Rather than being disappointed, Tabonares found the experience to be unexpectedly fulfilling.

“I was thinking it was yoga, but it’s laughter…. Yoga and laughter combined together makes sense in our lives because my son is a standup comedian in Manila…. I am still very happy to be here and to realize that our minds need cleansing,” she said.

Tabonares was one of the over 30 individuals who experienced laughter’s healing power at a free health and laughter yoga session held at the Cebu City Public Library on March 9.

The laughter yoga session facilitated by Father Loreto Jaque, a priest and member of the Laughter Yoga International and the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, drew participants from in and out of Cebu.

The session aimed to reconnect individuals with their playful inner child.

“Ang problema gud nato, we have become too serious now with our lives. Nakalimot na ta og katawa. Nagtuo ta nga life is all about working and working,” he said.

(Our problem is that we have become too serious now with our lives. We have forgotten how to laugh. We believe that life is all about working and working.)

He said a study showed that adults only laughs less than 10 times a day, far less from number of times a child laughs, which is around 400 times a day.

Jaque emphasized the importance of laughing more as it entails health benefits by providing extra oxygen to the brain, promoting relaxation and facilitating the release of neurochemicals, such as dopamine and oxytocin.

Participants, ranging from senior citizens to youth, were selected based on the registration received by the Cebu City Public Library, in partnership with the Cebu City government.

Jaque said the participants included individuals grieving the loss of loved ones, as well as those feeling a sense of emptiness and searching for the meaning of life.

Teresa Secuia flew to Cebu from Makati on Saturday morning to join the laughter yoga session. She said the experience was a stress reliever

“It’s something for the soul. I work from 9 am to 6 pm and every day is work and this is a break,” shared Secuia, who said she is a follower of Jaque.

Laughter yoga began in India around 1995.

According to Jaque, laughter yoga is not about comedy. Participants don’t laugh in response to jokes or humor. Instead, it’s an aerobic exercise that allows people to laugh freely, without any specific reason or inhibitions.

Jaque said before engaging in the laughter exercise, participants, many of whom were strangers, took part in a dancing activity aimed at breaking down awkwardness to ease them into the main activity.

“After six to seven dance movements, we became closer, and that’s when we started laughter yoga. I simply guided them through some basic laughing exercises, and because of mirror neurons, laughter became contagious. Every time someone laughed beside you, even if you didn’t feel like laughing initially, you would start laughing along,” Jaque said.

Jaque has been facilitating laughter yoga in other parts of the country, including Cavite, Tagaytay, Davao, and Bohol. 

Laughter, Jaque emphasized, cannot solve problems, or ultimately erase pain and suffering, but it can help people change their perspectives about themselves and the world.

“Life is painful, but to be happy is a choice that we have to make every day,” he added.  – Rappler.com

Wenilyn Sabalo is a community journalist currently affiliated with SunStar Cebu and is an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow of Rappler for 2023-2024.

“It’s an assisted living facility,” says Fe Tolentino-Zosa, chief executive officer of Golden Sunset Elderly Home Care Services, the retirement facility, which a group of retired corporate citizens has put up to cater to Filipino retirees who have immigrated elsewhere but chose to return and retire here.

Zosa’s group operates a half-hectare facility beside the campus of the state-owned University of the Philippines (UP) in Los Baños.

Golden Sunset has a more holistic or community-based approach. Zosa stressed that the facility, being community-oriented, converts the residents into a community for quality and effective living.

Zosa said its community-centered orientation empowers the facility to give the residents what she called “assisted living” that centers on personal care, including preventive care and medication, social events, meals, housekeeping, laundry, and keeping track of their needs and requirements for maintenance medication.

Although the Golden Sunset facility falls under the concept of residential care, it should not be mistaken for a nursing home that provides hospice care for the sick and terminally ill, Zosa said. Elderly care emphasizes the social and personal needs of retirees, who wish to age with dignity and grace while requiring assistance for daily activities and healthcare.

It emphasizes the twin virtues of empathy and compassion to its professional staff of caregivers and other hands who attend to Golden Sunset residents. Zosa said she envisioned setting up the facility in memory of her mother Gregoria Tolentino, who died at 96.

She said her mother became a widow at a young age but did not remarry to raise her six children, of which -Zosa is the second to the youngest. Zosa did not have a course related to social work  or medical care for the elderly, but she finished BS Accounting, graduating magna cum laude, at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas (UST). 

A CPA, she held various positions related to finance, but established the facility as her way to pay tribute to her mother. She worked in established firms like IBM Phils. And Meralco, where she retired.

