Modern beauty spring 2021

OCTOR’S NOTE
MODERNBEAUTY MAGAZINE
ACKNOWLEDGE
NEGATIVE
FEELINGS.
I often see social media posts with
notions like “Positive Vibes Only!” or
“Be the Sunshine on a Cloudy Day”
and I have to admit they concern
me. Many people have been conditioned
to “fight off ” negative feelings
by supplanting them with forced
feelings of positivity and this is not
healthy. Suppressing your emotions,
rather than processing them, can
actually make you sick, mentally and
physically. Research has shown that
emotional repression can lead to
decreased immune function, chronic
stress, hypertension, cardiovascular
disease, digestive issues, the list goes
on. To deal with negative emotions
more constructively, acknowledge
that every now and again, you will
have a bad day, and allow yourself to
experience those feelings.
ADD SOME
STRUCTURE.
Anthony Tran/ Unsplash
It’s easy to get stuck in a dark place
if you don’t give yourself a proper
“out” from your negative emotions.
Give yourself a strict window of
time to fully experience the feelings—an
hour is more than enough.
During that hour, try giving your
emotions an outlet—write in a
journal, or try drawing or painting,
which has been shown to reduce
cortisol (the stress hormone) in
recent studies. Or if you’re musically
inclined, play an instrument or sing a
sad song. There’s a reason some of the
best music ever written is melancholy—it’s
cathartic! Then, when the
hour is up, close the book and reward
yourself with a soothing gesture like a
good cup of tea, a hot bath or a walk
around the block.
SEEK
PROFESSIONAL
HELP.
While many have adopted productive
coping strategies over the course
of the pandemic, such as meditating,
yoga and deep breathing, it’s important
to make the distinction between
therapeutic activities and actual
therapy. A professional therapist or
psychiatrist can give you actionable
methods and tools to safely process
your feelings, heal and move forward
in your life. If you’re struggling with
feelings of despair, hopelessness,
depression or grief for longer than six
months, it’s probably a good idea to
seek out a registered psychotherapist
or psychiatrist. We have a great network
of providers if you are looking
for someone. Just ask!
Tabitha Turner/ Unsplash
BE
HELPFUL.
As we rebound from the emotional,
social and financial impacts of the pandemic,
we must also help one another—
particularly those who have suffered the
effects of COVID-19 more intensely:
the essential workers, those who face
socio-economic barriers, children and
the elderly. The great thing about helping
others is that it benefits both the
giver and the receiver. Countless studies
have documented the mental and
physical health benefits of giving back,
showing that charity work and philanthropy
release dopamine (our feel-good
hormones), lower blood pressure, reduce
stress and help alleviate depression.
The faster we acknowledge and address
the inequities that have been magnified by
the pandemic, the happier we will all be.
There are many simple ways you can
help those in need of support:
Tim Mossholder/Unsplash
• Deliver healthy meals to frontline
workers
• Petition your local government to provide
paid sick leave for frontline workers
• If you have the means, donate to one
of the many organizations who provide
services, programs and resources to
children in need
• Offer your services or donate to a crisis
support line
A little more patience, understanding
and giving—to ourselves and each other—
will help all of us reach the other side
of the pandemic stronger and more
brilliant than we were before. //
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