Why a Cluttered Work Desk of Cables and Connectors Quietly Erodes Your Influence

Influence rarely collapses. It thins. It fades at the edges, not enough to be dramatic, but enough to be consequential. People do not suddenly stop listening; they listen with less urgency. They do not openly question authority; they quietly defer elsewhere. Most professionals assume influence is won or lost through ideas, confidence, or communication. Far less attention is paid to the environments that quietly erode authority before speech even begins. The work desk is one such environment. It is not neutral. It is one of the few physical spaces that consistently represents a person in their absence. It speaks continuously, even when its owner is silent. And among all the elements that populate a desk, cables and connectors carry an unusual psychological weight. They are functional, unavoidable, and easily dismissed by the person who depends on them. Yet to observers, they form a persistent visual argument—one that subtly reshapes how competence, control, and influence are inferred.

The Less Talked About Eight Anxiety Symptoms

Anxiety is usually described as a feeling. Nervousness. Worry. Racing thoughts. What gets less attention is how often anxiety bypasses language entirely. It settles into posture, perception, habits, and micro-behaviors that don’t announce themselves as distress. Many people experiencing these shifts don’t feel anxious in the way they expect to. They feel tense, vigilant, altered, or strangely practical. They notice their body behaving differently and assume it must be a coincidence, age, stress, or temperament. Anxiety, meanwhile, continues working quietly in the background, reorganizing the system without ever introducing itself. These subtler expressions are easy to miss precisely because they look functional. They don’t interrupt life; they reshape how life is carried.

What Is Neuroadaptation—and Why Medicine and Food Stop Feeling the Way They Once Did

The first time something works—really works—it feels like discovery. A medication settles the mind. A painkiller quiets the body. A food delivers comfort so immediate it borders on relief. And then, slowly, almost imperceptibly, the effect softens. The same dose calms less. The same flavor excites less. Nothing is wrong, exactly, but nothing is quite the same. People respond to this erosion with confusion and irritation, as though something reliable has broken its promise. But what has occurred is neither failure nor betrayal. It is neuroadaptation: the brain’s quiet insistence on normalizing what once stood out. This process governs far more than tolerance. It shapes how we respond to medicine, how we experience food, and how quickly pleasure and relief are reclassified as baseline. Neuroadaptation is not a flaw in the system. It is the system, revealing how the brain prioritizes stability over satisfaction—and how human disappointment often begins where biology is simply doing its job.

You Are Not Overly Jealous or Sadistic to See Your Workplace Rival’s Misfortunes — But It Still Feels So Good. Why?

There is a moment—brief, involuntary, and rarely admitted—when you hear that a workplace rival has stumbled, and something inside you loosens. The feeling is not loud enough to be called joy, not sharp enough to be cruelty, and not bitter enough to qualify as jealousy. It is subtler than that. A quiet easing. A faint internal click, as though a pressure valve has released. You do not wish them harm. You do not celebrate openly. And yet, if you are honest, the news feels… right. This reaction troubles people because it contradicts the moral image they maintain of themselves as fair, generous, and emotionally mature. But the feeling persists precisely because it is not pathological. It is structural. It arises not from malice, but from the way modern work binds identity, status, and justice into a single, fragile narrative. To understand why a rival’s misfortune feels good, one must stop asking whether it is ethical and start asking what psychological debt it quietly repays.

7 Tips to Keep a Straight Face When You Run into Your Ex When Shopping with Your Wife

There are few modern tests of emotional discipline as precise as running into your ex while pushing a shopping cart beside your wife. The setting is deliberately unromantic—fluorescent lighting, dented shelves, the smell of detergent and baked bread—but the psychological charge is immediate. Time compresses. Muscles tighten. Old neural pathways, long declared irrelevant, light up with the enthusiasm of an unsupervised child. The face, however, must remain neutral. Not warm. Not cold. Certainly not expressive. Because this is not about unresolved feelings so much as unresolved theater. Everyone involved is suddenly performing: loyalty, indifference, maturity, continuity. The stakes are absurdly high for an interaction that should not matter at all. And yet it does. Which is why the following seven “tips” are less about technique and more about surviving a small but revealing collision between past identity and present commitment. And yes, this is something that cannot be solved by popping a valium - you need to pull your sh*t together!

Do anxious people make for more responsible, safer, or riskier drivers?

Driving is one of the few modern acts that forces the nervous system to reveal itself in public. Behind the wheel, people cannot fully mask fear, vigilance, impatience, or hesitation; the body reacts faster than identity can intervene. This is why anxiety, when it enters the driver’s seat, becomes immediately visible—not as a diagnosis, but as a posture. Some anxious drivers grip the wheel with exaggerated care, scanning mirrors obsessively, obeying rules with near-religious precision. Others falter, freeze, or make sudden, poorly timed decisions that surprise everyone involved, including themselves. The contradiction unsettles observers because anxiety is assumed to work one way: either it makes people cautious and therefore safe, or it overwhelms them and makes them dangerous. The truth is more uncomfortable. Anxiety does neither cleanly. It reshapes attention, time perception, and bodily control in ways that can protect life in one moment and endanger it in the next. To ask whether anxious people are safer drivers is to misunderstand the question. The more revealing inquiry is how anxiety reorganizes responsibility itself—turning driving into a negotiation between vigilance and overload, control and collapse.