Filipinos are known for their devotion to family. Like other Asians, Filipinos generally take care of the elderly in the family. But times are changing. Some families are learning to institutionalize their elderly to the professional care of a nursing home or home for the aged which provides “clinical” or “skilled” care by licensed nurses and therapists.

On the other hand, home care like what Golden Sunset offers provides “non-clinical” or “non-skilled” care by professional caregivers – so the distinction goes, Zosa said.

Zosa said that sometime in early 2000s, she thought of putting up a community-oriented facility for Filipino retirees based abroad, who have decided to return home and settle here for good. It is not easy for them to relocate here even if they have the wherewithal to reestablish themselves back home.  When possible, they prefer a community-oriented facility because they can live with their dignity and personal pride intact. Besides, they want to interact with other people.

She cited the cases of returning residents who have chosen to return home for good but their children are based in other countries. These parents do not want to live in the countries where their children live mainly because they could hardly endure the cold weather especially during winter.

She also cited the case of an American national, who has chosen to take residence in the facility, and a Filipino couple who have never been to a foreign country. The facility started operations in 2022 even as it  undergoes continued facelift and construction.

Golden Sunset occupies a half-hectare compound. Its uniqueness lies in the extensive vegetation of the area which enables the residents to enjoy a quiet and relaxing environment. Each of its three buildings is subdivided into eight apartment units. The facility has a swimming pool and two gazebos where residents could gather.

One of the structures has a rooftop that can hold bigger social events. The facility also has units where visiting family members can use when stay while there. The cost for the units are not that prohibitive, according to Zosa. Golden Sunset has plans to expand its services as the firm continues to institutionalize its facilities.

The facility employs a number of highly trained caregivers, who have developed the skills to handle senior citizens, including those who seem to be difficult, Zosa said. They are given competitive salaries, which could be a factor why they have chosen to stay in the facility despite the changing dynamics of the caregiving business.

The retirement business, she said, will continue to grow as more retirees of Filipino descent and their partners return to the Philippines to enjoy their retirement here. Moreover, the Filipino culture of hospitality, warmth, and compassion is always a compelling presence. 

The lush Mt. Makiling here is proving to be not exclusively for students, artists, academics, and Boy Scout members, but for returning retirees as well. Mt. Makiling is a sanctuary for retirees, who have retreated to the verdant surrounding of this mountain resort to enjoy their twilight years in peace and solitude. – Rappler.com

But the Philippines has not approved any glutathione products or injectables for cosmetic purposes.

Injectable glutathione, however, is used as a supplementary treatment for patients diagnosed with certain types of cancer, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“The Department of Health (DOH) does not support the use of glutathione for skin whitening,” the department said in a statement on Saturday, February 24 – days after Rodriguez’s post went viral.

A 2019 advisory from the FDA also warned the public against using glutathione as a beauty product since there are no available guidelines on its use. The DOH reiterated on Saturday that there are no clinical studies to prove that injectable glutathione can help with skin whitening.

“Avoid buying injectable products online and from being lured to a promising effect of medicines as beauty products,” FDA Advisory No. 2019-182 read.

In a now-deleted Instagram post, Rodriguez noted that the treatment “helps in [so] many ways,” from whitening to affecting one’s immunity.

However, the FDA has cited possible negative side effects that may result from using glutathione, especially when combined with injectable vitamin C, such as possibly getting skin cancer, the formation of kidney stones if the person’s urine is acidic, and hemodialysis for those with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.

“Other potential risks include transmission of infectious agents, such as HIV, hepatitis C and B. This is of particular concern when non-medical practitioner administers this treatment or done in a non-sterile facility,” the 2019 FDA advisory read.

Senator Nancy Binay, who chairs the upper chamber’s ethics and privileges committee, raised the alarm on Friday, February 23, since the showbiz personality and her clinic did not notify the Senate that she planned on conducting the IV drip session inside the government building.

The senator also noted that it was done “without the proper medical advice from a licensed health professional.”

Senator Nancy Binay on gluta drip session of Mariel Rodriguez at the Senate.

“As public figures, sana aware din tayo sa responsabilidad natin sa publiko… Isipin din natin may kasamang kapanagutan ang pagiging artista, lalo na kung senador ang asawa mo.” @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/RM3bvG05Or

— Bonz Magsambol (@bnzmagsambol) February 23, 2024

Rappler has reached out to Rodriguez’s IV drip provider – Luxe in Drip PH – via phone call on Saturday morning, but they said the management will reach out soon. We will update this story once they do.

