How to be more positive in the middle of a stressful situation?

We humans live life in between certainty and uncertainty. The relative perception of contextual certainty and uncertainty is the main reason behind our mental stress. Whole life, we strive to move from one end of uncertainty to the other elusive end certainty. This struggle to reach from one end to the other creates several such situations that put one in stressful condition and this results in several stress-related mental health issues.

We are conditioned to react defensively when in stress. It is a kind of mental conditioning that helps one protect the mind and body. It is natural and happens subconsciously. The question is why some people manage to cope with stress well while others succumb to stress. What helps one be a better stress-fighter? The majority of psychological and neuroscience studies suggest that people with a positive attitude are better stress fighter as compared to people with a negative attitude. So, how to remain positive in stressful conditions? Let us understand the stress first so that we could find ways to cope with it.

What is Stress?

Stress is simply the brain’s response to any demand, this is the official definition given by The National Institute of Mental Health. It isn’t all bad, but intensity, duration, and other factors make it bad. Technically speaking stress has two elements one is the psychological perception of pressure and the other is the response of the body, which involves memory, metabolism and of course muscles.

Based on the perception of threat triggered from memory, the amygdala – the emotion control center of the brain—sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus which results in a “fight-or-flight” response decision. Common physical changes could be high heart rate, high alertness, and an adrenaline rush. In the end, a hormone called cortisol is released which helps restore the energy lost in a stress response.

Here are some reasons why adrenaline can be a very good thing as listed in this Mental Floss article.

It is normal body functionality and it is good for the safety of the body. The problem arises when these arousals are frequent and sustain for longer than normal. This could lead to several mental and physical issues like heart disease, blood-sugar imbalance, anxiety, depression, and many more. So, stress control is all about how quick you can bring the response hormone back to the normal level. You can do this by increasing the release of feel-good hormone i.e. endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. Positivity is the key here as your positivity prepares you to maintain an optimum balance of feel-good hormone.

Ways to Remain Positive in Stressful Condition

All studies focused on stress management have a common element and that is to engage in activities that blunt the stress response as quickly as possible. The list of activities could vary depending on the persons’ preferences, but this could be as simple as “deep breathing” or as complicated as life-long medication. Since every response is linked with the perception of a particular thing or situation, the best remedy is to change the perception.

There are several day-to-day things that you can practice that helps in managing stress better and you could remain positive to face it boldly. The trick is in changing the perspective towards a panic situation. You can either let panic grip your mind and body or you can choose to see a particular situation in perspective and be positive. Here are some of the things you could do to remain positive:

  • Eliminate Victimhood First

It is natural to don the hat of a victim during a stressful situation as this somehow gratifies you lack the confidence to take responsibilities. But this isn’t helpful at all as you fall in the trap of repetitive response resulting in a higher intensity of stress in the next round of events. It is simply a looking away with full knowledge of the fact that you are in mid of some crisis. Once you throw that hat of victimhood, your mind will fill with positivity to face the challenge and be victorious.

  • Strengthen Mental Processing Through Meditation

As said, it is all about perception when it comes to the stress response. The effectiveness of your thinking process depends on the broadness in the analysis of the particular situation. You can build this strength of broader thinking thorough regular meditation. You have to learn to see the crisis from a different perspective by questioning all possible aspects of the response outcome. Be open towards accepting reality as rigidity is the biggest stress builder. Meditation helps you visualize things in neutrality, so you could build a different perspective and cope with stress with more positivity. Start practicing meditation as your socio-religious or faith permits. It is all about silencing the mind, so the medium isn’t relevant.

  • Stay Focused on Positives

Once you have a proper understanding of the situation, you have to see it in context and look for relatively positive ways. It is not about that one tough question in the examination hall, but five other easy questions that could help you fetch better marks. It is all about visualizing light at the end of the tunnel. Your orientation towards positive aspects could help you find better solutions as positivity triggers your mental capacity to analyze better. In crisis, people do panic, but your focus on positive aspects could help others to come out of crisis smoothly. Your positivity helps you to become more attentive and alert, making you more responsive to deal with any situation.

  • Thanking Words

Your change in perspective helps you accept the reality and plan forward. Once you are mentally prepared to move forward, never forget to say thanks to everyone involved. It works like a wonder to heal wounds and build a positive atmosphere. It isn’t an easy task especially in challenging situations, but it helps. I tried my best so far, let me try harder now. This is what makes you great. Acceptance is the key to positivity.

  • Association Matters

If the crisis in broader with a large number of victims, like the financial crisis, you could come forward and show camaraderie. This sense of association relives the pain and prepares people to recover quickly from stress. It is a strange mental phenomenon when we see people in the same pain our pain subsides. Don’t sit idle be proactive in whatever way you could be. So, strong bondage and help others so that they could find ways to come out of the stress.