Left or Right? Is there a preferred side for dogs and cats to sleep?

People notice how animals sleep because sleep is the only moment when performance drops away. A dog that barks confidently or a cat that patrols a room with quiet authority becomes something else entirely when asleep—unguarded, folded inward, surrendered to gravity. It is in these moments that humans begin to look for patterns: the curl of a spine, the exposure of a belly, the subtle preference for a particular side. Left or right becomes a question not of geometry but of meaning. Surely, we think, there must be a reason. And there is—but not the kind people expect. The way dogs and cats choose a sleeping side is shaped less by conscious choice than by a combination of layered instinct, neurological asymmetry, environmental trust, and the subtle calibration between safety and vulnerability. To watch an animal settle into sleep is to witness a negotiation between ancient reflexes and present comfort, one that unfolds without explanation yet invites endless interpretation.

How to work around an office colleague who is definitely a racist?

It begins quietly. A pause that lasts a little too long when you enter the room. A smirk the moment you speak. A joke sharpened to look harmless but meant to cut. A pattern of “accidental” oversights, “innocent” mispronunciations, and those peculiar compliments that sound more like ethnographic observations than praise. You don’t need a handbook to know when someone in your office is a racist — the body catches it before the intellect does. There’s a shift in the air, a microscopic tightening of your shoulders, the subtle recalibration of how you occupy space. Racism at work is rarely shouted; it’s designed to pass as professionalism, to hide beneath the sterility of corporate décor. But the body knows. It always knows. And working beside someone who carries racial contempt the way others carry a lunchbox becomes a slow, grinding form of psychological erosion. It’s the daily choreography of deciding when to respond, when to ignore, when to protect your sanity, and when to protect your job. Across cultures and centuries, humans have learned how to live near those who view them as lesser — but the office compresses that experience into an eight-hour performance of patience, calculation, and restraint. To navigate a racist colleague is to walk the fault line between survival and dignity, between diplomacy and self-respect, between the need to remain employed and the human instinct to resist degradation.

A Germophobic, You Used Bathroom Towels By Mistake – How to Redeem Your Sanitization Now?

You step out of the shower, steam curling around your ears, skin freshly scrubbed and dripping clean. The towel rack hangs nearby, and without thinking, you grab what you assume is your fresh towel. Seconds later, your body stiffens. That wasn’t your towel. That was the one used by someone else, maybe after they washed their face, maybe after they dried their hands from the bathroom sink. A flush of panic spreads. For most people, this might earn a shrug. For someone with germophobia, it sets off alarms as if the sanctity of their entire body has been violated. This is not a trivial overreaction. Germophobia—or contamination-related OCD—rewires the mind to interpret harmless accidents as catastrophic breaches of safety. A towel is no longer fabric; it is a carrier of unseen armies of microbes, imagined threats multiplying in seconds. The question becomes desperate: how do I cleanse myself now? But to understand how to redeem such “contamination” requires more than sanitizer. It requires insight into the psychology of fear, the science of germs, and humanity’s long history of purification rituals. Only then can one calm both skin and psyche.

Why the Wrong Towel Feels Like a Catastrophe

At the heart of germophobia is not dirt itself but the idea of contamination. Psychologists note that the fear is often “magical” rather than scientific. If someone with OCD touches a doorknob, their anxiety spikes not because they logically believe the knob is dripping with anthrax but because their brain treats it as inherently “dirty.” Once contact is made, contamination feels permanent, spreading from finger to arm to entire body. The same happens with towels. A shared towel feels like a sponge of invisible fluids: sweat, saliva, bacteria. The germophobic brain doesn’t pause to calculate risk; it floods with alarm. This explains why such episodes provoke more distress than genuine exposure events like touching money or sitting on a subway seat. The bathroom is coded as a “contamination zone,” so a towel linked to it feels catastrophic. Researchers call this thought-action fusion. The belief is that touching something “dirty” automatically makes one dirty, regardless of context. A split-second mistake becomes a crisis of identity: “I am no longer clean.” This inner rupture explains why such a small error spirals into panic for the germophobic.

Science of Towels and Germs — What Really Happens?

Now for the less emotional, more biological side. Are towels really that dangerous? Research suggests that bathroom towels can indeed harbor bacteria if they are damp and reused often. A study from the University of Arizona found that nearly 90% of bathroom hand towels carried coliform bacteria, and 14% had E. coli. Towels left in humid bathrooms become breeding grounds, especially if not washed frequently. But here’s the nuance: for a healthy individual, the risk of infection is minimal. Your skin is not a passive sponge; it is an organ with layers of protection, oils, and immune defenses. Most bacteria on towels are the same microbes already present on your skin. Unless the towel has come into direct contact with bodily fluids or someone with an infectious condition, the likelihood of catching an illness is exceedingly low. The gulf between perceived and actual risk is massive. The germophobic brain inflates risk until the towel feels like a biohazard. In reality, a shower after accidental use or even a rinse with soap suffices. Science reassures; psychology resists. This is why managing such moments isn’t just about washing—it’s about soothing a mind convinced of catastrophe.

