Glow Magazine

G L O W APRIL 2020

LIVING WITH ANXIETY How you can learn to overcome it

DISNEYLAND Exclusive tips to save you money

BEAUTY HACKS How to get that golden Summer Glow

RELATIONSHIPS

Is social media destroying modern relationships?

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The Magazine to Help You LOVE Yourself

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G L O W CONTENTS

6 Disneyland Paris: Tips and Tricks to Save

You Money 10 Monophobia and Me 12 Beauty Hacks: How to get the Golden Summer Glow 14 Meal of the Week 15 ‘Magic’ Mushrooms 18 Living with Anxiety: How you can Learn to Overcome It 20 Is Social Media Destroying Relationships?

Disneyland Paris: Tips and Tricks to Save You Money What I wish I’d known before going, and how you can plan ahead to save yourself hundreds of pounds… © Cloe Arnold

guide for any fellow Disney obsessed individuals out there…

1. Buy your Eurostar tickets early.

Eurostar put their tickets on sale six months in advance and become gradually more expensive the closer to the date of travel. Therefore, if you want to travel via Eurostar, ensure that you plan ahead the date that you want to travel, and book early. In doing this, you could save yourself close to £100.

2. Do not purchase your tickets from the gate.

Last year I decided to book a holiday with my boyfriend to “the happiest place on earth”… the renowned Disneyland Paris. I’d always wanted to visit and decided that our anniversary was the perfect opportunity. I guess the dream started after watching a multitude of Disney movies as child, and becoming immersed in the magical, joyful, fantasy world of Disney. Trust me, it did not disappoint, it was easily one of the best holidays I have had in my life so far. However, despite having an amazing time, we did end up spending hundreds of pounds. Upon reflection, a lot of money could have been saved if we did a little more planning beforehand, which is why I have created a

This is where we slipped up massively.

We thought that we would buy our tickets at the gate to save any complications purchasing from potentially fraudulent vendors online beforehand.

Therefore, on day one, we spent a huge €338 (£295) on tickets for the two Disney parks between the two of us.

However, when returning home and doing more research, I found a completely reliable website that sells tickets for Disneyland for the slightly cheaper price of £282 for two people (365Tickets). Not only does this save you money, it also saves you time on the day instead of queuing at the ticket booths.

Additionally, if you are looking to spend more than two days in the park, I made an astonishing discovery to save you money…

“I made an astonishing discovery to save you money…”

On Disneyland’s website, they sell three day / two park tickets for £371.14 for two people. But, if you delve slightly deeper into the website, you can find their annual passes. These annual passes give you access to both Disney parks for just €358 (£310) for two people for 150 days of the year. Therefore, it is actually cheaper for you to buy an annual pass than a three day pass… pretty cool, right?

3. There are hundreds of cheaper hotels just a twominute train journey way

I would say I was fairly close-minded when looking for hotels to stay at on our trip. When researching online before our trip, I was mainly looking at the Disney hotels that looked the closest to the Disney parks, with a shuttle bus service (approximately a ten minute journey). No matter what the starrating, all of them were extortionately expensive. However, what I wish I’d known is that just a two minute train journey away was a village called Serris, with plenty of moderately priced hotels, high star-ratings and amazing reviews. For example, one of the “cheaper” hotels is Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe, which is a 2-star hotel, costing a mere £120 a night. However, two minutes away in a town called Serris, you can stay in a 4-star hotel costing £90 a night. This would save you a lot of money overall, and most likely give you a more luxurious experience to supplement your trip.

© Cloe Arnold

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My Story

Monophobia and Me...

My experience with loneliness

When we think of loneliness most of us would typically associate it with the elderly, at least I do anyway.

But the truth is, everyone gets lonely. Even me, a 21 one-year old girl at university. Despite my friends and family constantly telling me how I should be ‘embracing the uni life’, the fear of being alone is still something that I deal with daily.

When I was younger, I thought of the world as a sort of Disneyland where someday, I’d be bound to get my “happily ever after”. I didn’t even realise that feelings of loneliness existed. It is safe to say I was very naïve. For me, loneliness became particularly apparent when leaving high school. I realised that the world was such a different place to what I once thought it was and the brutalities of the real world could not go unnoticed. I realised that not

everyone is going to accept me for who I am, pick me up when I am feeling down, or forgive me for my mistakes. I feel this realisation brought on my fear of being alone due to the horror of getting lost in my negative thoughts about the world. It made me feel as though I needed the company of others to distract me from the thoughts I receive when being on my own. However, I knew that in reality, this is

“I knew I should not have to live in fear…” not how my life I wanted to live my life. I knew I should not have to live in fear.

