<p>Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has revealed that he and his daughter Ira have been undergoing therapy sessions together. The actor, who is been on a break from acting for the past two years, has been spending quality time with his family.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
In a video shared by Netflix India, Aamir and Ira can be seen discussing mental health with Dr Vivek Murthy.<br />
<br />
"Therapy is so helpful. I think she (Ira) pushed me down that path. I would strongly recommend therapy to anyone who feels the need for it? It has been helpful for me. Ira and I also have started joint therapy. The two of us go to a therapist for our own relationship. To work on how to make that better and issues which have been there for over years," said the actor.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Khan asserted that therapy had the power to heal minds. "Therapy is a very powerful thing. I'm a fairly intelligent guy. I can think things through. I'm a sensible guy. If there's an issue, I can sort it out for myself. But no, I can't. It doesn't matter how intelligent you are. It doesn't matter how worldly-wise you are. We know so little about our minds... That a person who has a lot more knowledge and has got the basics right really helps you in leaps and bounds to understand it. In India, a lot of us feel if I go for therapy, I have a mental problem. I don't want people to know I'm going for therapy. But it is okay need help. I have benefited greatly from therapy."<br />
<br />
This isn't the first time that the father-daughter duo have engaged in a conversation about mental -health.&nbsp;</p>

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<br />
Ira shared a video to spread awareness and break the taboo around the topic. She was also joined by her father Aamir Khan. In the video, released on Instagram, Aamir explained, <em>"Zindagi mai aise bahut se kaam hai jo hum khud nahi kar pate, jismai hume kisi aur vyakti ki madad lagti hai jo woh kaam janta hai. Aur aise faisle hum badi asani se le lete hai baigair kisi sharam ke, baigair kisi jhijak ke. </em>(There are a lot of things in our life that we cannot do. To fulfill such tasks, we seek help from others, who know the job pretty well. And, we take such decisions very easily, without any guilt or embarrassment.)"<br />
<br />
Ira Khan has been an open advocate for mental health awareness. She launched the Agastu Foundation in 2021 which works towards "making mental well-being more accessible". Ira is Aamir Khan and his first wife Reena Dutt's daughter.&nbsp;</p>


Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has revealed that he and his daughter Ira have been undergoing therapy sessions together. The actor, who is been on a break from acting for the past two years, has been spending quality time with his family.

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has revealed that he and his daughter Ira have been undergoing therapy sessions together. The actor, who is been on a break from acting for the past two years, has been spending quality time with his family. In a video shared by Netflix India, Aamir and Ira can be seen discussing mental health with Dr Vivek Murthy. "Therapy is so helpful. I think she (Ira) pushed me down that path. I would strongly recommend therapy to anyone who feels the need for it? It has been helpful for me. Ira and I also have started joint therapy. The two of us go to a therapist for our own relationship. To work on how to make that better and issues which have been there for over years," said the actor. Khan asserted that therapy had the power to heal minds. "Therapy is a very powerful thing. I'm a fairly intelligent guy. I can think things through. I'm a sensible guy. If there's an issue, I can sort it out for myself. But no, I can't. It doesn't matter how intelligent you are. It doesn't matter how worldly-wise you are. We know so little about our minds... That a person who has a lot more knowledge and has got the basics right really helps you in leaps and bounds to understand it. In India, a lot of us feel if I go for therapy, I have a mental problem. I don't want people to know I'm going for therapy. But it is okay need help. I have benefited greatly from therapy." This isn't the first time that the father-daughter duo have engaged in a conversation about mental -health. Ira shared a video to spread awareness and break the taboo around the topic. She was also joined by her father Aamir Khan. In the video, released on Instagram, Aamir explained, "Zindagi mai aise bahut se kaam hai jo hum khud nahi kar pate, jismai hume kisi aur vyakti ki madad lagti hai jo woh kaam janta hai. Aur aise faisle hum badi asani se le lete hai baigair kisi sharam ke, baigair kisi jhijak ke. (There are a lot of things in our life that we cannot do. To fulfill such tasks, we seek help from others, who know the job pretty well. And, we take such decisions very easily, without any guilt or embarrassment.)" Ira Khan has been an open advocate for mental health awareness. She launched the Agastu Foundation in 2021 which works towards "making mental well-being more accessible". Ira is Aamir Khan and his first wife Reena Dutt's daughter.

Aamir Khan reveals he goes for joint therapy with daughter Ira: 'It has been helpful'

<p>If you find yourself reading an article attempting to make a curious case of emphasis on children’s mental health almost a week after Mental Health Day, it is because it’s appearing fashionably late! That is how late we are as a society at noticing a child’s state of mind whom we always assume happy. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Why bother about a child’s mental health? Children of ages 12 and below spend most of their time playing, sleeping or avoiding school homework. But, when you go for a therapy session, have you ever wondered: why did the therapist ask you about your childhood? Why were you quiet, unable to explain a thing? Or worse, you didn’t want to talk about it. Chances are that your adulthood traumas that need therapy took root in your personality when you were quite little; a child who wanted to talk but had nobody to communicate with. NO SAFE SPACE.</p>

<p>Speaking on therapy sessions, Pooja Priyamvada, who is a mental health counsellor and media educator, said, “I believe childhood shapes your entire life.” Many people have&nbsp;had a successful professional life, “but one incident from childhood, whether it was abandonment, whether it was physical abuse or sexual abuse; that keeps haunting them and affecting them in ways that they do not even know about. So, their personal relationships suffer.”</p>

<p>Based in Vancouver, Canada, Host and writer of the Alone Together podcast, Peg Fong claims that the pandemic may have made the situation worse because kids spent a lot of time at home and on screen.</p>

<p>She says, “The pandemic had a significant impact on young people, we are now seeing a generation that was born during lockdown. At a time when children are interacting with other toddlers and kids their own age in playgrounds and in daycare, instead, they were spending the time indoors and on screens.”</p>

<h3>What parents think</h3>

<p>Discussing children’s mental health between ages 1 to 12, a parent said, “Do they even understand the status of their mental health? Is there any awareness in this kind of age group? I don’t think so.”</p>

<p>Another parent stated that if a child has issues, it starts building at home. The environment at home affects how they begin to think at an early age.</p>

<p>In general, parents find it tough to navigate a child’s mental health status as they have very little awareness about it.</p>

<h3>Trauma shapes personality</h3>

<p>When asked how these issues shape their personality moving forward, Priyamvada says that there is a big problem in India since Indians believe children are always happy, and they do not experience anxiety or stress; but that is not the case.</p>

<p>She says, “It has been proven again and again by experiments in psychology that children as young as three or four can experience anxiety and can express that as well, and various other emotions. When they experience any such traumatic incident or any emotion that is not easy to handle on their own at such a young age, it does shape their personality in a long way.”</p>

<h3>Loneliness among&nbsp;children</h3>

<p>Peg Fong on the other hand explains how feeling lonely is “normal,” even amongst children, and they must be told so. &nbsp;</p>

<p>She says, “It's perfectly ok to talk about why they feel lonely, and what they want to do about it. Do they want alone time sometimes? Do they want to be with others and not talk or do they want to spend time with others?”</p>

<h3>Signs your child is distressed but not saying it</h3>

<p>Children have a hard time communicating with elders or anyone as they don’t have the right vocabulary to explain themselves. The idea of meeting children halfway completely fails when it comes to communication. There are signs that parents can take a clue from as to how their child is feeling.</p>

<p>Priyamvada explains the signs of a child feeling lonely but not expressing it. “If a child was very playful and suddenly has become quieter, they used to sleep well, but now, you know, they are awake at odd times during the night, the things they used to love to eat, and the friends they used to love to be with, they're not doing that. These are some very common symptoms that the child must be going through some distress.”</p>

<p>"They lose appetite, or they lose sleep, or they feel jittery. And that then leads to children feeling that there is somebody who is a safe person or somebody who understands what I'm going through, and it becomes easier for children to go to this adult and express what they're going through,” she adds.</p>

<h3>How parents play a vital role in communicating</h3>

<p>Peg Fong says, “Parents, like everyone else, are stretched thin and burdened with many things. Mental health, whether in the home, or in schools or in the workplace, are topic that should be discussed without feelings of shame. I think it helps to put it into context of how resilience and emotional intelligence and curiosity and kindness are ways to get into the topic of loneliness.”</p>

<p>As an Indian parent and mental health advocate, Priyamvada emphasizes on Indian parents and their parenting styles.</p>

<p>“Indian parents largely are dismissive because of their lack of awareness about mental health. They think every mental health condition or experience is an illness, and the taboo and stigma about mental illness is so huge that nobody would want to associate it with their child,” she said.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-rujuta-diwekar-%E2%80%98will-update-in-2034%E2%80%99-if-she-has-a-man-who-supports-his-wife-enables-health-care-767669">Rujuta Diwekar ‘will update in 2034’ if she found a man who supports his wife; enables health care</a></strong></p>

<h3>Neglect is the root cause</h3>

<p>She added, “I see a lot of young parents, using phones as nannies, using TV as nannies, and having no control on what kind of content the child is consuming that might also the child might see a scary movie and might start getting nightmares.”</p>

<p>“Neglect is also considered to be a form of abuse,” says Priyamvada.</p>

<p>Before children begin to have issues, it is important that they have people to talk to, someone they can trust. Someone they can reach out to, so they don’t contain their thoughts in their mind alone. Communication is the key at any age. But the right time to begin solving things is the beginning itself. &nbsp;</p>


If you find yourself reading an article attempting to make a curious case of emphasis on children’s mental health almost a week after Mental Health Day, it is because it’s appearing fashionably late!

If you find yourself reading an article attempting to make a curious case of emphasis on children’s mental health almost a week after Mental Health Day, it is because it’s appearing fashionably late! That is how late we are as a society at noticing a child’s state of mind whom we always assume happy. Why bother about a child’s mental health? Children of ages 12 and below spend most of their time playing, sleeping or avoiding school homework. But, when you go for a therapy session, have you ever wondered: why did the therapist ask you about your childhood? Why were you quiet, unable to explain a thing? Or worse, you didn’t want to talk about it. Chances are that your adulthood traumas that need therapy took root in your personality when you were quite little; a child who wanted to talk but had nobody to communicate with. NO SAFE SPACE. Speaking on therapy sessions, Pooja Priyamvada, who is a mental health counsellor and media educator, said, “I believe childhood shapes your entire life.” Many people have had a successful professional life, “but one incident from childhood, whether it was abandonment, whether it was physical abuse or sexual abuse; that keeps haunting them and affecting them in ways that they do not even know about. So, their personal relationships suffer.” Based in Vancouver, Canada, Host and writer of the Alone Together podcast, Peg Fong claims that the pandemic may have made the situation worse because kids spent a lot of time at home and on screen. She says, “The pandemic had a significant impact on young people, we are now seeing a generation that was born during lockdown. At a time when children are interacting with other toddlers and kids their own age in playgrounds and in daycare, instead, they were spending the time indoors and on screens.” What parents think Discussing children’s mental health between ages 1 to 12, a parent said, “Do they even understand the status of their mental health? Is there any awareness in this kind of age group? I don’t think so.” Another parent stated that if a child has issues, it starts building at home. The environment at home affects how they begin to think at an early age. In general, parents find it tough to navigate a child’s mental health status as they have very little awareness about it. Trauma shapes personality When asked how these issues shape their personality moving forward, Priyamvada says that there is a big problem in India since Indians believe children are always happy, and they do not experience anxiety or stress; but that is not the case. She says, “It has been proven again and again by experiments in psychology that children as young as three or four can experience anxiety and can express that as well, and various other emotions. When they experience any such traumatic incident or any emotion that is not easy to handle on their own at such a young age, it does shape their personality in a long way.” Loneliness among children Peg Fong on the other hand explains how feeling lonely is “normal,” even amongst children, and they must be told so. She says, “It's perfectly ok to talk about why they feel lonely, and what they want to do about it. Do they want alone time sometimes? Do they want to be with others and not talk or do they want to spend time with others?” Signs your child is distressed but not saying it Children have a hard time communicating with elders or anyone as they don’t have the right vocabulary to explain themselves. The idea of meeting children halfway completely fails when it comes to communication. There are signs that parents can take a clue from as to how their child is feeling. Priyamvada explains the signs of a child feeling lonely but not expressing it. “If a child was very playful and suddenly has become quieter, they used to sleep well, but now, you know, they are awake at odd times during the night, the things they used to love to eat, and the friends they used to love to be with, they're not doing that. These are some very common symptoms that the child must be going through some distress.” "They lose appetite, or they lose sleep, or they feel jittery. And that then leads to children feeling that there is somebody who is a safe person or somebody who understands what I'm going through, and it becomes easier for children to go to this adult and express what they're going through,” she adds. How parents play a vital role in communicating Peg Fong says, “Parents, like everyone else, are stretched thin and burdened with many things. Mental health, whether in the home, or in schools or in the workplace, are topic that should be discussed without feelings of shame. I think it helps to put it into context of how resilience and emotional intelligence and curiosity and kindness are ways to get into the topic of loneliness.” As an Indian parent and mental health advocate, Priyamvada emphasizes on Indian parents and their parenting styles. “Indian parents largely are dismissive because of their lack of awareness about mental health. They think every mental health condition or experience is an illness, and the taboo and stigma about mental illness is so huge that nobody would want to associate it with their child,” she said. Also read: Rujuta Diwekar ‘will update in 2034’ if she found a man who supports his wife; enables health care Neglect is the root cause She added, “I see a lot of young parents, using phones as nannies, using TV as nannies, and having no control on what kind of content the child is consuming that might also the child might see a scary movie and might start getting nightmares.” “Neglect is also considered to be a form of abuse,” says Priyamvada. Before children begin to have issues, it is important that they have people to talk to, someone they can trust. Someone they can reach out to, so they don’t contain their thoughts in their mind alone. Communication is the key at any age. But the right time to begin solving things is the beginning itself.

