just makes it worse. Instead what I do is I try to change the environment I am in. Often I take my dog on a very long walk. I don't go to environment taht will make me feel more stress. If I really don't feel like leaving the house (even though I should), I will research a new exercise to try. Do something that will take your mind away from your own anxiety. Don't try to escape through drugs or alcohol because it won't take it away. Approaching your anxiety with natural techniques will have a much greater effect! 

3. Make sure you eat well, sleep enough, and exercise!

   The best way to deal with anxiety is get the right amount of sleep, healthy foods, and exercise. If you fuel your body correctly, you are in a better place to deal with life's crazy roller coaster. Eat loads of fruits, veggies, lean meats, and healthy carbs. Sleep just the right amount, not too little because that will make you more irritable, and not too much because then you will feel tired throughout the day (or atleast I do). Exercise! Move your body. Exercise helps enhance our physical fitness and and general health.

You can fight anxiety- I did! It is not the end of the world, if you know how to handle it naturally!