Buy the boxes. Pack the boxes. Load the boxes. Roll out… College here we come!

For many people leaving for college is a very emotional experience; you miss your friends, your family, your home (especially home cooking!). But, some take it a lot harder than others. If there is one mistake both kids and parents can make when finally fleeing the coop for college, it is dwelling on it.

Here is my advice:

Kids: It is ok to be sad when you say goodbye and for a day and a few nights after. But the time has to come when you have to make friends. Believe it or not, there is about a two week window from the minute you arrive at school to make your first and maybe future friends. You MUST take advantage of those first two weeks when you are feeling lonely as well as others too, to meet your peers. As hard as it may be, you have to muster up the courage to walk around your floor and knock on everyone’s door and introduce yourself. You may feel unsure and out of place at first, but in reality you are doing what everyone else was too afraid to do themselves. Once you make some friends and joke about how much you miss Mom’s cooking or your queen-size bed at home, you will be like instant family and maybe even hang out that weekend. At the very least, you will know who to say hi to when you are walking down the stairs.

Parents: Do not call if you have not heard from your child in between classes… it means he/she is spreading their wings! This is the time when you have to let them live and experience life for themselves, and make their own (forgivable) mistakes. If you have raised them well, they will not do anything to disappoint you, they will only make you prouder. It is ok to check up on them or even insist on a text in the morning and a goodnight call but do not suffocate them with your intrusion or they may disappoint just to escape.

Both: if all goes according to my advice and plan, college will not be the worst thing for you or your child… it will be the best and will actually benefit your relationship and mutual understanding.

Anxiety is a disease. It is something that overcomes you and changes who you are. Anxiety has symptoms and treatments and of course, risks. There are all different kinds of anxiety such as general anxiety, test anxiety… the list goes on. However, for your day-to-day anxiety, there are a few simple tips that could help you begin to overcome it.

1. Work it off. Hit the gym each day (at least 5 out of 7 days a week) and get rid of the extra adrenalin that is inflaming your anxiety. Work out so hard that you are too exhausted to be anxious when you are done!

2. While at the gym (finances permitting) hire a personal trainer. Learn about the best cardio exercises that will make you sweat all of your anxiety away the fastest and keep you heart pumping fast and your mind on your breathing pattern. Also, ask your trainer about less strenuous exercises such as yoga and/or breathing and stretching exercises to release excess tension in trouble areas such as temples, lower back, shoulder blades and neck.*Tip: practice these breathing exercises before you go to sleep at night as well, to lower your heart rate and relax and clear your mind.

3. To really clear your head, entertain yourself with a television show. Reality shows are a great choice because most of the time they provide comic relief because of how unrealistic they really are. Or, simply find a favorite show and budget that into your busy schedule as YOU time. Make sure to find time for YOU at least once a day in addition to time before bed to clear your mind of anxious thoughts.

4. Get plenty of rest… so you do not have to worry about that too! Resting is actually the most relaxing thing you can do for yourself. If you have trouble sleeping because of outside distractions (like a college dorm for example) sleep with an iPod listening to nature sounds like the ocean, or classical music. An eye mask is a wise idea as well to keep your eyes from being temped from opening and checking your surroundings and becoming more anxious.

5. Always know what you are going to do the next day. If you know you have things to do the following day, have a detailed plan the night before and remember to set your alarm! Be as prepared as possible the night before a big day so you have less anxiety/stress in the morning. For example, each morning before school I would have my K-cup already in my Keurig and mug, sugar, and spoon ready to go. If I was feeling ambitious, I even put out the cereal box.

6. Be prepared for everything and be confident and know that you are ready. The more ready you feel, the more ready and less anxious you already are.

The aforementioned tips are just mere suggestions on how you can begin your journey on your road to an anxious free life. Remember, like everything else, baby steps are expected and required and it takes time. In order to feel any relief of anxiety, however, you must be willing to part with it and accept a life without anxiety.

Depression, which is essentially the inability to experience and express joy, is unfortunately common in adults and teens, and the signs are pretty obvious: changes in sleeping and eating habits, loss of concentration, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, irritability, social withdrawal, and negative or even suicidal thoughts. Less common is the phenomenon of depression in young children and preteens.

