HealthyLife Articles

Tag: loss

Dealing With Grief During The Holidays

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Many people think they are supposed to be happy during the holidays. You may even feel guilty if you’re not “choosing joy.” But these high expectations can cause even more stress during an already stressful season.

What is grief?

Grief is a normal human response. It can happen anytime, especially during the holidays. When you lose someone or something that’s important to you, you can experience grief.

Grief is different for everyone. It can cause sadness, anger, fear, guilt and many other emotions. You may also have physical signs like:

* Headaches

* Upset stomach

* Sleep changes

* Feeling like you can’t breathe

* Appetite changes

What to do

When you experience a loss, you need to feel grief in your own way. You can do this by:

* Allowing yourself to feel whatever you feel.

* Taking care of yourself. Try to get regular sleep and eat healthy foods. Exercise can help you relieve stress too.

* Talking to others. A trusted friend or family member can help you get your feelings out.

* Writing it down. If you don’t want to talk to someone, try writing down your feelings and thoughts.

* Avoid big decisions. Try to wait a year after a loss before you decide to move, change jobs or make other big life changes.

If you feel grief this holiday season, ask for help. A counselor, therapist or support group may help you feel better. If these things don’t help, talk to your doctor.

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
When Gambling Is Unhealthy

FINANCIAL HEALTH

A lottery ticket, bingo, or a few pulls of a slot machine-these are all types of gambling that can be fun and harmless. But sometimes, people don’t just gamble for fun. It can become an addiction.

Problem gambling is when gambling becomes unhealthy to the gambler, their family or others. Over time, problem gambling can get worse and lead to health problems. The person may ignore their physical health, smoke, drink too much alcohol, or lose their job or relationships.

Problem gambling is not something the person can “just stop.” Often, they need help from a doctor or a mental health professional. That’s because for some people, gambling can stimulate areas in the brain that make it addictive, like nicotine in tobacco.

Signs of problem gambling:

* You think about gambling all the time.

* You gamble with money that is needed for other things.

* You don’t tell others how much you are gambling.

* You feel uneasy if you try to quit gambling.

* Even if you lose money, you keep gambling to try to win it back.

* You feel the need to gamble with larger and larger amounts of money.

* You lose a job, relationship or opportunity because of gambling.

* You feel like you simply can’t stop gambling, even if you try.

A person should not feel embarrassed if they have a problem with gambling. Doctors have different treatments for problem gambling that work. Getting medical care for problem gambling can save a person’s physical, mental and financial health.

Source: National Institutes of Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Good Grief

Mental Health

Going through stages of loss is normal.

Grief is a deep sadness that results from a major or minor loss. It can last weeks, months, or years. Understanding the normal stages of grief, the passage of time, and self-care measures treat most cases of grief. Sometimes, counseling is needed.

Stages of grief

Shock: You feel dazed and numb.

Denial and searching:

You are in a state of disbelief. You ask, “Why did this happen?” or “Why didn’t I prevent this?” You look for ways to keep your loved one or the loss with you. You think you see or hear the deceased person. You begin to feel that the loss is real.

Suffering and disorganization:

You feel guilty, anxious, depressed, lonely, and afraid. You may place blame on everything and everyone. You may have headaches, constant fatigue, and/or shortness of breath. You withdraw from routine and social contacts.

Recovery and acceptance:

You start seeing a future instead of dwelling on the past. You adjust to the reality of the loss. You develop new relationships and a positive attitude.

Self-care:

* Eat regular meals. Do regular exercise.

* Express your emotions to family and friends. Be with others, especially during the holidays.

* Try not to make major life changes, such as moving during the first year of grieving.

* Join a bereavement support group. Read self-help books about dealing with grief and death.

* Adopt a pet.

Causes of grief:

* The death of a family member or friend

* A divorce or sending a child off to college

* A new or lost job. A promotion, demotion, or retirement.

* An illness, injury, or disability

* Moving to a new location or loss of property

Action Step

If grief keeps you from coping on a daily basis, triggers thoughts of suicide, or causes you to overuse medication or alcohol, seek professional help.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Hair Loss: More Than Skin Deep

WELL-BEING

Hair loss is a common issue among men and women alike. The U.S. National Library of Medicine says about 50 million men and 30 million women have some degree of hair loss or baldness. Most of the time, this is due to hereditary hair loss.

Sometimes, however, hair loss is a sign of a health problem. Hair loss can sometimes be caused by:

* Thyroid problems

* Diabetes

* Low iron in the blood (anemia)

* Prostate cancer in men

* High blood pressure (hypertension)

* Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women

Hair loss doesn’t always mean you have a serious illness. Sometimes hair falls out for a little while and then starts to grow back. Some of the reasons this happens include:

* Hair breakage from chemicals like perms and hair color

* Hairstyles that pull on the hair, such as tight ponytails and braids

* A stressful event, such as a death in the family

* Stress on the body from major surgery, childbirth or some illnesses

* Brushing hair too hard or too often

* Some prescription medicines, including those for arthritis, cancer, depression, gout, heart disease and high blood pressure

* Hormone changes, such as during pregnancy or menopause

If you notice sudden hair loss, it’s important to find out the cause. If you notice large amounts of hair falling out when combing or washing your hair, or thinning or bald spots, make an appointment with your doctor.

Common hair loss treatments

Knowing the cause of your hair loss is the first step to treatment. For instance, if iron levels are low, your doctor may recommend an iron supplement. Treatments for common hereditary hair loss include:

* Topical minoxidil (brand name Rogaine, which can be purchased in stores)

* Finasteride (prescription medicine for men only)

* Topical or oral estrogen or other hormones (prescription for women only)

* Hair transplant surgery

Source: American Academy of Dermatology

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Telling Kids About Tragedy

FAMILY LIFE

Talking to kids about scary events and disasters is important when they’re old enough to understand. Kids may have more fear of an event if they don’t know any details. They may imagine something much worse than what happened.

Although telling kids some details may help, the American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s important that you filter the information you give your child. Think about the child’s age, personality and what they will be able to cope with. These steps can get the conversation started:

*Ask the child what they know about the event.This can help you separate facts from fiction. It gives you a way to explain the things they already know in a way that is direct but not scary.

*Avoid any graphic details.Although the media may share lots of details that are graphic and scary, children should be shielded from these things.

*Don’t be too vague.Saying “something happened that was bad” doesn’t give enough information. Instead, name the place where it happened and tell them that some people were hurt. The police/firemen/ government, etc. are helping people and working to keep us safe.

*Keep it open ended.Tell them if they have any questions, they can ask you.

Is your child coping?

After a disaster, some children have a hard time coping. These red flags may be a sign that your child needs help:

* Trouble sleeping, nightmares or being very tired all the time

* Unusual aches and pains, such as headache or feeling “sick” often

* Appetite changes

* Social changes, such as aggression or being clingy

* Frequent feelings of sadness or fear

Talk to your child’s doctor if you notice any of these changes.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026