Latest news with #emotionalrollercoaster
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
How to survive the Euro 2025 final with your nerves intact
If you're a fan of the England women's football team, chances are you've been on a bit of an emotional agonisingly close quarter-final against Sweden ended with a tense penalty shootout, while an equalising semi-final goal from Michelle Agyemang only happened in the 96th minute."I feel like I'm going to have to go to the doctors when I get home," says Jenny, from Kent, who watched it all from the stands."They are putting us through the ringer.""I basically bit all my nails off," says Sophie, who is in Switzerland with her sister, Nicola, from Basingstoke, describes feeling shaky. "I had to take some time to decompress."Even if you weren't watching the action with thousands of other jittery fans in the stadium, chances are you've felt some of the same effects. But whether you're in the stands or on the sofa, why do football matches produce such intense physical reactions? 'Stress reponse' The answer lies in our hormones says Dr Martha Newson, Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of she explains, goes up on match days, as does adrenaline and the stress hormone cortisol. The most loyal fans have the biggest stress response, she says, and that's the same for men and women. During peaks in the game - like a nail-biting penalty shootout - the adrenaline rush, or fight or flight response, prepares the body for action, says Dr David Crepaz-Keay, Head of Research and Applied Learning at the Mental Health it can feel scary, there's nothing to be alarmed about - it's a sign that you care."You are just completely there with them and it's like you're walking up to the spot, ready to take that penalty… your senses are just going into overdrive."The heart rate rises as it rushes to send more oxygen around the body. And if you feel buzzy, he says, that's because the effects can act as can last for hours, affecting our sleep as we come down from our excitement and can even influence our behaviour the following day. Don't be surprised if you feel like eating more after the match or getting out the credit card."Fans consume more calories after a loss," says Dr Newson, explaining that they're responding to a psychological need to replenish their reserves after a time of the flip side, fans might feel an urge to splurge after a win. "We can see the evolutionary mind working like, okay, I've won so I can spend money, I can accumulate resources," she this for a sport that's supposed to be about fun and bonding. So what can fans do to manage these very real side-effects? Dr Joseph Barker, a clinical psychologist for the NHS and Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Norwich Medical School, advises getting a good rest the night before. Having a clear match day plan of where you are going, what you are doing and what you are likely to do afterwards will also help alleviate stress."As we've got no control during the game, if we can find things to control before and after the game that can build our emotional resilience to cope."It's important to eat well, he says, and as much as it might be tempting, he advises against drinking alcohol, because it gives us less ability to regulate our things get too tense, he says fans can always take a break and rejoin the match a bit Crepaz-Keay says movement is key to help manage that adrenaline surge - when your body is geared up for action, there's nowhere for that energy to go if you stay on the sofa. But just remember to keep anything breakable out of arm and leg reach. Be part of something bigger Most of all, the experts advise trying to reframe the nerves and jitters as an enjoyable experience."In England particularly, we are not necessarily brought up to express our emotions. And sport gives us the excuse to do that. Sport gives us licence to shout, to scream, to dance, to cheer, to sing," says Dr Crepaz-Keay. "Even if we don't win, you're still part of something bigger... that's something that we can all take pride and joy in."It's a view shared by Jenny and Charlotte in advises embracing the stress and having patience as "anything can happen in the last second"."You're going to get overwhelmed and your heart rate will go up… but this is really exciting." Additional reporting by Elise Wicker and Yazmina Garcia
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Video: Mom Shows ‘Stages Of Going Out Kid-free' Is An ‘Emotional Rollercoaster'