IV drips have gained popularity in the Philippines, with several clinics offering a variety of glutathione IV drip procedures. The DOH called on those who experience negative side effects from injectables, including those involving glutathione procedures, to report their experience to the FDA and seek legal help on top of medical attention, should it be needed. – with reports from Bonz Magsambol/Rappler.com

Rappler community lead Pia Ranada interviews Sharon Cortez, founder of Forest School Philippines, about how outdoor play and learning for kids of all ages affects their development and well-being.

Catch the interview on February 16, Friday, at 7 pm, on this page and on Rappler’s YouTube and Facebook pages.

Forest schools started in Denmark in the 1950s, and has since spread throughout Europe and different parts of the world, according to this study on the International Journal of Early Childhood Environmental Education. Forest schools provide learning experiences in a natural setting and has a focus on teaching children how to deal with risk, be independent and resilient.

Are forest schools for everyone? What are its pros and cons for children and parents? How different is it from the more traditional learning setting?

We also ask Sharon about what families can learn from forest schools if their goal is to instill a love for nature in their kids.

Have questions for Sharon? Send them to the climate-change chat room in the Rappler Communities app and tag @piaranada. IOS users can download the app here, Android users can download the app here. To find the chat room, just tap the Communities tab at the bottom of the screen after opening the app.

“Be The Good” is Rappler’s bi-monthly show about causes, campaigns, and advocacies. We help you get smarter about causes you want to support. – Rappler.com

Watch other “Be The Good” episodes:

• Be The Good: Nanie Guanlao and Carmela Bunyi on spreading community reading centers
• Be The Good: Robie Siy on creating streets for people
• Be The Good: Sabrina Gacad on helping victims of gender-based violence
• Be The Good: Cielo Magno on her call to abolish confidential funds

This penis “sponge” is scientifically termed corpora cavernosa. Erections depend on the influx and trapping of blood. Smooth muscle cells regulate the blood flow into the sponge and its subsequent firmness. In a recent study, my colleague and I delved into the role of penile fibroblasts, the most abundant cells in the human penis, about which little was previously known.

We discovered that penile fibroblasts help smooth muscle cells to relax. Using a technique to render cells light-sensitive enabled us to activate fibroblasts by shining blue light from outside onto the penises of mice.

We found that light-induced activation of fibroblasts relaxed smooth muscle cells and increased blood flow. The effectiveness of this relaxation-support depends on the number of fibroblasts. More fibroblasts led to easier relaxation and increased blood flow.

We also learned that the number of fibroblasts is not static and identified the signaling molecules regulating the number of fibroblasts in the penis. By deleting or over-expressing the relevant molecules, we could increase or decrease the number of fibroblasts and in response see the corresponding changes in penile blood flow.

But we quickly learned that too many fibroblasts has negative consequences. Mice with very high numbers of penile fibroblasts showed erections that lasted for several hours. In men, this corresponds to a painful pathological condition termed priapism, which demands a visit to the hospital.

Can penile erection be trained? In humans, much of the “erectile training” occurs naturally during sleep, with men experiencing three to five erections a night, known as “nocturnal penile tumescence.”

To test the importance of training, we artificially changed the frequency of erections in mice by targeting the brain region responsible for initiating an erection. This technique allowed us to turn erections on and off by simply administrating a designer drug that specifically activated the responsible nerve cells in the mouse brain.

More fibroblasts, more blood flow

Surprisingly, we found that the number of penile fibroblasts changed in relation to the frequency of erections. The more frequent the erections, the more fibroblasts were present and the better the blood flow. This implies that it becomes easier to initiate and maintain an erection with increased erection frequency.

It is known that the unconscious “training” during sleep declines with increasing age. Ageing is one of the major risk factors for erectile dysfunction in men.

Studying penises of aged mice, we found that they possessed a lower number of fibroblasts compared with young mice. When reducing the number of recurrent erections in young animals for a longer time, we found a decrease in the number of fibroblasts and lower penile blood flow.

One interpretation could be that reduced training negatively affects the number of fibroblasts and consequently, it becomes less efficient to initiate an erection.

While the spontaneous occurrence of erections during sleep is certainly convenient, our study does not suggest any differences between involuntary and actively evoked erections regarding the number of penile fibroblasts. So, an age-related decline of nocturnal penile tumescence could be a potential target for future treatment of erectile dysfunction or compensated for by actively achieving an erection.

Our research unveils a mechanism for controlling penile erections, opening the door for further exploration to understand and improve sexual health. – The Conversation|Rappler.com

Christian Göritz is an Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet.

This piece was originally published in The Conversation.

On a recent visit to Ming’s Garden, which looked poorly maintained when I last saw it ages ago, I was surprised that it’s now a much-improved tourist destination. Many local tourists stop by to eat in Mozu’s at Ming’s restaurant, and look at the plants and trees in the garden.