  • Sleep Tight

In stressful conditions, the first thing that is compromised most is normal sleep. It is natural to have lees sleep in stress, but find a mechanism to get enough sleep to keep your brain in good health. The proper functioning of the brain requires optimum sleep. You need mental energy to cope up with the situation. If you want to remain positive in a stressful situation you have to sleep tight.

If you don’t know what a healthy sleep is, read this article from Sleep Foundation.

  • Information Consumption

Your mental functionality depends on your memory and information triggers. You have to control the information consumption by choosing the right communication channels so that you get the right kind of information. The best strategy is to stay away from the bombardments of bad news. Consume information that keeps you in a good mood, like your favorite music.

  • Join the League

While in the middle of some stressful situations, people tend to prefer isolation. We normally try to close our mental and physical boundaries. But this isn’t a good strategy to cope with stress. You need to be open-minded and join people who are in a similar situation. This helps you understand the situation from a different perspective and build a strategy to face the situation in a better manner.

  • Nature Heals Better

It has been proven through research that people recover quickly from stress-induced mental health issues when in the company of nature. Going to your nearest park or beach or lakeside and spending time there could help you calm your nerves. Nature is the best guide if you build the skill to observe it neutrally.

  • Hobbies Help

If you are passionate about anything then this is the best way to stay positive in a stressful situation. The mental escape helps you regain the mental balance. Spending time in hobby works like an effective mediation as you remain focused on a particular task which you enjoy doing. Studies suggest that when engaged in hobbies the release of feel-good hormones increases resulting in better control over stress.

  • Stay Away from Drugs and Alcohol

It is very normal to find temporary escape using depressants like alcohol or drugs. But these backfires in the long run as you build habit and your resistance level increases. The higher the intensity of stress, the higher the dose you may need. This ultimately pushes you to cyclical anxiety and several physical ailments.

  • Exercise

You need a healthy mind to deal with stress and a healthy mind stays only in a healthy body. It is good to have a strict exercise regimen as it keeps maintain better metabolism. If you are fit you could feel confident to face any stressful situation as you are in better control of your metabolic activities. You won’t panic if your heart rate goes higher.

Life is full of uncertainties and we try our best to find a pattern of certainty to live life in a better manner. Every moment teaches us something new, particularly stressful moments that give you a new dimension. It is better to re-evaluate the meaning of your life and prepare to face it with positivity. Your positive approach will take you to new heights. Stay positive!

How orgasm can make you feel good and change your aura?

Sexual practice or sexual activity is how humans experience and express their sexuality. It results in sexual arousal and physiological changes in the aroused person. Sexual activity includes doing things to arouse the sexual interest of the partners. Sexual practice increases the emotional and personal bonding among humans.

Orgasm is one of the elements of sexual intimacy. Orgasms occur due to the contraction of muscles in the body and increased blood pressure. It has been seen that men reach orgasm first. A woman usually takes up to 15 minutes for the same. This phase begins after erotic stimulation and lasts for a few minutes to some hours. Orgasm is the sexual climax that can be attained during foreplay or intercourse. Some of the characteristics of orgasms are mentioned below.

  • Orgasms have several prospective health benefits. The hormones and other chemicals released by the body during an orgasm does well to us.
  • You don’t need to experience orgasm only during sexual stimulation.
  • Orgasm disorders can be experienced by all genders.
  • Transgender people can get orgasm after they have done the gender reassignment surgery.

Types of Orgasm in a female

There are different types of orgasms; however, we will discuss a few of them.

  • Clitoral – This is caused by the stimulation of the clitoris. This is a tingly feeling along your skin and brain.
  • Vaginal – They occur deeper inside the body. Often felt by the person penetrating the vagina. The walls of the vagina will pulse when it happens.
  • Combination – When both the vagina and the G-spot are stimulated, it is a combined orgasm.
  • Others– Stimulation of the nipples, anus, neck, knees, etc.

2 types of Orgasm in a male

  • Without ejaculation or dry orgasm– When the semen enters the bladder instead of emerging through the penis during an orgasm is called orgasm without ejaculation. Even though you reach the sexual climax, you ejaculate with almost no semen. Therefore, it is also called dry orgasm.
  • Orgasm with ejaculation – Typically, men have an orgasm that results in the ejaculation of fluid containing sperm through strong muscle contractions.