Therapy for children? Why early conversation around mental health is important

<p>Five children deaf by birth have regained their hearing in both ears in a gene therapy trial.</p>

<p>The trial, conducted by doctors at Fudan University in Shanghai, targeted children aged between one and 11 who suffered from genetic mutations preventing the production of a crucial protein for auditory signal transmission.</p>

<p>This therapy has now enabled the children to detect sound directions.</p>

<p>These young patients started to show positive results only after a few weeks. Among the improvements were locating sounds, recognising&nbsp;speech even in noisy environments and even enjoying music.</p>

<p>Dr. Zheng-Yi Chen from Harvard teaching hospital for eye and ear&nbsp;that co-led the trial described the results as a “turning point" and highlighted that the children’s hearing continued to improve "dramatically".</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/euclid-spots-seven-new-rogue-planets-heres-what-is-hidden-in-these-dark-worlds-729029">Euclid spots seven new rogue planets. Here's what is hidden in these dark worlds</a></p>

<p>"This is absolutely a turning point," Chen told AFP news agency.</p>

<p>In a positive development, he also suggested that companies are now conducting clinical trials so that they can get approvals. "If the results hold, without any complications, I think in three to five years, it may be a medically approved product," he added.</p>

<p>The therapy involves using an inactive virus for introducing working copies of the affected gene, Otof, into the inner ear. This allows ear cells to produce the protein otoferlin which is essential for hearing.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Transformative stories</strong></h2>

<p>A two-year-old boy responded to his name within three weeks and danced to music after 13 weeks. A three-year-old girl, who initially did not react to sounds, understood sentences and spoke some words 13 weeks post-treatment.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/rare-crystals-reveal-when-earth-first-had-fresh-water-hinting-at-origin-of-life-729021">Rare crystals reveal when Earth first had fresh water, hinting at origin of life</a></p>

<p>One mother Chang Yiyi said she got very emotional as her son responded to her calling him. "I hid in a closet and called for him, and he still responded!" she told AFP news agency.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | New study on US drug overdose deaths</strong></p>

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<p>"That really shows our brain has a plasticity that maybe lasts much longer than we originally thought," said Chen.</p>

<p>It is worth noting that the trial is ongoing as the kids will be monitored to check for long-term repercussions of the treatment. Globally, 430 million people suffer from disabling hearing loss, with around 26 million being deaf from birth.</p>

<p>The study released in the journal Nature Medicine on Wednesday (June 5) is a milestone as it represents the first implementation of such a procedure on both ears.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Five children deaf by birth have regained their hearing in both ears in a gene therapy trial. The trial, conducted by doctors at Fudan University in Shanghai, targeted children aged between one and 11 who suffered from genetic mutations preventing the production of a crucial protein for auditory signal transmission.

Five children deaf by birth have regained their hearing in both ears in a gene therapy trial. The trial, conducted by doctors at Fudan University in Shanghai, targeted children aged between one and 11 who suffered from genetic mutations preventing the production of a crucial protein for auditory signal transmission. This therapy has now enabled the children to detect sound directions. These young patients started to show positive results only after a few weeks. Among the improvements were locating sounds, recognising speech even in noisy environments and even enjoying music. Dr. Zheng-Yi Chen from Harvard teaching hospital for eye and ear that co-led the trial described the results as a “turning point" and highlighted that the children’s hearing continued to improve "dramatically". Also Read | Euclid spots seven new rogue planets. Here's what is hidden in these dark worlds "This is absolutely a turning point," Chen told AFP news agency. In a positive development, he also suggested that companies are now conducting clinical trials so that they can get approvals. "If the results hold, without any complications, I think in three to five years, it may be a medically approved product," he added. The therapy involves using an inactive virus for introducing working copies of the affected gene, Otof, into the inner ear. This allows ear cells to produce the protein otoferlin which is essential for hearing. Transformative stories A two-year-old boy responded to his name within three weeks and danced to music after 13 weeks. A three-year-old girl, who initially did not react to sounds, understood sentences and spoke some words 13 weeks post-treatment. Also Read | Rare crystals reveal when Earth first had fresh water, hinting at origin of life One mother Chang Yiyi said she got very emotional as her son responded to her calling him. "I hid in a closet and called for him, and he still responded!" she told AFP news agency. Watch | New study on US drug overdose deaths × "That really shows our brain has a plasticity that maybe lasts much longer than we originally thought," said Chen. It is worth noting that the trial is ongoing as the kids will be monitored to check for long-term repercussions of the treatment. Globally, 430 million people suffer from disabling hearing loss, with around 26 million being deaf from birth. The study released in the journal Nature Medicine on Wednesday (June 5) is a milestone as it represents the first implementation of such a procedure on both ears. (With inputs from agencies)

Symphony of joy: Deaf kids get back hearing capabilities in both ears after gene therapy

Bartlett’s Care Home in Aylesbury has been using Taylor Swift's music as a form of therapy, listening to massive hits such as Love Story and recreating some of Swift's album covers. Watch in for more details!

UK care home uses Taylor Swift's music as a form of therapy

<p dir="ltr">It was the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo when Tom Daley, UK’s ace diver, not only won his country a gold medal but also charmed the audience with his nimble public display of crocheting that was snapped up by shutterbugs.</p>

<p>Daley became an unlikely champion of crocheting,&nbsp;which uses a hook - croc in French means hook - to create textiles from strands of yarn, thread, or other fabric material.<br />
<br />
Wherever you caught sight of Daley—whether lounging on the benches, poolside, or watching other people’s games, you could see him with his crochet needles, working with great dexterity.&nbsp;He even made&nbsp;a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CR0ciqMIOIJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=4f68927a-831b-4203-80fb-5af840875b6a">tiny sleeve for his gold medal</a>, earned with partner Matty Lee in the men’s 10-metre synchronised dive.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Daley inadvertently forced the world to sit up and take notice of an art and craft once associated with&nbsp;elderly women, challenging an entire gamut of gender stereotypes along the way.&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr"><img alt="picture" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bf7dc40d-c95b-4133-9a2b-0b0bc9f7b708" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/The%20battle%20for%20Kyiv%20-%202024-03-08T001259.450.jpg" /></p>

<p dir="ltr"><em><strong>British diver, Tom Daley crocheting on the stands during Tokyo Olympics 2021</strong></em></p>

<p dir="ltr">Hop skip to 2024 in India: a set of young entrepreneurs are launching small-scale crochet businesses and harnessing the power of social media to build their brand and customer base.</p>

<p>For 24-year-old Kunal Chourasia, a Mumbai-based full-time crocheter, crocheting wasn’t always a readily available career choice. Starting off as an IT professional in a multinational firm and later a marketing firm, Chourasia&nbsp;found his crochet calling only during the Covid pandemic&nbsp;lockdown.</p>

<p>“I started experimenting with designs during the lockdown phase. I used to create different shapes, different patterns, and so on. There was a point where I just thought of starting something of my own, and that is when I launched my Instagram page to put up my creations. And eventually, I started getting orders once the lockdown eased off,” he said.</p>

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<p>Today, he deftly runs his own business off Instagram, which his parents were once completely against.</p>

<p>“The day I left my full-time marketing job, my parents asked me to leave the house, which I did. But we reconciled after 15 days, and since then there has been no looking back.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Back in January 2023, he would get around 20-30 orders every month, and now the orders have gone up to over 60-100 a month.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“The income now is roughly five-six times more than my IT job.”</p>

<p>The experience resonates with 28-year-old Aishwarya Bysani from Bengaluru, who goes by the moniker <a href="https://www.instagram.com/curlycrochet95?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D">Curly Crochet</a> on Instagram.</p>

<p>She also picked up crocheting during the lockdown and has since transitioned to becoming a full-time crocheter on Instagram, primarily focusing on wearable items such as sweaters and caps.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Moving beyond the conventional recommendations of journaling and meditation, therapist Ketaki&nbsp;Mhatre&nbsp;suggests that taking up activities like knitting and crocheting can significantly benefit our mental health.</p>

<p dir="ltr">“The repetitive motions, the focus involved, and the fact that you are physically and emotionally engaged with a tool is a great mental exercise,” she said.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Mhatre&nbsp;believes that when people experience anxiety or nervousness, repetitive actions or 'actions that loop in a way' help the nervous system find a rhythm to calm down.</p>

<p>While the majority of evidence supporting this claim is based on personal accounts, a study carried out by the&nbsp;<a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32245337/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">University of Wollongong</a>&nbsp;found that participants reported feeling happier, more in control, and had a greater sense of usefulness after crocheting.</p>

<p>Crocheting turned into a refuge for Prabhal Mehta, a 29-year-old aspiring surgeon from Hyderabad, after his heartbreak. At first, he saw it as a way to take a break, but soon it became his safe space, helping him focus better on his studies.</p>

<p>Mehta said, "When I got into crocheting, it felt like I was stepping into a peaceful zone, just following the flow of my hands."</p>

<p>Encouraged by his mother, who's quite skilled at crocheting herself, Mehta grabbed a yarn ball and a crochet needle as a means to heal and discover himself.</p>

<p>"In this process I realised crocheting wasn't just about keeping my hands busy; it was also about finding beauty in the details, which I found really aligned with the precision needed in surgery," he said.</p>

<p>From every perspective, the traditional stereotype of handcrafting, typically tied to an elderly woman bent over her needles and yarn, has undergone a remarkable shift. Now, it's become a source of both financial empowerment and mental nourishment for today's young adults.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


It was the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo when Tom Daley, UK’s ace diver, not only won his country a gold medal but also charmed the audience with his nimble public display of crocheting that was snapped up by shutterbugs.

It was the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo when Tom Daley, UK’s ace diver, not only won his country a gold medal but also charmed the audience with his nimble public display of crocheting that was snapped up by shutterbugs. Daley became an unlikely champion of crocheting, which uses a hook - croc in French means hook - to create textiles from strands of yarn, thread, or other fabric material. Wherever you caught sight of Daley—whether lounging on the benches, poolside, or watching other people’s games, you could see him with his crochet needles, working with great dexterity. He even made a tiny sleeve for his gold medal, earned with partner Matty Lee in the men’s 10-metre synchronised dive. Daley inadvertently forced the world to sit up and take notice of an art and craft once associated with elderly women, challenging an entire gamut of gender stereotypes along the way. British diver, Tom Daley crocheting on the stands during Tokyo Olympics 2021 Hop skip to 2024 in India: a set of young entrepreneurs are launching small-scale crochet businesses and harnessing the power of social media to build their brand and customer base. For 24-year-old Kunal Chourasia, a Mumbai-based full-time crocheter, crocheting wasn’t always a readily available career choice. Starting off as an IT professional in a multinational firm and later a marketing firm, Chourasia found his crochet calling only during the Covid pandemic lockdown. “I started experimenting with designs during the lockdown phase. I used to create different shapes, different patterns, and so on. There was a point where I just thought of starting something of my own, and that is when I launched my Instagram page to put up my creations. And eventually, I started getting orders once the lockdown eased off,” he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Crochet by Kunal (@crochet_by_kunal) × Today, he deftly runs his own business off Instagram, which his parents were once completely against. “The day I left my full-time marketing job, my parents asked me to leave the house, which I did. But we reconciled after 15 days, and since then there has been no looking back.” Back in January 2023, he would get around 20-30 orders every month, and now the orders have gone up to over 60-100 a month. “The income now is roughly five-six times more than my IT job.” The experience resonates with 28-year-old Aishwarya Bysani from Bengaluru, who goes by the moniker Curly Crochet on Instagram. She also picked up crocheting during the lockdown and has since transitioned to becoming a full-time crocheter on Instagram, primarily focusing on wearable items such as sweaters and caps. Moving beyond the conventional recommendations of journaling and meditation, therapist Ketaki Mhatre suggests that taking up activities like knitting and crocheting can significantly benefit our mental health. “The repetitive motions, the focus involved, and the fact that you are physically and emotionally engaged with a tool is a great mental exercise,” she said. Mhatre believes that when people experience anxiety or nervousness, repetitive actions or 'actions that loop in a way' help the nervous system find a rhythm to calm down. While the majority of evidence supporting this claim is based on personal accounts, a study carried out by the University of Wollongong found that participants reported feeling happier, more in control, and had a greater sense of usefulness after crocheting. Crocheting turned into a refuge for Prabhal Mehta, a 29-year-old aspiring surgeon from Hyderabad, after his heartbreak. At first, he saw it as a way to take a break, but soon it became his safe space, helping him focus better on his studies. Mehta said, "When I got into crocheting, it felt like I was stepping into a peaceful zone, just following the flow of my hands." Encouraged by his mother, who's quite skilled at crocheting herself, Mehta grabbed a yarn ball and a crochet needle as a means to heal and discover himself. "In this process I realised crocheting wasn't just about keeping my hands busy; it was also about finding beauty in the details, which I found really aligned with the precision needed in surgery," he said. From every perspective, the traditional stereotype of handcrafting, typically tied to an elderly woman bent over her needles and yarn, has undergone a remarkable shift. Now, it's become a source of both financial empowerment and mental nourishment for today's young adults.

Crocheting is helping young adults grow financially and emotionally, one stitch at a time

Mindfulness, group and cognitive behavioural therapy could effectively treat menopause symptoms such as low mood and anxiety, analysis suggests.