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The best place to check if a decades-old establishment is maintained well is the comfort room. During my visit, the men’s room was clean and didn’t smell bad.

Clean toilets were important for Mr. Ramos. Former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Martinez Ramos said back in 2005 that the former chief executive “sells the restaurant by advertising our comfort room.” 

A Ming’s Garden Facebook post said a new management team took over the establishment in 2017, although it’s still owned by “Ming Ramos’ family and other business partners.” One of the partners is in-house caterer Chef Enzo Chavez of Mozu restaurant. The renovated place was promoted on the new social media accounts of Ming’s Garden in the first quarter of 2018 with its president and CEO Samuel Ramos Jones, son of Angel Ramos and one of 8 grandchildren of the Ramoses, welcoming the public to the facility.

Ming’s Garden was damaged by the eruption of Taal Volcano in January 2020 but recovered quickly.

Events place

What began as a place for the private horticultural collection of Mrs. Ramos – a certified plantita – followed by a simple restaurant serving only a few dishes, is now also an events place with a courtyard and a venue for weddings, birthdays, and other social events. It’s ideal for a wedding with 300 guests.

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If you like flowers, plants, gardens, and Filipino food, Ming’s Garden on Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road going to Tagaytay City is a perfect stopover. 

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One of its unique plants, currently in bloom, is the New Guinea Creeper, a dangling, red-orange plant that is also called the “flame of the forest.” There are two rows at the parking lot where these plants dangle from. 

There are several other Instagrammable spots in the 3-hectare garden, such as a man-made waterfall beside the Mozu at Ming’s restaurant, and the Courtyard.

Those who want to taste cuisine from Ilocos, Mr. Ramos’ home region, would be happy to know that the restaurant offers three types of bagnet: Ilocos bagnet salad, bagnet dinuguan, and bagnet kare-kare. 

And, if you’re looking for dishes famous in Tagaytay, there’s Crispy tawilis and bulalo. 

Ming’s Garden also has a plant store as well as the “Things From Ming’s” Pasalubong (gift) shop, which sells Philippine delicacies.

There are three photos of the late former president with Ming at the main dining hall of Mozu at Ming’s, given that the lush garden is meant to honor the life and legacy of the couple. 

A photo posted on Ming’s Garden’s Instagram shows the Ramos couple in a golf car being driven around the garden on Father’s Day in June 2019.

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(READ: Fidel Valdez Ramos: The president who guarded democracy, broke monopolies, made peace)

Mrs. Ramos said in an interview with the Inquirer in 2008 that Ming’s Garden was where she took her daughter, Carolina “Chula” Ramos-Sembrano, who was then in her late forties, every Friday following a vehicular accident in Parañaque City in 2003 that damaged her brain. Sembrano, a banker, was crossing a street when an Isuzu Elf truck’s left side mirror hit her head, threw her 3 meters away, and left her unconscious and comatose. It took years before she got well.

Sembrano’s memory was badly affected, and Mrs. Ramos hoped that the tranquility and lush greenery of her garden would help her remember.

Mrs. Ramos retired from the International School Manila (ISM) in November 2022 at the age of 95, the longest serving ISM staff. She held several jobs at the school, including secretary and physical education teacher, as well as consultant in her latter years. 

Ming’s Garden, around 2 hours from the Philippine capital, is open from 8 am to 9 pm on weekdays, and 7 am to 10 pm on weekends. – Rappler.com

ALSO ON RAPPLER

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• FVR congratulates ‘Mr Mogato’ for Pulitzer Prize
• PNP SAF’s tribute video for late president Fidel Ramos
• The evolution of Duterte’s First Lady: Honeylet Avanceña
• The First Lady

Hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan state, tongue in cheek, that their goal is to compartmentalize complaining and be nicer in their day-to-day life. Their complaints range from pedestrian (cordless vacuums, people who clap when a plane lands, long Instagram captions) to political (the state of the education system). Eyebrow-raising complaints include, simply, “pregnant people.”

Since launching in late 2022, I’ve Had It has topped Apple’s podcast charts, become viral on both TikTok and X several times, and has led the hosts to guest-star on programs such as The Today Show. This podcast’s popularity across platforms signals a cultural shift from “toxic positivity” to indulgent pettiness – but a shift away from positivity into fully embracing complaints is not without risk.

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Toxic positivity and emotional influencers

As community-minded creatures who want deeply to belong we often mirror others, including on social media, where we adopt phrasing, tone, and expressions of emotion.

