Issue 15 (Autumn/Winter 2013) by Sanctuary magazine

page 4

page 11

Sanctuary Interview

The way I see it

Emma Woolf - writer / TV presenter

What is Consciousness?

Inner space for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mental health & wellbeing

page 20

Mood Swings

Hormones have a lot to answer for

Issue 15 | Autumn 2013

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

Sponsor Sanctuary magazine

Welcome to Issue 15 of Sanctuary Magazine

One edition or four over a year.

e will create advertorials and editorials to showcase and bring a new dimension to marketing your service, product or facility. Sanctuary reaches GPs, Clinical Commissioning Groups, commissioners and providers of health and social care services, patients and carers across Surrey and the south east. We have subscribers in London, the south east and the north east.

Louisa Daniels Editor of Sanctuary Magazine sanctuarymagazineuk@gmail.com 07854 612 970

For more information about how you can be involved, contact the Editor in the first instance – 07854 612 970 sanctuarymagazine@gmail.com

Sanctuary – LOVE IT! Fresh, exciting, innovative. No hurdle to jump to settle into reading it – it’s snappy and edgy. BRILLIANT! Female writer for national publications – Gloucestershire

Photo: K. Gasperas

I was driven to call you, such was my delight that such a splendid magazine exists for mental health ‘stuff’. Male carer – Kent

I’m sure this is what Sanctuary Magazine is all about: trying to find that mental peace and switching off the chaos in your head, which we all have. Emma Woolf – see Sanctuary Interview page 4

It is an absolute pleasure to write this: my first editor’s letter. Just over seven years ago, I discovered Sanctuary Magazine and, after being blown away by the stunning artwork, I was exhilarated to find a publication that not only didn’t scream at me about diets or relentless consumerism, but, most of all, it wasn’t scared to explore the complex matters of the mind, and it didn’t shy away from mental health. Since then, Sanctuary Magazine has become my passion, and to be involved, in any capacity - never mind as editor - has been a privilege. Thankfully, Megan Aspel (the creator of Sanctuary Magazine) is the Managing Editor, and I’m honoured to have worked so closely with Megan to create Issue 15. Megan and I share high hopes for Sanctuary Magazine, and we truly believe in it. The feedback we’ve had from our loyal readers over the years, tells us there is more to be achieved when it comes to the media and women’s mental health, and, more importantly, we’re told that we are the ones who can do it.

Louisa Daniels | Editor Megan Aspel | Managing Editor Tom Aspel | Designer Please write to us at Sanctuary, c/o Let’s Link, PO Box 533, Betchworth RH4 9FL Printed by Progression Print

Issue 15 is mainly about trying to look forward. We touch on eating disorders in a few places, and although eating disorders are deadly illnesses, people can and do recover, and so we wanted to highlight this. Those who are familiar with Sanctuary Magazine will know that while we delve into serious issues, we like to try and keep a balance. We won’t be hiding away from the realities of mental ill health, but in this, our revamped issue, we wanted to re-launch on a lighter note that expresses hope and recovery. Plus, as well as containing uplifting articles and interesting wellbeing features, we are thrilled that this issue has a few fantastic reader offers for you, too. A special thank you goes to Tom Aspel for his marvelous design work, and also to this month’s contributors: Hollie Hines and Nicola Tervit. Not to mention how thrilled I was to interview Emma Woolf of ‘Supersize V Super skinny’ - the great niece of literary legend, Virginia Woolf. We truly hope that you enjoy reading Sanctuary Magazine Issue 15 as much as we’ve enjoyed making it.

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

Sanctuary interview

By Louisa Daniels

Recognisable as a co-presenter on Channel 4’s Supersize V Superskinny, Emma Woolf, who is also a writer and columnist for The Times, is, first and foremost, a young woman surviving anorexia.

hrough her work, Emma, who is the great-niece of the prolific modernist writer Virginia Woolf (famously known to have suffered with mental illness – resulting in Virginia taking her own life at the age of 59), is not only raising awareness of eating disorders, but, and perhaps more importantly, is positively challenging the stigma that surrounds mental illness. Taking time out of her very busy schedule of television meetings, radio interviews and magazine photo shoots, not to mention working on her third book, I was very lucky to speak to Emma over the phone, and immediately I was warmed by her bright and personable way.

Recently you appeared on the BBC Radio 4 show Four Thought, on which you explained having anorexia for 10 years, and that you’d ‘wasted your twenties’. What was life like for you then? I think living with an eating disorder, no matter how serious or not serious it is, is not living fully. You’re not enjoying life because you’re consumed with guilt and worry. So what I mean by ‘wasting my twenties’ (even though I had an amazing career in publishing and a great flat in London – all the things that look successful from the outside) is: I wasn’t living a full life; I wasn’t able to really enjoy things like: birthday meals, romantic dinners out and picnics in the park – all of things that make up a life – and I think I convinced myself that I can be what they call a ‘functional anorexic’.

What does the word ‘recovery’ mean to you and where are you today? All I know is I am in a much better place; I don’t want to be ‘skinny’ again. I have a BMI of healthy range for the first time in 10 years. My periods have come back. So, in all of the physical ways, I’m there. Recovery is an on-going process and I’m always going to have to make sure that when I’m upset or feeling insecure, or when I’m tired and run-down, that I don’t find restricting my food as a way of coping.

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What has it been like to open up about your experiences of anorexia in the media?

What is your favourite piece of writing by Virginia Woolf, and why?

Two years ago, I wrote an article for The Times and then, because it was such a popular article, it became a weekly column. But I didn’t plan it. I hid my anorexia for so long – I couldn’t even say the a-word! I can’t believe I’m the person to be talking about it now. It has been really hard but it’s also been incredibly empowering because, you know what, the whole world doesn’t collapse when you talk about it. If I can help one person to feel unashamed and hopeful about getting better, then it’s all worth it.

The Wave. It’s one of her last books and it’s absolutely beautiful. It’s what she does so well – the ‘stream of consciousness’ – looking at the flow of thoughts through life.

If Virginia Woolf were here today, what would you say to her about illness and recovery? I don’t think that I would talk to her about mental illness. I would talk to Virginia about her books and her writing; I’d talk to her about my great-uncle Leonard Woolf; I’d want to know about her memories of the 1920s; I’d ask her about meeting T.S. Elliot, James Joyce and D.H. Lawrence, and all of the amazing writers that she worked with.

Sleep can be difficult and I wish I could get more. I’m sure this is what Sanctuary Magazine is all about: trying to find that mental peace and switching off the chaos in your head Emma Woolf

Do you have a favourite quote by Virginia Woolf? ‘Oh life, how I hated you, oh human beings, how I dreaded you.’