When alone, negative thoughts would automatically pop into my head, and bring on my anxiety. Thus, I knew that if I had any chance of getting rid of this

phobia, I would need to make some changes in my life.

Firstly, I searched relentlessly online for ways to improve my situation. The suggestions included such things as going out, seeing and speaking to people. So that is exactly what I did. I tried going out in the evenings, as this was when I felt the loneliness the most.

I would drink excessively to give me the courage to speak to as many strangers as possible in order to disguise the fact that I felt lonely or anxious… Bad idea. Instead of this making me feel better, I realised that it only made me feel worse in the long run. The more I repeated this desperate behaviour, the lonelier and more isolated I would feel. I eventually came to the realisation that doing this was leaving me in more of a rut than before. I felt alone even when sur-

© Cloe Arnold

rounded by a room full of people. I concluded that I needed a longer-term fix; something that would be beneficial to my future. I wanted to help myself, and in doing so, I developed some useful tips…

control when you are alone, to think negative thoughts. and you can choose to em- Ultimately know that you brace those moments.

CAN control your life and

2 Write down your

thoughts daily. Keeping a document of the good and the bad as it can help you see what is rational and It is perfectly normal to what is irrational, and ultiFEEL alone sometimes, and mately help you gain more it is also perfectly normal to control.

BE alone sometimes. This is Make a routine. If you not time you should fear, it know there are certain days is your time for you. Do something that makes you where you are going to be happy, and don’t force your- alone, make a schedule for the day. If you know you self to socialise - bake a have certain things to do cake, read a book, watch throughout the day, you will your favourite series on Netflix.You have complete be busier and have less time

1

3

“You CAN control your life and your thoughts” your thoughts. Life can get challenging sometimes, so those moments alone can turn into your times of peace and tranquillity and be exactly what you need to revive yourself. Try it you never know, loneliness could end up being your best friend?

BEAUTY HACKS How to Get that Golden Summer Glow...

1

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation Narscosmetics.co.uk

£33.50 Apply a think layer of foundation evenly all over your face with a foundation brush, including the eyelids.

© Cloe Arnold

2

Too Faced Born This Way Loose Setting Powder: Translucent Toofaced.com

£22 Set the foundation using this setting powder and a setting brush, particularly focus on the T -zone, which can be more oily than the rest of the face.

3

Sleek MakeUP Face Form Light Sleekmaleup.com

£9.99 Using a blusher brush, apply a small amount of bronzer jus under your cheek bones and on your forehead. Then, use the blusher on your cheeks. Finally, apply the highlighter just above your cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose.

4

NYX Professional Makeup: Ultimate Shadow Palette - Warm Neutrals Nyxcosmetics.co.uk

£16 Apply a darker eyeshadow to your eyelid crease, and a lighter colour to your eyelid to emphasize your eyes. Use a more shimmery eyeshadow for the centre of the eyelid.

5

L'Oréal Paris Super Liner Perfect Slim Eye Liner - Intense Black Loreal-paris.co.uk

£6.99 Finally, apply the eyeliner along your upper lash line, starting from the middle. Try to apply it as close to your lashes as possible.

© Cloe Arnold

MEALOF THE WEEK VEGAN

© Elena Silcock/BBC Good Food

Sweet Potato Curry

© Elena Silcock/BBC Good

‘MAGIC’ MUSHROOMS No, not that kind. According to Euronews, one food source is claimed to be the “superfood of the future”. Not only does it have many nutrients and compounds that fight disease, but the National Geographic Society claimed it to have the ability to save the planet. So what could this miracle food be? It’s the humble mushroom.

Vitamins and Minerals Mushrooms have a lot of nutritional value. They contain Vitamin B complex, which supports the nervous system and energy levels. They also contain Vitamin C and D. These are essential for the absorption of iron and calcium, aiding the immune system and bone growth.