Few facts of Orgasm

Orgasms are sexual experiences, experienced as part of a sexual response cycle. It is a powerful feeling of physical contentment which discharges the accumulated erotic tension of a body. Theories about orgasm have changed from time to time. There have been new revelations about orgasm with the researches done. We will discuss some of the interesting facts about orgasm now.

  • Orgasms can be a pain killer– Evidence has proved that orgasm can relieve you from all sorts of pain. If you get a headache, you try to sleep however can’t due to the pain. In such situations, it is said that orgasm helps you to get rid of the pain. Your body releases oxytocin during orgasm. Oxytocin is a chemical that promotes bonding, relaxation, and positivity in you. That is the reason; orgasm is also treated as a healer.
  • It isn’t very easy for women to reach orgasm– As per the recent researches, around 40% of women face difficulty in reaching the orgasm stage. The best way sought to fix that is through clitoral stimulation. And even if that doesn’t work, medical help can be taken. This is one of the sexual dysfunctions that the female may face. Oral medicines and testosterone therapies can help you in climaxing.
  • Finding the G-spot is important– Sex experts have revealed that G-spot is the area of female genitalia that contains many nerve ending. This is the reason that the stimulation on the G-spot helps a woman achieve a longer orgasm. The location of the G-spot is different in every woman, however, mostly it’s found inside the vagina. Experts encourage women to find their G-spot for extreme pleasure.
  • Orgasm gets better with age– Though surprising, yet the truth is that the intensity and frequency of your orgasm improve with age. Most likely the reason can be experienced. Older women are more sexually experienced and they are clear in their minds about what they want. Therefore, they can communicate properly to their partners and experience better orgasm. Also, the trust factor that builds up in a long-term relationship allows a woman to relax and enjoy the journey on the road to orgasm.
  • A condom doesn’t hamper orgasm– Many have the misconception that a condom may hamper the feeling of orgasm. This is a myth. People think that when sex can often be felt well without a condom so does the orgasm will. Sometimes, wearing a condom can promote longer female orgasm. That is because he doesn’t have to pull out soon after ejaculation. That gives more time to the woman to experience orgasm.
  • Self-esteem is related to the quality of orgasm– Researches say, how a woman feels about herself including her genitalia is linked to the quality of her orgasms. Every vagina looks different and no one can say that a particular look is perfect. So, women shouldn’t be too much bothered about the look. The clinical health of the vagina is the basic need. As long as the vagina is pain-free and there are no abnormal discharges, you can consider yourself normal. When you feel good about yourself, you feel more confident to get physically intimate with your partner.
  • Don’t fake orgasms– Studies say that 80% of women fake an orgasm at some point in time. However, this needs to be stopped. There is no need to fake an orgasm if you don’t get it. It doesn’t do any good for anyone. When you fake an orgasm, your partner doesn’t get to know your likes and dislikes and in the end, you finish off staying unsatisfied.

Benefits of orgasm

In this part of the article, we will discuss how the orgasm can be beneficial to your body and make you feel elated. Some of the points are mentioned below:

  • Releases stress– Oxytocin and the other endorphins released during male and female orgasm work as relaxants. Hence, orgasm helps in relaxing your soul and brain. It helps to waive off the stress and put you in a better mood. It brings positive feelings inside you and tends to feel blissful. When your mood is good, you feel charged up for anything. People have reportedly felt more energized post sexual orgasm.
  • Induce proper sleep– Having sex and getting to the climax involves a lot of physical activity and brings in physiological changes. Your heart and breathing rates get accelerated, your clitoris becomes engorged with blood and you feel the erection in your body. All the muscles get tensed and prepared for the release. When you reach the climax, you unleash the energy and tension. Everything calms down in your body. So the sudden rise and set of hormones and muscles make you tired. When you are physically tired you tend to sleep uninterruptedly.
  • The bond with your partner gets firmer– When you can reach the pinnacle during a sex drive with your partner, the interest of having sex increases. More sex is always welcome in a relationship, especially when your partner can excite you till orgasm. It creates and sustains the excitement among the partners. And you both end up being happy together. This feeling makes your relationship strong and you tend to stay together always.
  • Help to face the counter effects of menopause– Menopause can have adverse effects on your vagina. Menopause happens when your ovaries produce lower levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones leading to stop the menstrual cycle. At this point, your vagina becomes drier than usual. This causes discomfort. It is said that staying sexually active can help you overcome the challenge. Orgasm relieves the vaginal discomfort to some extent.
  • Better cognition– Your brain and your vaginal are connected more than you think. It is proved that sexual activity and orgasm helps to retain the intelligence and memory power in aging adults. The dopamine hormone which is released during an orgasm serves as a protection to the brain. Orgasm is the key to keep your brain sharp and working even in your older ages.
  • Boost up your immune system– Researchers have found that a few minutes after post-orgasm, a person has an increased level of certain types of lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that strengthen your immune system and keep you away from illness. There are some specific components of the immune system which activates with orgasm. Staying sexually active and getting orgasm frequently keeps you healthy and you feel good inside. You are less likely to fall sick and enjoy life to the fullest.