What do you think is the greatest myth surrounding eating disorders? That it’s all about the media! Yes, the media doesn’t help, and the whole focus on thin models and the objectification of women definitely contributes to an atmosphere where women are confused about body image, but it does not cause anorexia. It’s much more complex than that. This is something I touch on in my new book, The Ministry of Thin, as it goes way beyond just wanting to be thin.

What are your thoughts on pro-anorexia websites that claim ‘Anorexia is a lifestyle and not a disease’? Awful! Eating disorders are mental illnesses. Nobody should glorify illness. These websites show images of models but you won’t see a picture of someone dying in hospital with a drip or vomiting into the lavatory. Anorexia has an incredibly high mortality rate: 50% of people with anorexia will go onto die.

You have a successful career and lead a busy life. In order to do it all, how do you stay well? I have amazing family and friends, and I eat and exercise healthily. My advice to anyone is to find and do the things you love. Also running (though not too much like I used to) is my natural Prozac. Sleep can be difficult and I wish I could get more. I’m sure this is what Sanctuary Magazine is all about: trying to find that mental peace and switching off the chaos in your head, which we all have. It is hard and I haven’t got it cracked yet, but I hope to.

You have a new book out called The Ministry of Thin – what was your motivation for writing it? Following my first book, An Apple a Day (a memoir about my recovery from anorexia), I heard from so many different people that I decided to broaden my focus to the issues of: weight loss, aging, plastic surgery, detox, diets, men, sex, madness – in which I believe things are getting out of control. Why do we have Tess Daly, who is 40, alongside Bruce Forsyth who is 83? We accept it as ‘normal’ that women have plastic fillets inserted into their breasts. Why? The book is an examination of all these areas, and in it I’m honest and lively, and I ask: Where are we are going to end up with all of this?

What are your hopes for the future? I want to write more books, to have a baby and to keep getting better. The amazing thing about this whole journey is that I’ve met so many wonderful people, such as Lionel Shriver, who is my idol! Sometimes I feel like I’m in some kind of movie where all these amazing things keep happening. I’ve found out that anything is possible. I love spreading the message, and this is the one thing I really want to get across: Try and find a reason to get and stay well. Whether you want to travel or to study, or to get a job, or to have baby. Find something that is more important than the eating disorder, and go for it! On reflection of our conversation, Emma’s story, though very real and shaded in parts, is one of aspiration, and it was such a treat to talk to somebody who has come to embody hope for many people, not just those with experience of eating disorders. To find out more about Emma Woolf’s two books: An Apple A Day and The Ministry of Thin, please visit the publisher’s website: www.summersdale.com You can also follow Emma on Twitter: @ejwoolf

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Whose diagnosis is it anyway? In May 2013, the DSM-V (the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) was finally published - this being the first update since 1994.

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

or those that don’t already know, the DSM is a highly regarded medical text; used throughout the world and considered by many to be the book and word of authority when it comes to matters of the mind. Many of the diagnoses that people have previously received in this country are as a direct result of the guidance of the manual and, although the publication is no longer officially used to diagnose in the UK (or any other country that looks to the World Health Organisation for guidelines), it is still a very influential publication. In the US, the DSM is widely used to determine treatment plans, as well as payment by health care providers. Therefore, in America at least, the DSM-5 has a very real and significant effect on people’s lives. That’s not to ignore the potential social implications that can ripple across the pond; the DSM-5 has been published amidst much controversy, especially here in the UK. One of the key criticisms is that it is, supposedly, ‘guided’ by the psychiatric drug industry. Thus, many are asking if drug companies manipulate the ‘guidance’? As well as this, many professionals consider the manual to be ‘obsessed’ with the labeling of symptoms, as opposed to looking at possible causes. Furthermore, the DSM pathologises so-called ‘normal’ behaviours, like grief, as mental disorders. So, many

“Has categorising human behavior gone too far?”

are asking: Has categorising human behavior gone too far? Commenting for the BBC, the head of Psychology at the University of Liverpool, Professor Peter Kinderman, described how the: “[DSM-5] will lower many diagnostic thresholds and increase the number of people in the general population seen as having a mental illness.”

So what power does the DSM5 potentially hold over people in the UK? According to various psychiatrists, in a climate of austerity measures, the DSM-5 has, and will, no doubt, continue to have a hugely powerful and global effect on how mental health is understood and the way that illness is treated. What’s so wrong with that we hear you ask? Well, it’s probably worth mentioning that it was only thirty-odd years ago, in the early 1970s, that homosexuality was considered to be a treatable mental illness by the DSM.

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The publication of the DSM-5 has at least got people talking, and the discussions raise many valid questions, such as the big one: How useful is a diagnosis or ‘label’, as some people call it? It goes without saying that clinical diagnoses can be life changing. Having a named condition does offer many a ‘medical’ explanation of why an illness has developed and how it can be treated, and there are some incredibly effective prescription drugs that enable countless people to lead meaningful and successful lives. This is not in any way an attempt to discredit that. However, and as has been argued by the DSM-5’s opponents, increasing the range of mental ‘disorders’ is, effectively, creating more conditions for people to get branded with. Right? Without sounding too dramatic, a direct result of this could be an increase in the levels of stigma and discrimination that people experience, for circumstances that are considered by many to be ‘normal’ occurrences in everyday life. Therefore, mental health and what constitutes normal and abnormal, or indeed healthy and unhealthy behavior certainly in relation to life events - clearly needs to be

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

more widely discussed, and more deeply considered and comprehended, before we start creating more diagnoses. Shortly after it’s publication, in June 2013, academics and professionals from all over the field of mental health, met at the DSM-5 conference, held at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London. With an event title of: ‘DSM-5 and the Future of Psychiatric Diagnosis: Where is the roadmap taking us?’ the delegates discussed and argued the positives and negatives of the new text. Outside, and hoping to sway the opinions of the attendees, was the campaigning group Speak Out Against Psychiatry (SOAP). Consisting of former patients, carers and mental health professionals, the group campaign for the ‘humane treatment for people experiencing mental distress’, and also publicly oppose forced medical treatment, electro-shock therapy and the psychiatric drugging of children, as well as actively trying to promote alternative ways of helping people in distress. According to the SOAP website, the DSM-5 protest was arranged because: the DSM-5 makes it easier for normal human experiences to be labeled as mental illness. For example, people experiencing grief can be more easily given the label “Major Depressive Disorder”, and children with temper tantrums can now be diagnosed as having “Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder”. A spokesperson for SOAP said: “The DSM encourages a tickbox approach to understanding human distress, which serves the interests of professionals