Talking therapy may help menopause mood: Study

<p>While dating apps have become commonplace, concerns about their excessive use have arisen amid their widespread popularity. Tinder, a widely used app, exemplifies this trend and recent reports shed light on the potential for addiction.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/swipe-right-for-addiction-lawsuit-claims-dating-apps-tinder-and-hinge-are-designed-to-keep-users-swiping-691783">Swipe right for addiction? Lawsuit claims dating apps Tinder and Hinge designed to keep users swiping</a></p>

<p>One individual's experience illustrates this concern,&nbsp;a British man's dependence on Tinder, marked by daily swiping through hundreds of profiles, prompted&nbsp;him to seek professional help, highlighting the potential drawbacks of excessive app use.</p>

<p>The case, as reported by a New York Post report, revolves around a Tinder user named Ed Turner, whose primary motivation was not finding a match but seeking validation. The 27-year-old reportedly found excitement in observing how many women "liked" his profile, likening it to an adrenaline rush.</p>

<p>Interestingly, he expressed no desire to meet these women in person, and his emotional state seemed to hinge on their responses, feeling disheartened if they didn't reply to his messages.</p>

<p>"I would get highs when I was getting a lot of matches with people that I found attractive, but it would always be followed by a crash because it's not sustainable," remarked Turner.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/5-real-stories-that-reveal-the-dark-side-of-online-dating-apps-535271">5 SHOCKING cases that reveal the dangers of hooking up through dating apps, websites</a></p>

<p>Motivated by a desire for external validation, the British man acknowledged that Tinder became his primary source of emotional support. He expanded his online dating presence by creating accounts on Hinge and Bumble, engaging in indiscriminate swiping behaviour.</p>

<p>Turner reportedly juggled simultaneous conversations with up to 10 women, seemingly waiting for them to initiate communication.</p>

<p>"Since I was swiping right on everyone and fully engulfed in the 'game,' I lost all sense of self. Those apps affected my entire mood and personality," he claimed, noting that it distorted his reality.</p>

<p>Despite meeting someone special on Tinder and being in a relationship with her, his addiction eventually led him back to the app. "It made me feel like a bad partner. I didn't do anything, and I never talked to women while I was in that relationship, but it had an effect on me," he said. "That high was gone."</p>

<p>Following the end of the relationship, he sought therapy and received a diagnosis of depression and borderline personality disorder. According to the New York Post, he has now discontinued the use of dating apps.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


While dating apps have become commonplace, concerns about their excessive use have arisen amid their widespread popularity. Tinder, a widely used app, exemplifies this trend and recent reports shed light on the potential for addiction.

While dating apps have become commonplace, concerns about their excessive use have arisen amid their widespread popularity. Tinder, a widely used app, exemplifies this trend and recent reports shed light on the potential for addiction. Also read: Swipe right for addiction? Lawsuit claims dating apps Tinder and Hinge designed to keep users swiping One individual's experience illustrates this concern, a British man's dependence on Tinder, marked by daily swiping through hundreds of profiles, prompted him to seek professional help, highlighting the potential drawbacks of excessive app use. The case, as reported by a New York Post report, revolves around a Tinder user named Ed Turner, whose primary motivation was not finding a match but seeking validation. The 27-year-old reportedly found excitement in observing how many women "liked" his profile, likening it to an adrenaline rush. Interestingly, he expressed no desire to meet these women in person, and his emotional state seemed to hinge on their responses, feeling disheartened if they didn't reply to his messages. "I would get highs when I was getting a lot of matches with people that I found attractive, but it would always be followed by a crash because it's not sustainable," remarked Turner. Also read: 5 SHOCKING cases that reveal the dangers of hooking up through dating apps, websites Motivated by a desire for external validation, the British man acknowledged that Tinder became his primary source of emotional support. He expanded his online dating presence by creating accounts on Hinge and Bumble, engaging in indiscriminate swiping behaviour. Turner reportedly juggled simultaneous conversations with up to 10 women, seemingly waiting for them to initiate communication. "Since I was swiping right on everyone and fully engulfed in the 'game,' I lost all sense of self. Those apps affected my entire mood and personality," he claimed, noting that it distorted his reality. Despite meeting someone special on Tinder and being in a relationship with her, his addiction eventually led him back to the app. "It made me feel like a bad partner. I didn't do anything, and I never talked to women while I was in that relationship, but it had an effect on me," he said. "That high was gone." Following the end of the relationship, he sought therapy and received a diagnosis of depression and borderline personality disorder. According to the New York Post, he has now discontinued the use of dating apps. (With inputs from agencies)

Man’s addiction to Tinder, other dating apps leads to disorder, seeks therapy

A team of Chinese researchers has developed an anti-ageing hydrogen therapy that could effectively rewind age-related changes in the body and potentially prevent geriatric diseases.

China: Scientists develop powerful hydrogen therapy that could reverse ageing

Popular chatbot ChatGPT now conducts therapy sessions but are they good enough? A manager at the AI firm OpenAI, Lilian Weng recently caused quite a stir when she shared her unexpected encounter with OpenAI's popular chatbot ChatGPT. In a tweet or a post on X described her conversation with ChatGPT as quite emotional and personal. Her post raised eyebrows and sparked a debate.

Artificial Intelligence could change psychotherapy

<p>When the phrase "employee with ADHD" comes to mind, the image conjured up is often that of a dishevelled whirlwind, consistently arriving late, and perennially missing deadlines. The infamous Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is saddled with a plethora of misconceptions that breed unjust judgments.</p>

<p>ADHD patients encounter heightened joblessness and a merry-go-round of job transitions, often finding themselves on the sidelines when higher-paying opportunities arise.</p>

<p>Indeed, the neurologically-influenced tendencies of employees can lead to erratic job hops, but is there a way for corporations to cultivate a more sustainable work environment for their valued employees with ADHD?</p>

<h2>I’ll admit it. They do cause problems.</h2>

<p>The UK's leading research centre in this matter, The ADHD Centre, sheds light on the fact that adults diagnosed with ADHD face approximately 60% higher chances of termination, about 30% increased likelihood of encountering ongoing or chronic employment problems, and are three times more prone to resign impulsively.</p>

<p>These disruptions often stem from a lack of diagnosis: it's essential for more individuals to seek testing if they recognise symptoms.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/losing-your-zen-at-work-the-mental-health-struggle-589093">Losing your Zen at work: The mental health struggle</a></strong></p>

<p>Moreover, offices are ill-prepared to handle these situations. Instead of terminating or discouraging these employees, it's crucial to acknowledge the unique value they bring to the table: something a neurotypical person may not offer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We need to switch workspaces up. Try to keep the ADHD workers engaged in their jobs.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>“Why don’t you make a list?”&nbsp;</h2>

<p>If only people with ADHD had a dollar for everytime they heard this. Conventional advice can be the most counterproductive for some ADHD-affected people and needs to be debunked.&nbsp;</p>

<p>No, they do not need to go to a quieter room, they will snooze.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They do not need a cubicle with lesser distractions, they will go the extra mile to find distractions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Positive reinforcement is ineffective for ADHD. A neurodiverse brain doesn't speed up with rewards for tasks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lists overwhelm; give micro lists like "Proofread Document C" instead of “Finish proofreading.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although conventional focusing methods&nbsp;work for some people, these are&nbsp;new alternatives for those who have confined themselves to all sorts of disciplinary methods without any success.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from counselling and medications, employers can use workplace strategies to aid their workers.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Employers involve yourselves</h2>

<p>In the realm of ADHD, distractions come in three ways: daydreaming, task-switching, and the “Guys I have an idea!”&nbsp;<br />
Employers and colleagues should watch out for and interrupt the first two but let the third flourish.</p>

<p>Embracing neurodivergence means relishing the out-of-the-box thinking that sparks from them.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For individuals with ADHD to truly excel in the workplace, providing them with a flexible work schedule is a game-changer.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The phenomenon known as "hyperfocus" comes into play, allowing them to unleash their best work, diving deep into a state of intense concentration for hours on end. Hyperfocus cannot be summoned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By allowing them to work at their optimal time, the probability of their hyperfocus hours aligning with their working hours increases significantly.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Face the music</h2>

<p>Most people with ADHD actually need distractions, emphasise on the right ones, to work better.&nbsp;<br />
For example, music distracts some, but helps some others focus: maybe a specific genre or just instrumentals to focus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It all boils down to one basic concept: if a person with ADHD is bored, they will find it nearly impossible to work because they have no dopamine, the happy hormone.</p>

<p>Brighter and more creatively adorned office spaces wouldn't hurt a single employee, especially ADHD workers.&nbsp;<br />
Sterile environments can lead them to tap out, losing focus and productivity.</p>

<p>ADHD employees need to stop fighting the distractions and embrace the ones that help focus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Fill their desk with fidget toys, shake their legs as much as they need to, stand if they need to, sit in an area with white noise, whatever it takes to stabilise focus and remain stimulated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To optimise productivity, they can schedule tedious tasks during times of maximum dopamine release, such as after doing something enjoyable or a fun lunch break.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A flexible work schedule can also play a vital role in completing boring work, as employees can arrive at the office after a stimulating activity, like going to the gym.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-_-out-of-every-2-indian-corporate-employees-at-high-risk-for-poor-mental-health-mental-health-awareness-month-591719">1 in every 2 Indian corporate employees at high risk for poor mental health: Survey</a></strong></p>

<p>With heightened awareness, a joint effort from both employees and companies, and enhanced healthcare support, we can bridge the gap and pave the way for ADHD workers to attain job stability and security.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They think “outside the box”, we just need to let them work outside it too.</p>

<p><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></p>

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When the phrase "employee with ADHD" comes to mind, the image conjured up is often that of a dishevelled whirlwind, consistently arriving late, and perennially missing deadlines.

When the phrase "employee with ADHD" comes to mind, the image conjured up is often that of a dishevelled whirlwind, consistently arriving late, and perennially missing deadlines. The infamous Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is saddled with a plethora of misconceptions that breed unjust judgments. ADHD patients encounter heightened joblessness and a merry-go-round of job transitions, often finding themselves on the sidelines when higher-paying opportunities arise. Indeed, the neurologically-influenced tendencies of employees can lead to erratic job hops, but is there a way for corporations to cultivate a more sustainable work environment for their valued employees with ADHD? I’ll admit it. They do cause problems. The UK's leading research centre in this matter, The ADHD Centre, sheds light on the fact that adults diagnosed with ADHD face approximately 60% higher chances of termination, about 30% increased likelihood of encountering ongoing or chronic employment problems, and are three times more prone to resign impulsively. These disruptions often stem from a lack of diagnosis: it's essential for more individuals to seek testing if they recognise symptoms. Also read | Losing your Zen at work: The mental health struggle Moreover, offices are ill-prepared to handle these situations. Instead of terminating or discouraging these employees, it's crucial to acknowledge the unique value they bring to the table: something a neurotypical person may not offer. We need to switch workspaces up. Try to keep the ADHD workers engaged in their jobs. “Why don’t you make a list?” If only people with ADHD had a dollar for everytime they heard this. Conventional advice can be the most counterproductive for some ADHD-affected people and needs to be debunked. No, they do not need to go to a quieter room, they will snooze. They do not need a cubicle with lesser distractions, they will go the extra mile to find distractions. Positive reinforcement is ineffective for ADHD. A neurodiverse brain doesn't speed up with rewards for tasks. Lists overwhelm; give micro lists like "Proofread Document C" instead of “Finish proofreading.” Although conventional focusing methods work for some people, these are new alternatives for those who have confined themselves to all sorts of disciplinary methods without any success. Apart from counselling and medications, employers can use workplace strategies to aid their workers. Employers involve yourselves In the realm of ADHD, distractions come in three ways: daydreaming, task-switching, and the “Guys I have an idea!” Employers and colleagues should watch out for and interrupt the first two but let the third flourish. Embracing neurodivergence means relishing the out-of-the-box thinking that sparks from them. For individuals with ADHD to truly excel in the workplace, providing them with a flexible work schedule is a game-changer. The phenomenon known as "hyperfocus" comes into play, allowing them to unleash their best work, diving deep into a state of intense concentration for hours on end. Hyperfocus cannot be summoned. By allowing them to work at their optimal time, the probability of their hyperfocus hours aligning with their working hours increases significantly. Face the music Most people with ADHD actually need distractions, emphasise on the right ones, to work better. For example, music distracts some, but helps some others focus: maybe a specific genre or just instrumentals to focus. It all boils down to one basic concept: if a person with ADHD is bored, they will find it nearly impossible to work because they have no dopamine, the happy hormone. Brighter and more creatively adorned office spaces wouldn't hurt a single employee, especially ADHD workers. Sterile environments can lead them to tap out, losing focus and productivity. ADHD employees need to stop fighting the distractions and embrace the ones that help focus. Fill their desk with fidget toys, shake their legs as much as they need to, stand if they need to, sit in an area with white noise, whatever it takes to stabilise focus and remain stimulated. To optimise productivity, they can schedule tedious tasks during times of maximum dopamine release, such as after doing something enjoyable or a fun lunch break. A flexible work schedule can also play a vital role in completing boring work, as employees can arrive at the office after a stimulating activity, like going to the gym. Also read | 1 in every 2 Indian corporate employees at high risk for poor mental health: Survey With heightened awareness, a joint effort from both employees and companies, and enhanced healthcare support, we can bridge the gap and pave the way for ADHD workers to attain job stability and security. They think “outside the box”, we just need to let them work outside it too. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

A blessing in distraction? Can ADHD-driven minds excel in workplaces?

<p>Mental health is a crucial aspect of our overall well-being, and yet it has often been overlooked or stigmatised in the past. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the significance of mental health and the impact it has on individuals, families, communities, and society as a whole.</p>

<p>These concerns are also significant for cancer patients and those undergoing palliative therapies. A cancer diagnosis often triggers a range of emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, anxiety, and depression.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It's crucial to acknowledge and address these emotions. These patients may benefit from counseling or therapy to help them cope with their feelings and develop effective strategies for managing stress.</p>

<p>WION spoke with Consultant Rehabilitation Psychologist Ms. Archana Sharma on conditions that can significantly impact the quality of life of a cancer patient.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Providing insights on techniques for individuals diagnosed with cancer to effectively navigate the emotional impact of their condition, Ms. Sharma said, "people when diagnosed with cancer have mixed feelings and emotions for various reasons that include threat to life, losing any of the body organs and sudden financial burden."</p>

<p>She emphasized that when an individual receives a cancer or life-threatening disease diagnosis, it affects not only the person but the entire family, creating a sense of collective suffering.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"So definitely psychological therapies and counseling processes help the suffering family and the patient in understanding the disease and accepting it. Without acceptance it's difficult to cope," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to Ms. Sharma, various coping techniques such as cognitive behavior therapy, art therapy, Jacobson progressive muscle relaxation technique, and direct interactions with nature have proven beneficial in assisting cancer patients and their families in managing the challenges associated with the disease.</p>

<p>When asked about the available support services for cancer patients dealing with mental health challenges, Ms. Sharma explained that every hospital providing cancer treatment has a social welfare department that offers comprehensive support in various domains, including financial issues, mental health concerns, and other challenges.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"When we talk of mental health issues of cancer patients, we need to focus holistically as sometimes even lack of financial support can be the sole reason for mental illness."</p>

<p>Additionally, she said, in many cities where cancer treatment is available, there are non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that assist cancer patients and their families by providing treatment support, counseling services, and facilitating the formation of support groups.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Well-aligned support system definitely help cancer patients to combat mental health issues at various levels."</p>

<p>When asked about how cancer patients can effectively navigate challenging conversations about end-of-life concerns while preserving their mental well-being, Ms. Sharma emphasised the importance of accepting the reality of mortality.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Responding on how cancer patients can navigate difficult conversations about end-of-life concerns and maintaining their mental well-being, Ms. Sharma said, "This is evident that we all will die one day. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy helps them to accept death in a positive manner."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ms. Sharma's approach involves helping her patients focus on making the most of the time they have left, rather than dwelling on the inability to extend their lifespan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I help my patients by adding days to the life left with them instead of feeling bad."</p>

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Mental health is a crucial aspect of our overall well-being, and yet it has often been overlooked or stigmatised in the past. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the significance of mental health and the impact it has on individuals, families, communities, and society as a whole.