Children with depression display many of the same symptoms as adults, but some may manifest a bit differently. Social withdrawal, for example, may be seen as having difficulty with relationships, poor communication and social isolation. Kids suffering from depression may also display what appears to be a perpetual state of boredom and lack of energy. Depressed children may also complain of frequent aches which have no apparent physical cause. If a child is very angry or hostile for no apparent reason, or displays continuous destructive – or self-destructive – behavior, he or she  may be depressed.

Anxiety disorders most often accompany or precede depression in preteens and younger children. There are three categories of such disorders: social phobia, in which the child is uncomfortable interacting with anyone but close family; generalized anxiety, in which the child is overly worried about the future; and the most common, separation anxiety, in which the child has a deep fear of being apart from family. These anxieties can cause the child to suffer from physical pain and illness due to the stress. Children in an anxious or depressed state may experience headaches, stomach problems, or diarrhea, especially on school days or before a planned social event.

Although depression at younger ages is most often rooted in anxiety disorders, a very small percentage of children are genetically predisposed to depressive episodes. Either way, if the symptoms of depression are noted, and especially if they increase, immediate help should be sought.

In today’s fast-paced, stress-driven world, fatigue is inevitable. Combined physical and mental fatigue can mimic, and sometimes lead to, symptoms of depression. Defeat the doldrums before they become a formidable foe by fighting fatigue with fun. There are positive mental and emotional benefits to being around people whose company you enjoy, whether it is a loved individual or a cherished group. Planning fun activities involving people close to you is as good a remedy as any. Be creative in choosing your activities. Puzzles, board games and card games can all be challenging and entertaining options for improving your spirits and your general health, and most can be accomplished in a fairly short amount of time so your busy schedule can still be easily accommodated.

Puzzles stimulate the mind and can also be a useful activity for improving manual dexterity. Fitting together the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle can also serve to enhance hand-eye coordination. Crossword puzzles and other word games, such as Scrabble, Boggle or Pictionary, help keep the mind active, and fill-in-the-blank story games like the popular Mad Libs can keep everybody in stitches and the endorphins flowing. Releasing endorphins is your body’s way of dealing with pain and stress. Physical and emotional activity, as well as sustained laughter, are all known to stimulate endorphin production.

Playing board games, like Monopoly or Life, and card games with a group of close friends or family can be as emotionally rewarding as it is mentally challenging. Action games, like charades or Twister, are also beneficial. They allow opportunities for mobility, as well, and movement helps reduce stress. And any game undertaken with dear ones for the sake of entertainment and socialization is bound to elicit some laughter, too. This is an added perk with fringe benefits, as laughter is known to be therapeutic, and can help stabilize your mood.

Qi Gong has been practiced in China for over 4000 years to promote health and well being. Its name indicates its function: qi is the body’s vital energy which flows through internal channels called meridians, and gong is a series of movements. It is believed that when qi flow is interrupted, the body suffers illness. So, Qi Gong is a form of exercise to help promote the flow of qi through the body. One of the primary benefits of Qi Gong is its ability to aid in digestion. When the body is not digesting food properly, it produces a general feeling of sluggishness overall, and can lead to problems with internal organs like the kidney, liver and spleen, in addition to associated intestinal problems.

There are three basic aspects to Qi Gong: breathing, physical posturing and mental focus. Each of these elements incorporates and complements the others. Proper body posture is necessary to achieve the right alignment of the meridians and direct the flow of qi. There is not one “correct” form. The goal is to attain the most comfortable complete body position for the practice of Qi Gong. Consequently, it can be performed sitting, standing, lying, or even walking.

Breathing is the single most beneficial function of the human body. It increases the circulation of oxygen in the blood, and serves to promote physical and mental relaxation. Though there are many ways to breathe, the most common form of breathing practiced in Qi Gong is referred to as abdominal diaphragmatic breathing. In this method, when breathing in “good air” the abdomen is expanded and the diaphragm drops as breath is taken in. Contracting the abdomen while exhaling forces the diaphragm upward, causing a greater amount of “bad air” to be expelled.