and drug companies rather than the people who really need help. With the DSM-5, things have been taken a step further - even mainstream organisations such as the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) and the British Psychological Society (BPS) are distancing themselves from the DSM-5, claiming it is unscientific.” As has been reflected by other campaign groups, SOAP feels the “DSM-5 will increase the number of people stigmatised by a mental health diagnosis, as well as increase prescriptions of mind-altering drugs.” Not to mention become a significant “development of a worrying trend of everyday human problems being put in the hands of highly paid experts and pharmaceutical companies, rather than our families and communities.” According to one SOAP advocate, “In the UK mental health system, if a patient rejects the psychiatric label, they are described as ‘lacking insight into their condition’ and the Mental Health Act is used to force them to take medication.” Sanctuary Magazine has heard of instances of this, so know it isn’t untrue. With this in mind, SOAP ask another valid question: “How can a person be expected to agree to a label, when they are changing every time the latest guide book comes out?”

What do you think? We’d love to hear your thoughts about the DSM-5. Your comments may even get published! dsm5.org kcl.ac.uk speakoutagainstpsychiatry.org

The way I see it? “Freedom stretches only as far as the limits of our consciousness”. Carl Jung 1942

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hought the hard problem was deciding what to cook for supper tonight? Chicken again or will they all groan? Or the hard problem is choosing what to wear for a new date? Well think again: the hard problem is that of Consciousness, the phenomenon that makes us aware of things external – and internal. The phenomenon of Consciousness has been exercising the minds of philosophers, psychologists, theologians, scientists and evolutionists for hundreds of years. So of course we at Sanctuary thought we’d better give it a go too! Across the centuries the debate about consciousness has continued: what makes us see the colour red or react emotionally to a happy or sad scene? There is a tangible and an elusive element to consciousness. Modern science has discovered a way to ‘see’ what consciousness in the brain ‘looks like’. Scientists do this with a tool that examines the changes in the brain, for instance when consciousness is apparently absent in someone in a vegetative state – after an accident or some trauma to the brain. It is usual, says Daniel Bor, a cognitive neuroscientist at the Sackler Centre for Consciousness at the University of Sussex, that for such people there is damage to the thalamus and to the connections from thalamus to the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex at the front of the brain is responsible for high-level complex thought. Writing in New Scientist, Daniel Bor says “the signature of consciousness seems to be

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

an ultrafast form of brainwaves originating in the thalamus and spreading across the cortex.” This suggests, he writes, that “input from our eyes, ears and so on, is first processed unconsciously, primarily in sensory brain regions. It emerges into our conscious awareness only if it ignites activity in the prefrontal and parietal cortices, with these regions connecting through ultrafast brainwaves.” Sigmund Freud introduced the concept of conscious, preconscious and unconscious, better known as id, ego and super-ego. These three elements of rational, realistic thought (the ego), belief systems (embedded in our brains from childhood – super-ego) and the ‘chimp’ in our heads (the id – the term chimp refers to the limbic part of the brain that follows a ‘me’ / ‘I want’ path) become entwined and combative in a way that influences how we see things and as a result respond or behave. When man emerged from Africa, some heading east, some west, over time our minds as well as our bodies developed Darwinian style. And so, over the millennia our levels of consciousness have evolved. We are conscious of our planet (and what we are doing to it), the creatures on it, others’ pain, joy, hardship – even if it doesn’t exactly resonate with our own experiences, we are able to empathize. For some however, it would seem such enlightenment is non-existent. For instance, a beautiful sunset will trigger in some a feeling of awe; others will not be

moved at all, maybe not even notice. Hard-wired differently or down to an individual’s life experiences? Who gives a damn about a sunset when you can’t put food on the table? So are levels of consciousness an indication of genetic or socioeconomic influences? Abraham Maslow’s ‘hierarchy of needs’ model created in the 1940s would support the latter. The hierarchy of needs is a pyramid with several levels. The first level is around basic needs – food, shelter, water, warmth. If people have those they might ascend to the further levels: safety, belonging, love and self-esteem. Once someone is ‘cushioned’ by those things (employment/ financial / relationship security for example) he or she can achieve self-actualization where one can pursue those things that link with a higher level of consciousness; fulfillment, creativity, appreciation of the external world and one’s own personal sense of ‘locus’.

Consciousness and mental health Is consciousness affected by mental illness? Or indeed the

other way round? The sunset example can affect people who are suffering depression differently. For some, to see Nature in all its beauty is a lifeline, a way of keeping in touch with inner feelings when your world is turned upside down by despair. For others, complete numbness to everything whether a sunset or one’s children and family is experienced: an emotional lockdown takes place. Either of those responses are ways for the mind and body to try and heal itself. So arguably our consciousness is affected by mental – and physical – ill health. We revert to our basic needs, our survival. There is some evidence that people who suffer with schizophrenia have difficulty with ‘metacognition’, where someone knows who he/she is and what they are doing. When someone is battling with what feels like irrepressible inner forces, he or she may feel disconnected from themselves and the world around them. As R. D. Laing, the innovative and thought provoking psychiatrist of the 1960’s, suggested, a person suffering schizophrenia is firstly ‘rent in his relationship with his world’ and secondly ‘there is disruption of his relation (ship) with himself……. he does not experience himself as a complete person…’. The hot news is that scientists from the University of Nottingham believe schizophrenia may be caused by a faulty ‘switch’ within the brain. A four year study comparing the brains of people

suffering schizophrenia with non-sufferers showed that the people with diagnosed schizophrenia were less able to switch from their inner and outer worlds. Dr Palaniyappan, one of the scientists explains in the magazine ‘Neuron’: “In our daily life, we constantly switch between our inner, private world and the outer, objective world. This switching action is enabled by the connections between the insula (a segregated ‘island’ buried deep within the brain, which is responsible for seamless switching between inner and outer world) and frontal cortex. This switch process appears to be disrupted in patients with schizophrenia. This could explain why internal thoughts sometime appear as external objective reality, experienced as voices or hallucinations in this condition. This could also explain the difficulties in ‘internalising’ external material pleasures e.g. enjoying a musical tune or social events, that result in emotional blunting in patients with psychosis. Our observation offers a powerful mechanistic explanation for the formation of psychotic symptoms.” In psychoanalytical therapy we look at how memories buried in the unconscious can be brought sharply into the conscious, triggered by events or circumstances, or chemical imbalances in the brain. Hopefully, as science takes our understanding of consciousness to new levels, it may also shed new light on why some of us are more vulnerable to mental illness.