In the past few years, social media has had a focus on hyper-positivity (think cheery emojis and motivational quotes plastered over sunsets). Some put this “good vibes only” trend down to the pandemic and a desire to avoid painful feelings when ruminating on difficult realities.

However, attempting to convey constant happiness is not only difficult but impossible. Research suggests prescriptive positivity can make us react poorly to unfavorable emotions and is a “goal that backfires” when people view themselves as a failure for feeling unhappy, struggle to handle their feelings, or actively avoid processing them.

But now toxic positivity has been named and shamed, people are searching for more emotionally nuanced media.

The I’ve Had It hosts are in a new wave of content creators we can consider “emotional influencers,” in this case contributing to a new media landscape where complaining is not only embraced but encouraged.

Curated closeness

By putting our “retaliation” against negative experiences into words, we experience pleasurable emotions. Complaining can feel cathartic, reduce stress, and (like gossiping) help us feel closer to others.

This community aspect of complaining suits podcasting, which fosters intimacy through sharing deeply personal stories “directly into our ear” and “chosen just for you.”

Listening to hosts who feel like our friends, who are friends themselves, having a chat and sharing laughter can make us feel socially fulfilled in a similar way to a video chat or virtual message with a real-life friend.

In I’ve Had It, the hosts and their guests share personal complaints and unfiltered stories in a curated approach for bond-forming. We know, for example, that Jennifer’s husband Josh (a regular guest) has struggled with addiction and that Jennifer has “had it” with family week at his rehab center. We also know Pumps once tried to relieve constipation with a teaspoon.

Executive producer Kiley has become a regular feature, laughing at the hosts’ antics and acting as an audience surrogate. Fans are involved in the show via voice messages, reviews, and as guests themselves.

These elements combine to provide a sense there is potential to become “real life” friends with Jennifer and Pumps: the promotional tagline for their live shows is “make your parasocial friendship real.”

While complaining brings people together, it can also push us apart through ostracization or rejection. Although the goal of I’ve Had It is to compartmentalize pettiness, this may be easier for the hosts than the listeners.

Jennifer and Pumps are two undeniably affluent, well-connected women who have leveraged their privilege to build a platform about complaining. They also amp-up their on-air personas, with Jennifer admitting, “I’m not as cold-hearted as I play on the podcast.”

Just like prescriptive positivity can become “toxic” when it comes at the expense of other emotions, an overemphasis on grievances can breed negativity, or lead to passive-aggressive and indirect communication styles.

Indulging in excessive pettiness can also make us less likeable, alienate our loved ones, and worsen our mental health.

Embracing ‘idiocy’

Some commenters are critical of Jennifer and Pumps’ promotion of negativity. The hosts see this as fodder. They read critical reviews, double-down on complaints, and laugh together, cleverly disarming the criticism.

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Jennifer and Pumps are even more eager to mock those who take issue with their political views. In response to a reviewer accusation that they’re “both a couple of leftist idiots” the pair laugh. Jennifer states, “I could not agree more […] I say thank you, we are leftist, we are idiots.”

Ultimately, I’ve Had It concedes there is a kind of “idiocy” to pettiness, but there is joy and charm too.

Research suggests happy people can be complainers, as long as they have a good grasp of mindfulness and know when to stop.

If you, admittedly like me, enjoy a good bout of complaining now and again, but want to keep your emotions balanced and your relationships intact, there are a few things the experts recommend. It is important to differentiate when you need to enact “expressive complaining” to blow off steam or when you should complain “instrumentally” with a goal in mind. Talk about how something makes you feel, so others can empathize with you. And ask your loved ones’ permission to complain before revving up a rant.

What about those who aren’t keen on complaining at all? Well, as far as the hosts and fans of I’ve Had It are concerned, you need not tune in. And, if you do decide to leave a comment decrying their pettiness, be warned it will make for some great content in the next episode. – The Conversation|Rappler.com

Marina Deller is a Casual Academic, Flinders University.

This piece was originally published in The Conversation.

According to studies, the postnatal period, in particular, can be very difficult for mothers – with 1 in 7 new mothers experiencing postpartum depression. According to Healthline, postpartum depression “causes changes in mood, exhaustion, and a general sense of hopelessness for a long time after birth.” 

Even celebrities have shared their experiences in managing motherhood alongside this mental health issue. Here’s how they handled the pressure of parenthood:

Kris Bernal

In a January 2024 episode of Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, actress Kris Bernal revealed that she was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety. 

“I was enjoying the whole time being pregnant. Hindi ko alam na ang hirap pala kapag nanganak ka na (I didn’t know that it would be this hard once you gave birth),” she said. “It’s really not easy. I was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety kasi nahirapan talaga ako mag-adjust (because I was really finding it hard to adjust).” 