Antioxidants and Lentinan According to Science Daily, they are packed with two antioxidants, named ergothioneine and glutathione. These help prevent cancer, coronary heart disease, and Alzheimer's. Shiitake mushrooms have been proven by Researchers to help prevent the growth of cancerous tumours and HIV. It has also been shown to prevent breast cancer as it interferes with the synthesise of oestrogen (Cancer Therapy Advisor).

getty

Biodegradable products Mushrooms have a unique root system called Mycelium. A company called Ecovative, based in New York, takes agricultural waste from local farms and injects them with Mycelium. It is left in the dark for about five days, after which it forms into a solid. This can then be used as a replacement for plastic and foam insulation. It is strong, waterproof and much better for the environment.

DID YOU KNOW? 

Many antibiotics derive from mushrooms, i.e.

Penicillin which is capable in fighting virus’s.



A company called Zero Grado Espace is looking into using a type of mushroom instead of leather! (Life Gate)

https://krispykrush.com/fwp_portfolio/elemis-ads-strategy/

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Living with Anxiety: How you can Learn to Overcome it Cognitive Behaviour Therapy A professional helps identify and interrupt affected thought patterns and replace them with new ones.

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Anxiety is meant to protect us from going into a dangerous situation or prepare us for an intense experience. It is the “fight and flight” response as hormones such as adrenaline are released causing blood flow to be released into the body. It would help you run away from a wild animal or keep you alert for an exam. An Anxiety Disorder develops when an individual has repeated stressful episodes and never gets the signal to return to normal. Anxiety Disorders have become the modern epidemic with the introduction of social media in 1997 (Social Media Today).

There is an addictive element producing dopamine, compelling them to compare their lifestyles and image to that of their peers. Additionally, artificial light and blue light waves can also affects sleep patterns (Live Science). The NHS states that the disorder affects more women than men.

So what can be done to help?

A GP can help when anxiety is so severe it affects every day life. Psychological treatments should help.

Self-help Despite all of this, self-help is the method I would like to concentrate on in this article.

These techniques will help you to overcome anxiety all by yourself.

Supervise your thought process Realise you are not the only person to be suffering this, or believe no-one else ever has.

Put things into perspective. Nothing is hopeless, your strength is in getting through this and becoming stronger because of it. Being able to help and empathise with someone going through a similar situation in the future. Organise your life so that you don’t become overwhelmed with tasks and deadlines. The bigger things in life are easier to deal with Now we understand how it occurs, we can if the smaller things are taken care of. So sort out your room, your wardrobe, your learn how to deal with it… knicker drawer! You will wake up feeling a Group Support lot better if you can find things easily and be prepared for the day. Make yourself a In person or on-line where participants timetable scheduling in study time, share experiences with support of a appointments and importantly leisure actherapist or mental health professiontivities. Don’t be afraid to ask for help with al. Visit: www.betterhelp.com/ challenging projects. Try to get into a good

sleep pattern as the body rejuvenates itself as we sleep.

Exercise Moderate exercise like walking, swimming or yoga have been proven to be stress reducing as they release stress busting endorphins. It can also increase your selfconfidence once you have the courage to start. Visit: www.yogaanytime.com.

Relaxation Learn to relax your mind and body, which will help you to be compassionate towards your inner self. Meditation and yoga help to reduce stress and shifts you to a healthier pattern, involving breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation and visualisations. Download the app Calm or Headspace.

Nutrition

stress hormones and immune system.

Music and laughter Don’t sit in silence. Put on the radio with a cheery presenter, play your favourite music. Make a playlist of songs that inspire you or express the way you’re feeling. The words can make you realise other people have been in your situation – and survived!

It has been proven that comedy can cure and train your brain to be happy, watch a feel-good film or favourite comedy sitcom. Try looking in the mirror and smiling at yourself, truthfully! NBC News states that Serotonin and Dopamine, responsible for increasing happiness and combating stress, are released when we see a smile or laugh. Whether it yours or ‘someone else’s’, the brain can’t distinguish!

Unsplash/Christian Bowen

Chronic stress can strip your body of vital nutrients and minerals, diet is important.

Don’t skip meals to maintain energy levels and mood. Try to avoid stimulants such as avoid caffeine, alcohol and sugar, which cause an artificial high (Calm Clinic). Drink water to hydrate your brain and whole body, or decaffeinated herbal teas. Ward off unhealthy food cravings, by eating foods high on the satiety index (i.e. nuts, eggs). Think of good food as nourishing your body and restoring your whole being: 

Complex carbs can increase levels of serotonin, digest more slowly and help maintain blood sugar levels.