Mental health is a crucial aspect of our overall well-being, and yet it has often been overlooked or stigmatised in the past. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the significance of mental health and the impact it has on individuals, families, communities, and society as a whole. These concerns are also significant for cancer patients and those undergoing palliative therapies. A cancer diagnosis often triggers a range of emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, anxiety, and depression. It's crucial to acknowledge and address these emotions. These patients may benefit from counseling or therapy to help them cope with their feelings and develop effective strategies for managing stress. WION spoke with Consultant Rehabilitation Psychologist Ms. Archana Sharma on conditions that can significantly impact the quality of life of a cancer patient. Providing insights on techniques for individuals diagnosed with cancer to effectively navigate the emotional impact of their condition, Ms. Sharma said, "people when diagnosed with cancer have mixed feelings and emotions for various reasons that include threat to life, losing any of the body organs and sudden financial burden." She emphasized that when an individual receives a cancer or life-threatening disease diagnosis, it affects not only the person but the entire family, creating a sense of collective suffering. "So definitely psychological therapies and counseling processes help the suffering family and the patient in understanding the disease and accepting it. Without acceptance it's difficult to cope," she added. According to Ms. Sharma, various coping techniques such as cognitive behavior therapy, art therapy, Jacobson progressive muscle relaxation technique, and direct interactions with nature have proven beneficial in assisting cancer patients and their families in managing the challenges associated with the disease. When asked about the available support services for cancer patients dealing with mental health challenges, Ms. Sharma explained that every hospital providing cancer treatment has a social welfare department that offers comprehensive support in various domains, including financial issues, mental health concerns, and other challenges. "When we talk of mental health issues of cancer patients, we need to focus holistically as sometimes even lack of financial support can be the sole reason for mental illness." Additionally, she said, in many cities where cancer treatment is available, there are non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that assist cancer patients and their families by providing treatment support, counseling services, and facilitating the formation of support groups. "Well-aligned support system definitely help cancer patients to combat mental health issues at various levels." When asked about how cancer patients can effectively navigate challenging conversations about end-of-life concerns while preserving their mental well-being, Ms. Sharma emphasised the importance of accepting the reality of mortality. Responding on how cancer patients can navigate difficult conversations about end-of-life concerns and maintaining their mental well-being, Ms. Sharma said, "This is evident that we all will die one day. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy helps them to accept death in a positive manner." Ms. Sharma's approach involves helping her patients focus on making the most of the time they have left, rather than dwelling on the inability to extend their lifespan. "I help my patients by adding days to the life left with them instead of feeling bad." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Palliative care: A vital component for the well-being of cancer patients

<p>Not all live performances go smoothly. Singer Nick Jonas can surely vouch for that. During a recent appearance on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast, Nick shared that his 2016 performance with Kelsea Ballerini at the ACM Awards was his 'worst moment' on stage. Nick&nbsp;had joined the country music star on stage to sing a rendition of 'Peter Pan' at the awards show.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
"Then there was another time during a really tragic guitar solo debacle that happened on live TV," Nick said. "In retrospect, I can kind of laugh about how big I thought it was. But it did travel more than I wish it would have, and it did cause me to go to therapy."<br />
<br />
When it was time for Nick's guitar solo, he said he went "completely blank" after hitting "a wrong note."<br />
<br />
"Kelsea and I had a couple of performances together, and this was one of them. I come out for my thing, I rehearsed it a million times, I'm feeling really confident about it, not even really thinking about it like it's a thing that's going to be problematic," Nick recalled. "I started off, it was fine and as I walked towards her, I just went completely blank, and I hit a wrong note and blacked out basically and clocked that it was wrong, and I couldn't stop."<br />
<br />
Nick continued, "Till this day and hours after unpacking it, I can't really figure out exactly what happened, but I was rushed to a car and rushed to a plane right after it and I looked at my manager and said, 'I think that was bad.' I was like in shock kinda. Like it was a really traumatic moment that shaped the pressure I put on myself to be perfect and to always be on."</p>

<p>Nick and Ballerini performed on stage three years after the Jonas Brothers' 2013 break up. The band has since reunited and will be on tour this summer.&nbsp;</p>

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Not all live performances go smoothly. Singer Nick Jonas can surely vouch for that. During a recent appearance on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast, Nick shared that his 2016 performance with Kelsea Ballerini at the ACM Awards was his 'worst moment' on stage.

Not all live performances go smoothly. Singer Nick Jonas can surely vouch for that. During a recent appearance on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast, Nick shared that his 2016 performance with Kelsea Ballerini at the ACM Awards was his 'worst moment' on stage. Nick had joined the country music star on stage to sing a rendition of 'Peter Pan' at the awards show. "Then there was another time during a really tragic guitar solo debacle that happened on live TV," Nick said. "In retrospect, I can kind of laugh about how big I thought it was. But it did travel more than I wish it would have, and it did cause me to go to therapy." When it was time for Nick's guitar solo, he said he went "completely blank" after hitting "a wrong note." "Kelsea and I had a couple of performances together, and this was one of them. I come out for my thing, I rehearsed it a million times, I'm feeling really confident about it, not even really thinking about it like it's a thing that's going to be problematic," Nick recalled. "I started off, it was fine and as I walked towards her, I just went completely blank, and I hit a wrong note and blacked out basically and clocked that it was wrong, and I couldn't stop." Nick continued, "Till this day and hours after unpacking it, I can't really figure out exactly what happened, but I was rushed to a car and rushed to a plane right after it and I looked at my manager and said, 'I think that was bad.' I was like in shock kinda. Like it was a really traumatic moment that shaped the pressure I put on myself to be perfect and to always be on." Nick and Ballerini performed on stage three years after the Jonas Brothers' 2013 break up. The band has since reunited and will be on tour this summer.

Nick Jonas reveals he underwent therapy after a failed stage performance 

Cancer claims the lives of over 10 million people annually, but doctors in the UK have turned to new experimental gene therapy to cure the disease.

Gravitas: UK: Doctors cure leukaemia using new gene therapy

<p>Researchers have discovered a new treatment for advanced melanoma during the Phase 3 clinical trial. They claim that it is far more effective than the existing leading therapy for metastatic melanoma.</p>

<p>The scientists at the Netherlands Cancer Institute said that the new treatment uses a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer, and added that its therapy is similar to another type of treatment that has proven to be highly effective for blood cancers, called CAR-T therapy.</p>

<p>Under CAR-T therapy, patients’ T-cells are harvested and modified in the lab into cancer fighters. These modified cells are then infused back into the patient.</p>

<p>Similarly in the melanoma trial, the researchers used an approach called TIL therapy, which involves harvesting a patient’s immune cells—tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, which are taken from the tumour.</p>

<p>But instead of modifying these tumour cells in the lab like the CAR-T therapy, they’re simply amplified to produce billions of immune cells.</p>

<p>Those amplified immune cells are then injected back into the patient’s blood, where they work to kill the cancer.</p>

<p>Dr John Haanen, a medical oncologist at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, who led the new clinical trial, told NBC News, “We expand them from a million cells to several billion cells.”</p>

<p>The results of the trial were presented at the ESMO Congress 2022 meeting in Paris on Saturday.</p>

<p>To base their hypothesis, the doctors conducted a random trail and assigned 168 patients with metastatic melanoma to receive either TIL treatment or the current standard treatment—an&nbsp;immunotherapy drug&nbsp;called ipilimumab.</p>

<p>Ipilimumab treatment is used in people who don’t respond to a first-line treatment called anti-PD-1 therapy. Notably, all of the patients in the trial had not responded to that treatment.</p>

<p>After observing for three years, the scientists found that people on TIL therapy had a 50% reduction in disease progression and death compared to those who were treated with ipilimumab.&nbsp;</p>

<p>20 per cent of people on TIL therapy saw their tumours disappear completely, compared to 7 per cent in the ipilimumab group.</p>

<p>Though they are still being observed, the median survival time of cancer patients who received TIL therapy was found to be over two years, compared to just over 1.5 years on ipilimumab therapy, researchers found.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Researchers have discovered a new treatment for advanced melanoma during the Phase 3 clinical trial. They claim that it is far more effective than the existing leading therapy for metastatic melanoma.

Researchers have discovered a new treatment for advanced melanoma during the Phase 3 clinical trial. They claim that it is far more effective than the existing leading therapy for metastatic melanoma. The scientists at the Netherlands Cancer Institute said that the new treatment uses a patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer, and added that its therapy is similar to another type of treatment that has proven to be highly effective for blood cancers, called CAR-T therapy. Under CAR-T therapy, patients’ T-cells are harvested and modified in the lab into cancer fighters. These modified cells are then infused back into the patient. Similarly in the melanoma trial, the researchers used an approach called TIL therapy, which involves harvesting a patient’s immune cells—tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, which are taken from the tumour. But instead of modifying these tumour cells in the lab like the CAR-T therapy, they’re simply amplified to produce billions of immune cells. Those amplified immune cells are then injected back into the patient’s blood, where they work to kill the cancer. Dr John Haanen, a medical oncologist at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, who led the new clinical trial, told NBC News, “We expand them from a million cells to several billion cells.” The results of the trial were presented at the ESMO Congress 2022 meeting in Paris on Saturday. To base their hypothesis, the doctors conducted a random trail and assigned 168 patients with metastatic melanoma to receive either TIL treatment or the current standard treatment—an immunotherapy drug called ipilimumab. Ipilimumab treatment is used in people who don’t respond to a first-line treatment called anti-PD-1 therapy. Notably, all of the patients in the trial had not responded to that treatment. After observing for three years, the scientists found that people on TIL therapy had a 50% reduction in disease progression and death compared to those who were treated with ipilimumab. 20 per cent of people on TIL therapy saw their tumours disappear completely, compared to 7 per cent in the ipilimumab group. Though they are still being observed, the median survival time of cancer patients who received TIL therapy was found to be over two years, compared to just over 1.5 years on ipilimumab therapy, researchers found. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Scientists find novel cell based therapy to treat metastatic melanoma

<p>In a major breakthrough, scientists have developed a new therapy that can effectively treat and kill cancer cells in patients. This “revolutionary” treatment, called light-activated therapy, is a new form of photoimmunotherapy that can wipe out microscopic cancer cells.</p>

<p>This new treatment was developed by a joint team of engineers, physicists, neurosurgeons, biologists and immunologists from the UK, Poland and Sweden.</p>

<p>They believe that this new form of treatment has the potential to become the world’s fifth major cancer treatment after surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy.</p>

<p>The treatment, developed at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, could help surgeons to remove brain cancers like glioblastoma, one of the most common and aggressive types of brain cancer, more effectively, and boost the body’s response to cancer cells that remain after surgery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The light-activated therapy helps cancer cells to lit up in the dark, helping surgeons to remove more of the tumours compared with existing techniques, and then kill off remaining cells within minutes once the surgery is complete.</p>

<p>This treatment uses synthetic molecules called ‘affibodies’– small proteins engineered in the lab to bind with a specific target with high precision.</p>

<p>In this study, the researchers combined an ‘affibody’ created to recognise a protein called EGFR – which is mutated in many cases of glioblastoma – with a fluorescent molecule called IR700, which is used in surgery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Shining light on these compounds causes the fluorescent dye to glow, highlighting microscopic regions of tumours left in the brain, while switching to near-infrared light triggers anti-tumour activity that kills tumour cells.</p>

<p>“Brain cancers like glioblastoma can be hard to treat and, sadly, there are too few treatment options for patients,” the study leader, Dr Gabriela Kramer-Marek, told the Guardian.</p>

<p>“Surgery is challenging due to the location of the tumours, and so new ways to see tumour cells to be removed during surgery, and to treat residual cancer cells that remain afterwards, could be of great benefit.”</p>

<p>Researchers are now also studying the new treatment for childhood cancer neuroblastoma.</p>

<p>The study was published in the journal BMC Medicine.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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In a major breakthrough, scientists have developed a new therapy that can effectively treat and kill cancer cells in patients. This “revolutionary” treatment, called light-activated therapy, is a new form of photoimmunotherapy that can wipe out microscopic cancer cells.