Fear, Purity, and the Human Psyche

The fear of contamination is ancient. Germophobia, though clinically defined only in the last century, echoes humanity’s oldest anxieties around purity. Across civilizations, purity and impurity were moral categories as much as hygienic ones. In Hindu dharma, ritual baths in the Ganga cleanse not just dirt but spiritual pollution. In Islam, wudu (ablution) before prayer is both a physical wash and a spiritual reset. The Romans built elaborate baths not merely for hygiene but for symbolic renewal. Even in Christianity, baptism is a form of washing away contamination. What germophobia amplifies is this primal human obsession with purity. A bathroom towel mishap triggers a crisis that feels larger than hygiene: a rupture in moral or bodily sanctity. Anthropologists like Mary Douglas, in her seminal work Purity and Danger, argued that dirt is “matter out of place.” Towels are supposed to dry you; when a used one touches you, it becomes dirt out of place, collapsing the symbolic order. This explains why germophobic anxiety feels both irrational and deeply human. It taps into a collective subconscious where contamination is chaos and cleansing is redemption.

Learned Helplessness vs. Control in Germophobic Episodes

When someone with germophobia realizes they’ve touched the “wrong” towel, a sense of helplessness often follows. It’s not simply “I touched it,” but “Now I can’t undo it.” This mirrors the concept of learned helplessness in psychology: repeated exposure to uncontrollable situations trains the brain to stop resisting, sinking into panic or passivity. Control becomes the antidote. Washing, sanitizing, or scrubbing restores a sense of agency, even if the actual risk was negligible. The relief is not about germs being gone but about anxiety being silenced. Unfortunately, this cycle of fear–ritual–relief is the very loop that entrenches OCD. Each time one redeems sanitization through ritual, the brain learns: “My fear was valid, my ritual necessary.” Breaking this loop requires balance. Some ritual is fine—re-wash if it calms you—but learning to stop before compulsion takes over is essential. Without this balance, the wrong towel becomes the day’s defining catastrophe, trapping the sufferer in endless loops of washing.

Immediate Coping Strategies — Redeeming Sanitization

• So, what should you actually do after using a bathroom towel by mistake?
• Rewash Quickly if You Must: If the anxiety is overwhelming, take a short rinse. Make it deliberate, not frantic.
• Use a Sanitizing Step: Apply a light antiseptic body wash or sanitizer for hands if the towel touched limited areas.
• Reset Through Breath: After the ritual, sit and do three minutes of deep breathing. Inhale four counts, hold two, exhale six. This shifts the nervous system from panic (sympathetic) to calm (parasympathetic).
• Self-Talk: Remind yourself, “The towel is not a toxin. My skin is designed to protect me.” Cognitive reframing helps weaken catastrophic thinking.
• Stop the Spiral: Avoid repeating rituals. Once done, refuse the urge to wash again.

In practice, redeeming sanitization is less about scrubbing the body and more about calming the mind. Once control is asserted, the panic subsides.

Rituals Across Cultures That Mirror Germophobic Cleansing

What germophobic people feel today has long been expressed through cultural purification rituals. These serve as collective coping strategies for contamination anxiety.

• Islam: Ablution (wudu) before prayer, involving washing hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, head, and feet, resets not just the body but the spirit.
• Hinduism: Post-funeral baths symbolize washing away contact with death’s pollution. Daily ablutions in rivers sanctify the body before rituals.
• Judaism: The mikveh bath represents ritual purification after menstruation or impurity.
• Shinto in Japan: Water-based rituals (misogi) cleanse both physical and spiritual contamination.
• Christianity: Holy water at church entrances and baptism rituals frame cleanliness as rebirth.

These show that the desire to “redeem” cleanliness is ancient and widespread. The germophobic towel panic is, in a sense, a modern secular version of these timeless fears.

When Ritual Becomes a Trap

The danger arises when cleansing rituals stop being a relief and become prisons. Compulsive handwashing until skin cracks, multiple showers daily, bleaching towels after every touch—these behaviors worsen distress in the long run. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for OCD emphasizes exposure and response prevention (ERP): facing small contamination events and resisting the ritual. For example, intentionally touching a shared towel, then waiting out the anxiety without washing, teaches the brain that disaster doesn’t follow. Over time, this weakens the contamination reflex. For germophobics, the bathroom towel incident is an accidental ERP. The challenge is to survive the panic without endless scrubbing. If achieved, it becomes a small victory. If not, it deepens the ritual trap.

Reframing the Towel Incident — It’s About the Mind, Not the Microbes

The final redemption lies in reframing. A towel may carry bacteria, but most are harmless. The danger isn’t infection—it’s interpretation. Germophobia magnifies risk into moral collapse. But just as cultures built rituals to soothe fear, individuals can build reframes:

“This towel does not undo my shower.”

“My skin protects me.”

“Cleanliness is in my care, not in my panic.”

Ultimately, it is less about sanitization and more about serenity. Redeeming oneself after the towel mistake is not washing harder but learning that the mind’s fear, not the fabric, needs cleansing.

Reflection

A germophobic panic over bathroom towels may seem absurd to outsiders, but it is the modern echo of humanity’s ancient battle with purity and contamination. From the Ganga to Roman baths, from wudu to chlorine, humans have always sought redemption after defilement. Germophobia simply personalizes it, amplifying one towel into a battlefield. The true exercise of redemption lies not in soap but in psychology. To redeem your sanitization is to accept that the body is resilient, the skin a fortress, and the mind capable of calm. The towel is not an enemy—it is a test. And every test survived is a step toward freedom from fear.