The first-time mom, who gave birth to daughter Hailee Lucca in September 2023, shared that she feels like she “could no longer recognize [her] old self.” 

“Feel ko parang bagong tao ako…. The things that I used to love, wala na. I’m loving myself now pero siguro may hinahanap pa ako sa dati kong sarili (I feel like I’m a brand new person.… The things I used to love no longer interest me. I’m loving myself now but I’m still looking for something from my past self),” she added. 

Bernal, however, was quick to clarify that she’s thankful to be a mom: “This doesn’t mean I’m not grateful or na hindi ko gusto ‘tong journey ko. Ito ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa buhay ko (that I’m not happy with my journey. This is the best thing that’s happened in my life.)” 

Jessy Mendiola

Months after giving birth to her first child with Luis Manzano, actress Jessy Mendiola got candid about her postpartum body. 

“The truth is, accepting your postpartum body gives a huge impact on your mental health. I went through postpartum depression and it wasn’t easy,” she wrote in an Instagram post.

Mendiola continued that while she’ll always have insecurities, having recognized the strength of her body has helped change her perspective.

“Once you acknowledge the strength of carrying a life inside you for nine months, giving birth and caring for your baby while recovering is definitely amazing,” she added. 

Prior to this, the actress already opened up about experiencing body image issues when she was pregnant, sharing that she didn’t “feel like [herself] anymore” and that she “really get[s] insecure” at times.

Andi Eigenmann

In August 2019 — shortly after giving birth to her second child — Andi Eigenmann detailed her struggles accepting the changes brought upon by motherhood. 

“I guess this is what postpartum depression looks like to me. I haven’t been feeling like myself lately. Sleepless nights are getting the best of me. When the others are asleep, I’d shed tears I’d normally save for my acting performances on TV show finales,” she said. 

The actress continued that she’s “having so many thoughts of guilt” and even “questioning every decision [she] made.” But Eigenmann clarified that while she misses her old self prior to having two kids, she still doesn’t regret the life she has now as a mother. 

“I love where I’m at, even if it hasn’t been easy. That’s what keeps me going,” she said. 

Toni Gonzaga

Prior to being a mom, Toni Gonzaga said she wondered why mothers experienced postpartum depression. However, after giving birth to her first son Seve in September 2016, the actress-host experienced first-hand how it was to be in their shoes. 

During a 2017 press conference, Gonzaga recalled that during the first weeks after giving birth, she would usually cry in the bathroom when she was alone. 

“Kapag umiiyak siya (Seve), sabi ko, ‘Umiiyak na naman siya, ano na namang kailangan niya?’ Iiyak din ako, magda-drama din ako. Minsan may gaanon kami, kapag umiiyak siya, iiyak din ako,” she said. 

(Whenever Seve would cry, I’d say, ‘He’s crying again, what does he need again?’ I would cry too, I would be dramatic, too. Sometimes we do that – when he cries, I cry too.)  

When asked about her advice to moms who are also dealing with postpartum depression, Gonzaga emphasized the importance of having a support system to talk to.

Kylie Padilla

In a February 2023 Instagram post, actress Kylie Padilla detailed how she struggled with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety three years prior. 

“The chemistry in my body was out of control, hormonal fluctuations took a toll on my emotional journey. Complications from birth hindered me from taking care of my kids,” she said. 

The mother of two recalled that at the time, she was in constant pain and constant doubt. Among her worries include whether her body would recover or if she’ll be able to stand or walk properly again.”

Padilla shared that “never in [her] life” did she feel so “emotionally, physically exhausted” than during this period.

“Like all wives and mothers do, I was fulfilled. But was I happy? And is seeking my own happiness even a possibility? I asked myself every single day,” she wrote. 

Reflecting on how much her life had changed, the actress said these emotional tolls made her appreciate where she is now. 

“I have a safe home for my kids, work that I’m proud of, and one by one, my dreams are becoming reality. After all my doubt, pain, and fighting the silent battles, fighting my own psyche for the right to be happy, I’m still here,” she said. 

Michelle Madrigal

In a February 2021 vlog, US-based actress Michelle Madrigal opened up about how not having a support system when she gave birth to her daughter in the United States led her to having postpartum depression.

“Having a child on its own without any family members, mahirap (it’s tough). I didn’t know how to figure it out. I didn’t invite anybody. It was just me when I gave birth,” she said. 

“Mahirap na parang wala pala akong support (It was difficult kind of realizing I didn’t have a support system) here. And then the transition to stay-at-home, finding myself…I had postpartum depression. Six months.” 

