Latest news with #OCD
CNA
20 hours ago
- General
- CNA
The unexpected symptoms of OCD beyond hand-washing and light-switch rituals
When most people think of obsessive-compulsive disorder, they may picture behaviours they've seen on TV – like repetitive hand-washing, flicking light switches on and off and meticulously arranging small items over and over. But the disorder manifests in many other ways. Some patients obsess over thoughts that they might hurt someone, while others fixate on certain aspects of their personal relationships. The comedian Maria Bamford, for example, has called her OCD 'unwanted thoughts syndrome.' On The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, she shared a story about how she couldn't stop thinking horrific thoughts about her family members. On social media, people describe many types of obsessions and compulsions: ' Relationship OCD,' 'sexual orientation OCD' or 'emotional contamination OCD'. These aren't separate diagnoses, but rather they are different expressions of the same disorder – much like how people with phobias can suffer from different fears, said Dr Carolyn Rodriguez, an OCD expert and a professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Stanford Medicine. Understanding these distinctions can help clinicians tailor a precise treatment plan, she added. And they're important for the public to grasp as well. Otherwise, people who experience the disorder might not even recognise they have it, Dr Rodriguez said. People who are fearful of harming others might think, 'Maybe I am a murderer,' she added. 'If I tell anybody these things, I'm going to be put in jail.' Here's what to know about the diverse ways that OCD shows up. FIRST, WHAT IS OCD? OCD involves a set of obsessions and compulsions that cause great distress and affect people's quality of life. Obsessions can include unwanted intrusive thoughts, images or urges that dominate the mind. Compulsions are the repetitive actions that people take in response to their obsessions to try to help themselves feel better. These OCD symptoms can be time consuming, lasting for at least an hour a day, according to the diagnostic manual used by mental health practitioners. If someone worries excessively that they will set the house on fire by accidentally leaving the stove on, for instance, they might check again and again to make sure the knobs are in the off position. About 2.3 per cent of American adults are estimated to have had OCD at some point in their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Women are more likely to receive a diagnosis than men are. More research is needed to further understand the origins of OCD, which is thought to have genetic and environmental causes. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OCD? While all of those with the disorder have obsessions and compulsions, 'OCD across patients is almost never exactly the same,' said Jeremy Tyler, co-chief of ambulatory psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. People with OCD can differ in many ways, including whether or not they have tics (involuntary, repetitive movements or vocalisations). Patients also vary in their degree of 'insight,' which is their level of awareness of being ill, as well as in how they feel when their symptoms are triggered. Another way patients differ is in the content of their obsessions and compulsions. Concerns about contamination, a need for symmetry or order, forbidden or taboo thoughts and a fear of harming others or yourself are common themes, said Dr Helen Blair Simpson, a psychiatry professor and OCD researcher at Columbia University. The International OCD Foundation lists other themes as well, including sexual thoughts; fixations on relationships; worries that tie into responsibility, like being responsible for something terrible happening; or fears related to perfectionism, like showing excessive worry over making mistakes. Patients and therapists have labelled some of these themes in online forums, coining terms like 'symmetry and order OCD' and 'perfectionism OCD'. Creating names for different expressions of OCD may help sufferers feel less alone, Dr Rodriguez said. Often, more than one theme can be present at the same time, and the content of a person's obsession or compulsion can change over the course of the illness, the experts said. HOW IS OCD TREATED? OCD is typically treated with an antidepressant, exposure and response prevention therapy, or both. Therapy involves asking patients to experience their stress and anxiety without performing a compulsion in response. Therapists will also encourage patients to allow their obsessions to surface rather than continually try to push them away. It's particularly important for therapists to know someone's 'type' when carrying out exposure and response prevention therapy, because clinicians can then ensure that their patients are being exposed to the precise types of situations that typically stir up their obsessions, Dr Tyler noted. 'I eat food off the ground with people; I hold knives with people,' he said. It may sound 'wild,' he added, but in the process, patients learn that the thing they fear the most isn't likely to happen.