References

• University of Arizona towel bacteria study – https://uanews.arizona.edu/story/germs-love-damp-towels
• CDC – Hygiene and shared towel risks – https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/towels.html
• American Psychiatric Association – OCD contamination subtype – https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/ocd/what-is-obsessive-compulsive-disorder
• Mayo Clinic – Germophobia and compulsive behaviors – https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ocd/symptoms-causes/syc-20354432
• Douglas, Mary. Purity and Danger – 1966
• WHO – Hand hygiene and cultural practices – https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-guidelines-on-hand-hygiene-in-health-care
• Harvard Health – Coping with OCD rituals – https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/when-to-worry-about-habits
• Islam – Wudu purification practices – https://sunnah.com/bukhari:159
• Hindu dharma rituals – https://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/index.htm
• Judaism – Mikveh bath purification – https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/mikveh/
• Shinto purification (misogi) – https://www.britannica.com/topic/misogi
• Christianity – Baptism and holy water symbolism – https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/baptism
• Journal of Anxiety Disorders – ERP therapy for OCD – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
• NIH – Cortisol, stress, and rituals – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5573739/
• Cognitive reframing in anxiety treatment – https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/07/anxiety
• National Institute of Mental Health – Contamination fears – https://www.nimh.nih.gov
• British Journal of Psychology – Thought-action fusion – https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
• Indian Journal of Psychiatry – Rituals and contamination anxiety – https://journals.lww.com/indianjpsychiatry
• WHO – Obsessive compulsive behaviors in the global context – https://www.who.int/health-topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder
• Scientific American – Why rituals reduce anxiety – https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-rituals-work/

The Pandemic Fear was Inside our Home [when someone tests positive]

My father just got his first shot of the vaccine after waiting out his recovery from what has now become an integral part of our lives - the Coronavirus. While I was making a reminder of the date on which he would be getting his second shot, memories of the first couple of days when my father tested positive rushed in. This happened on April 17th, 2020 - last year. He had been feeling a bit heavy in the head for a few days, and like many folks, his mask-wearing etiquette was rather questionable. He has always been someone proud of his immunity, the fact that he played cricket from the school to club level despite all the hardships, and he would never take a sick leave from his workplace [CITIBANK - the CITI never sleeps]. He did not have the reserves of energy to collect the pathology report, and with my bits-and-piece knowledge about the healthcare genre, I was trusted to gather it and confirm that he wasn't infected - we were rather sure about it. My father, falling ill? A smart betting man would never invest in this preposterous theory!

That time of the month for a Guy but is Mental Menstrual break a reality?

There is something about living with anxiety that cannot be perfectly portrayed via blogging or publishing a personal diary, almost impossible to express with words. There are times when it comes about unannounced, as if it is saying you forgot me for some time but now that I am here, I will ensure that you never ignore me again. Hitting the blues as some people might call it, this feeling is more than just having a bad day. Anybody can have a depressive day, weighed down by deadlines or something that is unrolling within the family. Everybody is susceptible to run into a couple of days of a bad mood, but when you start feeling uncomfortable, when you are asleep and awake, despite nothing in your regular schedule going horribly wrong, you know anxiety is taking over. I wonder if people talk about this, and most importantly, acknowledge it. 

Sometimes, I feel women get little leverage from their otherwise complex and very demanding bodily constitution. The urban mindset largely understands that for a few days in a month, women can get highly irritable, most likely to snap or they just might get too reserved, as if they always wanted to live alone in an igloo. The concept of "that time of the month" has been here for some time, and people have become far more informed or at least well-mannered enough to acknowledge it and give women the space they need during this "period". In comparison, my bad days are very hard to talk about and even harder to explain. Elders in the family can say that fundamentally, I don't qualify to worry about anything since more than sufficient fixed deposits have been put in place, with my name clearly filled in the nomination section.

You cannot fight this logic, and if you try to do it, you really cannot win the argument. It seems the odds are stacked against explaining to anybody that this feeling of being unsettled and emotionally exhausted is not your typical definition of Stress. This is just like a bout of bad mental healt,h but it will be largely interpreted as being stressed despite having a life partner, child, job, and the comfort of your own home and a financial lineage.

While I am doing the daily chores, answering calls, and typing out emails at the speed of light, one part of my mind is also wondering if the childhood OCD has finally gone or did it manage to stimulate some sort of obsessive personality disorder? On such days, even when shopping online, Google searches can also route towards finding the best and easiest ways to boost dopamine or reading about the struggles of people who have been diagnosed with ADHD [adults], or worse, reading about bipolairsm.

When such days are underway, I wonder we can make people understand that this is something like the flu of the mind? It won't last for too many days, but while it does, I will not have a runny nose or a heated forehead, but I will feel diseased. Taking a vacation or driving to some idyllic destination isn't always an option; sometimes it just isn't feasible. Instead, I will hope for a meal or two to be served in bed, and perhaps, even when applying for a short leave or full-day leave from the workplace, I can actually say, "Sir, I am mentally exhausted and need a small break".

In comparison, women are hopefully taking advantage of clubbing their per-qualified "down" days with a mental health break. If you are a lady out there, and you are not using your time of the month to take a backseat, catch a breath, get some massages, and vent, SHAME ON YOU! While men will never have access to what can be described as Mental Menstruation, you can use the hormonal and biological menstrual days to take a psychological break and reboot your mental reserves, demanding the space you need, just gathering your thoughts and systematically, obliterating the toxic ones - letting them "bleed out" seems like the right thing to do, just for the sake of regaining your mental composure. When one of the genders has something working in its favor, in terms of social acceptance/recognition, at least use it properly rather than trying to be brave about it.