The part of Qi Gong called mental focusing is a quieting of the mind whereby practitioners attempt to replace a multitude of intruding thoughts and images with a single focus. There are several ways to find this focus. Breath counting is perhaps the simplest. A single inhalation and exhalation counts as one breath. Concentrating on breathing blocks out all other thought. Silent recitation of a single word is also useful. Your mind focuses on the word being repeated in your mind and outside thoughts are negated. Another effective focus method is imagery. Using your imagination to create a peaceful place or object in your mind can help you eliminate intruding thoughts. Whatever technique works best, the result must be the same: harmony of a single thought. The success level of the entire Qi Gong process depends on the level of quietness one can achieve in the mind.

Everybody has bad days, but frequent, recurrent blue moods can signify a more serious condition. Arthritis and depression often go hand in hand. When you are in pain, it is difficult to keep a constant positive outlook, especially when the cause is a degenerative, debilitating condition like arthritis. Mental and emotional stress often manifests itself in the body physically so depression can exacerbate pain.

One of the main reasons arthritis and depression are commonly linked is that people with arthritis tend to stop doing things they enjoy, like walking, biking, swimming, golfing, gardening, etc., because they think it will be too painful. Removing such activities from your life can lead to boredom, sadness, and loneliness, all of which are symptoms of depression. Though the combination of arthritis and depression may seem like a “catch-22”, with each working off of the other, making both conditions worse, there are things you can do to lessen the severity of both.

First of all, don’t give in to the fear that your illness is going to remove the joy from your life. It is important to keep doing all the things you love to do. Modify them, if you must, to accommodate any changes in your abilities, but don’t give up your favorite hobbies, activities or social events. It is widely accepted by most health care professionals that continued activity helps to ease the pain of arthritis by keeping joints and limbs flexible.

Being around people whose company you enjoy gives you a mental and emotional boost, as well. Social activities such as church, cards and games, hobbyist clubs, and the like are helpful in warding off the blues. Not only are you engaged in an activity that you find uplifting, you are with other people finding similar joys. But even if you do not belong to a group or club, you can still have the benefit of being with others. Visit family, or have coffee with a friend. Go for a walk in the neighborhood, or in town.

No matter where you go or what you do, whenever you encounter other people, SMILE. Smiles are contagious; spread them around. Smiling is the single most effective method for altering a negative mood. No one is happy every day, but don’t give in to the despair that often accompanies arthritis, and depression can be kept at bay.

Being healthy is about more than just eating your vegetables and getting plenty of exercise. Your emotional well-being plays an important role in your overall level of health. Have you asked yourself lately how you are doing in this area? Here are some key aspects of staying emotionally healthy.

People who have good emotional well-being are those who spend quality time with those who matter to them. They are people who take time to love, laugh and connect with others. Having significant relationships in your life goes a long way in maintaining your emotional balance and stability in life. Learn to communicate with others, and your relationships will improve ten-fold, as will your emotional well-being.

Find effective ways to relax and cope with the stress in your life. Meditation is one way to do this. Meditation is more complex than simply kicking back and relaxing. It is about solitude, deep breathing and focusing on your inner spirit. Once you learn how to meditate you can do it as often as you need in order to help center yourself. This is one way to take control of your emotional being and make it stronger.

When you have a problem in your life deal with it as quickly as possible. Don’t obsess over it but don’t procrastinate either. Mull it over and seek advice from others if need be. Talking it out is an important step, but you need to find a solution as soon as possible. Suffering much stress for a long period of time over a problem, whether it is personal, financial, or work, can wreck havoc on your emotional health. It also can cause sleepless nights and physical ailments. Learn to cope effectively with the circumstances and situations that come your way.

Find an outlet that brings you happiness. Some people are artistic and like to paint, dance, or write. Other people enjoy sports. Yet other people like to curl up on the couch with a good book and revel in their own peaceful, quiet time. This ties in with treating yourself. Your emotional side can get worn down and ragged sometimes, so finding a special way to reward or treat yourself will make you feel not just good but great!

