HelpGuide May Newsletter

[View in browser]( Dear Friend of HelpGuide, As you’ve likely noticed, last month we launched our brand-new, redesigned website. The new [HelpGuide.org]( offers a fresh look, improved navigation, and new tools and features to better serve your needs. We have also added new and updated guides and FAQs on a variety of mental health and wellness topics.  As always, our mission is to provide you with reliable and evidence-based information to help you make informed decisions about your health and well-being—and empower you to overcome challenges and make healthy changes. If you haven’t already done so, we invite you to explore the new [HelpGuide.org]( and let us know what you think. Your feedback is important to us as we strive to continuously improve our website and resources.  Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we also want to celebrate how much progress has been made towards destigmatizing therapy, and encourage more people to experience how life-changing it can be. Until the end of the month, our affiliate BetterHelp is offering readers of this newsletter [25% off the first month of therapy](. With over 30,000 licensed therapists, you have many mental health professionals to choose from and we hope you find one that fits your needs.  Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to serving you through our new website.  Yours in health,  Melinda Smith Executive Director, HelpGuide ­ Some of our latest content Personality Types, Traits, and How it Affects Mental Health Ever wonder how your personality affects your mood and relationships? Are you a Type A, an introvert, or a perfectionist? Here’s how your personality can impact how you think, feel, and behave. ­ [Read more]( ­ Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD): Coping with Severe PMS When PMS symptoms such as bloating, cramping, fatigue, anger, and depression become disabling, it could indicate PMDD. No matter how severe your symptoms, though, there are ways to find relief. ­ [Read more]( ­ Grandparenting Tips: How to be a Better Grandparent Whether grandparenting for you means daily contact, weekends together, summer vacations, or occasional chats on the phone, these tips can help you build a healthy relationship with your grandchildren. ­ [Read more]( ­ Your mental health matters. Take care of yourself in therapy No more waiting days, weeks or even months to find a therapist. Sign up with BetterHelp and you can get matched with a therapist in less than 48 hours. As a HelpGuide reader, sign up in May through the link below and your first month is 25% off. ­ [GET 25% OFF]( ­ As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided. Mental health news from around the web Worrying about election stress can harm your health–Here’s what you can do about it (NC State University) New research from North Carolina State University finds that simply anticipating stress related to political elections causes adverse physical health effects. “We found that study participants reported worse physical health on days when they also reported having high levels of anticipatory stress – meaning they expected to experience election-related stress within the next 24 hours,” says Shevaun Neupert, corresponding author of the study and a professor of psychology at NC State. However, the study also finds there is something people can do to mitigate those negative health effects. [READ MORE →]( Teen girls dealing with an increase in sadness and exposure to violence (CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey) According to data from CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), teen girls and teens who identify as LGBQ+ are experiencing extremely high levels of mental distress, violence, and substance use. Collected in the fall of 2021, it reveals that 3 in 5 girls felt persistently sad and hopeless, a marker for depressive symptoms. Almost 1 in 5 teen girls experienced sexual violence in the previous year, while 1 in 10 reported they had ever been forced to have sex. [READ MORE →]( The stress secret: 12 ways to meditate–without actually meditating (The Guardian) Many people struggle with classic forms of meditation, but its benefits are still available. We don’t have to be brilliant at sitting still and focusing on our breath to get meditation’s recuperating benefits. Psychologist Suzy Reading agrees with research that suggests you can get as much out of bringing mindfulness to a range of activities as you can from traditional seated meditation. From walking, writing, and drawing to pottery or singing, here are everyday ways to find peace. [READ MORE →]( Six minutes of high-intensity exercise could delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease (The Physiological Society) Six minutes of high-intensity exercise could extend the lifespan of a healthy brain and delay the onset of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. New research published in the UK’s The Journal of Physiology shows that a short but intense bout of cycling increases the production of a specialized protein that is essential for brain formation, learning and memory, and could protect the brain from age-related cognitive decline. [READ MORE →](  Researchers develop blood test for anxiety (IU School of Medicine) Researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine have successfully developed a blood test for anxiety. The test examines biomarkers that can help them objectively determine someone’s risk for developing anxiety, the severity of their current anxiety and which therapies would likely treat their anxiety the best. The researchers’ results were recently published in Molecular Psychiatry, and the blood tests are currently being developed for wider use by physicians. [READ MORE →]( ­ Mental health helplines  In the U.S.: [NAMI Helpline]( at 1-800-950-6264. UK: [Mind Infoline](: 0300 123 3393 Australia: [Sane Australia](: 1800 187 263 Canada: [Wellness Together Canada](: 1-866-585-0445 In other countries: Visit HelpGuide's [Directory of International Mental Health Helplines]( Follow Us: ­ ­ ­ ­ JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER Mental health and wellness tips, our latest articles, resources and more. ­ [Subscribe]( ­ ­ HelpGuide.org International, 515 S. Flower St. Suite 1800, Los Angeles, CA, 90071 This email was sent to {EMAIL} You've received it because you've subscribed to our newsletter. If you would no longer like to receive these, please update your email preferences by visiting the link below. [Unsubscribe](  [Privacy Policy](     |      [Terms of Use](