In a major breakthrough, scientists have developed a new therapy that can effectively treat and kill cancer cells in patients. This “revolutionary” treatment, called light-activated therapy, is a new form of photoimmunotherapy that can wipe out microscopic cancer cells. This new treatment was developed by a joint team of engineers, physicists, neurosurgeons, biologists and immunologists from the UK, Poland and Sweden. They believe that this new form of treatment has the potential to become the world’s fifth major cancer treatment after surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. The treatment, developed at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, could help surgeons to remove brain cancers like glioblastoma, one of the most common and aggressive types of brain cancer, more effectively, and boost the body’s response to cancer cells that remain after surgery. The light-activated therapy helps cancer cells to lit up in the dark, helping surgeons to remove more of the tumours compared with existing techniques, and then kill off remaining cells within minutes once the surgery is complete. This treatment uses synthetic molecules called ‘affibodies’– small proteins engineered in the lab to bind with a specific target with high precision. In this study, the researchers combined an ‘affibody’ created to recognise a protein called EGFR – which is mutated in many cases of glioblastoma – with a fluorescent molecule called IR700, which is used in surgery. Shining light on these compounds causes the fluorescent dye to glow, highlighting microscopic regions of tumours left in the brain, while switching to near-infrared light triggers anti-tumour activity that kills tumour cells. “Brain cancers like glioblastoma can be hard to treat and, sadly, there are too few treatment options for patients,” the study leader, Dr Gabriela Kramer-Marek, told the Guardian. “Surgery is challenging due to the location of the tumours, and so new ways to see tumour cells to be removed during surgery, and to treat residual cancer cells that remain afterwards, could be of great benefit.” Researchers are now also studying the new treatment for childhood cancer neuroblastoma. The study was published in the journal BMC Medicine. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Light at the end of tunnel: Scientists harness new therapy to kill cancer cells

<p>Britain's medicines regulator has approved AstraZeneca's (AZN.L) antibody-based COVID-19 treatment for preventing infections in adults with poor immune response, marking a major step in the fight against the pandemic as infections surge globally.</p>

<p>The decision to grant approval for the treatment, Evusheld, was endorsed by the government's independent scientific advisory body, Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on Thursday.</p>

<p>Figures showing a global rise in COVID-19 cases could herald a much bigger problem, the World Health Organization said this week, warning nations to remain vigilant.</p>

<p>Although 85% of Britons over the age of 12 have been vaccinated with two doses, some immune compromised individuals or those with a history of severe adverse reactions to a vaccine may need an alternative prevention option.</p>

<p>"While the COVID-19 vaccines continue to be the first-line defence against COVID-19, we know that some people may not respond adequately to these vaccines,' MHRA chief June Raine said.</p>

<p>Vaccines rely on an intact immune system to develop targeted antibodies and infection-fighting cells, but Evusheld contains lab-made antibodies designed to linger in the body for months to contain the virus in case of an infection.</p>

<p>The therapy was found to cut the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 77% in trials, with protection lasting for at least six months after a single dose, the MHRA said.</p>

<p>Evusheld has been also shown to save lives and prevent disease progression when given within a week of first symptoms. read more</p>

<p>Britain and AstraZeneca currently do not have an agreement for supply of Evusheld.</p>

<p>AstraZeneca in a statement said it hopes to see the therapy made available to Britons "as quickly as possible".</p>

<p>Evusheld is under a European review and has been authorised in the United States to prevent COVID-19 infections in individuals with weak immune systems or a history of severe side effects from coronavirus vaccines. read more</p>

<p>The MHRA said that the treatment, given as an intra-muscular shot, should not be administered to people infected with the COVID-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus or who have had recent exposure to someone with the virus.</p>

<p>However, the regulator has cautioned that there was insufficient data to evaluate fully Evusheld's effectiveness against the highly contagiousOmicron variant, adding that it is liaising with AstraZeneca on that.</p>

<p>AstraZeneca in December said a lab study had found the treatment retained neutralising activity against Omicron. read more</p>

<p>Eli Lilly (LLY.N), Regeneron (REGN.O) and GSK (GSK.L) some other drugmakers working on antibody-based COVID-19 therapies.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


Britain's medicines regulator has approved AstraZeneca's (AZN.L) antibody-based COVID-19 treatment for preventing infections in adults with poor immune response, marking a major step in the fight against the pandemic as infections surge globally.

Britain's medicines regulator has approved AstraZeneca's (AZN.L) antibody-based COVID-19 treatment for preventing infections in adults with poor immune response, marking a major step in the fight against the pandemic as infections surge globally. The decision to grant approval for the treatment, Evusheld, was endorsed by the government's independent scientific advisory body, Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said on Thursday. Figures showing a global rise in COVID-19 cases could herald a much bigger problem, the World Health Organization said this week, warning nations to remain vigilant. Although 85% of Britons over the age of 12 have been vaccinated with two doses, some immune compromised individuals or those with a history of severe adverse reactions to a vaccine may need an alternative prevention option. "While the COVID-19 vaccines continue to be the first-line defence against COVID-19, we know that some people may not respond adequately to these vaccines,' MHRA chief June Raine said. Vaccines rely on an intact immune system to develop targeted antibodies and infection-fighting cells, but Evusheld contains lab-made antibodies designed to linger in the body for months to contain the virus in case of an infection. The therapy was found to cut the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 77% in trials, with protection lasting for at least six months after a single dose, the MHRA said. Evusheld has been also shown to save lives and prevent disease progression when given within a week of first symptoms. read more Britain and AstraZeneca currently do not have an agreement for supply of Evusheld. AstraZeneca in a statement said it hopes to see the therapy made available to Britons "as quickly as possible". Evusheld is under a European review and has been authorised in the United States to prevent COVID-19 infections in individuals with weak immune systems or a history of severe side effects from coronavirus vaccines. read more The MHRA said that the treatment, given as an intra-muscular shot, should not be administered to people infected with the COVID-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus or who have had recent exposure to someone with the virus. However, the regulator has cautioned that there was insufficient data to evaluate fully Evusheld's effectiveness against the highly contagiousOmicron variant, adding that it is liaising with AstraZeneca on that. AstraZeneca in December said a lab study had found the treatment retained neutralising activity against Omicron. read more Eli Lilly (LLY.N), Regeneron (REGN.O) and GSK (GSK.L) some other drugmakers working on antibody-based COVID-19 therapies.

Britain approves AstraZeneca's preventative COVID therapy

<p>Considering bone or joint surgery? In many cases, surgery may be no more effective than options like exercise, physical therapy and drug treatments.</p>

<p>Hip and knee replacements, surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome and other orthopedic procedures are among the most common elective surgeries performed today, but they involve cost, risk and sometimes weeks or months of recovery. Many of these surgeries are not supported by evidence from randomized trials, a review found. Even when surgery has been shown to be effective, the review concluded, it may not be significantly better than nonsurgical care.</p>

<p>British researchers looked at studies of 10 common orthopedic operations, including surgeries of the knee, hip, shoulder, spine and wrist. They found good evidence of the superiority of surgery over other treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome and total knee replacement. For six other common surgeries, randomized trials found little advantage over interventions like exercise, weight management, physical therapy and drug treatment. The researchers found no controlled trials that had compared hip replacement or knee cartilage repair with nonsurgical care. The study is in The BMJ.</p>

<p>“Our study doesn’t show that these operations don’t make patients better,” said the lead author, Dr. Ashley W. Blom, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Bristol in England. “And it does not say that treatments do not work if they have not undergone testing by randomized controlled trials. It’s just that some don’t work any better than the best nonsurgical treatments.”</p>

<p>Dr. Saam Morshed, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study, said, “I think it’s fair that we hold the mirror up to ourselves and scrutinize effectiveness for some of these operations. It’s important to understand where we have gaps in knowledge of the efficacy or nonefficacy of common surgical treatments.”</p>

<p>At the same time, he said, “It’s also important to understand that just because there isn’t a randomized trial supporting a given treatment, that doesn’t mean that the treatment is not effective.” Hip surgery, he said, is a good example. There may be no randomized trials of hip surgery, but there is overwhelming observational evidence for its effectiveness compared with nonsurgical treatment.</p>

<p>In other common procedures, the picture may be different. An arthroscopic operation to repair the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, in the knee, among the most common sports injury surgeries in the United States, has a rate of success as high as 97% in some studies. But when the operation was compared with nonsurgical treatments, the review found, there was little difference in pain scores or the need for further surgical or nonsurgical treatment.</p>

<p>The researchers describe a large review of studies of the operation to repair the rotator cuff, the group of tendons and muscles that keeps the upper arm bone in the shoulder socket. Compared with exercise and steroid injections, the review found, there was little or no clinically significant difference in pain, function, quality of life or patient satisfaction with the results.</p>

<p>Some studies were randomized controlled trials, giving one group of patients real surgery and a matched group a placebo operation. In two such studies of surgery for shoulder impingement, a condition that causes pain on raising the arm, there was no difference between surgery and placebo surgery in patient-reported outcomes or adverse events.</p>

<p>Lumbar spine decompression is an operation to relieve the pain caused by a ruptured or bulging disk, sometimes called a pinched nerve, in the lower spine. Although the quality of the evidence was low, three analyses showed that surgery and nonsurgical treatments provided equivalent improvements.</p>

<p>There were no studies that compared surgical repair of the meniscus, the cartilage that covers the knee, with nonoperative care or a placebo. But in 10 randomized trials comparing a different procedure known as meniscectomy, or partial removal of the meniscus, with more conservative treatment, the operation did not provide meaningful improvement in knee pain, function or quality of life.</p>

<p>“The best nonoperative care is often multimodal and may involve a combination of physical, medical and psychological interventions, and it should not be assumed that these are necessarily the easiest or most cost-effective options for patients,” Blom said. “Clinicians should discuss both operative and the best nonoperative care with patients so that patients can consider all options and thereby make informed choices.”</p>

<p>Patient outcomes from these surgeries vary greatly, and these differences are important, Morshed said. “Future research is going to provide more nuanced inferences on the effect of surgery as we begin to understand on a patient level those characteristics that make them more or less likely to respond to a procedure,” he said.</p>


Considering bone or joint surgery? In many cases, surgery may be no more effective than options like exercise, physical therapy and drug treatments. Hip and knee replacements, surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome and other orthopedic procedures are among the most common elective surgeries performed today, but they involve cost, risk and sometimes weeks or months of recovery.

Considering bone or joint surgery? In many cases, surgery may be no more effective than options like exercise, physical therapy and drug treatments. Hip and knee replacements, surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome and other orthopedic procedures are among the most common elective surgeries performed today, but they involve cost, risk and sometimes weeks or months of recovery. Many of these surgeries are not supported by evidence from randomized trials, a review found. Even when surgery has been shown to be effective, the review concluded, it may not be significantly better than nonsurgical care. British researchers looked at studies of 10 common orthopedic operations, including surgeries of the knee, hip, shoulder, spine and wrist. They found good evidence of the superiority of surgery over other treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome and total knee replacement. For six other common surgeries, randomized trials found little advantage over interventions like exercise, weight management, physical therapy and drug treatment. The researchers found no controlled trials that had compared hip replacement or knee cartilage repair with nonsurgical care. The study is in The BMJ. “Our study doesn’t show that these operations don’t make patients better,” said the lead author, Dr. Ashley W. Blom, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Bristol in England. “And it does not say that treatments do not work if they have not undergone testing by randomized controlled trials. It’s just that some don’t work any better than the best nonsurgical treatments.” Dr. Saam Morshed, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study, said, “I think it’s fair that we hold the mirror up to ourselves and scrutinize effectiveness for some of these operations. It’s important to understand where we have gaps in knowledge of the efficacy or nonefficacy of common surgical treatments.” At the same time, he said, “It’s also important to understand that just because there isn’t a randomized trial supporting a given treatment, that doesn’t mean that the treatment is not effective.” Hip surgery, he said, is a good example. There may be no randomized trials of hip surgery, but there is overwhelming observational evidence for its effectiveness compared with nonsurgical treatment. In other common procedures, the picture may be different. An arthroscopic operation to repair the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, in the knee, among the most common sports injury surgeries in the United States, has a rate of success as high as 97% in some studies. But when the operation was compared with nonsurgical treatments, the review found, there was little difference in pain scores or the need for further surgical or nonsurgical treatment. The researchers describe a large review of studies of the operation to repair the rotator cuff, the group of tendons and muscles that keeps the upper arm bone in the shoulder socket. Compared with exercise and steroid injections, the review found, there was little or no clinically significant difference in pain, function, quality of life or patient satisfaction with the results. Some studies were randomized controlled trials, giving one group of patients real surgery and a matched group a placebo operation. In two such studies of surgery for shoulder impingement, a condition that causes pain on raising the arm, there was no difference between surgery and placebo surgery in patient-reported outcomes or adverse events. Lumbar spine decompression is an operation to relieve the pain caused by a ruptured or bulging disk, sometimes called a pinched nerve, in the lower spine. Although the quality of the evidence was low, three analyses showed that surgery and nonsurgical treatments provided equivalent improvements. There were no studies that compared surgical repair of the meniscus, the cartilage that covers the knee, with nonoperative care or a placebo. But in 10 randomized trials comparing a different procedure known as meniscectomy, or partial removal of the meniscus, with more conservative treatment, the operation did not provide meaningful improvement in knee pain, function or quality of life. “The best nonoperative care is often multimodal and may involve a combination of physical, medical and psychological interventions, and it should not be assumed that these are necessarily the easiest or most cost-effective options for patients,” Blom said. “Clinicians should discuss both operative and the best nonoperative care with patients so that patients can consider all options and thereby make informed choices.” Patient outcomes from these surgeries vary greatly, and these differences are important, Morshed said. “Future research is going to provide more nuanced inferences on the effect of surgery as we begin to understand on a patient level those characteristics that make them more or less likely to respond to a procedure,” he said.

Considering bone or joint surgery? You may not need it.

<p>Scientists have identified a biomarker in human platelets that tracks the extent of depression in a new study.</p>

<p>The research called "A Novel Peripheral Biomarker for Depression and Antidepressant Response," has been published in Molecular Psychiatry.</p>

<p>The study aims at developing a blood test that provides a simple biochemical hallmark for depression and the efficacy of drug therapy in individual patients.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/covid-resulted-in-alarming-increase-in-depression-and-anxiety-cases-study-419355"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Covid resulted in alarming increase in depression and anxiety cases: Study</strong></a></p>

<p>A spike in suicide rates worldwide has cast fresh light on the need for more effective treatments for major depression, with researchers saying it is a tricky development area that has largely been abandoned by big pharmaceutical companies.</p>

<p>The new research builds off of previous studies by several investigators that have shown that depression is consistent with decreased adenylyl cyclase in humans and animal models.</p>

<p>Adenylyl cyclase is a small molecule inside the cell that is made in response to neurotransmitters such as serotonin and epinephrine.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/greater-risk-of-postpartum-depression-in-women-exposed-to-harmful-chemicals-in-plastic-study-377008"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Greater risk of postpartum depression in women exposed to harmful chemicals in plastic: Study</strong></a></p>

<p>According to the study's lead author Mark Rasenick from the University of Illinois Chicago, "When you are depressed, adenylyl cyclase is low. The reason adenylyl cyclase is attenuated is that the intermediary protein that allows the neurotransmitter to make the adenylyl cyclase, Gs alpha, is stuck in a cholesterol-rich matrix of the membrane, a lipid raft, where they don't work very well."</p>

<p>"What we have developed is a test that can not only indicate the presence of depression but it can also indicate therapeutic response with a single biomarker, and that is something that has not existed to date," said Rasenick, who is also a research career scientist at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.</p>

<p>More than 4 percent of the world’s population lives with depression, and women, youth and the elderly are the most prone to its disabling effects as per the World Health Organization (WHO).</p>

<p>Global economic losses exceed $1 trillion a year, it said, referring to lost productivity due to apathy or lack of energy that lead to an inability to function at work or cope with daily life.</p>

<p>Rasenick explains that "Because platelets turn over in one week, you would see a change in people who were going to get better. You'd be able to see the biomarker that should presage successful treatment."</p>

<p>"About 30 per cent of people don't get better, their depression doesn't resolve. Perhaps, failure begets failure and both doctors and patients make the assumption that nothing is going to work," Rasenick said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Most depression is diagnosed in primary care doctor's offices where they don't have sophisticated screening. With this test, a doctor could say, 'Gee, they look like they are depressed, but their blood doesn't tell us they are. So, maybe we need to re-examine this.'"</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Scientists have identified a biomarker in human platelets that tracks the extent of depression in a new study. The research called "A Novel Peripheral Biomarker for Depression and Antidepressant Response," has been published in Molecular Psychiatry.