Just a feeling One kilogram of nerve cells creates – as New Scientist describes – ‘a seamless kaleidoscope of sensations, thoughts, memories and emotions that occupy every waking moment’. Robots that are ‘conscious beings’ are not far off being created. But one of the biggest challenges in creating such robots is around, as scientist Kevin O’Regan of Descartes University in Paris suggests, not how the brain is organized, but why do we feel? “How,” he states, “can electricity moving through neurons create the subjective feeling of pain…. It’s not just that we know we’re in pain, there’s the real, nitty-gritty feel.” That could be the final frontier – or barrier – to fully understanding consciousness. Will any of us – neuroscientists or the layman - ever know why a particular piece of music, a distressing sight, the touch of someone special….. why such things give us acute feelings of wonder, of pain, and of love? Isn’t that the hard problem? Or is that so intrinsic to our being that we shouldn’t even be asking? Any views other than factual expressed in this article are those of the writer’s. Daniel Bor’s book The Ravenous Brain: How the New Science of Consciousness Explains Our Insatiable Search for Meaning is out in hardback. Visit www.danielbor.com for more information.

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

directory T

he Directory is in the process of being updated. We highlight Surrey organisations and national help lines. If you would like to be added to our directory, please contact Megan Aspel at megan.aspel@sky.com.

Please note we will give details of name, contact numbers/ email and if space allows, a brief description of the service / facility you provide. Please include these details in your email. You can contact Santuary magazine c/o Let’s Link, PO Box 533, Betchworth, RH4 9FL. Tel. 07824 364703; email; megan.aspel@sky.com

Mental health NHS trusts across the south east • Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. T: 01903 843000

Anger • British Association of Anger Management, 0845 1300 286 www.angermanage.co.uk

Anxiety

• Kent & Medway NHS Social Care Partnership Trust. T. 01732 520400

• No Panic, 0808 808 0545. www.nopanic.org.uk;

• Isle Of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust. T. 01983 524081

• National Phobics Society, 0870 7700 456 www.phobics-society.org.uk;

• Hampshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. T. 023 8087 4300 • Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. T. 01344 415 600 • Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. T. 01865 778911 • Milton Keynes PCT. T. 01908 243933 • Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. T. 01883 383838 • Age Concern Surrey – 01483 458732 www.acsurrey.org.uk

Alcohol and drugs • Drinkline, 0800 917 8282 • Al-Anon, support for family and friends of alcoholics, find a local group 020 7403 0888. • Alcoholics Anonymous, find a local group – 0845 769 7555 • Drugscope, for information, www.drugscope.org.uk • Frank (for young people and parents) www.talktofrank.com • Surrey Drug & Alcohol Action Team – for local services, www.surreydat.org.uk

• First Steps to Freedom, 0845 120 2916 www.first-steps. org; www.anxietycare.org.uk (enquiries@anxietycare.org. uk to find out about accessing free advice and support)

Bereavement and loss • Cruse 08701671677 www. crusebereavementcare.org.uk

• Pathways Counselling Centre, Epsom, 01372 743338. Professional counselling, normal rates apply • Redhill Counselling Centre, 01737 772844. Negotiable rates • RELATE, relationship counselling, 0845 4561310 www.relate.org.uk, for a local branch. A fee is charged for appointments. • Relateen, Epsom (part of RELATE but for young people disturbed/worried about parent’s relationship problems) 01372 722976 • Seastone Possibilities, Trauma Resolution Treatment 01306 640073 / 01737 249364 email: seastone@talktalk.net

Debt counselling

Counselling

• Christians Against Poverty; freephone 0800 328 0006 www.capuk.org

(please note, waiting times can be long)

Depression

• One in Four Surrey: for people who have been sexually or violently abused – from age 5 upwards 01932 400038 (24 hour confidential answer machine). Email: surrey@oneinfour.org.uk visit the website www.oneinfour.org.uk • British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy, 0870 443 5252 www.bacp.co.uk (for details of local practitioners) • Heads Together (young people 14-25) 01737 378481. No fees • Croydon Pastoral Foundation, 020 8760 0665. Negotiable rates according to means • North Surrey Community Counselling Partnership, 01932 244070 www.nsccp.co.uk A sliding scale fee basis operates (up to £40.00 per session)

• Depression Alliance, 0845 123 2320 www.depressionalliance.org

Direct Payments This is money allocated directly to a patient/service user to enable them to have more choice and independence about the support/facilities they can access in the community. For more information contact: • Surrey Independent Living Council (SILC), Astolat, Coniers Way, Burpham, Guildford GU4 7HL. T. 01483 458111

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Domestic abuse • Surrey Domestic Abuse Helpline (24hr) – 01483 776822 • East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services (covering Reigate & Banstead, Mole Valley & Tandridge) - 01737 771350 Email: support@esdas.org.uk Website: www.esdas.org.uk 9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday, confidential answer phone out of hours. • North West Surrey Outreach Service (covering Woking, Runnymede & Surrey Heath) run by Surrey Women’s Aid - 01483 776822 (24hr) • North Surrey Outreach Service (covering Epsom & Ewell, Elmbridge & Spelthorne) run by Walton & Hersham Citizen’s Advice Bureau - 01932 260690 Email: nsdvoutreach. walton@cabnet.org.uk Website: www.waltonadvice. demon.co.uk 9.30 am – 4.30 pm Monday to Friday, confidential answer phone out of hours • South West Surrey Outreach Service (covering Guildford & Waverley) run by CAHA - 01483 577392 9.00 am - 3.00pm Monday – Friday, confidential answer phone out of hours

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Survivors of childhood abuse • C.I.S.‘ters for adult women sexually abused as children Run by survivors for survivors – helpline Saturdays 10am – midday 023 80 338080

Eating disorders Anorexia, bulimia • Eating Disorders Associations, 0845 634 1414 www.eduk.com • B-eat.co.uk Helpline: 0845 634 1414

Employment For people who do or have suffered mental ill health: • Employment, Support, Retraining Agency (ESRA) for East Surrey area: 2nd Floor, Rawlinson House, 9 London Road, Redhill RH1 1LY. Tel/Fax: 01737 772115 Richmond Fellowship covering the whole of Surrey: • Mid Surrey (and queries re West Surrey) RF, Manor House, 19 Church Street, Leatherhead KT22 8DN. T. 01372 363934 • East Surrey RF, Rawlinson House, 9 London Road, Redhill RH1 1LY. T. 01737 771 282

Hearing Voices

Post natal depression pregnancy and birth issues • Association for Postnatal Illness, 0207 3860 868. • www.apni.org www.surrey.nhs.uk www.babycentre.co.uk www.netmums.com

Self harm • www.selfharm.org.uk www.lifesigns.org.uk • www.rcpsych.ac.uk/ cru/auditselfharm • Bristol Crisis Service for women (national helpline); 0117 925 1119. Friday/ Saturday evenings 9pm – 12.30am. Sunday 6-9pm

Other useful contacts Crisis numbers; • Samaritans, 08457 909090 www.samaritans.org.uk • Sane Line (12noon – 2am daily) 08457 678000. National out of hours helpline for anyone coping with mental illness – sufferers, carers, relatives or friends. • Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Trust, 0300 456 83 42; text for hard of hearing – 07717 989024 (24hrs) • Childline; 0800 1111

• Rethink, 020 8974 6814 www.rethink.org We are currently updating information on CMHRCs and psychotherapy services.