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Omega 3 regulates hormones.

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Vitamin B complex to support the nervous system.

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Magnesium, important in hormone and energy production can also help to relax muscles.

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Vitamin C to support the adrenal glands, responsible for producing

My advice - don’t look too far ahead if you’re stressed as you will feel overwhelmed. Take one step at a time. Be kind to yourself—you deserve it and you will get through this phase, I promise!

Is Social Media Destroying Relationships?

The scary truth behind relationships in a social media-obsessed world.

In the world we live in today, it is almost impossible to get by without using social media. According to Statista, we spend an average of 153 minutes a day on social media, increasing from the 93 minutes spent in 2012. This average time is constantly increasing, causing many to fear the effects that it may be having on our health and well-being. Another widespread concern is the effect that social media is having on our relationships. Is it the cause of modern-day break-ups and damaging our chances of finding true love? It is all good and wellbeing able to keep up with your favourite celebrity or share photos of your recent summer holiday. However, if social media is ruining something completely vital to our survival as humans, then what’s the point?

We are ignoring each other in person.

I think that one problem with social media is that it gives people an instant cure for boredom. If there is even a second when someone is not speaking or doing something, the subconscious response now is to pick up their phone and scroll through social media. It is appalling the amount of times I have gone to a restaurant to see couples looking through their phones, rather than taking that chance to communicate with each other. This time should be a chance for couples to talk about things that are happening in their lives, make each other a laugh, and ultimately just make memories! The fact that this has been taken away from us by the world of social media being only an arm’s length away is relatively upsetting. If we don’t want these special moments with our partners to disappear, we should be making a conscious effort to put our phones down and engage in conversation with our loved ones.

© Shutterstock/Federico Marsicano

‘Fake’ relationships are making us question our own.

The problem with social media is that eveUnsplash / Sara Kureβ rybody wants to come across as if they are perfect; they want us to think they have the perfect job, the perfect relationship, and an all-round perfect life.

Couples are constantly posting photos with the “adventures” they have been on with partner, who they “adore” and “couldn’t live without”. However, you never see anyone post about the typical everyday problems that most people experience in their relationships, such as the endless arguments about who lost the car keys or who took the bins out last. Relationships on social media appear almost too good to be true, leaving many feeling inadequate and unsatisfied with their own reality.

Well, the truth is they are not so seamless as they make out. Nobody should ever have to compare themselves or their relationship to what they see online, but sometimes it cannot be helped. Instead of doing this, we should start promoting the ordinary realities that make our lives so entertaining, rather than wanting everyone to think everything’s perfect.

their partners’ every move. This may be something that sounds quite unimportant in the grand scheme of things and something that couples wouldn’t have had to worry about twenty years ago. But, in reality it is causing many complications in peoples’ relationships and causing them to question where their partners are, or why they’re not responding to their text from fifteen minutes ago, when they were ‘active’ on Instagram two minutes ago. It’s a minefield in the online world.

Love yourself first.

Many studies have shown that there has been a correlation between the rise in depression and the increase in social media use. It is affecting our self-esteem and teaching us to constantly compare the way we are to others online. Suicide rates are now at an all-time high and many are experiencing anxiety daily. Although the results from many studies show correlation, not causation, it’s a coincidence that there has been a rise in these factors in a time that social media is so prevalent in peoples’ lives. But, how is this affecting our relationships? Well, exposure to photoshopped and filtered photos has left many people questioning their own appearance.

Unfortunately, this has impacted on the way that they are in relationships.

Through no fault of their own, people have been left feeling like they’re not enough due to the effects of flicking through others’ photos. Therefore, peoples’ moods We are actively searching for prob- and confidence has decreased. This has led to difficulties building a relationship lems. with someone else, and ultimately ruining what may have been, in a ‘pre-social media time’ a perfectly happy relationship.

People are becoming obsessed with ‘stalking’ their love interests, whether in a Loving yourself needs to be put to the forefront before trying to form any relarelationship with them or not. Infortionship, and social media isn’t helping. mation about people’s whereabouts and when they were last ‘active’ is so readily available that people are checking up on

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