The choice to give a baby a dummy (also known as a pacifier or soother) is a very personal one. When it comes down to it, the choice is entirely yours. Some parents don’t include a dummy in their baby’s routine and manage without one. But others (around two-thirds) do choose to use a dummy
A guide to soothing: The pros and cons of dummies Read More »
When debt becomes overwhelming, sometimes the easiest thing to do is pretend it doesn’t exist. You stop answering unknown numbers and ignore emails. You tell yourself you’ll look at the statement tomorrow, or on Monday, or in the new year. Avoidance is a very human response to anxiety, but ironically, it can only make the
Too stressed to deal with your debt? Avoiding it could cost you more Read More »
As mid-year exams approach, many families feel stress in their homes soaring. But it’s important to remember that, while exams are an important part of the academic year, they can become emotionally overwhelming for scholars if the pressure to perform starts to outweigh their love of learning. Lindy du Preez, achievement manager at SPARK Schools,
The calm parent’s guide to supporting children through exam season Read More »
A growing number of women over 35 are quietly struggling with unexplained weight gain, crushing fatigue, anxiety, inflammation and a body that no longer responds to the same efforts that once worked. According to Dr Isstelle Jonker, medical practitioner at Dr Smook and Partners, managed by RxME Group, many women are incorrectly blaming themselves for
Why so many women over 35 feel like their bodies have suddenly turned against them Read More »
During Stress Awareness Month, attention turns to a pressing issue in South Africa’s education system: Learners face unprecedented pressure, but often lack the means to cope. What was once a manageable academic journey has become a constant balancing act. Today’s learners must juggle schoolwork, social pressures, digital distractions and growing anxiety about the future –
Inside the pressures of modern learning Read More »
South Africans are living through another cycle of sustained economic pressure as rising fuel costs continue to filter through the economy, pushing up the price of transport, food and household goods. At the same time, broader global uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical tensions are adding further worry and dread to an already financially stressful landscape for
South Africans are stressed out: The hidden health impact of a strained economy Read More »
Your heart is pounding. Your stomach is in knots. Your shoulders feel locked in tension and exhaustion hangs over you – yet, medical tests show nothing physically wrong. For millions of South Africans, anxiety doesn’t stay confined to the mind: It shows up powerfully in the body as psychosomatic symptoms, with very real physical sensations
SA’s silent strain fuelled by growing anxiety Read More »
Recent studies reveal that children are experiencing anxiety levels comparable to psychiatric patients from the 1950s. Our kids aren’t just ‘stressed’. They’re operating at crisis levels – and traditional parenting approaches aren’t built for this reality, says Loren Lachman. Despite having more resources and opportunities than previous generations, today’s children are paralysed by perfectionism, fear
Breakthrough solution to children’s mindset crisis Read More »
If you’ve ever walked through a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), you’ll know the atmosphere: quiet, sterile, filled with tiny machines keeping even tinier lives stable. What you may not see, though, is the emotional toll it takes on the mothers standing behind that glass. For many moms of premature babies, the NICU isn’t just
Mental health and the NICU mom: The silent battle behind the glass Read More »
Jellystone Designs has launched its award-winning DIY Calm Down Bottle in South Africa: an innovative sensory tool that’s quickly becoming a must-have for parents, educators and therapists looking for creative ways to help children manage stress, anxiety and emotional regulation. The DIY Calm Down Bottle is a unique, refillable sensory bottle that comes with all
Why calm down bottles are the hottest toy trend right now Read More »