Space invaders

ver felt drained after being with someone – who you know or have just met? It is possible you have absorbed, like a sponge, another person’s ‘bad vibes’. You don’t have to have a deep and meaningful conversation. You could be in a room full of people. Just being in close proximity where energy fields overlap can sap you of strength. Signs you may be an emotional sponge include: • People call you ‘over-sensitive’ • You sense fear, anxiety, and stress from other people and draw this into your body, (sometimes turning it into your own physical pain and symptoms). • You quickly feel exhausted, drained, and unhappy in the presence of crowds. • You need to be alone to recharge your energy. • You’re naturally giving, generous, spiritually inclined, and a good listener. • You tend to ensure that you’ve got an escape plan, so that you can get away fast, such as bringing your own car to events, etc. • The intimacy of close relationships can feel like suffocation or loss of your own self.

Good news is you can help yourself without running to the hills! We talk about consciousness on page 11. Use your sense of awareness and consciousness to ‘feel’ where the negative energy is coming from: don’t forget it may be you if you are in a bad place! So don’t always blame everyone else – look within first! Distance yourself if possible and centre yourself – concentrate on your breathing. There are ways to shield yourself – try envisaging a powerful colour of light surrounding you like an aura. Determine that nothing can break through. Learn to recognize the ‘space-invaders’ or ‘emotional vampires’; these may include people who overly and wrongly criticize, people who never stop being the victim or people who desire to always be the one controlling others. You can empathize with such people of course, it would be inhuman not to, because often they are behaving as they do because they are so terribly hurt and insecure. But absorbing their negativity won’t help them or you. And of course, seek out the people who can bring a smile to your face, who are like-minded and don’t feel that everyone else should suffer – even if they are. Go on - you’re worth it!

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e all know that countless women and girls throughout the world face huge challenges. They also, sometimes against huge odds, are capable of accomplishing remarkable things. To celebrate the strength of our fellow females, we’ve compiled a list of a few incredible stories from around the globe:

SOMALIA

Despite a lengthy civil war, women activists (who face great dangers by speaking out), continue to lead the way by campaigning for peace and an end to rape and female genital mutilation (FGM). At a recent key meeting, Justine Greening (the UK government’s Development Secretary) said: “I believe that Somalia’s women are the key to Somalia’s future.”

MOUNT EVEREST

An Indian woman, Arunima Sinha, has become the first female amputee to reach the summit.

VIETNAM

Nguyen Phuong Anh, a 16-year-old who was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or ‘glass-bone disease’ (a genetic disorder causing fragile bones), is using singing to inspire others with disabilities to chase their dreams.

To find out more about the challenges faced by women and girls throughout the world, please visit the United Nation’s website: un.org/womenwatch

ophrology is a form of complementary therapy that has been in popular use throughout Europe for the last 50 years, but is considered relatively new in the UK. Taken from the Greek words of “Sos” (harmony), “Phren” (consciousness) and “Logos” (study/science) it literally means “The Study of Consciousness in Harmony”. Created in the 1960s by a Spanish Professor named Alfonso Caycedo, Sophrology attempts to fuse together the therapeutic techniques from the West (psychiatry, psychology, neurophysiology etc.) with those from the East, such as Buddhist meditation, yoga and mindfulness. Popular throughout the entire French and Spanish speaking world, Sophrology is now used across a wide variety of settings, such as in hospitals, schools, corporations and sports.

So what is it exactly? Sophrology is a ‘non-intrusive’ technique made up of a series of breathing exercises, gentle movements (known as ‘Dynamic Relaxation Exercises’) and positive visualisations. Using voice, the practitioner guides the client to the ‘sophroliminal level’, and it is at this stage that thoughts are directed away from the mind and into the body. Based on the three principles of: body awareness, strengthening the mind’s positive structures and developing a sense of ‘objective reality’ towards the self and the environment, the technique is, according to those that practice it, an effective treatment for many physical and psychological conditions, such as:

• Anxiety • Stress management • Insomnia Due to growing demand, Sophrologists are steadily opening practices in the UK, and it is now possible to train to become a Sophrologist in Kent at the Sophrology Academy. To help our readers explore this trend, we’ve have teamed up with Marion Beauregard of vie-tality.com, a Sophrology practioner in both the UK and France (and one of the first to train at the Academy in Kent), to offer Sanctuary Magazine readers a FREE, easily downloadable taster session. All you have to do is contact Marion at info@vie-tality.com and she will send you an audio file straight to your computer. Please let us know how you get on.

*Professor Alfonso Caycedo

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

By Louisa Daniels the high rates of depression. Professor Daniel Freeman, who led the study said: “The biggest discrepancies occur in conditions for which we know the environment, rather than genes, makes the greatest causal contribution.” Professor Freeman attributed this to the issue that: “Increasingly, women are expected to function as carer, homemaker, and breadwinner

Or something a little deeper?