Madrigal said that aside from crying at random times and for unknown reasons, her mood swings were also bad.

“There’ll be days na sobrang high (I feel high and) I’m really happy…and then at night time, parang (it’s like) I don’t want to talk to anybody,” she said. 

As she detailed her experience, the actress also pointed out how mental health issues like this shouldn’t be taken lightly by Filipinos.

“You have to acknowledge it,” she said. – Rappler.com

Previous studies have found excess deaths in people with OCD, but the specific causes of death had been poorly researched – maybe with the exception of suicide. Notably, people with OCD have similar suicide rates to people with other mental health disorders.

OCD affects about 2% of the population. People with the condition have distressing intrusive and repetitive thoughts (such as a fear of being contaminated or becoming aggressive towards others) and feel compelled to perform time-consuming rituals to reduce the discomfort caused by the thoughts, such as cleaning, repeating, or checking.

The disorder significantly impairs daily life, affecting relationships, social activities, and the general ability to function.

My colleagues and I at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden aimed to understand the specific natural and unnatural causes of death contributing to the reported elevated mortality rates in OCD. We used Swedish population registers, which include administrative and healthcare data from the whole population, to compare a group of 61,378 people who had received a diagnosis of OCD with 613,780 people without OCD.

We followed both groups for more than four decades (from 1973 to 2020) and found that people with OCD died at an earlier average (mean) age than those without OCD (69 v 78 years).

The risk of death during the study period was 82% higher in the group with OCD, compared to the group without OCD. The increased risk of death was attributable to both natural (31% increased risk) and unnatural causes (230% increased risk) OCD explained.

Specific causes

For the first time, we were able to identify specific causes of death due to natural causes. People with OCD had increased risks due to lung diseases (73%), mental and behavioral disorders (58%), diseases of the urinary and reproductive organs (55%), endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (47%), diseases of the blood vessels (33%), nervous system (21%), and digestive system (20%).

Intriguingly, the risk of death due to cancer was 13% lower in those with OCD. The reason this risk goes in the opposite direction is not known.

Among the unnatural causes of death, suicide was the main contributor to the increased mortality. Those with OCD, compared to those without, had a nearly five-fold increased risk of dying by suicide. Also, people with OCD had a 92% increased risk of dying due to accidents, including traffic accidents or falls.

The results held even after we took mental health disorders other than OCD – for example, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders – into account.

Also, when we compared the OCD group with their siblings without OCD, the results remained largely unchanged. This confirms that our results cannot only be attributed to any accompanying mental health disorders or genetic or environmental factors shared between families, but that are likely to be related to OCD itself.

Mostly preventable

Although these are not positive findings for people with OCD, it’s important to note that the proportion of people dying of each cause was relatively small, even if compared with the group without OCD it translated to a higher risk.

For example, during the study period, 2.5% of people with OCD died due to circulatory system diseases (such as heart attacks and strokes), which is a low percentage. Nonetheless, this percentage is higher than the 1.8% of deaths by this cause in the group without OCD.

Even so, it is not acceptable that people with OCD have to face these extra risks. I hope that these results spur healthcare professionals into action and contribute to people with OCD receiving better care.

Importantly, most of the causes of death that showed an increased risk are related to non-communicable diseases (for example, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic lung diseases, mental disorders, neurological disorders) and to external causes (for example, suicide, accidents), which can be classified as preventable.

People with OCD need to be aware of these risks. This may motivate behavioral changes – such as getting more exercise and having a healthy diet – that can play a role in preventing ill health and early death. – The Conversation|Rappler.com

Lorena Fernández de la Cruz is a Clinical Researcher, Psychiatric Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet.

This piece was originally published in The Conversation.

But what really is PTSD, who suffers from it, and what are the available treatments?

As a psychiatrist specializing in trauma, I’ve worked with hundreds of people with PTSD. Some are refugees, first responders, and survivors of torture and human trafficking. Others have survived childhood trauma, shootings, assault, rape, or robbery.

As part of my outreach, I post educational material about trauma and PTSD on social media, so my news feeds often contain misleading material along these lines:

“Procrastination is not laziness. It is childhood trauma.”

“Trauma test: What image did you see first? A shark? A leg?”

“People who say sorry for no reason have PTSD.”

Mental health advocacy work has led to great progress in making the public aware of trauma and overcoming its stigma. But misuse of terms such as “trauma,” “childhood trauma,” and “PTSD” has filled the social media sphere with misinformation. It is often spread by people with a financial or emotional incentive, such as those seeking followers, selling tests, therapies, interventions, coaching, and more.