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
San Juanico Bridge rehab costs P7B, monthly loss at P600M —NDRRMC
Around P7 billion is needed for the repair and rehabilitation of San Juanico Bridge amid concerns on its structural integrity, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said. 'The estimated cost of repair and rehabilitation by the DPWH amounts to P7 billion, and any delay in fund release would further escalate the crisis,' the NDRRMC said in a resolution dated May 25. According to the NDRRMC, the restrictions on San Juanico Bridge could result in up to P600 million monthly economic losses as 14,000 vehicles cross the infrastructure daily. 'The abrupt imposition of restrictions has stranded more than 200 vehicles and is projected to result in monthly economic losses ranging from P300 million and P600 million,' the NDRRMC said. Among the affected sectors are food and fuel supply, delivery of healthcare services, commercial distribution, and regional trade. State of calamity, state of emergency Due to this, the NDRRMC has recommended to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. to declare a state of calamity in the entire region of Eastern Visayas. Currently, Tacloban City and Samar Province are under a state of emergency. Completed in 1972, San Juanico Bridge is the only permanent land link between the islands of Samar and Leyte. It is a vital artery of the Maharlika Highway that connects Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. A three-ton load limit has been imposed on San Juanico Bridge since May 15 after an assessment showed that there are significant structural compromises to the bridge. Only the middle portion of the bridge is open for motorists. This restriction halted the passage of heavy cargo vehicles, severely disrupting the transport of food, medicine, agricultural products, construction materials, and other essential commodities across the region. Green lane To ease the impact, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo on Friday said old ports and additional permits for landing craft tanks are being considered to ferry affected trucks. As the upcoming rainy season may limit the number of roll-on/roll-off (RORO) operations, Bendito said the agency is still looking into possible solutions. The OCD is planning to designate a 'green lane' for basic commodities on San Juanico Bridge. There is also a proposal to construct another bridge to have more alternative routes in the affected areas, according to the OCD spokesperson. 'Sa madaling salita po, lahat ng ating posibleng maging solusyon ay tinututukan po ng OCD (In short, all of possible solutions are being studied by the OCD),' Bendito said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Fat jabs gave me Ozempic face with sagging cheeks and thin lips – but I've found solution WITHOUT fillers
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOOKING at my reflection in the mirror, I felt delighted to see my petite size 8 figure once again. But as I glanced up to my face, the gaunt woman staring back at me came as a shock. 10 Rebecca Tidy shed 6st with the help of weight loss injections - but ended up with 'Ozempic face' Credit: Lorna Roach 10 Rebecca went from 7st to 13st in four years Credit: Supplied After having skin cancer treatment in 2019 and becoming a single mum in lockdown, I'd gone from 7st to 13st in four years. So I recently turned to weight loss jabs to regain my former shape. I didn't regret it, but the side effect – 'Ozempic face' – as seen on celebrities like Sharon Osborne, wasn't something I'd bargained on. I was 38 years old, but my sunken cheeks, gaunt eyes and thin lips had aged me overnight. One relative had helpfully pointed out my new 'jowls' at a family gathering, while strangers on X told me I looked like a drug addict or permanently unwell. I would be lying if I said it didn't hurt. When I first gained weight, it didn't bother me at first. Yes, none of my clothes fitted me my 5ft 4ins frame any more, but I was simply grateful to be alive for my daughter Mabel, now seven. My mind was taken up with getting through my separation from her dad and surviving the pandemic. Baking banana bread was more of a priority than working out. But as the trauma of my illness and break-up eased, I realised I wanted to feel like my old self again and ditch the stretchy leggings I had become so attached to. In December 2023, I headed back to the gym four times a week and tried to eat less – but the weight was slow to drop off. Some weeks I didn't lose anything, despite trying so hard. Nutritionist reveals which stars could be suffering from 'Ozempic face' & why some like Kelly Clarkson get away without It didn't help that medication I was taking for OCD [Obsessive Compulsive Disorder] was an appetite stimulant. But stopping that wasn't an option. After speaking to an online pharmacist I decided to try the jabs, which cost £179 a month. Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. I had a false start with Saxenda, which gave me stomach pains, before settling into using Mounjaro in June 2024. Over a 12-month period, I dropped back down to a size 8, without any of the anticipated stretch marks or loose skin. It felt great to wear my old clothes again. But while I didn't love how my body looked at 13st, I preferred the appearance of my face compared to when I was skinny. DRAMATIC CHANGE It had fullness and shape, my skin glowed and there were barely any wrinkles. I was dismayed by the dramatic change that came with slimming down and knew that no amount of 'miracle' skincare potions would ease the deep lines either side of my mouth, loss of volume in my cheeks, or the dark circles under my eyes. For the first time ever, my skin felt crepey and dull, plus everything below my cheeks had dropped that little bit further south. I considered more jabs to help and spent hours researching cheek fillers, nasolabial fold treatments and those skin rejuvenators that can bring back volume. Some of the before-and-after photos online looked amazing. 10 An example of 'bad' make-up on Rebecca contour, which will only make you look more gaunt Credit: Lorna Roach But realistically, I knew I'd be lucky to walk out of a decent clinic with any change from £1,000. And even then, it would not be a permanent solution. I don't regret the jabs one bit. Now I'm back to a healthy weight, I have more energy and confidence. At the same time, it's not shallow to want to feel good when I look in the mirror. If makeup can help me restore my pride when I see my reflection and make the best of what I've got, it will be a much cheaper fix – and easier for a busy single mum to recreate at home. Follow the six simple steps TOP makeup artist Aimee Adams reveals the tricks she used to transform Rebecca's look – and how others can use them to counter the signs of 'Ozempic face' 10 Top make-up artist Aimee Adams reveals the tricks she used to counter signs of 'Ozempic face' Credit: Lorna Roach START WITH THE SKIN Opt for products that contain collagen and hyaluronic acid, to restore brightness and improve the tone. Make-up isn't Botox, but working from as healthy a base as possible will make the best of what you have. Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Jelly Eye Patches are perfect for an instant boost (£19.95 for 20 pairs, Boots). 10 Nip+Fab Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Jelly Eye Patches, £19.95 for 20 pairs, Boots Credit: Supplied TIME TO SHINE Your base needs to reflect the light away from those grey hollows, so avoid heavy matt foundations and concealers. I like Sculpted by Aimee HydraTint Moisturising Tinted Serum (£20, Boots) and Jane Iredale Smooth Affair Brightening Face Primer (£44, Amazon) to get a dewy feel. 10 Sculpted by Aimee HydraTint Moisturising Tinted Serum, £20, Boots Credit: Supplied KEEP AWAY FROM THE KARDASHIANS It might work for Kim and co, but contouring will only make you look more gaunt. Opt for a classic pink or peach cream blusher that isn't too oily on the apples of your cheeks instead, to add fullness and a flush of youth. Water-based Delilah In Bloom Radiant Liquid Blush in Tiger Lilly (£23, Next) is perfect, set in place with a blush powder. 10 Delilah In Bloom Radiant Liquid Blush in Tiger Lilly, £23, Next Credit: Supplied GO FOR GOLD A smokey eye won't make your eyes pop if they are looking sunken. Choose a golden eyeshadow to counteract it and add brightness, with a soft and smudgable brown eyeliner. Finish with a couple of little lash extensions on the outsides to open things up, curl them and add a coat of Avon Exxtravert Extreme Volume Mascara (£9.50, Avon). Fill out those brows too, with Merit Beauty 1990 Ultra Fine Eyebrow Gel Pencil (£21, Sephora). 10 Merit Beauty 1990 Ultra Fine Eyebrow Gel Pencil, £21, Sephora Credit: Supplied BE NATURAL A bold liner and lipstick is overkill and will seem fake. Choose a shade similar to your real lip colour if you really want to add volume, like e.l.f Love Triangle Lip Filler Liner in Soft Pink (£4, plus a dewy or glossy finish. If you want more extreme results, try PS Plumping Lip Serum (£3, Primark) – it can sting, but the difference is noticeable. 10 PS Plumping Lip Serum, £3, Primark Credit: Supplied SET AND MATCH Makeup can gather in the lines of your skin unless you set it properly after applying. Sprays are popular, but a powder is longer-lasting and works well with creamier makeup, if used sparingly. You don't want it to become cakey. I'm a fan of English Mineral Makeup Fairy Godmother (£59, 10 English Mineral Makeup Fairy Godmother, £59, Credit: Supplied REBECCA'S VERDICT I LOVED the way Aimee transformed my face, making me look younger, healthier and less tired. The under eyes were my favourite part – I couldn't believe how she got rid of those dark circles. I've learned that the best approach is not to go heavy, especially with contour, which is a surprise given how obsessed makeup influencers are with this technique. I'm definitely going to ditch it for a peach blusher and also swap my usual matte lipstick for a gloss. This will be so much more affordable than aesthetic treatments – and fun to do.