BEYOND PERSONAL OPINIONS: SHARING SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUBJECT GATHERED FROM THE WEB

Are men more vulnerable to emotional breakdowns?

There is no evidence to suggest that men are more vulnerable to emotional breakdowns than women. Emotional breakdowns can affect anyone, regardless of gender. However, societal expectations and stereotypes may make it more difficult for men to express and seek help for emotional distress. This can lead to men experiencing emotional breakdowns in different ways than women, such as through substance abuse or aggression, rather than seeking help from a therapist or counselor.

Do men suffer from monthly hormonal changes?

No, men do not experience monthly hormonal changes like women do during their menstrual cycle. Men have a relatively stable level of hormones throughout the month. Women have hormonal fluctuations that occur as part of their menstrual cycle, which can affect their mood, energy levels, and physical sensations. Men do not have these fluctuations because they do not have a menstrual cycle. However, men do have their own set of hormonal changes that happen throughout their lifetime, such as the decrease of testosterone levels as they age. Additionally, men can experience hormonal imbalances, which can result in symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, decreased libido, and depression. These conditions can be diagnosed and treated by a medical professional.

Is there an age group among males that is more vulnerable to mood swings?

There is no specific age group among males that is more vulnerable to mood swings. Mood swings can occur in men of all ages and can be caused by a variety of factors such as stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, medical conditions, and medications. However, some specific ages or stages of life may have a higher likelihood of experiencing mood swings. For instance, during adolescence, boys may experience mood swings due to the hormonal changes that happen during puberty. Similarly, middle-aged men may experience mood swings as they go through andropause, which is the gradual decline in testosterone levels that happens as men age. Additionally, men who have mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety may experience more frequent and severe mood swings. It's always important to talk to a healthcare professional if you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing mood swings that are impacting their daily life.

Are men in their 40s more likely to have mood swings?

Men in their 40s may be more likely to experience mood swings due to the hormonal changes that happen during andropause, which is the gradual decline in testosterone levels that happens as men age. Testosterone plays a key role in mood regulation, so a decline in testosterone levels can lead to mood swings, fatigue, depression, and irritability. However, it's important to note that not all men in their 40s will experience mood swings due to andropause, and many other factors can also contribute to mood swings such as stress, lack of sleep, poor diet, medical conditions, and medications. Additionally, as men in their 40s may be facing other life changes, such as career, family, and financial stressors, these can also contribute to mood swings. It's always important to talk to a healthcare professional if you suspect that you or someone you know is experiencing mood swings that are impacting their daily life.

Should men try hormonal supplements to improve their mental health?

Hormonal supplements, such as testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), may be an option for men who have a diagnosed deficiency in testosterone, which can be confirmed through blood tests. Testosterone replacement therapy can be used to help alleviate symptoms associated with low testosterone levels such as fatigue, depression, and decreased libido. However, it's important to note that TRT is not recommended as a first-line treatment for mood swings or mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety, and It should only be considered after other treatments have been tried and have been found to be ineffective. It is also important to note that TRT may have potential side effects and risks, so it should be closely monitored by a healthcare professional. It's always recommended to have a thorough evaluation by a healthcare professional, including a physical examination, blood tests, and psychological evaluation, before considering any hormonal supplements. Also, it's important to address any underlying mental health condition and other lifestyle factors such as stress, poor diet, and lack of exercise that may be contributing to mood swings.

Why do some people still believe that men don't cry?

The belief that men don't cry is a stereotype that is rooted in traditional gender roles and societal expectations. Historically, men have been expected to be strong, stoic, and unemotional, while women have been expected to be emotional and nurturing. These societal expectations have led to the belief that men should not cry or show vulnerability, while women are expected to do so. These beliefs are reinforced by the media, movies, and TV shows, where men are often portrayed as strong and unemotional, while women are shown crying and showing vulnerability. This stereotype is also reinforced by societal and cultural expectations, where men who cry are seen as weak or unmanly. However, it's important to note that crying is a natural human emotion, and it is healthy to express emotions. Crying can help to release pent-up emotions and stress, and can help to improve mental and emotional well-being. Men, like women, have the ability to feel a wide range of emotion,s and it is important for them to be able to express them in a healthy way. It's important to challenge this stereotype and to recognize that men are just as capable of experiencing emotions as women and that it's okay for men to cry. Encouraging men to express their emotions in a healthy way can lead to better mental health for everyone. 

Which Hollywood movie broke the stereotype about men's emotional health?

One Hollywood movie that helped to break the stereotype about men's emotional health is the 2017 film "A Star Is Born," directed by Bradley Cooper and starring Cooper and Lady Gaga. In the film, Cooper plays a successful musician who is struggling with addiction, depression, and emotional issues. Throughout the film, Cooper's character, Jackson Maine, expresses his emotions and shows vulnerability, crying and expressing his feelings. This was a departure from the typical Hollywood portrayal of men as strong and stoic and helped to challenge the stereotype that men should not show vulnerability or emotions. The film also showed the struggle of men with addiction, depression, and emotional issues, which a common issues that men face but often are not highlighted or talked about. The movie helped to bring attention to the importance of men's emotional health and the need to support men in expressing and managing their emotions. It's important to note that this movie is not the only one that broke this stereotype, but it's one of the most recent and popular ones that brought attention to the topic.