or centuries, women have been subject to fierce judgement about certain behaviours that are often due to the fluctuating nature of hormones. Horrifically, it wasn’t so long ago that women struggled in silence, scared of being secretly ‘carted off’ to a psychiatric hospital by family members convinced they were ‘mad’. Thankfully, these days, female hormones are somewhat better understood; for instance, some women find the natural cycle of menstruation a dreadful event, while others hardly even notice that it’s happening. This, we now know, is largely down to the varying levels of oestrogen that are involved. Hormones can cause women to feel irritable, tired and stressedout, and, it also appears, this could mean women are more

open to psychological distress. A recent study carried out by University College London (UCL), found that women at the ‘early luteal’ phase (16 to 20 days after the start of their period) may be more vulnerable to some of the psychological side effects associated with stressful experiences. The research is significant because, not only is it the first to show a potential link between psychological vulnerability and ovulation, but the results suggest a monthly window of opportunity that could help to prevent common mental health problems developing in women. According to UCL’s Dr Sunjeev Kamboj, the findings could be crucially important for treating women who have suffered trauma: “Asking women who have experienced a traumatic

event about the time since their last period might help to identify those at greatest risk of developing recurring symptoms similar to those seen in psychological disorders such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD),” said Dr Kamboj. Given that The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate that women are 40 percent more likely than men to experience psychological disorders, findings like these can’t be ignored. But, when we also take into account the context of modern women’s lives, it’s no wonder things are sometimes proving impossible. In a recent study at Oxford University, they found that the pressure on women to fill many different roles in life is likely to be a major factor for

mental health problems, as well as higher incidences of alcohol, drug and anger problems, it would be wrong not to consider gender specifically: “Men and women are very much from the same planet but they may be breathing air of different qualities. If we ignore the potentially higher rates of psychological problems in women, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to change the situation for the better.”

If we ignore the potentially higher rates of psychological problems in women, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to change the situation for the better... Professor Daniel Freeman - all while being perfectly shaped and impeccably dressed. Given that domestic work is undervalued, and considering that women tend to be paid less, find it harder to advance in a career, have to juggle multiple roles, and are bombarded with images of apparent female ‘perfection’, it would be surprising if there weren’t some emotional and psychological cost. These are the kind of pressures that can leave women feeling as if they’ve somehow failed. As if they don’t have what it takes to be successful. As if they’ve been left behind. And those kinds of feelings can lead to psychological problems like anxiety and depression.” Interestingly, and not forgetting our male friends, Professor Freeman adds that whilst men, too, experience very high levels of

These days, common conditions such as work stress, postnatal depression and anxiety are, usually, addressed with compassion, but just a generation or so ago, women who suffered from these conditions were often confined to an asylum. In an article for The Mail Online, Wendy Wallace, author of The Painted Bridge, wrote about her investigation of the lives of women diagnosed with mental illness during the 60s. Motivated by the discovery that her grandmother was diagnosed with clinical depression following the death of her husband, Wendy reflected on how, hopefully, ‘grief might today be recognised as such, and treated with bereavement counseling, rather than being labelled ‘depression’, as it was in the 60s, and treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).’ Wendy’s research led her to

the archive at Bethlam Hospital in London, and it was here that Wendy came across countless other stories of women who had to endure painful treatment and social isolation as a result of what we now know to be fairly common and treatable conditions.

So, going forwards, what exactly is the situation for women today? Well, according to the The World Health Organisation: • Depressive disorders account for close to 41.9% of the disability from neuropsychiatric disorders among women, compared to 29.3% among men. • The leading mental health problems of the elderly include depression, organic brain syndromes and dementias - the majority endured by women. • 80% of the 50 million people affected by violent conflicts, civil wars, disasters, and displacement are women and children. • The lifetime prevalence rate of violence against women ranges from 16% to 50%. • At least one in five women suffer rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. The question is: What needs to change, and how? For more information, please visit: www.ucl.ac.uk www.oxford.ac.uk www.who.int

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

Push the boat out for a good cause

Safety Nets

What makes eight young women row from Oxford to London? A love of sport? Highly likely. A passion for raising awareness of eating disorders? Most definitely!

n June 2013, members of the women’s squad at Corpus Christi College Boat Club rowed from Oxford to London to raise money for the national eating disorders charity, ‘Beat’. As well as raising awareness of eating disorders, Beat also provides advice and support to sufferers, family and friends. One member of the team, Esther, who is a volunteer Young Ambassador for Beat, was herself diagnosed with anorexia as a teenager. Now fully recovered, Esther and her team travelled 180km over 4 full days, making them the first female crew to complete the challenge, which they did by holding onto their motto: ‘We will push our bodies to the limits, to stop eating disorder sufferers from doing the same.’ Speaking to Sanctuary, Esther said: “I took up rowing when I came to uni, with the view that I couldn’t go to Oxford and not give it a go, and fell in love with it from the start. The camaraderie

and need for physical strength it provides have helped me to maintain my recovery since leaving home. It has reminded me that food isn’t the enemy; it is what I need to keep me healthy and allow me to succeed. Posttraining I now look forward to whatever energy snack I might choose. So I thought it would be fitting to combine the sport that has allowed me to live again with my work for Beat!”

At the time of print, the girls had raised over £10,000, and although the trip is now complete, it is not too late to donate towards this fantastically inspiring and hopeful cause – please visit www. justgiving.com/londonrow

Nicola Tervit discusses the pros and cons of digital communication and asks if there is a safe place for people to talk about mental health online?

ocial media’s effect on mental health has received some bad press recently: It’s been suggested that people are losing social skills and isolating themselves - becoming addicted to the Internet. A lot of close friends of mine have had fallouts on and over Twitter and Facebook, and some have been brought down by the idea that everybody else is having a fantastic life thanks to the photos and announcements that they post. I always say that people put their highlight reels on Facebook, so you shouldn’t compare it to your behind-the-scenes. But that’s easier said than done. Just last week I found myself slumped in front of the computer reading that yet another Facebook ‘friend’ was engaged and moving forward with their ecstatically happy life, while I seemed to be moving backwards. If you like the idea of connecting with others but the thought of social networking scares you, then there are some other fantastic resources out there specifically for people with mental health problems, which are really good,

particularly if you have social anxieties, or don’t want to discuss your mental health in person. Places like the Samaritans and Women’s Aid now offer email support, which is a godsend for people who get nervous on the phone. Even if you don’t want to discuss mental health, there are forums out there related to your passions; where you can connect with like-minded people. If, however, you’d like to meet people with experience of mental health problems, there is a website called Elefriends – run by the mental health charity Mind. Elefriends is similar to Facebook, which is where the Elefriends group originated. But, unlike Facebook, there are no relationship statuses or friend numbers to navigate. It’s a small group of supportive people with lots of different mental health problems, using their experiences to help others. Whatever your interests or reasons for wanting to meet others, at just a click of a button, you could be in touch with a world that is waiting for you.