Taking care of kids is not an easy task, especially if you are a new mommy. To prove the point, a mom shows the 'five stages of going out kid-free' in an Instagram video, which shifts between guilt, happiness, and missing her child. Although she delivers a significant message through her reel, the mother creates her outing clip in a fun way. The caption reads, 'It's truly an emotional rollercoaster isn't it.' On Instagram, a mom outing kid-free video has recently gained attention. In it, Hannah, a mother of a newborn, shares the 'five stages of going out kid-free' in a hilarious manner. Celine Dion's 1996 song, 'All by Myself,' adds dramatic effect to the clip as Hannah lip-syncs the track throughout the reel. The video begins with Hannah all glammed up for a party, happily singing the song. It depicts the first stage — 'Freedom.' But, as soon as she gets behind the wheel, the 'mom guilt' hits her, highlighting the second stage in the outing kid-free video. She looks doubtful and concerned, questioning if she should leave her child and husband alone. Her anxious self further thinks, 'Will they be okay?' Or 'Am I the literal worst?' In the next scene of the outing kid-free video, the mom's mood changes when she joins the party, indicating the third stage — 'Enjoying Yourself.' With a smiling face, she enjoys a drink and 'hot' food while having 'uninterrupted convo' and 'gets to sit down.' Feeling relaxed, she drives home thinking, 'Why don't I do this more often?' which is the fourth stage. Finally, stage five says, 'I miss my babies so much.' Hannah rushes inside her home and jumps into a swimming pool to hug her child and husband. Viewers enjoyed the mom outing kid-free video and also found it 'funny.' One user wrote, 'Gets to sit down sounds so incredibly nice,' while another commented, 'So accurate.' An individual also added one more stage, saying, 'STAGE: 6 : Im never leaving you again.' While the Instagram reel received a positive response, it has garnered over 114K likes at the time of writing. The post Video: Mom Shows 'Stages Of Going Out Kid-free' Is An 'Emotional Rollercoaster' appeared first on Momtastic.
Washington Post
31-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Carolyn Hax: At yo-yo's end with supporting friend through cyclic breakups
Adapted from an online discussion. Dear Carolyn: I am probably at this point overinvested here, but my really good friend has been in a terrible relationship for eight years now: They break up, friend dumps on me, there's a few good months, they get back together, friend distances from friends, they break up again, etc. They just broke up again. I am dreading the process but feel like not being there would be problematic for my social life. I am just done with the drama and feel like saying so. Anyway, can you help me understand why otherwise great people do this yo-yo thing? — Yo-yo's Friend Yo-yo's Friend: Not fixing a near-decade problem mystifies me, too, so I'm not sure I can help you understand. You would think they'd tire of it. Or maybe we're both missing the point — maybe they include the on-and-off as part of the whole. It must satisfy a need for both of them, or else they'd stay apart one of these times. An unhealthy need, or else they'd stay together. So — two unhealthy needs they use each other to avoid fixing. How's that. As for what to say to your friend this time, now that you're 'done with the drama' and possibly a little salty, I think eight years of getting dumped on gives you standing to speak your mind. You wrote a fine start: 'I am probably at this point overinvested, but you have been in an unstable relationship for eight years now. You break up, dump on me, have a few good months, get back together, distance yourself from friends, break up again, etc.' Then maybe just: 'I don't know what to say anymore. But acting like this is normal or okay doesn't seem like the right call. Is there anything else I can do here?' Like I said, though — this may be their normal. They may be life partners, in their yo-yo way. As designated friend, it might help you to see it this way: to assume there is no 'process' to 'dread' because there is no off or on, it is all of a piece, and to divest from the drama and expect nothing besides seeing your friend when your friend is available. And don't try to fix anything — just be 'sorry to hear that.' Dear Carolyn: I live in the East and work full time even though I am past retirement age; I like to work, I'm good at my job and it gives me something to do. I have lots of friends and plan lunches and classes weekly. Some of my grandchildren live in the West, and I feel guilty that I don't move there to take care of them, especially 9-year-old twins. Both parents work round-the-clock, and they rely on the older kids to take care of the twins. I don't want to move where they live. However, I feel like I'm being selfish, and they could really use my help; they need someone to pick up the kids from school, prepare dinner, help with homework — a housekeeper. Should that be my job? — Grandparent Grandparent: 'Should' you, no, not if you don't want to and you're deeply rooted. It's alarming that older kids are being pressed into parent duty for youngers, if they're more than just helping out. But it doesn't make sense to me that your cross-country relocation, maybe effectively for good, is the only solution for at most a six- or seven-year problem. Can you afford to help them hire steady after-school child care? Then you stay above your social safety net, which is so important, and they get responsible relief.