Which Bollywood movie broke the stereotype about men being sensitive?

One Bollywood movie that helped to break the stereotype about men being sensitive is the 2019 film "Kabir Singh" directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Shahid Kapoor. In the film, Kabir Singh is a highly successful, yet short-tempered and self-destructive young surgeon who falls in love with a first-year student and struggles to come to terms with her marriage to someone else. Throughout the film, Kabir Singh's character shows a range of emotions, including vulnerability, hurt, and sadness, which is not commonly seen in Bollywood movies where men are often portrayed as strong, dominant, and unemotional. The film also highlighted the issues of addiction, self-destructive behavior, and mental health, which are often not explored in Bollywood movies. It's important to note that "Kabir Singh" also faced criticisms and controversies, as the protagonist's behavior was seen as toxic and problematic by some. However, it still managed to spark a conversation about men's emotional health and the need for men to be able to express and manage their emotions healthily. It's important to note that this movie is not the only one that broke this stereotype, but it's one of the most recent and popular ones that brought attention to the topic.

Is there an ad campaign that highlighted men as being sensitive?

Yes, there have been several advertising campaigns that have aimed to break the stereotype that men should not show vulnerability or sensitivity. One example is the "Man Up" campaign, which is a public health campaign from the UK that aims to encourage men to talk about their mental health and to challenge the stereotypes that men should be strong and unemotional. The campaign features men of different ages and backgrounds talking about their mental health and the importance of talking about it. Another example is the campaign "Real Strength is Showing Vulnerability" by the Canadian Men's Health Foundation, which aims to challenge the stereotype that men should be tough and unemotional. The campaign encourages men to talk about their feelings and to seek help when they need it. Additionally, "The Man Box" campaign by Promundo is a global campaign that aims to encourage men to rethink traditional gender roles and stereotypes and to challenge the idea that men should be tough and unemotional. These campaigns and others like them aim to break the stereotype that men should not show vulnerability or sensitivity and to encourage men to express their emotions and seek help when they need it. These campaigns also aim to create a culture where it is okay for men to show vulnerability and sensitivity, and to promote better mental and emotional well-being for men.

Is there a brand that pioneered the cause of showcasing sensitive men?

It's difficult to say which brand specifically pioneered the cause of showcasing sensitive men, as different brands have been working on this topic for different periods. However, some brands have been particularly vocal and visible in their efforts to challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes and to showcase sensitive men in their advertising.

One example is the shaving brand Gillette, which in 2019 released an advertisement called "We Believe: The Best Men Can Be," which aimed to challenge traditional masculinity and encourage men to be their best selves. The advertisement featured men of different ages and backgrounds, showing them crying, expressing their emotions, and taking responsibility for their actions. The ad was praised by some for its message of emotional intelligence and self-improvement, and criticized by others as being divisive and portraying men in a negative way. Another example is the men's skincare brand, Dove Men+Care, which has been promoting the idea of "Real Strength" in its advertising campaigns, which aims to challenge traditional stereotypes of masculinity and to showcase men who are sensitive and emotionally expressive. These are just a couple of examples of brands that have attempted to showcase sensitive men in their advertising campaigns, but there are certainly many more brands that have been working on this topic. The message is that it's okay for men to be sensitive and emotionally expressive, and it's important for brands to take a stand for this idea, as it can help break down traditional gender stereotypes and promote better mental and emotional well-being for men.

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The original text: Male menopause: Myth or reality?

What is this about? The concept of "male menopause" refers to a gradual decline in testosterone levels in men, termed late-onset hypogonadism or age-related low testosterone, which is different from the abrupt hormonal changes women experience during menopause. Symptoms may include reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, depression, fatigue, and decreased muscle mass. Testosterone therapy is considered for men with significant symptoms after risks and benefits are discussed. Regular monitoring and further tests are recommended to confirm low testosterone levels before starting treatment.

The original text: Signs and Symptoms of Male Hormone Imbalance

What is this about? Male hormone imbalance can significantly impact various bodily functions. Symptoms include weight changes, excessive sweating, disrupted sleep, dry skin, blood sugar and pressure changes, fatigue, headaches, depression, mood swings, anxiety, increased thirst, and frequent urination. Hormonal imbalances can affect appetite, metabolism, sexual function, mood, stress levels, and body temperature. Recent studies indicate a link between lack of sleep, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalance, particularly involving testosterone and cortisol, which may lead to Type 2 diabetes. Diagnosis involves medical history, physical exams, and blood tests, with treatments including lifestyle changes, hormone replacement therapy, supplements, and stress management.

The original text: Androgen deficiency in men What is this about? Androgen deficiency in men is a condition where the body has lower levels of male sex hormones, particularly testosterone. It can be caused by issues in the testes, pituitary gland, or hypothalamus. Symptoms include reduced libido, fatigue, depression, and decreased muscle mass. Diagnosis involves medical history, physical exams, and blood tests. Treatment typically includes testosterone replacement therapy, but it's crucial to accurately diagnose before starting. Self-prescription is unsafe. Older men should be checked for prostate cancer before therapy due to potential risks. The original text: 5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Men’s Health What is this about? The YuLife article highlights five lesser-known facts about men's health:

• Men die younger than women, largely due to heart disease and cancer.
• Mental health issues, such as depression and suicide, are prevalent among men.
• Testosterone plays a critical role in protecting heart health.
• Men are less likely to seek medical help and more likely to engage in risky behaviors.
• Regular exercise and a healthy diet can significantly improve men's health outcomes.