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Why does nobody talk about dryness? Premature menopause had me constantly irritated – this is how I dealt with it
At 40, I've had chronic illnesses like fibromyalgia and OCD for half my life, so I'm used to experiencing a lot of strange mental and physical symptoms. However, a few years ago, these symptoms multiplied. I was experiencing things I'd never experienced before – crying randomly in the happiest places, an extreme fear of everything (when usually my confidence bordered on arrogance), a prickly numb sensation in my thighs, extreme body skin dryness and irritation, the list goes on. I didn't know it yet, but these were all symptoms of menopause. A recent study by JSHealth Vitamins found that 90 per cent of women feel inadequately prepared for the symptoms associated with perimenopause. I know that if I'd been taught about the symptoms at school, or read more press coverage on menopause, I would have been able to identify what was happening to me a lot sooner. It was the skin dryness and almost eczema-like irritation on my body that unlocked a premature menopause diagnosis for me. I had seen someone on Instagram who was going through menopause talking about using the same creams that my doctor had given me for my skin issues. Her doctor told her it was a menopause symptom. I was 39 at the time so menopause had never even entered my mind as a possible explanation. The taboo symptoms of menopause I had been on the 'mini pill' (progesterone only) for decades, which eliminated periods for me, so I hadn't even noticed any changes with my cycle. I Googled other menopause symptoms and discovered that I had been experiencing every single one, for years. I immediately booked an appointment with my doctor for blood tests, and after two rounds of them several months apart, I was diagnosed with premature menopause and put on HRT. I was lucky – alarmingly, JS Health Vitamins found that 1 in 4 women felt their local GP was inadequately trained in menopause. By chance, I got a female GP who was up to speed and educated on the topic. However, at the start of my menopause journey the one symptom I had been too embarrassed to seek help with was vaginal dryness. Like the skin on other areas of my body, the skin down there was extremely irritated, I experienced a burning sensation and it was sore to touch. GP Dr Sophie Newton explains that, 'menopausal vaginal dryness is a symptom of what's medically called genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). It's caused by a reduction in oestrogen levels, which affects the tissues of the vagina and surrounding areas. Without enough oestrogen, these tissues become thinner, less elastic and produce less natural lubrication.' Over the next couple of months, the prescribed oestrogen gel that I applied to my arms and the progesterone capsules I took, transformed my life and reset me. But I was still experiencing hot flushes and vaginal dryness. Hot flushes and excess sweating I could deal with, but the vaginal dryness was having a severe impact on my life and my sleep. At my first HRT review, I shared these symptoms, and I was prescribed oestrogen pessaries – a low-dose oestrogen tablet that's inserted into the vagina with a tampon-like applicator twice per week. Dr Newton says that the crux of managing dryness is oestrogen. The pessaries I was prescribed helped relieve my vaginal dryness symptoms a little, but not enough. I was at the maximum dose and not able to increase how often I inserted one. The effect this was having on my life was intolerable. I was constantly irritated down there, and it felt like permanently having a mixture of a urinary tract infection and thrush. GP and women's health expert Dr Milli Raizada explained to me that GSM, 'doesn't just impact your vagina and vulva, but also the urinary tract (urethra).' This made total sense. I was raw and sore, and I had an annoying burning sensation with an incessant feeling of needing to pee, which kept me awake most of the night. Sex with my husband was off the table as it was uncomfortable, and if we did have sex, the irritating effects lasted for days afterwards. How to treat vaginal dryness I began experimenting with the help of 'Dr Google' and tried lots of things the internet suggested might be helpful – olive oil, ice packs on my labia, over-the-counter vaginal moisturising gel from a high street chemist – but I wasn't really getting anywhere. The ice packs did help me sleep temporarily, but that was it. The moisturising gel had the opposite effect and set the area on fire. 