The climax, the Pinnacle of sexual pleasure when there are ripples of absolute total extreme intense pleasure making your body shudder and convulse, that’s what an Orgasm is all about.

It leaves with a nice soothing and relieving feeling, and makes you feel satisfied all over. The other points mentioned above also gives you enough reason to experience orgasm.

10 Crystals That Will Make You Healthier & Happier

For thousands of years, ancient civilizations have used crystals to release mental, physical and spiritual blockages. Since crystals come from the earth, when they’re placed on your body, they help you connect to the planet’s healing energy, leaving you feeling more relaxed and balanced. Each crystal has unique properties and energies to heal different aspects of your life.

Below are ten crystals you can use to improve your health and happiness!

1. Turquoise helps you heal.

Turquoise is the master healer. It is believed to be the energetic bridge between heaven and earth. Since ancient times, it’s been highly regarded for its protective and good luck charm properties. It’s believed that when Turquoise is given as a gift, its healing properties are magnified by one hundred! Turquoise is a stone of communication that helps you to speak your truth, from the highest source of love.

2. Bloodstone gives you energy.

In ancient times, Bloodstone was often worn as an amulet to help purify the blood. When our blood and energy is flowing smoothly, our life force remains strong and healthy. This crystal is a powerful energizer, helping you to overcome lethargy, negative thoughts and self-doubt. Bloodstone also helps to boost enthusiasm, increase drive and maintain emotional well being.

3. Smoky quartz helps you let go.

Smoky quartz transmutes negative energy and acts as a protective shield against unwanted energy. It helps you to let go of old patterns and belief systems that are holding you back. It releases all blocked, old and stagnant energy in the body. Once all of your old energy is removed, new energy is able to fill the open space with light and hope.

4. Rose quartz cultivates love.

Rose quartz is a stone of unconditional love that helps to open and heal the energy of the heart. It encourages the forgiveness of others and, most importantly, of yourself. The secret to finding true love is to love yourself. Rose quartz emits vibrations of love, beauty and compassion. It’s a feel-good stone that nurtures, supports and allows you to feel the most powerful energy in the universe: LOVE.

5. Carnelian is good for creativity.

Ancient civilizations believed that carnelian attracted fortune and helped you attract your deepest desires. It removes blocked or stuck creative energy that may be dominating your mind and leaving you feeling burnt out or uninspired. Its vibrant orange color stimulates your passion to move forward and achieve your dreams. Carnelian is an action stone that restores motivation, confidence and joy.

6. Quartz crystal works wonders in clearing the mind.

Quartz crystal is made of silica, the most abundant element on the earth. It also makes up the human body, on a cellular level. When quartz crystal touches your skin, a merging of energy occurs, which is believed to encourage optimal health and healing. Ancient civilizations utilized quartz to balance the body and clear the mind. It’s a powerful crystal that transmutes negativity and amplifies energy to raise your vibration and help you align with light and clarity.

7. Celestite relieves stress.

Celestite’s name is derived from the Latin word caelestis, meaning celestial. By simply gazing upon it, the heavenly blue color of this crystal inspires deep peace and happiness. It’s an ideal crystal to place in your bedroom to bring tranquility and harmonious energy, encouraging restful sleep. When placed directly on your body, celestite brings muscle and stress release to the area on which it is placed.

8. Citrine helps to live in the now.

Citrine is a crystal of light and happiness. It doesn’t hold any negative energy and emits large amounts of positive energy. It serves as a friendly reminder to be present and in the now, because in this moment, you can create miracles. Citrine is a manifestation stone that encourages you to dream big, maintain a positive state of mind and attract everything you want in your life.

9. Aventurine attracts new opportunities.

Aventurine helps you to overcome feelings of self-doubt. It opens up the energy of the heart, attracting new opportunities. It helps to increase confidence, self-worth and optimism. As your mind and energy field open up, you are able to see the infinite abundance and opportunities that surround you.

10. Shungite protects against EMF.

Believed to be millions of years old, Shungite is an ancient crystal that is found in Russia. Scientists are still currently researching the full potential of this magical mineral. It’s utilized as a powerful shield against electrical magnetic energy (EMF). Shungite helps to absorb negative energy and pollutants. Place a piece of Shungite next to computers or wear on your body as an energetic shield.