To find out more about eating disorders and the work that Beat do, please visit their website www.b-eat.co.uk

Here are the links a few online mental health communities: Sane Forum: www.sane.org.uk/what_we_do/support/supportforum Beat: www.b-eat.co.uk/get-help/online-community/ Black Dog Tribe: blackdogtribe.com/ Elefriends: www.elefriends.org.uk Mind: www.mind.org.uk/

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

Go feet first for hands on F

or thousands of years, and in many different cultures across the world, massage therapy has been used to release the tension and negative energy that stores within our minds and bodies. Although there isn’t a great deal of scientific evidence on the benefits of massage, many practitioners and devotees claim that massage therapy can be used to effectively treat some of the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression. The primary reason for this is that massage stimulates the nerve cell receptors under the skin, activating the nervous system and releasing the brain’s mood-enhancing chemicals: dopamine and serotonin. In addition, massage also apparently reduces levels of the stress hormones: cortisol and adrenaline, and increases the occurrence of alpha brain waves, which have a calming effect.

All of this chemical activity - as well as the fact that it’s usually very soothing to physically take time out from the world certainly helps to explain how, and why, most of us say we feel better after a massage. However, it’s must be stressed that massage therapy, of any kind, should only be carried out by somebody who is fully trained. The last thing anybody wants is an injury. It’s also really important that massage is respected for what it is: only a treatment. It is certainly not a cure for mental illness, and nor does it claim to be. But when carried out properly, it can help to reduce some of the negative symptoms of stress, which we all experience now and then, including: • Difficulty sleeping • Increased sense of fear • Worthlessness • Lethargy

As well as reducing the bad stuff, many who regularly experience massage report feeling much brighter, and these happy feelings can also be accompanied by other welcome benefits, such as: • Mental clarity • Increased energy levels • Positive body awareness Reflexology is a particularly effective form of massage therapy. Dating back to the ancient civilisations of Egypt, China and India, it was first brought to the attention of the West by Dr William Fitzgerald, who created the notion of Zone Therapy (which suggests that areas on the feet and hands correspond with the organs in body). Then Eunice Ingham used this idea to develop reflexology in the 1930s.

Reflexology’s main aim is to correct our imbalances, and by doing so it has the potential to alleviate and improve some of the symptoms of many mental and physical health problems. The big toe, in particular, is said to correspond with the brain, as are the tips of the first and second toes. According to Reflexology, it is in these areas that the pituitary gland, the pineal gland, the hypothalamus and the medulla (oblongata) can be positively manipulated. When our Editor, Louisa, first experienced reflexology,

at London’s Spa and Massage, she was pleasantly surprised by how powerful it was. During the treatment, Louisa completely switched off from all of her thoughts; and it’s thoughts that usually creep into a massage treatment. Combined with aromatherapy, reflexology can be engineered to have a particular effect. So, if you want to unwind, then geranium and lavender are good choices, or, to feel revived, you may want to request oils containing lemongrass and bergamot. As with any holistic treatment, and indeed with most things in life, there isn’t a one size fits all. But here at Sanctuary Magazine, we’re of the opinion that anything is worth a try, especially if it just might help us to escape from our internal chatter every once in a while. Though, admittedly, not costing only mere pennies, reflexology is, usually, a relatively affordable treatment - typically costing £60 for an hour’s session. In our view,

this is significantly cheaper than many other massage treatments in spas and salons, and its effects are far more long lasting. Try typing ‘Reflexology’ into Google to find a local practitioner. Many do home visits, meaning, if you do nod off, you can stay put when it’s finished. Or, if you’re within reach of London, then why not make use of an exclusive £5 discount on any reflexology treatment at Spa and Massage! All you have to do is quote “Sanctuary Magazine” at the time of booking to claim your discount. Making use of this offer means a 30-minute treatment costs just £30. Spa and Massage believe that massage should be accessible to everybody because of the incredible health benefits it offers and all of their therapists are fully trained. To find out more, please visit their website spaandmassage.co.uk Please speak to your GP before embarking on any form of massage therapy.

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

A Spa just for you

Keep well-oiled

Since 2006, the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) has recommended that we try to consume two portions of oily fish a week. Most people know that. But what isn’t so widely known is that the EFSA also recommends that we take a 250 mg Omega 3 supplement every day, too. Why?

e all appreciate that taking a day off from the world can be of huge benefit to our mental health and wellbeing. One way to create some time out is by going to a spa: there’s something about heat, water and quiet breathing that combine to rebalance our thoughts and feelings. However, spa days usually don’t come cheap, and so it’s all very well if you’ve got the hundreds of pounds often required to attend such a place. If, by chance, you do, and you want to really treat yourself, then look no further than The Lime Wood Hotel in Hampshire. This place is truly magical. Alternatively, if you like the sound of a spa retreat, but the purse won’t stretch far enough for a four or five star spa, then we happily direct you to Ockendon Manor in Sussex. The spa here is lovely and is certainly more affordable.

But what if you’re looking to spend much, much less? Well, we’ve had a think and here are our great budget-busting tips for a take-five treat: • Sign-up for a free trial/day pass at your local private health club. Many of these giant places have spa facilities such as a whirlpool and a sauna, so they’re a chance to get a work out and a relaxation session for free. Just double check that there’s no obligation to join! • Contact the local beauty/holistic therapy colleges and ask if they need any willing participants to test on. • Visit salonguineapig.co.uk for ideas. But double check the practitioners are insured before undergoing any treatments. • Contact the luxurious spas and ask about last minute deals. Many of them release empty rooms and this can be a great way to snap up a bargain. • Turn your daily bath or shower into a spa by adding essential oils to your routine. Lighting an oil burner is also very calming, or invigorating, depending on the scent you chose. Tell us how you get on…

ell, there is a growing body of evidence that shows how maintaining a good level of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the active ingredient in Omega 3, has wonderful health benefits, particularly for our brains and our mental health. Omega-3 is a fatty acid and it lubricates the membranes and neurons in our brains. By doing so, it enhances the flow of electrical impulses (thoughts) - a bit like oiling a rusty bicycle wheel: helping the cogs to turn a bit more smoothly. Omega-3 also has a huge part to play when it comes to the two main brain-signaling chemicals: dopamine and serotonin. These are two crucially important chemicals and recently there have been some relevant scientific developments that strongly link them to schizophrenia, bipolar and depression. In particular, a study carried out by The Institute of Psychiatry in London discovered that the daily consumption of 1 or 2 grams of EPA, for a period of three months, resulted in

‘significant clinical improvements’. However, it is important to point out that too much oily fish and Omega-3 is poisonous. So please, don’t overdo it, and stick to the guidelines. The key to getting the most mental health benefits from an Omega-3 supplement is to find one with a high concentration of EPA. If you think this is something worth exploring, then speak to your GP or medical professional about it. For more information, please visit the EFSA’s website: efsa.europa.eu

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

Turn over a different leaf

ith poor mental health estimated to cost the NHS around £14 billion a year, it’s doesn’t come as a shock to learn that patients are now being encouraged to try and understand, for themselves, the nature of their illnesses and how best to try and manage some of the symptoms - certainly for mild to moderate conditions - without the help of the state. In June 2013, as part of this wave of personal responsibility, the ‘Reading Well Books on Prescription Scheme’, the first of it’s kind, was launched in England by The Reading Agency. Working within the National Institute for Care and Excellence (NICE) guidelines, the scheme aims to provide self-help reading material based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for a range of common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. The books, which have been recommended by experts, are now available to borrow, free of charge, from participating libraries.