A really bad attempt at rhyming during the Pandemic...

2021: when birthdays aren’t ‘Less’ than any reason to celebrate!

The emptiness outside screamed at us, but it was voiceless,

Lives that have been turned upside down, seem countless.

The perennial worriers are learning how to be fearless,

Life-from-home helped those reconnect who were faithless.

Masked people still try to look good despite being rendered faceless,

Keeping distances nurtured human connections but they were nameless.

As death came knocking in our neighborhood, the circus of life seemed pointless,

The poorest among us were those without friends and not those who were penniless.

While we try to forget what has happened during this time, finding ways not to get restless,

The lessons learned and the memories created will forever remain priceless.

Helping at the shelter can be self-therapeutic, self-healing...selfish

I have been watching YouTube videos recently, and so many have volunteers working at animal shelters. I get the feeling that a lot of these folks are working purely out of undefined compassion and love for animals. There is no other way to explain it. Nobody can be motivated by a branded t-shirt that a shelter provides, perhaps three times a year, to spend that much time with animals, working with animals that are often injured, horrifically uncared for, and often in a state of neglect that seems frightening. But then, I also see the other side of it. Some people need this to heal themselves, placate a mind that wanders too much, or often give way to temptations that are highly destructive. Helping at the shelter also has to be a healing mechanism, about creating hours within a day, week, or month that help to manage a sense of loss, regrets that won’t go away, or anxieties that seem to emerge out of nowhere. In the end, the shelter ecosystem seems like the perfect blend of some professionals, some volunteers who just want to be around animals or help, and others who see this as therapy without pills. Is it perfect? No. Just like families are not meant to function flawlessly, but they often give way to people with happy childhoods and lives well lived…

BEYOND PERSONAL OPINIONS: SHARING SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUBJECT GATHERED FROM THE WEB

Is helping at the animal shelter a part of prisoner reforms?

Helping at an animal shelter can be a part of prisoner reform programs, as it can provide prisoners with valuable skills and experiences that can help them reintegrate into society upon their release. Programs that involve prisoners working with animals at animal shelters can provide prisoners with opportunities to learn responsibility, compassion, and teamwork. These programs can also help to reduce the stress and anxiety that many prisoners experience while incarcerated. Animal shelters can benefit from this type of program as well, as they are often short-staffed and can use the help of volunteers. There are several different programs that involve prisoners working with animals at animal shelters. Some programs involve prisoners caring for and training animals, while others involve prisoners providing administrative or maintenance support. These programs are usually offered through partnerships between animal shelters, correctional facilities, and non-profit organizations. It's worth noting that these programs are not always easy to implement and require careful planning and coordination between the involved parties to ensure the welfare of both the animals and the prisoners.

Why helping at animal shelters can help someone struggling with grief?

Helping at animal shelters can be beneficial for someone who is struggling with grief because it can provide a sense of purpose and a sense of accomplishment. Caring for animals can also be a way to honor the memory of a loved one who had a special connection with animals. Working with animals can also provide a sense of comfort and companionship, which can be especially important for someone who is grieving. Interacting with animals can help to reduce stress and anxiety, and can also help to improve mood and overall well-being. Being around animals can also be therapeutic; it can provide a sense of calmness and non-judgmental companionship, which can be helpful for someone who is experiencing grief. Animals don't hold grudges, they don't judge, and they don't have expectations, which can be a comforting and healing environment for someone who is struggling with grief. Additionally, helping at an animal shelter can also provide a sense of community and belonging. It can be a way to connect with others who have similar interests and can be a way to feel like you are making a positive impact in the world. It's worth noting that grief is a complex and individual experience, and what works for one person may not work for another. It's important to understand that helping at an animal shelter should be one of the many coping strategies that a person can use to deal with their grief, and it's important to seek professional help if needed.

Which precautions should you take when visiting an animal shelter for the first time?

When visiting an animal shelter for the first time, there are several precautions that you should take in order to ensure the safety and well-being of both the animals and yourself. Follow the rules: Each animal shelter has its own set of rules and regulations, so it's important to follow them at all times. This may include things like not disturbing the animals while they are eating or sleeping, not entering certain areas of the shelter without permission, and not interacting with certain animals without permission.

Be mindful of your own health: Many animal shelters have animals that may be carrying diseases or parasites, so it's important to take precautions to protect yourself. This may include things like washing your hands frequently, wearing gloves or other protective gear, and not touching your face or eating while in the shelter.

Respect the animals: It's important to remember that the animals at the shelter are there because they have been abandoned or neglected, so they may be frightened or nervous. It's important to be gentle and calm when interacting with them and to respect their boundaries.

Be prepared: If you are planning on adopting an animal, it's important to be prepared by bringing the necessary items, such as a leash and collar, food, and a bed. Additionally, you should also be prepared to fill out paperwork and go through an interview process.

Be patient: Adopting an animal is a big responsibility, and it's important to take your time to find the right pet for you and your family. It's important to consider the animal's personality, breed, and specific needs when making a decision.