Scientists have identified a biomarker in human platelets that tracks the extent of depression in a new study. The research called "A Novel Peripheral Biomarker for Depression and Antidepressant Response," has been published in Molecular Psychiatry. The study aims at developing a blood test that provides a simple biochemical hallmark for depression and the efficacy of drug therapy in individual patients. Also read | Covid resulted in alarming increase in depression and anxiety cases: Study A spike in suicide rates worldwide has cast fresh light on the need for more effective treatments for major depression, with researchers saying it is a tricky development area that has largely been abandoned by big pharmaceutical companies. The new research builds off of previous studies by several investigators that have shown that depression is consistent with decreased adenylyl cyclase in humans and animal models. Adenylyl cyclase is a small molecule inside the cell that is made in response to neurotransmitters such as serotonin and epinephrine. Also read | Greater risk of postpartum depression in women exposed to harmful chemicals in plastic: Study According to the study's lead author Mark Rasenick from the University of Illinois Chicago, "When you are depressed, adenylyl cyclase is low. The reason adenylyl cyclase is attenuated is that the intermediary protein that allows the neurotransmitter to make the adenylyl cyclase, Gs alpha, is stuck in a cholesterol-rich matrix of the membrane, a lipid raft, where they don't work very well." "What we have developed is a test that can not only indicate the presence of depression but it can also indicate therapeutic response with a single biomarker, and that is something that has not existed to date," said Rasenick, who is also a research career scientist at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. More than 4 percent of the world’s population lives with depression, and women, youth and the elderly are the most prone to its disabling effects as per the World Health Organization (WHO). Global economic losses exceed $1 trillion a year, it said, referring to lost productivity due to apathy or lack of energy that lead to an inability to function at work or cope with daily life. Rasenick explains that "Because platelets turn over in one week, you would see a change in people who were going to get better. You'd be able to see the biomarker that should presage successful treatment." "About 30 per cent of people don't get better, their depression doesn't resolve. Perhaps, failure begets failure and both doctors and patients make the assumption that nothing is going to work," Rasenick said. "Most depression is diagnosed in primary care doctor's offices where they don't have sophisticated screening. With this test, a doctor could say, 'Gee, they look like they are depressed, but their blood doesn't tell us they are. So, maybe we need to re-examine this.'" (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists identify biomarker in human platelets that tracks the extent of depression

<p>Canada's House of Commons has voted unanimously to ban LGBT conversion therapy. These therapies are aimed at altering a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity. It involves various techniques, like hypnosis and talk therapy. Many institutions also use electric shocks and fasting.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Diversity and inclusion are among Canada’s greatest strengths. Everyone should be able to live a true and authentic life, free from violence and discrimination, no matter who they are or who they love," read a statement released by the government.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The legislation has proposed four new Criminal Code offences that will prohibit - causing another person to undergo conversion therapy, removing a minor from Canada and subjecting them to conversion therapy&nbsp;abroad, profiting from conversion therapy and lastly, advertising or promoting conversion therapy.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-scale-deluge-report-reveals-us-is-the-worlds-biggest-plastic-polluter-433451"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;'Global scale deluge': Report reveals US is the world's biggest plastic polluter</strong></a></p>

<p>The bill must now be approved by the Senate.</p>

<p>Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, The Honourable David Lametti said, "Conversion therapy has been discredited and denounced by professional and health associations in Canada and indeed around the world. It has no basis in science or in health care practices. Too many Canadians have undergone conversion therapy and have had to live with its harmful effects. That’s why our Government is stepping up to do our part to make sure that no one else has to face this devastating practice."</p>

<p>Most countries have stopped practising the therapy but there are still many institutions that continue to resort to similar methods in order to convert gay people. The American Medical Association has deemed the practice is “harmful and ineffective”.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Canada's House of Commons has voted unanimously to ban LGBT conversion therapy. These therapies are aimed at altering a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity.

Canada's House of Commons has voted unanimously to ban LGBT conversion therapy. These therapies are aimed at altering a person’s sexual orientation and gender identity. It involves various techniques, like hypnosis and talk therapy. Many institutions also use electric shocks and fasting. "Diversity and inclusion are among Canada’s greatest strengths. Everyone should be able to live a true and authentic life, free from violence and discrimination, no matter who they are or who they love," read a statement released by the government. The legislation has proposed four new Criminal Code offences that will prohibit - causing another person to undergo conversion therapy, removing a minor from Canada and subjecting them to conversion therapy abroad, profiting from conversion therapy and lastly, advertising or promoting conversion therapy. Also read | 'Global scale deluge': Report reveals US is the world's biggest plastic polluter The bill must now be approved by the Senate. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, The Honourable David Lametti said, "Conversion therapy has been discredited and denounced by professional and health associations in Canada and indeed around the world. It has no basis in science or in health care practices. Too many Canadians have undergone conversion therapy and have had to live with its harmful effects. That’s why our Government is stepping up to do our part to make sure that no one else has to face this devastating practice." Most countries have stopped practising the therapy but there are still many institutions that continue to resort to similar methods in order to convert gay people. The American Medical Association has deemed the practice is “harmful and ineffective”. (With inputs from agencies)

In major win for LGBT community, Canada's House of Commons votes to ban conversion therapy

<p>Britain will move to ban conversion therapy and provide more support to those in the LGBTQ community who have undergone the treatment, as part of its post-pandemic government agenda.</p>

<p>The discredited procedure, sometimes referred to as ex-gay therapy, aims to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government said measures would be brought forward to prevent these "abhorrent practices which can cause mental and physical harm," starting with a consultation on how best to protect people and how to eliminate coercive practices.</p>

<p>Johnson's party has come under increasing pressure on the issue after former leader Theresa May vowed in 2018 to eradicate a procedure that aims to change or suppress someone's sexual orientation or gender identity.</p>

<p>However, some faith leaders had argued that a wide ban could implicate those who offer pastoral support including prayer.</p>

<p>Setting out the new parliamentary agenda in a briefing document alongside the Queen's Speech, the government said: "We will ensure medical professionals, religious leaders, teachers and parents can continue to be able to have open and honest conversations with people."</p>

<p>A 2017 National LGBTQ survey found that 5 per cent of those who responded reported being ordered, and 2 per cent reported having undergone, conversion therapy. In more than half of the cases, the therapy was offered or conducted by faith organisations.</p>


Britain will move to ban conversion therapy and provide more support to those in the LGBTQ community who have undergone the treatment, as part of its post-pandemic government agenda.

Britain will move to ban conversion therapy and provide more support to those in the LGBTQ community who have undergone the treatment, as part of its post-pandemic government agenda. The discredited procedure, sometimes referred to as ex-gay therapy, aims to change or suppress a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government said measures would be brought forward to prevent these "abhorrent practices which can cause mental and physical harm," starting with a consultation on how best to protect people and how to eliminate coercive practices. Johnson's party has come under increasing pressure on the issue after former leader Theresa May vowed in 2018 to eradicate a procedure that aims to change or suppress someone's sexual orientation or gender identity. However, some faith leaders had argued that a wide ban could implicate those who offer pastoral support including prayer. Setting out the new parliamentary agenda in a briefing document alongside the Queen's Speech, the government said: "We will ensure medical professionals, religious leaders, teachers and parents can continue to be able to have open and honest conversations with people." A 2017 National LGBTQ survey found that 5 per cent of those who responded reported being ordered, and 2 per cent reported having undergone, conversion therapy. In more than half of the cases, the therapy was offered or conducted by faith organisations.

UK to ban LGBTQ conversion therapy and provide more support to community

<p>Hollywood actor and comedian Chris Rock says he used his time during the Covid-19 induced lockdown to have lots of therapy to tackle issues from his past, as success does not erase trauma.<br />
<br />
Asked if his experiences of childhood racism still have an impact, he said,"Yeah, it`s weird. I`ve been doing therapy. That`s what I did during Covid -- lots of therapy. Success does not erase trauma. It just doesn`t. So, I definitely had to go back through therapy and really go through my childhood."<br />
<br />
Rock says has "forgiven" anyone who has done wrong in the past and doesn`t see the benefit of calling people out now for things they did decades ago.<br />
<br />
"The key thing is, I forgive everybody that was involved. I don`t want to criticise the culture of whatever, but what happened to me happened 30 years ago. I could out everybody that called me a n***** and everybody that hit me, and put their faces on Instagram, and say their names and all that stuff, right?" Rock told Telegraph magazine.<br />
<br />
He added: "And they would never work again. Their lives would be absolutely destroyed. So I`m gonna pray that they learnt their lesson. I got kids going to college -- wouldn`t that suck if some kid couldn`t go to college because their dad called me a n***** in 1979? So I`m not gonna do that. I`m gonna take the very high road."<br />
<br />
Rock has two daughters, Lola, 19, and Zahra, 16, with former wife Malaak Compton-Rock.</p>


Hollywood actor and comedian Chris Rock says he used his time during the Covid-19 induced lockdown to have lots of therapy to tackle issues from his past, as success does not erase trauma.

Hollywood actor and comedian Chris Rock says he used his time during the Covid-19 induced lockdown to have lots of therapy to tackle issues from his past, as success does not erase trauma. Asked if his experiences of childhood racism still have an impact, he said,"Yeah, it`s weird. I`ve been doing therapy. That`s what I did during Covid -- lots of therapy. Success does not erase trauma. It just doesn`t. So, I definitely had to go back through therapy and really go through my childhood." Rock says has "forgiven" anyone who has done wrong in the past and doesn`t see the benefit of calling people out now for things they did decades ago. "The key thing is, I forgive everybody that was involved. I don`t want to criticise the culture of whatever, but what happened to me happened 30 years ago. I could out everybody that called me a n***** and everybody that hit me, and put their faces on Instagram, and say their names and all that stuff, right?" Rock told Telegraph magazine. He added: "And they would never work again. Their lives would be absolutely destroyed. So I`m gonna pray that they learnt their lesson. I got kids going to college -- wouldn`t that suck if some kid couldn`t go to college because their dad called me a n***** in 1979? So I`m not gonna do that. I`m gonna take the very high road." Rock has two daughters, Lola, 19, and Zahra, 16, with former wife Malaak Compton-Rock.

Chris Rock: Success does not erase trauma

<p>In the wake of her recent pregnancy loss, Chrissy Teigen is taking the advice of her therapist and giving "horse world" a try.</p>

<p>Recently, the former model and&nbsp;cookbook author shared a photo of a gorgeous brown horse relaxing in a stall. "My therapist says I need something that I do for just me, as I have absolutely nothing currently lol," she tweeted. "Today begins my journey into the horse world. I hope this dude likes me … he's so handsome and appears lazy, I love."</p>

<p>Chrissy revealed the name of the horse to be, "Cosmo!" adding that she hopes his name is a reference to the 'Seinfeld'&nbsp;character, Cosmo Kramer, and that she's not Cosmo's owner.<br />
<br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">My therapist says I need something that I do for just me, as I have absolutely nothing currently lol. Today begins my journey into the horse world. I hope this dude likes me 😩 he’s so handsome and appears lazy, I love <a href="https://t.co/1Ytejb4L6J">pic.twitter.com/1Ytejb4L6J</a></p>
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) <a href="https://twitter.com/chrissyteigen/status/1350466325353623554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Though she didn't immediately confirm if she was planning to take horseback riding lessons, the fact that her therapist suggested Cosmo made one follower point out she could be starting equine therapy, which can center around riding, or incorporate other kinds of equestrian work or interaction.</p>

<p>Chrissy's foray into "horse world" marks the latest in a series of changes she's made to her life since September, when she and her husband, John Legend, lost their third child, Jack, about halfway through Chrissy's pregnancy, due to complications related to the placenta.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/chrissy-teigen-says-she-is-in-a-grief-depression-hole-after-suffering-miscarriage-345690"> In November,&nbsp;Chrissy Teigen had&nbsp;revealed that she is in grief over her pregnancy loss.&nbsp;</a>Teigen was expecting a third child with musician John Legend but suffered a miscarriage last month. Having shared the terrible news with her followers on social media, she took a brief break from all the platforms but is now back - even though she admits she isn't that active yet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mother of two had been open about her third pregnancy with her fans. She had accidentally revealed the gender of the baby- a boy- and had been sharing updates of pregnancy all along.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
It was Teigen who had informed that she had to be admitted to hospital last month as she suffered complications in pregnancy. A day later she informed she had suffered a miscarriage.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meghan-markle-to-chrissy-teigen-celebrities-who-have-opened-up-about-their-pregnancy-complications-345517" hreflang="en">Meghan Markle to Chrissy Teigen: Celebrities who have opened up about their pregnancy complications</a><br />
<br />
A few weeks later Teigen wrote an essay for the Medium where she narrated her experience in detail and thanked fans, family and friends for the support as she and her family coped with the loss.&nbsp;</p>


In the wake of her recent pregnancy loss, Chrissy Teigen is taking the advice of her therapist and giving "horse world" a try. Recently, the former model and cookbook author shared a photo of a gorgeous brown horse relaxing in a stall.