We’ve had a look at the approved list and here’s our round up of the titles that are most worthy of your time and energy: Anxiety – Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers (Vermillion) Binge Eating/Bulimia Nervosa Getting Better Bit(e) by Bit(e): A Survival Kit for Sufferers of Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorders by Schmidt, Ulrike and Treasure (Routledge) Depression - Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think by Greenberger, Dennis and Padesky (Guildford Press) Panic - Panic Attacks: What They Are, Why They Happen and What You Can Do About Them by Christine Ingham (HarperCollins) Stress - Manage Your Stress for a Happier Life by Looker, Terry and Gregson (Hodder) To see the full list and to find out more, speak to you GP or other medical professional, and visit The Reading Agency’s website readingagency.org.uk

Branching out Writer Hollie Hines shares with us her Tree List strategy for staying healthy and happy.

ometimes I feel like an escalator: the on-going steps on infinite repeat, one after one after one, coming back for me to grip onto with my feet. Except sometimes I lose my place. Days or even weeks can be like this. When this happens, what I try to do is sit down and take the hour. I shut the door, lie down and close my eyes. For me, depression feels like being too scared to live in my own skin. Confidence and self-esteem tends to be low in a down period, but I’ve developed a strategy to help myself in moments of need and I like to call it my ‘Tree List’. A few years ago, I was desperate to get into shape. I’d run on and off for a while but my new goal was to run at least twice a week, and to keep it up – no excuses! After a few weeks of short distance running, I’d build up by a mile each week. Running became my crutch and in times of stress I ran – thriving from

the endorphins. Now a couple of medals hang on my door (won from fun-runs) and I can look back and smile that I stuck to my word. Now that 10 km has been achieved, a half-marathon is in the pipeline - yikes! Another branch on my tree is nutrition. Stress and trauma unsettled my body into symptoms of IBS; unhealthy worry about what I should and shouldn’t eat took over my life, and now eating healthily is a priority. But I can’t allow it to take a hold of my life. Previously it stopped me from having fun and I created more stress by constantly saying ‘no’ to certain foods, so now I remind myself to enjoy the foods I desire, in healthy quantities - I don’t want to take afternoon tea off my list anytime soon! I find when I’m in fearful spells of anxiety and depression, I can look back and say: “If I’ve come out of it once, surely I can do it

again”, and so, as I go through my ups and downs, the tree list grows and highlights those special things that make me, me.

Here are a few more of its branches: • Baking – it keeps me focused and mindful of the task at hand and I enjoy delighting others with sweet treats! • Red lipstick - at least when I look in the mirror and I’m not feeling great, I’ll see colour instead of grey. • Scarves – they keep me warm and comfortable, and I love a shot of pattern! • Headphones – I listen to music on the go to perk me up and for self-reflection. Why not have a think about the things that you enjoy and try making your own Tree List? If you’re happy to share it with us, we’d love to hear from you.

Sanctuary / Issue 15 / Autumn 2013

Serendipity

Reader’s views

ver noticed how a moment of peace can sometimes make you feel more beautiful? Perhaps it’s a quiet bath, a happy holiday or quality time spent with a friend that has the power to make you feel better. Well, it seems there may actually be some science behind it. A recent study in Finland has discovered that women’s attractiveness is linked to stress levels. According to the study, cortisol (the stress hormone) can play havoc with not just our moods, but also our appearance. Stress affects the body in a myriad of ways, but particularly it impacts on our heart and skin. This is because cortisol causes the cells to heal more slowly, and for the skin, this means a quicker breakdown of collagen, and increased inflammation. Hence why, when I’m stressed, my breakouts can prove to be quite unruly, and though I’m not particularly vain, I do feel down when they appear, which doesn’t help. Life can be stressful at times, no matter who we are - there’s no escaping it. So how can we try to protect ourselves from its nasty effects? Well, the usual stuff: sleep, exercise and time for relaxation. Now, this is often easy to say, but making time to relax can be of huge benefit to overall health and wellbeing. Making time for relaxation exercises requires discipline and perseverance, but one easy method is to take 10 minutes, whenever it is possible to do so, and just be still. The point is to focus on your breathing. If the mind starts to focus on troubles, it can help

his is your page. We want to know what you like or maybe don’t like about Sanctuary Magazine and we’re hungry to know your thoughts on the topics that we raise in each issue. In the next issue, we will select the best letters from those we receive, printing them here on this very page. Don’t worry, you can remain anonymous, just tell us that you don’t want your name to be printed. What’s more, we’ve teamed up with handmade jewellery brand Wish (wishhandmadejewellery. co.uk) to offer you the chance of winning our star letter prize. So what are you waiting for – we’d love to hear from you.

As some of you may already know, Sanctuary Magazine is now digital. As well as our publisher, Let’s Link’s website letslinkmentalwellbeing.com - we also have a presence on Twitter, Facebook and Issuu. To LIKE our new Facebook page and share it with your friends, the link is: facebook. com/SanctuaryMag To follow us on Twitter, our handle is: @sanctuary_mag Furthermore, as well as this printed copy that you’re holding, there are endless electronic copies of Sanctuary Magazine available on the web, and all

our back issues are available to download, for FREE, at issuu. com/sanctuarymagazine So, if you’ve enjoyed this issue and fancy reading our previous issues, then you can, and we encourage you to email copies to your friends. We welcome you all to become a member of the Sanctuary Magazine community and we look forward to meeting you.

Do you want to get involved in Sanctuary Magazine?

to try and think of the people and places that make us happy, and to play calming music. Too much stress is destructive and it can cause many problems in the body. So it’s in the best interests of more than just our looks to learn the habit of taking ten minutes. If the studies are anything to go by, then those few moments could go a long way to helping us feel truly beautiful: and that’s on the inside, where it really counts.

Well, we have some fantastic opportunities for volunteer writers, photographers and social media whizzes. If you think you have a skill that could help us to reach out to more women, then please get in touch at sanctuarymagazineuk@gmail. com and tell us why you should join the volunteer editorial team.

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