You may not know it, but happiness is good for your physical health. Happiness is, in fact, one of the most important factors that will help keep you healthy. Studies have shown that happiness helps lower the risk of developing many physical illnesses. A  study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that “positive affective states are related to favorable profiles of functioning in several biological systems and may thereby be relevant to risk of development of physical illness.” In simple terms: happiness is good for your health.

But how do we achieve happiness? Happiness is quite illusive because most of us connect it with things that make us feel contented and satisfied.  The problem is that in most cases the things that make us feel contented and satisfied are things that are not yet in our hands. Most of us may connect happiness with a promotion to a higher position, with an increase in salary, or with finally having one’s dream car. But do these things really make us happy? You may find that when you finally get that promotion, or that raise in salary, or that dream car, you are still not that happy enough because new goals are automatically set. We keep chasing things that we believe can make us happy, which is why happiness is illusive.

The only way to be truly happy is to change your view of happiness. There are people who have almost nothing, but they are happy and healthy. What is their secret? They just know that happiness is a state of mind. If you learn to focus more on the positive things that happen to your life and not on the negative ones, happiness will be easier to achieve. Of course, it is easier said than done because most of us are conditioned to think that when something is lacking happiness is missing.

Choosing to be happy is the first step to happiness. When you choose to be happy you make that shift into a mind-set that is focused at seeing more of what you have than what you don’t have. When you learn how to do this you will feel happier and healthier.

Depression is becoming more and more common today because in this fast-paced age where competition is very stiff and where the weak easily could be crushed in the daily grind, it is easy to feel threatened all the time with impending failure and defeat. The deadlines that can pile up on you and the daily struggles to adjust with difficult people in the workplace are just some of the many factors that can make a person depressed.

You may not know it, but you could be suffering from depression. If you exhibit symptoms, such as loss of appetite, feeling an unexplained sense of hopelessness, weight gain or weight loss, loss of libido, and irritability, chances are that you are suffering from depression. It is necessary to act immediately on it. There are medications for depression, but they are almost always associated with unwanted side effects. If that is the case, it is good to try natural ways of fighting and treating depression. Here are some of the natural things that you can try to fight and treat depression:

1. Exercise. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, you are more at risk for developing depression because your body cannot produce enough endorphins, the chemical that makes us feel good. When we exercise our bodies produce enough endorphins to help wash away the bad feelings.

2. Eliminate caffeinated beverages. Yes, coffee can give us that “lift” that we feel we need to get through the day’s hard work, but caffeine has also  its share of ill effects on our nervous system.

3. Change your diet. Try consuming more fruits, veggies, grains, fish, and other foods that contain antioxidants and other nutrients that your body needs in order to produce serotonin and other feel-good chemicals.

4. Be sure to get at least 10 or 20 minutes of sunshine every day. Enjoy it and let it light up you life.

5. Drink water. You may not know it, but water helps a lot in cleansing you physically and mentally.

Stress can hit us anytime because we are constantly exposed to different kinds of stressors everyday. There are many sources of stress: difficult people in the workplace, project deadlines, group projects, new responsibilities, and even schoolwork for those who are schooling. Other stressors are conflicts and major changes in one’s life like break-ups, birth, death, sickness, and unemployment.

There is no exact remedy for stress, but vitamins and good food can help. Exercise is also proven to help lessen the effects of stress because during strenuous activities the body releases endorphin, a morphine like substance that works as a natural pain reliever.

Here are some tips to help you beat stress:

• Take a hot bath or shower. When you feel that you are stressed out, take a hot bath or shower, stay in the bathroom for as long as you like and enjoy the warmth of the water on your stressed out body. You even can pamper yourself with a bubble bath. Warm water can help you loosen up.

• After the bath, get a good book and escape into the book’s pages. If you do not feel like reading, you can listen to some good music. If you like classical music, then listen to a good dose of Mozart, Brahms, or Tchaikovsky. If classical music is not your cup of tea, then you can have you favorite rock music or whatever music you prefer.

• If you have a pet, a dog perhaps, you can take a walk with it. Play with your pet also, it helps in releasing tensions that help cause stress.

• If you feel that you really need some good pampering, why not go and get yourself a good massage. Shiatsu massage is very effective in releasing bodily stress.