In the wake of her recent pregnancy loss, Chrissy Teigen is taking the advice of her therapist and giving "horse world" a try. Recently, the former model and cookbook author shared a photo of a gorgeous brown horse relaxing in a stall. "My therapist says I need something that I do for just me, as I have absolutely nothing currently lol," she tweeted. "Today begins my journey into the horse world. I hope this dude likes me … he's so handsome and appears lazy, I love." Chrissy revealed the name of the horse to be, "Cosmo!" adding that she hopes his name is a reference to the 'Seinfeld' character, Cosmo Kramer, and that she's not Cosmo's owner. My therapist says I need something that I do for just me, as I have absolutely nothing currently lol. Today begins my journey into the horse world. I hope this dude likes me 😩 he’s so handsome and appears lazy, I love pic.twitter.com/1Ytejb4L6J — chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 16, 2021 × Though she didn't immediately confirm if she was planning to take horseback riding lessons, the fact that her therapist suggested Cosmo made one follower point out she could be starting equine therapy, which can center around riding, or incorporate other kinds of equestrian work or interaction. Chrissy's foray into "horse world" marks the latest in a series of changes she's made to her life since September, when she and her husband, John Legend, lost their third child, Jack, about halfway through Chrissy's pregnancy, due to complications related to the placenta. In November, Chrissy Teigen had revealed that she is in grief over her pregnancy loss. Teigen was expecting a third child with musician John Legend but suffered a miscarriage last month. Having shared the terrible news with her followers on social media, she took a brief break from all the platforms but is now back - even though she admits she isn't that active yet. The mother of two had been open about her third pregnancy with her fans. She had accidentally revealed the gender of the baby- a boy- and had been sharing updates of pregnancy all along. It was Teigen who had informed that she had to be admitted to hospital last month as she suffered complications in pregnancy. A day later she informed she had suffered a miscarriage. Meghan Markle to Chrissy Teigen: Celebrities who have opened up about their pregnancy complications A few weeks later Teigen wrote an essay for the Medium where she narrated her experience in detail and thanked fans, family and friends for the support as she and her family coped with the loss.

Chrissy Teigen enters the 'horse world' for therapeutic reasons

In this video, watch the story of sexual assault survivors who have turned therapy through art to help other women suvivor recovering from past trauma.

Survivors of sexual violence rebuilding their lives

Therapy dogs brought smiles and giggles to a Russian airport on Saturday (December 28) as passengers of all ages were given the chance to pet and hug them ahead of their flights.

Therapy dogs bring stress relief to travellers at Moscow airport

<p>Actor Michael B Jordan has revealed that he had to undergo therapy after playing villainous Erik Killmonger in Marvel tentpole 'Black Panther'.</p>

<p>In the superhero saga, directed by Jordan's frequent collaborator Ryan Coogler, Killmonger is shown as a relatable person, a man who wants the throne of a technologically-advanced country to support the black community all over the world.</p>

<p>The actor was recently in a conversation with Oprah Winfrey for her 'SuperSoul Conversations' TV special where he opened about his acting process for the film, which has been nominated in the Best Picture category of the upcoming Academy Awards 2019.</p>

<p>Jordan said to do the justice to the character, who he believes was a lonely person, he purposely distanced himself from others.</p>

<p>"I spent a lot of time alone. I figured Erik, his childhood growing up was pretty lonely. He didn't have a lot of people he could talk to about this place called Wakanda that didn't exist," he said.</p>

<p>He admitted that the film was "an extreme, exaggerated version of the African diaspora from the African-American perspective."</p>

<p>"So to be able to take that kind of pain and rage and all those emotions that Erik kind of represents from being black and brown here in America? that was something I didn't take lightly," Jordan added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After wrapping up the film, Jordan said he found it difficult to reconnect with people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Readjusting to people caring about me, getting that love that I shut out. I shut out love, I didn't want love. I wanted to be in this lonely place as long as I could," he said.</p>

<p>He sought therapy to help him overcome this phase and he said the sessions "helped me out a lot".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Your mind is so powerful. Your mind will get your body past a threshold that it would have given up on way before. Honestly, therapy, just talking to somebody just helped me out a lot. As a man, you get a lot of slack for it... I don't really subscribe to that. Everyone needs to unpack and talk," he added.&nbsp;</p>


Actor Michael B Jordan has revealed that he had to undergo therapy after playing villainous Erik Killmonger in Marvel tentpole 'Black Panther'. In the superhero saga, directed by Jordan's frequent collaborator Ryan Coogler, Killmonger is shown as a relatable person, a man who wants the throne of a technologically-advanced country to support the black community all over the world.

Actor Michael B Jordan has revealed that he had to undergo therapy after playing villainous Erik Killmonger in Marvel tentpole 'Black Panther'. In the superhero saga, directed by Jordan's frequent collaborator Ryan Coogler, Killmonger is shown as a relatable person, a man who wants the throne of a technologically-advanced country to support the black community all over the world. The actor was recently in a conversation with Oprah Winfrey for her 'SuperSoul Conversations' TV special where he opened about his acting process for the film, which has been nominated in the Best Picture category of the upcoming Academy Awards 2019. Jordan said to do the justice to the character, who he believes was a lonely person, he purposely distanced himself from others. "I spent a lot of time alone. I figured Erik, his childhood growing up was pretty lonely. He didn't have a lot of people he could talk to about this place called Wakanda that didn't exist," he said. He admitted that the film was "an extreme, exaggerated version of the African diaspora from the African-American perspective." "So to be able to take that kind of pain and rage and all those emotions that Erik kind of represents from being black and brown here in America? that was something I didn't take lightly," Jordan added. After wrapping up the film, Jordan said he found it difficult to reconnect with people. "Readjusting to people caring about me, getting that love that I shut out. I shut out love, I didn't want love. I wanted to be in this lonely place as long as I could," he said. He sought therapy to help him overcome this phase and he said the sessions "helped me out a lot". "Your mind is so powerful. Your mind will get your body past a threshold that it would have given up on way before. Honestly, therapy, just talking to somebody just helped me out a lot. As a man, you get a lot of slack for it... I don't really subscribe to that. Everyone needs to unpack and talk," he added.

Michael B Jordan opted for therapy after playing villain in 'Black Panther'

<p>The idea of coming home to your pet after a long day at work is one that most would agree as a great stress buster. The West has already been successful in coming up with a concept called Pet Therapy that involves animal-assisted activities or animal-assisted therapy for those dealing with stress and other related issues.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Interestingly, the concept is now making its way to a developing country like India where an average middle-class person is constantly juggling between several responsibilities, while making a decent living. Keeping in mind the growing societal pressure on an individual to perform and succeed, a small, yet, bright venture in India called Fur Ball Story is using pet therapy as a model to help people relax, find comfort, recover from serious illnesses and stay happier in general.</p>

<p>They also aim to &ldquo;help those with any form of disability in coming to terms with life and to provide them unconditional love for motivation. At Fur Ball Story, the aim is to alleviate stress at the very basic level so that it does not reach the chronic stages.&rdquo;</p>

<p><strong>Start of a Story</strong><br />
&nbsp;<br />
It all started when Animesh Katiyar, co-founder Fur Ball Story got two Labrador puppies for recreational purposes. The dogs became an instant hit among his peers and became a source of happiness for first year students who were unable to deal with homesickness, absenteeism, result-related pressure and others.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Animesh then researched about the concept and resolved to start something of his own using this model. The startup got registered in September 2016 with two of Animesh&rsquo;s friends, Srishti Sharma and Arushi Dixit joining him in this endeavor.</p>

<p>Animesh says, &ldquo;If the concept could be successful at such a small-scale (in college), it would probably work wonders at a large-scale. That&rsquo;s how Fur Ball Story began.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Dishiti Titus, a lawyer who has a dog at home agrees that her pet is her stress buster and mood uplifter. She says, &ldquo;Sometimes you just need a shoulder to lean on when you&#39;re low--no advice, no consoling or sometimes you just need to be alone. Whenever I&#39;ve been low and I want a break from humans, I go out and sit on the steps of my house. &nbsp;Everytime without fail, I&#39;ve had muddy paws and a wet nose come inspect. I could scream at my dog and tell her to go away but instead she sits against me and just minds her own business, making sure her presence is felt. My furry friend and her innocent face is a mood lifter. It works every time.&rdquo;</p>

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<h5>I could scream at my dog and tell her to go away but instead she sits against me and just minds her own business, making sure her presence is felt</h5>
</blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ashutosh Uttarwar, another pet owner says, &ldquo;It&#39;s hard to point at one specific thing that he (dog) does for me but he&#39;s &nbsp;been with us for six years and everytime I&#39;m feeling tense or sad, I simply go and hug him. He helps relieve a lot of negativity. Today I was worried about some decisions I had to make and kept freaking out about how the future will turn out, so I got Pablo (dog) to my bed and lay&nbsp;down with him. Not only did he relieve my stress, but slowly I started to think more clearly and realised I needn&#39;t worry and could focus better.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>But to be a pet owner is one thing and call for a pet therapy session quite another. Is India, with its blanket vision of stereotypes and strong cultural opposition to therapy, ready for this ?<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Animesh confirms, &ldquo;Yes, India is conservative when it comes to therapy but there are two reasons why this hasn&rsquo;t affected our business:<br />
&nbsp;<br />
&ldquo;People hardly understand the scientific relevance attached to pet therapy. To most, it still is just about playing with dogs. Those who find it interesting, give us a call and while they think it&rsquo;s just some time they are spending with dogs, the therapy does its work and leaves a mark without them knowing. As long as our purpose is served, it hardly matters what stereotypes the client has.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Also, not a lot of Indians are conservative about therapy anymore.&rdquo;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/image%20tweeted%20out%20by%20alyssa%20(6)-20170505081609.jpg" />
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<p>Furry Army&#39;s Angel at Burger King, CP (WION)</p>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>What keeps them going, I ask?</p>

<p>Animesh answers, &ldquo;The unconditional love of the members of our furry army, and the happy, satisfied faces of our clients. When a parent of an autistic child sees her interacting with our pooches and smiling after a long time, his speechlessness and wet eyes give us all the motivation we require to keep it going, despite the hardships.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Aanchal Kalra, a photographer by profession narrates how pet therapy changed her life. She was able to survive a troubled phase in her life after she came in contact with therapy dogs. She says, &ldquo;My dog had passed away and I started remaining sad during most hours of the day. Every other small problem started adding to the agony. It was a really tough time for me. I had gotten that dog (now dead) for myself after suffering from clinical depression for five years. It was difficult to get over that and lead a normal life.</p>

<p>&ldquo;That&#39;s when I went to Pet Fed&#39;16 as a photographer and came across Fur Ball Story&#39;s stall. After the event, I called them for a residential session and it became a regular thing. After a few weeks, I had to shift to Mumbai for work and it seriously wouldn&#39;t have been as smooth as it was, had there not been the existing support and unconditional love of the furry army.&rdquo;</p>

<p><strong>Therapy Training for Dogs</strong></p>

<p>How do the dogs get therapy training?&nbsp;</p>

<p>Animesh explains, &ldquo;The primary requirement of having a therapy dog is, that it must be your pet, it must be your full-time partner in crime. So yes, these dogs are our pets. They live with the founders of the company. We address these dogs as furry army, individually known as Angel (Gold retriever), Muffin (Labrador) and Cocoa (Shih-tzu).&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Therapy training is very different from other kinds of training being provided to dogs such as sniffing or protection. In this, the dog is taught two main things: focus and interaction. The dog is trained with a handler, and for that dog, the handler has to become nothing less than a godly figure. And all this is done with the help of treats. We use salami in training our dogs. It&rsquo;s call positive enforcement training or reward-based training.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Therapy training is taught by taking the dogs in public places and teaching him to ignore everyone but their handler. The dog will follow and notice only the handler and when the handler commands the dog to interact with people, the dog does so by sitting next to them so that people pet him.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;For a therapy training, the chemistry between the dog and the handler has to be top notch. Therapy dogs are not allowed to bite, bark or lunge as it may scare or worsen the condition of the people, specifically patients such as autistic or other mentally or physically challenged people. (We prefer the term differently abled). Our training is given by Mr. Varun Anand, who is one of the very few people who is internationally certified to train and certify therapy dogs.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Human-Animal bond</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Cuddling a pet releases the &lsquo;cuddle chemical&rsquo; oxytocin in both human and pet. This chemical has a calming and soothing effect in both, leading to development of a bond between the two--almost as intense as that between two humans.</h5>
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<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Cuddling a pet releases the ?cuddle chemical? oxytocin in both human and pet. This chemical has a calming and soothing effect in both, leading to development of a bond between the two--almost as intense as that between two humans." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
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<p>Several researches indicate that being in proximity with an animal reduces stress substantially and makes one feel lighter.</p>

<p>Millinjyot, a clinical psychologist trained in veterinary medicine says, &ldquo;Studies have been focusing on the fact that interacting with animals can increase people&#39;s level of the &lsquo;hormone oxytocin&rsquo;. Cuddling a pet releases the &lsquo;cuddle chemical&rsquo; oxytocin in both human and pet. This chemical has a calming and soothing effect in both, leading to development of a bond between the two--almost as intense as that between two humans.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Animesh confirms that it&rsquo;s true for his furry friends too, that there has been a considerable change in the nature and mood of his dogs. He says, &ldquo;Our dogs are most happy when they have people around, because that&rsquo;s the way they&rsquo;re trained, so being in sessions is the best time for them.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Studies have continued in this field since a long time. Dr. Aubrey H. Fine, a clinical psychologist and author of several books on human-animal bond can be cited in his books: &ldquo;Use of pets in medical settings actually dates back more than 150 years. One could even look at Florence Nightingale (Founder of modern nursing) recognising that animals provided a level of social support in the institutional care of the mentally ill.&rdquo;</p>

<p>&ldquo;The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that positively influences the health and well-being of both&rdquo;, he adds in his books.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But this exercise must be exhausting for the pets, I ask Animesh?&nbsp;</p>