'Surely women don't just live with this?' I thought to myself as I searched for more treatments and solutions. It took me a long time, and a lot of money, to find the products that worked for me, and to identify the things that increased the irritation. Dr Raizada explains that vaginal dryness symptoms are caused by a number of things, including 'less blood flow to the area, less oestrogen which changes the vaginal pH to more be alkaline, less oestrogen meaning less collagen and less elasticity, over washing the area, lifestyle factors like tight gym clothes and excess sweating, and certain medications. For example, antihistamines can worsen irritation too'. We are all so unique and our skin might be different to someone else's, so it took a lot of trial and error to find the routine that allowed me to live comfortably again. It wasn't a quick fix and as Dr Newton explains, 'lots of soaps, feminine hygiene products, wipes and sprays are often not recommended as they can worsen genital dryness, itching and irritation.' Like Dr Newton, I strongly encourage you to discontinue the use of any product that causes any kind of negative reaction. But I did eventually find an intimate care routine that worked for my skin – products that lubricated the area and left it comfortable, and products that soothed and cooled the skin, allowing me to resume a normal sleep pattern and enjoy sex again. From loose cotton underwear to Andrex skin kind toilet tissue, all manner of things helped relieve my vaginal dryness symptoms. I now have my self care routine perfected and these are the products I'd recommend if you're also experiencing this lesser discussed symptom of menopause. A gentle hydrating wash Dr Newton advises that, 'even gentle washes can upset the vulval pH. Stick to water or a plain emollient.' This is usually the advice you'll hear from women's health experts, however, that approach just didn't work for me. It was only with a particular intimate wash that I got any relief. Luna Daily creates its products with a team of dermatologists and, most importantly, gynaecologists, to ensure their products are safe for the delicate vulval area. The everywhere wash has a unique hydrabiome+ complex, which balances your vaginal microbiome and optimises its pH level. It also gives the area a large dose of moisture and supports the natural skin barrier. Dr Raizada suggests this might have helped me because unlike many other intimate washes, the Luna Daily wash is 'fragrance-free and contains lactic acid, and prebiotics such as inulin to help support a healthy vaginal microbiome as well as soothing omega fatty acids and vitamin E to offer barrier support'. However, she also notes that it 'also contains glycerin, so for some, may trigger thrush and bacterial vaginosis'. The other wash that I sometimes use, when I'm feeling luxurious, is Dr Barbara Sturm's V Wash. It too allows me to cleanse without irritation. It also soothes any existing irritation I may have with purslane extract and panthenol. Hyaluronic acid hydrates the area, and lactic acid helps the skin there to retain moisture, as well as supporting the area's delicate microbiome. There's also prebiotics and probiotics to maintain the intimate microflora. Dr Milli Raizada says that this wash 'aims to support the vaginal pH and microbiome with lactic acid, lactitol, xylitol, lactococcus and probiotic ferments. Hyaluronate is aimed to be moisturising and panthenol to maintain the skin barrier.' She does make the same warning about the inclusion of glycerin though. Vaginal care products aren't typically 'sexy' or enjoyable to use, but this one feels like a luxurious treat and it looks great in my bathroom, instead of being hidden away like most of the other products I use in this area. Cooling packs and sprays While Luna Daily's soothing spray is intended for women who have had a vaginal birth, it has been so helpful to me in helping to soothe my vaginal dryness (GSM). I spray it directly onto the skin and it helps relieve irritation from inflammation. It's extra cooling and soothing if you keep it in the fridge. It's infused with soothing aloe vera and bisabolol, anti-inflammatory calendula, and microbiome supportive lactic acid'. Dr Milli Raizada says that it 'contains a soothing barrier, moisturising chamomile derivatives, and aloe vera and lactic acid as a vaginal microbiome pH support – which is helpful to sensitive vulvas in those with GSM.' She advises that you patch test this first though, as there is a potential that it could be an irritant to some. Dr Sophie Newton explains that this is because some sprays 'can sting or dry out sensitive vulval tissue.' I already knew that my skin liked a cold pack, but the specific packs I now use were a god-send discovery. These Vagikool packs by Kegel8 are basically like ice poles for your vagina and relieve burning and itching, and reduce swelling post-intercourse. Dr Sophie Newton agrees that this can be a useful product – 'a clean, reusable cold pack can ease irritation — just don't over-chill.' It's reusable and hygienic as you use a disposable shield over it each time, a bit like a condom. Dr Milli Raizada also agrees that it eases 'irritation from swelling, and burning symptom relief that people may get with GSM.' She says 'it's very safe and simple and can be used with other treatments.' It's been particularly beneficial to me to aid sleep when I'm experiencing annoying irritation down there, and after sex to soothe the skin and stop any pain or irritation developing as a response to it. A specialist moisturiser Most experts will recommend a topical moisturiser for the vulval area to soothe dryness during menopause but you should be very particular about the types