Have realistic expectations: Not all animals are perfect, and not all animals will be a perfect fit for your home. It's important to have realistic expectations when visiting an animal shelter and be open to the idea that the animal you adopt may have some behavior issues that need to be worked on.

Why are animal shelter Instagram stories often staged?

Animal shelter Instagram stories are often staged to showcase the animals in the most positive and appealing way possible, in order to increase their chances of being adopted. Shelters often use professional photographers or volunteers to take pictures and videos of the animals in a way that highlights their best features and personalities. This can include things like dressing the animals up in cute outfits, arranging them in playful poses, and taking photos and videos in a clean and well-lit environment. Staging the photos and videos in this way can help to show the animals in their best light and can help to make them more appealing to potential adopters. It can also help to showcase the personality and unique characteristics of each animal, which can help potential adopters connect with them and imagine them as part of their family. It's important to note that while the stories and photos may be staged, the shelters still provide accurate information about the animals' background, health condition, and any other important information that the adopters should know before adopting. It's also worth mentioning that animal shelters have the goal to find loving and caring homes for the animals they take care of, which is a noble cause, and they are using different techniques to achieve that goal.

Can you adopt at an animal shelter without bringing the animal home?

Some animal shelters offer the option to adopt an animal without bringing them home immediately. This type of adoption is often referred to as "foster to adopt" or "trial adoption." It allows potential adopters to take an animal home on a trial basis to see if the animal is a good fit for their home and lifestyle before making a final decision to adopt. Foster-to-adopt programs allow potential adopters to provide a temporary home for an animal while the shelter continues to search for a permanent home. This can be especially beneficial for animals that may have special needs or may be recovering from an illness or injury.

During the foster period, the shelter will provide all necessary supplies, such as food, medication, and any other necessary items. The adopter will be responsible for providing a loving and nurturing home, as well as regular updates on the animal's health and behavior.

At the end of the foster period, the adopter will have the option to adopt the animal permanently or to return the animal to the shelter. If the adopter decides to adopt, the shelter will then finalize the adoption process, which will include signing the adoption contract and paying the adoption fee. It's worth noting that not all animal shelters offer this type of adoption, and the process and requirements can vary depending on the shelter. It's important to check with the shelter if they have such a program and what the requirements are before making a decision.

Does helping at the animal shelter give you any type of tax relief?

Helping at an animal shelter can be a rewarding experience, but it does not typically provide any specific tax relief. However, if the animal shelter is a non-profit organization that is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, donations made to the shelter may be tax-deductible. This means that if you make a monetary donation to the animal shelter, you may be able to claim a tax deduction for the donation amount on your federal income tax return. It's important to note that this applies only to monetary donations, not to in-kind donations, such as volunteering time or goods.

It's also worth mentioning that tax laws can be complex, and it's always a good idea to consult a tax professional or the IRS for guidance on how to claim a tax deduction for charitable donations. However, volunteering at an animal shelter may help you to qualify for other tax benefits, such as mileage reimbursement for travel to and from the shelter, as long as you can prove that you were traveling for charitable purposes. In addition, if you are a business owner, you may be able to deduct the cost of supplies, such as food and bedding, that you donate to the animal shelter as a business expense. All in all, helping at an animal shelter can be a great way to give back to your community and make a difference, but it may not directly provide any tax relief.

Can you visit an animal shelter in India every day?

It depends on the specific animal shelter you are interested in visiting. Some animal shelters in India may have regular visiting hours and may allow visitors to come and see the animals every day, while others may have more limited visiting hours or may not allow visitors at all. It's important to check with the specific animal shelter you are interested in visiting to find out their visiting hours and policies. Many animal shelters in India have specific visiting hours and may require that you make an appointment or get permission before visiting. Some shelters may also have restrictions on the number of visitors allowed at one time. Additionally, it's important to note that animal shelters are not only for entertainment and visiting, it's a place where animals are taken care of and treated, so the animals' welfare should be the top priority. It's important to be respectful of the animals and their needs while visiting. It's also worth mentioning that some animal shelters in India are overcrowded and may not have the resources to accommodate frequent visitors, so it's important to consider the impact that your visit may have on the shelter and its animals before deciding to visit.

Is it a good idea to leave pets at an animal shelter when you are traveling overseas?

Leaving pets at an animal shelter when you are traveling overseas is not generally considered to be a good idea. Animal shelters are typically not set up to provide long-term care for pets and may not have the resources or the staff to provide the level of care that your pet needs. Additionally, animal shelters are often overcrowded, and your pet may not receive the attention and care that they need.

There are several alternatives to leaving your pet at a shelter while you are traveling. One option is to hire a pet sitter or a dog walker to take care of your pet while you are away. This can provide your pet with the care and attention they need while still allowing them to stay in the comfort of their own home. Another option is to board your pet at a kennel or a pet hotel. These facilities are often staffed by experienced pet care professionals who can provide your pet with the care and attention they need while you are away.

You can also ask friends or family members if they are willing to take care of your pet while you are away. This can provide your pet with a familiar and comfortable environment while you are away. It's also worth noting that it's not always possible to take your pet with you when you travel overseas, due to quarantine laws or other restrictions. In those cases, it's important to research and find a reputable and trustworthy pet boarding facility that can provide your pet with the best possible care while you are away.