Cupidopolis

We all struggle with emotions. Some people suppress them, others need to cry to let it all out, while others just try to work through them as they happen.

As long as you are happy with the way you deal with your emotions, then that is great. The only exception would be with suppression. The reason is that you keep suppressing and supressing, till one day the smallest thing would just be too much to handle and it all comes out. It can be much harder to handle then. So do find a way to deal with your emotions whether by talking about it, writing a journal or even just having a good cry!

You would be surprised at how many people are unhappy with their breast size. It all stems from the media and their idea of perfect. If the media had their way, We would all be size 00, tall leggy blondes with pert perfect breasts in a size 34DD.

Breast size really can range from completely flat chested to back achingly big. No matter what size someone is, their breasts will fall into one of the categories of too big / too small / too droopy / too unnatural / etc.

In fact most breasts are not even equally sized. Often the difference is minimal but sometimes the difference could be a couple of cup sizes or more.

The truth is that nature intended breasts for feeding infants, and no matter what natural size you are… you will be able to breast feed. Breasts also keep changing over time. And as for the talk of men prefering bigger breasts to small ones… that is all it is… talk. Men are simply happy with breasts, no matter the size.

It is not easy to learn to love our bodies with all the media portrays but by learning to accept our bodies and learning to love our bodies, it will make us enjoy our bodies more. It will in turn lead us to leading a happier life.

Seeking treatment is always a good step. The first session is always about taking notes. In fact that is the reason that the first session is often free and it is not as such a session but an exploration.

You explain why you are there and the psychiatrist / psychologist takes notes and asks questions. You should mention at this point any symptoms, feelings, and your wishes. Your being “happy” is what it is all about, and if you are not happy with your counsellor, then your treatment is likely to face difficulties.

The first session is also about exploring your options with the doctor or counsellor. If you are not happy with them, do consider another one. Being happy with your counsellor is a must if treatment is to be as successful as possible.

Do not worry about what you say, because it will all be confidential. And unless you are an imminent danger to yourself or to others, they will not commit you to a hospital, especially not on a first visit.

Doing new things is always scary but seeking help is always good.

Good luck.

Depression is an intense feeling of sadness, often accompanied by lack of motivation, tears and irritability. A large percentage of us will go through some form of depression at one point or another. There are different levels of depression and different levels of treatment for depression.

The most common form of treatment is by prescription drugs called antidepressants. Antidepressants work by suppressing the hormones that make us feel depressed and sad.

Different dosages, different brands, all work differently on different people. On a high enough dosage, a person could be pretty knocked out but most prescribed dosages are a fine balance between dealing with the depression and not blocking other emotions. Often, the issues blocking other emotions are not caused by the antidepressants themselves, but a lack of motivation / disability to deal with the problem actually causing the depression.

If you are on antidepressants and feel knocked out, speak to your doctor, who will perhaps change your brand or give you a lower dosage.

Any effects by the antidepressants do wear off once use of the tablets is stopped, despite the fact that antidepressants can be seen as being addictive. This is because by being on them you can avoid dealing with your actual issues causing the depression, as well as the fact that when you come off them, the reality is still harsh and life on them is a little more simplified as your hormones are “quieter”.

There are other ways to help elevate mild depression without use of drugs and believe it or not these include behaviour therapy, dealing with the source of your depression, a little exercise (where your blood really starts pumping) and a little sunshine.

Ideally one uses more than one method to treat depression. And remember antidepressants should be prescribed by a medical practitioner (GP or Psychiatrist).

“My boyfriend keeps saying he will leave his wife. It has been 3 years. What can I do to make him leave her quicker?”

Your boyfriend is a married man. There is a reason he has not yet left his wife… and it is probably because he has no intention to. There is no point in trying to hurry him as it is unlikely that he will leave her. Unless you are happy with the status quo (and you do not seem to be), perhaps you might want to look into other options.

“I have been overweight as long as I can remember. But now I am worried about my health. What can I do?”

There are several stages of being overweight and each stage means different levels of actions should be taken. This would be dependant on your BMI - Body Mass Index. If you BMI is slight above average, the first and most basic steps would be to eat healthily and try to include some exercise.

If you feel you need to lose more than a couple of kilos, you might want to consult your doctor who might be able to recommend more drastic treatment such as medication, gastric banding or liposuction!

Do you know when to walk away? Do you know when to let go? Do you know how to say NO?

More often than not we do not know when to walk away or when to let go or when to say No. We often need to take a step back, review the situation and think about what to do next. Sometimes it might be the hardest thing to do, but knowing you need to take a step in a different direction is already a first step which means you are on your way already.

I have always maintained that education is extremely important. In fact I am not the only one, which is why education is compulsory until 16. But education does not need to end there. Today without a degree there is very little that one can do. I have heard people say but I cannot afford it. Yet there are websites which can help you find a grant to help you continue your education such as the Pell grants. The truth is that unless you want it and unless you try, you will not get anywhere. So spend a little time and think about where you want to be in 10 years time and then think about your next step!

“I keep hearing voices and I am convinced that there are aliens. My friends laugh at me and say there is no such thing but I know that I hear them and so I know they are there. How can I prove them to my friends?”

I am not going into whether or not there are aliens as honestly I do not know the answer. But if you are hearing voices, you might need to get checked out with your Doctor. Hearing voices may be a symptom of schizophrenia. I am not saying that you are schizophrenic, but you might want to rule it out with your GP. If you are suffering from schizophrenia, your doctor may be able to prescribe some tablets to deal with your illness.

This post is actually sponsored by betfair but this post is my personal opinion and not a promotional message.

Betting can often be a problem if it gets out of hand. And although there are groups such as gambler anonymous, the point is to not arrive into the situation where you do become a compulsive gambler. Gambling problems are never an easy issue to broach, but if not dealt with can arise into very serious serious problems such as huge financial debts, lies, family problems and stress related issues.

This does not go to say that you should not gamble. After all I seriously believe in a democratic society and freedom of choice. After all a quick flutter can raise your heart rate and give you a sense of excitement. It can even give you a really nice feel good feeling, that can actually even be good for you.

Even simply buying a lottery ticket is gambling, yet most people who buy a ticket are buying a dream. At least for until the draw, you can think “If I win… I will pay my bills, buy a house, get that new gadget, take a round the world holiday, etc !”

The key to gambling is moderation. Good Luck!