of creams, oils and gels you use down there. The one I came to rely heavily on was the Naydaya vagina victory oil. Gynaecologist formulated, all-natural and fragrance-free, it was designed to soothe intimate skin and alleviate vaginal dryness. All you need is a few drops and it's packed with soothing, nourishing oils and butters that have made me feel smooth and lubricated again. Pomegranate seed oil has omega 5-rich fatty acids, which protects dry, thinning skin and restores elasticity to vaginal tissue. Vitamin E is an anti-inflammatory and helps promote skin healing. There's also the natural emollient mango butter, as well as coconut oil, to moisturise and support the skin's natural moisture barrier. Dr Sophie Newton says that, 'natural oils can soothe some' but advises you to proceed with caution in case this causes irritation. I'd also recommend using the Yes VM Organic vaginal moisture applicators. These single-use, fragrance-free moisturisers lubricate the inside of the vagina and restore a natural pH level. They also alleviate irritation, itching and burning and are especially useful pre and post intercourse. Dr Milli Raizada goes as far as to say she recommends these to all her patients, because they are 'an organic, non-hormonal, water-based, pre-filled and hygiene-certified internal formula that is pH balanced.' Dr Sophie Newton also says she recommends these highly as they're excellent for dryness and are clinically proven. I find them so easy to insert and instantly soothing. A quality supplement Finally, I've found that the right supplement can improve symptoms. I rely on the JSHealth Vitamins vaginal probiotic+ capsules to stave off irritation. These oral probiotic capsules contain four selected bacteria strains, providing 15 billion live cultures, and 20g of Cranberries in each capsule, to rebalance the vaginal microbiome. Dr Raizada explains that this can be a useful probiotic top-up in theory as, 'in menopause, lower oestrogen means reduced glycogen in the vaginal mucosal area, so a reduction in the production of lactobacillus.' However, she and Dr Newton, note that more research is needed as there is a limited evidence base that a probiotic can help with symptoms of GSM. They note that some people do find it beneficial though, and whilst I can't wholly attribute the alleviation of my symptoms to these capsules, they don't do any harm and I feel more soothed and balanced than I did at the start of my journey.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
NRL WAG reveals her plans to take MDMA as part of her therapy
NRL legend Benji Marshall's wife Zoe has opened up about her plans to use MDMA to treat her obsessive-compulsive disorder. The WAG made the confession on The Sh!t Show with Tammin Sursok podcast after revealing she has OCD with a metaphobia - the fear of vomit. Zoe, 40, revealed she has now discovered she can go through the MDMA-Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT) program which involves using the drug to treatment mental health conditions. 'I've done all of the things for so long, and I've just learned that I could potentially qualify to go through a program in Australia that uses MDMA and a psychiatrist to unlock this place in my brain I can't access with therapy,' she said. 'This is huge, and I've just broached it to my husband, who's super anti-drugs and it is is it wildly expensive in Australia. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'We're talking about bringing holistic and alternate medicine together. But I couldn't be at home to do it. I have to be in a hospital to do it.' Zoe explained: 'I would need a medical team around me for this specific part of me to be safe enough to come forth through that experience.' From 1 July 2023, authorised psychiatrists in Australia are able to prescribe MDMA for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. Zoe and her husband Benji tied the knot in 2013 and share two children together, son Benjamin, six, and daughter Ever, three. Last year, Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson told how Benji's devotion to his family should be admired. 'Because [Benji] doesn't work 14 hours a day and wants he and his players to have a family life, it's a good thing,' he said in a statement. 'I wish I had learnt that 20 years earlier. It would have saved me a lot of grief in my own personal life. 'What he's trying to do is instill a balance between life and work. I think he's got it.' Zoe and Benji's 12-year marriage has seen the pair move interstate and abroad with their two children. The rugby league WAG previously said she is proud the couple have managed to maintain such a strong relationship over the years. Zoe and Benji walked down the aisle for a second time in 2023 when they renewed their vows at home, surrounded by family and friends. While she was pregnant with their daughter Ever, Zoe admitted the couple had split up three times before tying the knot in 2013. The family recently moved into a new $4.75million family home in Sydney. Benji began his NRL career in 2003 and retired as a player in 2021. In 2024 he became the coach of his former team the Wests Tigers.