<p>Animesh ensures, &ldquo;We make sure that the dogs are taken care of even during the sessions--they are given breaks and personal time to relax or sleep. On regulars days, they chill at the house with a family member, or are taken to parks for recreation and exercise. &nbsp;Pre-and post session they&rsquo;re back in the house doing their own thing.&rdquo;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/image%20tweeted%20out%20by%20alyssa%20(7)-20170505081922.jpg" />
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<p>The Furry Army at Nagarro&#39;s Gurgaon office in a pet therapy session (WION)</p>
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<p><strong>Limitations</strong></p>

<p>Has there been any limitation for a startup like Fur Ball Story while including animals in therapy?</p>

<p>&ldquo;With regard to hospitals, people raise concerns of hygiene but our dogs are fully vaccinated and are given utmost care when it comes to maintaining cleanliness-- as we know our clientele. Another challenge, is to tackle people who might not be receptive to dogs and will object to their presence in the building.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;When it comes to bringing the pets to a residence, the only issue is that some people call us in the afternoon and want the session to happen outside in open. We can&rsquo;t do that due to weather issues, obviously. For a therapy session to happen, we always need ample space and an air conditioned environment.&rdquo;</p>

<p><strong>Adopt Pets and Say No to Animal Abuse</strong></p>

<p>With Fur Ball Story, Animesh and his co-founders are trying to build a culture of &ldquo;encourage adoption, increase productivity and decrease animal abuse&rdquo;.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
With an established premise of pet therapy and its benefits to both animals and humans, Fur Ball Story wants to break barriers of just adopting purebred breeds. They want to encourage adoption of indie dogs and discourage abandonment of a furry family member once he or she is old or sick. The startup aims to involve more number of people who can benefit from pet therapy and also increase sensitivity towards animals--lowering rates of animal abuse.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Animesh says, &ldquo;Upon spending time with a therapy dog, people tend to undergo certain hormonal changes in the body due to which stress reduces, people start feeling happier and thus they end up giving their 100 per cent&nbsp;in whatever work they indulge in. While providing corporate sessions, we advise clients to opt for 3-months long collaboration wherein regular sessions are provided to the employees. This inculcates a feeling of belongingness in employee and he feels like coming to office for something other than money. Such positive changes improve the productivity of the person.&rdquo;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>I got angry at first but when those little balls of fur approached me with loving eyes and licked me and wagged their tails, I felt something different</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I got angry at first but when those little balls of fur approached me with loving eyes and licked me and wagged their tails, I felt something different" target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
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</div>
</div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>A therapy-seeker, Pankaj Gulati is a banker who admits being short-tempered throughout his life. He says, &ldquo;My anger has affected my health at certain times. One day, my son just randomly called Fur Ball Story home with their dogs. I got angry at first but when those little balls of fur approached me with loving eyes and licked me and wagged their tails, I felt something different. It&#39;s hard to explain that feeling--initially I did not support it at all, just kept sitting in a corner but till when can you ignore those eyes. The dogs when they came home, they changed the entire atmosphere. After two to three sessions with those cute dogs, I ended up asking my son to adopt one for our own. My family now believes that playing with the dogs has calmed me down. All I know is that I feel happy around them.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Apart from improving productivity and reducing stress with pet therapy, Fur Ball Story also touches upon an important factor of animal sensitivity. In the wake of several incidents where youngsters all around the country have been seen abusing animals, particularly dogs, it is an important step.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
Animesh says, &ldquo;We are attempting to spread animal sensitivity in India with the help of our sessions. Wherever we go for therapy, apart from telling them the benefits of a therapy dog, we also help them understand how to interact with stray dogs and indies in the neighborhood. We educate kids about the fact that the Indian dogs are not harmful, it&rsquo;s all about how our approach is towards them is, and we make them learn the right approach so that violence against these animals can be reduced.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>

<p>An organisation like Fur Ball Story in India is one-of-a-kind. The startup is planning on expanding to cities Mumbai and Bangalore, and are also working on coming up with India&rsquo;s first therapy and recreational centre using animal-assisted therapy. Animesh adds, &ldquo;Once we are settled with pet therapy, we might start a range of organic dog food and other healthcare products.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>(WION) &nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Pet therapy is emerging as a model to help people relax, find comfort, and recover from serious illnesses

The idea of coming home to your pet after a long day at work is one that most would agree as a great stress buster. The West has already been successful in coming up with a concept called Pet Therapy that involves animal-assisted activities or animal-assisted therapy for those dealing with stress and other related issues. Interestingly, the concept is now making its way to a developing country like India where an average middle-class person is constantly juggling between several responsibilities, while making a decent living. Keeping in mind the growing societal pressure on an individual to perform and succeed, a small, yet, bright venture in India called Fur Ball Story is using pet therapy as a model to help people relax, find comfort, recover from serious illnesses and stay happier in general. They also aim to “help those with any form of disability in coming to terms with life and to provide them unconditional love for motivation. At Fur Ball Story, the aim is to alleviate stress at the very basic level so that it does not reach the chronic stages.” Start of a Story It all started when Animesh Katiyar, co-founder Fur Ball Story got two Labrador puppies for recreational purposes. The dogs became an instant hit among his peers and became a source of happiness for first year students who were unable to deal with homesickness, absenteeism, result-related pressure and others. Animesh then researched about the concept and resolved to start something of his own using this model. The startup got registered in September 2016 with two of Animesh’s friends, Srishti Sharma and Arushi Dixit joining him in this endeavor. Animesh says, “If the concept could be successful at such a small-scale (in college), it would probably work wonders at a large-scale. That’s how Fur Ball Story began.” Dishiti Titus, a lawyer who has a dog at home agrees that her pet is her stress buster and mood uplifter. She says, “Sometimes you just need a shoulder to lean on when you're low--no advice, no consoling or sometimes you just need to be alone. Whenever I've been low and I want a break from humans, I go out and sit on the steps of my house. Everytime without fail, I've had muddy paws and a wet nose come inspect. I could scream at my dog and tell her to go away but instead she sits against me and just minds her own business, making sure her presence is felt. My furry friend and her innocent face is a mood lifter. It works every time.” I could scream at my dog and tell her to go away but instead she sits against me and just minds her own business, making sure her presence is felt × Ashutosh Uttarwar, another pet owner says, “It's hard to point at one specific thing that he (dog) does for me but he's been with us for six years and everytime I'm feeling tense or sad, I simply go and hug him. He helps relieve a lot of negativity. Today I was worried about some decisions I had to make and kept freaking out about how the future will turn out, so I got Pablo (dog) to my bed and lay down with him. Not only did he relieve my stress, but slowly I started to think more clearly and realised I needn't worry and could focus better.” But to be a pet owner is one thing and call for a pet therapy session quite another. Is India, with its blanket vision of stereotypes and strong cultural opposition to therapy, ready for this ? Animesh confirms, “Yes, India is conservative when it comes to therapy but there are two reasons why this hasn’t affected our business: “People hardly understand the scientific relevance attached to pet therapy. To most, it still is just about playing with dogs. Those who find it interesting, give us a call and while they think it’s just some time they are spending with dogs, the therapy does its work and leaves a mark without them knowing. As long as our purpose is served, it hardly matters what stereotypes the client has. “Also, not a lot of Indians are conservative about therapy anymore.” Furry Army's Angel at Burger King, CP (WION) × What keeps them going, I ask? Animesh answers, “The unconditional love of the members of our furry army, and the happy, satisfied faces of our clients. When a parent of an autistic child sees her interacting with our pooches and smiling after a long time, his speechlessness and wet eyes give us all the motivation we require to keep it going, despite the hardships.” Aanchal Kalra, a photographer by profession narrates how pet therapy changed her life. She was able to survive a troubled phase in her life after she came in contact with therapy dogs. She says, “My dog had passed away and I started remaining sad during most hours of the day. Every other small problem started adding to the agony. It was a really tough time for me. I had gotten that dog (now dead) for myself after suffering from clinical depression for five years. It was difficult to get over that and lead a normal life. “That's when I went to Pet Fed'16 as a photographer and came across Fur Ball Story's stall. After the event, I called them for a residential session and it became a regular thing. After a few weeks, I had to shift to Mumbai for work and it seriously wouldn't have been as smooth as it was, had there not been the existing support and unconditional love of the furry army.” Therapy Training for Dogs How do the dogs get therapy training? Animesh explains, “The primary requirement of having a therapy dog is, that it must be your pet, it must be your full-time partner in crime. So yes, these dogs are our pets. They live with the founders of the company. We address these dogs as furry army, individually known as Angel (Gold retriever), Muffin (Labrador) and Cocoa (Shih-tzu). “Therapy training is very different from other kinds of training being provided to dogs such as sniffing or protection. In this, the dog is taught two main things: focus and interaction. The dog is trained with a handler, and for that dog, the handler has to become nothing less than a godly figure. And all this is done with the help of treats. We use salami in training our dogs. It’s call positive enforcement training or reward-based training. “Therapy training is taught by taking the dogs in public places and teaching him to ignore everyone but their handler. The dog will follow and notice only the handler and when the handler commands the dog to interact with people, the dog does so by sitting next to them so that people pet him. “For a therapy training, the chemistry between the dog and the handler has to be top notch. Therapy dogs are not allowed to bite, bark or lunge as it may scare or worsen the condition of the people, specifically patients such as autistic or other mentally or physically challenged people. (We prefer the term differently abled). Our training is given by Mr. Varun Anand, who is one of the very few people who is internationally certified to train and certify therapy dogs.” Human-Animal bond Cuddling a pet releases the ‘cuddle chemical’ oxytocin in both human and pet. This chemical has a calming and soothing effect in both, leading to development of a bond between the two--almost as intense as that between two humans. × Several researches indicate that being in proximity with an animal reduces stress substantially and makes one feel lighter. Millinjyot, a clinical psychologist trained in veterinary medicine says, “Studies have been focusing on the fact that interacting with animals can increase people's level of the ‘hormone oxytocin’. Cuddling a pet releases the ‘cuddle chemical’ oxytocin in both human and pet. This chemical has a calming and soothing effect in both, leading to development of a bond between the two--almost as intense as that between two humans.” Animesh confirms that it’s true for his furry friends too, that there has been a considerable change in the nature and mood of his dogs. He says, “Our dogs are most happy when they have people around, because that’s the way they’re trained, so being in sessions is the best time for them.” Studies have continued in this field since a long time. Dr. Aubrey H. Fine, a clinical psychologist and author of several books on human-animal bond can be cited in his books: “Use of pets in medical settings actually dates back more than 150 years. One could even look at Florence Nightingale (Founder of modern nursing) recognising that animals provided a level of social support in the institutional care of the mentally ill.” “The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that positively influences the health and well-being of both”, he adds in his books. But this exercise must be exhausting for the pets, I ask Animesh? Animesh ensures, “We make sure that the dogs are taken care of even during the sessions--they are given breaks and personal time to relax or sleep. On regulars days, they chill at the house with a family member, or are taken to parks for recreation and exercise. Pre-and post session they’re back in the house doing their own thing.” The Furry Army at Nagarro's Gurgaon office in a pet therapy session (WION) × Limitations Has there been any limitation for a startup like Fur Ball Story while including animals in therapy? “With regard to hospitals, people raise concerns of hygiene but our dogs are fully vaccinated and are given utmost care when it comes to maintaining cleanliness-- as we know our clientele. Another challenge, is to tackle people who might not be receptive to dogs and will object to their presence in the building. “When it comes to bringing the pets to a residence, the only issue is that some people call us in the afternoon and want the session to happen outside in open. We can’t do that due to weather issues, obviously. For a therapy session to happen, we always need ample space and an air conditioned environment.” Adopt Pets and Say No to Animal Abuse With Fur Ball Story, Animesh and his co-founders are trying to build a culture of “encourage adoption, increase productivity and decrease animal abuse”. With an established premise of pet therapy and its benefits to both animals and humans, Fur Ball Story wants to break barriers of just adopting purebred breeds. They want to encourage adoption of indie dogs and discourage abandonment of a furry family member once he or she is old or sick. The startup aims to involve more number of people who can benefit from pet therapy and also increase sensitivity towards animals--lowering rates of animal abuse. Animesh says, “Upon spending time with a therapy dog, people tend to undergo certain hormonal changes in the body due to which stress reduces, people start feeling happier and thus they end up giving their 100 per cent in whatever work they indulge in. While providing corporate sessions, we advise clients to opt for 3-months long collaboration wherein regular sessions are provided to the employees. This inculcates a feeling of belongingness in employee and he feels like coming to office for something other than money. Such positive changes improve the productivity of the person.” I got angry at first but when those little balls of fur approached me with loving eyes and licked me and wagged their tails, I felt something different × A therapy-seeker, Pankaj Gulati is a banker who admits being short-tempered throughout his life. He says, “My anger has affected my health at certain times. One day, my son just randomly called Fur Ball Story home with their dogs. I got angry at first but when those little balls of fur approached me with loving eyes and licked me and wagged their tails, I felt something different. It's hard to explain that feeling--initially I did not support it at all, just kept sitting in a corner but till when can you ignore those eyes. The dogs when they came home, they changed the entire atmosphere. After two to three sessions with those cute dogs, I ended up asking my son to adopt one for our own. My family now believes that playing with the dogs has calmed me down. All I know is that I feel happy around them.” Apart from improving productivity and reducing stress with pet therapy, Fur Ball Story also touches upon an important factor of animal sensitivity. In the wake of several incidents where youngsters all around the country have been seen abusing animals, particularly dogs, it is an important step. Animesh says, “We are attempting to spread animal sensitivity in India with the help of our sessions. Wherever we go for therapy, apart from telling them the benefits of a therapy dog, we also help them understand how to interact with stray dogs and indies in the neighborhood. We educate kids about the fact that the Indian dogs are not harmful, it’s all about how our approach is towards them is, and we make them learn the right approach so that violence against these animals can be reduced.” An organisation like Fur Ball Story in India is one-of-a-kind. The startup is planning on expanding to cities Mumbai and Bangalore, and are also working on coming up with India’s first therapy and recreational centre using animal-assisted therapy. Animesh adds, “Once we are settled with pet therapy, we might start a range of organic dog food and other healthcare products.” (WION)

Finding love in furry friends

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