Such posts treat trauma and PTSD as something that’s trendy, at times even romanticizing trauma. In turn, this trivializes the suffering of those who really have endured traumatic experiences. It can also create confusion for those with a real need for help and prevent them from receiving the right support. It’s normal to have bad dreams following a trauma, or even to feel like the trauma is happening again.

Trauma explained

In popular culture and in the everyday vernacular, the word trauma is often used too loosely. As a result, on social media a difficult breakup or an argument with a family member might be portrayed as traumatic. While these experiences could be highly stressful, they are not considered trauma in the clinical world.

The field of psychiatry defines trauma as direct exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. That includes experiences such as war, assault, sexual abuse and rape, robbery, being shot at, severe car accidents, and natural disasters. Trauma exposure is common among, though certainly not limited to, urban populations.

Trauma exposure does not necessarily have to be direct; it can also happen by witnessing or being near the event or by exposure to its aftermath. This is what often happens to first responders, those in the vicinity of or exposed to the aftermath of mass shootings, and refugees, all of whom see the worst of what humans do to each other.

The immediate response to trauma can include shock, severe anxiety or panic, confusion, helplessness, constant recall of the event, feeling on edge, difficulty sleeping, anger, guilt, or physical discomfort. Trauma can have numerous long-term effects, including anxiety, difficulty with trust, depression, and substance use. Trauma can lead to PTSD but doesn’t necessarily have to.

PTSD explained

Not everyone who experiences trauma has PTSD. For the majority of people exposed to trauma, symptoms subside over time. But some people remain in a constant state of “fight or flight,” a physiological response in which the brain stays fully alert to ensure escape or to neutralize a real or perceived danger.

When the severity of symptoms passes a specific threshold, mental health clinicians consider a PTSD diagnosis. To be diagnosed with the disorder, the person must have one or two symptoms from all of the following categories:

• “Intrusion” symptoms, such as recurring, unwanted memories of the traumatic event, or frequent nightmares or flashbacks as if the event is happening again. This includes seeing the scenes, hearing the sounds or experiencing the smells of the event.
• Intense avoidance of anything that is a reminder of the trauma, including thoughts and memories of the event, people who could resemble the perpetrator, and places or times of day that are associated with where, when or how the trauma happened.
• Persistent negative emotions and thoughts, such as anxiety, sadness, guilt, a negative perception of self – that is, a feeling that you’re permanently damaged – or a mistrust of the world. This might include an inability to experience positive emotions.
• Hyperarousal – meaning constantly being on the lookout for danger – and being easily startled or angered and being unable to sleep.

Getting help

Like any other medical condition, a diagnosis of PTSD must be made by a mental health professional, preferably one skilled in trauma and PTSD. Some people endure certain symptoms without meeting all criteria for PTSD. If this causes significant social, academic, or occupational dysfunction and distress, the person will still need help.

If you have endured traumatic experiences, first understand that PTSD is not your identity. It is a disease that can be and should be treated. Getting an evaluation from your primary care doctor is the first step. They may refer you to a mental health professional. Or you can reach out directly to a psychiatrist, a clinical psychologist, or a licensed social worker for an evaluation.

Your insurance provider can help you find a therapist or psychiatrist, preferably specialized in trauma. You can also find a list of providers through the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. If you don’t have insurance, you can get help at a local community mental health clinic or a federally qualified health center.

If a diagnosis is confirmed, know that you do not have to suffer for years to come. There are effective and safe psychotherapy treatments that can help process the traumatic memories, overcome the related negative thoughts or feelings of guilt and shame, and help overcome avoidance of normal life situations because of the trauma. There are treatment options for PTSD, along with ways to get support.

In my newly published book, I discuss new, cutting-edge treatments as well as stories from those who overcame their illness.

For instance, our team has created AI-enhanced mixed reality technologies to produce immersive and interactive diverse situations of encounters with digital humans. This will allow the patients to, for example, experience the sensation of being in a crowded grocery store, with their therapist alongside to help them navigate and overcome their fears.

Medications can also help. Often labeled as antidepressants, these medications are safe and nonaddictive, and they can lower the intensity of anxiety to a level that allows the patients to deal with their fears.

Lifestyle changes like diet, mindfulness, and exercise can also help a lot.

I have seen many traumatized people get back on their feet and resume their normal lives after the right intervention and lifestyle adjustments. Those who continue to have some symptoms often manage to build life around them without letting the trauma take away the joy and prosperity of their lives. – The Conversation|Rappler.com

Arash Javanbakht is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Wayne State University.

This piece was originally published in The Conversation.